Chapter 70: The Will of the Sword

The elegant sword technique flowed effortlessly from her heart; though at first there was a sense of stiffness, gradually it became increasingly smooth, and even took on an elusive, ethereal quality. She practiced countless times, until the entire set of movements seemed to have been transplanted directly from her mind, carrying a fierce, murderous aura.

The wind rose and swept around her, and the spiritual energy in the air began to ripple slightly. With a thunderous boom, an array of yin and yang appeared behind Ji Jiuxuan. Two yin-yang fish swam within it, their formidable power infusing her swordplay, while her cultivation method operated naturally in her core, resonating with the yin-yang formation.

Ji Jiuxuan immersed herself completely, each strike of the sword becoming sharper under the influence of the yin-yang fish. Unconsciously, her movements grew quicker with every repetition, and the whole set gradually deviated from the form practiced by Misty Dumpling, evolving into a style uniquely her own.

“Ding! Reminder to host: the allotted time is up. Please finish your cultivation promptly, or the punishment mode will be activated.”

That untimely interruption from the system brought Ji Jiuxuan back to herself. With previous experience, she quickly withdrew her sword and stood still. The moment she closed her eyes again, the entire sword technique surfaced naturally in her mind, now utterly transformed from its original version.

The surrounding spiritual energy surged rapidly, condensing within her core to such an intensity that the system urgently shouted, “Advance! Quickly, advance!”

Though puzzled, Ji Jiuxuan followed the instruction, channeling her cultivation method as spiritual energy flooded in even faster. Outside, Zhou Guangsheng, observing the violent turbulence of spiritual energy, was astonished. He watched the little girl at the center of the array with a serious expression, formed a seal with his hands, and altered the formation, alleviating the discomfort Ji Jiuxuan felt during her advancement.

At that moment, Ji Jiuxuan sensed her core expand with a sudden surge. The previously unstable energy within was soothed and finally settled into calm, absorbing spiritual energy quietly as it always had.

Once everything was stable, Ji Jiuxuan found time to question the system, “Why did I advance early? Isn’t advancement supposed to happen naturally once the time comes?”

“Did you not notice your core was about to burst?” The influx of spiritual power was overwhelming and her core couldn’t assimilate it all at once, posing a real danger.

She had indeed felt something unusual in her core recently, though she thought it was simply not enough accumulation yet.

The system, recognizing her thoughts, reminded her, “Host, have you forgotten you forcibly suppressed your cultivation before?”

She recalled this. “Is it related?”

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She had wondered why, despite being on the verge of advancing to the eighth level of Qi Refinement, nothing had happened for so long, assuming it was just a matter of insufficient progress.

“It is related. Your cultivation method is extraordinary, and now you unconsciously control your advancement. It’s entirely up to you.”

The host had read many manuals, nearly finishing the entire library, but her unique method set her apart.

Ji Jiuxuan pondered, “So, from now on, I must advance by my own will?”

“No, simply put, when you suppressed your cultivation at the eighth level, it delayed your advancement until now. Each future breakthrough will be at the extreme edge, just like today.”

Earlier, the system had panicked because her core nearly burst, so, “Will I have to worry about my core exploding and dying every time from now on?”

That was frightening. “Is there a way to improve this?”

“Rest assured. Since you didn’t burst today, you won’t in the future, as long as you don’t suppress your cultivation again.”

Knowing the host didn’t fully understand, the system explained, “Actually, this is beneficial. Your core is more condensed than others, your spiritual power is greater and stronger. In competitions of the same level, I dare say you will be unrivaled.”

Ji Jiuxuan was not the type to fret over her circumstances, always optimistic. She considered it carefully and realized she had gained more than she lost, so as long as she avoided suppressing her cultivation again, there would be no problem.

She exited her cultivation and faced her master, Zhou Guangsheng, whose kind face exuded the aura of a true immortal.

To outsiders, he appeared stern and dignified, but with her, he was always gentle.

“Master!” The lingering resonance of her advancement still surrounded her. She sensed that at the eighth level of Qi Refinement, her absorption of spiritual energy was markedly faster than before.

“Ah Jiu, the method you just used—I’ve never seen it before.”

Ji Jiuxuan knew her master rarely asked about such things, so if he did, there must be a reason. She explained how she had encountered the Wine Demon, who performed this sword technique in hopes of persuading her to stay.

Zhou Guangsheng crouched down, looked at her seriously, and asked, “I have never asked you this, Ah Jiu: why do you practice the sword? What is your purpose?”

Why practice the sword?

Ji Jiuxuan was puzzled. She had never considered this question before.

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From a young age, her Aunt Wen Ying had guided her in practicing the foundational sword technique, Profound Clear Sword. After being tested as a born sword body, everyone simply assumed she was suited for sword cultivation, and even she thought so herself.

But why practice the sword? What is its purpose?

“Master, I’ve never thought about that.”

Her honesty prompted Zhou Guangsheng to guide her seriously, “The sword can defend, and it can kill. Some people practice the sword to protect those they cherish, becoming a sword of guardianship. Others, unwilling to be bullied, take the initiative and wield the sword for slaughter.”

Protection and killing?

She had always been protected, but she wanted to protect others too, and not be bullied. “Master, can’t protection and killing coexist? If I follow the path in my heart, what does it matter if it's for defense or for slaughter?”

Zhou Guangsheng smiled, “I was being narrow-minded. One should not be limited by reality. The sword can defend or kill, but Ah Jiu, you must know—balancing both is difficult, and walking this path is not easy.”

“Master, in my view, if one kills without protecting, they become merely a tool for murder. If one only protects without the resolve to kill, they are easily restricted by reality. But with decisive strength, no one dares to bully.”

Without further guidance, Ji Jiuxuan suddenly felt her mind become clear, entering a mysterious state. Her eyes closed naturally as she sensed everything around her.

The Child’s Sword, still unsheathed, gave a resonant cry, and every sword in the Academic Palace echoed in response.

Such commotion astonished everyone in the palace, and many grew curious—who was experiencing such enlightenment in swordsmanship?

Some tried to investigate, but found nothing.

Those who achieve sword intent can become great figures. This phenomenon made everyone eager to identify the source—after all, paying homage to such a person would be worthwhile.

Ji Jiuxuan had no idea the palace was in an uproar over her sword intent. Shielded by Zhou Guangsheng, she was well protected—even the ancestors of the sect would not be able to discover who was responsible.

As she opened her eyes again, a beam of sword light flickered across her gaze.