Chapter 215: Nurturing the Sword

The sect leader of the Divine Wood Sect was Meng Hong, a kind-looking, white-haired old man. He particularly enjoyed fishing, and a lake with a third-tier water vein in Giant Wood Ridge was his frequent haunt.

Today, as Mu Yuan was preparing for the ninth round of the Grand Sect Competition, Meng Hong unexpectedly summoned him.

"Greetings, Master."

"Hmm, your opponent today is quite formidable. If you feel you can't hold on, just concede the match."

Upon hearing this, Mu Yuan, who had been bowing his head, instantly looked up, his face filled with disbelief. *Yuan Chiye already lost to me. The only remaining threats are Feng Hongxue and Mo Yingyang. What is this Chen Guixian? He couldn't even last one move against me last year!* These were Mu Yuan's internal thoughts. Of course, he couldn't speak so presumptuously to his sect leader; he merely frowned and said, "I cannot lose!"

Hearing this, Meng Hong didn't bother saying more. He simply waved his hand, dismissing Mu Yuan.

"This child has good talent, but his temperament is a bit arrogant. After this Grand Sect Competition, perhaps he should be sent out for some practical experience," Meng Hong mused after Mu Yuan left.

Another gray-haired old man appeared. He was Cang Qi, the mysterious head of the Divination Department, one of the twelve departments. He sat with Meng Hong, both holding fishing rods and quietly angling.

"That was my original intention," Meng Hong said, "but Junior Brother Zeng's batch of Foundation Establishment Pills will be ready in two months. I was thinking of giving Mu Yuan a chance after he becomes the top true disciple."

"Original intention? Does that mean you're not planning it anymore?" Cang Qi asked.

Hearing Cang Qi's words, Meng Hong smiled slightly. Instead of answering directly, he asked another question. "I asked you to investigate Chen Guixian's background. What do you think?"

"He is an ascetic cultivator. Since entering Giant Wood Ridge, he has focused solely on cultivation, farming, and brewing wine. At most, he visits Divine Wood City a few times a year, discussing matters at the Spiritual Plants Department and drinking with a few sect friends. What's peculiar is that he didn't participate in the Grand Competition during his first year after joining the sect."

Meng Hong nodded with a smile after listening. He then picked up his fishing rod, caught a red-scaled carp, released it, and then spoke of another matter concerning Chen Mobai.

"He is considered one of Sun Gaochang's people. I inquired a few days ago, and apparently, he's been very interested in the batch of Foundation Establishment Pills Junior Brother Zeng is refining."

"Oh, does the sect leader mean that if it weren't for this batch of Foundation Establishment Pills, he wouldn't even have participated in the Grand Competitions for the past two years?"

"Most likely. Without this catalyst, we might only discover this unparalleled sword cultivation genius hidden within our sect when the next batch of Jade Marrow Golden Ganoderma matures."

Meng Hong's words caused Cang Qi to fall into thought. A genius who comprehended the third realm of sword cultivation before even establishing his foundation, and could utilize it without severely depleting his vital energy – there had only been a handful, two or three at most, in the entire history of the Eastern Barrens.

"So, you mean Junior Brother Zeng's batch of Foundation Establishment Pills should be reserved for him?"

"We'll see. After all, if we're lucky, this batch of pills could yield two or three. Besides, this is just our speculation. What if Chen Guixian, for a perfect Foundation Establishment, doesn't want the demonic beast Foundation Establishment Pills and prefers to wait for the orthodox ones?"

Upon hearing this, Cang Qi understood that Meng Hong was still secretly favoring Mu Yuan. The demonic beast Foundation Establishment Pills currently being refined were an unexpected gain for the Divine Wood Sect. If Mu Yuan could directly establish his foundation after consuming them, that would naturally be ideal. But even if he failed, he could wait seven years for the orthodox Foundation Establishment Pills refined in Revival Valley and attempt Foundation Establishment a second time. Generally, a genius with a two-element spiritual root has over a 50% chance of success with two attempts at Foundation Establishment.

The plan was originally quite sound. However, Chen Guixian suddenly appeared, disrupting everything. According to sect rules, if the top true disciple requires a Foundation Establishment Pill, they must be supplied first. Even the sect leader had no say in this, unless a private deal was made for him to willingly give it up.

However, based on the information Cang Qi had gathered about Chen Guixian, he knew that this person was solely focused on cultivation. Even before reaching the ninth level of Qi Cultivation, he had already been inquiring with true disciples like Ding Ying about selling Foundation Establishment Pills. Now that he had reached the perfected Qi Cultivation stage and comprehended the Foundation Establishment-level "Rainbow Sword Qi," there was even less need to say anything further. Even if a sect leader's disciple stood in his way, it was unlikely he would show any leniency.

"Chen Guixian is from the Yun Kingdom. It seems E Yun has some connection with him," Cang Qi offered as a subtle reminder.

But Meng Hong shook his head. "I've asked about that too; it's just a rumor. E Yun did try to recruit him, but how could someone with such an 'iron sword heart' be willing to serve under another? He was rejected outright, with no room for discussion."

"While it's fortunate that such a genius has joined our sect," Cang Qi continued, "shouldn't his background be investigated to ensure he's not a spy sent by another sect?"

Meng Hong nodded upon hearing this, then took out another scroll of information and handed it to the gray-haired old man beside him. "When he was recruited into the sect, E Yun had already investigated him. Although he's a rogue cultivator, based on fragmented information he unintentionally revealed, the full story of how he embarked on the path of cultivation was uncovered.

"E Yun found a water mansion, and I had our hidden agent in Kunyuan Mountain investigate. It was confirmed to be a sub-residence of the Five Elements Sect from before our split. We also found out about its former guardian, Liu Lingpei, who cultivated the Black Water Art. Unfortunately, it seems he fled during our sect's split, fearing battle. His tracks later reappeared, and he was branded a traitor by the Five Elements Sect and pursued.

"Chen Guixian's immortal destiny is astonishing. During the dynastic upheaval and chaos in the Yun Kingdom, he got separated from his family and accidentally fell into the water mansion, whose array formation had loosened. There, he obtained Liu Lingpei's inherited cultivation methods, thus beginning his path to immortality. He previously sold the Black Water Art in Nanxi Market to acquire spirit stones, and during the attack on Qingguang Island by demonic beasts, he also displayed the Ice Cold Art. All the clues align."

After reading the background investigation report, Cang Qi couldn't help but nod. Compared to other rogue cultivators, Chen Guixian could be considered to have a clean background.

"Most importantly," Meng Hong added, "if he were a hidden spy sent by another sect, it would be impossible for him to achieve such an extraordinary sword dao realm."

Cang Qi deeply agreed with Meng Hong's words. For sword cultivators, the sword heart reflects the dao heart. Someone with dark, sinister schemes in their heart could never cultivate "Rainbow Sword Qi" at the Qi Cultivation stage. This Chen Guixian was simply an ascetic cultivator dedicated to sword practice.

"He might surpass Honghe in the future," Cang Qi sighed, "but he might also be more prone to falling." Most sword cultivators were unyielding, and as Chen Guixian vigorously advanced in the way of the sword, his personality would become increasingly extreme.

"He probably knows this himself, which is why he farms and brews wine—to temper his sword heart," Meng Hong said. "If there are no major sect matters in the future, let him continue his arduous cultivation in Giant Wood Ridge."

"Indeed. This sword should be nurtured within the sect. When it's finally unsheathed, it will surely shock the entire Eastern Barrens."