Chapter 1099: A Child Worth Teaching

"How do you feel?"

Back in the night sky, Xiao Kongtong was the first to speak, asking Xu Xiaoshou about his condition. However, he didn't question Xu Xiaoshou's previous corpse-lashing action.

As Mr. Meijiren had said, Xu Xiaoshou was very intelligent.

If there was something he wanted to say, he would naturally say it. If not, asking more questions would be useless.

While concern was one aspect, Xiao Kongtong also had confidence in Xu Xiaoshou.

As long as this kid wasn't misled or led astray, it would be difficult for anything in this world to corrupt his mind or will.

After all, the strength of Xu Xiaoshou's "Id" could be glimpsed from his "Gods and Buddhas Before My Eyes" technique.

"I feel..."

Xu Xiaoshou stroked the stone sword, smacked his lips, glanced at the two ancient sword cultivators in front of him, and said with lingering regret:

"I feel a bit regretful. This guy was an assassin from the Central Region, and he came specifically for my head."

"I read his soul memories at the end and found that after he entered Void Island, he landed in a place called the 'Blood Realm' and also obtained the 'Blood Tree's Shady Branch'."

"It's just a pity that after his 'Sinister Yin Eye' possessed him, its power was too strong, bursting his body. Not to mention his spatial ring."

Xiao Kongtong and Meijiren were startled by this.

An assassin, the Blood Realm, the Sinister Yin Eye?

So Xu Xiaoshou's last action was to confirm things... That's good, that's good.

Quickly recovering from the main points of the conversation, Xiao Kongtong stroked his chin, frowning slightly as he spoke:

"I was asking about your mental state after using Heart Sword Technique, not whether you managed to get his spatial ring."

"Heart Sword Technique consumes a lot of mental energy, and your 'Gods and Buddhas Before My Eyes' imagery is a bit... well, quite powerful."

"Theoretically, your current body, spirit, and cultivation, in any aspect, shouldn't be enough to sustain such a vibrant mental state after performing a single sword strike, right?"

Xiao Kongtong scrutinized Xu Xiaoshou from head to toe as if examining a monster, trying to find any signs that he was feigning strength.

But the guy was full of vigor; there was no trace of him being drained by the Heart Sword Technique's "Gods and Buddhas Before My Eyes."

This statement enlightened Meijiren, causing him to be slightly moved, and his gaze turned to one of confusion.

Xiao Kongtong had been maintaining the Illusion Sword Technique in this area, but he didn't know that Xu Xiaoshou had already used a sword strike on Meijiren after successfully learning the Heart Sword Technique.

Including the strike against Elder Xie, Xu Xiaoshou had already used "Gods and Buddhas Before My Eyes" twice in a short period... No, three times!

He used two full strikes against Elder Xie!

From the perspective of a beginner in ancient sword arts, Xu Xiaoshou should normally be foaming at the mouth and completely exhausted at this point; it wouldn't be impossible for him to be drained like a husk.

How was this kid still so full of energy?

"You're talking about consumption..." Xu Xiaoshou chuckled when he heard this. "My constitution is quite unique, and I've learned a cultivation method that can 'convert' most mental consumption into physical consumption. And since my physical body is very strong, the battle's toll on me is basically zero."

His words were entirely true.

Every time "Gods and Buddhas Before My Eyes" was used, the mental consumption was indeed significant.

But he had a divine passive skill called "Conversion," and "Endless Vigor" and "Full of Vitality" were constantly acting as energy supply stations.

After these three consecutive sword strikes, Xu Xiaoshou was only slightly tired after performing the technique, and he would recover to a perfect state shortly after.

Stamina issues...

Xu Xiaoshou never worried about that!

Xiao Kongtong and Meijiren exchanged glances, speechless, and simultaneously thought of something.

"Indeed, this is the era of spirit refinement. Compared to this, the methods of ancient sword cultivators seem a bit outdated..."

"So 'Spirit-Sword Integration' is the true path for ancient sword cultivators now?"

Both of them almost understood Xu Xiaoshou's words to mean that these were some unique spiritual skills exclusive to him.

And indeed, besides his background as an ancient sword cultivator, Xu Xiaoshou's spiritual refinement background was already extraordinary.

With Elder Sang, a former Saint Palace disciple, backed by a Half-Saint from the Jinzhao lineage, and Xu Xiaoshou himself possessing the ability to read others' soul memories...

With all this support, it wasn't impossible for Xu Xiaoshou to cultivate such a miraculous "Conversion" spiritual skill.

"You obtained the 'Sinister Yin Eye'?"

Meijiren didn't dwell on the minor details. Remembering the "Evil God Power Aura" that Elder Xie previously had, he tapped his paper fan and asked.

"Yes," Xu Xiaoshou nodded. "Strictly speaking, what I got... well, what Elder Xie got, was only a fragmented part of the 'Ghost Gate Evil Art,' specifically concerning the 'Sinister Yin Eye.' Using the 'Sinister Yin Eye,' he could borrow a wisp of the 'Ancestral Origin Power' you mentioned, but..."

He paused, then turned his head to look in the direction where Elder Xie had died, sighing, "He couldn't control that power; he easily fell into qi deviation."

Hearing "qi deviation," Xiao Kongtong remembered that Xu Xiaoshou had the "Qi Deviation Immunity Constitution," and his mouth twitched immediately.

This kid was truly bizarre, wasn't he?

In that case, the "Sinister Yin Eye" of the "Ghost Gate Evil Art" wasn't compatible with the assassin from the Central Region, but it was more compatible with Xu Xiaoshou?

Following Xu Xiaoshou's gaze, Xiao Kongtong silently stared at the area that had clearly endured a great battle but showed little damage.

A treasure delivery boy?

His lips curled up, amused by his own thought.

"Ghost Gate..." Meijiren murmured softly, looking thoughtful.

Tapping his paper fan, he pondered for a moment before saying, "'Ancestral Origin Power' is very special. Even if the 'Sinister Yin Eye' can only borrow a tiny wisp of its aura, if it's discovered by others, it will bring you a lot of trouble. Moreover, this thing looks very sinister..."

Although he said "sinister," Meijiren's thoughts halted as he remembered Xu Xiaoshou had the "Qi Deviation Immunity Constitution," and he helplessly added, "Just be careful yourself."

"I will," Xu Xiaoshou nodded seriously.

Meijiren was still a bit uneasy. He looked up at the night sky, his gaze seeming to extend beyond Void Island, and said softly:

"I have heard of the 'Ghost Gate Evil Art.' Even though this sect was annihilated in the ancient sword cultivator era, a small part of its legacy still exists today."

"The Feng family is in the Southern Region, rooted there. If there's an opportunity, I'll take you to find Feng Tingchen. He might know more secrets."

Feng Tingchen?

Xu Xiaoshou was startled, then quickly realized that Mr. Meijiren was referring to Feng Tingchen, one of the Seven Sword Immortals.

Legend has it that the Feng family's ancestor, Feng Wuhen, was a contemporary of Sword God Gu Louying. Even if he couldn't contend for the title of "Sword God" in that era, he still earned the title "Divine Sword Feng Wuhen."

Divine Sword Feng Wuhen's sword dao cultivation was second only to Sword God Gu Louying.

If one were to meticulously trace sword dao inheritances, in the current era, apart from the "Sword Burying Tomb" which could be traced back to a similarly ancient history, the sword dao inheritances obtained by other sword immortals actually couldn't compare to the Feng family of the Southern Region.

And Feng Tingchen was a direct blood descendant of Divine Sword Feng Wuhen, possessing a pure and authentic sword cultivation inheritance.

Compared to forces like the Sword Burying Tomb, which once opened its doors and widely accepted disciples, he was even more authentic—more precisely, in terms of bloodline purity!

Of course, no one paid attention to these details.

What outsiders cared about was always that there was a Feng Tingchen in the Southern Region, one of the Seven Sword Immortals;

That the Feng family of the Southern Region cultivated at least one powerful sword immortal in almost every generation, and no one knew how they did it;

And that the supreme title of "Seven Sword Immortals," recognized even by the Saint God Palace and renowned across the five regions of the continent, was actually ranked by the Feng family of the Southern Region.

"Counting the time, it should be in the next few years..." Meijiren's lips curved slightly upwards, though he didn't reveal what he was thinking.

"What?" Xu Xiaoshou didn't understand.

Xiao Kongtong narrowed his eyes and said, "Mr. Meijiren is referring to the ranking of the new generation of 'Seven Sword Immortals'."

Xu Xiaoshou's eyebrows twitched immediately, and his mind became active.

"Thwack."

Meijiren brought his paper fan down on Xu Xiaoshou's head. The pain made Xu Xiaoshou, who was lost in thought, immediately cradle his head and shrink back.

The old sword immortal immediately smiled and said, "That's still far off for you; don't overthink it. With your current sword dao cultivation, you're not even worthy of carrying someone's shoes if you were to participate in the new generation's Seven Sword Immortals competition."

He paused, then looked at the indignant Xu Xiaoshou, who refused to believe him, and added with a shake of his head:

"Even though there aren't many ancient sword cultivators in this era, due to the influence of the current Seven Sword Immortals, major forces are all attempting to cultivate them."

"Sword God Heaven in the Eastern Region is no longer the center of the ancient sword cultivator era. From the perspective of the vast five regions, the competition for the new generation of Seven Sword Immortals will only be more intense."

"There are no age restrictions for the Seven Sword Immortals competition. You young people must not only defeat your peers but also the previous generations, and even the 'ash-level' old sword cultivators who fell by our swords."

"Unless..."

Meijiren paused, then glanced at Xiao Kongtong before returning his gaze to Xu Xiaoshou, giving him intense pressure as he solemnly said:

"Unless you can cultivate your sword dao to a level like little Xiao's within a few short years, otherwise, I, your master, will not let you go out and disgrace yourself."

Little Xiao... Xu Xiaoshou almost burst out laughing when he heard that nickname.

But soon, he leaned his head forward and asked, "Does Master mean that my senior brother will definitely have a place in the new generation's Seven Sword Immortals competition?"

"Perhaps," Meijiren said noncommittally.

Xu Xiaoshou then looked at Xiao Kongtong: "Senior Brother, how confident are you?"

Xiao Kongtong chuckled, scratching his head, and modestly replied, "About thirty to fifty percent. I actually hope the new generation's Seven Sword Immortals competition comes a bit later, because you true younger generation haven't fully grown yet, and I haven't reached grand perfection in my sword dao."

Xu Xiaoshou: "..."

Good heavens!

So you're saying there's no one capable of fighting in the world today!

Affected by stimulus, Passive Point +1.

The three of them were chatting idly, as if no one else was around, in the perilous Void Island.

Suddenly, at one point, on the long street of the illusionary world beneath their feet, the Ghost Granny, who had been running back and forth, abruptly ceased all movement.

She stopped moving as if she had lost her soul, and all her vital energy and life force vanished from her body.

Almost simultaneously, Meijiren, Xiao Kongtong, and Xu Xiaoshou tilted their heads and looked towards the empty husk of a body.

"An idea," Xiao Kongtong's lips curved. His body swayed, and another Xiao Kongtong actually stepped out from within him.

"Mr. Meijiren, please wait a moment. I'll go fetch her for Xu Xiaoshou to test his sword on." This second Xiao Kongtong nodded slightly to Meijiren, finished speaking slowly, then leaped and flew into the distant night.

"What is that?" Xu Xiaoshou stared in astonishment.

He quickly scanned his information panel and found that the frequency of "Affected by Illusion" was consistent with before.

This merely meant he was still within the world constructed by this senior brother of Canyue Immortal City using the Illusion Sword Technique, and it didn't mean that the distant second Xiao Kongtong was also a figment of the Illusion Sword Technique.

Otherwise, a glance would have surely prompted a timely reaction in the information panel!

If the second Xiao Kongtong wasn't a figment of the Illusion Sword Technique, then it meant it was a real person!

But if he was a real person...

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at the second Xiao Kongtong vanishing into the distant night, then brought his gaze back to the first Xiao Kongtong in front of him, his eyes involuntarily widening:

"You're a Half-Saint? You've already mastered the Half-Saint Incarnation? You've hidden it so well!"

Xiao Kongtong was amused.

"Master isn't even a Half-Saint; how dare I overstep?"

"This is 'Sword Intent Avatar,' a method of using 'Thorough Divine Sense.' It can split off a clone with basic self-awareness, judgment, and combat power, similar to a Half-Saint Incarnation. Do you want to learn..."

He was explaining, but before the word "learn" could leave his lips, Meijiren stepped forward, blocking the line of sight between Xiao Kongtong and Xu Xiaoshou, and looked into the distance, saying:

"That should be a Grand Void expert specializing in soul arts..."

"Since learning 'Heart Sword Technique' isn't difficult for you, I'll teach you 'Ghost Sword Technique' now. Remember, 'don't bite off more than you can chew,' but also remember to 'progress step by step' when there isn't too much. Do you understand, Xu Xiaoshou?"

Behind Meijiren, Xiao Kongtong, unable to finish his sentence, felt choked as if he had swallowed a handful of mosquitoes.

Xu Xiaoshou desperately wanted to learn this "Sword Intent Avatar" technique.

If he had mastered this move earlier, he wouldn't have had to break his own arm and transform into a human to bluff his way through when facing Jiang Buyi.

But Mr. Meijiren's attitude...

With a turn of thought, Xu Xiaoshou understood something.

Mr. Meijiren met me late and had just taught me the Heart Sword Technique. My progress was so rapid that I immediately mastered "Gods and Buddhas Before My Eyes."

He's worried that if I suddenly learn too many "sword intents" and "sword intent avatars" from other sources, my identity as his disciple might become impure, and my recognition of him might lessen.

Hmm, I haven't even learned his "Sword Manifestation," which is the combined method of "Gods and Buddhas Before My Eyes" and "Thorough Divine Sense," yet I've already mastered Bazun An's "sword intent"...

Now Big Mouth is tempting me with "Sword Intent Avatar"...

Plus, I already have another master, old man Sang...

At this thought, Xu Xiaoshou suddenly realized.

He didn't show any strange expression and skillfully suppressed the desire and fervor for "Sword Intent Avatar" in his heart. He nodded, looked at the two in front of him, and said earnestly:

"Practicing 'Sword Intent Avatar' now would truly be too ambitious. I'm still very unskilled; I need to take it step by step. 'Ghost Sword Technique' is excellent; it's precisely what I'm lacking right now: a method for utilizing soul arts."

Xu Xiaoshou unhesitatingly sided with his master.

Xiao Kongtong, standing behind the other person, heard this and felt a torrent of unspoken complaints, his expression twisting slightly.

You, Xu Xiaoshou, talking about not being overly ambitious?

Your words are truly beautiful; you've even convinced me!

Meijiren smiled contentedly.

The other side of the paper fan, which was originally intended to only make a brief appearance at the very end of his sword-teaching journey on Void Island, unconsciously flipped open, driven by his pure delight.

He deliberately fanned himself rapidly with the paper fan, letting the breeze it generated carry his smile to his eyebrows.

Xu Xiaoshou and Xiao Kongtong simultaneously fixed their eyes on the fan's surface.

There, no longer was the contemptuous phrase "Are you stupid?"; instead, there were several large, upright, and serious characters:

"This youth is teachable."