Immortal of the Ages

Chapter 021 - Swallow Tail Flash, Azure Lightning Crane, Leisurely Wander! (2)

At the Sword Pavilion, in a valley shrouded in the deep night, a spectacle unfolded inside a pitch-black coffin.

"You two are pretty nifty! Acting as a pet one moment, a pill furnace the next, and even transforming into a private cultivation chamber!" Yun Xiao exclaimed, brimming with admiration. It was like having a mobile home at his disposal!

"Just don't bring your Senior Sister Zhao in here for your nightly activities, alright?" Blue Star remarked, rolling its eyes dramatically.

Yun Xiao was rendered speechless, his cheek tingling with a hint of embarrassment. In the quietude of the night, he finally unveiled the six Dragon Spring Pills he had kept hidden.

These were six Lower Comet grade pills, hefty and dense in his palm. These welcome gifts might not be on par with the Divine Sea Pill, but they embodied the benevolence and care of the elders at the Sword Pavilion. Positioning himself in a meditative pose, Yun Xiao fetched one of the Dragon Spring Pills, ready to ingest it and commence his cultivation.

"What are you up to?" Blue Star asked, a hint of suspicion coloring its voice.

"Popping pills, of course!" Yun Xiao replied with an air of nonchalance.

"Pop your sister!" With a thunderous bang, the ancient bronze coffin ejected Yun Xiao, transforming into a small beast. With quick reflexes, it snatched the jade bottle from Yun Xiao's hand, greedily gulping down the Dragon Spring Pill along with the bottle.

"What on earth are you doing?" Yun Xiao froze, staring wide-eyed at the scene unfolding before him.

"Just giving it a little upgrade for you!" Red Moon murmured, chomping noisily on the pilfered items.

"What? Upgrading? Fine, upgrade it is!" Yun Xiao remarked. In no time, the six Dragon Spring Pills transformed into numerous rice-grain-sized Heavenly Dao Sariras, which materialized in his hand.

Yun Xiao held one close to his nose, giving it a tentative sniff. "It smells like hotpot..." he remarked, perplexed and slightly amused. What was even more astonishing was the fact that Red Moon had managed to consume everything, soup and pot included! Goodness, even the iron pot!

Yun Xiao scrutinized the Heavenly Dao Sariras in his hand, a flurry of thoughts running through his mind. Suddenly, he voiced a concern that had been nagging at him, "Hold on, won't my cultivation become unstable if I keep advancing by popping these pills?"

"This isn't advancing, it's recovering! Essentially, you are the Creator Immortal. You were just emptied and weakened," Blue Star replied, his face twisting in disdain.

"Recovering?"

"Yeah, so far, you've only restored a fraction of your original power, not even close to risking instability," Blue Star said with a dismissive snort.

"But, shouldn't I be having some kind of insights or epiphanies to form the conditions for a breakthrough? You know, pondering on some principles or understanding the mysteries of the Dao?" Yun Xiao asked, his face marred with confusion.

That seemed to trigger Blue Star into a frenzy. "Insights? Epiphanies? You're pondering if one plus one equals what now? You're the Creator Immortal, not a pig!"

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"... So, I don't need to meditate on any laws or mysteries to achieve a breakthrough?" Yun Xiao asked, still not fully convinced.

"That's a matter for higher Immortals! For now, just drink more milk and learn to crawl first!" Blue Star declared, on the verge of a meltdown.

"Milk? Where?" Red Moon chimed in, perking up instantly upon hearing the mention of milk.

"Fine then, I won't hold back!" Yun Xiao said, a mischievous grin spreading across his face, ready to embrace whatever bizarre journey this cultivation process was about to take him on.

Feast time! The Heavenly Dao Sariras, even more suited for Yun Xiao than the Dragon Spring Pills, rushed into his Dantian after being processed. The medicinal potency coursed through every limb and bone, erupting into a hotpot flavored whirlwind that swept through the ancient bronze coffin.

"Perfect Dragon Spring Realm!" Within Yun Xiao's Dantian, amidst a misty ambiance, the Primordial Void Dragon Spring expanded, giving birth to four formidable claws, becoming even more vast and magnificent. Together with the Heaven Burial Sword Soul, their distinction from other Dragon Springs and Sword Souls slowly emerged with his enhancement, revealing a more terrifying potential.

"So it seems, my future cultivation isn't about breaking through barriers, but... restoration!" This marked the divergence between Yun Xiao and other cultivators. He was simply reclaiming what belonged to the Creator Immortal. The recurrent Rains of Creation, spawning countless Seeds of Creation geniuses, were the key.

"Blue Star mentioned that Ye Guao's Golden Dantian is the most rudimentary, yet it indeed expanded my own Dantian, amplifying my magic power by over thirty percent compared to other Sword Cultivators of the same realm."

And as for Ye Guying’s Twin Dantian, it was rumored that it could even spawn two Dragon Springs in the Dragon Spring Realm, a defiance of the heavens!

"Yet another stage of a realm restored!" Yun Xiao stood up, his vigor renewed. In essence, the concept of stages and realms was all a creation of the Creator Immortal.

"I'll learn swordsmanship from the three elders in a bit," Yun Xiao mused. "Before the Eight Swords Conclave, I wonder if I'll be able to get a basic mastery of the techniques they teach me..."

No sooner had Yun Xiao voiced this thought than Blue Star intervened, "Just tell them to teach you their strongest techniques!"

"The strongest? In just one day? Isn't that setting my sights too high?" Yun Xiao asked, skepticism coloring his words.

"For fuck sakes...!" Blue Star replied, slapping its little paw over its face. "Brother...! My brother in the Heavenly Dao...! You're the freaking Creator Immortal! Expand your horizons!"

"Alright, alright. I'm expanding. No need to get so snippity," Yun Xiao quipped back, rolling his eyes.

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The next day, all Yun Xiao could say was that Blue Star had not deceived him. It was indeed simple. He was tempted to proclaim himself as the true prodigy blessed by the heavens, but knew that Blue Star would surely deem the term heavenly prodigy a grave insult. For he was the Creator Immortal! Merely hollowed out, nothing more. Even stripped to the bone, he was beyond comparison with any so-called heavenly prodigy.

In one day! Yun Xiao mastered the three sword techniques swiftly, leaving the three elders utterly dumbfounded.

The three techniques were the following—

The Flying Sword Technique, Swallow Tail Flash!

The Palm Sword Technique, Azure Lightning Crane!

The Sovereign Sword Technique, Leisurely Wander!

Among them, Swallow Tail Flash was taught by Elder Zheng. A Mid Comet grade ultimate sword technique, it was her signature move and a highly renowned technique within the Sword Pavilion lineage. The moment this Flying Sword was unsheathed, it would flicker like a swallow's tail, taking lives in a flash! Within the art lay dozens of techniques for controlling the sword, culminating in a Sword Soul that maneuvered as gracefully and unpredictably as a flying swallow, capable of making turns, transforming, returning, and creating resonances with ease. With a flicker of the Swallow Tail, it would return stained in blood!

When Yun Xiao was choosing a Flying Sword Technique, his eyes settled on Swallow Tail Flash immediately. Elder Zheng shook her head vehemently, "This is the most complex Flying Sword Technique in the Sword Pavilion. Imagining the Flying Sword as a swallow's tail, split in two at its end, one needs to study the flight of swallows for three years to glean some insight. It is extremely unsuitable for beginners! Moreover, it's a Mid Comet grade sword technique. Not many Sword Cultivators under the age of thirty can master it."

"What if I could learn it in one night?" Yun Xiao asked, an impish grin playing across his face.

"Hahaha..." Elder Zheng's face blossomed into a flower of laughter, skepticism radiating from her. But three hours later, her laughter had turned into tears. "Monster, get out!" she cried, her pride thoroughly trampled upon. Little did she know that Yun Xiao had similarly devastated the other two elders during the day.

Earlier in the morning, Yun Xiao had directly requested to learn the infamous Palm Sword Technique from the Sword Pavilion, Azure Lightning Crane. Rumor had it that, when perfected, it held the destructive power equivalent to a Upper Comet grade sword technique, a technique practiced by the Sword Venerables, individuals of almost legendary prowess.

Despite its elegant name, the Azure Lightning Crane was a ruthless killing technique, each stroke ferocious. The sword moved like lightning, traversing the heavens and the earth, its blade diving down at prey like a flying crane, piercing souls with a single stroke. It portrayed a vivid picture of white robes, a blue sword, and serpents of electricity.

As Yun Xiao practiced, he quickly realized the significant difference between this Immortal sword technique and the mundane ones. The former harnessed the utmost of a cultivator's magic power and the Sword Soul, refining it to its pinnacle.

"So that's why the First Sword Venerable is trying to disband the Sword Pavilion..." Yun Xiao mused. After practicing Swallow Tail Flash and Azure Lightning Crane, he realized why the First Sword Venerable wanted to steal the Sword Pavilion's legacy for the First Sword Peak. The techniques of the Sword Pavilion were indeed powerful, tempting to any observer.

But to be frank, at the moment, the Flying Sword Technique and the Palm Sword Technique seemed more useful. Yet, what Yun Xiao craved most was the Sovereign Sword Technique. Ever since he had learned Sword Soul transformations, he had been incredibly envious of other Sword Cultivators who could soar across the sky, traversing thousands of miles with ease.

Sword riding! This was the first impression the common folk had of a Sword Immortal. It was exceedingly exhilarating. Only when one soared into the sky could they gaze upon the vast expanses, the mountains and rivers, and experience the grandeur of the world!

Though Elder Wang was portly, his Sovereign Sword Technique Leisurely Wander was rather renowned.

"Yun Xiao, do you think that sword riding is merely a means of transportation, or even escape? No, no, no! Don't ever think that. I'll have you know, the Sovereign Sword Technique is the core of the three sword techniques! Its ultimate goal is to unify man and sword, becoming the strongest move of a Sword Cultivator!" Elder Wang declared proudly.

"How can one achieve this unity of man and sword?" Yun Xiao asked.

"Well... I don't quite know yet," Elder Wang admitted sheepishly.

"So it's basically for getting around or making a quick getaway, isn't it?" Yun Xiao chuckled.

"Nonsense, it's also very handy for carrying a cup of tea, no?" Elder Wang coughed defensively. Sure enough, soaring into the sky with the sword, with clothes fluttering in the wind—it was a sight to behold and a skill to aspire for!

Yun Xiao could barely contain his laughter. "A bit dramatic, aren't you?"

Elder Wang shook his head solemnly, dropping the playful tone. "Jokes aside, let me tell you something serious. The pinnacle Sword Cultivators can change their Sword Soul into three different forms more than ten times within a fleeting moment. Riding the Sovereign Sword for a charge, maneuvering with the Flying Sword to pierce through the enemy, and engaging in close combat with the Palm Sword in hand... all of these actions can practically occur simultaneously in a very short span of time. Do you know what the most critical role of the Sovereign Sword in this situation is?" Elder Wang asked.

"Positioning?" Yun Xiao guessed, the hint of a smile still playing on his face.

"...Exactly!" Elder Wang exclaimed. With that revelation, no one could possibly underestimate Sovereign Sword Techniques anymore.

Without further ado, Yun Xiao embarked on learning Leisurely Wander. His verdict on this Sovereign Sword Technique was— "I'm like a fish in water!" he exclaimed. Master control of the Sovereign Sword, and you could even dodge a Flying Sword! For the first time, he transformed the Heaven Burial Sword Soul to stretch over six feet long and a palm wide. He soared through the sky, controlling his sword with an expertise that made him seem one with the winds that swept past him, his white robe billowing like a proud flag. Mountains and rivers passed beneath him like mere footnotes in his grand journey.

At that moment, Yun Xiao's heart surged with exhilaration. "The path of the Immortals...!" This was the Immortal journey he had dreamt of! Brutally unforgiving, yet... "In one's life, if one could soar above the clouds even for a moment, chase the sun and behold the heavens, even death would be a worthy trade," he mused, a poetic fervor igniting his spirit. Yun Xiao was emotionally stirred, a tidal wave of excitement and realization crashing within him. The little black beast barely popped its head out from his chest when the fierce wind almost blew its fur away.

Behind him, Elder Wang was eating his dust, yelling frantically, "You brat! Be careful! My goodness, mind the bends, the bends! Damn it, drifting already on your first sword riding lesson?"

Elder Wang was nearly having a heart attack worrying. It had to be said, the Sovereign Sword drained considerably more magic power compared to the Flying Sword and Palm Sword.

Not long after, Yun Xiao felt a staggering depletion in his energy, slowing down gradually. Suddenly, an elegant courtyard appeared below them. Fish ponds, osmanthus trees... It was the Little Cloud Residence!

Yun Xiao hastily braked his sword, performing a graceful spin in the air, his white robe fluttering magnificently as he landed—a sight to behold.

In the courtyard, a woman in a black gown sat at a stone table, nonchalantly sipping her wine with one leg cocked over the other. The divine nectar trickled down, spilling on her fair skin, glinting with a crystalline shine under the sunlight. Yet, her wild posture, coupled with the stone table...

Yun Xiao's mind suddenly ignited with a feverish heat.

After gulping down the last of her wine, the woman in the black gown sensed his intense gaze.

"WHAT!?" Zhao Xuanran immediately spat out a mouthful of wine in surprise, hastily jumping off the stone table to straighten her disheveled dress. "Scram!" she huffed, shooting Yun Xiao a glare that could have ignited a patch of dry grass.

Yun Xiao couldn't help but grin, his smile as infectious as a melody hummed on a bright morning. "Senior sister, got any more wine there?" he asked, extending a hand in a playful request.

Just then, Elder Wang swooped in like a hawk zeroing in on its prey, landing a hearty slap atop Yun Xiao's head. It was a wallop that echoed with the stern love that only a mentor could muster.

"Thinking of indulging in wine while riding your sword? That's basically drunk driving, lad! Be careful or I might just confiscate your sword!" Elder Wang admonished, a playful grin dancing on his lips, perfectly mingling reprimand with camaraderie.

Yun Xiao could only offer a sheepish silence in return.

Having laid down the law, Elder Wang scratched his head awkwardly before addressing the lady in the black gown, "No harm done, you carry on with your drink. This youngster has a battle to face tomorrow, so I need to continue whipping him into shape!"

Zhao Xuanran pursed her crimson lips, her gaze drifting back to Yun Xiao, as if sizing up a resilient tree that refused to bow to the fiercest wind. "Try not to die tomorrow, alright?" Her voice was soft, yet carried a weight that bore into his soul.

Yun Xiao, with the sparkle of mischief dancing in his eyes, quipped, "If I manage to stay alive, will there be wine to celebrate?"

A pause hung in the air, a suspended moment where dreams and dares mingled, before she nodded solemnly. "Yes." Her affirmation was not just a promise of wine, but a beacon of hope, a flicker of light in the looming darkness.