The Spring Rain and Flowering Wood Sword Instruction was not a sword instruction with overwhelming killing power. It leaned more toward deriving sword techniques from spells.
The sword instruction emphasized the circulation of water- and wood-aspect Spirit Power: water nourished wood so it could grow, while wood secured the water's source, the cycle repeating endlessly. Its attacks were like soft spring rain. Though lacking in force, they were long-lasting and inexhaustible.
The sword instruction had six forms-
Green Shoots Break Through Snow, Misty Willows Brush the Waves, Listening to the Rain in a Lotus Boat, Emerald Flood Dragon Churns the Waves, Phoenix Perches on Moonlit Parasol Tree, and the final move, Spring Rain Transforms into a Dragon.
The sword instruction described each form in detail, including the circulation of Qi in the sword moves and the generation of Spirit Power. None of this was difficult for Chen Shuangbai.
But the hardest part of this sword instruction, which derived sword techniques from spells, was actually grasping even a fraction of its spirit.
Even so, that posed no obstacle for him.
In his sea of consciousness, moonlight shone down. Chen Shuangbai's comprehension far surpassed his innate aptitude, and understanding the instruction came as smoothly as flowing clouds and running water.
After studying the sword instruction for seven days, he took up Cold Spring and practiced swordplay in the courtyard.
For a time.
Azure Qi spread through the courtyard as water vapor stirred. The water and wood aspects blended, making the greenery beyond the small courtyard even lusher.
But as he practiced, Chen Shuangbai felt that something was clearly amiss in places.
Take the first form, Green Shoots Break Through Snow, for example.
Whenever he used it, he felt it was a little awkward. His Spirit Power would also inexplicably snag as it circulated, and the effect fell far short of what the sword instruction described. It seemed more like there was more Water Qi than Wood Qi.
Chen Shuangbai's eyes rolled. He opened the sword instruction again and leafed carefully through it until he found a passage on one page-
"Spring rain transforms wood, drawing fully on the wonders of both water and wood. Thus, to practice this sword instruction, it is best to find a sword refined with both water and wood. Failing that, two swords are required."
"So... does that mean I need to find another flying sword, one of the wood aspect?"
After reading it, Chen Shuangbai glanced at the Cold Spring Sword in his hand and realized the problem was a lack of the wood aspect.
Ordinary Qi Refining Stage disciples mostly controlled a single flying sword.
Controlling a flying sword placed a great strain on the mind, and most Qi Refining Stage cultivators' spiritual awareness was not particularly strong... but controlling two swords was not impossible.
Because he practiced the Moonlight Spirit-Nourishing Instruction, Chen Shuangbai's spiritual awareness was exceptionally robust.
Besides, he could currently control three Law Artifacts without showing any signs of strain, so controlling two swords was not beyond him.
Chen Shuangbai was just about to visit the Expenditure Hall when he suddenly noticed his Jade Spring disciple's jade token flashing.
A moment later.
A figure wreathed in fiery light descended in front of the cave abode.
The fiery light faded, revealing a young man with a square face and broad ears. His eyes were bright, and he looked vigorous and full of vitality.
Chen Shuangbai stepped forward and saluted him. "Shuangbai greets Senior Brother Du. Sorry for the trouble of having you come looking for me in person, Senior Brother, and thank you for the effort."
Du Zifeng was an inner disciple of the Jade Spring Sect, a Ninth Layer of Qi Refining cultivator and a disciple of the inner sect's Dew-Drinking Peak.
Of course, the Jade Spring Sect had been established in Sunken Jade Valley, a place rich in Water Qi and thriving with Wood Qi, which was somewhat unfriendly to disciples with an aptitude for fire-aspect Spirit Roots.
As such, none of the inner sect's six peaks had been set aside specifically for artifact refining. Those who aspired to it could choose to practice it, and most preferred to spend their time near the sect's Three Yang Peaks.
Some borrowed the sect's artifact chambers to devote themselves to refining, while others cultivated using the earth fire the sect drew upon.
Chen Shuangbai had also heard that the sect had found a place outside where Metal and Fire Qi rose in abundance and established a separate abode there, where quite a few disciples cultivated.
Du Zifeng nodded slightly, and the two had a brief conversation.
Chen Shuangbai discovered that Senior Brother Du spoke very directly and disliked excessive pleasantries. After learning what Chen Shuangbai needed, he promptly left.
Three more days passed.
Du Zifeng came calling again.
He was concise and direct, presenting Chen Shuangbai with the artifact-refining plan he had devised over the past three days.
"You need something that can protect you when you fight enemies with spells and also assist your cultivation in ordinary times. So, from among flags, banners, pearls, bells, and jade pendants, I chose a banner for you."
A banner signified display, protection, and gathering.
The treasured banner Du Zifeng had designed for Chen Shuangbai embodied both the water and wood aspects. While he cultivated, it could hang beside him and draw in the surrounding primal Qi of heaven and earth, creating a Spirit Power-gathering array domain or cultivation ground to assist him.
When facing an enemy, he could plant it somewhere rich in Wood Qi or Water Qi and unfurl it, forming protection much like a canopy to safeguard its owner.
In short, the treasured banner's design matched Chen Shuangbai's original idea exactly.
"Senior Brother Du, I'm very satisfied!"
Chen Shuangbai said, somewhat delighted.
"As long as you're satisfied. Now then... transfer the Merit Points to me. This refining plan also calls for three extremely important main materials. I have some leads on the Nine-Bend Essence-Containing Wood for the banner pole and the Cloud and Mist Spirit Silkworm Silk for the banner itself, but you'll have to cover the Merit Points or Spirit Stones needed to purchase them."
"Hmm, roughly this much..."
Du Zifeng indicated a number to Chen Shuangbai, who fell silent for a long while.
"Senior Brother Du, isn't that a little too expensive?"
Chen Shuangbai felt his heart tremble.
The number of Merit Points Du Zifeng had indicated was more than even Chen Shuangbai, who now had a modest fortune, could afford at present.
For that amount, Chen Shuangbai suspected he could commission a Spirit Artifact fit for a great Foundation Establishment cultivator, rather than one merely suited to someone at the Qi Refining Stage like himself.
Du Zifeng seemed to have anticipated Chen Shuangbai's response and began explaining his thinking.
In the art of artifact refining, many refiners favored forging a complete Law Treasure. But Du Zifeng had wondered why one could not forge a Law Treasure that would continue to grow alongside its cultivator.
In fact, such special Law Treasures already existed: Talisman Artifacts and Incantation Artifacts.
The former were created by continually inscribing and layering talismans, the latter by continually chanting special magical incantations. In this way, the power of the talismans or incantations was repeatedly layered onto an object, forming a special artifact.
Such special artifacts were generally not very powerful and were only suitable for cultivation Lineages to pass down as heirlooms.
But Du Zifeng refused to admit defeat.
He had kept trying, spending a great many Merit Points and even holding up his cultivation somewhat. That was how he had come to accept a commission for a custom Spirit Artifact from an outer disciple like Chen Shuangbai.
A protective Law Treasure that could grow stronger as his cultivation improved...
If he really can do it, Chen Shuangbai thought, then that many Merit Points isn't so much after all.
It was just that he did not have that many Merit Points at present.
Du Zifeng could also see that Chen Shuangbai was short of funds. "You can pay me in installments. Besides, this special Law Artifact can't be forged in a short time."
"There are still quite a few parts of the plan that need improvement, and I also need to consult my master about more artifact-refining methods..."
"We can take it slowly."
"But you'll have to find the Jia Wood Spirit Heart, one of the three main materials, yourself."
"It's the most important of all, so remember to keep it in mind."