"If I may say so," the Sword Immortal couldn't stand it, emphasizing seriously, "My good disciple, even if I'm not your master, I'm still a senior. Watch your way of speaking."
Jian Lin was startled. She was used to talking to the Demon Lord and hadn't quite adjusted.
What a particular old man.
Jian Lin quickly knelt before her master and apologized, "I will strictly follow Master's teachings. I wasn't paying attention for a moment. Please be magnanimous, Master, and don't hold it against me."
The Sword Immortal couldn't bear to look, saying with disdain, "Slippery tongue. Get up, get up."
Jian Lin grinned and tilted her face up, remaining kneeling. She continued the previous topic, "Master, you were saying? Why haven't you ascended?"
The Sword Immortal said with a serious expression, "Do you know? For thousands of years, no one has dared to ask me about ascension. Everyone knows this is my sore spot, and they don't even dare to mention it."
"Hey, I'm different from them. I'm your good disciple, and our relationship is very close," Jian Lin flattered first, then retracted a bit, "Of course, if you don't want to talk about it, then we won't. Your mood is the most important."
The Sword Immortal sighed, glancing at Jian Lin. Taking her as a disciple for a day had, by chance, touched upon his inner feelings.
Since that failed ascension, the way people in the cultivation world looked at him had changed. From respect and admiration, it turned into pity and avoidance. They carefully protected him, never mentioning ascension.
The Sword Immortal really wanted to talk to someone, but seeing everyone's expressions, he instantly lost the desire to confide.
Furthermore, he was already at the pinnacle of the immortal realm, and no one could offer him advice or guidance. Thus, he hid in this Sword Immortal Cave, avoiding everyone's gaze, focusing on cultivation and enlightenment, and occasionally guiding talented juniors.
A hundred years passed, and it was Jian Lin, a fearless newcomer, who dared to ask him why he couldn't ascend.
The Sword Immortal sighed again, saying hesitantly, "It's not that I don't want to mention it, but I don't know where to start."
Seeing an opportunity, Jian Lin took out a handful of pine nuts and said warmly, "Master, take your time. I'm tired from cultivating, so listening to you tell stories is a good way to rest."
"It's not that long," the Sword Immortal waved his hand, stroking his beard, "According to Divine Venerable Liyang, my accumulated merits were not enough. Specifically, I did too little to punish evil and promote good. I started wielding a sword at six, oblivious to the outside world, focused solely on seeking the Dao, wanting only to be the strongest. As a result..."
Jian Lin understood. It was like a top student who always got first place, but the homeroom teacher said you didn't know how to unite classmates, your conduct score was too low, and you couldn't be awarded the title of outstanding student.
What kind of situation was this!
Jian Lin felt indignant for her master and blurted out, "What kind of ridiculous rule is this? Why can't you ascend? I think Master, you are very suitable to be a Sword God. You are the deity that all sword practitioners in the world should kneel to for blessings."
These words struck a chord with the Sword Immortal. His eyes welled up with tears, and he found his good disciple more and more pleasing to the eye. What if she was a bit foolish? He was happy to teach her!
When the Demon Lord flew down from the void above, he saw that the master and disciple had become much more intimate. He didn't know what had happened, but he smiled knowingly. Jian Musheng was indeed a person who knew how to win people over.
The wine the Demon Lord brought back was indeed good. Jian Lin took a sip and was amazed, "This wine is comparable to what Tao Niang brews."
The Sword Immortal, an old wine connoisseur, scoffed, disbelieving Jian Lin, "This wine is brewed from a spiritual tree. I dare say it's the best in the world, unmatched by anyone."
"That's because your experience is limited. When you have a chance to taste Tao Niang's wine, you'll definitely eat your words!" Jian Lin, tipsy, reached out to touch her peach blossom mark and said in a low voice, "This place of yours should be quite safe. I'll call Tao Niang out to taste—"
Before she could finish, the Demon Lord yanked Jian Lin abruptly, giving her a warning look.
The Sword Immortal, that old pedant, would surely fly into a rage if he knew they had sealed a demon.
Jian Lin came to her senses and quickly stopped talking.
Meanwhile, the Sword Immortal was still asking, "Who is Tao Niang? Why have I never heard her name? Is she a new brewing master who emerged in recent years? Alas, the outside world changes so much."
Jian Lin smiled and vaguely replied, "Yes, that's why Master, why don't you come out and see with us?"
After drinking and resting, Jian Lin went to cultivate in the sword formation again. This time, the Sword Immortal followed her, directing her to spar with the sword intent.
Jian Lin attempted to grab the hilt of the stone sword, but the sword intent blocked her. They engaged in a fierce battle, locked in a struggle.
The Sword Immortal offered advice from the side, "Good disciple, use your brain! If you combine your first and sixth stances, wouldn't that be enough to counter Ming Yan's move?"
This was the essence of the Sword Immortal's "Great Dao is Simple" sword technique. It appeared to have only twelve stances, but with a bit of understanding, any sword practitioner could use their mind to conjure countless moves, leading to infinity.
With the Sword Immortal's guidance, Jian Lin truly began to use her brain. Once she started thinking, she found she couldn't stop. With every move she made, a more powerful move than the last would pop into her mind.
This sword technique seemed to possess a kind of magic, pushing Jian Lin forward, making her think, regret, believe she had perfected something, then discard it, and continue to regret, think, and achieve a positive cycle.
Jian Lin was constantly thinking about sword techniques, showing signs of becoming a sword fanatic.
The Demon Lord watched from the side, utterly awestruck and deeply impressed by the Sword Immortal. He had anticipated that this sword technique would be extraordinary, but he hadn't expected it to be so profoundly so.
Most importantly, it was perfectly suited for Jian Lin. Her foundation was weak, and her comprehension was average. Learning the Bright Moon Sword Technique was very challenging; she had to repeat even the most basic stances several times, and it would take a long time to master them.
"Senior, Jian Musheng is truly fortunate to have met you," the Demon Lord praised with solemn respect.
"It's nothing special. If it weren't for her unique situation, I wouldn't be willing to teach her this sword technique. This is the most precious thing I've gained in my life of cultivation," the Sword Immortal stroked his beard and glanced at the Demon Lord, "I imagine with your talent, you would have memorized it after seeing it once."
The Demon Lord lowered his head and said solemnly, "Please rest assured, Senior. I will remember nothing."
Logically, when the Sword Immortal was teaching Jian Lin the stances, he should have had the self-awareness to step aside. However, he respected the Sword Immortal and was curious about his sword techniques. Moreover, since the Sword Immortal hadn't asked him to leave, he shamelessly stayed.
The Sword Immortal hadn't taken him as a disciple, so he wasn't qualified to learn his sword techniques.
"No need. I didn't ask you to leave, which means I don't mind you learning," the Sword Immortal turned his head to face him, saying seriously, "But you must remember one thing: the Bright Moon Sword Technique is most suitable for you. You practice my stances only to pass the time; never become addicted."
The Demon Lord was stunned, then both surprised and delighted. The Sword Immortal's words implied that he was accepting him as an outside disciple.
He solemnly knelt down, suppressing the joy in his heart, and kowtowed to the Sword Immortal, saying in a deep voice, "This junior will strictly follow Senior's teachings."
"Get up, get up. One is enough. Don't kowtow too much; I can't bear it," the Sword Immortal quickly urged him to rise.
The Demon Lord raised his head and pursed his lips, feeling immensely happy and content.
As for Jian Lin, she wasn't faring as well. After practicing for another three days straight, she grabbed the Demon Lord's hand, and the two of them hid in a corner. She then pouted and complained to him.
"My head hurts so much," Jian Lin hugged the Demon Lord's waist, resting her face against his chest, and wailed incessantly, "Save me, I'm dying."
"No, it's all your imagination," the Demon Lord stood on the Sword Immortal's side, helping him to deceive Jian Lin, "You're just practicing moves; it's not difficult at all. It's just that you're preoccupied with matters of sword intent, making you think all of this is too difficult."
Jian Lin was indeed confused from practicing, unable to distinguish between sword techniques and sword intent. She said hesitantly, "Ah, is that so?"