Chapter Seventeen: Instruction

The handsome young man Fang Zhenghua sat amidst the crowd, standing out conspicuously. When his eyes met Lin Fei’s, his expression instantly darkened, as if a fire of anger blazed within him. He clenched his teeth tightly and rose to his feet, seemingly ready at any moment to reclaim the humiliation of last year’s brick strike from Lin Fei.

Lin Fei merely glanced at him coldly, as if searching through a memory for a moment, then deliberately and slowly spoke: “Are you here looking for another hit?”

The moment these words left his mouth, the atmosphere in the Sword Council Hall instantly froze; everyone instinctively shrank back. Many present had witnessed or experienced firsthand Lin Fei’s terrifying brick-wielding method. Fang Zhenghua’s face stiffened, evidently harboring some fear inside, but his pride would not allow him to back down before the crowd.

Just as he was about to retort harshly, a gaunt old man in coarse linen robes entered the hall, stooped and moving slowly. The old man calmly passed through the crowd, and his arrival caused the disciples present to exchange puzzled glances, their hearts filled with uncertainty.

Lin Fei’s heart stirred slightly upon seeing this. He thought to himself that the Sword Sect must place great emphasis on its disciples’ cultivation if such a grand figure personally appeared.

“Today, I will teach you some foundational knowledge of the sword path,” the old man said, standing at the head of the council hall. His gaze swept over everyone present, his voice hoarse but smiling warmly. “And by the way, allow me to introduce myself. I am Xiao You.”

At these words, the disciples exchanged surprised looks. They had certainly heard the name—one that resonated like thunder. Xiao You, the Peak Lord of Northern You Mountain, was one of the four most revered figures in the Sword Sect. In his youth, his swordsmanship was renowned across the world, with rumors even claiming he was once the senior brother of the sect leader.

Having such a legendary figure personally instruct them stirred waves of excitement among many disciples. They realized the Sword Sect’s cultivation and regard for them far exceeded their expectations.

“The Sword Sect’s legacy spans three thousand years, hailed as one of the Seven Sacred Grounds of the Heavenly Extreme Continent, and all of this is founded upon a single word: ‘Sword.’”

“I know what’s on your minds—you all yearn for the ancient swords slumbering in the Sword Tomb,” the old man’s voice echoed peacefully yet authoritatively through the hall.

“But you must understand, reaching the Mortal Realm is merely the first step on the cultivation path,” he continued with a tone of admonition. “Even if you are fortunate enough to be recognized by an ancient sword, it only proves that you have a glimmer of hope along the sword path.”

The old man settled into the large chair at the center of the hall, his demeanor calm as if recounting an ordinary tale.

None of the disciples dared to relax for a moment; they listened intently, afraid to miss a single word. After all, this venerable elder might become their revered teacher in sword cultivation.

Even the usually proud Fang Zhenghua and the lively Xia Yi showed unprecedented focus and seriousness. Only Lin Fei’s gaze seemed to pierce through the window, drifting far away, lost in distant thoughts.

“In the ancient times, those supreme predecessors of sword cultivation battled savage demons and malevolent spirits, ultimately proving the Dao with their swords and forging immortal legends.”

“Today, the Sword Sect’s path stands as the foremost great path on the Heavenly Extreme Continent, rivaling the Seven Sacred Grounds,” his voice brimmed with pride.

“The sword cultivation journey begins at the Qi Refinement Realm, advancing through the Mortal Realm, Mud Pellet Realm, Transcendent Realm, Distanceless Realm, Skybreaking Realm, and finally the Sacred Realm.”

“The Mud Pellet Realm signifies condensing spiritual power into a pellet within the dantian, giving rise to an endlessly regenerating spiritual embryo.”

“The Transcendent Realm involves reconstructing the body, discarding the mundane. Practitioners at this stage gain a modest increase in lifespan.”

“As for the Distanceless Realm, it can be summed up in eight characters: ‘Command swords across a thousand miles, kill in the blink of an eye.’”

“Of course, there are supreme realms that exist only in legend, still too distant for you—so I shall not elaborate today.”

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” the old man’s voice resonated through the hall, calm yet powerful. “Obtaining a sword is just the beginning of cultivation. Remember: do not aim too high too soon, nor become complacent and halt your progress. If you encounter failure, do not despair. The path of cultivation is long and arduous, like a boundless sea of suffering, but persistence will ultimately bring you to the other shore.”

The disciples responded solemnly in unison, “Etched in our hearts!”

Xia Yi gently tugged Lin Fei’s sleeve and whispered, “What were the last two realms again?”

Without hesitation, Lin Fei answered, “Sword Immortal, Emperor Realm.”

The young girl furrowed her brows in thought and asked, “Then what realm has Old Uncle Xiao You reached?”

Lin Fei’s gaze swept over the composed elder on stage and slowly replied, “Probably... the Sacred Realm.”

“He’s truly remarkable,” Xia Yi softly admired, turning to Lin Fei with eyes that betrayed no surprise that he knew such profound matters. In her heart, it was only natural that Lin Fei was aware of these advanced realms.

The old man cast his gaze around once more and suddenly smiled. “Of course, the matter of obtaining a sword is equally important—after all, every beginning is difficult. Therefore, one month from now, you must give your all during the journey to the Sword Tomb.”

This announcement stirred a long-anticipated excitement among the disciples, and the hall erupted with lively chatter. For the young disciples present, the chance to acquire a sentient ancient sword was irresistibly appealing.

Perhaps due to Xiao You’s approachable demeanor, the disciples gradually set aside their concerns and began asking questions about cultivation. The elder answered each patiently, showing no sign of impatience.

As time passed, the disciples’ gazes grew full of reverence, nearly reaching the point where none would consider training anywhere but Northern You Mountain.

After several hours, this profoundly meaningful instruction finally drew to a close.

The old man slowly rose from the crowd and walked in a certain direction, drawing the astonished gazes of all present.

Xiao You came directly before Lin Fei and said, “Actually, my main purpose in coming here was for you.”

He continued, “What I told you before still stands. After the Sword Tomb journey, if you’re willing, you may come train at Northern You Mountain.”

Lin Fei nodded slightly in response, “I will seriously consider it.”

“Very well. I also look forward to seeing what kind of ancient sword you obtain in the Sword Tomb,” the elder smiled and patted Lin Fei’s shoulder before stepping out through the doors of the Sword Council Hall.

Lin Fei yawned softly, stood up, and wore an expression of “finally it’s over.” He walked out of the room with Xia Yi, leaving behind a hall full of stunned newly inducted disciples.