Chapter 496: Chapter 485: Sword Cultivator Father
The sun was gradually rising, and Ye Sheng’s little face was also covered in sweat. In just over two months, the baby fat on his face had reduced a lot, which was indicative of how hard he had worked during Ye Qiu’s absence.
"Big Senior Brother." After swinging his sword a thousand times, Ye Sheng finally came to a stop.
Jin Quan looked at his little junior brother, who despite his tender age, possessed such a resilient spirit. He felt deeply moved. It seemed that he, as the eldest senior brother, needed to work even harder; otherwise, even the youngest junior brother would soon catch up to him.
"Little Junior Brother, didn’t our martial uncle prohibit you from sword practice? How come you seem to be even more diligent?" Jin Quan, facing the brisk wind and somewhat out of breath from speaking, grew increasingly admiring of his little junior brother.
"Father is not around. I can’t afford to be lazy, can I? Even though father entrusted me to Master, I don’t want to give up on sword practice," Ye Sheng said, flashing a bright smile to Jin Quan. "But don’t worry, Big Senior Brother, I know my priorities. Artifact Refining is still what I love most, and I won’t fall behind on it."
After listening, Jin Quan also felt relieved, then shared the recent rumors: "These little disciples are spreading some exaggerated stories. Just ignore them. Master said you’ve just broken through to the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, so it’s the perfect time for you to gain experience in the sect’s Small Secret Realm. Don’t let them affect you."
The Small Secret Realm is a domain controlled by the Tianyan Sect with a relatively abundant concentration of Spiritual Energy. It’s not a true secret realm. The perimeter of the Small Secret Realm is guarded by the Tianyan Sect’s high-level members and is not too dangerous, making it particularly suitable for novice disciples to gain experience.
Although the entire secret realm had been scoured clean by the Tianyan Sect, this was not always the case. Occasionally, a low-level disciple could have a fortuitous encounter. Moreover, for some novice disciples, the Spiritual Medicines and spiritual beast cores found inside could fetch a nice price. Even if they didn’t sell them, they could be exchanged for sect points, which upon accumulating enough, could grant access to the Book Collection Pavilion where all the Tianyan Sect’s treasured cultivation techniques over the years are kept.
However, sect disciples do not have unlimited entrances to the realm. Adventuring in the Small Secret Realm comes with requirements. A low-level disciple can enter for free once; subsequent entries require points or Spirit Stones. But generally, the rewards gained from the Small Secret Realm are proportionate to the costs, making it the preferred place of experience for low-level disciples.
Last month, Ye Sheng reached the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, just meeting the criteria to enter the Small Secret Realm. With too many low-level disciples within and recent rumors going too far, Jin Quan, worried, came to Hidden Sword Peak specially to caution Ye Sheng.
After listening, Ye Sheng didn’t take it to heart much. Maybe before, when someone caught up to his cultivation, he would have felt a sense of urgency, but not since that heartfelt conversation with his father.
Father was right; cultivation is about following the natural order as well as defying it. Everyone has their path. Comparing oneself to others can impact one’s state of mind. Ye Sheng’s path is different from Lin Shen; how could they be compared then?
So Ye Sheng, wiping his sweat carelessly, smiled and said: "Don’t worry, Big Senior Brother, I won’t argue with those people, nor will I take those rumors to heart."
Seeing that Ye Sheng’s expression was genuine, Jin Quan felt reassured: "It’s great that you think this way. Get ready, the Small Secret Realm is opening in three days. Don’t think there’s nothing to worry about just because it’s filled with sect disciples. Although they wouldn’t dare commit murder for loot, they are very cunning. Your Second Senior Brother was tricked out of quite a few spiritual beast cores and pelts on his first experience there."
"I understand, Big Senior Brother," Ye Sheng nodded solemnly.
In the more than two months since Ye Qiu left, Ye Sheng had thought a lot and matured a great deal. Let others say what they will. His father is the Lonely Swallow Sword Lord, and his Master is one of the leading Artifact Refining Masters; would those people dare gossip in his presence?
No amount of talk mattered. Only one’s cultivation truly belonged to oneself.
So what if Lin Shen’s cultivation speed was faster than his? Everyone has their journey to undertake. He is not Lin Shen, and Lin Shen is not him. There’s no need for comparison. As long as he himself did not slack off or leave any regrets, that would be good enough.
Lin Shen was annoyed by the idle gossip and the rumors that reached him had mutated into another version.
What does it mean that his Five Spirits Root is ultimately inferior to a Single Spirit Root? What does it mean that his cultivation was boosted by Elixirs? If they are dissatisfied with him, they might as well come up and fight him.
As for Ye Sheng, he had heard of him too—a talent with a Metal Spirit Root. Although he didn’t know why the Sword Cultivator switched to Artifact Refining three months ago, if that person really couldn’t stand him, once his cultivation was raised, he would definitely let everyone know that the Five Spirits Root is not to be trifled with!
What can a Single Spirit Root amount to? As long as there is abundant Spiritual Energy, as long as there are the right Cultivation Techniques, his Five Spirits Root is an excellent talent. What would those mundane people understand?
With these thoughts, Lin Shen once again entered the Four Seasons Killing Array arranged by his Master. Although he would exit wounded every single time, it was the fastest way to enhance his alertness to danger and improve his reaction skills. Still, at the Qi Refining Second Level, he was too weak and needed to put in more effort.
At the same time in the outer sea, Ye Qiu was urging a Spirit Boat forward. It wasn’t that he was too lazy to fly with his sword, but everyone knew that dangers from the sky were even more threatening than those from within the sea.
The dangers in the sea are nothing more than storms, undercurrents, and sea beasts. However, in the sky, one could encounter spatial rifts at any moment, with the most deadly dangers being those that are silent and unnoticeable.
When Ye Qiu reached a deserted area at sea, he unleashed the pressure of his Nascent Soul Stage, and the provocations from the sea beasts beneath him became less frequent, but the levels of each beast daring enough to challenge him were not low.
Half a month later, Ye Qiu had ventured deep into the depths of the outer sea, encountering increasing dangers, and he slowed down his pace.
"An island?" Ye Qiu furrowed his brow at the island before him, which he was sure he hadn’t sensed just moments before. The island seemed to appear out of nowhere.
Definitely something odd! Ye Qiu narrowed his eyes but did not plan to circumvent it.
Approaching the island revealed no danger; he stored the Spirit Boat in his storage ring and cautiously observed the surroundings.
The chirping of birds and insects and the fragrance of flowers—all seemed no different from any regular island, but a growing unease welled up in Ye Qiu’s heart.
It was not until he reached the center of the island that an abrupt change occurred.
A Spiritual Power Shield suddenly enveloped him, the "island" began to sink rapidly, and seawater poured in. Fortunately, Ye Qiu had a Merfolk Inner Core.
But just when he took out the Merfolk Inner Core, the Spiritual Power Shield subtly rippled, the "island’s" descent sped up, and a head emerged ahead.
At this moment, Ye Qiu realized this was no "island," but rather a giant sea turtle, and moreover, it was at the Late-stage Nascent Soul. No wonder he hadn’t detected it initially. But what exactly did this sea turtle want?