Chapter Fifty-Nine: The Second-Rank Azurewood Technique

A sudden resolve appeared on Zisu’s face. She dropped to her knees, facing Jiang Yan, bowing low to the ground. “Master Jiang, Zisu begs you to accept her as your disciple.” Having witnessed the power of Mount Hua, Zisu no longer hesitated; to avenge her master, joining Mount Hua was undoubtedly a path of hope.

Jiang Yan was pleased by her words. Zisu’s aptitude was above average; she cultivated a mid-grade Water Transformation Technique yet her cultivation rivaled disciples from the Golden Flame Sect who practiced high-grade techniques. In other words, Zisu was the most gifted cultivator Jiang Yan could currently judge—setting aside the few prodigies of Mount Hua who had taken the Bone Transformation Pill.

Watching Zisu kneel, Jiang Yan, seated cross-legged upon a meditation cushion, waved his robe sleeve. Spiritual power surged forth, gently lifting Zisu up. Jiang Yan spoke in a deep voice, “Zisu, though your sect is gone, changing allegiance is a grave taboo for cultivators. In the domain of Linqing Prefecture, can you bear the reproach of others?”

Zisu’s body trembled slightly. The thought of facing future scorn and scrutiny felt like thorns pressing against her back. In Linqing Prefecture, leaving one’s sect was a crime; switching allegiances was even more despised by cultivators. Though the Purple Robe Sect had perished, Zisu would not escape the whispers and pointing fingers.

Yet, recalling the bloody enmity against her master, Zisu gritted her silver teeth. “I am willing. Even if thousands point their fingers, I only ask for the chance to avenge my master.”

A hint of joy appeared on Jiang Yan’s face. Exceptional talent does not guarantee greatness, but paired with such resolve, Zisu had every hope of becoming a powerful cultivator.

“Very well. As you wish, I permit you to enter Mount Hua as my disciple.” Jiang Yan announced his decision.

Zisu’s delicate face quivered slightly. With this moment, she was no longer a disciple of the Purple Robe Sect. Master Jiang was willing to accept her; from now on, she must devote herself wholeheartedly as a disciple of Mount Hua, harboring no other thoughts.

“But… but, Sect Leader, you’ve already accepted Ah Qian as your senior disciple. How should Ah Qian address her?” Sun Yang stammered from the crowd. Zisu’s beauty was so dazzling that Sun Yang—a shy youth—did not dare to look up at her, only mumbling his words.

Curiosity crossed Jiang Yan’s face. Sun Yang, too, was a resolute youth. Facing Zisu’s sixth-level Qi Refining aura, Mu Yun had already yielded, yet Sun Yang, a mere mortal, still stood up for his brother. He seemed a promising seedling. Jiang Yan turned his gaze to Ning Qian, full of inquiry; he wished to hear his newly accepted disciple’s thoughts.

Ning Qian pondered for a moment, choosing his words carefully. “Master, though I was the first to join your tutelage, I have not yet cultivated. If I, a mortal, were made senior, perhaps my peers would object. Yet relinquishing the senior disciple position is also impossible. I vow: if three years from now my strength is less than this fellow disciple’s, I will willingly acknowledge her as my senior.”

Zisu cast a cold glance at Ning Qian, full of disdain. She neither objected nor agreed to his vow. It was not arrogance, but Ning Qian was simply a mortal, with nothing worthy of Zisu’s respect. If it were not for her being new to Mount Hua, with her temperament, she might have already contested the senior disciple position.

Jiang Yan stroked his smooth chin approvingly. “Three years, hmm… Very well. Since you have this resolve, as your master, I will assist you. Take this Green Wood Technique and familiarize yourself with it. In three days, I will personally protect you as you break through to the third level of Qi Refining. That way, your starting point won’t be too low.”

Zisu was taken aback by these words, gazing at Jiang Yan in shock. “Break through to the third level of Qi Refining in three days for a mortal… Only the legendary Heavenly Spirit Pill or Earth Spirit Pill could achieve such a feat!”

...

Mount Hua, rear mountains, beside the Grade One Spiritual Field

Jiang Yan held a broad scroll of runes in his hand, frowning as he surveyed the environment around the spiritual field. The surrounding area was encircled by a dense forest, lush and verdant in summer. Within the field, the spiritual grain grew well; by his estimation, Mount Hua’s first harvest would be ready in just over ten days.

According to the sect leader system’s task requirements, the best place to construct the alchemy room was beside the spiritual field. Yet, seeing the abundance of trees, Jiang Yan felt a headache coming on—clearing them alone would be a considerable effort.

With a flourish, Jiang Yan unfurled the rune blueprint, which expanded in the wind to the height of a building. He turned his wrist, producing four wooden puppets. With a thought, spiritual power surged into them.

“Go!” Jiang Yan commanded, tossing the puppets outward.

Buzzing, the wooden puppets tumbled through the air, bodies glowing with a faint green light, rapidly growing in size until they stood taller than a man upon landing.

Without instruction, the four puppets quickly secured the corners of the rune scroll. They began felling trees, clearing the foundation, and chopping rocks...

Jiang Yan sat cross-legged beside the spiritual field, taking advantage of the construction interval to begin cultivating the Grade One High-Level Green Wood Technique.

The mid-level Green Wood Technique could establish five meridians within a cultivator, enabling them to reach the sixth level of Qi Refining. Last time Jiang Yan returned to the mountain, he had overused the Earth-Borne Golden Light Technique, exhausting his spiritual power several times, but ultimately broke through to the seventh level of Qi Refining, becoming a high-level practitioner. However, seventh level was the peak for the mid-level technique. To progress further, he needed the high-level Green Wood Technique.

The high-level Green Wood Technique only established three meridians, two fewer than the mid-level, but these three were the most important in the body. With them, all meridians were opened, and to advance to the Foundation Establishment stage, the cultivator only needed to break through the constraints between the meridians, reach the great perfection realm, and form a spiritual base within—thus achieving Foundation Establishment.

Jiang Yan had memorized the high-level Green Wood Technique, but for caution, he decided to consult the secret manual one last time. With a flick of his hand, a manual appeared, along with a jade talisman.

“Grade Two Green Wood Technique,” Jiang Yan suddenly recalled: during completion of the sect’s main quest, the system had bestowed the incantation for the Grade Two Mid-Level Green Wood Technique. He hadn’t paid attention to the manual at the time, but now, when he accessed the sect leader’s ring, he had retrieved both the Green Wood manual and the incantation.

Jiang Yan was curious. How should he learn this jade talisman version of the Green Wood Technique?

The jade talisman glowed with a gentle green, complementing Jiang Yan’s palm with a lustrous hue. A thought arose: could it be read with divine sense? Grade Two techniques were typically only cultivated after reaching the great perfection of Qi Refining; the better ones required Foundation Establishment. Jiang Yan guessed the talisman was meant for divine sense cultivation.

He carefully enveloped the talisman with his divine sense, but after observing for a long while, he found nothing of note.

“Is it not meant to be read with divine sense?” Jiang Yan held the talisman up to the sunlight. The noon light shone through, painting his face green. He scrutinized it for some time, but saw nothing unusual.

Frustrated, Jiang Yan pressed the talisman against his forehead. “Must I really wait until Foundation Establishment to practice a Grade Two technique?” He felt regret; the power of a Grade Two technique must be immense, and not being able to cultivate it now was a pity.

Buzz, buzz...

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