Chapter 98: Hidden Dangers

Under the cover of night, a young man strode forward with a sword on his back, his pace measured and his spirit high.

From Su Yue’s point of view, Yan Sea was furtively hiding in the shadows, constantly on the lookout for any potential mishaps. His level of dedication was simply outrageous.

Su Yue had gained a lot of information from their conversation today. While it cleared up many of her doubts, it also brought new problems to light.

First of all, only a single legacy artifact of the Tribulation Sword lineage remained in Yan Sea’s possession, and it had been used on Yu Fei. If Yu Fei were to fail, the Tribulation Sword lineage would be extinguished, becoming just another forgotten ripple in the history of the Martial Dao.

Furthermore, Yan Sea’s own path to the Grandmaster realm would be completely cut off. That was the worst possible outcome.

’Even if that blockhead promised me he wouldn’t seek death anymore, forcing him to live out a life of misery by my side would be just as cruel.’

So, the first critical issue was how to ensure Yu Fei successfully established his Tribulation Sword Dao Foundation.

The thought soured Su Yue’s expression. ’There’s no way I’m betting the rest of my life’s happiness on the fifty-percent chance that blockhead Yan is talking about!’

’Then there’s Yan Sea’s problem. That oaf’s Dantian has been shattered for a decade. Mending it won’t be easy, and the chances of success with just the Celestial King Wisdom Elixir in his possession are slim.’

’The Celestial King Wisdom Elixir can repair foundational injuries to a certain degree. For an ordinary Inner Qi Martial Artist, it would be the perfect remedy. But who is Yan Sea?’

’Ten years ago, he had already reached Gang Qi Perfection, with the Grandmaster realm in his sights. For the past decade, he has suppressed his Frenzied Blood Spirit and avoided any deep cultivation.’

’But the problem is that his mental state has become a huge issue over the past ten years. By constantly suppressing his Gang Qi, the quantity of his Frenzied Blood Spirit hasn’t grown, but its quality has far surpassed the upper limit that a Gang Qi Martial Artist can bear.’

’Right now, Yan Sea is like a powder keg about to explode. Otherwise, that mental fluctuation during the day wouldn’t have nearly sent him into a state of catastrophic qi deviation.’

The depth of his inner torment was directly proportional to the purity of his Frenzied Blood Spirit.

’He’s currently relying solely on his own willpower to keep that rampaging Gang Qi locked down.’

"Yan, you blockhead," she sighed. "I’m really in it deep with you, aren’t I?"

After a moment of thought, Su Yue dialed a number.

...

Divine Capital Taibai Mountain. Even at night, the mountain range still shimmered with specks of fluorescent light, looking from afar like a sacred peak reflected in the Milky Way.

There was not a single trace of man-made alteration here. The glow emanated from the various high-grade spiritual plants scattered across the mountains.

At the foot of a peak, encircled by a stream, stood an elegant courtyard.

Its furnishings were simple; the courtyard contained only a tree, a pond, and a flower garden.

The tree stood about ten feet tall. Its leaves were of various sizes and a deep green hue, and their scent alone was enough to relax the mind and lift the spirit.

This was a three-thousand-year-old Enlightenment Tea Tree.

Beneath the tree, an old man entertained himself with a book of Go strategies. When he reached a pleasing passage, he tapped his finger in the air. Qi condensed into lines in the empty space, converging into the shape of a Go board. Black and white clusters of energy intertwined, forming an exquisite Go formation.

As he was mulling it over, a ringing sound came from inside the room. The old man beckoned, and a cell phone flew out of thin air toward him.

"Dearest Grandpa, what are you busy with? Yuanyuan misses you!"

The old man let out a hearty laugh.

"You little rascal, trying to trick this old man again. If you missed me, why haven’t you come back to visit? Instead, you stay cooped up in that backwater, Y-City."

Su Yue froze. "How did you know I was here?"

"How could I not know? This old man can know all the world’s affairs without ever stepping out his door. Pretty amazing, right!"

"Then why didn’t you demand I come back?"

The old man’s tone grew gentle. "Everyone has their own path to walk. Once you make your move, you can’t have regrets. Don’t leave any room for them. No matter what you choose, Grandpa will support you."

After a pause, the old man continued, "So, what’s up? Calling so late... you have some good news for me? Let your grandpa take a guess. Did that iron-headed mule finally give up and die? Are you about to be free and come home?"

Those words made Su Yue stomp her foot in frustration. "Grandpa! Can’t you wish for something good for once?"

The old man laughed again. "Fine, fine. Then tell me, what of my things have you set your sights on this time?"

Su Yue faltered. Her grandfather could read her thoughts so clearly; she had almost no secrets from him.

She then said sheepishly, "I need a Profound Spirit Returning Elixir."

"A Profound Spirit Returning Elixir? Looks like that stubborn fool’s injuries are quite serious!"

The old man stroked his beard in thought.

"Grandpa~"

A blush crept onto Su Yue’s cheeks. Her grandfather’s insight was truly frightening.

"All right, I can give you the Profound Spirit Returning Elixir. But there’s a condition. Afterward, bring that stubborn fool to see me. I have something to ask him."

Su Yue quickly asked, "What is it, Grandpa? Can you tell me ahead of time?"

The old man said gravely, "It’s about some past events related to his master. I need to speak with him face-to-face."

"Alright. By the way, Grandpa, can you send me some of the leaves from that old tree in your courtyard? I have a use for them. Make sure they’re the aged ones."

The old man looked up at the nearly half-bald Enlightenment Tea Tree, his expression stunned. After a long moment, he roared, "That stubborn fool needs Enlightenment Tea just to repair a broken Dantian? Absolutely not!"

Su Yue thought for a moment and decided it was best to tell the truth.

"Grandpa, Yan Sea has taken a disciple who is practicing the foundational Cultivation Technique of the Tribulation Sword lineage. He has a chance to establish the Tribulation Sword Dao Foundation, and I just want to be more certain of his success."

The old man sounded a little surprised. "That old coot Mr. Lanren has been dead for so many years, and someone is still trying to cultivate his techniques? I’ve seen that introductory Cultivation Technique—it’s utterly insane. You’d better advise Yan not to lead a promising youth astray. Without that old geezer Mr. Lanren giving personal instruction, trying to cultivate Sword Intent just by clinging to a tattered old manual is a fool’s dream. Let alone establishing the Tribulation Sword Dao Foundation. It’s impossible."

They had all studied Mr. Lanren’s techniques and had come to a single conclusion. To cultivate Sword Intent using that specious Contemplation Skill, one had to train for a long time within Mr. Lanren’s own Sword Domain, gradually and subconsciously comprehending the Cyan Lotus Sword Intent itself. That was the only way to succeed.

Otherwise, relying purely on contemplation and sparring against the lifeless Sword Intent contained within a sword would only turn a person into an idiot.

Su Yue, on the other end of the line, didn’t fully understand the details, but she still pressed her case. "But Yan’s student has already cultivated Sword Intent, and his Sword Nurturing Skill is at the minor success stage. He has a great chance of cultivating it to the Great Success Realm, which would give him a fifty-percent chance of establishing his Dao Foundation. I just don’t feel like that’s a safe bet. That’s why I was thinking of using the aged Ancient Enlightenment Tea, to see if it can help his student’s Sword Intent improve and raise his probability of success."

"What?"

The old man shot to his feet, casting the Go manual aside.

"Yuanyuan, you’re not pulling this old man’s leg, are you? Someone really cultivated Sword Intent just by holding on to a tattered old manual? You’re not just spinning a yarn to get a few leaves from me, are you!"

Su Yue nodded. "It’s true. Yan told me his student once used his Sword Intent to slay a third-realm cultist from the Illuminati."

The old man scratched his full head of silver-white hair and said in puzzlement, "That shouldn’t be possible. We ran experiments back in the day. Without the protection of a Sword Domain, a first-realm Martial Artist’s Spiritual Power simply cannot withstand the damage that Sword Intent inflicts upon the very source of the soul when it enters the body. Succeeding should be impossible."

"Could it be that old coot Mr. Lanren never actually died? But for a first-realm practitioner to defeat a third-realm one... unless he’s mastered Sword Intent, no other method would be effective."