Chapter 30: No Longer Concerned

Which one should I choose?
There are so many options, and each one has its own merits, but unfortunately, I can only select one.

As for sword techniques, aside from the Xuantian Sect’s basic Xuanclear Sword Technique, she also had the Blazing Fire Sword Technique. She was already quite proficient in both.

Two sword techniques might seem a bit few, but her master still had plenty of other techniques suitable for her, just waiting for her to learn them!

Now, with Yu Heng acting as a ticking time bomb, she decided to choose the Shadowstep Technique.

Enhancing her speed might come in handy, especially when she needed to escape danger.

“Senior, I choose the Shadowstep Technique,” she said.

The elder was taken aback and looked at Ji Jiuxuan with a serious gaze. “Child, won’t you reconsider?”

He had heard before that this little girl possessed a natural sword body, and seeing her today, she indeed carried a faint yet distinct path of her own.

She was an exceptional talent. With such a rare opportunity, how could she choose a movement technique? Although this step technique was excellent, it was different from those sword techniques. If she mastered any one of the sword arts here, her sword intent would surely emerge.

To already possess sword intent at not quite four years old—such a thing was unheard of in this era.

“Senior, I am certain about choosing the Shadowstep Technique,” Ji Jiuxuan replied with unwavering determination. She already had sword techniques, and felt that their principles were fundamentally connected. She could continue to practice them, and when her speed improved enough to take on another skill, it wouldn’t be too late to seek another technique.

After all, she still had another chance to enter the Library Pavilion! If necessary, she could always return.

Whichever technique was chosen in the Library Pavilion would be automatically replicated into a similar manual upon exiting through the dimensional barrier.

“Thank you for your help, Senior. I’ve made my choice and will take my leave now.”

Seeing that she was resolved and already turning to leave, the elder hurriedly grabbed a sword manual at random from those that remained. “Wait, child, take this one as well.”

Ji Jiuxuan looked down at the book handed to her—it was the very first sword manual she had examined, the Lightfire Shadow Sword.

“But aren’t we only allowed to choose one? I’ve already made my choice, so I don’t need this one.” As she spoke, the Lightfire Shadow Sword manual seemed to bristle with displeasure, forcibly shoving aside the Shadowstep Technique.

She stood there, momentarily dumbfounded, and glanced at the other unchosen manuals. They all stood upright, refusing to return to their places.

Was she really so popular?

Are all Heaven-rank techniques this temperamental? They seemed to have developed their own distinct personalities, with tempers to match.

The elder couldn’t help but chuckle at the scene.

“This one is a gift,” he said. “Be sure to return and choose another when you’ve finished studying these two!”

Before Ji Jiuxuan could respond, she was swept out of the Library Pavilion.

The two manuals in her hands instantly transformed into jade slips.

She took a deep breath, tucked them away in her storage space, and stepped out of the formation.

Those outside watched her emerge with curiosity. The red token she had carried in had dissolved into starlight within the dark void as soon as she entered the Sutra Library.

“I heard you came to choose a new technique.” On her way back, Ji Jiuxuan ran into Tan Yuzhou, whom she hadn’t seen in a while.

At first, she had been wary, worried he would always tag along and make things inconvenient. But she soon realized he only followed her when she called for him; otherwise, he minded his own business.

Because of this, she’d gotten along with Tan Yuzhou quite well lately.

“Yes, I did. Are you planning to go in as well?” Maybe it was the result of cultivation, but Tan Yuzhou no longer looked as chubby as when she first met him—his frame had noticeably lengthened. Standing side by side, she realized he now stood a full head taller than her, which hadn’t been the case before.

“I do plan to, but not just yet.” He had been away training with his senior brother, and only upon returning did he hear the rumors circulating within the sect.

The first thing he’d thought of was to find Ji Jiuxuan and see how she was doing.

“Don’t pay attention to the rumors,” he said. “Those people don’t know your situation.”

His concern, coming from a friend, warmed her heart, even though she’d never cared much for Tan Yuzhou in the beginning.

Feeling mischievous, she smiled and teased, “And what is my situation?”

Tan Yuzhou furrowed his brow before relaxing. “You’ve worked hard. Even when you play, you make time for cultivation. Besides, with your abilities, even if things were as they say, you could still defeat them all easily.”

His words made Ji Jiuxuan laugh, her heart at ease. “Thank you. Don’t worry—I really don’t mind.”

Though the real culprit had already been punished, rumors had a way of spreading, unstoppable as long as people had mouths.

She couldn’t control what others chose to think or say. As long as she was at ease with herself, that was enough. If anyone dared cross her, she would make sure they regretted it.

The time she’d agreed upon with her granduncle was approaching, so she didn’t linger. Waving goodbye, she said, “I have something to do. See you later.”

Watching Ji Jiuxuan walk away, Tan Yuzhou realized that perhaps his worries had been unnecessary.

When she returned to the main peak, Ji Jiuxuan sent a message to Nie Xingyuan: “Uncle, I’ve left the Library Pavilion. Where are you?”

After their meeting yesterday, Nie Xingyuan had been busy again. With her grandfather absent, many matters of the sect required his attention.

His reply arrived swiftly: “Come to the main hall.”

Ji Jiuxuan didn’t hesitate. “Moonwhite, let’s go to the main hall.”

She had come to feel quite a kinship with the Moonwhite Rabbit—every time she went out, she seemed to run into it. Now that she could cultivate spirit herbs, she often brought some for the rabbit.

After several such encounters, the Moonwhite Rabbit had grown quite close to her.

They soon arrived at the main hall. She had expected her granduncle to be waiting outside—he rarely waited inside unless her grandfather was present, preferring to work in his own study.

Instinctively, she looked around, but saw no sign of her granduncle.

Just then, her grandfather’s voice sounded at her ear. “Xiao Jiu, come in.”

Her eyes sparkled with joy, and she ran quickly toward the main hall. The moment she entered, she saw her grandfather’s familiar, gentle smile.

She hurried over and stood before him, her heart overflowing with happiness. “Grandfather, you’re back!”

It had been quite a while since she’d last seen him, and she had missed him dearly.

“Have you suffered any grievances during this time, Xiao Jiu?” As soon as Qi Shuoyuan returned, he learned of all that had happened, and was furious at the instigator—he wished he could simply crush Yu Heng on the spot.

But this was the world of cultivation, not the mundane world; some things she would have to learn to handle on her own.

She had already cried to Nie Xingyuan before, and now her heart was light and untroubled. Ji Jiuxuan shook her head calmly. “Grandfather, I’m not bothered by it. Besides, I should be learning and growing—aren’t these just little stumbling blocks on the path of growth? I’ve already learned to step over them.”

Nie Xingyuan smiled at her, and Ji Jiuxuan met his gaze with a smile of her own, her look as if to say, “Well? Isn’t my resolve admirable?”