Xiang Xin's smile vanished as he looked into the distance, momentarily reminscing about the past.
His disciple had shown such promise when he was alive, establishing the record that Kenja had surpassed at the early age of nineteen, but once he had reached halfway through the Foundation Establishment stage, his cultivation halted for no reason. Regardless of the time and resources spent by him and Xiang Xin, he passed away after spending decades cultivating in private.
"I have no regrets, brother. If I could go back, I would do the same thing again. But you, brother…you should stop using the stick every time and give a little carrot. Are you going to wait till this youngling surpasses us, and he no longer needs your acknowledgment? What's the point in that?" reasoned Xiang Xin.
Huai Yi floated there quietly for several breaths before turning to the giant pair of eyes. "Leader, can I trouble you to summon the walls for all the 'Ethereal Blade' records?"
The pair of eyes looked at his brother with disinterest. There was no hope for a Qi Flourishing to overcome a non-Qi Flourishing record, so he was already unenthused towards summoning the Foundation Establishment challenge. From his point of view, this extra effort to bring out the Core Crystallization and Nascent Soul challenges was a waste of his time, but since his younger brother Huai Yi wished to show off a little bit, he didn't decline his request.
Before their eyes, three separate masses of water lifted into the air.
The first mass on the right hardened into a thick, rectangular block of what Kenja assumed to be 'ice'. Qi was visibly gathered and compressed into it. Its final appearance was not as refined as the cubes in Snail's drink with a slick, frosty surface and an impregnable aura that gave Kenja a feeling of helplessness.
While Ryuga was located at the center of the Freezing Desert, the city's geographical position and architectural layout shielded its citizens from the nightly below-freezing temperatures. Thus, ice itself was not something that the commonfolk could sample, requiring a specific spiritual tool to either freeze water or transport ice from out of the city. It was something only the rich could enjoy, and everyone else to imagine.
The second mass of water split into ten portions that became light-blue sheets of ice as thin as paper. Different from the block of ice that was several chi thick, these ultra-thin sheets of ice had a slippery, shiny sheen to them. Kenja could feel that they were not as flimsy as they appeared, each successive sheet emitting a fiercer, unbreakable feeling that could belittle the thick block of ice.
The third mass split into five portions that twisted into long threads of water, not letting a single drop of water escape. The strings of water continued to twist and stretch till they became imperceptible. The only way Kenja could tell they were still present was because of the deep-blue strands of aura levitating in the air and the menacing aura of danger that struck him when he looked in their direction.
Despite each formation being far above him in strength and understanding, he could easily differentiate which one belonged to which stage once they were lined up next to each other. If he were a blade of grass, the thick block of ice would be a tree, each sheet could represent a mountain, and each string contained its own ocean. Foundation Establishment, Core Crystallization and Nascent Soul—he was insignificant when placed next to any one of them.
Sakura slipped back out of Kenja's robe and examined all the ice walls while standing in one place. Within the few long days of knowing Sakura, he could tell she was excited even though she stood there motionless.
Huai Yi held his arms up and gestured to the three sets of ice in the air. "Brother Xin holds the record for both the Foundation Establishment and Core Crystallization challenges while I hold the record for the Nascent Soul challenge. When you can defeat any one of these challenges, I promise to give you my acknowledgment." Huai Yi paused to glance at Xiang Xin.
"Since you are still young, I will provide you my insight into the 'Ethereal Blade' technique that should help you along. While I am careful in granting others my favor, perhaps you have earned at least this much."
Xiang Xin smiled warmly at Huai Yi.
While this wasn't a pillar's acknowledgment that provided the disciple and sect with a blessing of Qi, getting this stubborn Huai Yi to do this much was his 'unofficial acknowledgment'.
The blame for Huai Yi's cautious nature lay with him after all. Not only was he an excellent successor to his master, but his granddisciple's failure caused Huai Yi to doubt future talents and avoid fostering relationships with them. He was proud and satisfied with Xiang Xin; he didn't want or need anyone else.
Since Sakura had left his clothes, Kenja clasped his hands and bowed more deeply than before. "Disciple thanks Granduncle for his consideration."
Huai Yi's lips momentarily tilted into a small smile before he covered his mouth and coughed.
Xiang Xin and the other spirits rolled their eyes at Huai Yi. Considering they were spiritual bodies, there was no reason for any one of them to cough.
"There are four basic principles to the 'Ethereal Blade' technique, and each challenge tests one of these principles. The first principle is 'Control'. Without maintaining your connection to the blade and controlling it per your will, the other three principles are meaningless. For this reason, proper control is the foundation one must master first…which you clearly have." Huai Yi nodded to himself as he remembered Kenja's insane performance from moments ago.
At this time, Snail crept out of his shell to see what was going on. He telepathically asked Kenja, "What are you doing?"
Kenja ignored him, giving his full attention to Huai Yi. It's been several days since he had listened to a lecture, and he hadn't realized how much he missed it. Almost every morning for three years, he peeked on the sect's lecture, and now he had gone several days without one. His brain was mentally salivating for this.
Besides, Kenja couldn't wind whisper all the way to Snail without his or Sakura's help, and he didn't plan on rudely interrupting Huai Yi to speak with him.
"The second principle is 'Power'. The 'Ethereal Blade' technique is used on more than just swords, but regardless of how good your control is, if you don't utilize enough Qi, you won't be able to move a pebble. This is what the Foundation Establishment challenge will test you on. The more power you supply to your sword, the deeper it will pierce the block of ice…"
Snail disliked being ignored, but he remembered that his disciple was still too weak to telepathically communicate with him from this distance. He took it upon himself to close the distance between them. He slithered to his feet, crawled up his leg and situated himself on his shoulder all the while ignoring Huai Yi.
"What are you doing, disciple?" Snail asked with a hint of boredom.
Kenja's eyebrows furrowed as he kept his eyes on Huai Yi and communicated with Snail, "What does it look like? I am listening to Granduncle's advice. Now leave me be."
Snail's eyestalks bent out of contempt after hearing Kenja's scornful reply.
"...the third principle is 'Reinforcement'. With proper reinforcement, glass can become harder than diamond. A simple incense stick won't bend or break, even under the weight of an elephant. Do not underestimate the importance of 'Reinforcement'. Once you have ascended to a higher cultivation, your body and skin will become elastic and durable beyond your wildest imaginations. Unless it was refined in a special process utilizing hard-to-obtain materials, a normal blade will crumble against your skin. If you fail to master this principle, you will likely be unable to utilize this technique in battle outside of the Foundation Establishment stage. This is what the Core Crystallization challenge tests, with each sheet sturdier than the last…" Huai Yi droned on as he gestured to the ultra-thin, ultra-hard sheets of ice.
Kenja's eyes glowed with a healthy luster at all this new information. The sect's manual that was given to him had a cursory explanation of this technique, so this lecture offered something new, detail-oriented and extremely enticing to the ever-studious Kenja.
Snail, on the other hand, had had enough. "Hey, I already know all this. Let's just break these records already and get out of here. I am bored…" Snail complained in a nagging tone.
Kenja was about to rebuke him when he saw Sakura jerk at Snail's words. Unable to contain herself any longer, the moment Huai Yi turned his back to them, she dashed to the front of the thick block of ice representing the Foundation Establishment challenge.
Kenja could still feel the link between Sakura and himself, but for some reason, she wasn't reacting to any of his commands or wishes. It felt like his messages were stopping halfway. As he continued trying to tell Sakura to stop, he felt Snail slither onto his neck. That's when he understood the reason why his messages were blocked.
Kenja reached for Snail's shell and pulled as hard as he could, but Snail wouldn't budge.
"I told you before, I can stick two Silver-Steppe Giraffes together."
No. You said Rhinoback Elephants, not these whatever-giraffes. Kenja did not waste his time correcting him though.
"Snail, stop."
Kenja could feel Sakura's power building up, fully intending to give her all in piercing the block of ice. About halfway through the block was a translucent yellow plane that most likely indicated the depth of Xiang Xin's record. As long as her tip pierced the yellow plane, she wins! Her rusted blade gave off a mean glare thanks to the wax that was still nourishing her surface.
"Stop what, disciple?"
Kenja was panicking a little bit. He was thorougly enjoying Huai Yi's lecture and prematurely interrupting it in such a manner would be disrespectful to Granduncle whom he had only feelings of appreciation and gratitude towards.
Kenja could feel Sakura was raring to go and she sent Kenja a message requesting permission, but his messages to her were continually blocked by Snail.
"Snail, tell her not to go right now!" Kenja vehemently ordered Snail as he turned away from Huai Yi and glared at him with full seriousness.
"Whatever you want, disciple. I'll tell her."
At this time, Huai Yi turned back to face Kenja who turned to look at him as well.
"...and the final principle is 'Sharpness'. Where 'Control' is the most important building block, 'Sharpness' is the strongest trait of your blade. Where 'Reinforcement' strengthens your blade so it won't break no matter what it faces, 'Sharpness' takes 'Reinforcement' a step further to make a blade that can cut anything. Where 'Power' allows you to topple a single strong foe, 'Sharpness' allows you to cut through several strong foes, one after another; for once something can sever the connection between Yin and Yang, then it can sever everything."
Huai Yi smiled at Kenja as he motioned to the imperceptible, strands of water. "This is what the Nascent Soul challenge tests. Each strand is sharper and stronger than the last one. You won't be able to undertake this test for a long time, but once you can, your sword spirit will be old enough to assist you. With it being a newborn spirit right now, it will split into two the moment it touches the first—"
A series of spine-chilling sounds of what sounded like glass shattering echoed throughout the basin, interrupting Huai Yi's lecture. Huai Yi opened his eyes to the sight of Kenja and Xiang Xin with their mouths wide-open in disbelief. Even his leader's giant pair of eyes were straining at something behind him.
Huai Yi turned around to see what happened only to have his lower jaw drop as well. He slumped with great incredulity, his pillar matching him by lowering itself several cun into the water and proferring some of its Qi to the sect.
Two big blocks, twenty thin sheets and ten strings of ice hung in the air as if nothing happened.
All the challenges were split perfectly in two…
Kenja was the first to recover from shock as he pinched his glabella and grinded his teeth in frustration.
"Snail, you said you would tell her!" Kenja claimed.
"What's wrong, disciple? I did tell her exactly what you said: 'To go right now!' She wouldn't go unless I swore it was exactly what you said. I don't know why you both keep doubting me, for I am the most honest and trustworthy Snail in existence." Snail straightened up his eyestalks and puffed his figurative chest out.
Kenja clenched his fists tightly.
"I said 'not to go right now!'"
Snail blinked twice at Kenja. "Oh…well I must have missed the 'not'. My apologies, disciple. I have been getting on in years, so you will have to forgive my ears."
Kenja was speechless, but not because he had nothing to say. In fact, there was a lot he wanted to say to Snail.
'Snails do not have ears!'
'The 'Wind Whispering' technique speaks to the mind directly, so you can't not hear part of the message!'
'Do you even age? If you are getting old, then maybe you should take it easy and go back to the forest to live out the rest of your life peacefully.'
He knew it was pointless to say anything to this Snail. Kenja turned to look at Sakura who was happily using one of the ten smaller strings in the air to whet herself, carelessly sliding her edge up and down the invisible thread that would easily split metal in two.
"Hmph…this bitch is such a show off," snorted the damning snail with a frown.