After Faking Her Death and Fleeing, the Emotionless Daoist Master Regretted It - Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Practicing Sword Arts, Cultivation Routine

“Since Lingqing has decided to keep the Irises Fox, I suggest you immediately form a recognition bond with it. This can, to the greatest extent, mitigate potential dangers.”

Seeing the young girl hesitate, Ling Yunyue added: “After forming the bond, Lingqing can instantly perceive the Irises Fox’s state. It cannot stay inside the Dongfu forever. There will be times when it goes out. If it encounters danger, Lingqing will know immediately.”

As the words fell, the white fox barked twice, its fox face smiling, seemingly expressing agreement.

Su Lingqing temporarily put it down and turned to look at her Master.

“I’ve heard that for a spiritual beast to recognize a Master, it requires a contract to assist, and this disciple has not encountered these before.”

Ling Yunyue formed a hand seal with one hand, and a spiritual light instantly gathered at her fingertip.

“I will demonstrate it once. Lingqing, watch carefully.”

The gentle voice reached her ear. The young girl subconsciously nodded, her apricot eyes, clear as autumn water, watching the cold, immortal-like woman without blinking.

The steps for casting the Spiritual Beast Contract were relatively simple. Su Lingqing had memorized them after watching only once.

After a short attempt, a layer of star-shaped pattern gradually lit up on the white fox’s forehead. It lasted for several breaths before disappearing invisibly.

At the same moment, a soft, sweet female voice echoed in Su Lingqing’s Sea of Consciousness, calling her Master.

“Master, would you give the little fox a name?”

“Of course, let me think.”

Su Lingqing transmitted a reply through thought, then fell into contemplation.

After a while, she scratched her head, somewhat troubled, and cast a look of appeal towards her Master.

“The little fox wants this disciple to name it, but this disciple can’t think of a nice name right now…”

Ling Yunyue smiled and replied: “Name it Ruozhu (Like Bamboo). The character ‘zhu’ (bamboo) symbolizes gentleness mixed with toughness, and also integrity and humility. May it not go astray in the future.”

Hearing this, Su Lingqing immediately conveyed the name to the white fox and quickly received a response.

A smile appeared on her face.

“The little fox agreed. From now on, its name is Ruozhu. Thank you, Master, for naming Ruozhu.”

“This matter is settled. It is time to begin sword technique practice. This place is spatially limited and unsuitable for execution. Lingqing, you may follow me outside the Dongfu.”

Seeing the young girl nod with a smile, Ling Yunyue turned and walked out of the Dongfu.

Su Lingqing followed closely behind her Master, arriving at the peak’s lush, grassy area.

“Sword techniques suitable for the Qi Condensation stage usually have limited power. Thus, they do not focus on pursuing ultimate force but on winning with skill.”

Ling Yunyue waved her sleeve, brought out the Ice Deficient Sword, and quickly performed a flourish. As she moved, her long sleeves flowed like clouds, and her dark hair fluttered in the wind.

“Lingqing, look. This is the first set of sword techniques, Fleeting Light and Passing Shadow.”

No sooner had the words fallen than the cold, immortal-like woman’s body, along with her sword, turned into an afterimage, sweeping past the surroundings.

In Su Lingqing’s eyes, she could only hear the sound of the sharp blade cutting through the air; her naked eyes could no longer clearly see her Master’s movements.

After a short while, the wind gradually ceased.

Ling Yunyue put away the Ice Deficient Sword and returned to her original position. Looking at the confused young girl, she said gently: “This is the speed that should normally be displayed when engaging an enemy. Next, I will slow down the entire process. Lingqing, you may try to execute it simultaneously.”

Hearing this, the confusion in the young girl’s eyes completely disappeared. She loudly affirmed, quickly took out the Flowing Light Sword artifact exchanged from the Treasure Depository, and followed her Master’s rhythm, gradually learning.

Three hours later, Ling Yunyue stood still with her sword, watching the young girl execute the Fleeting Light and Passing Shadow sword technique with flowing ease, and nodded with satisfaction.

After a brief moment, Su Lingqing’s sword followed her body’s rotation, and she withdrew the sword posture.

Having completed the entire set of sword techniques, she looked towards her Master with slight anxiety, meeting a pair of eyes full of praise.

At this moment, the young girl’s heart was settled, and the last traces of unease completely vanished.

She did not disappoint her Master!

Ling Yunyue swung her sword and unfurled her sleeve, flying to a spot not far away. “This is the second set of sword techniques, Phantom Trace of Confusion.”

Su Lingqing focused her gaze, only to see the sound fall and the wind rise. Within her line of sight, countless overlapping sword shadows appeared, both illusory and real, making it hard to distinguish the truth.

After about ten breaths, the wind gradually ceased, and the overlapping shadows merged into one.

Seeing her Master slow down and execute the sword technique again, she quickly joined in with her sword…

Night fell. Under the glow of the setting sun, the young girl, wielding her sword and spinning, with her flowing long dress, moved ceaselessly across the lush grass. As the sword technique concluded, she turned back with the sword raised, perfectly withdrawing the sword posture.

At that time, Ling Yunyue stood with her hands behind her back, looking at her disciple who displayed extraordinary talent, her eyes filled with satisfaction.

“Lingqing’s comprehension in the path of the sword is excellent. Whether it’s Fleeting Light and Passing Shadow or Phantom Trace of Confusion, it would take an ordinary person at least half a month to successfully learn them.”

The young girl held the sword behind her back with a reversed grip. Hearing this praise, her delicate face blushed slightly.

“Master, you over-praise me. This disciple is unworthy.”

Ling Yunyue replied with a smile: “Lingqing is worthy of the praise. It is time for a meal now. Today’s sword technique practice will pause and resume tomorrow at the chen hour (7 AM – 9 AM).”

“Does Master want to go to the dining hall together?”

“I have other important matters. Tonight, I must go to the Soul Devouring Abyss with Sect Leader Senior Sister to complete the final seal.”

“Is there any danger in this matter?”

“Rest assured, Lingqing. The Ice Deficient has been guarding that place, and everything is under control.”

“Then… Master, please go and return soon.”

Ling Yunyue nodded with a smile, turned, and flew away from Profound Heaven Peak.

The place name Soul Devouring Abyss was not unfamiliar to Su Lingqing.

Back at the Welcoming Immortal Tower inn in Qingyun City, when her Master showed the map of the Heavenly Profound Realm, she had seen this name on the segment of the Azure Profound Continent.

At that time, her Master had said that the Soul Devouring Abyss was the former ruins of the Demonic Sect, the Bl00d Shura Sect.

Since returning to the sect, her Master had received transmissions from the Sect Leader more than once, all concerning Demonic Cultivators.

The outside world seemed calm, but in reality, her Master and others were carrying the burden for all cultivators. Although she did not know the specifics, her Master’s strength was already at the pinnacle of this world. A matter that had required her Master’s attention for so long must be extremely thorny.

When could she also possess powerful strength, stand beside her Master, and face strong enemies with her?

Su Lingqing lowered her eyes, concealing her various thoughts.

Walking slowly, she arrived at the dining hall. Mu Xin saw her and quickly brought out the spiritual meals she liked.

“Big Sister Su, Xin’er went to Myriad Affairs Peak today and heard a fellow disciple mention a strange incident in Yin Wind Valley. If you want to hear it, I’ll tell you the details.”

According to the map annotations of the Heavenly Profound Realm, Yin Wind Valley was about a hundred li from the Soul Devouring Abyss. Su Lingqing speculated that there might be some connection between the two, so she nodded.

Mu Xin saw this and continued: “That fellow disciple’s family is a small one, residing in Yin Wind Valley. Starting about a month ago, strange incidents began frequently occurring in the valley. Corpses of demon beasts and spiritual beasts, often sucked dry into a mummy-like state, would appear. Initially, the clansmen suspected zombies or evil ghosts were causing trouble and set up a Vajra Array around the clan territory, but the strange incidents continued as usual.

“To find out the truth, they began dispatching a fixed number of people to patrol daily. Finally, two days later, they discovered a clue.

“Dense fog would occasionally appear in the valley. Whenever the dense fog dispersed, the corpses of demon beasts and spiritual beasts would appear, and their source could not be traced.

“Some clansmen, wanting to find out the truth, waited by the stump for the hare (a proverb for waiting idly). When the dense fog appeared, they rushed in, but never came out again. It was from then on that people started frequently meeting with accidents.

“Up until today, out of over two thousand people in the clan, nearly half have been lost, and the family’s strength has greatly diminished.”

Hearing this, a trace of doubt appeared in Su Lingqing’s heart.

“Were those people just missing, or were they like the dead spiritual beasts and demon beasts?”

Mu Xin sighed softly: “All the Soul Lamps they left in the clan went out, but no bodies were found.”

“Has the sect sent anyone to deal with this matter?”

“Yes. That Senior Sister learned of her family’s situation and immediately sought help from the sect. I heard that initially, a Transformation God Elder went, but later I’m not sure. Rumor has it that it involves the Soul Devouring Abyss, and both the Sect Leader and the Venerable have gone there. Anyway, the matter is a huge commotion.”

“Is that so.”

“That’s all Xin’er knows for now. Thinking about it carefully, staying in the sect is really good. The outside world is too dangerous, with no guarantee of safety.”

Half an incense stick later, Su Lingqing finished her meal. Thinking of Ruozhu inside the Dongfu, she carefully spoke: “Does the dining hall have any leftover food? I recently got an Irises Fox and want to bring some food back for it.”

Hearing this, Mu Xin immediately said: “Of course. There are leftovers of every spiritual meal. What does the Irises Fox that Big Sister Su is raising like to eat?”

“It likes everything except spiritual rice and spiritual noodle staples.”

Mu Xin heard this, deftly picked up a few clean food containers, and quickly filled them with the corresponding spiritual meals.

Su Lingqing smiled and added: “You don’t need a lot. One box is enough.”

“Xin’er has heard the Senior Sisters say that the more a spiritual beast eats, the faster it grows and the quicker its strength improves. Since Big Sister Su’s Irises Fox is newly acquired, it’s probably not very large. It needs to grow quickly so it can better protect Big Sister Su.”

Su Lingqing smiled. Mu Xin meant well. Refusing again would only make her seem overly sentimental.

She thanked her and accepted the six filled food containers, temporarily storing them in her Storage Jade Bracelet.

Two ke (half-hours) later, Su Lingqing left the dining hall and began returning to her cultivation Dongfu.

Since she left, Ruozhu had been guarding the entrance, anxiously waiting.

Seeing its owner appear, it immediately dashed over, the joy on its fox face clearly visible.

Su Lingqing skillfully picked up the white fox that leaped at her, brought it inside the Dongfu, took out the food containers from the dining hall, and carefully opened them. A rich fragrance instantly wafted out.

Stroking the little fox’s soft fur, she said smilingly: “Ruozhu, this is your dinner. Eat slowly and don’t waste any.”

The soft, sweet voice of the little fox came through her Sea of Consciousness: “Thank you, Master. Ruozhu promises not to waste a single bit!” Su Lingqing’s eyes curved in a smile. After a moment, she entered the Spatial Pouch and began her night of cultivation…

In the early morning of the second day, as the light gradually brightened, Su Lingqing left the Spatial Realm and went to the dining hall as usual. Upon returning, she saw the familiar figure already waiting in front of the Dongfu.

At that time, the morning glow was just beginning, falling upon the clean, otherworldly, and ethereal woman, as if plating her with a layer of sacred radiance.

Like a stone dropped into a placid lake, a ripple gradually stirred in the young girl’s calm heart.

Su Lingqing suppressed the tremor in her heart, quickened her pace, and bowed to her Master.

Simultaneously, a gentle voice reached her ear.

“Today, we begin practicing the third set of sword techniques, Moonfall Silence…”