The Outer Sect of the Heavenly Sword Sect, seen from afar, was no different from a small town.
Stone houses, corridors, tall towers, training grounds… all connected by paths paved with blue stone, so clean that even sunlight reflecting down cast back a faint sheen.
At the center stood the Outer Sect Plaza, a vast open ground laid with solid slabs of blue stone, each slab as large as an entire door.
From that plaza, buildings of varying sizes spread outward in all directions like petals unfolding.
The Transmission Hall lay along the eastern edge of the plaza.
Not tall.
Not large.
Yet standing there, it carried a distinct presence.
Gray stone walls, curved roofs tiled in green, and before the entrance hung a wooden plaque aged by time, upon it carved three characters — “Transmission Hall” — written in strokes sharp as a sword’s edge.
Beside the structure rose the Ninefold Qi Refining Tower, soaring like a sword thrust straight into the sky.
The contrast between a majestic tower and a modest lecture hall… only made the Transmission Hall appear even more tranquil.
Stepping inside…
The space widened unexpectedly.
Polished blackwood pillars.
Stone floors clean enough to reflect one’s image.
Desks and chairs arranged in orderly rows, enough to hold several classes at once.
Light streamed through the windows, falling upon bamboo scrolls hanging on the walls — each recording the most fundamental teachings of cultivation.
No grandeur.
No display.
Yet there was a seriousness that made anyone who entered instinctively straighten their back.
Early in the morning,
more than forty newly admitted outer disciples had gathered in the main hall of the Transmission Hall.
Not one missing.
This place rarely saw such liveliness.
Outer disciples who had cultivated for years were mostly accustomed to studying techniques on their own; few still had the patience to sit and listen to lectures.
Only when new disciples entered the sect did the Transmission Hall truly see visitors.
Yang Feng stood among the crowd, expression calm, eyes quietly observing.
Before long, a figure stepped out from behind the inner chamber.
The entire hall fell silent.
The woman wore a pale green robe, wide sleeves flowing, the hem brushing the ground.
Her figure was tall, her curves distinct — especially at the chest… full enough that quite a few male disciples instinctively shifted their gaze away, only to steal another glance despite themselves.
Yet what drew attention more than anything else was her bearing.
She stood there, features delicate, demeanor gentle, but her eyes were steady. Firm.
Those were the eyes of one who had passed Qi Refinement and truly set foot upon the path of cultivation, no longer a naive dreamer.
She was Su Xueni.
Senior disciple of One-Sword Peak.
Mid-stage Foundation realm.
And it was the first time she stood here, lecturing the outer disciples.
“Junior brothers, junior sisters.”
Her voice sounded gently, not loud, yet clear enough for all to hear.
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“To sit here today, you all are fortunate.”
“The Lan Feng Realm is vast, living beings without number. Yet those who can open their spiritual meridians, guide Spiritual Qi into the body, gather it within the dantian, and step onto the path of immortality… are exceedingly rare.”
“For most people, a lifetime passes as mortals.”
Quite a few disciples grew solemn.
“Having stepped onto this path,” Su Xueni continued, “each of you must know how to cherish it.”
She did not rush; every word was clear.
“Spiritual Qi allows the body to be tempered, the meridians to be opened. You all are currently in early Qi Refinement. Your meridians are open, and Spiritual Qi can circulate freely.”
“But merely absorbing Spiritual Qi… is not enough.”
“What you must do at this stage is temper the body.”
She raised three fingers.
“Body tempering is divided into three layers: skin, bone, and organs.”
“The body is extremely important…”
Between two cultivators of equal realm, the one with stronger physique and greater endurance clearly holds the greater advantage.”
She paused briefly, then moved to the core.
“The dantian is where Spiritual Qi is absorbed, stored, and released. When Spiritual Qi accumulates to a certain degree, the dantian will no longer be sufficient.”
“At that point, cultivation advances, and we must break through realms to expand the dantian, allowing it to undergo transformation.”
“From Qi Refinement to Foundation.”
“From Foundation to Golden Core.”
“Golden Core to Nascent Soul… then Deity Transformation.”
Many disciples’ eyes brightened.
But Su Xueni shook her head.
“If breakthrough were truly that simple,” she said, “then cultivation would not be called defying the heavens.”
“To cross a bottleneck, a catalyst is required.”
“Every major realm requires a spiritual elixir and a heavenly treasure as catalyst.”
“For example, breaking from Qi Refinement to Foundation.”
“Most cultivators choose a mid-grade Foundation Elixir, achieving Earth Foundation.”
“But a mid-grade Foundation Elixir is not easy to obtain.”
“In addition to base spiritual herbs, it requires at least one of three heavenly treasures as a catalyst.”
She listed them one by one:
Greenwood Spirit Fruit, a century-old fruit that nourishes the dantian.
Jade Marrow Spirit Spring, pure spiritual water that expands the meridians.
Mysterious Leaf Spirit Herb, a rare herb that strengthens the physique.
“With these,” she said, “the dantian is reinforced, and the cultivator can withstand the force of breakthrough.”
“But Earth Foundation will still be examined by the Heavenly Dao, possibly leading to lightning punishment.”
The atmosphere in the hall grew heavy.
“If one possesses all three heavenly treasures,” Su Xueni continued, “and they are refined by an alchemist of at least third rank, then a high-grade Foundation Elixir may be produced.”
“One who breaks through with that elixir will achieve Heaven Foundation.”
“The dantian expands further, the body grows stronger, strength far surpasses Earth Foundation.”
“Such individuals… are called heaven’s chosen.”
“But,” she said slowly, “Heaven Foundation will one hundred percent face lightning tribulation.”
Several swallowed dryly.
“There is one more path,” Su Xueni frowned faintly, “a path no one wishes to take.”
“Mortal Foundation.”
“With only a Low-grade Foundation Elixir. No heavenly treasures. No scrutiny from the Heavenly Dao. No lightning punishment.”
“But in exchange… strength barely increases, the dantian expands little.”
“To speak plainly,” she said, “it merely prolongs lifespan, slipping beneath the rules of Heaven.”
“In our sect, no one walks this path.”
“Because we have resources.”
“And… we have time.”
At this point, Yang Feng spoke.
“Then… senior sister.”
“If one tempers the body, cultivates Spiritual Qi, and must also complete missions to accumulate contribution points…”
“How long would it take to accomplish everything?”
“Copper skin, silver bones… at least several years.”
“To withstand lightning punishment at Foundation, copper skin is the minimum.”
“In that case… is it not too long?”
Murmurs rose within the hall.
Several turned to look at him as though he did not know the height of heaven and the depth of earth.
Yang Feng did not care.
He was only asking what he truly wished to know.
He wanted,
Fast.
Su Xueni looked at him for a moment, then exhaled softly.
“What are you in such a hurry for?”
Yang Feng lowered his head, but his gaze did not waver.
“…”
Su Xueni continued.
“As a cultivator, do you think cultivation is a matter of one or two years?”
“Outer disciples remaining in Qi Refinement for five to seven years, even over ten years, is entirely normal.”
“Every five years, outer disciples may exchange contribution points for a mid-grade Foundation Elixir.”
“If fortune favors you and you gather enough heavenly treasures, you may ask an alchemist within the sect to refine a high-grade Foundation Elixir.”
“So long as you are diligent.”
“Anything can be attained!”
Yang Feng asked again in a low voice:
“But… if contribution points are exchanged for cultivation time within the Ninefold Qi Refining Tower, would that not be faster?”
Su Xueni frowned.
“Are you pretending to be foolish, or was I not clear enough?”
“You have plenty of time.”
Her voice hardened.
“Why rush to break through Foundation?”
“Strength is not merely cultivation realm.”
“Body tempering.”
“Study an Inner Cultivation Method.”
“Sword Arts… each requires time.”
“That is why many within the sect spend decades before reaching Foundation.”
“Heaven’s chosen… are not obtained simply by wishing.”
She paused, her tone heavy:
“Haste leads to no achievement.”
Yang Feng fell silent.
But in his heart there was only one sentence:
“If I am slow… I will die before I achieve anything.”
The lecture ended.
Disciples left the Transmission Hall one after another.
Only Yang Feng remained still.
The sect’s path was laid out clearly.
Temper the body step by step.
Accumulate contribution points.
Exchange for a mid-grade Foundation Elixir every five years.
If fortune allows, gather heavenly treasures.
Break through Earth Foundation, perhaps even Heaven Foundation.
Complete.
Stable.
Recognized by all.
But those five years… who could guarantee he would still be alive?
Qi Refinement was the lowest tier.
The ones sent out most often.
The ones who died the most.
Not a few never even saw lightning tribulation,
already dead in some forgotten corner.
Yang Feng did not wish to be one of them.
He did not need to be heaven’s chosen.
He needed to live.
If that stable path demanded he wait five years,
and those five years might not even exist…
Then he would choose another path.
Even if scorned.
Even if called trash.
So long as he could step into Foundation one day earlier.
That was enough.
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