Chapter Ninety-Six: A Trial by Experience

The edge of Snowblade also became sharp and glimmering with reflected light. Only then did I finally understand: if I infused spiritual energy into Snowblade in advance, then the next time I used it, the blade would receive an enhancement.

It seemed Snowblade also grew stronger the colder the surrounding temperature became.

For now, however, I had only discovered these two functions. I was certain there must be more; I simply had not uncovered them yet.

For the next few days, I stayed at Second Uncle’s house and devoted myself to cultivation, going nowhere at all. Before long, my realm broke through to the fourth grade of Spirit Flower.

And on this very day, an old man came to Second Uncle’s home.

I heard that this elder shared a deep friendship with Second Uncle, and could even be counted as a brother forged in life and death.

The two of them sat together on the stone bench in the courtyard, each with a cup of tea.

From the look of him, the old man was clearly no ordinary expert; he even seemed a little stronger than Second Uncle.

He had the immortal bearing of a sage, the kind of man who seemed naturally wrathful, and he carried himself with formidable presence.

As I poured water for the two of them, Second Uncle introduced the elder to me.

“Boy, this is Elder Yuanji. Just call him Elder Yuan.”

After speaking, Second Uncle looked at Elder Yuan and said, “I’m telling you, this kid’s a martial arts genius. He comes from—”

Halfway through, he suddenly stopped, then cast Elder Yuan a meaningful look.

Elder Yuan stroked his beard and said to me, “The first moment I saw you, little brother, I realized your bloodline was unusual. It seems my guess was truly correct after all, hahaha...”

I smiled faintly, though the mention of bloodline left me puzzled.

But on second thought, it made sense. My astonishing recovery, along with all the signs before me, already pointed to a problem with my bloodline. I had long suspected as much; today merely gave me the answer.

Elder Yuan and my Second Uncle chatted for a long time, ranging from major matters in the cultivation world to their own circumstances.

From what I heard, Elder Yuan was a highly respected senior elder of a sect, and had already half-stepped into the Spirit Lotus Realm.

And I was familiar with that sect as well: Sun Heaven Mountain!

I had only learned of Sun Heaven Mountain from a few disciples I once saved, and I even possessed one of its honored tokens.

I took out the token and, sitting nearby, interjected, “Elder Yuan, it seems we are truly destined to meet. I even have a honored token from your esteemed sect.”

With that, I handed it over.

Elder Yuan glanced at the token and returned it to me. “Ah, yes, yes, yes. We have a direct disciple who went to the city some time ago to discuss something. The talks fell through, and the other side even came to blows. So it was you who saved them.”

“Only what I was able to do,” I said modestly, taking the token back. Second Uncle knew nothing of the matter and praised me lavishly beside us.

The topic passed quickly, and they began talking about matters within Sun Heaven Mountain.

I had thought it was all ordinary trifles, but then I heard a major piece of information.

Elder Yuan said that some treasure seemed to have appeared in Sun Heaven Mountain recently, though only a few people knew about it, so it had not yet been discovered.

As for Elder Yuan himself, he had spent his life neither contending nor seizing, and so he had not pressed the matter further.

Yet my eyes lit up, for this was very likely the Ghost King’s keepsake.

I had just been wondering how to worm my way in and look for the treasure, when Elder Yuan was about to leave.

Before going, he said to me, “Child, would you be willing to follow me to Sun Heaven Mountain for a period of training? There the spiritual essence of heaven and earth is abundant, and the disciples are all quite friendly. Besides, you already have a honored token, so you will surely have a smooth path...”

Before Elder Yuan could finish, I interrupted at once, “I’m willing.”

Inside, I was secretly delighted. I had been wishing for this.

Second Uncle also said from the side, “Go out and look around. It’s a good thing.”

“Very well. Tomorrow, take my keepsake, and you can enter the sect directly. By then someone will guide you to my place, and I’ll make arrangements for you.”

After Elder Yuan finished speaking, I took out a divination disc from my ring. I knew little about it, but I was certain it was no ordinary object.

I nodded, accepted the keepsake, and put it into my ring.

Elder Yuan looked at me with approval, then left with a smile.

When I looked at Second Uncle again, I noticed a subtle change in his expression, so slight that one would miss it without careful attention.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be back in a month. I’m only going to broaden my horizons.”

Second Uncle nodded and said, “I’m just worried you’ll get bullied over there.”

He spoke in the tone of an old father.

“With my current strength, not just anyone can bully me. Besides, don’t I still have Elder Yuan looking out for me?”

Second Uncle heard me and chuckled before returning to his room to rest.

Nangong Xi saw me standing dazed in the courtyard and bounced over to keep me company and talk.

“Brother, you’re leaving again tomorrow?”

I glanced at Nangong Xi. She was pouting now, and I had no idea what she was thinking.

“Yeah.”

“Why are you always so busy?”

I gave a wry smile. “Fate wills it, not me.”

With that, I took out the Heavenly Line Finger Technique again.

This trip to Sun Heaven Mountain would certainly not be easy, so having more abilities was, in the end, a good thing. After all, one could never have too many skills.

I still had not learned Thunderbolt Art, not even the movements, and today’s task was to master it.

Seeing me begin studying the ancient manual again, Nangong Xi did not disturb me. Instead, she picked up a book and sat nearby reading with me.

Thunderbolt Art was powerful, but it consumed a fair amount of spiritual energy as well. As long as the effect was astonishing, a little extra consumption did not matter.

Again and again, I practiced the finger movements until my fingers ached, and only then did I stop.

By now I was actually nearly done learning it. All that remained was to make the motions seamless and burn them into my memory.

I did not rush to test it. I decided to master it thoroughly first.

Hard work never betrays one. After repeated, relentless memorization, I finally mastered the technique.

I rose to my feet and began moving my fingers toward the huge stone opposite me, while also coordinating the more intricate mental method.

“Thunderbolt Art!”

I formed sword-fingers with both hands and pointed toward the stone. Suddenly, a bolt of blue lightning burst from my fingertips and struck the rock head-on. In an instant, the stone exploded into fragments.

I withdrew my fingers. This move was truly excellent. Against anyone whose realm was lower than mine, I could punch a hole straight through them.

I tried it several more times, hacking at the stones in the courtyard to my heart’s content.

“All right, Brother, if you keep going, you’ll wipe out Second Uncle’s courtyard.”

With some reluctance, I withdrew the fingers still in the act of casting, and my mood improved considerably.

I had just calculated that, with my current spiritual energy, I should be able to use Thunderbolt Art about twenty times.

It was afternoon, and I planned to go back inside for a nap.

But Nangong Xi called out to stop me.

“Brother, practice with me too.”

I turned around and saw that Nangong Xi had already drawn her weapon. Before I even reacted, she thrust a sword at me.

“Hey, hey, hey, it’s fine to fight, but don’t say I’m bullying you.”

As she spoke, I dodged her thrust and, in one smooth motion, drew the long sword I had picked up.

The sword Second Uncle had given Nangong Xi was no ordinary blade either, and it suited her very well. The hilt seemed to be made of some unknown material, and it was pink in color, giving it a particularly distinctive look.