Chapter 1089: Who Is Looking for Death?

"Alright, alright," said Xiao Kongtong. "Xu Xiaoshou settled into meditation rather quickly. His talent is indeed quite good... specifically, his meditation talent."

On the ancient, weathered street, Xiao Kongtong continued to circle Xu Xiaoshou, who was meditating cross-legged. Rubbing his chin, he observed Xu Xiaoshou with the intense scrutiny one might reserve for a rare species, speaking thoughtfully.

How rare it was to see Xu Xiaoshou settled and quiet! Every previous encounter with him involved him either causing trouble or being on his way to do so. Never before had he sat so calmly and obediently as he was now.

It was only at moments like these that Xu Xiaoshou's cultivation talent became apparent. Indeed, in just fifteen minutes, the young man had already achieved a state of meditation free from distractions. Moreover, observing the steadily rising aura around him...

He might just achieve "God-Buddha Before the Eyes"! There's a real possibility.

Xiao Kongtong had guided tens of thousands of swordsmen in Sanctuary Moon Immortal City, all aspiring to become ancient sword cultivators. Many could enter meditation as quickly as Xu Xiaoshou, and some even faster. However, after achieving a meditative state, only a handful could, within a mere fifteen minutes, externalize the aura visualized internally, discover their true essence, and manifest it beyond their spiritual world.

This level of talent, even if not as extraordinary as Mr. Si Ren claimed—that one could instantly achieve "God-Buddha Before the Eyes"—meant that once the correct feeling was found, mastering the Heart Sword Art through gradual progress was simply a matter of time.

The duration, of course, varied entirely based on one's comprehension.

Some, upon finding this sensation, could cultivate the first realm within as little as three months or as long as a year, with the most gifted achieving it within that timeframe. Others, however, might spend their entire lives, perhaps decades, only to finally extend this feeling and achieve "God-Buddha Before the Eyes" as they neared their end. "How long will Xu Xiaoshou need?" Xiao Kongtong mused with intense curiosity.

He recalled his teacher’s record being around half an hour, while his own was six hours.

These comparisons weren't truly fair, though, as both he and his teacher had only begun practicing Heart Sword Art after achieving near mastery in their other sword arts. With their accumulated knowledge and aura, it was relatively easy to quickly find and manifest the "intent."

Of course, this perception of "easiness" was Xiao Kongtong's conclusion, drawn from comparing his own school of thought with Mei Siran's.

If Xiao Kongtong were to compare himself with others in Sanctuary Moon Immortal City who practiced the same school—all of whom only began "Heart Sword Art" after making progress in other sword arts—even the most talented genius he had ever guided still took nearly half a year.

It was completely incomparable!

Even so, that individual was still considered a genius!

Xiu Yuanke... Xiao Kongtong recalled the name. That person was incredibly strong, an unparalleled genius in the path of ancient sword cultivation, second only to himself and his teacher.

"Mr. Siran," he began, unable to contain his curiosity, "how long did it take you to comprehend something when you first practiced Heart Sword Art?"

He didn't directly ask about achieving "God-Buddha Before the Eyes" because Mr. Siran's school was different from his own. For them, success was defined by finding the initial sensation and grasping a rudimentary form. Further refinement could then be achieved through continued advancement in sword cultivation.

"Seven days," Mei Siran replied nonchalantly. He didn't find the question abrupt, as he was always happy to answer queries from younger generations—a trait he considered his personal indulgence in being a mentor.

"Seven days, indeed. You must have begun your cultivation with Heart Sword Art from the very start. To grasp its rudimentary form in just seven days is truly remarkable," Xiao Kongtong exclaimed with genuine admiration.

He mused that if his childhood self had started with Heart Sword Art, he likely wouldn't have seen any results even after seven years.

Mei Siran smiled upon hearing this, his gaze shifting from Xu Xiaoshou. Holding his paper fan, he looked at Xiao Kongtong and stated, "What I cultivated in seven days wasn't the rudimentary form of Heart Sword Art; it was the chaotic form of 'God-Buddha Before the Eyes.'"

"Eh?" Xiao Kongtong's face froze. That was simply too terrifying!

"How old were you at the time?" he pressed, eager for a comparison.

"Around twelve or thirteen, perhaps?" Mei Siran mused, recalling faintly, unable to pinpoint the exact age.

Xiao Kongtong fell silent for a moment. After a long pause, he asked again, "Was that your very first time holding a sword?"

"No." Mei Siran's single word brought a measure of relief to Xiao Kongtong.

Yet, after a brief pause, he heard the old sword immortal add, "That happened... three days after I first picked up a sword."

Xiao Kongtong: ??? Three days? How is that different from the very first time holding a sword?

Mei Siran, having playfully dampened the young man's spirits, chuckled and said, "I simply happened to be quite gifted in Heart Sword Art. Other forms of cultivation were far more difficult for me; they took decades of effort."

"Furthermore, at your age, I possessed very little combat prowess. To compare me to a monstrous talent like your master would be utterly absurd."

"Three breaths to Innate, three years to Sword Immortal... Even Yu Tu felt ashamed in comparison to such an unparalleled prodigy!"

That was certainly true! Xiao Kongtong wholeheartedly agreed with this point.

In fact, conventionally speaking, mastering the first realm of any of the nine great sword arts already qualified one to be a "Sword Immortal." Once such a person matured and possessed the basic power to "Slay the Dao and contend with the Void," they could then contend for a seat among the Seven Sword Immortals.

However, the competition for the title of "Seven Sword Immortals" had become increasingly fierce since the last era of sword cultivation. Eventually, simply mastering the first realm of a single sword art was no longer sufficient; one wouldn't even qualify to challenge the previous generation of Seven Sword Immortals.

His teacher, however, was different. Xiao Kongtong deeply understood the sheer "terror" of his own master. That individual had genuinely, from the very first day they held a sword, mastered eight of the nine great sword arts—all except the Hidden Sword Art—in just three years.

Here, "mastery" referred to the first realm. Even so, combining these various realms meant challenging ordinary Sword Immortals would be effortless. What's more, at that time, Bazun An had mastered not just the first realm but also the second realm in certain sword arts, making his combat power several times that of a typical Sword Immortal!

"What a pity, too rigid, easily broken..." Mei Siran's thoughts also drifted.

In his youth, Bazun An's disposition perfectly aligned with the ancient path of sword cultivation: unrestrained, flamboyant, fierce, and untamed. Yet, precisely because of this, after displaying such extraordinary talent, maintaining his "freedom" became incredibly difficult. He was like a sharp sword, relentless until it hit a wall. Ultimately, under external interference, this sword nearly shattered like Qingju, but fortunately, he survived, though he was forced into seclusion.

This seclusion lasted for decades.

Yet, the myriad paths of the sword encompass everything: misfortune contains the seeds of fortune, and fortune hides the roots of misfortune.

"Hidden Sword Art... your teacher began cultivating it seriously after he had learned to sheath his sharpness, didn't he?" Mei Siran asked, looking at Xiao Kongtong, his meaning clear.

"I'm not entirely sure..." Xiao Kongtong hesitated to speak, unwilling to idly discuss his master behind his back.

Yet, he knew very well in his heart that his master's current realm was an absolute perfection, transcending even the grand consummation.

A drawn sword embodies ferocity; a sheathed sword embodies propriety. The gentleman's sword, among all weapons, prioritizes courtesy before force!

From his teacher's youthful wildness to his present restrained sharpness, it could be said that he had cultivated both the "fierce" and "courteous" aspects to their utmost. In such a state, where yin and yang were perfectly harmonized, how utterly breathtaking would his swordplay be when he next wielded his blade? Xiao Kongtong dared not imagine.

"Sometimes, I truly envy these genuine prodigies. They dare to push boundaries, dare to fight... Even setbacks, in their eyes, are merely stepping stones to another realm, allowing them to quickly find breakthroughs, as long as they survive," Mei Siran sighed, tapping his fan reflectively.

Xiao Kongtong merely nodded in agreement, not daring to elaborate further on the topic. He worried his discretion might slip, allowing Mr. Siran to extract information about his master.

"Isn't Xu Xiaoshou precisely the same?" He turned his gaze, looking at the young man meditating cross-legged, and smiled:

"I've always felt that the master placed too much pressure on him. The situations Xu Xiaoshou currently confronts are roles he shouldn't have to face at his present stage."

"Yet, there are times I wonder how Xu Xiaoshou, despite such immense pressure, still manages to perfectly adapt and smoothly resolve so many challenges."

"Perhaps his potential hasn't been pushed to its absolute limit yet."

After a pause, Xiao Kongtong suddenly shivered, clenching his teeth as he added, "But then, I reconsider and feel it's too cruel. After all, Xu Xiaoshou is just a young man; he absolutely shouldn't be entangled in the wars of the older generation."

"Some of the situations he faces are difficult for even me to intervene in..."

Mei Siran chuckled upon hearing this, yet he perfectly understood the "Eighth Sword Immortal's" intentions. He murmured, "Indeed, such immense pressure shouldn't be applied. However, I suspect your master merely saw a reflection of his younger self in Xu Xiaoshou."

Xiao Kongtong paused, then appeared to grasp the meaning.

Indeed, Xu Xiaoshou's talent was immense, perhaps even surpassing his own. His master's arrangements for him were entirely modeled after his own youthful path, applying maximum pressure to force rapid growth.

Because Xu Xiaoshou had entered the fray too early, if he couldn't grow quickly, he would soon become a pawn discarded by powerful figures. For a discarded pawn, the only destiny was death.

"Buzz!" As they chatted, Xu Xiaoshou, meditating cross-legged beside them, suddenly trembled. A vast aura, like surging waves and tides, poured forth.

A surging sword intent began to rampage across the ancient street. Xu Xiaoshou, like an ancient sleeping lion roused from slumber, suddenly levitated. Though his eyes remained tightly closed, he exuded a sense of "awakening," "return," and "madness."

"The Qiongqi lies dormant in the heart, while the outer form decays like ancient wood..." Xiao Kongtong stepped back slightly, feeling a subtle impact on his spiritual world.

He found it somewhat unbelievable that he was seeing an echo of the "Qiongqi" aspect from his master's description of Heart Sword Art within Xu Xiaoshou, who was merely a novice.

"This young man is clearly under immense pressure. His 'true self' is rather fierce, even terrifying."

Xiao Kongtong subtly glanced at the fearsome sword manifestation behind Mr. Siran. Perhaps the old sword immortal had discerned that Xu Xiaoshou's "true self" might not be inferior to his own, which had sparked his interest in teaching him sword arts.

"It is indeed very ferocious. I just wonder how long he can maintain this state, and if he can instantly discover his true self," Mei Siran nodded slightly, his eyes showing even greater satisfaction. The sword manifestation remained behind him, and he stood perfectly still, utterly unaffected by Xu Xiaoshou's burgeoning will.

"I doubt it..." Xiao Kongtong began hesitantly, mentally making a comparison.

Since they belonged to the same school, he could only compare Xu Xiaoshou to Mr. Siran. The old sword immortal had taken three days to grasp the blade, then seven more days to comprehend the chaotic form of "God-Buddha Before the Eyes." In total, merely ten days!

How long had Xu Xiaoshou been cultivating since his emergence? Half a year? Let's assume he'd been practicing for half a year!

But he had always taken unorthodox paths. Surely, now with Mr. Siran's guidance, he couldn't possibly comprehend "God-Buddha Before the Eyes" with just a single meditative session, in mere minutes? Such talent would be far more terrifying than his own, or even his master's!

At best, he would, like Mr. Siran, achieve the chaotic form of "God-Buddha Before the Eyes," and then spend another half year refining it into his own perfected state. Xiao Kongtong swiftly made his assessment.

"Crack!" Yet, Xu Xiaoshou, with his eyes closed and legs crossed, unleashed an aura that seemed utterly boundless, ascending at a terrifying pace! Soon, the surrounding ancient street echoed with continuous cracking sounds.

In the distance, the ancient, towering city gatehouse, impacted by the sword intent, began to crack, then crumble.

"Rumble!" A colossal sound roared forth. Mei Siran raised the stone sword in his hand, and his Illusionary Sword Art swiftly conjured a simple, crude illusory world. He channeled the surrounding disturbances and the booming sounds into this false space-time, ensuring the explosions would not disturb his beloved disciple, Xu Xiaoshou.

"This aura is rising far too terrifyingly. What has he encountered in his spiritual world? How truly immense is the pressure he's under?"

Xiao Kongtong felt the increasingly oppressive force, his pores tightening and his entire being growing serious and highly vigilant.

How could Grandmaster Xu Xiaoshou possess such an aura? How severely must his "true self" have been suppressed to rebound with such intensity?

Mei Siran's gaze shifted from appreciation and satisfaction to solemnity and concern, and he remarked with a touch of reproach, "Bazun An has truly gone too far!"

"Not everyone is like him. What Xu Xiaoshou is enduring in his spiritual world is likely far more challenging than we can imagine. Afterward, I will certainly demand an explanation from him."

Xiao Kongtong silently glanced up at the old sword immortal, shivering too much to reply.

He could only attempt to change the subject: "Mr. Siran, Heart Sword Art places the utmost emphasis on refining the heart. I fear Xu Xiaoshou's aura rising so rapidly might not only be unbeneficial but could also pose a danger."

"Are you referring to 'inner demons'?" Mei Siran asked, his gaze unwavering, constantly monitoring Xu Xiaoshou's changes.

"More or less..." Xiao Kongtong mumbled, drawing his head back slightly. "What I mean is, if he forcefully attempts to crush the demi-saints he's previously faced in his spiritual world, just to experience that 'satisfaction,' it might be counterproductive. He could end up harming himself and generating distracting thoughts that would impede his Heart Sword Art progress."

He chose his words carefully. Nevertheless, his remarks clearly agitated Mei Siran.

"If it's inner demons, then just say it; why be so indirect? Besides, that's impossible!" Mei Siran snapped, his eyes flashing a stern look before quickly returning his focus to Xu Xiaoshou's state.

Xiao Kongtong, stunned by the old sword immortal's glare, which seemed to carry the weight of the sword manifestation, was utterly paralyzed. He stammered in fright, "Yes, you are absolutely right! Xu Xiaoshou's talent is exceptional, and his disposition is extraordinary. He couldn't possibly develop inner demons, unless he were influenced by an external force..."

He paused, then even he chuckled. With Mr. Siran and himself present, who would be foolish enough to dare interrupt Xu Xiaoshou's cultivation? Considering Mr. Siran's fiercely protective demeanor just moments ago, anyone who tried would surely be flayed alive.

Just then, as the aura reached its apex, even the surrounding illusory world created by Mei Siran's Illusionary Sword Art began to tremble, on the verge of shattering...

Xu Xiaoshou's body suddenly trembled violently. Though he should have been completely immersed in his spiritual world, his face, which ought to have remained impassive, suddenly showed visible tension.

Following this, faint black mist began to seep from his seven orifices.

"What?" Xiao Kongtong's pupils contracted. No way. Had he just jinxed it?

For the first time, Mei Siran indeed swept his gaze over with a furious expression. Though not a single word was uttered, Xiao Kongtong felt as if the old sword immortal had said everything. He almost wished a crevice would open up and swallow him whole.

"Please, don't let anything happen. You absolutely cannot suffer any harm, because if you do, I will too..." Xiao Kongtong surreptitiously eyed Mr. Siran, clasped his hands together, and began to pray.

But the more one feared something, the more likely it was to happen! In an instant, after the initial abnormality, Xu Xiaoshou's entire body shook violently. His internal sword energy diverged in four directions, clearly indicating a wrong path. His skin cracked and bled, and a torrential demonic aura surged forth.

—He was in a complete state of demonic deviation, much like Elder Sang when struck by an arrow from the Evil Sin Bow!

"You jinx!" Mei Siran finally couldn't restrain himself, raising the stone sword in his hand as if to strike.

"It's not my fault!" Xiao Kongtong exclaimed, leaping up in fright and preparing to flee.

At that moment, both of them clearly realized something. With a shared look of disbelief, they simultaneously turned their gazes towards a distant point—it wasn't a jinx after all, but someone had genuinely interfered and disrupted Xu Xiaoshou's cultivation!

Which, he realized, was also a jinx!

"Who did this?" Xiao Kongtong instinctively wanted to compensate for his jinx, determined to find the culprit and beat them to death.

But the next second, he suddenly felt the oppressive change in the surrounding atmosphere. It was congealed, startling, and terrifying!

As the esteemed Senior Disciple of Sanctuary Moon Immortal City, Xiao Kongtong suddenly felt as though he was trapped in a deep mire, unable to even lift a foot, let alone make a move to capture someone.

Struggling to turn his head, Xiao Kongtong tried to move. He sensed that Mr. Siran beside him had changed; he was no longer the gentle elder, but rather had suddenly transformed, as if a different person entirely.

If he didn't act now, it would be too late! The suffocating dread emanating from beside him felt like the endless volcanoes within the Abyssal Blaze Domain being violently plunged and stirred repeatedly by a divine needle from the heavens.

It was predictable... The next second would surely bring a world-ending volcanic eruption!

Desperately twisting his head, Xiao Kongtong finally managed to turn and look in Mr. Siran's direction.

Just then, a thunderous roar erupted by his ear, as if to shatter both mind and soul, wild and terrifying.

"Who?!" Xiao Kongtong's heart seized in fright.

What met his gaze was the old sword immortal Mei's face, incredibly stern and grim, flushed crimson with exertion, even the veins on his neck visibly bulging.

Mei Siran glared intensely in that distant direction. He gritted his teeth, his fury soaring. As he opened his mouth again, Xiao Kongtong's "God-Buddha Before the Eyes" was instinctively forced forth, yet he dared not make any reckless move, only covering his ears.

As expected, a suppressed, low growl suddenly squeezed from between the old sword immortal's clenched teeth, exceptionally terrifying. "Who is seeking death!!!"