Volume One, Chapter Ten: Call Me Brother Xi, Not Senior—I’ll Get Upset
Page (1/3)
Just as Jian Qingyu was about to leave, she sensed something. A golden vortex appeared overhead.
Joy brightened Jian Qingyu’s face. “Senior~”
“Jian Qingyu, do you resent me for refusing to save the villagers of Great River Village?”
“Senior, I did resent you at first, but I have come to understand. I do not blame you.”
“Haha~ You are an honest one. Everything in the world is governed by cause and effect and the decrees of fate. If I acted recklessly, I would alter the river of destiny, disturbing far too many karmic ties. Once your cultivation reaches a certain realm, you will understand.”
“We are all bound by fate, and it is difficult to break free. Only through ceaseless cultivation can we grasp even the slimmest chance in the future.”
These words were all improvised by Tang Xi. It was not that he did not want to save them—he simply could not. He could not allow Jian Qingyu to develop any resentment toward him.
A storm had already risen in Jian Qingyu’s heart. From Senior’s words, it seemed that a great calamity awaited the future, one from which even an existence like Senior could not remain aloof.
She did not want to be a chess piece. She wanted to become the player moving the pieces.
“Jian Qingyu, the Blade Emperor Hall ten thousand miles away is indeed the best choice available to you at present. This Ten-Thousand-Mile Teleportation Talisman will lend you a hand.”
A golden sword talisman drifted into Jian Qingyu’s hand. She naturally knew of Ten-Thousand-Mile Teleportation Talismans. Even within the Eternal Sword Palace, they were considered precious treasures.
“Thank you, Senior. Senior, when will I be able to pass your trial and become your disciple?”
“Haha~ Everything depends on fate. Also, the Tribulation-Transcendence Art you possess is precious, but it is not suited to you. Today, I shall impart an Immortal Art to you, the name of which is the Sword Canon of Shackles.”
As his words fell, golden light radiated from Jian Qingyu’s entire body. Ancient golden characters flowed across her skin, creating a wondrous sight.
Not long afterward, she opened her eyes, filled with astonishment.
An Immortal Art? It was actually an Immortal Art—and he had given it to her.
Within the Eternal Sword Palace, Immortal Arts were secret teachings never passed down freely. Only the future Palace Master had any chance of cultivating one.
Yet Senior had simply given it to her. What astonishing generosity! She was overwhelmed by this tremendous surprise.
“Senior, this is far too precious.”
“How is it precious? Remember, this is merely an Immortal Art that can barely carry one beyond the threshold of immortality. Immortality is only the beginning of the path. If you wish to become my disciple, you must broaden your horizons. Forget Immortal Arts—even making immortals your servants is not impossible.”
Tang Xi delivered these shameless words without the slightest embarrassment. He could barely stand listening to himself. He was being utterly shameless.
Still, it felt wonderful. Who could understand the pleasure of showing off?
“Senior, Qingyu will never betray your trust. May I boldly ask how I should address you?”
“I have a mortal name. It is—Tang Xi. Besides, I have a youthful state of mind and am still very young. Calling me ‘Senior’ makes me sound old. From now on, you must change the way you address me when we speak.”
“Senior, then how should I address you?”
“Just call me Brother Xi! And remember, do not call me ‘Senior.’ I will be angry if you get it wrong.”
Jian Qingyu: “…”
She did not argue, merely assuming that Senior had some strange preference.
“B-Brother Xi~”
“Haha~ That’s more like it.”
Tang Xi was thoroughly delighted. Being called “Brother” by such a stunning beauty was an absolute pleasure.
“Ding. The three-minute duration has ended.”
Page (1/3)
Page (2/3)
Tang Xi came back to his senses and decided that he should restrain himself. He could not rush into becoming close with Jian Qingyu, lest he accidentally produce the opposite effect.
When the voice of Senior—Brother Xi—faded away, Jian Qingyu felt somewhat disappointed.
She then looked at the Ten-Thousand-Mile Teleportation Talisman in her hand and infused it with spiritual power.
In an instant, she traveled ten thousand miles…
………………
Tang Xi did not return to the Reception Space. He had only two days before he had to leave the Bronze Gate, and the next time he could enter would be a month later. Every moment was precious.
The two days passed quickly. Tang Xi returned to the Reception Space and entered the Pillar Space.
After two days of slaughter, his Immortal Path Points had soared past two thousand.
His score had reached 675, the result of his achievements over eight days.
A first-grade Qi Refinement Pill cost ten points, a second-grade Qi Refinement Pill cost fifty, and a third-grade Qi Refinement Pill cost one hundred.
There were no fourth-grade Qi Refinement Pills. For every grade of pill, third grade was the limit.
First-grade Foundation Establishment Pills, second-grade Foundation Establishment Pills, third-grade Foundation Establishment Pills…
In the end, Tang Xi purchased six third-grade Qi Refinement Pills, spending six hundred points. With the remaining 175 points, he bought a jumble of miscellaneous items, exhausting his score completely.
Only one final hour remained before he had to leave the Bronze Gate.
Tang Xi swallowed a third-grade Qi Refinement Pill. Its energy was on an entirely different level from that of a second-grade pill.
The formidable Desolate Thunder Scripture and his abnormal Chaos Sword Body ensured that not even a trace of energy was wasted.
His aura grew increasingly powerful…
Half an hour later, Tang Xi finished cultivating and exhaled a breath sharp as a sword.
“I thought I could reach the ninth level of Qi Refinement. Who would have imagined it would be this outrageous?”
He had already reached the fifth level of Qi Refinement. Two third-grade Qi Refinement Pills had brought him to the sixth level, while the remaining four had only been enough to raise him to the seventh.
After reaching the later stages of Qi Refinement, Tang Xi discovered something terrifying: the energy required for each breakthrough was becoming more and more immense.
As his realm rose, the energy he needed would become even more frightening.
[System: Immortal Sword Maiden Girlfriend System]
[Host: Tang Xi]
[Realm: Seventh Level of Qi Refinement (39%)]
[Immortal Art: Desolate Thunder Scripture—Qi Refinement Chapter]
[Physique: Chaos Sword Body]
[Immortal Path Points: 2,450]
[Immortal Technique: One Sword Sweeps the World (Spirit Grade)]
[Immortal Weapon: Dragon Embryo Sword (B Grade)]
[Immortal Mount: None]
[Items: Pig Whip, Tiger Whip, Wolf Whip…]
Page (2/3)
Page (3/3)
[Bound Girlfriend: Jian Qingyu; Immortal Art—Sword Canon of Shackles; Realm—Seventh Level of Qi Refinement; Physique—Innate Sword Embryo; currently within the territory of the Blade Emperor Hall…]
“Forget it. I’ll let nature take its course. Reaching the seventh level of Qi Refinement in ten days is already a genius-level cultivation speed. I wonder how powerful I will become by the time of the three-month Immortal Path College Entrance Examination.”
At that moment, Tang Xi felt a force of repulsion. He stepped out of the Pillar Space, and his figure vanished from the Reception Space.
When he appeared again, he was at the school’s teleportation point. Many students were gathered there. Some looked miserable, while most appeared battered and bedraggled. Clearly, it had not been a particularly pleasant journey.
“Where’s Mu Fan? Has he come out, or not?”
“Beep~”
“Beep~”
His communicator rang. It was Mu Fan calling.
“Brother Xi, where are you? I can see you! Brother Xi, I’m coming over.”
“Smack~”
Mu Fan slapped Tang Xi on the shoulder.
“Haha~ Brother Xi, you’ve gotten sturdier! Looks like you gained quite a lot!”
Tang Xi smiled at Mu Fan, but then took a closer look and was startled.
Mu Fan was more than twice as broad as when he had entered. His entire body had expanded by a considerable margin.
“Damn, did you take some kind of enhancement drug?”
“No, wait. There’s no immortal power within you. You didn’t take the Immortal Path. Could it be…?”
“Haha~ Brother Xi, you’re right. I originally planned to take the Immortal Path as well, but I suddenly discovered that martial cultivation seems more suitable for me. Look at me now—I’ve already reached the late stage of a First-Order Martial Artist. In other words, I’m equivalent to a seventh-level Qi Refinement cultivator!”
Tang Xi was somewhat surprised, but he did not say anything more. Since Mu Fan had made his decision, Tang Xi respected his choice.
Martial cultivation also had its own hierarchy. It began at the first order and went all the way to the ninth, corresponding respectively to the Immortal Path realms from Qi Refinement to Tribulation Transcendence.
Mu Fan leaned close to Tang Xi and lowered his voice.
“Brother Xi, I have a feeling that my martial path is different from that of ordinary people. Based on what I know, a martial artist in the late stage of the first order should not be able to defeat a third-level Qi Refinement cultivator. But I am absolutely confident that I can fight cultivators of the same level without being at a disadvantage.”
“Tang Xi, you’re back.”
Qing Hua approached with a smile as radiant as flowers, stirring a delicate maidenly fragrance that was exceptionally pleasant.
She was somewhat surprised inwardly. Tang Xi seemed to have changed. He was different from the Tang Xi of her previous life.
She knew Mu Fan. He was a rare martial arts prodigy on Blue Star, someone who had nearly broken through the Immortal Path using martial cultivation alone. Unfortunately, fate had been unkind to him, and he had died during a beast tide.
Tang Xi nodded at Qing Hua. “I’m back.”
While the two of them were chatting, Xu Wuhen approached Tang Xi in a fury.
His eyes blazed with rage.
“Tang Xi, you have already walked the path to your own death.”
………………
Page (3/3)