On the outer perimeter of the Scarlet Flame Mountain Range, he had finally discovered Scarlet Flame Crystal Marrow within a crimson rock face.
Unlike ordinary spiritual ores, this material was concealed deep within the rock strata and had to be stripped away bit by bit using spiritual energy; otherwise, the essence within would dissipate.
It took Gu Yanqing half a day to gather an amount sufficient for a period of cultivation.
On the other side, Shen Wanwan and Fang Shouyi had likewise dispatched several low-rank demon beasts that had closed in on them.
Holding a demon core, a rare smile appeared on Fang Shouyi’s face.
“Third Miss, with this, the mission assigned by the Sect Master is complete.”
“We can return to the sect to report our mission.”
Sitting on a nearby boulder, Shen Wanwan was flipping through a map.
Hearing his words, she did not even raise her head.
“Return to the sect for what?”
Fang Shouyi froze.
“Huh?”
“It wasn't easy getting out for once. Why would we go back after staying only a few days?”
Shen Wanwan pointed to several locations on the map.
“There’s a spirit spring here, a market here, and this place is said to have delicious spirit food.”
“Since we're finally out, shouldn't we look around more?”
Fang Shouyi hesitated.
“Third Miss, but the Sect Master said—”
Smack.
His head took another hit.
“Why do you love using my father to pressure me so much?”
“I was only reminding you—”
“Shut up.”
“Oh.”
Standing off to the side watching their interaction, Gu Yanqing had grown completely accustomed to it.
The dynamic between the two was truly bizarre.
One was responsible for being angry, the other for taking the scolding.
Crucially, the one being scolded had absolutely no idea why he was being scolded in the first place.
...
Gu Yanqing stowed away the Scarlet Flame Crystal Marrow.
He prepared to leave. After all, his objective was fulfilled; there was no need to remain here any longer.
“You two.”
He walked over.
Shen Wanwan looked up at him.
“You're leaving?”
“Yes, I’ve found what I needed and plan to return to my sect.”
Fang Shouyi immediately stood up.
“Senior Brother Gu, thank you for looking after us along the way.”
“If not for your assistance these past few days, finding the demon beasts would not have gone nearly so smoothly.”
“Should the opportunity arise in the future, I will certainly repay you.”
Gu Yanqing gave a faint smile.
“No need to be so formal. We merely traveled together for a few days.”
Having said that, he looked toward Shen Wanwan.
Shen Wanwan didn't show any particular reaction.
She looked back down at the map.
“Oh.”
“Then I wish you a safe journey.”
Gu Yanqing: “...”
This reaction was very much in character for her.
He said no more, cupping his hands in farewell before turning to leave.
After walking a short distance, he glanced back over his shoulder.
Shen Wanwan was still studying the map.
Standing beside her, Fang Shouyi offered an earnest reminder: “Third Miss, that place is too dangerous. I don't recommend going there.”
“Shut up.”
“All right.”
Gu Yanqing couldn't help but chuckle.
He would likely cross paths with those two again in the future.
After emerging from the Scarlet Flame Mountain Range, the wind and snow outside had picked up once more.
Beneath his feet stretched continuous snowy ridges, while the distant mountain crests were reduced to mere faint silhouettes against the ash-white canopy of the sky.
Snowflakes whipped by the wind slipped down his collar, their chill melting against his skin—a world apart from the stifling, dry heat inside the mountain range, as if in two entirely different seasons.
Stepping aboard his flying sword, the Scarlet Flame Crystal Marrow was already stowed deep within his storage bag.
The purpose of this trip was accomplished; once he returned to the sect, he could resume cultivating the latter half of 《Black Iron Body》.
With this material, he should be able to break through the bottleneck of the fourth layer within ten days.
The wind grew sharper. The snow fell heavier.
The mountain range he had come from had completely disappeared into the blizzard, heaven and earth blurring into a single expanse of grayish-white.
It was best to head back early.
He poured more spiritual energy into the flying sword. The blade sank slightly, then pierced through the wind and snow like an arrow loosed from a bowstring, streaking toward the Yunxiao Sect.
...
In Cold Water Valley, over the span of two days, Lin Zhixue had hardly left the vicinity of the cold spring.
She practiced her swordsmanship by day and meditated by night.
The unique environment of Cold Water Valley allowed her comprehension of 《Autumn Water Sword Technique》 to advance with astonishing speed.
Then there were the occasional pointers Su Qinglian had offered yesterday.
They were not complex, just a few minor details she had previously overlooked.
For instance, when shifting sword momentum, one should not deliberately control every sliver of spiritual energy, but rather allow the sword technique to flow naturally on its own.
Or how the true difficulty of the second form lay not in the movements, but in whether one's state of mind remained unbroken at the exact moment the first form concluded.
When Lin Zhixue first heard this, she had not quite understood.
Yet after truly putting it into practice, she realized that Su Qinglian’s words were indeed insightful.
As a fellow sword cultivator, her perspective on problems was entirely different from Xiaoyu’s.
Xiaoyu was more adept at analyzing the cultivation technique itself, whereas Su Qinglian was teaching her how to truly become a sword cultivator.
Although she still did not know why the woman had kidnapped her, at least there was no harm in it.
...
On the morning of the third day, Lin Zhixue slowly opened her eyes.
A stream of spiritual energy far more condensed than before flowed gently through her body.
Mid Foundation Establishment.
Xiaoyu poked its head out from the Soul Jade, momentarily taken aback.
“Zhixue?”
“You broke through?”
Lin Zhixue nodded.
Xiaoyu circled around her once.
“Isn't this a bit too fast?”
“Did you secretly eat some natural treasure behind my back?”
Lin Zhixue merely shook her head. She found it rather unexpected herself.
Yet upon careful reflection, it was not entirely without cause.
Cold Water Valley was inherently an ideal place for cultivators with water spirit roots to practice.
On top of that, the spiritual energy emanating from the Cold Marrow Spirit Liquid had continuously nourished her meridians.
Though she had not absorbed it directly, each time she circulated her technique over the past two days, she was effectively using the heaven and earth spiritual energy here to temper herself.
Coupled with Su Qinglian’s pointers, which had spurred a breakthrough in her sword technique, her rise in cultivation was only natural.
Looking at her, Xiaoyu grew unusually serious.
“Zhixue, you should be able to absorb the Cold Marrow Spirit Liquid now.”
“Mm.”
She walked over to the edge of the spring.
This time, she reached into the spring water once more.
Cold qi surged in.
Yet unlike the first time, she did not feel her spiritual energy spiraling out of control.
Instead, she could distinctly track the trajectory of each wisp of cold-attribute spiritual energy as it entered her meridians.
She sat down cross-legged and began to absorb it.
...
As time ticked by bit by bit, the Cold Marrow Spirit Liquid transformed into streams of icy blue light, slowly flowing into her body.
A faint, stinging pain pricked her meridians.
Lin Zhixue did not stop.
She could feel it: her spiritual energy was growing purer.
The Guilan Sword rested beside her, the water patterns along its blade lighting up incrementally with her breathing.
In the distance, Su Qinglian stood in the shadows of the cliff face, watching the scene unfold.
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