In the courtyard, Chu Xue's figure danced, sword light scattering from her hands, sweat beading heavily on her powdered face.

Just yesterday, the number of 'Earth Sinking Talismans' affixed to her body had increased to ten.

This meant that starting from yesterday, she needed to bear a crushing weight of 4.2 million jin every single moment.

This was Zong Shou’s instruction; he said it would both aid her body refinement and prove beneficial when fighting adversaries several ranks above her in the future, moreover, it was the key to her breaking through to the Seventh Tier.

This practice had commenced a year and a half ago. Starting from the initial two talismans, then four, it had now reached the massive total of ten. She wasn't even allowed to remove them while sleeping.

However, thus far, apart from her physical body undeniably strengthening, Chu Xue had seen none of the other supposed benefits.

She only knew that throughout this year and a half, every swing of her sword was agonizingly difficult. The physical exertion required was ten times that of normal.

In the very beginning, she couldn't even maintain the effort for fifteen minutes. It wasn't until six months ago that she finally managed to adapt.

And every time she became accustomed to the duration, Zong Shou would insist she add two more talismans.

He also required her to consciously control her strength during normal activities—that 4.2 million jin weight. Normally, when stepping on the ground, if she wasn't careful, nearly every footfall would sink deep into the earth.

This meant that at all times, she had to expend a massive amount of soul power, borrowing the strength of the five Spirit Beasts to keep her body levitating above the ground.

Practicing this set of sword arts while simultaneously casting Spirit Arts—it was truly, truly grueling!

Every single night, she would come close to collapse.

However, Young Master had spoken, demanding that she master every variation of the Five Spirit Sword, until the execution of the sword became instinctive. Thus, she would absolutely not abandon the path midway!

Over the course of a year and a half, this sword technique had been entirely dismantled by her, bit by bit, slowly absorbed and understood.

Chu Xue knew well that her own aptitude was poor; many crucial essences of the sword techniques were beyond her comprehension. But right beside her, there was a Sword Grandmaster like Zong Shou to consult.

Zong Shou often chose not to lecture but to demonstrate directly through action. Sometimes, before her mind fully grasped the concept, her body had already mastered the movement.

The so-called Five Spirit Sword was actually five entirely different sword forms, each embodying a sword intent harmonized with one of the Five Spirit Beasts. Furthermore, when executing the sword arts, she often had to interweave Spirit Arts to evoke the corresponding divine powers of the Five Spirit Beasts—incredibly complex. Yet now, she could freely employ and transition between five nearly flawless sword techniques, and her coordination when casting Spirit Arts and divine powers was precisely timed.

According to Zong Shou, there were now very few flaws left. This sword technique was nearing the stage of entry, achieving minor mastery in swordsmanship. Ordinary Sixth Tier experts would no longer be her match.

She recalled the time when the Young Master, speaking of this achievement, had expressed surprise and wonder, saying she was practically the legendary Heaven-Reaching Ape—a divine beast rumored in the ancient Cloud Barrens era to be dull-witted but capable of learning to imitate all secret arts and divine powers in a short time.

Chu Xue had been so mortified then that she wanted nothing more than to bring a hammer down hard on Zong Shou’s head. Nevertheless, for the last twenty-plus days, she had been exceptionally invigorated, practicing her swordsmanship even more diligently. As a result, most nights she would be completely sprawled on the bed before the second watch, utterly unwilling to get up.

At this moment, outside the entrance to Zong Shou’s secluded meditation chamber, Zhao Yanran stood observing with a leisurely air and considerable interest.

Ever since hearing that Zong Shou was entering seclusion to break through to the Sun Roaming Realm, she had stationed herself here for the past ten days. Most of the time, she was meditating with her eyes closed, only occasionally opening them to quietly watch Chu Xue practice her swordplay.

“Tsk tsk, this set of sword arts is indeed remarkable! Once a fight breaks out, even without your Martial Body, I might not be your match now. But Xue’er, do you really believe everything your Young Master tells you? Ten Earth Sinking Talismans—that’s just perverse—”

“I used to hear tales of people using Earth Sinking Talismans for body refinement, and the effect was indeed quite good. But I’ve never heard of using them to break through to the Seventh Tier Heavenly Position. Be careful that your Young Master isn't tricking you. That fellow is the most wicked-hearted—”

Chu Xue pursed her lips, choosing to ignore her, focusing intently on making every single sword form as perfect as possible.

She was nearing her limit now; her hands trembled slightly from exhaustion, making it exponentially harder to keep the sword form precise and unwavering.

“Your Young Master must be finding inventive ways to torture you. Xue’er, think hard—did you do something recently to offend that man?”

A sudden jolt went through Chu Xue’s heart. Speaking of offense, two years ago, upon rushing back to Profound Heaven Mountain, in a fit of anger, she had stuck a Circulation Talisman onto the Young Master’s forehead, causing him terrible misery afterward.

But the Young Master didn’t seem like someone with such a small capacity for grudges, did he?

Yet, upon further reflection, Zong Shou’s usual manner of operation seemed to be repaying every grievance in kind?

Could it be that she had truly been tricked by the Young Master?

Immediately, a warning sounded in her mind. She forced out another sword strike, her tone irritated: “Sister Yanran, you’re talking nonsense! If you use illusion techniques again, Xue’er won’t speak to you anymore!”

This sword strike wavered slightly, and she couldn't seamlessly follow up with the next. Chu Xue had no choice but to shift the sword form, changing to the Spirit-Martial Unity Sword Zong Shou had taught her.

Zong Shou often urged her to give up on it, but Chu Xue refused. This sword art was definitely having an effect. Previously, her inner essence and soul power were like ice and raging fire, completely incompatible. But now, things were much better.

She always felt that the two were separated by just a thin membrane; once pierced, the soul power and inner essence could finally merge as one.

Therefore, Chu Xue diligently practiced without cease. She had witnessed firsthand Zong Shou demonstrating the Spirit-Martial Unity Sword, his strength leaping two whole tiers, allowing him to contend against Xuanyuan Tong.

And it was rumored that anyone who achieved Spirit-Martial Unity would invariably possess combat power far exceeding their peers. Chu Xue hated being a burden; recently, following Zong Shou, others called her silly, a mere vase, a drag on the Young Master.

The five Spirit Beasts granted to her by the Young Master felt more like a heavy burden pressing upon her shoulders.

So, upon seeing a glimmer of hope, she refused to give up.

Seeing this, Zhao Yanran let out a soft chuckle. She ultimately ceased using the charm-based illusion technique that affected the mind, and instead asked curiously, “Xue’er, you really did offend him? Tell me, what exactly happened—”

Her following words were drowned out by a sudden, sharp sword cry. And in the very next instant, a clear, resonant voice boomed across the entire Azure Life Vault:

“—I am Jue Yu, here to call! I wish to spar swordsmanship with the Azure Life Dao, I request that your esteemed sect grant me this instruction!”

The sound reverberated, lingering for a long time. Zhao Yanran’s expression sharpened, and she murmured softly, “That Jue Yu has finally arrived!”

Then she turned to Chu Xue with a smile and asked, “Want to go watch together?”

Chu Xue hesitated slightly, yet she was quite curious about what the Sword Young Master Jue Yu looked like. Could he truly have three heads and six arms to have challenged the Ten Sacred Lands and Nineteen Spirit Mansions without a single defeat?

However, when her hand rested on the sword, Chu Xue's mind abruptly settled. Just as she was about to refuse, Zhao Yanran floated over directly, seizing her hand, and they soared into the sky together, trailing a ten-zhang-long silk ribbon above the clouds.

“Look at you, you’re already exhausted; where would you find the energy to practice swordplay? Going over there to watch will serve as a rest for you. Observing someone like Jue Yu fight will be beneficial for your future training. Look, aren’t Zong Yuan and Ruo Shui also coming? But Xue’er, you are truly heavy now—4.6 million jin, you really can endure it—”

Chu Xue looked back and saw two figures behind them rising into the air one after the other.

They arrived from behind and overtook them in mere moments. Ruo Shui was kinder to her; as her silhouette flashed past, she grabbed Chu Xue’s arm, and their escape velocity immediately surged dramatically.

A dozen breaths later, they exited the gates of the Dao Palace, then shot straight out beyond the Azure Life Vault to a vast spatial rift.

A multitude of people had gathered there. Most were disciples of the Azure Life Dao, though some were from other factions, each having chosen a spot, sitting or standing, gazing from a distance.

In the central area stood a tall, slender youth. Dressed entirely in black, his face was handsome to the point of being unnervingly demonic, rivaling that of her Young Master who inherited the Celestial Fox bloodline. He held a broad, black sword in his hand, standing quietly, his eyes slightly closed, as if meditating.

The gazes of the surrounding crowd were intensely complex. There was admiration, loathing, and envy, yet not a single person showed defiance.

This man earned the moniker 'Sword Young Master' through hundreds of battles, forging his reputation by stepping over the heads of all the young heroes from the Ten Sacred Lands and Nineteen Spirit Mansions! His strength was beyond doubt.

Chu Xue meticulously examined Jue Yu from head to toe, then shook her head slightly: “Not as good as my Young Master!”

Zhao Yanran instantly smiled, about to speak, when another tolling bell sounded. A slightly hoarse voice followed:

“Yuan Fei, Xie An, Han Jian, Xuan Ye, Zhu Ling, Guo Yu, Xue Chu—these six, come swiftly to the main hall of the academy!”

This voice seemed only audible to the disciples of the Azure Life Dao, causing a stir among them. They understood that these seven were likely the ones chosen by the sect to answer the challenge. They had heard of the first six names to some degree, but the last one was completely unfamiliar.

The rest of the itinerant cultivators and disciples from other factions who had come to watch the excitement showed no reaction.

Su Chu Xue hadn't paid much attention until half a moment later, when, seeing Zhao Yanran and the others looking at her with strange expressions, her face changed. She suddenly remembered that Xue Chu was the alias she had chosen when she first entered the Azure Life Dao Palace—her name reversed.

How could it be her? Among the Azure Life Dao’s Three Sects and Six Halls, there were so many talented young people; over a dozen Eighth Tier experts under the age of a hundred had recently returned to the Palace. Why choose her?

She was clearly only at the Sixth Tier!

Zhao Yanran was also surprised. After contemplating for a moment, she mused thoughtfully, “In any case, since the sect summoned you, we must go see. Perhaps some elder in the sect values your talent.”

Chu Xue, however, curled her lip dismissively. She still clearly remembered the disdainful look on Elder Han Fang’s face when they first met.

For more novels, visit storyread.net.