106. Doubt Arises

Indeed, it was Du Sheng’an who emerged victorious. Guan Congfei’s expression darkened slightly but he forced himself to remain polite, cupping his hands together and saying, “Daoist Du, your strength is truly extraordinary. I concede defeat.”

Du Sheng’an smiled faintly. “Daoist Guan, you are too courteous. Today’s victory is somewhat fortunate. We shall spar again when time permits.”

His demeanor allowed Guan Congfei to save some face, and he responded more amicably, “I dare not.”

Next to step forward was a female disciple from the Ji Yi Sect. Her prowess was formidable as well, and she battled Du Sheng’an for quite some time before succumbing due to exhaustion of her true energy.

As the day wore on, the matches concluded.

Ling Yu’s eyes had been opened by the experience, and she eagerly discussed the events with Qian Jiale, while Xu Jibo chimed in occasionally.

As for Abi, she had long since fallen into a deep, undisturbed slumber.

After their lively discussion, Qian Jiale and Xu Jibo both settled into meditation and rest. Ling Yu sought out a quiet corner, retrieved her Immortal Scripture, and appeared to study cultivation techniques, though in truth she was reflecting on the day’s bouts.

Before long, lines of characters began to appear one by one at the bottom of the fifth page of the Immortal Scripture, as if an invisible pen was furiously writing.

Ling Yu read carefully, and upon encountering a clever insight, she slapped her thigh in delight. Following the Scripture’s guidance, she circulated her true energy and attempted the moves described.

She then closed the Immortal Scripture and began to recuperate and regulate her breath.

After two hours of rest, dawn broke. Everyone returned to either Mount Zhulong or the Earth Rift Spring to continue their cultivation.

By evening, most gathered by the spring’s edge to spar and exchange techniques.

The content on the fifth page of the Immortal Scripture grew rapidly.

Ling Yu found it curious. On the surface, the Immortal Scripture appeared no different from an ordinary book, yet its narrow pages seemed endlessly inscribed. At the Little Sword Pool, many secret techniques had already been recorded; now, at Mount Zhulong, she had witnessed the methods of disciples from various sects—all recorded on the same page.

Perhaps the Immortal Scripture paginates not by word count but by content.

She flipped back to the first page. The “Grand Elemental Purple Cloud Heart Sutra” was brief, occupying just one page. Pages two and three contained the “Basic Spirit Refining Technique” and the “Basic Sword Control Method,” each with roughly a thousand characters, also confined to one page apiece.

The fourth page, containing the “Water and Fire Sword Technique,” was more extensive. It expanded upon the original “Five Elements Sword Technique,” more than doubling the content of the “Purple Cloud Heart Sutra,” yet still filled only one entire page.

The fifth page’s secret technique insights were even more impressive. Although the Little Sword Pool had already been filled, arriving at Mount Zhulong added nearly half again more content, yet it still fit onto a single page. Ling Yu was intrigued. If this were simply a book, could a single page truly hold so much, regardless of content?

Days passed, and Ling Yu lived leisurely at Mount Zhulong—cultivating by day, observing matches by night, and occasionally practicing on her own.

Whether by design or coincidence, the Qi practitioners training together on Mount Zhulong gradually earned a reputation. The small martial assembly at Mount Zhulong quietly gained renown, attracting Qi cultivators lingering near Yiqing City who made special trips to participate in the contests.

Gradually, the competitions were no longer confined to the evenings; some came even during the day.

The Seven Kill Valley had even considered charging a venue fee for participants, but the plan was abandoned due to its wide-reaching implications.

Eventually, Ling Yu stopped competing in the matches she attended. Both she and Qian Jiale felt that most participants were there for fame, while their purpose was to understand the celestial fire of Mount Zhulong. Devoting too much effort to contests seemed a distraction from their true goal.

Xu Jibo, on the other hand, remained enthusiastic, often bringing Abi along to watch the duels and making acquaintances among the cultivators.

Abi disliked watching the matches because, to her, leaving the Earth Rift Spring was unbearably hot. She much preferred to crouch in the spring, collecting fire crystals, which she found far more entertaining.

Gradually, even Xu Jibo ceased attending the contests and spent every day accompanying Abi in the spring waters.

After several months of cultivation, Ling Yu had grown familiar with the celestial fire of Mount Zhulong, yet felt as though she had reached a bottleneck.

What was the problem? Her comprehension of fire deepened continuously. While cultivating, she would extract segments of celestial fire and slowly introduce them into her meridians, guiding them into the dantian, allowing her true energy to confront the celestial fire directly.

Even though the celestial fire here was weakened by the Earth Rift Spring, it remained fierce. At first, she endured significant pain but gradually adapted.

She had even managed to simulate the fire’s essence within her dantian.

Duanmu Lin once told her that comprehending sword intent was both similar to and different from sword energy. Similar in that sword intent, like sword energy, begins with the cultivation method: those who practice water-based techniques experience water essence, those who practice fire-based techniques experience fire essence, and those who cultivate strength swords seek the source of power.

The difference was that sword energy could be grasped at the edge; once you emit true energy, success follows. Sword intent, however, is intangible and invisible—you must rely entirely on your understanding of your cultivation method to simulate it.

Simply put: sword energy requires only surface familiarity, while sword intent demands profound comprehension.

This explained why many sword cultivators failed to perceive sword intent during the Qi Refining stage.

At that stage, most perceptions of various forces remain superficial; only a rare genius or one blessed by great fortune can grasp sword intent.

Initially, Ling Yu often alternated between the celestial fire of Mount Zhulong and the spring water of the Earth Rift Spring, introducing both into her dantian to comprehend two powers.

This approach was not without merit. Gradually, as she cultivated the celestial fire, she also learned to simulate water essence.

Yet, the elusive sword intent remained completely out of reach—not distant as if separated by mountains, but utterly absent, as if an illiterate person gazing upon twisted characters feels no connection whatsoever.

Ling Yu began to suspect something was amiss. Although sword intent required talent, Duanmu Lin had said that even those without talent, if their understanding was thorough, would still perceive it dimly—like seeing through a window screen, visible but impossible to break.

She had also asked Qian Jiale, who replied that the past few months had been helpful and he roughly understood what sword intent was, although it remained difficult to grasp fully.

Slowly, Ling Yu realized, after carefully studying the Immortal Scripture, that she had likely taken a wrong path.

She cultivated the Water and Fire Sword Technique, and according to the Scripture, the sword intent she should perceive must contain both water and fire forces simultaneously—not fused into one. Like mixing red and blue to get purple, rather than red and blue stripes side by side.

Currently, though she could perceive both celestial fire and spring water, they remained two distinct sword intents, not one unified essence.

Perhaps she should not apply her experience of sword energy comprehension to sword intent. Sword energy could merge gradually, but sword intent had to be unified.

Having realized this, Ling Yu halted her cultivation and informed Qian Jiale before diving into the Earth Rift Spring.

As she descended, she suddenly heard Xu Jibo’s voice calling anxiously, “Senior Sister Cheng, Senior Sister Cheng!”

Ling Yu looked toward the voice. Xu Jibo was swimming toward her, visibly worried.

“What’s wrong?” Ling Yu asked, puzzled. “You seem tense.”

Xu Jibo touched her face unconsciously and smiled, calming herself. “Am I? Maybe it’s because I’ve been here so long that my mood is a bit restless.”

Ling Yu examined her carefully and said, “Junior Sister Xu’s cultivation has slowed recently. By your pace, you should have completed Qi Refining. Perhaps the Earth Rift Spring doesn’t suit your cultivation. If so, it might be better for you to return to the sect first, complete Qi Refining, and come back later.”

Xu Jibo paused briefly before laughing. “Senior Sister Cheng, don’t worry. I know what I’m doing. By the way, what are you planning? Not going to comprehend the celestial fire on Mount Zhulong anymore?”

Ling Yu replied, “I’ve had enough of the comprehension. I think there’s a problem with my cultivation method.”

“Why not tell me? Maybe I can offer some insight. Two heads are better than one,” Xu Jibo said eagerly.

Ling Yu considered it. Xu Jibo had shown keen insight during their previous discussions, so perhaps she really could provide some useful advice—though she was not a sword cultivator.

“Senior Sister Cheng, do you not trust me?” Xu Jibo added, noticing Ling Yu’s hesitation.

Ling Yu had no such thought initially, but Xu Jibo’s words made her wary. She found Xu Jibo somewhat peculiar. She was well aware that Ling Yu cultivated the Water and Fire Sword Technique and that her reason for coming to Mount Zhulong was precisely for its unique environment. So why was Xu Jibo so anxious when Ling Yu entered the Earth Rift Spring?

Alert, Ling Yu relaxed her expression and said, “Of course not. It’s just that you’re not a sword cultivator; this matter is somewhat complicated to explain.”

“No problem. The Dao of cultivation is universal. Recently, I’ve had some confusion myself. Perhaps if we talk it through, we’ll both gain clarity. Come, Senior Sister, let’s sit here for a while,” Xu Jibo said, pulling Ling Yu to sit by the spring, preparing for a long conversation.

Ling Yu studied her coldly, growing more certain of her suspicions, yet she allowed Xu Jibo her will and sat down for the talk.

Xu Jibo was the first to show kindness to Ling Yu after arriving at Moon Embrace Peak, and Ling Yu valued their friendship deeply. However, in terms of closeness, her bond with Qian Jiale was far stronger—truly a confidant. Xu Jibo was more like a good friend; their cultivation methods differed, as did their personalities and approaches.

Ling Yu was not selfish but highly self-interested. She cared little about anything beyond herself. Her personality was strong, but as long as others did not affect her, she went with the flow.

On the surface, Xu Jibo appeared sociable and cheerful, seemingly better suited for guard duties, but Ling Yu always sensed that Xu Jibo was even more self-serving. Whereas Ling Yu’s self-interest was overt—simply indifference to others—Xu Jibo’s was deeply ingrained beneath a facade of warmth and enthusiasm.

Because of this fundamental difference, Ling Yu maintained a relationship of regular contact but never deep trust. She believed that when people of fundamentally different natures become close, the relationship tends to fracture.

If their relationship remained as before—merely friendly acquaintances—it would be fine. But Xu Jibo’s current demeanor stirred uneasy feelings in Ling Yu. Cultivation matters, even among friends, were not to be meddled with lightly.

—