Chapter 94: Zhang Xiu Visits Old Jiang

Determined to walk the path of cultivation anew.

What kind of concept was that? The cultivation system of the Grand Xuan Realm began with Qi Refining, then advanced to Foundation Establishment, Jin Dan, Nascent Soul, Soul Transformation, Return to Void, Dao Merging…

Qi Refining granted a lifespan of one hundred and eight years; externally aided Foundation Establishment, three hundred; Heaven-Formed and Creation-Formed Foundation Establishment, five hundred.

A single Jin Dan swallowed into the belly could grant a lifespan of one thousand two hundred years.

As for the Nascent Soul one stage higher, it carried a full five thousand years of lifespan! And Lin Qiu Xian was now in his thirties — before the vast lifespan of a Nascent Soul cultivator, thirty-odd years was naturally negligible.

But to want to walk the path of cultivation anew at thirty-odd was no easy matter, much like a boat that had traveled halfway, only to turn back to the beginning.

Perhaps one could rely on a better boat to travel farther, but it was also possible that one's strength would be exhausted before even reaching the previous position.

"You truly wish to start anew?"

"I humbly ask the Ancestor to grant my wish." Lin Qiu Xian did not hesitate in the slightest.

Though Nascent Souls had five thousand years of lifespan, there were basically no Xiang Jianzong Nascent Souls who truly waited until their lifespan was exhausted — either they advanced to a higher realm, or they died on the starry sky battlefield.

After advancing to the Nascent Soul realm, he had increasingly felt how arduous cultivation was.

And now, he once more sensed the goal he had once pursued, and he did not wish to give it up.

He understood that if he wished to go farther, he had to seize this chance!

"Very well, then as you wish."

Seeing such resolve in his junior, Xu Xing naturally would not refuse.

He pointed a finger, and a wisp of spiritual light sank into Lin Qiu Xian's brow.

In an instant, the suppression was completely lifted; he regained his Nascent Soul-stage realm — the powerful divine soul, the unmatched physical body, the vast magic power all returned.

But the next moment, a sensation of extreme weakness surged into his heart. He saw his own powerful, pure divine soul begin to wither, shrinking ceaselessly.

The long-river-like surging qi and blood, the jade-like crystalline bones, lost their luster bit by bit; vitality too seemed to fade away little by little.

Above the vast, sea-like sea of magic power, a Dao Platform woven of gold and silver hues floated quietly.

Upon that Dao Platform sat a chubby, fair-skinned Nascent Soul, six inches tall, looking exactly like Lin Qiu Xian.

Around the Nascent Soul floated the illusory shadows of three strange small swords — red, gold, and blue.

This was the marvel of having cultivated the "Seven Emotions Sword Canon," proving that Lin Qiu Xian had already refined joy, anger, and sorrow into means of attack.

But as that wisp of spiritual light descended, the chubby, fair-skinned Nascent Soul seemed to know its own fate as well. It opened its eyes, rose to bow once, and then, together with those three small swords, transformed into clear light and vanished.

After the Nascent Soul dispersed, cracks appeared on that Dao Platform.

Crack! Amid a series of crisp sounds, the Dao Platform ultimately crumbled apart, dissolving into countless fragments.

And Lin Qiu Xian's own realm also continuously fell during this process — from mid Nascent Soul, dropping ceaselessly, all the way down to the ninth layer of Qi Refining before barely stopping.

His entire person looked to have aged considerably, and his spirit had become much more listless.

"Many thanks to the Ancestor for granting my wish!"

Falling from mid Nascent Soul to the ninth layer of Qi Refining would likely be something unacceptable to the vast majority of people, but Lin Qiu Xian was extremely delighted.

He could feel that the illusory, ethereal palpitation he had long sought in vain was no longer so distant and unreachable as before.

This alone was enough!

"What happens after will depend on yourself."

A voice spoke thus by his ear, and Lin Qiu Xian only felt light bloom before his eyes, just as when he had been guided here.

When he opened his eyes again, he had already returned to the Silutang prison, with his cellmate across from him looking at him curiously.

"……"

Right, his detention wasn't over yet.

Inside the battle space.

After sending Lin Qiu Xian away, Xu Xing looked toward Zhang Yunlu.

"Let's go. Before we leave, let's go see your elder brother once more."

…………

City center hospital, a single-patient ward.

On the hospital bed lay an old man, his breath faint, his frame withered and thin.

Several specially made needles were inserted into his body, with IV tubes all around the bed, containing a tender green liquid that faintly glowed.

A Nascent Soul physician finished examining him, then used several healing techniques to smooth his qi and blood, before pushing open the door and walking out. "Zhang Xiu, is it?"

"Yes, yes!"

"Remember not to let him eat random things, and keep an eye on the time — don't stay too long."

"Got it, got it."

After being given a long list of things to note, Zhang Xiu pushed open the door and walked into the ward.

The old man lying on the bed sensed the movement, with difficulty turned his head to look at him, and grinned.

"You brat only coming to see your old man now?"

"A few days ago you were lying in the ICU, they wouldn't even let me in."

Zhang Xiu pulled over a chair and sat down beside the bed.

Old Jiang was his guide; without him, he could never have reached his current cultivation realm.

So Zhang Xiu had always wanted to take him as his master.

But Old Jiang felt his own days were numbered, and that Zhang Xiu taking him as master would only hold back his future.

Fortunately, now everything had taken a turn for the better.

Upon learning that Old Jiang had been transferred to a single-patient ward, Zhang Xiu had rushed over at once, intending to first use the things the senior had given him to cure Old Jiang.

"Old Jiang, you're a man on the brink of death — what are you still trying to prove?"

Old Jiang looked like he was still in decent spirits, so they'd chat a bit first before treating him.

"Bullshit! If it weren't for me stepping in, you'd already have been swallowed by that damn Ten Thousand Souls Banner!" Old Jiang glared, but then burst into coughing, "Cough! Cough!"

"Alright, alright! Thank you, thank you very much!" Zhang Xiu hurriedly said.

"Why do I get the feeling you little brat is being sarcastic with me?"

"No, no way! How could I? You're imagining things."

At this, Zhang Xiu suddenly paused, his tone growing somewhat somber.

"Old Jiang, I'm going to the Long Xiang Qing Tian Sect."

Hearing this, Old Jiang froze for a moment, then showed great delight.

"That's more like it! You finally got it right— for us body cultivators, the Long Xiang Qing Tian Sect is the best place to go."

With this kid's talent, staying here would be a complete waste of time.

Old Jiang still remembered many years ago, when he first came to this city to recover from his injuries and met this kid.

Back then, the kid was just a brat, constantly yelling that he wanted to become a great sword cultivator.

What's so good about sword cultivators?

Besides being a bit more handsome, a bit more dashing…

emm…

In the end, he successfully guided Zhang Xiu onto the right path.

He's only fifty-something, and he's already reached Soul Transformation!

Go practice swordplay? Would swordplay ever get you to a Higher Realm?!

"By the way, you used to be so stubborn—why the sudden change of heart?"

"Before, it was for Xiao Lu—I couldn't just leave her behind."

"You're not worried anymore?"

"Not anymore. She's finished her Gathering and Refining practice and is preparing to join the Xiang Jianzong."

Old Jiang: "..."

So you didn't become a sword cultivator, so you made your sister become one instead, right?

You really don't leave anything to chance! "What's so good about the Xiang Jianzong..." Old Jiang muttered under his breath.

Second update, one more to go

(End of Chapter)