Chapter 61: 60 Golden Toad Spits a Pearl (Bonus chapter for 500 collections)

60 Golden Toad Spits a Pearl (Bonus chapter for 500 collections)

At this moment, Tang Zhao was practicing his arts by the lake, while Ping Jiangqiu was reading a book.

Ever since Ping Jiangqiu had poured his heart and soul into helping him modify the Mountain-Moving Palm, the relationship between the two had long since ceased to be what it was; they now had the reality of master and apprentice. Tang Zhao no longer stood on ceremony when asking for guidance. According to the plan, today he was supposed to supplement his lessons in Internal Energy, but the data he had just obtained was also very important and needed to be studied against the clock.

It just so happened that Ping Jiangqiu also wanted to see what the Demon Cave had developed into, so he first passed the Internal Energy mnemonic to Tang Zhao, and while he was performing the exercises, he took the data to read.

Although Xing Ji said it was Internal Data, he had not strictly required it to be kept secret. Ping Jiangqiu clearly would not pass it on, nor could he even if he wanted to, and since he had loudly insisted on seeing it, Tang Zhao had no choice but to agree.

The Internal Energy technique Ping Jiangqiu passed on was called the "Golden Toad Spits a Pearl Art," which was an Internal Energy technique he had obtained by chance. According to him, Internal Energy was merely a transition before the Mysterious Technique, and it was fine to just practice it to a passable level. He was too old, and he had forgotten most of the Internal Energy techniques from his younger days; this one was considered decent among his collection.

"Judging from the meridians, this technique should be a simplified version of a peerless Internal Energy technique, and even on its own, it can be considered top-tier. I have personally polished and modified it to perfect it, raising the grade of the Internal Energy by another level. If you have the chance, you could try to find that original peerless Internal Energy technique and see whose is superior, mine or the original?"

As for specifically going to look for a peerless Internal Energy technique, he probably wouldn't have that chance. Although Ping Jiangqiu didn't think much of any peerless Internal Energy technique, in the Jianghu, these were treasures that could stir up bloody storms, and they were not so easy to find.

However, Tang Zhao wondered, if he threw it into the well, could he get the original version directly?

Just kidding; he only had one chance left to see the fairy, and he wouldn't waste it on Internal Energy before the lens was fully repaired. He still had great use for the one eye of the Glasses.

But "Golden Toad"?

Why couldn't he get away from the Five Poisons?

The Golden Toad Spits a Pearl Art was very complete, from sensing Qi, gathering Qi, and circulating Qi to the completion of the Great Circulation, everything was detailed. It was enough to practice until the internal refinement was perfect, connecting to the Mysterious Technique.

Tang Zhao had the foundation of the Mysterious Technique text and the guidance of Ping Jiangqiu, so the cultivation process could be described as smooth sailing. Especially since there was already a wisp of Internal Energy in his body as a guide, it saved him the tedious work of sensing and gathering Qi, and it only took one Time Jar—that is, a few hours—from starting the practice to the circulation of the Great Circulation.

Unlike what the books said, the foundation of internal refinement was also diet and nutrition; it was just another way of cultivating "Qi-strength," and there were no high-end operations like sensing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to introduce it into the body, let alone the concept of fasting. As long as the medicine and food kept up, it did not affect cultivation whether inside or outside the Time Jar.

After Ping Jiangqiu finished guiding Tang Zhao and let him sit in meditation, he took the data and flipped through it. At first, it was fine, but the more he read, the more displeased his expression became, and he made tut-tutting sounds in his mouth. It was clearly like a fishbone stuck in his throat.

Unfortunately, Tang Zhao was focused on his practice and did not cooperate by delivering a straight-man line like "Why is the Prime Minister laughing?", which left him feeling very stifled.

It was not until the practice was finished that Tang Zhao opened his mouth and exhaled; the white mist condensed like a precious pearl, as if a golden toad were spitting a pearl at the moon, and the day's cultivation finally came to an end.

Before Tang Zhao could rest, Ping Jiangqiu was already impatient and beckoned, "Come look, come look!"

Tang Zhao found it amusing, knowing the old man had a straightforward temperament and did not hide his feelings. Just as he had achieved success in his practice and felt his internal organs full and his spirit refreshed, he thanked Ping Jiangqiu for his guidance and leaned over to keep him company.

Ping Jiangqiu had the book opened to the middle; one side of the page had a picture, and the other side had text.

Tang Zhao looked at the picture and exclaimed in surprise, "Lord Xing?"

Wasn't that picture a portrait of Xing Ji? Not to mention it had a certain resemblance and could be recognized at a glance. Moreover, there was a suspicion of beautification, which showed that the person who compiled the book was one of their own.

Ping Jiangqiu said, "Yes, yes, yes, this kid in the book is the leader of the Imperial Court side this time, a fifth-rank official, right?"

Tang Zhao said, "Lord Xing is a Town Guardian."

Ping Jiangqiu snorted, "Look, he is just a Sword Guest."

On the other side was Xing Ji's data, from his official position and resume to his strength and even information about his sword. Of course, the sword only had a description, far less detailed than the itemized list in Tang Zhao's Sword Manual, but the realm was marked, and he was undoubtedly a Sword Guest.

"Pi Gan Jian..."

So Xing Ji's sword was the "Pi Gan Jian"?

"Pi Gan is a divine beast of punishment... it suits his name."

Pi Gan, Xie Zhi; this was following in the footsteps of his predecessors and forming a school of his own.

Tang Zhao couldn't help but yearn for it; he also wanted to be like that, to possess his own sword.

Ping Jiangqiu said disapprovingly, "I don't care what he calls his sword; anyway, the names of swords are all given by the owners themselves, just bragging. But he is only a Sword Guest, not even as good as me."

Hearing the word "bragging," Tang Zhao couldn't help but think of "Sumero" and the "Time Jar." Leaning in closer, he saw that Xing Ji's portrait had been rubbed into wrinkles by Ping Jiangqiu's fingers, which showed how much Ping Jiangqiu disliked him. In fact, the two had never met; could it be jealousy of Xing Ji's high position, power, and youth?

But it might also be that he simply felt displeased looking at Xing Ji's face; Xing Ji was indeed quite hateful.

Tang Zhao said, "So you mean if you, old sir, were to come out of the mountains, the big and small experts in this book wouldn't be enough for you to sweep away alone?"

Ping Jiangqiu tilted his head and said, "Heh heh."

Then he said resentfully, "It's a pity I can't go out. Although this kid is useless, there are still capable people in the Imperial Court, and there are many ruthless people in the Jianghu. Alas, the times lack heroes, allowing a mere stripling to make a name for himself."

Tang Zhao found it funny; Xing Ji was always laughing and cursing without restraint, how could he know that someone in the Time Jar called him a "stripling"?

Ping Jiangqiu turned another page and said, "Look, there's you too."

Tang Zhao was even more curious. After a few pages of personnel introductions with pictures, there was a list of "Other Clerks," listing dozens of names, and Tang Zhao was among them. Except for a name, there was nothing else.

Tang Zhao said "Oh," feeling fortunate in his heart that not having his own headshot wasn't embarrassing, but he was also vaguely disappointed.

Ping Jiangqiu said, "They didn't even label you a 'Sword Envoy.' This is hiding a tree in a forest; who would discover that a secret weapon is hidden in such a list of attendants?"

Tang Zhao said, "Could it be that there are dozens more like me?"

Ping Jiangqiu sneered, "A single Power Sword Envoy has short-term combat power comparable to a Sword Guest. If a mere Town Guardian had dozens of Power Swords in his hands, wouldn't the Land Inspection Division have turned the world upside down? Then what would be the point of those trash in front?"

Tang Zhao was flipping forward and stiffened slightly when he heard the word "trash."

Because he was just flipping to the page for Si Liyu.

That's right, although ranked last, Si Liyu had a headshot. Although he didn't occupy two pages like Xing Ji, he had a separate page listing his official position, cultivation, and so on.

Si Liyu was a "Blade Guard Lieutenant," ninth rank, which was the starting point for official positions under the Land Inspection Division.

Tang Zhao frowned and said, "How can you tell that the others are trash?"

Ping Jiangqiu, who didn't know how to read the room, said, "They aren't even Sword Guests, what kind of ability could they have?"

Si Liyu's cultivation was marked as "Loose Practitioner, Heavy Swordsman."

"Loose Practitioner? What realm is that?"

Ping Jiangqiu said, "They are those who have perfected their internal and external cultivation, practiced the Mysterious Technique to forge Gang Qi, and whose Spirit has reached 'Concealed Awareness,' just waiting to find a sword to become a Sword Guest. They consider themselves transcendent above the Martial Artists of the Jianghu, and they don't belong to the Sword Guests; they are unrestrained and free, able to go anywhere in the world, so they call themselves Loose Practitioners."

Tang Zhao didn't quite agree—unrestrained and free? Where was Si Liyu free? He felt that he was wound very tight, like a fully drawn bow.

Ping Jiangqiu mocked, "That's what they call themselves; they are much more restrained now than they were back then. Back then, they were called 'Martial Saints of the Nation.' Now everyone knows that being a Sword Guest is the right path, and 'Loose Practitioner' is just a self-important and self-pitying title."

"Isn't being unrestrained just being without support? If the Sword Guests don't take them in, and they disdain to associate with the Knights-Errant, aren't they just Loose Practitioners? Deep down, they don't know how much they long to find a treasure sword and become a Sword Guest."

Tang Zhao understood and said, "A Loose Practitioner is just a Sword Guest without a sword."

Just like a driver who has a license but no car.

"But a Loose Practitioner is only one sword away from a Sword Guest; maybe one day they'll get one and become a Sword Guest. How can you call them trash?"

Ping Jiangqiu said: "Just missing a sword? Heh heh, ninety-nine percent of people are missing a sword their whole lives. There are plenty of Loose Practitioners without swords, but there aren't many masterless swords."

Tang Zhao sat down beside him and said: "Actually, I have always wanted to Ask, how can one find a sword? I know that everyone's sword is different, and I also know that a sword will choose its own Sword Guest. But where are those masterless swords hidden? How do swords come to be?"