Chapter 45

At midnight, the bright moon hung high above the terrace.

Zhang Yunlu sat facing the moon, eyes closed, her body seemingly draped in a thin silver gauze, a faint violet qi swirling beside her.

After being beaten many times, she ultimately chose to cultivate the troublesome *Zi Yuan Guan Qi Fa*, and had already gathered a strand of violet qi at sunrise to enter the threshold.

At sunrise, violet qi is gentlest and most suitable for cultivation; by noon, it mixes with solar essence, becoming violently turbulent—foundation establishment cultivators cannot utilize it at all.

By sunset, the gathered violet qi loses its vital, burgeoning energy of new life, rendering it utterly useless.

Even morning violet qi contains traces of scorching solar essence, so it must be slowly polished away with spiritual power before it can be absorbed into the fragile eyes.

Zhang Yunlu now used a faster method—drawing upon lunar brilliance's true clarity to erode the solar essence within the violet qi, a secret technique of Zhenjun Zihuan Zhenjun's lineage.

Besides accelerating mastery of the *Zi Yuan Guan Qi Fa*, it also partially simulates the later process of drawing in solar and lunar essence.

Huh~ Ah~ As Zhang Yunlu breathed in and out, the violet qi swirling around her grew purer. "Such rapid entry—she ought to join my Tai Shang Dao Sect." Above, Zhenjun Zihuan Zhenjun watched her, his eyes filled with admiration.

Why bother with swords! Those sword cultivators are arrogant, and beyond being handsome, what difference do they make from body cultivators? How can they compare to my law cultivators, who command heaven and earth, bending all arts to will?

Zhenjun Zihuan Zhenjun's eyes swirled with violet qi as he gazed at the strand growing ever purer.

The *Zi Yuan Guan Qi Fa* should be cultivated with balance—one quarter-hour daily is enough; he had noted this in the text. Based on her current progress…

"In three days, she'll reach minor accomplishment."

Yet the next moment, lunar brilliance surged; the silver gauze凝聚 on Zhang Yunlu's body became solid, her face turned blue-green, her eyebrows and hair dusted with frost.

Clearly, she felt progress was too slow and drew in more lunar brilliance.

'Too hasty… Law cultivators should maintain calm, advance gradually.'

'Lunar brilliance is extremely cold—this could injure her body.'

'But considering she's just received this wondrous method, a bit of greed and haste isn't entirely…'

As Zhenjun Zihuan Zhenjun's thoughts shifted, the swirling violet qi purified at a pace more than several times faster than before.

In just three minutes, the violet qi expelled all scorching solar essence; the lunar brilliance's silver gauze dissolved. Zhang Yunlu pressed her fingers into a seal—the violet qi instantly sank into her eyes.

*Zi Yuan Guan Qi Fa*, minor accomplishment achieved!

Done?

'Though reckless, she still possesses bold, vigorous determination—and cultivation never comes without risk.' Zhenjun Zihuan Zhenjun slowly nodded.

On the terrace, Zhang Yunlu rose slowly; her eyes had turned entirely purple—vast, profound, nothing like the dim glow she'd had in the bathroom.

During trials, she observed the sword cultivator's shadow; though the *Zi Yuan Guan Qi Fa* isn't as direct as sword techniques, she still gained some experience.

Huh~ She exhaled a white breath of cold air; her bluish face returned to normal, the frost on her eyebrows and hair slowly melted.

*Clang! * A flash of icy light appeared—a crystal-like sword glow, like a wandering dragon, ethereal yet merciless.

Indeed, nothing compares to the joy of swinging a sword! Zhenjun Zihuan Zhenjun: '…'

'After all, this is her family's sword art—asking her to abandon it entirely is too much.'

'Besides, even among law cultivators, some practice a few sword techniques.'

His thoughts stirred; Zhenjun Zihuan Zhenjun kept persuading himself—then suddenly froze, his face turning grim.

Wrong!

Why did he feel such intense emotional fluctuations over a foundation establishment cultivator's practice? Even if she were a genius, it shouldn't happen.

Demon of the heart!

He lost all desire to watch further, dissolving into a strand of violet qi that drifted away.

………… Night deepened; in the villa, Chi Jiu Yu had entered the trial and was undergoing torture.

Facing the overwhelming swordlight, like a blazing sun falling from heaven, she still couldn't devise many countermeasures.

Yet her progress on the *Tai Xu Jian Dian* had grown significantly, so even though she couldn't withstand a single strike each time, she still delighted in it.

Soon, Zhang Yunlu entered the trial too; the *Liu Yun Jian Fa* she'd once been taught now manifested with great difference.

Her opponent had shifted from minor accomplishment of the *Zi Yuan Guan Qi Fa* to its great accomplishment—perhaps today she'd even reach perfection?

Xu Xing looked outside, a faint smile on his face.

The Secret Realm will open; the prodigies gathered here and these lucky ones who gained opportunities—whose strength prevails, who wins, who loses?

He looked forward to it greatly.

…………

City Hall, conference room.

The mayor, the mayor's secretary, the principal of Xuanjian City's Third Middle School, the Thought Hall, and two Law Halls—all the Soul Transformation cultivators of Xuanjian City were present.

Everyone sat in silence, as if waiting for something.

Only the old man, the Lutangfutang, occasionally glanced at the Silutangtang seated beside him.

The Xiang Jianzong's order has arrived.

Since Xiao Shu Zu's incident hasn't occurred yet, and considering the Lin family's cultivation flaws, no severe punishment was issued.

They merely ordered Lin Qiuxian detained five more days.

It was utterly trivial.

Of course, if this were the only matter, there'd be no need to summon so many.

The important matter is another.

Due to Xuanjian City's successive events, the Sword Sect sent someone directly.

One Reversing Void elder—and another, a Xiang Jianzong's Zhi Jian Tang Lutangfutang, just returned from the Starry Battlefield, promoted to above He Dao, and exceptionally skilled in the path of slaughter!

And this Straight Sword Hall is no branch like Xuanjian City's Thought Hall—it's the sect's main hall.

Huh~ A cool breeze swept in; all Soul Transformation cultivators in the room felt a sting on their faces, their souls trembling as if watched by something profoundly terrifying.

"Thank you for your patience."

The conference room door opened, and a middle-aged man entered, clad in coarse hemp, a long sword on his back, a yellow leather gourd hanging at his waist. His features were rugged, his eyes bright—he looked like an ancient Cultivation Realm wandering swordsman, free and unrestrained.

Following behind him was a young man wearing the uniform of a Xiang Jianzong Elder. Though young in appearance, he was in fact a Return-to-Void old monster.

Everyone rose and bowed in unison.

"Greetings, two seniors." This was from a cultivator who had not joined the Xiang Jianzong.

"Greetings, Martial Uncle, Grand Martial Uncle." This was from a Xiang Jianzong cultivator.

"We're all cultivators, no need for such ceremony." The burly sword cultivator pressed his hands down in the air, gesturing for everyone to sit. "Li Mou has come this time only to stabilize the situation, not to do anything that would make you all uneasy. You may rest assured."

"..."

The crowd fell silent—how were they supposed to respond to that! "May I ask Grand Martial Uncle, what should be done about Little Martial Uncle's side?" the elderly-looking Vice Hall Master of Silutang asked.

"Little Martial Uncle..." The burly sword cultivator paused. "Little Martial Uncle has his own matters to attend to. As long as no one disturbs him, that will be enough."

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