After announcing his intent to pursue Cultivation, Xiao Mo had the perfect excuse to remain a recluse who never stepped foot outside, even after recovering from his "illness."
Sitting cross-legged on his bed, Xiao Mo, under the guise of entering a meditative state for Cultivation, sent his consciousness into the Hundred Generations Book.
Every five days, Xiao Mo would use the Heaven-Continuing Technique to help Jiang Qingyi recuperate and clear her Spirit Veins.
Furthermore, Xiao Mo also used his own contribution points to purchase various precious medicinal herbs. He then personally brewed them into concoctions for Jiang Qingyi, following the prescriptions laid out in the Heaven-Continuing Technique.
As for Xiao Mo's lifespan?
He didn't care.
'The price of the Heaven-Continuing Technique is the lifespan of "Xiao Mo," but what does that have to do with *me*, Xiao Mo?'
'In any case, I only have fifty years to experience this life.'
'Based on my current physical condition, I should be able to hold on for at least seventy years.'
'That's more than enough time.'
Under Xiao Mo's care, Jiang Qingyi improved rapidly.
She advanced from the First to the Second Layer of Qi Cultivation in just one month.
Granted, some geniuses could advance from the First Layer of Qi Cultivation to the Fourth or even Fifth Layer within a single month.
Compared to those geniuses, Jiang Qingyi's talent was certainly nothing special.
But Xiao Mo was already satisfied.
It was already great that Jiang Qingyi could cultivate at all. He couldn't ask for more.
Before he knew it, several more days had passed in the real world.
Xiao Mo remained engrossed in "Cultivation" every day, ignoring court affairs and acting as if he'd given up completely. He paid no heed to the admonishments of his ministers.
In any case, aside from eating, Xiao Mo spent all his time in the Hundred Generations Book teaching his disciple.
In the blink of an eye, a total of ten months passed inside the Hundred Generations Book.
During this period of nearly a year, Jiang Qingyi had a growth spurt.
At just fifteen years old, Jiang Qingyi was already nearly 1.6 meters tall.
But that was to be expected.
This was the prime time for a girl's physical development.
And after coming to the Longquan Sword Sect, she no longer had to worry about food or clothing. She ate her fill every day, had meat with every meal, and as her nutrition improved, she naturally grew faster.
Jiang Qingyi was now blossoming, slender and graceful like a sprouting willow.
It was very much a case of "the girl next door has come of age."
She looked like a young woman now.
Ten more days passed.
On this particular morning, as Jiang Qingyi withdrew her Sword Stance, the aura emanating from her body rose to another level.
"Not bad,"
Xiao Mo praised the young woman.
His disciple had already entered the Seventh Layer of Qi Cultivation.
Hearing her master's voice, Jiang Qingyi turned and ran over happily. "Master, you're up!"
"The sun's already high in the sky. Of course I'm up," Xiao Mo said with a smile, gently patting Jiang Qingyi's head. "Qingyi, your cultivation speed is increasing. It seems your hard work is paying off."
"It's all because Master taught me well."
"It's the result of your own hard work... COUGH COUGH COUGH COUGH..." Xiao Mo started coughing violently.
"Master, are you alright?" Jiang Qingyi looked at her master with concern.
"I'm fine." Xiao Mo waved his hand. "I just ran into a problem while practicing recently and injured myself a bit. I'll be fine after a period of recuperation."
"Really?" Jiang Qingyi asked, still worried.
'This is the first time I've ever seen Master get sick.'
"Of course, it's true." Xiao Mo changed the subject. "The New Blood Competition is less than three months away. Are you ready?"
"Master, I am ready. I will not bring shame upon you!" Jiang Qingyi said earnestly.
"Just do your best and leave no regrets."
As he spoke, Xiao Mo took a Sword Box from his Storage Pouch and handed it to Jiang Qingyi.
"Master, what is this?" Jiang Qingyi asked curiously.
"It's a gift for you. Open it and take a look."
Jiang Qingyi opened the box.
Lying inside was a longsword.
"What a beautiful sword!"
Jiang Qingyi exclaimed.
The longsword looked as if it were carved from frost. Its body was translucent and engraved with a lotus flower pattern.
"This sword is named Profound Frost. It's a Fourth-Grade Magical Artifact. It isn't particularly valuable, but it is quite beautiful and suits you well. What do you think, do you like it?"
"Mhm! I love it!" Jiang Qingyi nodded vigorously. "Thank you, Master! Qingyi will take good care of this sword!"
Xiao Mo smiled. "It's just a Fourth-Grade Magical Artifact, a bit prettier than most. When your Realm is higher in the future, you'll just toss it aside."
"I won't, Master!" Qingyi hugged the Sword Box tightly, shaking her head forcefully. "Qingyi will treasure it forever! I'll never throw it away!"
...
「Wanjian Sect.」
As the First Sword Sect in the World of Ten Thousand Laws.
Disciples who could enter the Wanjian Sect all possessed considerable cultivation talent.
Even an Outer Disciple of the Wanjian Sect had the talent of an Inner Sect Disciple in any other Sect.
And today was the grand event for all of Wanjian Sect's newly initiated disciples—the New Blood Competition!
The New Blood Competition originated from a long-vanished Sect—the Longquan Sword Sect.
Compared to the Longquan Sword Sect's version, the Wanjian Sect's New Blood Competition had virtually identical rules, adopting a format of drawing lots for matchups.
The top three participants in the New Blood Competition would receive generous rewards, including but not limited to Cultivation Techniques and Magical Artifacts.
The champion of each New Blood Competition would even receive a Magical Treasure gifted by the Sect Leader herself.
For instance, this time, the Wanjian Sect Leader had put up a First-Grade Magical Artifact as the prize!
This filled every disciple with motivation.
Early this morning, all the disciples participating in the New Blood Competition, as well as the various Elders and Peak Masters, had gathered on a small plain.
On the first day of every New Blood Competition, the Wanjian Sect Leader would appear to announce the start of the event.
Thus, every young disciple was craning their neck in anticipation, waiting for the Sect Leader to appear.
The Wanjian Sect Leader was simply too legendary.
To all the Sword Cultivators in the world, the leader of the Wanjian Sect was a god-like existence.
The Wanjian Sect Leader was famously elusive; even the Sect's upper echelons rarely saw her.
Therefore, for many people, this was one of the few opportunities in their entire lives to see the Sect Leader.
「Just as the hour of the Dragon struck.」
A sword-light flashed through the sky, landing directly at the forefront of the plain.
A woman stood upon a high platform, a gentle breeze rustling her long skirt.
At the woman's waist hung a longsword, white and translucent, as if forged from Profound Ice.
"Is that sword the Sect Leader is wearing our Wanjian Sect's Immortal Sword Bai Xia?" a female disciple on the plain asked her friend.
"No, the Sect Leader rarely uses Bai Xia. This sword is called Profound Frost. It's only a Fourth-Grade Magical Artifact," her friend explained.
"A Fourth-Grade Magical Artifact?" The first disciple was stunned. "Is there something special about this Fourth-Grade Magical Artifact? How can a Fourth-Grade Magical Artifact be worthy of the Sect Leader's status?"
"That I don't know."
Her friend also shook her head.
"Perhaps... this Fourth-Grade Magical Artifact holds some special meaning for the Sect Leader..."