402: Chapter 14 Daoist Child 402: Chapter 14 Daoist Child Beneath the Yuqing Pavilion of the Taoist sect, there is a Carp Lake, at the bottom of which lie the Cave Heaven relics left by several true masters.
Here, the Primordial Energy is dense, making it a treasure ground for cultivation.
Just as night fell, on the spacious ground by the lake, the air was cool.
A streak of Sword Qi whistled past, gliding over the lake surface, creating ripples.
The flying sword traveled tens of yards before turning back, and then, trembling fiercely, it hovered in front of the woman in white.
One breath.
Ten breaths.
Just when the flying sword was about to maintain its hover for nearly a hundred breaths, a gust of wind blew by, and the flying sword began to tremble violently, no longer able to hover stably.
“Humming sounds!”
Deng Baiyi’s face turned ugly at this moment.
She raised one arm, fingers pressed together, pointing steadfastly at the flying sword’s position, while the other arm clenched her wrist tightly, straining to keep it raised.
Unfortunately, the longer she controlled the sword, the greater the pressure.
Approaching a hundred breaths, the arm responsible for guiding the sword, along with the flying sword, trembled continuously as if bearing the weight of a thousand catties.
Even as Deng Baiyi gritted her teeth and persevered, she could only gradually lower her arm.
As her arm fell,
The flying sword eventually crashed into the grass beside the lake.
“Ninety-one breaths…”
“Junior Sister Deng, your talent in the Sword Dao is much higher than I imagined!”
Yuqing Pavilion fairy Cheng Zhi, who was responsible for guiding the training, sighed, “You’ve just started with the flying sword, barely over a month, and you can already let it travel thirty yards and hover for a hundred breaths.
This is the cultivation homework for the upper levels of the Foundation Establishment disciples of Yuqing Pavilion.
They all said you would need at least three years to master Qi Control, but looking at your progress, in no more than a year, you should be able to control the sword with your Qi.”
Upon hearing this,
Deng Baiyi just shook her head without much joy on her face.
During the time she secluded herself for cultivation at Yuqing Pavilion, she practiced diligently every day and made no small progress in the Sword Control Technique.
But Deng Baiyi was very clear.
It wasn’t that she was “extraordinarily gifted,” just rather lucky.
The insights in swordsmanship imparted by Xie Zhen started to show their effectiveness gradually after she began exploring the way of the flying sword.
As for the talismans she drew while traveling with Pavilion Master Tang before, they played a significant role as well.
The talismanic technique might seem like a “sideline art,” but it possesses deep underlying principles.
Array Pattern Masters immersed themselves in the art of Drawing Talisman, often secluded for more than a dozen hours at a time, fully concentrated, which requires high demands on the Divine Soul.
This refinement made Deng Baiyi’s Divine Soul Realm exceed that of other cultivators at the same stage by a considerable margin.
Cultivation is like building a floor.
Her talents in the Sword Dao were average, akin to a clay figurine, but she had happened to encounter two nobles, and thus had laid a considerably solid foundation.
Even so, to master Qi Control…
would still require much effort.
Deng Baiyi knew in her heart that the talismanic way was what truly suited her best.
Her cultivation in the Sword Dao, even if she put in several times the effort, might not yield even half the outcome of a common talent.
“Junior Sister Deng, do you seem somewhat displeased?”
Cheng Zhi blinked her eyes.
“Pavilion Master Tang has gone to the back mountain and it’s been half a month now.”
Deng Baiyi spoke earnestly, “Pavilion Master Shu Ning said that Pavilion Master Tang was visiting Great True Master Chong Kan…
Just what kind of visit would require such a long time?”
This question left Cheng Zhi unable to respond.
“I’ve heard that Great True Master Chong Kan has quite a deep grudge against Pavilion Master Tang.”
Deng Baiyi continued, “Could it be that Pavilion Master Tang has been detained in the back mountain?”
“I am but an ordinary disciple of Yuqing Pavilion, how would I have the right to know such things?”
Cheng Zhi forced a wry smile, helplessly saying, “My Master instructed me to accompany Junior Sister Deng in sword practice by Carp Lake and told me not to ask or think too much about other matters.”
Deng Baiyi spoke solemnly, “Pavilion Master Tang has been kind to me, and now she has disappeared just like that.
Am I to pretend as though I haven’t seen anything?”
She was now beginning to understand.
Why she always had an ominous premonition before.
It turned out that Pavilion Master Tang’s return to the Taoist sect was such a perilous journey, no wonder she insisted on bringing Deng Baiyi to Yuqing Pavilion, intending to entrust her to Shu Ning under the pretext of sword practice.
“Junior Sister Deng, Great True Master is not a bad person.”
This young disciple of Yuqing Pavilion carefully explained, “The back mountain of the Taoist sect is a place of confinement.
Pavilion Master Tang has done many absurd things in recent years, stirring much indignation within the sect.
Perhaps Great True Master has confined her, and after a period of reflection, she will be released.”
Deng Baiyi looked towards the back mountain and could only remain silent.
Cheng Zhi quickly added, “Junior Sister Deng, it’s alright for us to talk about these matters, but don’t speak carelessly outside.”
“Why are the lights in the distance so bright?”
Suddenly, Deng Baiyi looked towards the opposite side of Carp Lake.
“The Northern Hunt has ended, and Senior Sister Shang has returned to the Taoist sect with the Yuqing Pavilion disciples.”
Cheng Zhi stood side by side with Deng Baiyi, their gazes crossing Carp Lake to the whistling Sword Qi in the distance, laughingly saying, “The Northern Hunt was dangerous, and it’s a joyous event that Senior Sister Shang has returned unharmed.
Tonight, Yuqing Pavilion has set up a banquet.
Would you like to join me there later?”
Although she was in closed-door cultivation at Yuqing Pavilion, Deng Baiyi had heard about major and minor events.
She frowned with curiosity and asked, “I heard that the Tai Shang House suffered heavy losses in this Northern Hunt.
With just a mountain range between us, is it really appropriate for Yuqing Pavilion to hold a celebration banquet like this?”
“The seven houses of the Taoist sect each have their own ways.”
“Those who perished in the Northern Hunt are to be mourned, and those who survived should be celebrated.
I heard that the people from Tai Shang House are still in the Imperial City and I do not know when they will return…”
After thinking for a moment, Cheng Zhi added, “Junior Sister Deng, there are things you do not know.
In previous years, Yuqing Pavilion and Tai Shang House had a good relationship, but in recent years, the two Pavilion Masters have not been in contact much.
I’m not sure what Li Chen did to offend Pavilion Master Shu…
In fact, that Taoist child Fang Hang of Tai Shang House was also pretty good in the early years, but it seems he has lost his way in recent times.
Though his appearance has not changed much, his whole conduct and style have indeed altered.”
She sighed for a while.
Cheng Zhi sighed and said, “Master has instructed us to limit our interactions with Tai Shang House.
This celebratory banquet is solely to honor the safe return of the disciples from Yuqing Pavilion.”
“Is that so.”
Deng Baiyi summoned her Flying Sword back to her hand and said softly, “To return safely from the northern hunt is indeed a joyous occasion.
Sister Cheng, thank you for your guidance these past days.
As I am new here, I will not attend tonight’s banquet.”
Cheng Zhi was momentarily stunned.
“There’s no need to thank me.”
She smiled and straightened her hair, then said earnestly, “Junior Sister Deng, you have exceptional talent and the potential to become an Array Master.
Even if you only pursue the Sword Dao, your future achievements will surpass those of ordinary disciples like us.
Senior Sister Shang Yi is particularly fond of talented individuals.
If she were to meet you, she would certainly be very pleased…”
No matter how much she was persuaded, Deng Baiyi remained unmoved.
She insisted on staying at Carp Lake to practice her swordsmanship.
Unable to convince her, Cheng Zhi left alone.
The lake returned to tranquility, and the long night at the Path of the Daoist fell silent.
In the distance, the mountaintops twinkled with light, and faint melodies of celestial music wove through the air.
Within the lake, ripples quivered.
“Whoosh!”
The Flying Sword, that had fallen into the mud, wobbled as it rose, skimming towards the end of the night sky, splashing twin waves of water.
Deng Baiyi gritted her teeth, her eyes burning with an even fiercer determination.
One breath…
ten breaths.
This time, the Flying Sword hovered in the air, emitting a bright silver Sword Qi, suspended mid-air for a full hundred breaths before plummeting down.
Deng Baiyi sat down, exhausted, without care for her appearance.
Moments later.
Having recovered a bit of her Primordial Energy, Deng Baiyi prepared to try drawing the sword again.
The Flying Sword swept back to her from the lawn, trembling with the wind.
Bending low, it seemed she was ready to step onto the Flying Sword and try the Sword Control Technique.
Each night, Deng Baiyi would recall the streaks of sword light she had seen when looking up to the sky.
Riding a sword into the heavens, hailed as a Sword Immortal.
That was her greatest wish up to now.
“To ride a sword in flight, I’m afraid you still lack some finesse at the moment.”
Just then, a youthful and naive laugh emanated from the night behind her.
Deng Baiyi hastily turned around.
A child, clad in a snow-white Daoist robe, sat on a large banyan tree by the shore of Carp Lake, swinging his feet from the tree branches.
He appeared no older than eleven or twelve, but his gaze was unusually clear, like the deep blue of a serene lake.
“Who are you?”
Deng Baiyi asked, on guard.
Despite not being at a high realm, as a talisman drawer, her Divine Thought was extremely sensitive.
She had been practicing swordsmanship at Carp Lake for quite some time and had not sensed anyone approaching…
The only explanation.
This child of eleven or twelve had a Divine Soul Realm far surpassing the Foundation Establishment Realm.
“Don’t worry, do you see my Daoist robe?”
The child smiled slightly and lifted his wide sleeve, saying, “In the Taoist sects, what bad people could there be?”
“Heh.”
It was meant as a friendly gesture, but Deng Baiyi responded with a cold laugh.
The child appeared a bit frustrated and helplessly said, “I overheard the conversation between you and him earlier…
Just because Tang Fengshu was confined by Chong Kan doesn’t mean you should have prejudices against the Taoist sects.
Under Chong Kan’s guidance over the years, the sect has become the foremost in the world; if not for his merits, at least acknowledge his hard work.”
“I don’t know any Chong Kan.”
Deng Baiyi spoke calmly, “I only know that Pavilion Master Tang has been very kind to me, a true good person.
She saved the entirety of Lichao City, and yet upon returning to her own sect, instead of being praised, she lost her freedom.”
The child fell silent.
“It’s a complicated matter that can’t be explained in a few words.”
He pointed to Deng Baiyi’s Flying Sword and asked curiously, “Could you perform that Sword Control Technique again?
I’d like to take a closer look…
The one who taught you these past few days must be a junior disciple from Yuqing Pavilion, right?
But why do I see a familiar figure’s shadow?”
Deng Baiyi became even more guarded.
Picking up the Flying Sword, she wiped it with her sleeve and then held it close to her chest, saying coldly, “I will not.”
The one who taught her the art of the sword was not solely from Yuqing Pavilion.
Xie Zhen had also taught her a few incantations and mental methods.
With her talent for the Sword Dao, she could, at most, comprehend three or four aspects and apply one or two.
Could this little bit of a trace also be discerned by this little Daoist child?
Who exactly was he?
“Hey hey hey, don’t be so narrow-minded.”
The child propped himself on the tree trunk and lightly jumped down.
He was wearing a quite large Daoist robe that almost reached the ground.
The little guy stood with his hands behind his back, assuming a pretentiously mature demeanor, and said discontentedly, “The talismanic techniques of the Taoist sect have long been leaked out.
What’s the big deal if I take a look at the Swordsmanship of the Sword Palace?
You, little girl, secretly learning some mediocre skills, do you really think they are treasures?”
Deng Baiyi’s eyes widened, “Tch, who are you calling a little girl?”
“Perform the Flying Sword technique one more time.”
The child ignored the question.
He raised an eyebrow and unconsciously looked up at the woman before him.
Realizing that he felt somewhat ‘inferior’ due to his height, he quickly activated his Qi Control to rise to the same eye level as Deng Baiyi.
He didn’t want to take advantage of the situation, so he simply looked straight at her, his tone carrying a bit of pride and smugness, “Let me see the worth of the Sword Palace’s Flying Sword Skill.
Afterward, I will teach you something even more powerful!”
…
…
(Today’s writing was a bit slow, thank you for your patience.)