Bai Shuying had a bright smile on her face and walked with excitement in her steps.
Finally, today's the day!
Soon, she arrived at an open grassy field. As she looked around, she only saw an old woman with gray hair sitting in meditation, eyes closed, and a sword resting horizontally on her lap.
Bai Shuying sat cross-legged on the field and waited for the class to start. Feeling the cool breeze brush her hair, the warm sun shining on her skin, and inhaling a breath of fresh air from nature, she soon closed her eyes and entered a meditative state.
Unknown to Bai Shuying, the old woman opened her clear eyes and looked at her.
Hmm, interesting to enter into such a state so quickly while still being so young.
The old woman observed Bai Shuying with quiet approval as the young girl settled into a meditative state. Achieving such focus was no small feat, meditation demanded stillness of mind, a silencing of the inner chaos that so often plagued the young. Most disciples of Bai Shuying's age struggled with it, their thoughts restless as spring winds, too eager for action to embrace true calm.
Yet here she sat, undisturbed, her breathing even, her spirit as steady as deep water.
The old woman nodded to herself.
This one has promise.
The ambient qi was being attracted and absorbed by Bai Shuying when entering her meridian channel, leading to her maintaining the qi was turned into Yin energy. Inside her dantian, a small Yin energy vertex formed on her blue lotus. The lotus absorbed the Yin energy and split it into three portions: one for itself, the other for the demon core, while the last portion was released from the bottom of the lotus into Bai Shuying's body.
Upon closer inspection inside the lotus, her demon core revealed itself, a glowing red glass bead, its translucent surface swirling with Yin energy in liquid form. Before, only a thin film had clung to the bottom, barely noticeable. But now, the fluid had risen, creeping past the halfway mark, filling the orb's hollow interior like blood seeping into water.
Something was changing. Something was going to happen soon.
Soon, a loud voice broke Bai Shuying out of her meditative state.
The old woman felt it was time to begin her class and said, "My name is Su Moyan, an inner elder who will be teaching the sword cultivation class."
The Elder Su scanned the group of disciples and thought.
Only sixteen disciples signed up, it's been decreasing slowly. Most were men; the female disciples probably went to Elder Lin's sword cultivation class.
Elder Su shook her head in disappointment. The new disciples did not know was Elder Su was a far greater swordswoman than Elder Lin.
Elder Su took out sixteen wooden swords from her spatial ring. Each sword flew to a disciple hovering in front of them. Ignoring their gasps of awe, Elder Su spoke in a calm voice, "What do you think cultivating the sword means?"
Elder Su did not expect an answer and continued saying, "The sword is a weapon, a tool with one purpose…" A sharp aura as if a sword was being unsheathed radiated from Elder Su, making all the disciples gulp nervously.
Bai Shuying felt the aura and only had one thought.
Amazing!
Her eyes sparkled, and a smile appeared on her face. Elder Su observed all the disciples' reactions when she saw Bai Shuying. She paused for a moment and continued her sentence in a cold voice, "To Kill."
When the disciples heard this, they all turned pale as new cultivators. It was the first time for them to experience the intent to kill.
Bai Shuying heard this she nodded her head.
Well, duh, it's not like they created it to cut vegetables.
Elder Su took a moment to retract her aura and spoke, "That is the purpose of a sword. Sword cultivators dedicate their life to mastering the sword, not just as a weapon, but as an extension of their Dao, soul, and will."
Sword cultivators are known in the world as the greatest attackers due to pursuing a dao focused on combat with a weapon designed to kill.
Elder Su looked at each disciple and asked another question, "Now, what do you think is the goal of a sword cultivator?"
This time, she did not answer and waited for the disciples to give their answers. One by one, those brave enough spoke their thoughts while others kept silent.
"Is it not mastering the sword?"
"No, it's to become one with the sword."
"It's to become the strongest. After all, sword cultivators have the greatest offensive power."
Elder Su shook her head, and disappointment flashed in her eyes.
Guess in this batch of new disciples, there won't be any impressive sword cultivators.
Elder Su of the Yin-Yang Sect cultivated the Dao of Dual Cultivation, as was expected of her sect, but her true passion lay elsewhere.
The sword was her obsession.
While others pursued pleasure or partnered cultivation, she devoted herself to the blade, training until her skills rivaled those of a Sword Sect elder. Her strikes were precise, her forms flawless, her understanding of sword intent profound. Yet, for all her mastery, she found no kindred spirits within the Yin-Yang Sect.
Like Elder Hua, she longed to pass on her knowledge, to ignite that same fervor in another. But so far, no disciple had shown the dedication or the talent to earn her attention.
Bai Shuying started to rub her chin, deep in thought.
Elder Ling said a sword is a weapon meant to kill, but then she said for sword cultivators, it's not just a weapon. An extension of the Dao, soul, and will. Mastering the sword? Probably not after all, no one knows what mastering the sword means or looks like. To become one with the sword? No, she said it was an extension of the sword cultivator. Strongest? Maybe, but that is too grand and simple for people pursuing the Dao of swords. The question she asked was what goal sword cultivators have, what all of them want.
Absentmindedly, Bai Shuying muttered in a low voice, "To reach and obtain a certain realm, level, or mastery. Just like that feeling Elder Su gave off earlier."
Elder Su, as a cultivator, had impressive hearing and turned her attention to Bai Shuying. A smile appeared on her stern face, and she said, "The red-haired disciple, can you repeat what you said to the entire class?"
Bai Shuying was stunned at suddenly being put on the spot and spoke with some hesitation, "Hum, to reach and obtain a certain realm, mastery, or level? I think what Elder Su made us feel earlier."
The disciples around her were confused and doubted if it was the right answer. Elder Su soon explained, expelling their doubt, "Yes, all sword cultivators pursue the dao of sword to be able to use and master what is known as intent."
A confused disciple asked, "Elder Su, why do all sword cultivators want to use and master intent?"
Elder Su took a moment to organize her thoughts and explained, "A sword cultivator that can not use intent is not a sword cultivator."
The disciples all gasped at the statement made by Elder Su.
Ignoring their reaction, Elder Su continued to speak in a calm voice, "Intent is the will, qi energy, and the laws of the world, into an invisible but overwhelming force. Sword practitioners who pursue the dao of sword will only go a certain distance, but soon they will hit a barrier, and to pass that barrier, you need intent."
Bai Shuying was curious and asked, "Does intent only apply to the sword or any kind of weapon?"
Elder Su smiled and replied, "Intent can apply to anything as long as you have a strong will, qi energy, and the laws of this world. For example, a person who plays the zither can use intent to make their listeners feel emotions of happiness, anger, or sadness."
Elder Su looked at the amazement in all the new disciples' eyes, but what she said next made their eyes go dim: "In this class, I will not be teaching intent."
An unhappy disciple asked, "Why not?"
Elder Su looked at the disciple and said, "Only one in a thousand people can achieve the use of intent, and that is just the beginning. I will just give you information about intent and the stages to master intent, the rest is up to you. In this class, I will teach the fundamentals of the sword and different types of sword techniques."
Bai Shuying nodded her head.
A person can help you so much, the rest still depends on your hard work..
Elder Su started to explain the four stages of intent mastery:
1st Stage: Seed of Understanding, "Knowledge waters the mind; enlightenment makes it grow."Practitioners accumulate insights, forming a "seed" of intent within their consciousness. Upon reaching enlightenment, this seed sprouts, allowing the use of basic intent (e.g., sharpening perception or guiding movements).
2nd Stage: Manifestation, "Intent breathes beyond the flesh." By refining their understanding, cultivators project intent outward. Forms vary: Sword aura (like Elder Su's), protective shields, or sensory pulses.
3rd Stage: Domain, "The world bends to the will of the resolved." Intent materializes as a controlled area, shaped by the practitioner's focus: Sword masters might manifest a forest of blades or a ghostly battlefield. Others could conjure illusions, gravity fields, or elemental spaces.
4th Stage: Dao Integration, "The unreachable horizon." A theoretical realm—no cultivator in the Martial Heaven Continent has ever grasped it. Whispers speculate it involves merging one's intent with the world's natural laws, but records are mere conjecture.
Elder Su took a breath from her long explanation, then said, "Okay, that's enough speaking. Everyone, pick up the wooden sword in your hand."
Bai Shuying grasped the wooden sword in her right hand, but she started to show a frown on her face.
What is this? I feel a disgusting gaze on me.
Xiao Wuji stood in the back, looking at Bai Shuying, his gaze holding lust and other dark intentions. He licked his lips and thought.
I can't wait. When should I challenge her?
For Bai Shuying, this feeling is something she would never have experienced in her previous life because it only happens to women. While in her current life, she never came into contact with men in her generation.
The class continued as Elder Su taught the basics of swordsmanship. Bai Shuying waited for the class to end, but she couldn't help feeling annoyed.
Hmph, bastard looking at me, wait till I find who you are, I'll beat you until you can't see anymore.
The gaze that annoyed her disappeared, one by one, the disciples left, leaving Bai Shuying and Elder Su. Elder Su noticed Bai Shuying's behavior and understood she wanted to ask, so she waited until the rest left.
Bai Shuying bowed lightly and spoke politely, "Elder Su, I'm currently practicing a sword art, but there is something I don't understand. Could you help me?"
Elder Su smiled and replied, "Sure."
Bai Shuying used the wooden sword and demonstrated the thousand blooming lotus sword art. Blue petals started to form around the wooden sword. Bai Shuying said, "When I use the sword art petals form, but I can't move them the way I want."
Elder Su, seeing her perform the sword art, was surprised and said, "This thousand blooming lotus sword art uses intent."
Bai Shuying tilted her head in confusion and asked, "Intent?"
Elder Su nodded her head and explained, "If you want to move the petals, you need to inject intent into them, your will. This is one of the rare sword arts created to harness intent."
Bai Shuying said with some helplessness in her voice, "If I want to use this sword art, I need to be able to use intent, but how can I learn to use intent if only one in a thousand people can use it?"
Elder Su smiled and comforted her by saying, "Why don't you give it a try to learn intent? As I said before, intent starts with the accumulation of knowledge."
Bai Shuying nodded her head and expressed her gratitude, "Thank you, Elder Su."
Elder Su looked at her and asked, "What is your name?"
Realizing her mistake of not introducing herself, Bai Shuying blushed with embarrassment and said, "My name is Bai Shuying."
Elder Su nodded her head as if memorizing her name and said, "Well, if you have any more questions, feel free to ask."
Bai Shuying smiled brightly, hearing this.
…
Hua Qingyan started to pour her new herbal tea into a cup and took out a bag of cookies from her spatial ring. She took a sip of tea and exhaled a breath of air. She looked at her garden and felt a sense of satisfaction. A smile appeared on her face soon, she took out a paper book from her clothes, and placed it on the table.
"It seems all the disciples are interested in this book."
Hua Qingyan looked at the book cover, which displayed 'Love in the Ashes' by Xiao Bai. While walking around the sect, she noticed female disciples reading this book attentively, becoming curious, she purchased a copy from the task hall.
"Let's see what's so interesting about this book."
Hua Qingyan opened the paper book and started to read. Without realizing that time passed slowly, Hua Qingyan quietly sat flipping page by page, all her attention focused on the story. By the time she reached the end of the book, she closed her eyes and exhaled a breath of air and spoke with admiration, "To think a story could express true love in such a way."
Hua Qingyan, a person from the pure love faction she felt the book resonated with her. Hua Qingyan flipped through the pages deep in thought until a doubt crept into her mind.
Wait, this penmanship seems familiar.
Hua Qingyan looked at the writing carefully, she then looked at the cover and muttered in a low voice, "Xiao… Bai?"
Don't tell me the author of this book is Shuying?!
Hua Qingyan felt that her mind exploded and spoke absent-mindedly, "She said she wanted to learn how to write, the writing style is similar to Shuying's, and the author has the name Bai."
After listing all her points like a detective, Hua Qingyan smiled and started to laugh, "Hahahahahaha."
In a beautiful garden, the soft and charming laughter echoed.
…
Mo Xingyu had a look of dissatisfaction on her face as she walked towards the task hall while her hand tightly grasped a paper book, crumpling it. She thought back to what took place in her dual cultivation class.
Mo Xingyu, as a practitioner of dual cultivation and a member of the Luxuria faction, decided to teach a class on it. She imparted the ideas and beliefs of her faction to the new male and female disciples. Over the years, the class increased in popularity, especially with the male disciples.
Today was different from any other; a few female disciples disagreed with her views and teachings. Mo Xingyu wondered why such a situation had started to happen.
She looked at the book in her hand and gritted her teeth and spoke with anger, "This damn book, I need to deal with this Xiao Bai."
When she arrived at the task hall, she went straight to Elder Ling's office. The disciples working in the hall saw her take angry steps inside and started to whisper.
"Why is Elder Mo here?"
"She looks very angry for some reason."
"Do you think something interesting will happen?"
Mo Xingyu ignored them and opened the door to the office roughly. Elder Ling was sitting at her desk handling paperwork when she heard the door open rudely. She said without looking up, "Don't come in so loudly next time."
Mo Xingyu swallowed her frustration and smiled, saying, "Xue Ling, I wanted to ask a favor from you."
Xue Ling raised an eyebrow and smirked, looking at Mo Xingyu calmly and asked, "Oh, what kind of favor would a previous sect master candidate want from a mere Elder of the Task Hall?"
Mo Xingyu's lips twitched, but she could only swallow her irritation at that jab. She smiled and asked, "I wanted to know who this person is."
Mo Xingyu took the book in her hand and showed it to Xue Ling. Seeing the book, Xue Ling was surprised, but then connected everything in her head after all, as a shrewd businesswoman woman you need to understand the other person and what they want.
Xue Ling smiled and said with amusement, "Hmm, why should I tell you?"
Mo Xingyu's irritation increased, a frown showing on her face. She spoke in a frustrated voice, "Tell me what you want for the author's information."
Xue Ling laughed and said, "Not for sale."
Mo Xingyu tightened her grip on the book, understanding she would not get what she wanted, and walked out, slamming the door behind her.
Xue Ling looked at the door and muttered in a low voice, "Still hasn't changed, thinking she has the same power and status as before."
Before Hua Xiran became the sect master, everyone believed Mo Xingyu would obtain the position because she had the backing of the Luxuria faction and a high cultivation realm, but who would have expected Hua Xiran to reach the soul transformation realm?
The inner sect elders were split into three parties: those who favor the current sect master Hua Xiran, Mo Xingyu's Luxuria faction, and elders such as Xue Ling were neutral.