After Ji Xuerou left, the Piaomiao Sect experienced several consecutive rains. The bamboo forest at the foot of Bamboo Harvest Mountain was washed a verdant green. The damp mountain wind traveled among the peaks, always carrying a chill.
Wu Yan still went to practice her sword in front of the house before dawn every day. The clear, cold blade of Wu Nian swung, cutting even the morning mist, and deep sword marks were carved into the distant giant rock.
‘Still not enough.’
Looking at the densely packed marks on the giant rock, Wu Yan still wasn’t satisfied. Her current attack methods were still too singular. The only one she could commonly use was the Piaomiao Sword Arts. The Styx Ferry required too much Spiritual Power. And Illusion Sword · Mirror Flower Poem could only unleash its full power through Wu Yan (Inner). She had to master a move that was more powerful and could also serve as a main technique for prolonged combat.
“Oh, you want that kind of move? This one can teach you~” Wu Yan (Inner) sat on the roof, her slender, shapely calves exposed, bare feet swinging back and forth as she said with a grin. “As long as you say a few nice words in front of me, I can generously teach you a whole bunch of moves.”
“There’s no need for that.” Wu Yan firmly refused Wu Yan (Inner)’s offer.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to please Wu Yan (Inner). She was just well aware that the only sword technique Wu Yan (Inner) was skilled in was Illusion Sword · Mirror Flower Poem. She had discarded all other sword techniques after stepping onto the Demonic Path. Moreover, since falling to Demonic Possession, she had become obsessed with close-quarters combat, and the techniques she learned were all hand-to-hand moves. Wu Yan wasn’t good at that, and it wasn’t realistic to train from scratch in such a short time.
‘If only Xuerou were still here. Although I lost more often than won in our spars, the process constantly deepened my understanding and innovation of sword techniques.’
Maybe she should use that reward. After all, the Lingxiao Sect, as the number one sect under heaven, should have a collection of sword techniques that could meet her needs. And she could also see Xuerou.
“Hey, are you looking down on me again? I told you, you—”
“I didn’t mean that, Wu Yan (Inner).” Wu Yan spoke up, wanting to explain.
Usually when others were around, the two of them communicated through the Sea of Consciousness. But when they were alone, Wu Yan occasionally spoke aloud to Wu Yan (Inner). If she only communicated through Spirit Soul, she was afraid Wu Yan (Inner) would feel she wasn’t being taken seriously enough.
“Senior Sister!” Just as she was talking to Wu Yan (Inner), a small head suddenly popped up from the stone steps.
“Qingyao, why are you here?” Seeing Yu Qingyao at her residence so early in the morning, Wu Yan was obviously surprised.
“Of course I came to see what Senior Sister is doing so early.”
“I’m practicing sword. Do you want to join?”
“No need, Senior Sister. I just thought I heard you talking about something. Is there something going on?”
“Nothing, just pondering sword techniques.”
“Oh, so you were talking to yourself.” Yu Qingyao’s eyes curved, and she nodded thoughtfully. “I thought some annoying person was bothering Senior Sister.”
Qingyao seemed to have an ulterior meaning, but that shouldn’t be. After all, she didn’t know about Wu Yan (Inner)’s existence. Even Wu Yan (Inner), sitting on the roof, didn’t expect what illness had struck Yu Qingyao today—it was like she was targeting her.
“Is this dead ingrate targeting me?”
“That’s just your imagination. Qingyao doesn’t know you exist.” Wu Yan comforted Wu Yan (Inner) through Spirit Soul transmission.
Seeing that Wu Yan paused after hearing her words, the smile in Yu Qingyao’s eyes deepened. This feeling was quite interesting—being close to Senior Sister while messing with that female devil.
The autumn rain began to patter down again.
On the Main Peak, purple smoke curled within the vast Main Hall. The teacup on the desk was still steaming. The tall stack of documents on the left had only recently been handled by Xia Lingshuang.
On either side of the desk, Xia Lingshuang and the Sect Master sat facing each other across the table.
“Junior Sister, I might not be able to hold on much longer.” Behind the impenetrable golden light, the Piaomiao Sect Leader’s tone was exceptionally calm.
“Senior Sister—”
Even though she had anticipated it, when the Sect Master actually mentioned it, she still found it hard to believe. Her senior sister had once been on the verge of entering the Tribulation Transcendence Stage. If the heavens hadn’t been flawed and the immortal path blocked, her senior sister wouldn’t have had to choose that dangerous method from ancient texts to become an immortal.
The Sect Master merely shook her head. “Success or failure is already fated. I only hope that after I disappear, you can act as the Piaomiao Sect Leader. If she can return here, then she will naturally take up the responsibility again. If she cannot come back… then I hope you will become the Piaomiao Sect Leader.”
Xia Lingshuang lowered her eyes and said nothing. The tea leaves in her cup floated and sank, as uncertain as the current situation.
Leaving the Main Hall, Xia Lingshuang returned to Bamboo Harvest Mountain. But she didn’t go straight back to the main hall. Instead, she walked through the autumn rain and quietly came to Wu Yan’s residence.
After Xia Lingshuang was attacked by Demonic Cultivators and had her meridians severed, Wu Yan had requested to live away from her and Yu Qingyao in a cave dwelling. Only after returning from the Cangwu Secret Realm did Wu Yan move back to her original wooden house.
But just as she arrived, Xia Lingshuang could see from a distance the plain white figure dancing in the rain. Even though the moves being practiced were the simplest Piaomiao Sword Arts, their power was still extraordinary when wielded by Wu Yan.
As if sensing a familiar aura, Wu Yan turned her head and happened to see Xia Lingshuang.
“Disciple greets Master.”
“No need for formalities.” Xia Lingshuang came before Wu Yan. “You are practicing the Piaomiao Sword Arts?”
“Yes and no.” Wu Yan didn’t say it outright. “Your disciple is trying to comprehend some new techniques from the Piaomiao Sword Arts.”
If the previous Wu Yan (Inner) was a self-willed, violent and brutal blazing sun, then this Wu Yan (Yan) was the exact opposite. She had a righteous heart, was diligent and hardworking, respected her master and valued the way, and cared for her fellow disciples. She was the perfect disciple that everyone dreamed of.
“New techniques…” Xia Lingshuang thought for a moment, then took out an ancient book with a yellowed cover and handed it to Wu Yan. “See how this is?”
Wu Yan took the ancient book and saw three large characters on the cover—Cold Moon Art. It looked like the name of a cultivation technique.
Her slender fingers turned the pages. After seeing the contents, Wu Yan understood why Xia Lingshuang had given it to her.
“Master, this—”
“Does it meet your needs?”
“Of course it does. Master, where did you get this ancient book?”
“I found it in the Sutra Library.” Xia Lingshuang said it lightly, but that wasn’t the case.
She had only found clues about this ancient book in the Sutra Library. Then she spent a day and a night finding the location of the ancient book, the Moon-Reflecting Cold Pool. Finally, she defeated the Soul Transformation initial stage guardian beast to obtain the book. But compared to the malice Wu Yan had endured from her before, this was just a drop in the bucket.
“Since it suits you, train hard. One week from now, I want to see you wield it.”
“I will, Master.”