Azure Shadow Profound Art

Qingli, who had been taking a walk some distance away to help digest her meal, jogged over and leaned in beside him for a look.

"Azure Shadow Profound Art... a Heaven Tier cultivation art. It suits you pretty well, actually. Why turn down something free?"

Shen Leyan shook his head.

"Under the Cloud Radiance Sect's rules, if incorrect mission intelligence provided by the sect places its disciples in danger, the sect must compensate them. This cultivation art is compensation for yesterday's illusory fire."

Lu Yuanyi spoke evenly.

"You used a Voice Transmission Talisman to report the situation in time, saving the lives of over twenty Outer Sect disciples. A Heaven Tier cultivation art is hardly too generous."

Shen Leyan hesitated. "Let's leave this cultivation art here for now... sorry for the trouble, Sect Master Lu, but please wait a moment."

He turned and ran back to his dormitory, rummaging through everything in search of the Sect Regulations issued on his first day at the Cloud Radiance Sect.

Only at the very bottom of a pile of books did he find the crumpled copy of the Sect Regulations. He checked the contents, found the chapter titled "Task Rewards and Punishments," and read through its provisions one by one.

"Chapter seventeen, regulation seventy-seven: if incorrect mission intelligence provided by the sect places its disciples in danger, the sect must compensate them...

Those who perform exceptionally during such missions shall receive a Heaven Tier cultivation art, a Heaven Tier magical treasure, or a spiritual pill of grade six or higher as compensation..."

After reading that provision, he immediately dusted off the book and returned to the courtyard.

"Thank you, Sect Master Lu."

Since it was within the sect's rules, he would gladly accept.

"If you would prefer to exchange the cultivation art for a magical treasure or a spiritual pill, you may ask."

"No need. This cultivation art is perfect!"

Although the compensation was explicitly stipulated in the Sect Regulations, the Cloud Radiance Sect's Scripture Pavilion held many Heaven Tier cultivation arts. Lu Yuanyi could easily have picked any one at random.

Since he had chosen the Azure Shadow Profound Art, and even Qingli said it suited Shen Leyan, there probably wasn't a better choice.

He picked the Heaven Tier cultivation art that suited me best... I still owe him a favor for that. How should I repay it?

There were still two years until the Immortal-Demon War, so there was no immediate hurry.

Once Lu Yuanyi left, he could ask Senior Brother Zheng if there was anything in the Cloud Radiance Sect he could help with.

Cicada Song Pavilion.

Zheng Ziheng sat meditating beneath the moonlight. A ring of pale blue mist flowed slowly from between his brows, following his meridians through his dantian before gradually spreading throughout his body.

The courtyard was full of exotic flowers and plants, most of them medicinal herbs that could be made into spiritual pills and wondrous remedies. Sensing the abundant fluctuations of water Spiritual Power, some quietly unfurled a petal from their buds, while others bore little fruits, their roots and stems shifting toward Zheng Ziheng.

After completing one cycle of his cultivation art, Zheng Ziheng opened his eyes. Seeing the Jiangxue Sword pierce the Cicada Song Pavilion's barrier from afar, he immediately rose and bowed.

"Master."

His master glanced at him. "Do not cultivate when your mind is unsettled. It can destabilize your foundation."

Zheng Ziheng quietly answered, "Yes." After a moment, he still couldn't help asking.

"Master, did you go to see Junior Brother?"

"Mm." Lu Yuanyi narrowed his phoenix eyes slightly. "He has quite a lively personality, and his disposition is decent, too."

Zheng Ziheng had never heard his master speak of any disciple that way.

If Junior Brother had been interested in cultivation... perhaps he really would have become Zheng Ziheng's junior brother under the same master.

He couldn't help feeling a little regretful.

Still, this was good, too. His master's words meant he had tacitly agreed to let Junior Brother remain an ordinary Outer Sect disciple as before, living however he wished.

Zheng Ziheng followed his master a few steps. The Cicada Song Pavilion's courtyard was quiet and lush with greenery. As they approached the study, a cool, crisp fragrance of incense reached them, like white plum blossoms in the snow.

"...Master, did anything happen while you were at Junior Brother's place?"

"I drank two cups of tea and had that little spirit stone point at my nose and berate me a few times—why?"

Zheng Ziheng hesitated. "I think... I think I smell chili oil on your robes, Master."

Lu Yuanyi raised a hand and cast a spell. His clothes swiftly became spotless again, his manner unhurried.

"You smelled wrong."

"...Yes."

Shen Leyan sat on a stone stool in the courtyard, holding the Azure Shadow Profound Art and pulling Qingli over to read it with him.

There was a simple reason for this: although the text in the cultivation art wasn't obscure and was written in plain language, its illustrations were very abstract.

Moreover, the sect's instructors did not teach Outer Sect disciples how to circulate Spiritual Power or locate their meridians and acupoints.

So, holding this rare Heaven Tier cultivation art, he was like an elementary school student holding a book on advanced mathematics. He didn't understand a thing.

Although Qingli only had the mentality of a six- or seven-year-old child, she had been born in ancient times and had seen countless geniuses and cultivation arts.

"Why are the acupoints in this picture all pitch-black?"

"That means you need to circulate Spiritual Power to open these acupoints and build up Spirit Pools inside them.

Start circulating your Spiritual Power now, and I'll tell you how to guide it."

Shen Leyan scratched his head. "I don't have any Spiritual Power."

The human and the stone stared blankly at each other.

"You really haven't cultivated at all."

"I only got this Wind Spiritual Root yesterday, too."

Qingli gave him a few pointers, but after realizing they were talking at cross-purposes, she simply said,

"How about this? I'll go write you a Basic Spiritual Power Circulation Art first and bring it over tomorrow. Meanwhile, you should read some medical books and memorize the meridians and acupoints before learning this Azure Shadow Profound Art.

Although the Azure Shadow Profound Art wasn't rated a Saint-Rank Cultivation Art, that's mainly because it requires a Wind Spiritual Root. Without that restriction, it would definitely surpass many Saint Tier movement arts."

Medical books were quite easy to borrow in the Outer Sect.

Shen Leyan readily agreed and thanked her.

"If the Cloud Radiance Sect hasn't forbidden you from leaving the Spirit Perch Pavilion, you can come over often and be my meal buddy. Next time, I'll let you try another novel way of eating."

"What is a meal buddy?"

"A friend you eat with."

"A friend..." Qingli considered it, then a huge smile bloomed on her sweet, delicate face. "No problem!"

"There's one more thing I need to trouble you with today."

"Tell me."

Shen Leyan said, "There's something I'd like to ask Senior Brother Zheng about, but I can't get to the Cicada Song Pavilion."

The Cicada Song Pavilion had a barrier that no one without a token could enter. Besides, it stood atop the highest, steepest mountain in the Cloud Radiance Sect. Climbing up there would probably take him all night.

"That's easy. I'll just go to the Cicada Song Pavilion and let that Senior Brother Zheng of yours know. It'll take half an hour at most. Wait here."

Shen Leyan handed her a flask. "There's Taro Milk Tea inside."

Qingli opened the flask and took a few sips.

"It's delicious!!!"

"It's best not to drink this tea at night."

"Why?"

"It can keep you awake."

"We Spirit-Testing Stones don't need to sleep." Qingli hung the flask around her neck. "I'm off to the Cicada Song Pavilion. Thanks for the food today!"