"Really? Then I want to learn!"
Fang Wang's eyes lit up as he hastily spoke. He was most skilled in swordsmanship, primarily because he always harbored the heart to traverse the Edge of the Sky with his sword, and moreover, the sword suited cultivators perfectly.
Just like the Sword Control Technique, according to Zhou Xue, every cultivator would learn it, which showed the universality of the sword in the path of cultivation.
Zhou Xue, without further ado, began to teach the sword technique, and Fang Wang listened attentively.
After a while,
Zhou Xue finished speaking and then stared at Fang Wang.
Fang Wang, however, furrowed his brows. He hesitated for a moment and said, "This sword technique is problematic. Although I have never cultivated a cultivation-based sword technique, all techniques share similarities, especially those belonging to the Sword Dao. I feel that practicing this sword technique according to your method wouldn't work."
He hadn't even entered the Heavenly Palace, which was enough to prove that this sword method was fake!
When Zhou Xue heard this, she was not angry; instead, appreciation shone in her eyes. She exclaimed in admiration, "Incredible. I can now affirm, besides your talents, your comprehension is truly exceptional. No wonder you could practice the Sword Control Technique to such a degree within seven days."
"Since you have already reached the sixth level of the Qi Cultivation Realm, continue your cultivation. Don't rush the spells. Once you enter the Great Abyss Gate, the first two years will be spent in arduous cultivation, primarily focusing on the realm of cultivation. The last three levels of the Qi Cultivation Realm are far more challenging than the first six, especially from the ninth level of the Qi Cultivation Realm to the Soul Sculpting Realm. The hardships involved are beyond your current imagination. If you can achieve the Soul Sculpting Realm within five years, then you can choose any spell from the Great Abyss Gate."
When Zhou Xue pinpointed Fang Wang's realm, Fang Wang was not surprised; after all, being reborn from an Immortal Venerable, it was normal for her to discern his cultivation level.
Fang Wang feigned dejection and said, "If I couldn't see through it, wouldn't I be practicing this sword technique in vain?"
Zhou Xue shook her head slightly and said, "It was just a test. Your natural talent and comprehension are indeed extraordinary, but you are ultimately a mortal. Mortals have limited lifespans; remember, cultivation is of utmost importance. Don't rely too much on your comprehension and spend most of your time delving into side paths."
Hearing this, Fang Wang had no choice but to give up.
He wasn't too disappointed. After all, the Solaris Scripture inherently contained Solaris True Fire, which, if applied to his Sword Control Technique and the martial arts he had mastered, would equate to the power of a spell.
Zhou Xue cautioned him a few words before rising and leaving.
Watching her retreating figure, Fang Wang became very curious about her cultivation realm.
His intuition told him that Zhou Xue had already embarked on the path of cultivation, and her cultivation was not weak, but she seemed to possess some spell for concealing her aura, making him unable to see through it.
Once Zhou Xue closed the door, Fang Wang stopped pondering and continued his cultivation.
Training was addictive, especially when his efforts were yielding results.
...
Under the blue sky, amidst the green mountains, three wagons continued forward, appearing very small within the majestic mountains, indistinguishable from pebbles in the eagle's eyes above.
Fang Wang leaned against the carriage door, holding the horse reins, enjoying the landscape along the way.
Thirteen days hadn't allowed him to break through to the seventh level of the Qi Cultivation Realm, but his spiritual power had increased significantly.
Thinking of his parents' reluctance at their parting, Fang Wang felt a bit sentimental yet more excited. It wasn't that he was cold-hearted, but having memories of his previous life, he felt affectionate towards this life's Fang Residence, though not to an inseparable extent.
He had long wanted to venture out, but in this ancient-like world, with bandits often looming outside the city, he had never stepped out of Southern Hills City from childhood till now. So, everything on the journey felt novel to him.
Zhou Xue emerged from the carriage and sat beside him, together appreciating the mountains and waters.
"How big do you think this world is, how much of it does Grand Qi occupy?" Fang Wang suddenly asked.
Looking into the distance, Zhou Xue answered, "It's vast, very vast. Grand Qi is but a speck in the sea. I heard from a senior that outside Grand Qi, there even exists a dynasty where everyone practices cultivation."
To cover up the matter of her rebirth and to establish her prestige, now, all the Fang Family Disciples knew that she had a cultivator senior guiding her.
"Everyone practicing cultivation? That must be formidable," Fang Wang said, lost in wonder.
Zhou Xue softly chuckled, "Perhaps Grand Qi will also transform into a Cultivation Dynasty in the future."
Perhaps?
That means it's true!
Since there were others in the carriage, Zhou Xue dared not reveal her knowledge, so she speculated instead. Fang Wang, naturally, understood this.
Could the Qi Dynasty truly transform from a Mortal Dynasty to a Cultivation Dynasty? No wonder Zhou Xue was willing to support the Fang Residence. Could it be that she wanted to establish a foothold in the future Qi Dynasty?
Fang Wang silently speculated. Zhou Xue perhaps had other intentions, but he did not reject them. After all, it was easy for an Immortal Venerable to support a power. Zhou Xue had not failed Fang Zhen's nurturing kindness, showing she still had a trace of kindness in her heart, at least not the Demonic Cultivator he imagined.
He had always been curious about why Zhou Xue was reborn—it surely couldn't have been during meditation, could it?
The two continued to chat idly as the sun gradually set.
At dusk, they stopped by a riverside mountain road to rest. The Fang Family Disciples started gathering wood to make a fire while Fang Wang found a spot to sit. He didn't need to do these trivial tasks; his only responsibility was to protect his clan members.
Including Fang Wang and Zhou Xue, there were nine people in total. Among them was Fang Hanyu, a young man who had achieved the status of a top expert. None of the three needed to gather firewood; the other six took care of that.
Fang Hanyu sat not far away, from time to time casting glances at Fang Wang, seemingly hesitating over something.
After struggling for a while, Fang Hanyu gritted his teeth, stood up, and walked over to Fang Wang.
Fang Wang opened his eyes to look at him and smiled, asking, "Han Yu, is there something you need?"
Although Fang Hanyu was two years older than Fang Wang, Fang Wang had had the mind of an adult when he was born, so he had always addressed his peers by their names directly, and Fang Hanyu had grown accustomed to it.
After that night, the two had no opportunity to talk. Even after leaving Southern Hills City for three days, Fang Hanyu and Fang Wang merely nodded to each other and never engaged in conversation.
"Fang Wang, Zhou Xue has taught us the basic Qi Gathering Method, and after practicing for half a month, I have barely managed to cultivate some Spiritual Power. Could you teach me the Sword Control Technique? I'd rather not disturb Zhou Xue..." Fang Hanyu said awkwardly, his gaze shifting, not daring to look at Fang Wang.
Fang Wang couldn't help but chuckle, stood up, and laughed, "Alright, Han Yu, I've been waiting for you to approach me, but it has been quite a while. I thought you had forgotten about me. When you were little, you used to do as I said immediately, but now you have grown up and become rather aloof, haven't you?"
Aloof?
Fang Hanyu couldn't help but laugh. He had always been accustomed to Fang Wang using such strange expressions and roughly understood their meanings. His face flushed slightly as he said a bit awkwardly, "After all, we haven't seen each other in many years. Don't mention our childhood. You used to make me crawl on the ground aiming to find meat buns, pretending to be a dog—I still remember that!"
The brothers grew more familiar and began to recall their childhood.
After chatting for a while, Fang Wang saw that Fang Hanyu had completely relaxed, so he began to teach him the Sword Control Technique.
It is worth mentioning that since they had left, Zhou Xue would always stay alone in the forest every night, not meeting anyone. Fang Wang knew she was a reborn person, so he wasn't worried about her safety.
This was the very reason Zhou Xue kept herself distant from the other Fang Family disciples and one reason why Fang Hanyu sought Fang Wang to learn the Sword Control Technique.
From that night on, Fang Wang taught Fang Hanyu the Sword Control Technique every night. It had to be said, the boy was truly a genius; three days later, he could make a wooden sword float.
This wooden sword was no ordinary one, it was a specially made Peach Wood Sword by Qingyi Daoist, which could be moved by Spiritual Power. Qingyi Daoist's entire legacy had been claimed by Zhou Xue. Hearing that Fang Wang was teaching the Sword Control Technique to Fang Hanyu, Zhou Xue lent him the wooden sword.
"Brother Han Yu is really amazing!"
"I haven't even managed to cultivate Spiritual Power yet, sigh, the gap is huge."
"Hahaha, Han Yu is a genius after all. Didn't Zhou Xue say that if one could cultivate a hint of Spiritual Power within six months, one would be eligible for cultivation?"
"The more powerful Han Yu is, the more confident we will be when we reach Great Abyss Gate, and we'll be able to look after each other."
Fang Hanyu, surrounded by his clan members, rarely showed a smile on his usually stern face, not out of pride but excitement for his achievement; his gaze rested on Fang Wang, who stood not far away by the lakeside.
In the early morning, Fang Wang and Zhou Xue stood by the lake, looking out at them from a distance. The mist over the lake made the scene resemble a mortal's fairyland, with the two of them looking like a matched pair made by heaven, seemingly on the verge of turning into immortals at any moment.
"Fang Hanyu indeed has commendable talents; it surprises me," Zhou Xue remarked appreciatively. In her eyes, these Fang Family disciples were not peers; she regarded them more like descendants, given she had lived through lifetimes, making her older than the history of the oldest families in the Grand Qi.
Hearing these words implied that in his original fate, Fang Hanyu would die on the night the Fang Residence was destroyed.
Fang Wang looked at Fang Hanyu and thought this, smiling, happy for Fang Hanyu.
"How many more days' journey is it to Great Abyss Gate?" Fang Wang asked.
He was already able to fly with a sword, but among his traveling companions were seven other clan members, including two young girls, who complained of being tired after walking for half a day, so they had to travel by carriage.
Zhou Xue, looking at these juvenile clan members, softly answered, "Three more days until we arrive."
She paused, then continued, "You might have noticed, the villages we encounter are becoming fewer. We're likely to encounter evil spirits and spirit demons on the road ahead, so be careful."
Evil spirits?
Spirit demons?
Fang Wang wasn't nervous but rather excited.
It was a perfect opportunity to test his Solaris Scripture!
As the sun rose, the Fang Family disciples excitedly packed their luggage and continued on their journey.
This mountainous area was rugged, with tall trees and dense flowers, and the mist made the woods seem magical, waking those who had wanted to sleep as the journey jolted.
By noon, Zhou Xue reined in her horse, then stood up and called out, "Everyone, pack your things and get off the carriage. We will be on foot from here."
Each carriage had three people: usually, they took turns sleeping—one leading the horse, one keeping a watch, and the last sleeping in the cart.
Soon, all the Fang Family disciples, save for Fang Wang, Zhou Xue, and Fang Hanyu, had dismounted, even the two young girls shouldering their own luggage.
Fang Wang glanced Zhou Xue's way, knowing she carried Qingyi Daoist's storage bag, curious about the size of its space inside.
According to Zhou Xue, storage bags, talisman paper, and flying swords were standard equipment for cultivators.
Zhou Xue drew the treasured sword from Fang Wang's waist and severed the ropes of all three carriages in one swift move.
"What is this for?" asked Fang Hanyu, surprised.
Zhou Xue replied, "Our journey to Great Abyss Gate may take years before we return, and we won't need the carriages when we do come back. Better to set them free than have them eaten by the ghosts in the mountains."
Ghosts!
At her words, the two Fang Family girls turned deathly pale, and the four boys and young men did likewise.
Zhou Xue tossed her hand, and the treasured sword flew through three meters of air, landing precisely back into the sheath at Fang Wang's waist, a feat that made everyone's eyes widen.
Fang Wang narrowed his eyes slightly, his hand trembling faintly, and thought to himself that the force and speed were remarkable; he grew increasingly curious about Zhou Xue's current level of cultivation.