Shi Lang reported the matters to the mission hall and returned to his dwellings. The life of an inner court disciple was rather calm. The terran preferred it this way. He sat crossed leg in the courtyard and cultivated in seclusion when he recalled about the Princess in the sect.
Tian Lingxue, he wondered how she was doing. When immersed in his thoughts, an unexpected visitor appeared on his doorstep. Shi Lang was surprised at the principle of coincidence. He found the visitor to be the Princess itself.
He stood up and walked over to greet her. The lady was standing outside the door of his courtyard but not knocking at it. Shi Lang guessed she was confused. He pulled the door open, and startled, the Princess squealed.
Shi Lang took a few steps back and said, “Your Highness, calm down. It’s just me.”
The lady regained her senses and quickly looked around. She said, “Senior Brother Shi, can you change your address for me?”
Shi Lang smiled and said, “Junior Sister, what you heard was a spiritual communication message. No one else could tap into it. However, I wonder what brings you here?”
The Princess sighed and said, “My master said that you have just finished a big mission and wanted to send my senior sister over to check if you need any medical help.”
Shi Lang frowned and asked, “How does this work? Don’t you have to be a fire attribute to practice alchemy?”
Tian Lingxue shook her head and said, “No, the nature of your spiritual energy is not related to alchemy or pill refining. It would be best if you were good at controlling it. Everything is made up of spirit energy, so if you can control that spirit element, you can derive the essence of things and refine pills. This technique is restricted to my master and her disciples.”
Shi Lang nodded and said, “You do not have to worry. I am fine. However, since the task was directed to your senior sister, why are you here?”
Tian Lingxue replied, “That senior sister is a core disciple, and she was busy refining a pill. Since it was her first time, I decided to take it over.”
Shi Lang nodded and said, “Come in, have some tea.”
Tian Lingsue shook her head and said, “I still have a few things to deal with, Senior Brother. I am just an outer court disciple. Master is strict, so I will head back now that I have confirmed your condition. Feel free to find me at the Alchemy peak if you need any pills.”
Shi Lang nodded and said, “If someone at home needs help, you can tell me.”
The Princess nodded and turned around to leave. Then she suddenly turned around and said, “My name is Ling Tianxue.”
Shi Lang nodded, and the girl walked away. Shi Lang closed the doors and entered meditation. The core disciples were all immersed in cultivation practice of their own, so none came to find him.
One month they passed away like this when Shi Lang’s door was knocked again. The terran opened the door and found an errand disciple standing outside. The disciple bowed and said, “Senior Brother, the peak master has called you to the sword hall.”
Shi Lang nodded and said, “I will go right away.”
That said, he stepped out and closed the door behind him. He did not know where the sword hall was, so he asked, “Brother, can you tell me your name?”
The errand disciple was surprised but then said, “Senior brother, I am called Xian Ji.”
Shi Lang nodded and continued, “Brother Xian, please guide me to the sword hall. I am afraid that I do not know much about the peak.”
The disciple was shocked when Shi Lang talked to him so politely. The status of the errand disciple was really low in the sect. The disciple hurriedly agreed and led Shi Lang to the sword hall. He also mentioned many important places on the peak for Shi Lang to be convenient next time.
The terran nodded and said, “Brother Xian, if you need some guidance in cultivation, you can find me.”
Xian Ji was shocked and asked, “Senior Brother, are you serious? We, errand disciples, do not have much strength, you know?”
That was true. Even when these guys climbed the seven steps on the test, they were still the errand disciples. Outside in the cities, they would be revered and given some face, but inside the sect, an Immortal soul cultivator was the lowest on the food chain.
Shi Lang smiled faintly and said, “As long as you preserve and work hard, there is always a chance that you can rise. Do not give up.”
Xian Ji nodded, and Shi Lang walked up the steps of the sword hall. Xian Ji could not help but bow to the receding figure.
Shi Lang did not know what he had just done. He climbed the stairs of the sword hall and sensed a strong sword intent. Raksha said, “Hmmm, this place has a heavenly spirit sword.”
Shi Lang froze and asked, ‘Do you need to come out?’
Raksha refused and said, “No, you just radiate your sword intent at the other party. I will handle the resonance.”
Shi Lang nodded and did as told. His body radiated a strong sword intent. He climbed the stairs and sensed the resistance from the core of the building. However, Raksha was not bad at her task. She ensured that the intent resonated with the sword inside the hall.
The terran reached the door, and the guard gestured for him to enter. Shi Lang thanked the person and entered the place. Inside the hall, he found all the elders and the core disciples of the sword peak.
Shi Lang greeted them and asked, “Peak master, you called me?”
Mei Lingyao nodded and said, “Xiao Lang, our sects hold a triage meeting every five years. We compete for status among the three sects. This time, the Spirit Heart Sect is the host. The disciples from the Dragon Sword Sect will be here, and they will compete with our sword peak only.”
Shi Lang nodded and asked, “Teacher, what shall I do?”
Mei Lingyao smiled and said, “Xiao Xue is in seclusion, and she might not come out by then, so I hope you can join your senior brothers and Sisters to fight them off.” 𝒐𝐕𝗅xt.𝑪𝗈𝑚
Surprised, Shi Lang replied, “But, Teacher, this….”
Elder Jian smiled and said, “Xiao Lang, too much modesty is often misunderstood as arrogance. Your skills are real; we all think you are strong enough to compete. Do not miss an opportunity like this.”
Shi Lang was hesitant when Hu Shan said, “Junior Brother Shi Lang, in the past twenty years, the glorious sword peak has never managed to win the competition with the dragon sword sect. Do you not want to test these people?”
Shi Lang thought briefly and wanted to nod when the third elder said, “You do not have to worry, Xiao Lang. This time we will allow the most brilliant disciples to visit the inner sanctum of the sword hall.”
The terran was surprised when he sensed something shiver in his spiritual tattoo. The shiver was almost negligible, but he sensed it and said, “I accept.”
Mie Lingyao smiled and said, “You have been promoted to the inner court, but you have yet to practice the orthodox techniques of the Spirit Heart Sect. Here, you have two months to finish mastering these techniques.”
Shi Lang nodded and accepted a jade slip that she handed to him. The young man thanked her, and after a brief discussion, everyone was allowed a special room in the sword hall to practice their skill.
The terran was amazed when he read the details of the technique handed over to him. The essence of this technique was not in the moves, but in the combinations it offered. It was akin to making a sword into a whip or a staff.
Shi Lang could not help but focus all his energy on comprehending the secrets of this technique. However, after a day when he could not see through a few doubts, he began to discuss the situation with his communicator. The watch was equipped with an artificial intelligence system even without the data flow.
This was very helpful. The program provided him with many ways to look past doubt and these opinions were not based on neutral logical analysis. The terran did not have to fear that he would be giving in some influence.
…
Two months passed in a blink, and gradually, all of the core disciples came out of their seclusion. Shi Lang also came out of his seclusion, and his eyes were filled with wisdom akin to that of an older generation.
Mei Lingyao said, “Come on, the visitors will be here soon.”
The people followed the elders and Shi Lang asked, “Teacher, what about senior sister Wen?”
Mei Lingyao nodded and said, “She has come out of her seclusion but she is not yet ready to compete. She lacks confidence in her moves.”
Shi Lang nodded and said, “She will reforge it again.”
The people arrived at the square in the valley and Shi Lang saw a pair of floating vessels. Hu Shan said, “They are here.”