Chapter 203: Chapter 65 Quasi-Innate Sword Heart
 

Having secured a spot in the expedition to the Hundred Thousand Mountains, Senior Sister An’s attitude became even stricter during this period.

First, she aimed to train Junior Brother Ling’s “Sword Immortal Basic Skills,” specifically his reaction speed and response time. The method was to have him spar against Senior Sister An’s two swords with just a single sword.

After only a few days of practice, Ling Yunpo began to complain incessantly.

In the past, when I used my Two-Handed Sword Control against Senior Sister An’s, I was still not her match.

Now that I’m restricted to using only a single sword, isn’t that the same as cutting off my own arm and serving it to her on a platter?

I protest! There’s something wrong with this method of training!

He tentatively raised the issue several times, only to be outright rejected by his always-smiling Senior Sister.

Her reasoning was simple and straightforward: shed more tears during practice, bleed less in battle.

Indeed, during this period, sparring with Senior Sister An was far more than just sweating; it was about being hit until a grown man cried, nearly doubting whether one even had talent for swordsmanship.

When Ling Yunpo could no longer endure it, he could only secretly communicate with the Green Duckweed Sword and the Kunlun Mirror, devising a strategy to defeat Senior Sister An.

“Your Senior Sister seems to possess the talent of the ‘Innate Sword Heart,'” the Kunlun Mirror suddenly said.

“Innate Sword Heart?” Ling Yunpo said in surprise, “Isn’t that the exceptional aptitude that matches the Innate Sword Bone? And I remember, though often mentioned together, the Innate Sword Heart is actually slightly inferior to the Innate Sword Bone, so why can’t I beat Senior Sister?”

“That’s natural,” the Green Duckweed Sword said with a laugh, “The Innate Sword Heart enhances swordsmanship experience, but one can acquire swordsmanship experience through hard work, which doesn’t compare to the Innate Sword Bone’s enhancement of the Flying Sword itself.”

“However, at your current low realms, you are unable to unleash the power of high-rank Flying Swords, plus your Senior Sister has much more combat experience than you, that’s why you’re not her match.”

Ling Yunpo suddenly saw the light: Senior Sister’s talent lay in the software, mine in the hardware; poor software could be upgraded by downloading better versions, but poor hardware would require reincarnation to change.

“No, that’s not quite right,” the Kunlun Mirror said unsurely, “She probably doesn’t possess the ‘Innate Sword Heart’ yet, she merely has the potential and is starting to grasp the threshold of developing her aptitude… When she fully unlocks her talent, I think I will imprint her into the mirror as well.”

“That’s fine by me,” thought Ling Yunpo, considering that imprinting wouldn’t harm his Senior Sister, “But what is Senior Sister’s character template?”

“Protective,” replied the Kunlun Mirror.

“Indeed,” Ling Yunpo found it hard to disagree.

Externally, she was cold and cautious, but internally she was like a caring big sister, full of tenderness and warmth; describing her as “protective” couldn’t be more apt.

“Let’s get back to the matter at hand,” the Green Duckweed Sword said with a chuckle, “Her not fully developed Innate Sword Heart is actually a form of intuition that operates without conscious thought.”

“Since it is without thought, it can easily be misled or deceived. You should make your moves as I’ve taught you…”

Ling Yunpo immediately put what he learned into practice, using a variety of cunning tricks that made An Zhisu somewhat troubled and vexed.

However, she did not become frustrated or irritable; instead, she thought to herself that it was just like her Junior Brother to quickly find a way to counter her, and her Sword Control Technique became even sharper.

After about a month of practice, Ling Yunpo then performed a time-space travel to Kunlun.

[Location One: Kunlun Taiqing Sect, Golden Ridge.]

[Identity: Qiu Changtian.]

[Mirror Flower Water Moon Template overlay, time-space traveling in progress.]

Early in the morning, after Qiu Changtian finished discussing scriptures with his junior brothers and sisters, they all paid their respects to the Chief Disciple and then exited the cave dwelling one by one.

Yet Xu Yinglian remained behind as usual, without uttering a single word.

After her junior brothers and sisters left with suggestive expressions, Qiu Changtian finally opened his mouth to ask,

“What is it, Junior Sister? Have you gained new inspiration for a song?”

“Other than composing and playing together, is there no serious business to talk to you about?” Xu Yinglian raised an eyebrow and began to bicker with him, “Does Senior Brother think that I only come to bother you with personal matters?”

“Of course not,” Qiu Changtian replied with an easy laugh. However, with his invincible character setting accentuating the mood, it only seemed more hateful in Xu Yinglian’s eyes, “So, what important matter is it then, Junior Sister?”

Xu Yinglian took a moment to calm her emotions and then said,

“Great Granduncle wants to see you.”

“Great Granduncle?” Qiu Changtian was momentarily taken aback, then realized she was referring to Xu Changqing, the chief disciple of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

As the Ziwei Master was often busy with countless matters, if there was anything to command the disciples of the Foundation Establishment Realm, he would usually have Xu Changqing relay the message.

Therefore, Qiu Changtian joined Xu Yinglian to fly on their swords to Xu Changqing’s cave abode to see what their master had to delegate.

Upon entering the cave abode, they saw Xu Changqing seated on a stone bed, not dressed in the Kunlun robes but in plain white garment with his hair casually spread over his shoulders.

“Great Senior Brother,” Qiu Changtian greeted with a bow.

“Qiu Junior Brother,” Xu Changqing asked warmly, “How have your studies and cultivation been progressing recently? Do you have any questions?”

It was also the duty of the chief disciple to answer questions for other disciples in the Foundation Establishment Realm, so Qiu Changtian did not hold back and candidly spoke about a few difficulties from the Nine Heavens Clear Entrance True Mantra.

Xu Changqing pondered for a moment before explaining things in an easy-to-understand manner.

His answers were not as exquisite as those of the Ziwei Master but were straightforward and simple, which actually suited the junior brothers and sisters’ understanding better.

After the question session ended, Qiu Changtian thanked him profusely. Xu Changqing waved his hand to indicate it was unnecessary and said,

“Qiu Junior Brother, do you know… in a few days, I am going to form my Golden Core.”

“Core Formation?” Qiu Changtian asked in astonishment, “I heard it was still a few years away, wasn’t it?”

“Already I am one hundred and eighty-six years old,” Xu Changqing laughed heartily, “Along with the fortuitous encounters and resources I have acquired throughout my life, they roughly amount to two hundred and thirty years of Refining Mansion cultivation.”

“Although the Jade Mansion of my Dantian has been built, a Second Grade Golden Core is still far-fetched. If I continue to delay for a few more years, what purpose would it serve?”

Qiu Changtian remained silent, thinking to himself that it wasn’t quite that simple.

Ordinary cultivators usually chose to form their core at one hundred and ninety years of age. Although Xu Changqing had only four years left, if he traveled around visiting celestial caves, who could assure an unexpected encounter would not bring him several decades more of Refining Mansion cultivation?

Alright, a Second Grade Golden Core requires at least four hundred years, and there’s still a shortfall of one hundred and seventy years. The gap is indeed quite substantial…

“Ultimately, there is the foundation of a Third Grade Golden Core.” Qiu Changtian congratulated with a bow, “As long as the Core Formation and embryonic immortal formation go smoothly, ascending to the position of a Daluo Golden Immortal is not impossible.”

“I don’t want to think too far ahead for the moment,” Xu Changqing waved his hand, chuckling, “If I can successfully overcome the Third Grade Golden Core Heavenly Tribulation, I’ll owe a great deal of thanks to the Three Pure Ones.”

“Great Granduncle must not speak of such inauspicious words!” Xu Yinglian hastily interjected.

“No matter,” Xu Changqing stopped at the right time and then brought up the proper affairs with Qiu Changtian,

“The Sect Leader intends, on the day I undergo the tribulation, for you all to watch attentively from the periphery to feel and comprehend what exactly the Heavenly Tribulation is like.”