Chapter 427 - 37: Completely Convinced (2)

Xiaoqiao informed him that the reason he has not yet reached Foundation Establishment is because he feels that something is still missing, so he hasn’t attempted the breakthrough.

Upon hearing this, Li Ji’an was somewhat surprised. With his current Foundation Establishment Stage Divine Sense, he could clearly sense that Zou Qi’s cultivation had already reached the peak of the Qi Refining Realm.

"Young master, your senior brother is an Innate Sword Spirit Body, inherently clear and bright, but has not yet nourished a sword in his heart, so there’s always been an imperfection." An unexpected voice from Lao Huang resonated within the Sea of Consciousness.

"Sword Spirit Body!" Upon hearing this, Li Ji’an was slightly taken aback.

In the Cultivation Realm, besides Spirit Roots that sense Spirit Charm, there are many other miraculous and extraordinary physiques.

However, with the disconnect following the Ancient Era, the Post-Ancient Era has limited understanding of these physiques.

Especially since some physiques only manifest under certain conditions, it’s possible for their value to remain undiscovered.

No wonder over the past fortnight, Li Ji’an often sensed that Lao Huang would sneak off to visit Zou Qi.

"Do you have the True Understanding of the Sword Way? Could you spare some guidance?" Li Ji’an communicated through Divine Sense.

"As long as you, young master, agree." Lao Huang chuckled.

"Good!"

Li Ji’an immediately decided to stay for another day.

That very day, he brought Lao Huang to Zou Qi’s cave mansion.

Seeing him still calm and composed, neither happy nor sad, with eyes clear and bright, Li Ji’an finally felt relieved.

An Innate Spirit Body, that explains it.

"Senior Brother Ping’an, Elder Huang." Zou Qi still greeted them with due respect.

"Senior Brother, our master had unfulfilled wishes, and held great expectations for you. My visit this time might be of some help to you." With someone like Zou Qi, Li Ji’an didn’t feel the need to beat around the bush and directly stated his purpose.

"Master!" Zou Qi’s vibrant eyes finally showed a hint of emotion, as he knelt and bowed towards the residence where Li Ji’an used to live.

Standing up afterward, he bowed again towards Li Ping’an: "Thank you, Junior Brother."

"Do you know, Senior Brother, that you might very well be an Innate Sword Spirit Body, and practicing the Sword Dao would be the path most suited to you!" Li Ji’an explained according to what Lao Huang had said.

"Sword Spirit Body?" Zou Qi fell into contemplation.

Then he raised his eyes: "With what you just said, Junior Brother, I do sense something. I have always been fond of swords since I was young. The sword given to me by Master has been with me for twenty-seven years. Sometimes, when practicing sword techniques, I feel at ease as if it’s second nature."

"Then it’s almost certainly the case." Li Ji’an nodded.

"Was this our Master’s directive before he passed?" Zou Qi asked again.

"Yes, during his later years, our master traveled the world and consulted many ancient texts, suspecting this. This time, I brought Lao Huang, who has also trained in the sword." Li Ji’an turned slightly to introduce Lao Huang.

"Hehehe, this old man knows only some simple moves." Lao Huang chuckled.

"Thanks again, Junior Brother, and please, Elder Huang, guide me."

Lao Huang looked towards Li Ji’an, who nodded.

By the break of dawn the next day, Lao Huang had taught Zou Qi how to nurture a sword and clarify his mind.

Indeed, Zou Qi grasped the Sword Dao with ease, and because of his Qi Cultivation Peak, his practice of the Sword Dao felt seamless.

What eventually surprised Li Ji’an the most was that Lao Huang imprinted all his insights and realizations from over two hundred years of sword cultivation onto a Jade Talisman and handed it to Li Ji’an.

"Really devoted to talent?" Li Ji’an slightly raised his brows at Lao Huang’s honest, farmer-like demeanor.

Finally, he made a copy and gave it to Zou Qi.

After receiving Lao Huang’s teachings, Zou Qi seemed to immerse himself completely into his own Sword Dao world, unresponsive to external matters.

Eventually, Li Ji’an and Lao Huang quietly withdrew from his Dao Field.

"I wonder how far this senior brother will eventually go?"

Subsequently, the three formally took their leave.

Coincidentally, just as they were escorted to the gates of Odd Stone Forest by Xiaoqiao and company, Yao Rui and the others, having exhausted most of their magical power, finally arrived.

Seeing Li Ji’an and Hu Zaiyi being treated with great respect by the helmsman of Odd Stone Forest as if they were stars, the three were quite surprised.

Coming closer, they overheard Sect Leader Qiao addressing Li Ping’an as ’Junior Brother,’ speaking as if to a family member, which left the three of them even more shocked.

"How is that possible? He’s a True Inheritor of the Upper Sect... since when did they get an outside senior sister?"

"Sect Leader Qiao, a nearly Tier Three Array Master, whom even Elder Qian from our Upper Sect has consulted many times about arrays. Furthermore, it’s said that the Odd Stone Forest Dao Field was granted to Sect Leader Qiao by the Holy Palace, so even our Upper Sect’s Law Enforcement Hall treats Sect Leader Qiao with respect."

"Could it be... something to do with his departed master?"

...

It wasn’t until they saw the bullock cart and imperial carriage disappear into the distance that the three snapped out of their shock.

Especially after they visited Sect Leader Qiao as well, presenting their True Inheritor status, which only earned them polite acknowledgment but little else.

When Yao Rui mentioned their mission for this journey, Sect Leader Qiao truthfully told them about arranging for Li Ji’an to investigate the Thief Cultivator matter.

Such strong support left the three even more dumbfounded.

"Hmph! Just riding on the coattails of his forebears, nothing to speak of his own ability." Catching the shift in emotions from Zhou Zheng and Shen Xingchen, Yao Rui jealous spat out.

"Let’s go! To the desert next, I refuse to believe his master left connections there as well!"

Two months later, Li Ji’an and the group entered the desert.

Yan Qingwan, having received Xiaoqiao’s advance message, was already waiting up ahead.

Only after seeing Li Ping’an emerge from the imperial carriage did she appear momentarily dazed.

Just as Xiaoqiao described, he indeed resembled Xiaofan somewhat, but he was more delicate and spirited, standing half a head taller than Xiaofan was at the same age.

As for his resemblance to the Li Chang’an of past lifetimes, there was a considerable difference, given when Yan Qingwan encountered him in previous lifetimes, Li Ji’an was already a thirty-year-old man.

"Ping’an, I am your martial aunt." Yan Qingwan approached with a gentle smile.