Thunderbolt Windwood

Fang Xu had not expected Jiang Yang to pick this sword weapon so decisively from among the many on display. At his words, he paused.

He did not know what spirit material the sword weapon was made from, nor had he settled on a price. Still, that was hardly difficult. With scarcely any hesitation, he decided to price it as a Qi Refining Level One Spirit Treasure.

"Hmm... this sword weapon has no name, and there's nothing special about it beyond its tough material. Junior Brother Jiang, you can take it for a hundred and fifty spirit stones."

Then an apologetic look appeared on Fang Xu's long, thin face.

"Since Senior Brother Zhou put in a word beforehand, I ought to give this sword weapon to you as a gift. But its ownership isn't mine alone to decide. I have two companions, so I can't take it upon myself..."

His meaning could not have been clearer. Jiang Yang was not someone who failed to appreciate another's kindness, so he quickly replied:

"I understand your goodwill, Senior Brother Fang. There's no need for that. Let's settle on this price."

Jiang Yang had found the sword exceptionally comfortable to wield from the moment he first tried it, and he still held it in his hand. Besides, the price was not merely inexpensive—it was practically a giveaway.

Even the cheapest metal-and-stone spirit materials used in Qi Refining could not be bought in quantities of seventy or eighty jin for a hundred and fifty spirit stones.

To put it bluntly, even if Jiang Yang no longer had any use for the sword in the future, he could melt it down, reforge it, and sell it for more than one or two hundred spirit stones.

Seeing that Jiang Yang appreciated the favor, Fang Xu was delighted as well. He had worried that setting the price too high or too low would lead to awkward haggling. Naturally, settling it with a single stroke was the best outcome.

He promptly said:

"Good, good, good."

Holding the sword by its hilt, Jiang Yang turned around, and his peripheral vision caught the scattered Jade Slips nearby. After his experience in the Scripture Pavilion, he had developed quite an interest in ancient texts and cultivation arts.

Even if they contained no cultivation arts, ancient biographies and miscellaneous accounts would be worthwhile. Reading them would broaden his knowledge and spare him from having to ask others about every little thing.

With that thought, Jiang Yang pointed at the pile of damaged Jade Slips and asked:

"Senior Brother Fang, do you intend to sell these jade slips and tablets?"

Fang Xu had expected something more important. He waved a hand casually.

"Oh, there's no talk of selling them. They're just old relics. Without someone putting them in order, who knows whether anything in them can still be cultivated? Besides, they were poorly preserved, and most are incomplete...

"Even if you hadn't mentioned them, I would have dumped the whole lot in the Scripture Pavilion in exchange for Dao merit. Since you're interested, Junior Brother Jiang, copy whatever you like. Just leave the original slips with me."

In truth, Fang Xu was not quite as generous as he appeared. When these Jade Slips were first unearthed, he had studied them repeatedly. Only after confirming that none were useful to him had he decided to contribute them to the Sect's Library Pavilion.

He was going to hand them over anyway. Letting Jiang Yang take a look was merely an effortless favor.

Fang Xu's words meant he wanted no payment. Jiang Yang was pleasantly surprised, but also a little embarrassed. He had just benefited from the man's generosity, and now it felt as though he was eating his fill and packing up the leftovers too.

"In that case... thank you, Senior Brother Fang. If I find anything worthwhile, I'll offer you something in return."

In the end, Jiang Yang's skin was not quite that thick. He turned and bowed to Fang Xu before crouching down to make his selection.

Fang Xu returned the bow. In no hurry, he said softly:

"Not at all, not at all. Forget about the price. Just take what you need, Junior Brother Jiang."

Jiang Yang moved closer to the pile of Jade Slips. Compared with Sword Weapons, Jade Slips were much more fragile, and these were in anything but good condition.

He picked up a broken slip at random, swept his Spirit Sense over it, and began reading. Only Jade Slips with less than half missing could be deciphered.

A Qi Refining cultivator's Spirit Sense lacked the precision to handle those that were too badly damaged. Recklessly attempting to read them would only damage the Jade Slips further.

Jiang Yang therefore chose the most intact ones he could find. Reading with Spirit Sense was swift, and he did not study them closely, merely skimming most of them.

He gleaned little information, but could broadly summarize it as follows: this was the tradition of a wood-aligned Sword Cultivator, descended from the [Thunderbolt Wind Sky Windwood Lineage].

Too much was missing, however. Not only was there no information whatsoever about the Thunderbolt tradition, but even the Windwood path had only two or three cultivation methods remaining.

Even these cultivation methods were missing arms and legs. Quite apart from whether he could gather the corresponding spiritual qi after obtaining them, he might not dare cultivate them even if he could.

The road ahead was unknown, and might even lead straight to a dead end.

Of the two relatively intact remnants of lost cultivation methods Jiang Yang read, one extended to Foundation Establishment Peak, while the other reached only early Foundation Establishment. The Immortal Foundations they formed were "Heavenly Windwood" and "Wood-tip Chill," respectively.

He did not yet know how powerful they were. But the same problem remained: anyone who cultivated them would likely spend the rest of his life running about in search of ways to complete the methods.

Jiang Yang had never even heard the name of this lineage within the Zheng Kingdom, much less its cultivation methods. He suspected it had died out at some point.

As for the Sword Canon he wanted most, the lineage records mentioned it in passing, but he found no trace of it here. It had probably been lost.

Jiang Yang did not turn back to ask Fang Xu. He thought that even if it had been here, Fang Xu would likely have removed it long ago. Frankly, now that the Spirit Sword had lost its spiritual resonance, the inherited Sword Canon was probably the most valuable thing of all.

Even if someone obtained it but could not cultivate it, plenty of sword practitioners would be willing to buy it. After all, it had been written by an ancient Sword Cultivator, and comparing its teachings against their own would still be worthwhile.

Jiang Yang put down the slip and reached toward another small pile. These were the last few; he had already skimmed most of the worthwhile ones before them.

This small handful had been sorted into its own category. Almost all the Jade Slips contained spells, making them the most valuable.

After all, spells differed only in difficulty. As long as they did not conflict with one's Dao Lineage or have a restraining relationship with it, almost anyone could cultivate them.

Unfortunately, the spells were in no better shape. Their damage was even worse. Jiang Yang browsed through the spells in his hands like a rider viewing flowers from horseback.

"Mulberry Wood Collection," "On Wood’s Straightness and Flexibility," "Reflections on Viewing the Blue Lotus," "Secret Teachings of the Green-Cliff Deer."

Unlike today's blunt, straightforward names, the names of these Spell Arts carried the distinct flavor of ancient cultivators.

"Hmm?"

He had been picking up the damaged slips first, leaving the good ones for later. Now Jiang Yang held the most intact Jade Slip of the lot, and the instant he began reading, something stirred within him.

This text was titled "Seasonal Renewal Spirit-Nurturing Guiding Incantation."

After reading it through, he found that it was no powerful spell. It had no capacity to inflict harm at all. Its wondrous effect was both unusual and simple.

It involved nurturing a damaged Spirit Plant or a Withered Seed within the Dantian's Qi Sea, reciting the Guiding Incantation daily to restore its vitality and quality.

This spell is excellent! There might be hope for my seed.

Holding the Jade Slip, Jiang Yang felt his spirits soar.

He had not forgotten the dead seed he had bought at the market, which he still carried with him. He had been searching all along for a way to save it.

Originally, Jiang Yang had planned to purchase a Spirit-Gathering Array, infuse the seed with spiritual energy, and plant it to see what happened. Now that he had this spell, successfully reviving it would be an unexpected delight.

Whether it worked or not, he finally had a direction in which to strive. Whatever happened, Jiang Yang would take it back and try.

He firmly believed that the trembling of the Dao Fruit within him had not been without cause. This Spirit Seed was surely extraordinary, and worth saving.

Seeing Jiang Yang remain motionless, Fang Xu could not help calling out:

"Junior Brother Jiang?"

Jiang Yang came back to his senses. Gripping the Jade Slip, he rose and smiled.

"I'm fine, Senior Brother Fang. I don't have enough Spirit Stones on me at the moment. Could I make up the difference with Dao Merit?"