Half a day ago ——
“Disciple Qingran pays respects to the Sect Leader!”
Li Qingran gave Su Qinian a graceful bow.
She had already passed all the tests and evaluations of the Sword Pavilion, successfully becoming a disciple.
It was only then that she realized that in order to snatch spirit stones, all four elders of the Sword Pavilion had been mobilized. The one who carried her flying was none other than the master sister of the Sword Pavilion, Yue Qianchi, the personal disciple taught by Su Qinian – the玄武sword master.
The disciples of the Sword Pavilion were few, and the sect buildings were dilapidated and shabby everywhere, exuding poverty.
On the way, she saw no more than a hundred disciples of the Sword Pavilion, and they all seemed a bit eccentric.
“Hahaha, Qingran, there’s no need to be so formal. Since you’ve come to our Sword Pavilion, we’re family now.” Su Qinian stroked his beard, leading Li Qingran to the sect square and laughed: “It was unfortunate to deceive you earlier by saying we were the Bluecloud Sect. At that time, with many people around, someone might have been watching us. We just pulled off a big job, so we must not be exposed. That’s why we had to resort to this plan.”
Li Qingran felt that robbery was not the righteous path, although the Sword Pavilion did not hurt anyone, it was indeed wrong. But when she thought that the Sword Pavilion might be her master’s sect, these small worries disappeared immediately.
She even began to understand Su Qinian somewhat. As a famous sect renowned for sword cultivation, if there was a choice, the Pavilion leader would definitely not lead the elders to rob. Apparently, they had been forced into such an extreme situation.
Such a thing would probably only happen once.
After the Sword Pavilion overcame its difficulties, such situations would certainly not occur again.
But soon after, she heard Elder Yuan Sanshi, who was short and stout, say: “Pavilion Leader, this time we gained quite a lot, as much as hundreds of thousands of lower-grade spirit stones, enough for us to consume for a while. Who should we rob next time?”
Su Qinian didn’t even think before answering: “A month later, the Central Continent Secret Realm, let’s have another round! What do you think?”
The elders were all delighted and bowed, saying: “The Pavilion Leader is wise!”
Li Qingran: “…”
Sorry, she takes back what she just thought.
Since Li Qingran was taken here, Su Qinian felt responsible for her. He had the elders line up and introduced them one by one:
“Qingran, our Sword Pavilion has six major peaks.
They are my Xuanwu Peak, cultivating Xuanwu sword intent, capable of splitting rocks and opening mountains, known as the heavy sword.
Elder Yuan’s Lingyun Peak, known for the first style of sword, with overwhelming momentum; Elder Li’s Concealed Sword Peak, focusing on the method of concealing swords, where swords are not easily unsheathed but will surely taste blood when drawn; Elder Wang’s Frostfall Cliff, cultivating the first frost sword in the world, with bone-chilling sword intent causing snow to fly across the mountain; Elder Wu’s Ruthless Peak, cultivating ruthless sword intent, where the sword edge can destroy bones and the sword intent can captivate souls.
In addition, there is a sixth peak, the Ten Thousand Swords Peak. However, none of us cultivate peerless sword intent, so there’s only a stone tablet for meditation there, without any elder to guide new disciples. I suggest you choose carefully.”
Seeing Li Qingran’s blank expression, Su Qinian stroked his beard and suggested:
“You have a single Water Spirit Root, and your dantian quality is exceptional, which is a rare talent for cultivation seen once in ten thousand years. I recommend you cultivate frost swords, under the guidance of Elder Wang. His Ice Core Sword Technique complements your Water Spirit Root, allowing your cultivation speed to progress rapidly.”
“Also, you must keep your exceptional dantian a secret, not telling anyone. Within the Sword Pavilion, the Sect Leader, various elders, seniors, and fellow disciples can protect you, but if you leave the Sword Pavilion, the world is full of dangers, and trouble may arise!”
“Qingran remembers,” Li Qingran came back to her senses and bowed deeply.
Before entering the Sword Pavilion for the talent test, she was worried that being identified with an exceptional dantian would cause chaos.
Unexpectedly, the Sect Leader and the elders were only surprised for a few seconds.
Later, through their conversations, she learned that among the disciples of the Sword Pavilion, there were more than thirty with graded dantians. The master sister Yue Qianchi had a second-grade dantian. Although her exceptional dantian was indeed a rarity seen once in a thousand years, within the Sword Pavilion, it wasn’t something to be overly astonished about.
The Sword Pavilion looks unremarkable because it doesn’t strive for contention.
Looking so impoverished, yet hiding deep secrets.
Just like a sword in its scabbard.
Perhaps the only thing that could stir the emotions of these sword cultivators was the lack of funds.
Although the Sect Leader recommended a good peak with elder guidance, Li Qingran did not forget her goal —— she wanted to become a medical cultivator.
To become a medical cultivator, the sword could not be her main focus.
Therefore, she could not join any of the peaks led by elders.
She didn’t want to have conflicts with the elders due to differing opinions in the future.
Thus, she bowed and said: “Disciple wishes to go to the sixth peak.”
Upon hearing Li Qingran’s choice, Su Qinian couldn’t help but smile wryly: “You still want to become a pill or medical cultivator?”
Li Qingran lowered her head and remained silent.
“Alright, then go to the sixth peak.”
Su Qinian didn’t force her, but reminded her:
“Judging from your perfectly matched inner skills, you likely already have a master. I’m not worried about you lacking techniques. Although our Sword Pavilion mainly focuses on sword cultivation, its depth surpasses any sect in the Cangyun Realm. Don’t look at the sparse population and the declining sect, when you enter the scripture hall, you’ll discover another realm.”
Li Qingran didn’t think the Sect Leader was exaggerating.
Because she heard absolute confidence and arrogance in his words.
Thus, the regret of not successfully entering the Spirit Intuition Valley diminished significantly.
Moreover, this place might really have something to do with her master?
Thinking of this, Li Qingran couldn’t help but ask.
“Sect Leader, Qingran dares to ask, do you know a senior surnamed Chen?”
“Surnamed Chen? A sword cultivator?” Su Qinian raised an eyebrow.
“Yes.”
“Aha, hahaha…” Su Qinian looked at Li Qingran’s expectant large eyes, turned his eyes, and deceived her: “Ah, yes, Elder Chen is our Sword Pavilion’s Great Elder, but he’s no longer in the Sword Pavilion. I don’t even know where he is, probably killing demons somewhere for fun!”
“I see!” A trace of joy arose in Li Qingran’s heart.
So this was really the sect where her master once stayed!
No wonder they all had the same style of flying swords.
“Hmm, cultivate well, when Elder Chen returns, I’ll introduce you to him.” Su Qinian nodded and said: “Elder Chen is very strict with disciples, he wouldn’t want to meet those without strength, you need to enhance your power and realm.”
“Yes! Disciple remembers!” Li Qingran bowed again, her face filled with smiles.
“Alright, go with your senior sister to choose a cave dwelling.”
Su Qinian gave Yue Qianchi a glance.
Yue Qianchi understood and immediately took Li Qingran away.
…
“Pavilion Leader, does our Sword Pavilion really have a Great Elder surnamed Chen?”
“There’s nothing like that!”
“Then how…”
“This little girl has an exceptional dantian and a single Water Spirit Root, if she seriously cultivates swords, she will surely have a brilliant future. She asked so urgently about the sword cultivator surnamed Chen, it must be the master who bestowed her water-phase technique, but for some reason, left her behind. Therefore, I intentionally said that.”
Su Qinian stroked his hands, gazing at the vast sea of clouds below the mountain gate, with a distant gaze:
“Would you bear to see such a genius waste away in the hopeless path of medical and pill cultivation?
Now is the era of great competition, not peace. The Purple Star is dim, and calamity is approaching. Only the sword at your waist can protect yourself. Medical and pill cultivators, though seemingly promising, when truly angered, they would still dismantle your medicine shop and kick over your alchemy stove, leaving you powerless! This is my appreciation for talent.”
Hearing this, the elders exchanged glances, suddenly enlightened, and bowed low:
“The Pavilion Leader is wise!”
…
