Chapter 342: Dual Cultivation with Zang Ku

Thinking about the terrifying power of Jian Nian, Xu Xiaoshou felt a little tempted.

Such a powerful mental technique, and it's not even a Ling Ji—you could have just asked me, Xu Xiaoshou, to cultivate it directly. Why go through all this trouble?

Do you really have to force me like this?

I'm not an idiot; I still understand the value of this thing!

As Xu Xiaoshou thought to himself, he continued to recall the cultivation methods from the Guan Jian Dian.

Just from the introduction, it had already gotten his blood pumping.

But if he hadn't looked at the rest, that would have been fine. As soon as he did, his face turned as dark as charcoal.

"The cultivation of Guan Jian Dian, as the name implies, is 'Guan Jian'!"

"Observe the sharpness of the sword, embody its true essence, comprehend the way of the sword, where energy and intent are born together, leading to spiritual transformation into a sea, and the emergence of a Jian Chi."

"The stronger the sword's destiny, the greater the chance of refining Jian Nian. When observing and refining Jian Nian, it's best to use a famous sword."

Xu Xiaoshou grasped the meaning of these lines with just one glance.

In essence, cultivating the Guan Jian Dian meant simply observing a sword.

If the sword being observed was a famous one, then Jian Nian might be easier to cultivate.

What made him lose his composure, however, wasn't these lines, but a small line of text buried at the very end:

"During Guan Jian, Jian Nian enters the body like a knife cutting into flesh, causing excruciating pain. Cultivate with caution."

Xu Xiaoshou: ...

Seeing this, he suddenly understood why that uncle had used such a forceful method to make him cultivate the Guan Jian Dian.

"Guan Jian is very painful? How painful?"

It didn't specify.

But based on that uncle's behavior, this was probably even more terrifying than the Jin Zhao Huo Zhong.

In an instant, Xu Xiaoshou started to back out.

He was fine in most ways, and he could handle pain, but he was just lazy.

With the Breathing Method for gradual cultivation, who the hell would want to suffer the agony of Jin Zhao Huo Zhong every day?

Did they really think that because his name has a "Shou" in it, he was some kind of masochist?

Buzz—

But as soon as that thought crossed his mind, the Jian Nian above his Dantian trembled slightly and began to expand.

Xu Xiaoshou nearly wet himself.

"I'm joking, just joking! Please don't explode!"

"Let's talk this out nicely!"

Amazingly, this thing actually understood his heartfelt words and returned to stillness.

Xu Xiaoshou slumped down weakly.

"This damn thing..."

That dead uncle had thought of every possible outcome!

What the hell is going on? He hadn't even escaped from Lao Sang's clutches, and now he had fallen into that dead uncle's trap.

Woe is me!

Xu Xiaoshou felt the injustice of fate.

He hated being arranged like this, but unfortunately, whatever you fear most is what comes for you.

He had thought leaving Tian Sang Ling Gong would be like a caged beast breaking free.

Little did he know, what Master Sang had said had come true.

This was just breaking open one sky, only to be locked into even broader shackles!

"Hong Gou, the scrap collector... When will this ever end?"

Xu Xiaoshou clenched his fists.

He refused to give in.

Give him time, and he believed he could break through all these shackles, but the one thing he seemed to lack most was time.

"Let's do this!"

Xu Xiaoshou didn't hesitate for long before making up his mind.

Not only would he cultivate the Guan Jian Dian, but he also planned to pick up Lao Sang's Jin Zhao Tian Yan · Bai Yan and Long Rong Jie again!

"So what if it's painful?"

"Endure this wave, and it'll be smooth sailing afterward!"

What truly made him resolve to accept the pain wasn't Lao Sang or that uncle—it was Hong Gou!

"Wang Zuo..."

Xu Xiaoshou's expression shifted between dark and uncertain.

He had thought enemies at the Wang Zuo level were still far away, but Hong Gou's appearance had shattered his illusions.

Especially that guy's terrifying vitality and attack power that hadn't even fully erupted...

It was completely beyond what he could handle at his current stage.

If that uncle hadn't shown up, he might have been finished by that last half of Hong Gou!

Thinking of this, Xu Xiaoshou stopped hesitating. He sat cross-legged and pulled out Zang Ku.

This was a tenth-grade Ling Jian.

He actually had higher-grade ones on him, like the Ling Jian from Cheng Xing Chu, but he didn't use them.

Because according to the Guan Jian Dian's introduction, this Guan Jian method could not only benefit himself but also allow the sword he carried to be cultivated through this ancient technique, gradually improving its grade.

Xu Xiaoshou hadn't known where famous swords came from before.

Now he did.

The twenty-one famous swords on the continent were essentially just the personal swords of certain ancient powerhouses.

In that era, pure sword cultivators didn't always forge their swords with the finest materials.

Swords of that level were merely of good quality and couldn't form a true bond with their owners.

The truly powerful ones were those inferior swords that had grown alongside their owners, sharing a spiritual connection.

If a sword becomes spiritual, it can cultivate too!

Xu Xiaoshou had finally found a way to improve Zang Ku's quality without spending money.

He was willing to spend money and had considered reforging Zang Ku before.

But Zang Ku had already gained a spirit, and he was afraid that if he reforged it, the sword's personality might change, turning it into an ordinary Ling Jian.

That would be like erasing its true essence.

"Sword possession?"

Xu Xiaoshou looked down on doing something like that.

The appearance of Guan Jian Dian, however, perfectly solved this problem.

Clang—

Xu Xiaoshou drew the black sword and casually tossed the sheath aside. He muttered, "Little guy, I've found a way to improve you, and that is..."

"Double cultivation!"

The black sword's blade bent slightly, as if startled, instinctively wanting to fly away and put on its "pants."

Xu Xiaoshou laughed.

This guy hadn't been around in a while, but it had gained even more spirituality?

He grabbed the timid thing, gathering his fingertip energy and gently stroking the blade.

Zang Ku trembled violently. This affectionate touch from its owner was something no spiritual sword could resist.

It let out a joyful hum, its blade straightening and standing tall.

Xu Xiaoshou felt the pits and bumps under his hand and felt a pang of heartache.

This black sword had followed him all the way, silently enduring so much.

It had been severely punished for its devouring nature, blasted by Luo Lei Lei's Lei Yu to draw attention, and even with its mere tenth-grade quality, it had faced off against many higher-grade spiritual weapons...

It had borne far too much pressure for its level!

Honestly, for it to survive this long was impressive.

Yet, even so, a single stroke from him had it reaching its peak.

How could anyone not feel heartbroken for it? How could they not want to give it a proper place?

"Come on, let's cultivate!"

"After tonight, you're destined to grow."

Xu Xiaoshou held Zang Ku and placed it on his knees. Following the Guan Jian cultivation method from the Guan Jian Dian, he focused his gaze directly on it.

One breath.

Two breaths.

Three breaths...

Zang Ku's blade shyly curved, curling up.

Xu Xiaoshou's face turned green, veins bulging on his forehead.

"Cultivate, got it?!"

"You damn thing, lie still and don't move!"