028. Enlightenment for All

"Lingyu!" As night fell, Lingyu emerged from the Abyssal River and was greeted by a girl of about sixteen or seventeen, who approached her with a bright smile.

"Sister Yu," Lingyu replied, donning her outer robe and returning the greeting. This Sister Yu, whose name was Yu Xiyin, was one of Liu Weiyi's disciples. She got along well with Lingyu, and had also been cultivating recently at the Abyssal River.

The two walked side by side. Yu Xiyin said, "I heard you embarrassed Luo Yun today?"

"Ah, that guy," Lingyu scratched her head and asked modestly, "His name sounds so familiar. What's his background?"

Yu Xiyin raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "You actually don't know who Luo Yun is? He's a famous figure throughout the Xuan Yuan Temple!"

Lingyu shook her head. "Sister Yu, you know how busy I am every day. I barely have time to pay attention to these things."

"True..." Of all people, Yu Xiyin knew best how Lingyu had spent the past three years. Yu Xiyin had only entered the sect six months before Lingyu, and they had practiced martial arts together almost daily.

"Luo Yun is the eldest grandson of Master Tonglin, the chief of the Great Void Palace. He has extraordinary talent and entered the Visualization Realm at the age of thirteen." After explaining, Yu Xiyin smiled. "He's always considered himself the most gifted among our generation of disciples. When you broke his record upon entering the sect, he became quite resentful. Over the past three years, you've been either training or cooped up in your room, so you simply haven't had the chance to run into him."

Lingyu curled her lips. "How petty. So what if he started a bit earlier than I did? It's not as though I'm the founder of the sect. I heard there was a senior who entered the path at ten years old more than a century ago—why doesn't he compare himself to that?"

"As you said, that was a predecessor." Yu Xiyin continued, "Luo Yun wasn't suited for the path of sword cultivation, but he refused to accept it. He spent five years tempering his body and only recently comprehended Sword Qi. If you hadn't chosen sword cultivation as well, he might not hold such a grudge, but you happened to be more suited to it than he is..." She spread her hands. "For a young master like him, it's no wonder his mind gets stuck in knots."

Lingyu couldn't help but laugh out loud. How true—some people are just stubbornly unreasonable.

"By the way, how did you find out, Sister Yu? Luo Yun wouldn't go around telling people about losing face, would he?"

"Naturally, someone saw it." Yu Xiyin smiled. "You only exchanged a few sharp words. It wouldn't have been anything, but with a stiff-minded person, you never know—so be careful in the future."

"Thank you for the warning, Sister Yu," Lingyu replied, though she didn't take it to heart. The rules at Xuan Yuan Temple were strict; even if Luo Yun was the chief's eldest grandson, disciples couldn't just bully others as they pleased. Besides, she was always busy—who knew if they'd even cross paths again?

The next day, Lingyu returned to the Abyssal River to comprehend Sword Qi, and didn't encounter Luo Yun again.

After more than half a month, her understanding of water grew clearer, but she still felt something was missing.

What exactly was it?

Lingyu surfaced, holding her Kanli Sword as she pondered. The sword's properties, resonating with the blade... Was she approaching this the wrong way? She was supposed to comprehend the sword, not the water. The sword should be the main focus, with water as support. Should she begin with the sword itself?

With this thought, Lingyu closed her eyes and slowly infused her true energy into the Kanli Sword.

So cold. That was her first sensation—as if she were plunging into the Abyssal River for the first time, feeling that icy chill. She felt adrift, with nothing to anchor her, her whole being carried along by the current—a gentle yet surging power.

A shiver ran through her body. Suddenly, she raised her sword and swung it with force.

As the blade rose and swept through the air, a string of water droplets arced away. After two crisp splashes, a deep line was cut across the calm surface of the Abyssal River.

Lingyu was momentarily stunned, then overjoyed. She had succeeded! She had finally comprehended the Sword Qi of Water.

That strike just now was the part of the Kanli Sword that resonated with water, harmonizing with her true energy.

Elated, Lingyu hurried back to the Chongxu Palace and found Liu Weiyi to share her success.

Liu Weiyi smiled faintly. "This sword truly is suited to you. In just over half a month, you've already comprehended one aspect."

Lingyu, brimming with joy, pressed on. "Uncle Liu, how should I go about comprehending the Fire aspect? I managed to understand the Water Sword by immersing myself in water, but I can't exactly jump into a fire to comprehend the Fire Sword!"

Liu Weiyi replied, "Everyone comprehends differently. I can only offer suggestions. There's a Geothermal Pool at the Refining Pavilion where many disciples who practice fire techniques go to cultivate. You might give it a try."

"Thank you, Uncle Liu!" Lingyu set off immediately for the Geothermal Pool.

The Geothermal Pool was deep within Ruoyuan Mountain. Being within the Refining Pavilion, security was tight, and only the outermost edges were open to disciples.

When Lingyu arrived, there were a dozen or so people scattered about the cave where the pool lay—some were cultivating, some were lost in thought, others muttering incantations. Most gave her a glance as she entered, but a few remained fully absorbed, oblivious to her presence. Lingyu surveyed the room and chose an empty corner to sit.

She placed the Kanli Sword on her knees and stared at the flames of the Geothermal Pool, soon falling into a trance.

She remained in that state for three days. Throughout, she focused on sensing the fire and attuning her true energy to the Kanli Sword, but since she couldn't directly touch the flames, her progress was slow.

On the fourth day, she extended her sword and drew out a wisp of fire.

With her cultivation, jumping straight into the pool would be suicide, but handling a small wisp posed no great danger.

Cautiously, she reached out and touched the flame.

Hot! She reflexively withdrew her hand, calmed herself, and tried again. The heat was intense enough to melt metal; had she not shielded her palm with true energy, it would have been reduced to ash.

After several attempts, she finally adapted to the temperature. Lingyu sat cross-legged, closed her eyes, and silently let her true energy make contact with the flame, feeling its changes.

The fire danced, moving as if in a wild performance. It ignited whatever it touched, drawing out their essence to burn hotter and brighter.

It was both devouring and transformative.

Relentless, unstoppable—destroying all, sparing none.

Lingyu’s heartbeat gradually synchronized with the flame’s rhythm. She felt its fervor and violence, its resolve and destructive power.

When her true energy was finally exhausted, the flame in her hand went out.

Lingyu slowly meditated to recover her strength. After a while, she infused her true energy into the Kanli Sword again to sense the Fire aspect within.

Then, she drew out another wisp of fire from the pool.

Ten days passed in a blur.

Compared to her experience with water, this time she was more methodical, more focused. Day by day, her understanding of fire deepened, until she could conjure the sensation of flames in her heart without needing a real one before her.

Lingyu opened her eyes, pressed her left fingers swiftly along the sword’s blade, and a vibrant aura of fire attached itself to the metal, slowly seeping in.

She held her breath, waiting, feeling the simulated flames merge with the sword’s body, fusing gradually...

The moment the fire aspect fully blended with the Kanli Sword, Lingyu suddenly drew her weapon. With a roar, the flames of the Geothermal Pool surged, and the Kanli Sword ignited with blazing light.

The commotion startled the others; a few grumbled in annoyance, but Lingyu, exhilarated, ignored them.

The Sword Qi of Fire was finally hers!

She left the Geothermal Pool lightly, returning to Chongxu Palace with a face full of joy.

"So soon?" Liu Weiyi was astonished.

"Yes," Lingyu replied, not understanding her surprise. Comprehending Sword Qi, as long as one found the right method, could take anywhere from a few days to several months. Her experience was within the normal range.

Liu Weiyi sighed. "Elder Feng’s judgment was indeed accurate. For most people, switching from the Sword Qi of Water to that of Fire—two completely opposite forces—would be awkward and might take several months or even half a year. But you managed it so smoothly. This shows just how compatible you are with the Kanli Sword."

"I see..." Lingyu was enlightened. Come to think of it, she hadn't felt any awkwardness moving from water to fire. Truly, the Kanli Sword was well suited to her. She should thank Elder Feng when she had the chance.

"Now, Uncle Liu—how do I merge the two kinds of Sword Qi into one?"

Liu Weiyi smiled. "How should I know? That's a question for you!"

"For me?" Lingyu was puzzled.

"You’re the one who resonates with the Kanli Sword, not me. However the Kanli Sword fuses two completely opposite energies, you should use the same approach to merge Water and Fire Sword Qi into one—that’s the best guide you could ask for."

A sudden realization dawned on Lingyu. She thanked Liu Weiyi and hurried off with her sword.