Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Breakthrough
Where the White Water Flying Sword passed, there was a faint blue ripple gently undulating.
Ji Yuan once again urged the Flying Sword to change direction, letting this "Entangling Wave" effect take hold on himself. In just that instant, he felt as if he was bogged down in a quagmire.
Even lifting his leg became extremely difficult.
But this sticky effect lasted only for the time it takes for one breath. After that breath, Ji Yuan felt he had returned to normal.
On second thought, this was already quite good.
Truly, in a moment of life and death, even one breath’s time could turn the tide of battle.
Even if it was to escape, giving Ji Yuan the time of a single breath, he could propel the Black Wind Boat a great distance away.
In a confrontation, should the opponent fall into "Entangling Wave", it would then become extremely easy to execute a fatal blow with a killing needle, or to use the second layer of Water Drop Finger, "Piercing Stone", to break armor.
"Hoo—"
Entering the basics of the Sword Technique brought Ji Yuan a long-awaited relief, even making the fireworks blooming above his head appear much more beautiful.
Afterward, he didn’t continue cultivating but rather used the Spirit Dolphin he hunted a few days ago to stew a hind leg, added a few fried Spirit Eggs, and after some thought, he fetched a semi-Spirit Fish from the to steam.
He considered killing a green-yellow chicken to celebrate, but eventually gave up the idea of killing the chicken to get the egg.
With all this, there was more than enough to eat.
One person marking the New Year.
After eating and drinking his fill, Ji Yuan drew a Middle Grade Talisman, replenishing the loss from just killing the half-Spirit Fish... one half-Spirit Fish equals 1 Spirit Stone.
A Middle Grade Talisman is worth 10 Spirit Stones.
A small profit of 9, perfect.
The next morning, effectively the first day of the new lunar year, Ji Yuan was awakened by the sound of Lin Hu visiting to pay New Year’s respects, and subsequently hosted Wen Lin’s family of three.
After exchanging New Year’s greetings, Ji Yuan pondered and decided he should also go pay respects to others for the New Year.
He didn’t have many chosen recipients for his New Year visits: Luo Tong the butcher of Zengtou City, Elder Xu of Hundred Treasures Tower, and after some thought, he decided to include the Lu Wan family as well.
Firstly, their relationship had been quite good in the past, and secondly, when Ji Yuan was learning Talisman Painting, Lu Wan indeed helped him out.
For the New Year’s gifts, he chose the Spirit Eggs he grew tired of, a few pounds of Spirit Dolphin meat, and a small piece of Blood Essence. Not extravagant, but not shabby either.
He went to the Luo Family first, and Luo Tong was naturally very pleased by his arrival, insisting on having him stay for a meal.
After politely declining, Ji Yuan headed to Hundred Treasures Tower.
As soon as he reached the entrance, he saw Elder Xu coming out from the Hundred Treasures Tower.
"What brings you here?! Can’t figure out the Sword Technique?"
Xu Fugui looked at Ji Yuan with interest. He had initially thought the kid would come over to ask for guidance just a few days after going back, but unexpectedly he held back until now.
It seems indeed that the young are too confident in themselves.
Ji Yuan took out his New Year’s gift from his Storage Bag, smiling, "It’s New Year’s Day today. I’ve come specifically to pay my respects to Grandmaster Xu."
"New Year’s greetings?"
Xu Fugui was momentarily lost in thought upon hearing this long-absent phrase.
He couldn’t remember how many years it had been since someone paid him New Year’s respects. "Alright then, it’s thoughtful of you."
He took Ji Yuan’s gift casually, without looking at it. "There’s a sect order, I have urgent matters and must return to the Water Dragon Sect. I’ll bring you back something nice next time I come."
Ji Yuan didn’t expect a return gift, he was thinking of exchanging pleasantries, but Xu Fugui didn’t give him the chance.
"I am in a hurry to return to the Water Dragon Sect. If you have questions, ask quickly, I don’t have time for idle chatter with you."
"Teachings?"
Ji Yuan repeated instinctively, not quite understanding how paying a visit during the New Year turned into asking for guidance.
"Aren’t you here to ask for guidance on the Sword Technique? All this New Year’s visiting—a cultivator shouldn’t care about these things." Xu Fugui thought he’d exposed Ji Yuan’s attempt to cover it up, and expected it to cause him considerable embarrassment.
But unexpectedly, Ji Yuan was indeed somewhat embarrassed.
"The Sword Technique... I’ve grasped the basics."
"You’ve grasped the basics? So quickly?!"
Now it was Xu Fugui’s turn to be skeptical, "Show it to me."
"Alright, please guide me, Grandmaster Xu."
As they spoke, the two of them moved to an open space beside Hundred Treasures Tower. With a mere thought, Ji Yuan summoned his Flying Sword, simultaneously displaying "Entangling Wave".
The faint blue ripple flowed past, and even the ground accumulated a few more traces of moisture.
Seeing this, Xu Fugui was astonished, "Good lad, you really learned it."
Ji Yuan stowed away his Flying Sword, not bothering to ask Xu Fugui how long it had taken him to learn it back in the day. Whether it was fast or slow, asking would only lead one of them to feel downhearted.
So he simply smiled and said, "Just lucky, just lucky."
"Alright then, since you’ve got the basics, keep practicing. There’s nothing much to guide you on. I’m heading back to the Water Dragon Sect. We’ll talk about anything else when I return."
With that, Xu Fugui took out the standard issue Flying Boat of the Water Dragon Sect from his Storage Bag—the Water Dragon Ship.
The Dharma Ship expanded against the wind, taking Xu Fugui skyward.
After watching him depart, Ji Yuan surveyed the surroundings, where the cultivators spectating nearby looked at him with friendly eyes.
Someone who could get along with a cultivator from the Water Dragon Sect was surely worth befriending.
Seeing this, Ji Yuan could mostly guess it, after today’s matters, he would likely draw the interest of certain individuals.
But he did not fear, as his cultivation was nearing Qi Cultivation Level Six.
In the middle stages of Qi Cultivation here in Cloud Rain Marsh, he felt he had no match. Once entering the sixth level of Qi Cultivation... with arrays and numerous means at his disposal, he would even dare to challenge a Qi Cultivation Level Seven!
Then he went to the Lu Family, though to his surprise, the Lu Family had their main gate tightly closed on the first day of the New Year.
Looking at the locked door, Ji Yuan didn’t even bother to knock, instead going to purchase some Talisman Paper and Talisman Ink, along with some semi-Spirit Fish and other materials, then returned home.
After the New Year ended, Ji Yuan’s life returned to simplicity.
Cultivation, cultivation, and more cultivation.
Though now he had other uses for the , both the Water Drop Finger and Sword Technique had reached the entry level, so next he would comprehend the Yin Ghost Array.
He planned to try completing the array, making the Yin Ghost Banner truly meaningful.
One late night after nearly ten days.
Ji Yuan, while holding a Spirit Stone and cultivating after ingesting a Spirit Gathering Pill, suddenly felt a surge of energy, which he swiftly reined in. The surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi gathered around him, forming a small Spiritual Energy Vortex.
The Spirit Stone in his hand also turned to powder at a visibly swift pace.
After absorbing six Spirit Stones in succession, Ji Yuan finally opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid air.
After much cultivation, Qi Cultivation Level Six, accomplished at last!
At the sixth level, even placed in Cloud Rain Marsh, he could be considered a minor expert. Beyond that was the late stage of Qi Cultivation; once reaching the late stage, he would be peak combat power in this Cloud Rain Marsh.
Stronger than this, he would have to join the Water Dragon Sect.
Upon realizing this, Ji Yuan felt a little excitement in his heart.
After all, this year was the triennial selection of the Water Dragon Sect. Perhaps... he should try as well?
Hoping to join based solely on cultivation strength surely wouldn’t make the cut, as it’s heard that the Water Dragon Sect selection requires one to individually kill a late-first-stage Demon Beast to qualify.
If so, then his only chance to join would rely on Talismans.
At not even twenty years old, capable of drawing a first-stage middle-grade Talisman, he might have a chance to try.
Yet after a thorough consideration, Ji Yuan gave up this idea.
Once joining the Water Dragon Sect, he wouldn’t have the current freedom, especially in a sect with so many experts, finding a place for his creations would be challenging.
It would be better to mix in Zengtou City until reaching the late stage of Qi Cultivation, then think about it.
Otherwise, without sufficient strength, even joining the Water Dragon Sect, he would only have the life of a talisman-drawing workhorse.
After Ji Yuan’s breakthrough, he spent another half month cultivating at home, until finally the day of the Water Dragon Sect’s selection arrived, and he prepared to go out.
Even if not joining, going to watch the excitement was worthwhile.
Missing this chance would mean waiting another three years for such an event.
Moreover, Lu Wan presumably intended to join the Water Dragon Sect this year, and as his friend, he should certainly see him off.