Chapter 483: The Great Sun Sword Disciple Becomes a Master

After fiddling with it curiously for a while, Jiang Ding quickly figured out the function of this Jin Dan avatar.

Simply put, it was similar to the Dayang Tianchi of the Great Sun Sword Pavilion, the Taiyi Qingmu of the Qingmuxian Sect, and the Xuanwu Armor of the Xuanwu Heavenly Palace—things that could grant cultivators an enormous advantage in some particular aspect out of thin air.

Don't be fooled by the fact that every teacher has one—this is a top-tier academy of the immortal sects!

Dinghai Zhenjun and the others had, along their path of growth, used their own ability to eliminate many cultivators, thereby obtaining theirs.

The vast majority of Nascent Soul cultivators didn't have one at all.

"Now that I have time, should I keep cultivating, or head home for a visit?"

Jiang Ding thought it over.

"Let's go home. I haven't been back in three months. I miss it."

The Taiqing Flying Sword was recalled; his figure flashed, streaking toward the distance in flickering, erratic lines.

In place, only a naked youth with waist-length hair was left behind.

He pondered for a moment.

He paused his comprehension and deduction of the concealment spell *Magnetic Concealment Art*, slowly stood up from the silver-white coffin, and gently reached out a hand toward his surroundings.

A flash of azure magic power.

On the ground, parts of the silver-white metal floor softened, and silver-white metal filaments were drawn out, surging toward his body, weaving and winding across its surface, occasionally refined with magic power and inscribed with first- and second-grade array patterns.

A moment later,

A silver-glowing Daoist robe draped over the youth's body, spiritual light flickering; the surface color shifted, turning cyan.

"Upper-grade magic artifact…"

Jiang Ding closed his eyes to sense for a moment, then said with satisfaction: "Using only Silver Spirit Iron, a single first-grade lower-grade material, to refine an upper-grade magic artifact—and this fast."

"Bro really is a Jin Dan ancestor, that's just too strong."

At a thought of his divine sense, he summoned a mass of azure magnetic-suspension cloud and rose into the air.

Even without a magic treasure, his speed was top-tier among Jin Dan cultivators.

"Without the main body's flying sword, the speed drops right away."

Jiang Ding said enviously: "With the Taiqing Flying Sword, combined with the minor-accomplishment-level *Magnetic Void Flash*, I can tear through space to fly and flee—Jin Dan cultivators can't compare."

The azure cloud drifted away.

……

On a middle floor of a large building.

Wei Hu, along with a group of men and women ranging from their twenties to fifties or sixties, stood in neat formation, waiting anxiously and uneasily.

"Wei Hu, are you sure Jiang-qianbei will really come?"

A burly man asked again: "If qianbei doesn't come, I'm out. My Dongyang Sect training gig was going just fine, paid pretty well, enough for me to retire and raise my kids."

"Yeah!"

"Same here."

The surrounding crowd egged him on.

As well-known teachers in the Lengbingqi Sect training industry, their incomes were all decent; over the years, they had grown accustomed to their jobs and weren't too keen on change. Poaching them on a large scale had originally been very difficult.

"Jiang-qianbei said he would."

Wei Hu made no promises or guarantees, only showed them the reply letter he had received.

A mere handful of Qi Refining cultivators and mortals—they had no standing to demand or urge a Jin Dan cultivator to do anything, and could only wait for the result.

"That's good enough."

The burly man was relieved.

As long as a Jin Dan cultivator had indeed given his word, even if he didn't come, waiting several days or months was worth it—not a waste of time.

"As long as you didn't make it up, kid."

The surrounding people smiled too.

Someone showed a look of longing: "Jiang-qianbei is the highest achiever in Lengbingqi within the immortal sects. After this trip, even if we don't learn anything, just spreading the word will take our reputations to the next level."

"What's that little bit of fame?"

Someone disagreed: "Most of us who do well in the Lengbingqi trade do it out of passion. Getting to witness higher-level swordsmanship—that alone would make this life worthwhile."

"True enough. At our level, food and clothing aren't a worry, and making a bit of money isn't hard either."

"If I could take my Lengbingqi skills further, I'd work for free without a salary."

The surrounding people chimed in.

At the edge of the sky, a mass of azure magnetic-suspension cloud streaked across the horizon.

A cyan-robed youth stood with his hands clasped behind his back atop the cloud, flying over at extreme speed.

"Form up!"

"Don't drop the ball!"

Wei Hu transmitted his voice in a low, sharp shout. Regardless of whether these people were renowned elders of Xiandou Sect training institutions, his tone was extremely harsh.

Yet the surrounding people weren't angry; some even looked more flustered, palms sweating, footsteps stiff, movements going awry.

A Jin Dan ancestor!

Six hundred years added to one's lifespan, boundless in power.

Don't be fooled by the news constantly throwing around titles like this Zhenjun or that great power—in reality, many people go their whole lives without ever seeing a Jin Dan cultivator.

Given the age of a Jin Dan cultivator, even if their fathers or grandfathers were standing here, they'd obediently put themselves in the role of a child—not some self-styled Lengbingqi training world luminary.

A cyan-robed youth flew here, the cloud beneath his feet dispersing.

"Greetings, Jiang-qianbei."

Led by Wei Hu, the remaining sixty-plus Qi Refining cultivators and Innate martial artists bowed respectfully.

"Mm, greetings, everyone."

Jiang Ding gave a slight nod and didn't waste any words: "Everyone, practice the basic sword techniques once. Innate martial artists practice the basic sword techniques, Qi Refining cultivators practice the basic Sword Control art."

"Yes, Senior!"

Wei Hu and the others were already used to this style and answered loudly in assent.

They normally had no contact with Jin Dan cultivators, but they did occasionally see Foundation Establishment cultivators, whose style was always direct and to the point—get things done quickly so they could go back to cultivating, with no time for pleasantries.

Clang!

Whoosh whoosh!

In an instant, sword-light flared here. Over sixty people drew their swords at the same time. Innate martial artists had silver light flickering all over their bodies, while Qi Refining cultivators sent their flying swords into the air, practicing the most basic Sword Control art. Sword Qi and fierce winds flew everywhere, looking extremely lively.

While practicing, quite a few people stole a glance at the blue-clothed youth ahead, then quickly looked away.

Jiang Ding's expression was calm, showing no joy or anger.

"Immortal sects truly have no soil for cold weapons."

He sighed endlessly in his heart.

"The sword moves are stiff and rigid, over-emphasizing flashy tricks, unorthodox moves, vicious and ruthless tricks. They might produce quick results in the short term and raise scores, but the path ahead on the Sword Dao is completely blocked off."

"Has no one ever managed them?"

"And this isn't just one person's preference—most people follow this kind of quick-success, shallow-results routine!"

Jiang Ding knew that, in reality, no one was managing them.

Parents and schools only needed quick results in the short term.

The long term?

The college entrance exam is over—what long term are you talking about?

"Wei Hu, the thrusting stance should be like this…"

Jiang Ding didn't let his emotions get the better of him, keeping his tone as gentle as possible, as if coaxing a child: "Let the flying sword cut out naturally. Don't think about being fierce—that sharpness comes naturally once your Sword Control is skilled. It doesn't need to be forced."

While speaking, he marked the many places in Wei Hu's meridians and divine soul where magic power and divine sense were being used improperly.

Under the probing of his peak Jin Dan-grade divine sense and sword intent, these flaws that the Qi Refining cultivators found hard to notice were clearly visible.

"Yes, Senior!"

Wei Hu gave a start, hurriedly followed the guidance of the divine sense, and thrust out another sword with his flying sword.

The power of the sword thrust did not improve further.

Instead, it became a mess, drifting unsteadily.

"Senior, I am far too dull-witted…"

Wei Hu's face flushed red.

"It's fine, try again, slowly."

Jiang Ding encouraged: "No one learns it in one try. Learn it over and over, and after enough time, you'll learn it."

Since starting school,

Teacher Zhang Dingjun, Teacher Guo Kui, and then Dinghai Zhenjun, Liuling Zhenjun, Teacher Yuan—no one had ever grown impatient with him or spoken harshly because he couldn't learn something after many tries.

As their student, he naturally was not lacking in patience either.

"Are you called Liu Ling? Student Liu Ling, the chopping stance should be…"

"Student Guo Dongzheng, when you strike with your sword, don't always grit your teeth and exert all your strength—both your Innate true Qi and physical strength are like this. Doing so will actually reduce the sword's speed and power…"

Jiang Ding split his divine sense into over sixty strands, easily finding the improprieties between their sword moves, and patiently taught them.

(End of this chapter)