Comprehending Myriad Techniques as Woodcutter

Chapter 211: Chapter 179: Protection (2)

Situ Qin gazed at Xie Yuan’s incredibly serious expression, momentarily stunned. Then, she smiled gently and said,

"Alright. I’ll wait for you."

Although she didn’t believe Xie Yuan could actually surpass her, she was still moved, and her expression softened.

Xie Yuan said no more. He led Situ Qin out of the Sword Qi cave and back to the cliff’s edge.

They both looked back. The crevice was utterly unremarkable; the cliff face was full of them. Who would have thought it was a world unto itself?

They had just faced peril and already gained much. With no desire to explore further, they quickly turned and followed their original path back to the guest courtyard on the mountainside.

Once they were finally settled back in their room, Xie Yuan and Situ Qin’s nerves began to calm. They took a sip of hot tea, met each other’s gaze, and exhaled in unison, only to startle at the synchronicity.

Situ Qin laughed.

"Why are you copying me? Anyway, what do you think that was?"

Xie Yuan was also hesitant. It seemed to be the source of the Sword Peak’s strangeness, but he couldn’t be certain if it was the Black Celestial Book.

The Eight Trigrams Lotus was magnificent and fantastical, capable of countless transformations and containing endless mysteries, but it didn’t possess such overwhelming power.

’Is the Black Celestial Book on the Sword Peak really so different from the Eight Trigrams Lotus?’ He had absolutely no idea what form it took or what power it wielded.

"A peerless Divine Sword? An Immortal’s relic?"

Not expecting an answer from Xie Yuan, Situ Qin excitedly guessed to herself for a moment before saying,

"In any case, that must be the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect’s greatest secret. The source of the Sword Qi that fills the Sword Peak is right there, inside the mountain. Just the aftershocks were almost too much for us. I doubt even I could withstand the power at its core."

Xie Yuan nodded silently, a flicker in his eyes.

’The core is beyond our current cultivation level to explore,’ he thought. ’But as long as I don’t go around that bend... the traces in the tunnel prove the overflowing Sword Qi is stable and within a range I can endure.’

’So, even if I can’t go to the Back Hall on the main peak in the future, I’ll still have a place to seek enlightenment, right?’

’Peeking at the book from the crevice is another way!’

The two discussed it for a while. Situ Qin chattered away, giddy with excitement. This kind of clandestine adventure, getting a glimpse of a major secret, was exactly her sort of fun. Her cheeks were flushed as she talked nonstop.

It wasn’t until dusk that Situ Qin reluctantly bid Xie Yuan farewell, making him promise to come early the next day to chat more.

After Xie Yuan had walked further and further down the winding mountain path and disappeared from view, a graceful figure abruptly appeared beside Situ Qin and asked softly,

"Miss, why is your Jade Pendant shattered?"

Situ Qin withdrew her gaze, picked up the jade pendant that was now covered in cracks, and said nonchalantly,

"We ran into a little trouble today..."

After Situ Qin finished her story, Aunt Hong’s voice grew more serious.

"A place like that actually exists? Hmm... Miss, you cannot be so reckless and adventurous in the future."

"Aunt Hong, I know what I’m doing," Situ Qin said with a nod.

Aunt Hong said with a sigh of resignation,

"You say that every time. Now that the Jade Pendant is shattered, it’s time for us to return."

"What? Can’t we wait another couple of... oh, alright."

Situ Qin wanted to try and wheedle her way out of it, but seeing the resolute look in Aunt Hong’s eyes, she knew it was useless and nodded in resignation.

She glanced at the now-empty mountain path, pouted, and turned back to her room.

「The next morning」

Xie Yuan stood in the Back Hall of the main peak, gazing up at the Sword Peak with a new perspective.

’There’s an even bigger secret in there,’ he thought, his mind wandering.

Feeling the majestic aura wash over him, Xie Yuan suddenly felt unenthusiastic. The Sword Intent here was so much weaker than in the cave that he almost didn’t want to come back.

"People are so fickle," Xie Yuan muttered to himself.

Around noon, he arrived at the small courtyard again, carrying a food container.

"The Sword Storage Pavilion’s visit is fast approaching. The atmosphere in the Sect has grown noticeably tense lately," Xie Yuan said casually.

Situ Qin elegantly set down her chopsticks and dabbed the corners of her mouth with a silk handkerchief.

"The Cloud Mountain Sword Sect obviously places great importance on this competition. If they can get the upper hand on the Sword Storage Pavilion, their prestige will soar, and they’ll solidify their position as one of the world’s top Major Sects."

"Would that be enough for them to push the Sword Storage Pavilion out of its position among the ’Four Great Sects’?" Xie Yuan asked.

"That’s impossible."

Situ Qin shook her head.

"The Sword Storage Pavilion’s foundation is simply too deep. Even if they suffer a minor loss this time, the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect would need to prove themselves in several more major conflicts to truly challenge their position. Besides, I don’t think the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect has much of a chance of winning this time anyway."

"I’d like to hear your reasoning."

Xie Yuan’s interest was piqued. Whenever Situ Qin spoke of the martial world’s affairs, she was always remarkably well-informed, often sharing inside information one couldn’t hear elsewhere.

"It’s simple, just look at the Hidden Dragon List and Flying Dragon List rankings. Besides their Sect Leader, the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect has only one elder on the Flying Dragon List. That’s fewer than the Sword Storage Pavilion, and their rank is lower. As for the Hidden Dragon List, while they have Qin Zhenyang at number twenty-six, the Sword Storage Pavilion’s head disciple, He Jin, is ranked seventh. You can’t say that’s a small gap."

"And below the Hidden Dragon List, among those in the Qi and Blood Metamorphosis Realm, I haven’t heard of any noteworthy disciples from the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect making a name for themselves in recent years. The Sword Storage Pavilion, however, has several rising stars who are all expected to make it onto the Hidden Dragon List. The Sword Storage Pavilion is located in Jiangnan and has close ties with several major families. Even setting aside fame and legacy, they have a much easier time recruiting disciples. That’s an advantage the Sword Sect in remote Yunzhou can’t compete with."

Xie Yuan nodded slightly as he listened.

"The Pavilion Master of the Sword Storage Pavilion is ranked fifth on the Flying Dragon List, while Li Xingtuo, the Sect Leader of the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect, is ninth. So it seems they’re at a disadvantage across the board?"

Situ Qin tilted her head.

"Actually, I think the duel between the Sect Leaders is the one with the most uncertainty. Even though Li Xingtuo is here at the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect, his cultivation has progressed rapidly in recent years, allowing him to surpass many renowned experts from other top sects and break into the top ten of the Flying Dragon List. Now he’s had another breakthrough. No one knows the true extent of his power, which is likely why the Pavilion Master of the Sword Storage Pavilion is personally coming to issue a challenge. It should be a spectacular fight."

Hearing her analysis, Xie Yuan had to agree. He was already eagerly anticipating the clashes between these top-tier masters, and now he was even more impatient for the spectacle to begin.

"An event like this will be starting soon. You’ll be staying to watch, won’t you?" Xie Yuan asked with a smile.

Situ Qin said with a sigh,

"I haven’t had the chance to tell you, but I have to leave today."

"What? So suddenly..."

Xie Yuan instinctively wondered if it had something to do with yesterday’s events.

Sure enough, Situ Qin wiggled the shattered Jade Pendant.

"My protective treasure is broken. I have to go back and get a replacement."

Xie Yuan was silent for a moment, then cupped his hands in a mock salute.

"Must be nice to be rich."

Situ Qin giggled, a twinkle in her eye.

"Besides, after seeing that tide of Sword Qi rush toward me yesterday, so close I could almost touch it... I think I had a bit of an epiphany. I need to go back and meditate on it. So, until next time, Master Xie."

Xie Yuan was surprised to hear this, but it also made perfect sense. He himself could comprehend Sword Qi. With Situ Qin’s talent, it wasn’t strange at all that she would have an epiphany after facing that surging, overwhelming tide of swords.

"Alright. Who knows when we’ll see each other again."

Situ Qin said with a beaming smile,

"Missing me already, and we haven’t even said goodbye? Don’t worry. Barring any surprises, I’ll definitely be here in a month to watch the Cloud Mountain Sword Contest."

Xie Yuan laughed.

"That would be great. I’ll see you then."

"Mhm. Anyway, the food’s all gone... Bring something different next time."

The two made idle conversation until the meal was over. After they finished their tea, Situ Qin gathered her things to leave.

Xie Yuan bowed respectfully to Aunt Hong and waved goodbye to Situ Qin. This time, it was his turn to watch the two of them descend the winding mountain path until they were gone.

’I’ve gained a lot recently. Time to consolidate my experiences. With a month of secluded cultivation, I should be able to make a breakthrough.’

Though he had spent his days wandering the mountains with Situ Qin, his cultivation hadn’t suffered. In fact, thanks to her insistent guidance, his gains had been substantial. ’Also...’

He touched his chest, where a porcelain vial held the last medicinal pill.

’Once I take it, with its help, I should be able to reach a new realm!’

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