Discussing the Dao

"The effects of this Enlightenment Tea truly are extraordinary!"

In the small courtyard behind the Library Pavilion.

Qin Lian's eyes held heartfelt joy.

The lingering effects of one portion of Enlightenment Tea lasted three days.

Consolidating his gains afterward took another four.

Over those seven days, his true qi, swordsmanship, and lightness skills had all improved significantly.

[Rising Sun One-Qi Formula (beginner 11/100), Vertical and Horizontal Art (major accomplishment 98/100), Liuhe Duzun Sword Art (beginner 34/100), Great Void Visualization Diagram (not yet initiated 24/100), Great Void Sword Qi (not yet initiated 37/100)]

"Although I've focused on the Rising Sun One-Qi Formula and Liuhe Duzun Sword Art these past few days, my accumulated progress in the Vertical and Horizontal Art has also brought it to the verge of perfection. In that case..."

Qin Lian moved, descending the main peak and heading straight into the depths of Shouyang Mountain.

He traveled straight through the mountain forest, running with abandon, using the shifting footwork of the Vertical and Horizontal Art to dodge every tree, thorn bush, rock, and ditch he encountered.

After he had run more than a hundred li through Shouyang Mountain, his body suddenly grew lighter.

The change quickly prompted him to focus and visualize...

Within the golden light, a piece of information appeared, just as expected.

[Vertical and Horizontal Art perfected. Body like a clear breeze, roaming freely beneath heaven. Filling gaps and remedying deficiencies. Trait activated-Wind Riding (1/3)]

"Another new trait!"

Qin Lian's eyes lit up.

Or rather...

A new spell!

A new divine ability!

"Wind Riding... rising on the wind, riding it through the sky... could this spell... let me take flight?"

His thoughts raced, and he could not suppress his anticipation.

Although he had already acquired the two innate spells [Swiftness] and [Blood Burning] over the past several months, with [Swordsmanship] still in the process of being acquired, the sight of the [Wind Riding] trait still set his heart stirring.

Traveling on the wind...

It might actually let him fly.

Since ancient times, humans had yearned deeply for the sky.

If he really could fly...

In his eyes, this trait would be even more important than the [Fire Spirit Dao Body], which allowed him to concentrate his spirit and cultivate spells!

After all, never mind second-grade divine intent practitioners or first-grade grandmasters-even Martial Saints had never been heard to possess the ability to fly through heaven and burrow through earth.

They might cross a river on a single reed or walk on water, but all of that paled before true "flight."

In other words, if the [Wind Riding] trait really could let him ride the wind and fly...

Even if he faced a Martial Saint in the future and could not win, he could at least ensure he escaped unscathed.

He immediately went and obtained the movement art Chasing the Wind and Pursuing the Sun.

As an elder who had joined the Council of Elders, he could freely consult any cultivation art that was not a sect-defining inheritance.

The Pure Yang Sword Sect did not excel at lightness skills. Its highest-level lightness arts were top-tier movement arts such as Nine Heavens Embracing the Moon, Chasing the Wind and Pursuing the Sun, and Inch of Land, Rivers and Mountains.

Compared with Nine Heavens Embracing the Moon and Inch of Land, Rivers and Mountains, Chasing the Wind and Pursuing the Sun had the word "wind" in its name, making it his first choice.

"With the arts chosen, all that's left is diligent, bitter practice-grinding away to the very end."

Qin Lian rubbed his hands together.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside.

"Grand Elder!"

The elder of the Scripture Pavilion had arrived with Qin Daozhi and Qin Lingzhi.

Seeing Qin Lingzhi...

Qin Lian was somewhat surprised.

He had never asked for the young girl to come.

Qin Daozhi hurriedly explained, "Grand Elder, your courtyard needs someone to clean it daily and attend to your everyday needs, so..."

Qin Lian glanced at the young girl...

"Come in first."

As he welcomed the two inside, he asked Qin Daozhi, "How is your true qi cultivation progressing?"

"The family head has used all the Qi Refining Pills paid in compensation by the Xie Lineage and Dragon River Gang on me... I'm confident I can bring my true qi to major accomplishment within three months and attempt to comprehend the mysteries of hunyuan wulou."

"Good. You and Lingzhi should report to Cloudmist Peak and become its disciples. If there's anything you don't understand, ask the peak master."

Qin Lian looked at Qin Daozhi again. "I give you permission to consult the texts on hunyuan wulou in the Library Pavilion. Ideally, you should advance straight to fifth grade within three months."

"I will follow your arrangements, Grand Elder."

Qin Daozhi agreed.

Qin Lingzhi hurriedly said, "Grand Elder, please let me stay by your side and serve you..."

"I have hands and feet. Why would I need you to handle everyday chores for me? I kept you nearby because your root bone is good, and I could offer you pointers from time to time. But I'll be devoting myself to secluded cultivation next and won't have time to oversee your training. You'd be better off cultivating on Cloudmist Peak."

Qin Lian spoke.

"Grand Elder..."

Qin Lingzhi wanted to say more, but Qin Lian waved a hand. "It's settled."

Although the young girl was quite good, she had witnessed his "return from the dead" with her own eyes, and he still harbored a measure of caution.

Seeing this, Qin Lingzhi answered, "Yes."

But disappointment inevitably crossed her face.

Seeing her expression, Qin Lian added, "Cultivate diligently once you reach Cloudmist Peak. This is a blessing many people could never obtain in a lifetime."

He was stating a fact.

As a dominant power spanning Jiang and Qing provinces and one of the world's foremost sects, the Pure Yang Sword Sect was not a place just anyone could qualify to cultivate in.

Generally, one needed graded cultivation to enter the Pure Yang Sword Sect. Only after opening their meridians, completing a heavenly circuit, and developing true qi would they catch the attention of the six peaks and be admitted.

Only after spending some time building their foundations within a peak could they be accepted as a personal disciple by its master or one of its elders.

As for legacy disciples...

Those were positions that only a peak's few most outstanding disciples qualified to compete for, enjoying the resources of the entire peak for their cultivation.

By sending Qin Daozhi and Qin Lingzhi to Cloudmist Peak and making them disciples of Peak Master Liu Xu, Qin Lian had practically allowed them to ascend to heaven in a single step.

After settling Qin Daozhi and Qin Lingzhi, Qin Lian calmed his mind once more and diligently practiced his movement arts, swordsmanship, and internal cultivation.

With Enlightenment Tea equivalent to one or two years of Purple Cloud Peak's output, along with his own trait of never losing "proficiency," the Rising Sun One-Qi Formula, Chasing the Wind and Pursuing the Sun, and Liuhe Duzun Sword Art all reached major accomplishment in just two months.

Even Qin Lian himself was delighted by such progress.

"I thought that even with the marvel of 'never regressing,' and despite already being a third-grade master, perfecting any sword art, movement art, or cultivation formula would take at least a year or two. I never imagined this Enlightenment Tea would be so extraordinary, increasing my cultivation speed nearly tenfold..."

Calculating carefully, one portion of Enlightenment Tea saved him two or three months of effort.

Its value for money was astonishing.

Of course, its cost was equally terrifying.

Three or four hundred thousand taels per portion...

The entire Qin Family earned only a little over a hundred thousand taels a year. After deducting daily expenses, it would take eight or ten years to purchase a single portion.

"No wonder almost every commandery is built around a resource site. On the path of cultivation-methods, wealth, companions, and land-resources and wealth rank second only to true inherited teachings. To think their benefits to personal cultivation could be so immediate."

As Qin Lian pondered, he recalled the letter Xu Hailong had sent a month ago...

The Taibai Sword Sect had already begun to make a name for itself and had challenged Xue Li, the Tyrant Blade Sect legacy disciple occupying Taibai Mine Mountain. Judging by the time...

There should already be a result.

"Taibai refined gold is measured in taels. One tael is worth around fifteen thousand taels of silver, and Taibai Mine Mountain can produce a dozen or so jin of it each year. That means revenue of one and a half to two million taels... After deducting expenses and splitting the profits equally, I should still receive at least five hundred thousand taels..."

Qin Lian made a quick calculation, then frowned.

Five hundred thousand taels...

Far more than the Qin Family earned.

But for buying Enlightenment Tea, it was still a cup of water against a burning cart of firewood.

"It seems I'll have to find time to go there and see whether I can improve the mining equipment and increase the output of Taibai refined gold."

As he considered this, he sensed something.

Soon, a figure drifted gracefully to his door.

Qin Lian immediately rose to welcome him. "Sect Master, you honor me with your presence. Forgive me for not coming farther to greet you."

"I came uninvited. It is I who have disturbed your quiet cultivation, Pavilion Master Qin."

Li Wangxu returned his greeting as he appeared.

Qin Lian invited Li Wangxu into the courtyard and personally poured him tea.

The sight prompted a sigh from Li Wangxu. "You truly are a secluded cultivator of lofty character, Pavilion Master Qin. There isn't even anyone serving you in this courtyard. That hardly befits your status as a master. I have a distant relative, clever and quick-witted. How about letting her come attend to your everyday needs?"

He spoke of serving him...

But in truth, he was recommending a disciple.

"I've grown accustomed to the peace of being alone in this courtyard, and service disciples handle my daily needs. There's no need to trouble you over such a small matter, Sect Master."

Qin Lian changed the subject. "You attend to countless affairs each day, Sect Master. You must have come for something important. Has something happened with the Taibai Sword Sect?"

"It's nothing particularly serious."

Li Wangxu said, "Deputy Sect Leader Xu made a wager with the Tyrant Blade Sect's legacy disciple to settle ownership of Taibai Mine Mountain in a single duel. But during their fight... Xue Li resisted fiercely, and Deputy Sect Leader Xu failed to hold back, causing Xue Li's death..."

He added, "However, Deputy Sect Leader Xu has already had a coffin prepared and sent the body back. There were no procedural issues with their duel, and the Tyrant Blade Sect has its own troubles to contend with. Presumably, they won't keep making an issue of this."

A legacy disciple had died?

Qin Lian frowned slightly.

That was no small matter.

But he also knew that when two evenly matched opponents fought to the death, one failing to hold back and killing the other was difficult to avoid.

"How is your comprehension of the Great Void Visualization Diagram coming along, Pavilion Master Qin?"

Li Wangxu suddenly changed the subject.

"Progress has been very slow."

Qin Lian spoke.

[Great Void Visualization Diagram (not yet initiated 37/100), Great Void Sword Qi (not yet initiated 52/100)]

Both the Great Void Visualization Diagram and Great Void Sword Qi had advanced by only a dozen or so points. He was still more than half a year away from even reaching the beginner stage.

Although this was partly because he had not devoted much effort to them, it still showed how slowly the two progressed.

"I comprehended divine intent through the Great Void Visualization Diagram. If you don't mind, Pavilion Master Qin, and have the time, how about discussing the Dao together for a while?"

Discussing the Dao?

He hadn't even reached the beginner stage in the visualization diagram, yet he was to discuss the Dao with a second-grade master who had developed divine intent?

Qin Lian quickly understood his meaning.

Li Wangxu intended to offer him guidance.

It was probably related to the strength he had displayed by easily defeating Lin Yuyan two months ago.

As for why he had waited two months...

The master of Purple Cloud Peak was also second grade. As sect master, he had to consider how to avoid causing a misunderstanding with her.

Qin Lian immediately rose and cupped his hands. "Thank you for your guidance, Sect Master."

"I wouldn't presume to call it guidance. We'll merely examine a few things together."

Li Wangxu smiled. "Everyone develops a different understanding when cultivating the same art, leading to different ideas and flashes of insight. These thoughts and inspirations are also quite helpful to us in perfecting our divine intent and transforming it into manifest presence."

Second-grade masters tempered their divine intent.

First-grade grandmasters could manifest presence.

Once that presence emerged, living beings with insufficient willpower would collapse without a fight.

Just like the Mirage Demon "Qin Lian" had encountered back then. Because he had never developed divine intent, he had been utterly powerless beneath its manifest presence, forced to watch Jiang Xin be eaten by the Mirage Demon.

"The Great Void Visualization Diagram is founded on visualizing the azure heavens beyond the nine skies, the boundless great void..."

Li Wangxu began explaining at once.

Qin Lian listened patiently, asking questions from time to time.

But the questions he raised...

Made Li Wangxu frown.

With the thought that he had "already come all this way," he still answered each one carefully.

Their "discussion of the Dao," which was practically a question-and-answer session, soon lasted six hours.

After six hours, Li Wangxu truly could not hold back any longer.

He looked at Qin Lian, hesitated for a moment, and finally voiced the suggestion in his heart.

"Master Qin... have you considered choosing a woman and starting a family?"