Chapter 16: The Choice

The message also stated that the path of cultivation is to defy the heavens, and relying solely on what the sect had left him would make every step a struggle. Therefore, as an outer disciple, he was permitted to seek tutelage in other sects as well.

On closer thought, if an ordinary person were to obtain this technique and practice it, it would suffice to join a lesser sect with some resources. Reading this, Song Yan surmised that the sect leader was most likely never to return. His words showed no concern for the honor of his master or the sect—he only hoped that this last seedling of the Sword Sect could barely survive in the cultivation world, and that would count as success.

“How utterly humble this is.”

For Song Yan, an ant in the world of cultivation, it made little difference whether he belonged to the outer sect of the Cave Abyss Sect or the Sword Sect. To survive and seek the way to immortality—that was what truly mattered. Even so, the sights and scenes he had witnessed upon first joining the Cave Abyss Sect were the first glimpses he ever had of the cultivation world. The bitter words left in the Sword Sect’s letter eased his heart a little.

But none of this was most important—what truly troubled Song Yan was the cultivation method left for him.

The Art of Transformation.

This technique appeared to be a fragment of some immortal scripture, or perhaps a compilation of various methods gathered into one. It consisted of three parts: the general principles, the Sword-Planting Method, and the “Essentials of Sword Techniques.”

The general principles stated that the core of the Sword Sect’s art lay in the Sword-Planting Method. Examining it closely, the Sword-Planting Method was split into two main points.

First, after the cultivator reached the fourth layer of Qi Refinement and possessed sufficient spiritual power, he was to use that power to sever all “spiritual roots,” disperse all cultivation, open the Sword Palace of the Dao, and plant the seed of swordsmanship.

In other words, the cultivator’s body must be devoid of spiritual roots.

Second, he must refine a life-bound flying sword to serve as a bridge to the sword repository and as a vital replacement for the shattered spiritual roots.

“Disperse cultivation and start anew…”

Song Yan let out a long sigh.

This very first requirement unsettled him so much that he had no mind to look into how to refine a life-bound flying sword. Perhaps those with outstanding talent or strong family backing would not hesitate to abandon their cultivation and start over for the sake of a rare technique.

The fifth layer of Qi Refinement.

It was not such a profound realm. But for a humble cultivator like Song Yan, only he knew how difficult the journey had been. Without the advantage of a soul that had lived two lives, without the good fortune of meeting someone like Granny Qin…

He would likely have ended up like Senior Brother Zhao Fengcheng, never able to form a foundation, and expelled from the sect.

Now, with such a dangerous choice before him, he truly found himself at a loss.

“No matter what, at least until I complete this mission and return to the sect, I must not take such a risk.”

A few days after returning to the sect from Shiliang, Song Yan was notified that he had been selected as an outer disciple to take part in a joint sect mission a few months hence.

He was first notified by an outer sect steward named Chen Chen, whom he had never met before, but a few days later, it was Senior Brother Lin Qing who came to brief him on the details.

“Silent Valley…”

Song Yan had heard of this place before. Silent Valley lay at the border of Chu, close to the territory of Qi.

Though called a valley, it was in fact a broad stretch of terraced fields for growing spiritual rice and herbal gardens for cultivating medicinal plants. The place had been discovered jointly by the Xuan Yuan Sect, the Spirit Talisman Sect, and the Cave Abyss Sect, so it was co-owned, and each sect took turns handling the daily chores and tending the spiritual rice.

Rich in spiritual energy and remote from the world, it was usually undisturbed. If not for the recent spiritual disturbances, it would have been an ideal place for secluded cultivation.

When Song Yan went to the outer sect’s Hall of Miscellaneous Affairs, he often saw other outer disciples taking on tasks like “spiritual rice maturation.” Generally, these tasks were assigned to disciples adept at water-type spells, and Song Yan had never thought he would be sent there himself.

This time, however, the mission seemed different.

“An outside mission always carries risk, even with inner disciples leading the team…”

For now, Song Yan set aside the Sword-Planting Method.

“I’ll wait until I return from the mission to decide…”

But although he could not yet practice the Sword-Planting Method, there was a technique within it that he could attempt beforehand.

Rather than a method, it was more a technique—a way to condense true essence of the sword.

Originally, the disciples of the Sword Sect would plant the sword seed in the Sword Palace, and as their spiritual power increased, sword energy would be gradually born within the Sword Palace.

By gathering this sword energy, one could refine the true essence of the sword.

At the end of the section on sword essence in The Art of Transformation, there was a note: if no sword energy was present, one could gather sword essence directly with spiritual power according to the method, though it was very draining and the power would be diminished.

Song Yan attempted it briefly; his progress was not slow, but the consumption of spiritual power was fierce. Condensing a single sword essence would likely take him half a month.

In addition, the Essentials of Sword Techniques included many “basic sword skills,” which were a timely boon for Song Yan, a novice to the way of the sword.

Most of the sect’s techniques required contribution points to exchange, and often these points could be traded directly for spirit stones. As a result, Song Yan had always been reluctant to spend them.

He had originally planned to exchange for an offensive spell before the mission, but now that he had the Essentials of Sword Techniques, he had saved himself a sum of contribution points.

“Time to keep the appointment…”

Song Yan rose to his feet.

Tonight was the “night market” Granny Qin had mentioned.

…

Night descended at the center of Lingyuan Marsh’s marketplace.

A young man and woman approached the entrance to the night market.

The youth kept adjusting the white wolf mask on his face, clearly unaccustomed to it.

“What are you doing?”

“Granny Qin, this mask has fur, it itches…”

“Bear with it! You’re not a child, stop fussing…”

Granny Qin wore no mask, but used a spell unknown to Song Yan to slightly alter her appearance.

Perhaps it was a woman’s obsession with beauty, but even after changing her looks, she still appeared as beautiful as a celestial maiden.

…

At the entrance stood a guard, an unremarkable-looking disciple of the Cave Abyss Sect.

“I am Chen Qi, steward of Lingyuan Marsh’s marketplace.”

“How should I address you two?”

Song Yan had the odd feeling that the man’s voice was familiar, as if he were one of the many sect disciples he passed by daily, just now in a different guise.

“I am Qin Yue.”

A false name, perhaps.

“Tong Chuping.”

Song Yan casually gave the name of someone long dead.

“Senior Brother Tong, Senior Sister Qin, the market’s entry fee is three spirit stones each…”

Song Yan paused and looked at Granny Qin.

Qin Xijun frowned and sent a message with spiritual sound: “What are you looking at? Pay.”

Me? I’m paying?

Reluctantly, Song Yan, suppressing his heartache, took out three spirit stones from his storage pouch.

“Uh… Senior Brother, it’s three stones per person…”

“What?!”

Just to enter, they charged three spirit stones each. Who knew if those so-called Blood Pills, Yin Puppets, or Rebirth Nails were worth the price!

Song Yan almost turned to leave, but Granny Qin suddenly slipped her delicate arm around his neck.

“Senior Brother, I want to go in…”

Qin Xijun rested her head on his shoulder, breath fragrant against his ear. “Take me in, won’t you…”

Song Yan was at a loss for words.

Honestly, who was Granny Qin putting on this act for…?

The plain-faced disciple only smiled at their “flirtation,” saying nothing.

Alas, best to pay up.

Six spirit stones left his hand, and Song Yan’s heart bled. Now he could barely afford the ingredients to make Qi-Nourishing Pills.

“Please wait, Senior Brother—”

“Yes?”

“One more stone.”

Song Yan froze, and a chill ran down his spine.

Chen Qi smiled amicably.

“The spirit pet counts as one.”