Chapter 110: Surprise (Part 2)

By: I Eat Tomatoes

The next day, at dawn, Liu Qiyue came to find Meng Chuan.

“A Chuan, A Chuan.” Liu Qiyue found Meng Chuan practicing his saber techniques on the training ground. Meng Chuan was performing the complete 'Heart Intent Saber' technique. Although he had only truly comprehended the saber intent for the first move, 'Heart Saber Style,' executing the superficial forms of the other moves was not difficult. Every day after waking up, he would practice the entire saber technique set several times, seeking to grasp its underlying essence.

“Why are you so early today?” Meng Chuan stopped his saber practice. Nowadays, Liu Qiyue joined him for breakfast every morning, just like during their time at the Meng Estate in Mirror Lake.

“I had a nightmare yesterday,” Liu Qiyue said, her face a little pale. “I dreamt I was lured into a black mist and fell into it. When I woke up, I felt extremely tired. I couldn't fall back asleep afterward.”

Meng Chuan comforted her, “I have nightmares too, but in my dreams, I vaguely sense something is wrong. Suddenly, I realize I am Meng Chuan, and I wake up quickly.”

“In my dreams, I'm just confused and dazed,” Liu Qiyue said helplessly. “I can't break free.”

“It's alright, you'll be fine in a few days,” Meng Chuan said with a smile. “Besides, there's a saying that the process of resisting nightmares also hones one's willpower.”

“Never mind, never mind. I won't go to the Hall of Bewitching Hearts for now. I'll just continue practicing my archery,” Liu Qiyue said. “My archery needs to reach the 'Intent' realm as soon as possible before I can cultivate the Phoenix Divine Body.”

It was indeed painful to be unable to escape the nightmares. Liu Qiyue suffered five consecutive days of them before finally breaking free. Meng Chuan, on the other hand, fared better; he completely recovered after only three days of nightmares, realizing his true self within each dream.

Ten days passed.

In the evening, Liu Qiyue went to the 'Underground Fire Magma Pool' for an extra hour of practice! As a genius who had awakened the Phoenix bloodline, cultivating in the Underground Fire Magma Pool felt like pure enjoyment to her! Furthermore, her current fire talent was significantly higher than before her awakening, and her cultivation progressed much faster. This was precisely why Yuanchu Mountain had full confidence in nurturing her.

Any awakened Phoenix bloodline holder was a genius at manipulating fire.

At the same time, Meng Chuan went to the Hall of Bewitching Hearts. This was his second visit.

This time, he managed to reach the sixth floor of the fourth circle! His progress was indeed significant.

Time flowed on.

He visited the Hall of Bewitching Hearts every ten days. At first, nightmares were frequent, but after his fifth visit, he had no more nightmares.

However, the effect on his willpower training also sharply decreased starting from the fifth visit.

In the blink of an eye, over three months passed. On the fifth day of the fourth month, a light drizzle fell.

Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue headed to the Cavernous Heavens Pavilion together in the early morning. Moving with extreme speed through the mountains, not a single drop of fine rain touched either of them.

“A Chuan, what books are you carrying?” Liu Qiyue noticed Meng Chuan holding two books.

“They're history books,” Meng Chuan said with a smile. “After the lecture at the Cavernous Heavens Pavilion, I'll go to the Library Cavern to exchange them for two new ones.”

Ordinary books from the Library Cavern could be borrowed two at a time, and new books could only be obtained by returning old ones.

“History books?” Liu Qiyue asked, puzzled.

“I've stopped the training at the Hall of Bewitching Hearts,” Meng Chuan explained as they traveled. “For the first two months of willpower cultivation there, I progressed steadily to the twenty-second floor of the fourth circle. But in the third month... after three more sessions in the Hall of Bewitching Hearts, I only barely managed to advance one more floor. The further I go, the weaker the effect becomes. After all, our regular cultivation also provides a slight improvement in willpower.”

Liu Qiyue nodded. “Then your current willpower is still far from what's needed to refine the Six Desires Fiend Qi. What will you do?”

He was currently only on the twenty-third floor of the fourth circle of the Hall of Bewitching Hearts, but the threshold for refining the Six Desires Fiend Qi was the *complete* fourth circle, which meant he still had over fifty floors to go!

“I'm prepared to spend five or six years to achieve the Ninth Refinement, even if it takes a long time,” Meng Chuan said. “Although it will be time-consuming, I'll still be practicing my saber techniques during those five or six years, so my saber cultivation won't be delayed.”

Eighth Refinement leading to high-grade fiendcelestial, or Ninth Refinement... this would influence his entire life.

And the time it took to become a fiendcelestial, even if it was a few years later, would not significantly impact him.

As recorded in books, those whose willpower ranked among the top ten in humanity could reach the Marquis Fiendcelestial realm within a year as mortals. Similarly, if one's saber technique realm was high enough, the progression from a mortal to a Great Sun Fiendcelestial would be extremely fast.

“When it comes to inner willpower, it largely relies on experience and life insights,” Meng Chuan said. “And as we cultivate on the mountain, it's difficult to gain much experience. After carefully reviewing books, I found that 'reading' is a pretty good way to improve one's inner self and willpower, especially reading history books. You get to see the lives of historical figures and the rise and fall of dynasties.”

Meng Chuan continued, “While it's not the same as personal experience, it still offers some insights. I believe that after reading for five or six years, my knowledge will greatly expand.”

This would take five or six years.

He planned to exert effort in multiple areas: practicing saber techniques, reading, and practicing the Life-and-Death Evasion Technique.

Saber techniques were the most important! He understood that his saber talent, according to his master, was merely that of a genius, while his true unparalleled talent lay in painting. His ability to comprehend the Black Iron Heavenly Book within half a year of arriving at the mountain was purely due to the strong compatibility between his Drawing Saber Style and 'Heart Saber Style.' Since his talent wasn't as high as his master implied, he should be even more diligent.

Diligent cultivation, come rain or shine, also had the effect of sharpening willpower.

Reading was for broadening his knowledge and gaining insights.

The Life-and-Death Evasion Technique was a special light-body cultivation method created by a senior from Yuanchu Mountain. In the deeper parts of the Thousand Saber Cave, a hundred *zhang* deeper than where Meng Chuan usually practiced his movement techniques, the wind blades were strong enough to severely injure him; three to five blades could even kill him! He would have to use his movement techniques to evade these fast and dense wind blades, or risk severe injury if he failed to dodge! Carelessness could mean death.

Between life and death, there was immense terror! His spirit would condense as never before, desperately dodging and desperately using his saber techniques to defend himself.

Each time he was severely injured, he would immediately return. His flesh wounds healed quickly, and with the aid of medicinal pills, even severe injuries could fully recover within three days. Therefore, he performed the 'Life-and-Death Evasion Technique' almost every three days, striving to endure longer each time. This was a method of pushing himself to his limits.

Meng Chuan had only tried it once so far, secretly bandaging his wounds and taking medicinal pills without Liu Qiyue's knowledge.

“Saber techniques, reading, and the Life-and-Death Evasion Technique—combining these three aspects, I believe my willpower will be sufficient to meet the threshold for refining the Six Desires Fiend Qi after five or six years,” Meng Chuan mused to himself.

The two of them arrived at the Cavernous Heavens Pavilion together, and their cushion spots had changed.

“Senior Brother Xue Feng has passed the Nine Profundities Cave and has already left the mountain.”

“Senior Brother Xue Feng had been on the mountain for nearly twelve years, finally cultivating to the Great Sun Fiendcelestial realm and possessing a perfected Black Sand Demon Body, before he successfully passed the Nine Profundities Cave. The trials of the Nine Profundities Cave were truly too difficult for him.”

“Senior Brother Xue Feng's current strength must be at the peak level among Great Sun Fiendcelestials.”

This morning, the Cavernous Heavens Pavilion was abuzz with discussions, all centered around Xue Feng, the fifth son of the Wang family from Anhai Commandery.

“Senior Brother Xue Feng left the mountain?” Meng Chuan exclaimed in surprise.

“It sounds like he just left yesterday,” Liu Qiyue also said, surprised. Normally, since the disciples didn't gather often, news spread slowly.

Meng Chuan was secretly astonished.

He only left the mountain after becoming a Great Sun Fiendcelestial? The Nine Profundities Cave's trials must be set incredibly high! Many ordinary inner disciples leave the mountain once they reach the 'Indestructible Fiendcelestial' realm, like Palace Lord Yuyang from Dongning Prefecture. This is because, for many ordinary disciples, with their comprehension level, it typically takes thirty to fifty years to hope to cultivate to the Great Sun Fiendcelestial realm.

Yuanchu Mountain couldn't afford to support them for thirty to fifty years for nothing.

Today, the Venerable One lectured as usual, and the disciples listened attentively, also raising their cultivation queries.

Soon, the day passed.

The disciples dispersed.

Liu Qiyue was going to practice archery with Marquis Tianxing, while Meng Chuan, holding two books, prepared to go to the Library Cavern to exchange them. Just then, a voice echoed in his ear: “Meng Chuan, come see me in the inner courtyard.”

Meng Chuan was startled. He deliberately lingered in the Cavernous Heavens Pavilion for a while, waiting for all the other disciples to leave before turning and entering its inner courtyard.

Inside the inner courtyard.

Meng Chuan saw the Venerable One sitting in the pavilion.

“Master,” Meng Chuan said respectfully, stepping forward.

“Annals of the Northern Wind?” The Venerable One glanced at the books in Meng Chuan's hand and smiled. “Are you reading these history books now?”

“Reading can broaden one's knowledge and deepen insights. It also helps with cultivating inner willpower,” Meng Chuan replied.

“Haha...” The Venerable One chuckled. “It seems you have a plan for cultivating inner willpower?”

“Disciple is still far from the willpower threshold needed to cultivate the Six Desires Fiend Qi,” Meng Chuan reported respectfully. “I plan to take it slowly, over five or six years, as it cannot be rushed. I intend to enhance my willpower through long-term saber cultivation, reading, and the Life-and-Death Evasion Technique.”

The Venerable One smiled and gently shook his head. “The Life-and-Death Evasion Technique is too extreme. There's no need to learn it. Reading? You can certainly read later, but you'll need to manage your time well.”

Meng Chuan was stunned.

His own plan was directly altered by the Venerable One? That would slow down his willpower improvement significantly.

“Inner willpower cannot be rushed,” the Venerable One said with a smile. “As for your intention to refine the Six Desires Fiend Qi... I forgot to tell you, while the Six Desires Fiend Qi is indeed terrifying, and mortal disciples with insufficient willpower can be controlled by desires when cultivating it, it is merely a special type of fiend qi. Its effect on mortal souls is excellent, but against the primordial spirit of a Marquis Fiendcelestial... it cannot shake it in the slightest.”

“You also possess a primordial spirit! Although you are a mortal and your primordial spirit is weak, the Six Desires Fiend Qi's influence on *your* primordial spirit is much weaker than on ordinary mortal disciples.”

“As long as your willpower is strong enough to reach the summit of the Dark Altar, you'll be able to refine the Six Desires Fiend Qi,” the Venerable One stated.

Meng Chuan was dumbfounded.

He was both shocked and delighted!

“But why wasn't this mentioned in the cultivation notes for the Thunderclap Annihilation Fiendcelestial Body?” Meng Chuan couldn't help but ask.

“Haha, how many mortals possess a primordial spirit?” the Venerable One chuckled. “Since the Thunderclap Annihilation Fiendcelestial Body was created, you are the only mortal disciple who has cultivated it and possessed a primordial spirit as a mortal.”

The Venerable One smiled, “Alright, it's not too late now that you know. Go on, proceed with the Ninth Refinement.”

“Yes,” Meng Chuan replied respectfully, withdrawing.

He turned to leave, his heart brimming with excitement, but then he came to his senses and thought to himself, “Why did Master wait to tell me this, only after I'd spent over three months challenging the Hall of Bewitching Hearts? Was this intentional?”