Chapter 57 Part 1

Besides Tushan Yi… no, and the Ruler, who would actually enjoy this strange-looking, rather stimulating beverage? Tushan Lian swept her sleeve discreetly, using the Sleeve Cosmos technique to put away the Happy Water and replaced it with a tea tray and set that matched the table’s aesthetic. She didn’t answer the solemn-faced Jiang Yiguang. Instead, she casually tossed a bamboo sword at her. It whistled through the air, a green light flowing along the bamboo blade, radiating the distinctive sharpness and cold gleam of a true swordsman’s weapon. It didn’t even need Tushan Lian to hold it personally—it shot towards Jiang Yiguang’s heart like a streak of light.

Jiang Yiguang’s pupils constricted sharply. She reached out, and the Dao Solitude Sword was already in her grasp. Parry, thrust, slash… she reacted instantly to the bamboo sword’s assault. Treading the Dipper Steps, her sword shimmering with flowing light, her sword Qi surged fiercely. The Wind Formula could make the winds of heaven and earth her sword’s momentum. But what if one day, in a place where all things were still, even the wind ceased to flow? But if she took “herself” as heaven and earth, the wind’s movement born from her very breath… Jiang Yiguang had not yet comprehended the profound state of “merging all things of heaven and earth with my body, the mutual support of Kan and Li forming my Golden Core Dharma Body.” But she had already begun to grasp the sword intent of “Wind,” attempting to abandon “Borrow Wind” and instead “become the wind” herself.

However, cultivation is always a gradual, step-by-step process. After choosing this new path, her swordsmanship’s offensive power was actually weaker than before. Jiang Yiguang felt a flicker of doubt, but when she caught the hint of approval in Tushan Lian’s eyes, she continued doggedly down this new road. Tushan Lian rested her chin on her hand, not even blinking as she controlled the bamboo sword with her mind, her thoughts drifting back to the previous night.

Tushan Yi, who had been avoiding her ever since returning to Azure Hill, had come to her again, carrying the sole fruit of her thousand-year mortal sojourn. She had spoken of “honored guests” from the mortal world, and had the audacity to say, “Aren’t you bored staying in Azure Hill? But with the Mountains and Seas in troubled times, it’s inconvenient to travel. So I’ve brought you a disciple to play with.” Tushan Lian’s reply had been equally calm: “They are human.” She had indeed wanted a disciple, but one sought within Azure Hill, not a fleeting “passerby” from the human world. Tushan Yi had then laughed and cheerfully said, “Ah, in all this time, how did you develop such strong animosity towards the human world?”

Upon hearing this, Tushan Lian had sneered repeatedly, using immense effort to control her roiling emotions and not grit out the word “scram” at Tushan Yi. But the ever-smiling Tushan Yi, catching the subtle shift in Tushan Lian’s expression, had guessed her thoughts. Letting out a soft sigh, she had said very quietly, “But I am the Divine Maiden of Azure Hill. I left Azure Hill specifically to find allies. Individual hatred cannot be extended to an entire people… They are very weak, far weaker than the human heroes in historical records. Can we truly place our hopes in them?” Tushan Lian’s eyes had been sharp. “If I recall, those who harmed you were part of their upper echelon. If the top is like that… can the bottom really be relied upon?”

Tushan Yi had been at a loss for words for a long moment before replying, “They have formed a new organization. It seems… they might be worth trusting a little? Besides, if the Mountains and Seas emerge and the Corpse of Chiyou stirs, the humans will suffer the most. They won’t be idle. Back then, there were so many human heroes. In a new chaotic age, some will surely step forward.”

Tushan Lian had countered, “So the two you brought back are connected to the human Dao Court?”

Refuted again and again, Tushan Yi had grown somewhat agitated. She had pulled out a bottle of Happy Water and taken a furious gulp to steady her nerves. “Innate Dao Bone,” she had ground out, “infinite possibilities.” Tushan Lian had replied coldly, “I know. That one is in the Medicine Pool.” Then she asked, “What about the other one?”

Tushan Yi had answered, “Intuition.” Then, after a pause, she had added, “There’s a strange aura about her, but I can’t see through it no matter what.” Tushan Lian’s expression remained cold. Realizing words were useless, Tushan Yi had narrowed her eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them, her nine tails suddenly flaring and swelling behind her. Raising her voice, she had demanded, “Tushan Lian, just tell me straight: will you help or not?”

Tushan Lian had smiled, thoroughly demonstrating her abundant “martial virtue.” A thousand years ago, they were evenly matched. But now, after suffering such grievous injuries, how could Tushan Yi possibly be her opponent? She didn’t want to go against her will… but the Divine Maiden’s request—how could she refuse?

The “crack” of breaking bamboo jolted Tushan Lian from her reverie. She immediately saw a thin, long white scratch on the bamboo sword. She stood up and recalled the sword. Looking at the sweat-drenched Jiang Yiguang, she said slowly, “I will not accept you as a disciple. But for Tushan Yi’s sake, you may come here for one hour each day.”

Jiang Yiguang, who had thought she’d have no chance of entering Tushan Lian’s tutelage without defeating that bamboo sword, was both surprised and overjoyed. She raised her head and answered loudly, “Yes!”

While Jiang Yiguang trained with Tushan Lian, Fu Juan, immersed in the Medicine Pool, used that very agony to temper her own body. As the days of soaking increased, she could feel that the Yin miasma, the bone-chilling cold Qi in her legs, was gradually dissipating. Yet, just as Tushan Yi had said, the medicinal bath only alleviated, not completely cured, her affliction. Before that wisp of Nü Ba’s Breath was expelled, she would still endure torment. The ghostly Yin-cold within the ghost-fire baleful Qi had been completely neutralized by the medicinal power. But Nü Ba’s fire baleful energy, with the “balance” broken, surged upwards. Fu Juan felt as if her entire body were plunged into flames. Sweat streamed down in huge drops, splashing into the pool and spreading ripples. A fiery red haze seemed to fill her eyes, as if a red figure strode out. In an instant, it was the violent, tragic image of Scorched Earth for a Thousand Miles. Moments later, Fu Juan gritted her teeth and let out a breath of turbid air, attempting to seize control of this shred of “fire baleful energy” lingering in her body.

Fire talismans couldn’t draw it out. Perhaps it could be unleashed through divine powers—like how thunder talismans were generated from the Five Energies. But how to unleash this “fire baleful energy”? Fu Juan pondered briefly, a plan forming in her mind. A faint, golden divine light flashed in her eyes. Behind her, Yin-Yang energies swirled; it was the Taiji Eight Trigrams Method. The six lines stirred, deducing the sixty-four hexagrams. Thunder-Fire Abundance! Fire-Thunder Biting Through! Blue-purple thunder light abruptly gathered above the hut. Amidst the countless lightning flashes, crimson fire clouds, unwilling to be outshone, radiated a majestic, awe-inspiring power. But it was merely a “phenomenon.” Before the thunder and fire could crash down, they dispersed on their own, and the sky above the hut returned to clarity. Fu Juan coughed violently inside the Medicine Pool, blood seeping at the corners of her lips. Yet her expression showed no trace of agony, only a profound, heartfelt delight. This method works! Though the fire baleful energy tormented her, it was ultimately a legacy of the ancient Kunlun Heavenly Maiden Ba; it still contained a sliver of spirituality!

All around returned to peace. Not far away, Nü Jiao, the Ruler of Azure Hill, was cuddling a desperately struggling little fox, stroking its fur while gazing towards the wooden hut. “Using hexagram combinations as divine abilities and spells—could this be Fuxi’s legacy? No, Fuxi was the ancestor of the Primordial Eight Trigrams. Anyone who cultivates the Eight Trigrams can be considered his disciple. It’s just unknown who can truly master them, who can possess that Authority of Inverting Yin and Yang.” She shook her head, lamenting a while, then lost interest and turned away.

Down on the street, Jiang Yiguang was rushing towards where the thunder light and fire clouds had gathered. During her daily one-hour training, Tushan Lian was even more brutal and demanding than when she’d “taken three moves for the medicine.” Every day, she returned utterly exhausted and covered in injuries. Today was no exception. But when the session ended, she didn’t go back to rest as usual. Instead, she headed straight for Fu Juan’s location.

“Don’t worry. Nothing’s wrong with the Medicine Pool. She’s probably using the medicine’s properties to cultivate some divine ability or other,” Tushan Yi said, wandering over casually. She crossed her arms, watching the battered Jiang Yiguang and laughing heartily. Back at the Jiang household, she had trained Jiang Yiguang for a while too, but apparently, her hand hadn’t been ruthless enough. She hadn’t pushed Jiang Yiguang to her limit back then. “Calculating the time, forty-nine days. She should be able to come out soon,” Tushan Yi added.

Jiang Yiguang answered with a “Mm,” much more subdued than before. She stood at the doorstep, watching for a while. Just as she was about to leave, she heard the creak of the door opening. Her mind hadn’t even processed it, but her body reacted first, rushing towards the source of the sound with quick steps.

Fu Juan walked out. She was wearing a white, collarless, button-up shirt, her shoulder-length black hair damp with moisture. It had been so many years since Fu Juan had experienced the feeling of “feet on the ground.” Her gait was extremely unsteady. She steadied her mind, focusing on the still-burning torment in her legs, struggling to control her balance. But upon noticing a shadow fall upon her, she looked up. Her eyes met Jiang Yiguang’s star-bright gaze. For an instant, she was lost, causing her raised foot to catch the threshold. Her already hard-to-control body immediately tipped forward in a fall.

Jiang Yiguang was quick-eyed and swift-handed. She grabbed Fu Juan’s wrist and pulled her into her arms. With one hand supporting Fu Juan’s waist, she waited until Fu Juan steadied herself before abruptly withdrawing her hands. She looked at Fu Juan and said, with sincerity and gravity, “Congratulations.” The woman before her had a deathly pale face, her eyes dark and fathomless. Even though she could stand again, she could no longer be superimposed on the image of the aloof young girl in her memories. A wave of complex melancholy washed over Jiang Yiguang. The hand that had just supported Fu Juan retreated behind her back, fingertips unconsciously curling together, rubbing against each other.

Fu Juan said quietly, “Thank you.” She lowered her eyes, withdrawing her lingering gaze from Jiang Yiguang and concealing the emotions within her heart. It was like a deep, still pool of inky water, heavily shaded by dense, dark woods.

Tushan Yi hid a light cough behind her hand. Smiling, she looked at Fu Juan and also offered a “Congratulations.” Lowering her head to glance at the two intersecting shadows cast by the setting sun, she added, “Although you can stand now, it’s not a complete cure after all. In all your actions from now on, you should still be mindful of your limits.”