The evening breeze swept across Lone Peak.
Due to the peculiar shape of Lone Peak's mountainside, the wind always produced a humming sound as it passed, resembling the resonance of a sword, which the Sword Sect disciples often jokingly called 'Sword Wind'.
The Sword Wind echoed, and Yun Ze seemed not to have heard what Chen Xiao had just said, frowning as he asked.
"What?"
"Didn't hear clearly?"
Chen Xiao patiently retorted, like a kind teacher asking a student if they understood in class: "Then I'll say it again."
He flicked the hem of his robe, stood up, and walked to Yun Ze, a smile playing on his lips: "Either kneel down and be my dog.
Or, die."
Yun Ze remained silent, merely looking at the other person.
He had not revealed that he had already detoxified himself, precisely to see Chen Xiao's intentions.
Now, looking at it…
If nothing else, for Senior Brother Xiao to be doing this for him, he must have been poisoned too, right?
If Senior Brother Xiao had also been poisoned, how many people in the outer sect would have been poisoned? Was this poison also effective against those above the Foundation Establishment stage?
Or was this poison not Chen Xiao's at all, but that of Ji Kun behind him!
Besides Chen Xiao, Ji Kun had several disciples in the Foundation Establishment stage. Did they also possess this poison like Chen Xiao?
The more Yun Ze thought about it, the more terrified he became.
This guy… no! Ji Kun truly had wolfish ambitions!
However, speaking of which, this was not without opportunity.
As long as he feigned being poisoned, he could infiltrate their small group, and collecting clues would be much easier then.
Brother Yu had said that someone would contact him a month after he joined the sect. Now, twelve days had passed, and eighteen days remained.
By then, he would have to produce some clues, otherwise, wouldn't he be getting paid for nothing?
"What? Don't believe me?"
Seeing Yun Ze's prolonged silence, Chen Xiao thought he was still clinging to false hope.
He didn't force the issue, turned around, and sat back in his original position, cross-legged with his eyes closed: "Your poisoning is mild; it will take at least three more days for the poison to take effect.
You can spend these three days looking for a way to break it. If you can find it, your senior brother will kowtow and confess his guilt. If you can't find it, your senior brother will be magnanimous and give you another chance to be a dog.
What do you say?"
"Senior Brother is truly… magnanimous!"
Yun Ze almost gritted his teeth to squeeze out those last five words.
"After all, we are fellow disciples, so naturally, we should be more generous."
Chen Xiao replied indifferently, looking up at him with a smile: "Go ahead. Senior brother will give you another hint. Perhaps the Alchemy Hall and the Cultivation Method Hall will have clues.
But don't forget, absolutely do not let anyone else know you are poisoned, otherwise, don't blame your senior brother for being petty and sending you on your way personally!"
"Many! Thanks! Senior! Brother!"
Yun Ze turned and left with a flick of his sleeve, without the slightest hesitation, heading straight for the Cultivation Method Hall.
Even if Ji Kun had no tricks there, Chen Xiao would not have left the solution in these two places and then told him to look for it.
His going there now was merely to maintain his persona.
Smart, but not too smart.
Only in this way could he deceive Chen Xiao and Ji Kun behind him.
But speaking of which, if Senior Brother Xiao was also obeying Chen Xiao because of the poison, could he find a way to resolve the poison in his body?
Perhaps he could gain another informant?
He would worry about that later. He might as well take this opportunity to look at the sword techniques in the Cultivation Method Hall.
Judging from his last encounter with Chen Xiao, the introductory sword techniques were completely insufficient. It would be better to see what Chen Xiao used, which made him unable to even see his movements. Perhaps he could find a way to counter it in the Cultivation Method Hall.
Yun Ze arrived outside the Cultivation Method Hall.
It was already late at night, and the area inside and outside the hall was silent, with only the occasional hum of the wind passing through the sword-shaped peaks.
Yun Ze pushed open the door and was immediately stunned by the sight before him!
The entire Cultivation Method Hall was brightly lit, with lamps every three steps and candles every step, illuminating the hall as if it were daytime.
Even these lamps and candles were extraordinary, lit by spiritual fire!
This spiritual fire was naturally different from ordinary fire; not only was it exceptionally bright, but it also burned for a long time without extinguishing. Even if paper was stuffed into the flame, it would not be burned.
Having spent so much time in the Immortal Gathering, Yun Ze could naturally recognize the difference at a glance.
He withdrew his gaze from the lights and turned to see a young woman in the attire of a high-grade disciple engrossed in reading a book.
Judging by her appearance, she was clearly a senior sister.
"Senior Sister."
Yun Ze walked forward and spoke softly, afraid of disturbing her: "Is it permissible to borrow cultivation methods from the Cultivation Method Hall at this hour?"
"Yes."
The young woman replied indifferently, without taking her eyes off the book. She tapped the table: "Mind the rules, or I'll ask you to leave."
"Yes."
Yun Ze lowered his head and saw a plaque under the wooden table.
"One, cultivation methods within the Cultivation Method Hall may be freely browsed but cannot be taken out without permission.
Two, when browsing cultivation methods, spiritual energy cannot be circulated, nor can swords be wielded.
Three, no loud noises. Return books to their original positions after use.
Four, Qi Refining stage cultivators may browse the first, second, and fourth floors of the library but not the third. Foundation Establishment stage cultivators are not restricted.
Any violation of the above rules will result in a one-month ban from the Cultivation Method Hall for the first offense, a six-month ban for the second offense, and a lifetime ban for the third offense!"
After Yun Ze finished reading, he nodded, intending to say something more.
But when he turned, he saw the senior sister pointing to the side: "The map is over there. Find what you want according to the map. If you don't understand anything..."
"Then I'll ask you?"
"...No."
The senior sister hesitated for a few seconds, her eyes still not leaving the book: "Why would you think that? We cultivators should solve our own problems when we encounter them."
"Alright."
Yun Ze gave a helpless wry smile and walked towards the indicated sign.
The first floor contained Yellow-grade low-rank cultivation methods, corresponding to the Qi Refining stage. Yun Ze scanned the area, not looking for Qi-attracting methods, but heading straight for the sword technique section.
Regardless of whether Chen Xiao had spies here, this was a normal behavior.
After all, he was poisoned because of his sword, so it was perfectly normal to look for sword techniques.
Wind-Seeking Sword Technique, Thick Mountain Sword Technique, Rain-Shattering Sword Technique...
The names of these sword techniques looked unreliable!
Yun Ze flipped through them briefly but found no incomplete scrolls, let alone any dusty sword techniques hidden in cabinets or corners.
How could the people of Guiwu Sword Sect, who were devoted to swords, allow the sword techniques in the Cultivation Method Hall to be in such a state?
Although those sword techniques looked strange, if they were in the hands of rogue cultivators in the mortal world, they would be treasures beyond price!
However…
After Yun Ze glanced at them, a thought told him.
Most of these were trash!
But even if they were trash, he could only continue to look, as his current authority only allowed him to borrow these cultivation methods.
After Yun Ze's tour, it wasn't entirely without reward.
Among the Qi-attracting methods on the first floor, he discovered the cultivation method that Senior Xiao had taught him!
Water Sword Art.
A Yellow-grade low-rank cultivation method. Cultivators could breathe underwater. Those with water spiritual roots could cultivate it with twice the effort. At the third level of Qi Refining, one could condense Qi into water; at the sixth level, one could gather water into a stream; at the ninth level, one could condense water into a sword.
Among Yellow-grade low-rank cultivation methods, this could be considered an excellent one.
When Senior Xiao taught him this cultivation method, it was likely to conceal his possession of immortal jade.
He had to borrow this book!
Otherwise, it would be difficult to explain why he knew this cultivation method.
Although he had water, fire, and wood spiritual roots, his water spiritual root seemed more related to immortal jade. It would be best to find a cultivation method that matched his fire and wood spiritual roots to cultivate.
He would change it after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage.
But it was strange…
Why did Senior Xiao know the methods of Guiwu Sword Sect?
Yun Ze carefully read the title page of the Water Sword Art several times. A small line of text was clearly written on it.
Exclusive to Guiwu Sword Sect. Those who transmit it will be killed – Tu Xiu!
Tu Xiu should be the senior who compiled this cultivation method.
But this Senior Xiao… was he once a member of Guiwu Sword Sect?
Otherwise, how could he know a cultivation method exclusive to Guiwu Sword Sect, and recognize Chen Xiao as a member of Guiwu Sword Sect at a glance back then?
Even if he stole the cultivation method, with his strength, he wouldn't steal a Yellow-grade low-rank cultivation method, would he?
Unless his strength was weak back then, and he learned this cultivation method openly!
The more Yun Ze thought about it, the more something felt wrong.
Recalling that Ji Kun had almost instinctively said that Xiao Hanshi was a demonic cultivator when he heard the name, it made sense.
Either Senior Xiao's reputation was indeed great, so great that Ji Kun knew of him.
But if his reputation was so great, as a demonic cultivator, Yu Xian would not have defended him.
So there was only one explanation.
Ji Kun heard from others that Senior Xiao was a demonic cultivator! Yu Xian did not have any concrete clues or evidence!
His apparent identity was an outer sect elder of Guiwu Sword Sect. He could learn these things from other members of Guiwu Sword Sect, so…
Senior Xiao was very likely once a member of Guiwu Sword Sect as well!
Forget it, he wouldn't think about it for now.
With his identity as a top-tier disciple, he could still borrow two more Yellow-grade low-rank cultivation methods this month. It would be a waste not to use them.
After Yun Ze searched around for sword techniques again, he finally chose a Yellow-grade low-rank sword technique called Soaring Cloud.
This sword technique was extremely agile, perfectly matching the characteristics of the second-tier spiritual sword, the Mountain Ghoul. Upon entry, it could produce three shadows with one sword, striking three times simultaneously. After minor completion, it produced six shadows, and after great completion, nine shadows!
Although the power of these strikes was not as great as a normal sword swing, it excelled in speed and could catch the opponent off guard.
For a sword cultivator like Yun Ze, if he could unleash sword Qi with every strike, it would be terrifying!
If Yun Ze guessed correctly, Chen Xiao also practiced this sword technique!
He must have been preparing for the Mountain Ghoul long ago.
But unfortunately, this Mountain Ghoul ended up in his hands, so it was no wonder he felt a sense of resentment.
There was still one more cultivation method borrowing permission.
Yun Ze planned to find a defensive cultivation method.
In terms of movement techniques, he had Shadow Pursuit to compensate, which was sufficient for now. He only needed to supplement his defensive methods.
He searched for a long time and finally found a decent defensive technique.
Turtle Martial Art.
Despite the strange name of this cultivation method, it was extremely practical!
Similar to ordinary defensive cultivation methods, by circulating the technique, spiritual energy would spread throughout the body, resisting the next damage received.
However, the unique aspect of this cultivation method was that while circulating the technique, it could defend not only the surface of the body but also the internal organs!
For example, the internal organs and… the sea of Qi!
If he circulated this cultivation method first, and then triggered that sword Qi, the damage received would be greatly reduced!
Taking the damage from the Qi Refining stage as an example, after entry, it could reduce damage by one-tenth; after minor completion, by three-tenths; and after great completion, by about six-tenths!
If the damage was caused by a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, the effect would be halved.
As for the Core Formation stage… even the Divine Connection stage would be useless!
Having found three cultivation methods, Yun Ze still didn't plan to leave. Instead, he walked to a higher floor!
Since he was already here, wouldn't it be a pity not to go up and take a look?
Yun Ze arrived at the second floor of the Cultivation Method Hall.
With his authority, he could only look at the cultivation methods here, not borrow them.
Given the current situation, he couldn't spend all his time in the Cultivation Method Hall. Instead of coveting them here, it was better not to look!
Yun Ze continued to walk upwards.
He couldn't look at the cultivation methods on the third floor, but he could look at the sect history on the fourth floor. Perhaps he could find clues about Senior Xiao!
As Yun Ze stepped onto the fourth floor, a graceful figure caught his eye.
It was…
That person from the Azure Shadow Pavilion!