A pig

At the Li Residence, Li Ziye had half a day to spare and spent the entire time lying beside the lake, unwilling to move so much as a finger.

After noon, Qin Enuo emerged from her room in a fresh set of clothes, as transcendent and peerlessly graceful as ever.

"Go practice your sword."

Qin Enuo came to the lakeside and spoke indifferently.

"Right away."

Li Ziye sat bolt upright, then picked up his sword and went off to one side to practice.

"Qin Enuo, you have my admiration!"

Zhang Lata spoke earnestly.

"His resolve was firm enough. With anyone else, I couldn't guarantee success."

Qin Enuo spoke calmly.

"The lad is decent enough, but without your intervention, he could never have opened a single meridian in his lifetime."

Zhang Lata replied, "Now, although his cultivation talent is still the worst of any martial artist, at least he can begin cultivating."

With one of the eight meridians open, he could attempt to open the divine repositories within his body. If he succeeded, he would have formally set foot on the martial path.

Of course, with only a single meridian open, the lad's cultivation would inevitably be slow-so slow it would make one's hair stand on end.

Fortunately, the Li Residence had silver to spare. Even if the lad's martial talent was lacking, he could make up for it with countless potent medicines and spirit pills.

"There's another question."

Zhang Lata looked at the youth nearby and asked curiously, "What cultivation method do you intend to have him practice?"

"There is one I want him to try."

Qin Enuo gazed at the lake ahead and said, "The Flying Immortal Art."

"A sword comes from the west, a flying immortal from beyond the heavens."

At her words, Zhang Lata's expression jolted. "The sword art of the first Sword God, from when Great Shang was founded a thousand years ago? You really intend to have this lad learn it? It's almost no different from an external training method, and extremely difficult to practice. Across all these centuries, no one besides that first Sword God has ever mastered it."

"We can only treat a dead horse as though it were still alive."

Qin Enuo said calmly, "He only has three years. What cultivation method do you think could let him catch up to Huo Liner?"

Zhang Lata fell silent at that.

Three years was simply too short. Huo Liner was one of the four great heavenly geniuses of the age, with terrifying martial talent, while this lad had only opened one meridian. No matter what cultivation method he practiced, he could never catch up to Huo Liner.

That was reality. Cruel though it was, no one could change it.

"If his cultivation can't catch up, we can only start with his moves."

Qin Enuo said seriously, "The Flying Immortal Formula places greater emphasis on moves than cultivation. His ability to create Taiji himself shows that he has a talent for learning the sword. Perhaps, once he pushes his sword moves to their ultimate limit, he can carve out his own martial path, just like that Sword God of a thousand years ago."

"That will be hard."

Zhang Lata sighed softly. "In a thousand years, how many people have truly carved out their own martial paths? Even you and I cannot completely break free of the constraints of our predecessors. This lad's martial path is already so difficult at its very beginning. Without a doubt, the hardships he faces will only multiply. I truly can't imagine how long he can persevere."

"Sword Maniac," Qin Enuo said.

"What is it?" Zhang Lata asked.

"You possess world-shaking martial arts, yet have no successor. Don't you find that regrettable?" Qin Enuo asked calmly.

"Heh."

Zhang Lata smiled faintly. "Wine and a sword are enough. Qin Enuo, speak plainly. No need to beat around the bush."

"Let's join forces to teach him the Flying Immortal Art. I cannot fully reproduce the Sword God's moves alone," Qin Enuo proposed.

"To think that even you, the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal, would have to ask someone for help."

Zhang Lata took a sip of wine and said with a smile that did not reach his eyes, "Why should I help you-or rather, help this lad?"

"As a fellow sword cultivator, don't you want to see whether anyone in this age can recreate the glory of the first Sword God, or even surpass him?" Qin Enuo asked seriously.

"Heh, you certainly have lofty ambitions. To tell the truth, I don't think much of his chances. However..."

Zhang Lata shifted his tone, the corners of his mouth curving slightly. "Your proposal interests me. With the two of us teaching him together, backed by the Li Residence's endless wealth, plus the first Sword God's Flying Immortal Art, even a pig ought to gain some understanding."

With that, Zhang Lata drained the wine jar in one gulp, a rare urge to try his hand rising within him.

Truth be told, at his age, he had seen every kind of genius. But this was his first time seeing a waste like Li Ziye, whose eight meridians had all been blocked.

This challenge excited him.

He and Qin Enuo joining forces undoubtedly made for what should be the most extravagant lineup in the world.

Two sword immortals, the world's strongest cultivation method, and an inexhaustible supply of spirit pills and potent medicines-he refused to believe they couldn't overturn this bullshit destiny.

Beside him, a flicker of interest also passed through Qin Enuo's beautiful eyes at the Sword Maniac's words.

At the level of cultivation she and the Sword Maniac had reached, few things could truly offer them a challenge. But teaching a waste like Li Ziye until he amounted to something was indeed the greatest challenge in the world.

At that thought, Qin Enuo looked toward the "pig" nearby and called, "Li Ziye, come here!"

"Coming."

Hearing her, Li Ziye trotted over eagerly.

Zhang Lata and Qin Enuo watched the "pig" approach, then exchanged a glance and nodded to each other. From this day onward, they would join forces to overturn this so-called destiny.

"Li Ziye."

After they withdrew their gazes, Qin Enuo asked calmly, "Have you heard of the Flying Immortal Formula?"

"I have."

Li Ziye nodded vigorously. "The greatest cultivation method in the world. They say it's extremely difficult to practice, and no one besides the first Sword God, from when Great Shang was founded, has ever mastered it."

"Do you know why?" Qin Enuo continued.

"No."

Li Ziye shook his head.

"Because only a very small portion of the Flying Immortal Art records methods for cultivating True Qi. Not only are they far from exquisite, they're inferior even to mediocre cultivation methods, so progress is extremely slow. All the remaining sections of the Flying Immortal Art record moves. Those truly are exquisitely unparalleled, but True Qi is the foundation of cultivation. Even the most exquisite moves require True Qi to drive them. With moves alone and no powerful cultivation, you simply cannot unleash their might," Qin Enuo said.

"Can't you practice another cultivation method first, then learn the Flying Immortal Formula's moves once your cultivation is powerful enough?" Li Ziye asked curiously.

"No."

Qin Enuo shook her head. "Many people have already tried your approach. Practicing other cultivation methods before learning the Flying Immortal Formula's moves is almost entirely useless. Some even became obsessed with it and ultimately suffered Qi deviation."

"Then if I practice the cultivation method in the Flying Immortal Formula, will my progress be as slow as theirs?" Li Ziye voiced his concern.

"Heh."

By the lake, Zhang Lata gave a mocking laugh. "Rest assured, slow progress is inevitable. You don't need to worry about that question at all. For a peerless waste like you, with only one meridian open, every cultivation method is the same. There's basically no room left for you to sink any lower."

"..."

Li Ziye wanted to stab this rotten old man to death.

"The Sword Maniac is telling the truth."

Qin Enuo promptly twisted the knife. After a moment's thought, she offered some consolation. "Still, the Li Residence has silver to spare. With countless heavenly materials, earthly treasures, spirit pills, and wondrous medicines piled on, along with guidance from the Sword Maniac and me, perhaps you have a sliver of hope of mastering it."

"..."

Li Ziye still did not want to speak.

Suddenly, Li Ziye came to his senses. He looked toward the rotten old man by the lake and asked in surprise, "Old Zhang, you're going to teach me swordsmanship too?"

"What, can't I?"

Zhang Lata smiled without warmth. "Lad, count your blessings in private. So many heaven-blessed geniuses have begged this old man to teach them, and I refused them all. You're lucky, lad, to have Qin Enuo and me guiding you together. You'd better make something of yourself. If you still achieve nothing with all this, Qin Enuo and I will truly lose every scrap of face."

"I'll try. I'll try."

Li Ziye gave an awkward smile. His poor talent wasn't his fault. He wanted to be like those peerless heavenly geniuses too, advancing a thousand miles a day in cultivation and standing unrivaled in the world. Unfortunately, reality wouldn't allow it.

"First, memorize the Flying Immortal Formula's cultivation mantra. Practice it every day at dawn and dusk."

Qin Enuo tossed him a parchment scroll. "As for the moves, the Sword Maniac and I will teach you."

Li Ziye caught the parchment and earnestly memorized the cultivation method within.

After roughly a dozen breaths, Li Ziye raised his head. "I've memorized it."

"So fast?"

Zhang Lata was surprised. That was only enough time to read it once.

"I have a good memory. Born with it."

Li Ziye grinned, revealing eight pearly white teeth.

"Heh, so you do have some good points after all."

Zhang Lata smiled faintly.

"Watch carefully."

Seeing this, Qin Enuo spoke calmly, then stepped forward, brushing past Li Ziye.

Before he could react, the Azure Frost Sword had vanished from Li Ziye's hand without his noticing when.

Having reclaimed her sword, Qin Enuo strode forward.

The next instant, in the Li Residence's rear courtyard, an immortal maiden danced with her sword. Flowers and fallen leaves flew throughout the garden. Azure Frost's cold gleam dazzled the eyes, and Sword Qi swept three hundred zhang in every direction.

By the lake, Li Ziye watched, stunned.

Flowers filling the hall intoxicated three thousand guests;

One sword's frost chilled fourteen provinces.

Was this the sword? Was this a sword immortal?

"Ha ha! Lad, watch closely!"

Beside him, Zhang Lata laughed loudly and summoned his sword with a sweep of his hand. A three-foot blade landed in his grasp. He strode like a shooting star, with a jug of wine and a sword, his heroic spirit soaring ten thousand zhang and his Sword Qi surging into the heavens.

The indescribable sight became the most unforgettable memory of Li Ziye's life. Two sword immortals, two swords-their bodies like wind and thunder, their swords like stars-recreated the peerless glory of the Sword God of a thousand years ago.

Half a quarter-hour later, the wind stopped, the leaves fell, and the sword light dispersed. Everything returned to stillness.

Qin Enuo left, and Zhang Lata returned to the lakeside to continue drinking. Neither disturbed Li Ziye, who remained sunk in shock.

After an unknown length of time, Li Ziye finally struggled back to his senses. Looking toward Zhang Lata beside him, he asked hoarsely, "Old Zhang, how long will it take me to reach your level?"

"Thirty years."

Zhang Lata took a sip of wine and answered calmly.

"What about catching up to the first Sword God?"

Li Ziye asked again.

"Three hundred years."

Zhang Lata answered, then added, "Assuming you can live that long without dying!"