021. Sword Cultivator

What should I cultivate? Aren't all the female disciples newly admitted to the Upper Court supposed to study the "Taishu Purple Cloud Heart Sutra"?

Lingyu pondered this as she obediently walked up to Master Liu Weiyi.

Liu Weiyi reached out, pressing her pulse gate. In the next moment, an overwhelming surge of true energy poured forcefully through her meridians.

Pain—so much pain...

Lingyu's face contorted; she wanted to cry out but dared not, so she endured with all her strength.

Fortunately, Liu Weiyi soon withdrew the true energy and, quite rarely, showed a hint of a smile. "Child, your bones and sinews are excellent—a promising candidate for sword cultivation."

What?

Lingyu hadn’t yet processed this when Liu Weiyi drew out a white handkerchief and carefully wiped her hands, which were perfectly spotless. She continued, "Excellent. In these three years, few Upper Court disciples have been fit for sword cultivation. I had no hopes, but this is a pleasant surprise." The more she looked at Lingyu, the more satisfied she seemed.

That gaze sent chills down Lingyu’s spine—it was as if she were the plumpest, tenderest cut of meat on a butcher’s block. What was Master Liu planning?

"Girl, have you ever practiced martial arts?"

Lingyu shook her head. "No, Master."

Liu Weiyi eyed her, "Such fine bones and sinews—it’s a pity not to practice martial arts."

Is she complimenting me for being sturdy? Lingyu wondered.

Liu Weiyi continued, "Twelve years old, just the right age to lay a foundation. A few years of tempering, then you can begin sword cultivation." Satisfied with her own plan, she nodded, "Let’s settle it then. You have no master anyway."

Lingyu: "..."

Liu Weiyi ignored her, took a silk scroll from beside the altar, opened it, and while recording with her brush, said, "From now on, you’ll attend classes at the Daoist Palace in the morning, come to Chongxu Palace for me in the afternoon. As for evenings, do as you wish—cultivate if you like, or not, it’s up to you. You may rest one day every ten days for the Daoist lectures; whether you attend or not is your choice."

Without asking Lingyu for any opinion, her future was arranged.

"Master Liu..." Lingyu called timidly.

Liu Weiyi looked up, raising her brows, "Any questions?"

Seeing Liu Weiyi’s expression, Lingyu dared not say she had questions. She thought quickly and asked, "Is Master Liu intending for me to enter the Dao through martial arts?"

Liu Weiyi put down her brush and blew gently on the freshly written characters. "How did Master Zheng teach you? Even such things you don’t understand. You have already entered the Dao—how could you now seek to enter through martial arts?"

"..."

Lingyu fell silent. Just now, Master Liu had said cultivation was optional, as was attending lectures—was this how disciples were normally instructed? But she required Lingyu to come to Chongxu Palace every afternoon, saying it was a pity for her not to practice martial arts. Clearly, she wanted Lingyu to tread a separate path.

"You have fine aptitude and strong bones—a perfect candidate for sword cultivation. To cultivate the sword, you must practice martial arts as a foundation. Cultivation is secondary. After a couple of years, once you have established your foundation, you’ll formally begin sword cultivation, and your progress will soar."

Lingyu blinked and asked, "Master Liu, isn't sword cultivation a form of Dao cultivation? I see all Daoist disciples practice swordsmanship!"

This question made Liu Weiyi curl her lips, revealing a trace of disdain. "They call that sword cultivation?" Noting Lingyu’s ignorance, she patiently explained, "What I mean by sword cultivation is a branch of true cultivation. Sword cultivators have always been called 'swordmasters.' Ordinary cultivators are known as 'arts cultivators'—they do not train their bodies or strength, only their dantian, using spells. Those Daoist disciples you mentioned wield swords as mere ritual implements; when they find a better one, they replace it immediately. Swordmasters are different—they spend their entire lives cultivating a single sword. Even if they possess other treasures, those are mere adornments; their true skill lies solely in the sword. The sword is me, and I am the sword!"

At these words, Liu Weiyi’s tone rang with resolve, her expression solemn.

Lingyu hadn’t expected this elegant and ethereal Master Liu to possess such a sharp edge. Sitting there, she was like a sword unsheathed.

Chongxu Palace truly was filled with madmen and eccentrics.

"...Like those legendary sword immortals!"

Hearing Lingyu’s murmur, Liu Weiyi gave a slight smile. "Yes, you could think of it that way." She sighed wistfully, "The path of swordmasters is rarely passed down. Apart from a handful of top Daoist temples, the tradition is lost elsewhere. I wish I could see the style of those ancient sword immortals."

Sword immortals—the most common protagonists in tales of mortals and immortals. Their swordsmanship was unrivaled, transcendent, flying on their swords across a thousand miles in an instant. Young Lingyu had often envied them, wishing to be one herself. With a single sword, traversing the world, no matter the obstacles—a single stroke to cut through it all—how magnificent!

Thus, she quickly made up her mind. "Master Liu, how should I cultivate the sword? Is it different from arts cultivation? In that case, I don’t need to practice the 'Taishu Purple Cloud Heart Sutra'?"

Seeing her bright, sparkling eyes, Liu Weiyi was very pleased. "Not quite. Swordmasters are also true cultivators—strictly speaking, a kind of Dao cultivator, so the two share common ground. Swordmasters benefit from meditation and cultivation; the more abundant the true energy within, the stronger the sword’s power. The reason I said cultivation was optional now is because your foundation isn’t yet established. Once your body is tempered and your base is laid, you’ll begin sword cultivation. The more diligently you practice the techniques, the greater the benefit."

"I see..."

"Too bad you didn’t enter the sect a few years earlier," Liu Weiyi lamented, her gaze once again unsettling Lingyu. "Had you joined sooner, I might have fought the useless bunch at Taixu Palace for you!"

Taixu Palace—useless...

Lingyu silently repeated the sentiment. It was well known that Yuxu Palace and Taixu Palace were not amicable, and Chongxu Palace was even more dismissive, scarcely acknowledging them at all.

"Never mind. Zheng Tongxuan is gone anyway—he merely occupied the title of master. Eventually, whichever palace you enter in the Inner Court will determine your true affiliation." Liu Weiyi seemed to be speaking to Lingyu, but also to herself. "Alright, that’s settled."

Liu Weiyi stowed the scroll. "Go now. Inform Zhang Zhaoguan of my decision; he’ll arrange things for you."

"...Yes, Master Liu." Seeing Liu Weiyi had no intention of speaking further, Lingyu suppressed her excitement, saluted, and withdrew.

Once outside Yujie Palace, Lingyu couldn’t contain herself any longer; she rushed straight back to the Upper Court, heading directly for Zhang Zhaoguan’s quarters.

"Senior Brother Qingshu, Senior Brother Qingshu!" she called as soon as she entered.

"Hey!" Zhang Qingshu’s voice came from inside. Seeing Lingyu hurry in, he laughed, "Sister Cheng, what’s the matter? Is a monster chasing you?"

Lingyu had no time for jokes and got straight to the point: "Senior Brother, Master Liu Weiyi wants me to cultivate the sword!"

Zhang Qingshu, unlike Lingyu, had grown up in Xuan Yuan Temple, familiar with all its affairs. Hearing this, his eyes widened. "Swordmaster?"

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Too sleepy after taking cold medicine—word count is insufficient and I haven’t corrected errors. Posting as is; I’ll revise after a nap...