Chapter 4: Senior Sister, known as the Weed-Cutting Sword Immortal

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It had been about ten days or so.

Over at Kunlun, the matter of Xu Yinglian becoming Daoist companions with me seemed to have been settled.

The junior sister herself didn't express any more opposition, but simply practiced the Kunlun Sword Technique relentlessly at the entrance of her cave dwelling, day and night.

She was bent on defeating her senior brother in swordsmanship!

Of course, being Daoist companions was, after all, just a change in status.

What was truly important was that after becoming Daoist companions, one could rightfully propose dual cultivation...

But let's not talk about that for now, since it involves Xu Yinglian's obsessions and even her Heart Demon. We should wait for the Ziwei Master's subsequent arrangements.

These past few days, Qiu Changtian had been calmly rotating his qi through the Heavenly circuit, enjoying this hard-earned precious time without the disturbance of his junior sister.

Every once in a while, he would use the time-space travel abilities of the Kunlun Mirror to return to Shushan at the last save point in time and continue to patiently lie low as Ling Yunpo, pretending to cultivate.

Regrettably, having not shown off for several days, Qiu Changtian's synchronization value of his invincible character setting began to slowly decline.

That morning, Ling Yunpo finally "struggled" to pass through three trials and reported the good news to Senior Sister An.

"That's great, junior brother!" An Zhisu exclaimed joyfully, "To my knowledge, the fastest record for someone from Shushan to pass the three trials was about seven days."

"If you managed to enter the Qi Refining Rank within ten days, it proves that your talent for cultivation is top-notch. It's a pity that our master isn't out of seclusion, otherwise he definitely should know this delightful news..."

"Senior sister," Ling Yunpo quickly changed the subject upon seeing her about to shed melancholy tears, and curiously asked, "Someone in Shushan managed to open their Qi Sea in just seven days, better than me? Who is it?"

"It was me," An Zhisu said, somewhat embarrassed, "But in actuality, whether it's three days faster or slower doesn't really matter. Our Shushan Sword Immortals don't particularly value the speed of Qi refinement; what's most critical is the mastery of our foundational Shushan Swordsmanship."

"I see," Ling Yunpo pretended to feel discontented, "So my ten days to break through three trials doesn't indicate any remarkable talent then..."

"No, that's not right!" An Zhisu quickly corrected herself upon seeing her junior brother looking disappointed, "The time it takes to break through three trials is indeed an indication of one's talent!"

"It's just that the difference between seven and ten days isn't that significant..."

She spoke haltingly, then suddenly changed the subject, saying:

"Oh right! Since you've grasped Sword Control Technique, let me take you to the Sword Pool to choose a sword!"

With that, An Zhisu cheerfully summoned her Flying Sword, carrying Ling Yunpo as they ascended and took flight.

"Senior sister, your Flying Sword is..." Ling Yunpo pretended as if he had never seen a Flying Sword before, and asked curiously.

"This is my life-bound sword artifact, a Tenth Rank Water System, named 'Frostfall'," An Zhisu explained.

Ling Yunpo grunted in acknowledgment and then asked:

"What is Tenth Rank? What is Water System?"

"I was just about to explain to my junior brother," An Zhisu replied with a bright smile.

"Flying Swords, depending on the materials used, the environment, the timing and the differences in the refiner and the sealed Daoist magic, can be classified into the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth."

"Likewise, depending on the materials used for refinement and the cultivator's cultivation strength, the Heavenly Stem Sword Casting Method categorizes the grades from low to high as Gui, Ren, Xin, Geng, Ji, Wu, Ding, Bing, Yi, and Jia. However, we typically denote them with numeric rankings, from one to ten."

"Ranks one to nine correspond to the nine realms within Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul. If a sword's rank is higher than that of the Sword Immortal, it can be utilized by breaking seals. If the sword's rank is lower, it's like a warrior with a weapon that doesn't fit well, limiting the Sword Immortal's full potential."

"And the pinnacle Tenth Rank Flying Sword is 'a sword that even immortals can unleash potent power with,' and thus also goes by the elegant name of 'Immortal Sword.'

"I see," Ling Yunpo said with a laugh, pretending to be unaware, "I wonder if I could be so lucky as to obtain an Immortal Sword for my use?"

"The Flying Swords in the Sword Pool, especially the Tenth Rank Immortal Swords, are extremely rare," An Zhisu hesitated for a moment, then comforted him, "But junior brother, you needn't worry too much."

"Our Shushan Sword Control Heart Method's most exquisite aspect lies in 'nurturing the sword with one's body.'

"As long as the innate rank of the Flying Sword isn't too low, after you refine it into your life-bound sword artifact, it will be purified along with your increasing cultivation level, and there's even a certain chance it could ascend in rank."

Ling Yunpo nodded, but thought to himself:

Instead of taking a Ninth Rank sword and then nurturing it to Tenth Rank with my body, why not just take a Tenth Rank sword directly?

What if it could be nurtured into Eleventh Rank?

Of course, judging from the implicit meaning in his senior sister's words, it seems you can't just pick any sword you want from the Sword Pool.

Perhaps you need to pass some sort of test first.

An Zhisu, controlling her Flying Sword, carried Ling Yunpo and arrived above Sword Peak.

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The Sword Pool is a pool of clear green water.

It is said that every drop of water in the pool is actually transformed from a Flying Sword.

The Shushan Sword Immortals are known for their valor and ferocity, cherishing swords as their lives, and this is even more so in the outside world.

Every time they duel with other cultivators and win, they often snatch the defeated's Flying Sword and toss it into the pool upon returning.

Over time, this Sword Pool was thus created.

Countless Flying Swords grind against and battle each other within it, making the pool ripple like spring water, creating waves without wind—an absolutely stunning scene.

For any Shushan disciples lacking a sword, they simply need to stand near the Sword Pool, circulate the Shushan Sword Control Heart Method, and they can summon a willing Flying Sword to answer the call.

As for whether the Flying Sword is good or bad, that cannot be forced.

With Ling Yunpo's sword light touching down, and stepping onto the ground, An Zhisu began to explain the history to her junior brother, recounting the origins of the Sword Pool.

Ling Yunpo listened with fascination and clapped in admiration.

As the two started walking forward, a Shushan disciple guarding the Sword Pool came over to verify their identities:

"Hold on, you are..."

As soon as the female disciple recognized An Zhisu's face, she blurted out in shock:

"You are! The Weed-Cutting Sword Immortal..."

Before she could finish speaking, the male disciple beside her dragged her back, and gave her a stern look to silence her, then turned back with a strained expression and said:

"Senior Sister An, are you here to retrieve a sword?"

"Coming to the Sword Pool, if not to take a sword, what else would I do?" An Zhisu softly chuckled, "Surely not to duel with you, right?"

The male disciple immediately felt a surge of fear and hurriedly said:

"I made a mistake during sword practice the day before yesterday and injured my tendons. I'm unable to duel! Senior Sister An, please don't look for me. That title was not created by my peak, it was passed on by other peaks! The debtor has a face and the debt has an owner, Senior Sister An must absolutely not recognize the wrong person!"

"Look at how this junior brother speaks." An Zhisu laughed, bemused, "You are a disciple of the Marrow Cleansing Rank, and I am of the Refining Mansion Rank, with a cultivation a whole realm higher than yours. How can I duel with you? Wouldn't that be bullying the weak and breaking the rules of our sect?"

"Yes, yes, yes, Senior Sister An, are you going to take a sword? Please come this way, this way." The male disciple, as if pardoned, hurriedly bowed and let them pass.

An Zhisu walked forward composedly, with Ling Yunpo following behind her, only to see the male disciple wiping sweat and the female disciple hiding behind him, both looking startled and fearful.

After leaving those two behind, Ling Yunpo stepped forward a few paces and said with a smile:

"I've now seen for myself the reputation of Senior Sister."

"What reputation?" An Zhisu gave him a look and said helplessly, "It was just that when Master hastily entered seclusion, the Various Peaks of Shushan targeted my Qingluo Peak. They sent disciples to provoke and request duels every now and then."

"After so many duels, everyone became familiar with each other, hardly counting as any kind of reputation."

"So that's how it is, it's the so-called 'no fight, no familiarity.'" Ling Yunpo nodded, "But just now, that older sister mentioned 'The Weed-Cutting Sword Immortal', I wonder who she was referring to?"

An Zhisu felt extremely embarrassed upon hearing this and after a long while, she muttered:

"Who came up with such an awful nickname?"

"After Master entered seclusion, there were too many who approached seeking swordsmanship guidance, which was bothersome. I had to act tough, so I had to harden my heart and went a bit too far with my counterattacks... How did it turn into 'weed-cutting'?"

Ling Yunpo pretended to suddenly realize and then sneered:

"I understand now. It must be the defeated duellers, unable to accept their loss, who slandered Senior Sister."

"Just on hearing 'The Weed-Cutting Sword Immortal' title, I thought Senior Sister had a history of mass killing. Such rumor-mongers tarnishing Senior Sister's reputation are indeed detestable!"

"When have I ever killed wantonly?" An Zhisu bit her silver teeth and said with irritated embarrassment, "I've never indiscriminately taken lives."

"If those who come for a duel are polite, I also stop at the necessary limits."

"If they are boastful or show malicious intent, I usually just sever their Life-bound Sword Artifact, making them damage their cultivation levels as a lesson."

"Occasionally I can't hold back, and they end up with holes through their chests and ruptured bellies... but afterward, I always try my best to save them!"

"Senior Sister has acted appropriately," Ling Yunpo nodded and said, "Those who come with evil intent deserve it if they die! Hmm... So, how many have died?"

"Probably... in twenty cases, maybe an accident happens once or twice," An Zhisu said, growing sheepish.

Ling Yunpo: ?