Translator: CinderTL
At the main peak of the ruling mountain.
Huan Ming suddenly stood up, his face a mix of surprise and joy as he looked at Jiang Yuqiu, who had brought the news.
"He's already developed Divine Sense!?"
"How could it be false?"
Jiang Yuqiu smiled slightly.
"Good!"
Huan Ming's face was full of smiles.
The greatest benefit of cultivating Divine Sense was that, from this point onward, no one would dare to speak ill of this Flaming Phoenix Sword Cultivator, who had enjoyed the treatment of a Sword Prodigy from the moment he entered the sect.
At this moment, he seemed to recall something: "If I'm not mistaken, the information we have shows that he has only been on the path of cultivation for just over a month? A month, and he's already developed Divine Sense!?"
A month?
This time frame made Jiang Yuqiu pause as well.
Yes!
A month!
She had been so immersed in the joy of Li Chunjun's achievement in cultivating Divine Sense that she hadn't noticed that Li Chunjun had only been cultivating for a month.
A month ago, he was still a mortal!
What kind of talent was this!?
"There must be something extraordinary about Li Chunjun. This can be seen from the fact that, despite not having the Flaming Phoenix Bloodline, he was able to inherit the Undying Flaming Phoenix legacy."
Jiang Yuqiu said.
Huan Ming nodded.
After a while, he finally spoke: "It seems this child's talent is far greater than we imagined."
"Yes, Wanyu mentioned that Chunjun's exploration of the Flaming Phoenix Power seems to have reached the fourth rotation. I was somewhat skeptical at first, but now… I have no choice but to believe it."
"Fourth rotation!"
Huan Ming naturally knew what this meant.
It meant the second resonance with the Undying Flaming Phoenix!
It meant the condensation of the Flaming Phoenix Brand!
By then, cultivating the Flaming Phoenix Destruction Sword Intent would only be a matter of time.
"Fourth rotation bloodline! If he's not the Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy, who is?"
Huan Ming said with a smile.
Jiang Yuqiu also nodded.
"With this achievement, at least for the next three to five years, no one will dare to gossip anymore."
Huan Ming was in a great mood: "The display plan we previously arranged can also be canceled."
"The display plan…"
Jiang Yuqiu pondered for a moment, then said: "This plan doesn't necessarily need to be shelved."
She looked up and said: "A Sword Cultivator not only needs exceptional talent but also unparalleled combat prowess. If one only knows how to cultivate but is not skilled in battle, how can they become a qualified Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy? That girl Wanyu is the best example!"
"You mean…"
"Continue."
Jiang Yuqiu said: "But we need to investigate thoroughly, repeating the investigations, clearing out all possible threats, ensuring that no accidents occur, and then let him and the other disciples go. Let them prove with their own strength that his 'Sword Prodigy' treatment is well-deserved."
Huan Ming thought of Jiang Wanyu's previous experience…
His expression turned serious as he nodded.
Yes, the same mistake cannot be made twice!
"Alright!"
Huan Ming said: "A Sword Cultivator's strength is never cultivated; it's forged through battle after battle."
Jiang Yuqiu nodded.
The two of them began discussing the relevant measures to ensure safety.
...
With the achievement of cultivating Divine Sense, no more skeptical rumors spread in the following month.
Especially when the news of Li Chunjun's rise from martial arts practice to Innate Realm, and his bold feats at the Chiyang Dao Academy in the southeast of Chiyang, spread, he gained immense prestige among the disciples of the Taixu Sword Sect.
Countless people were filled with excitement and admiration for such achievements.
In fact, this was also the intention of the Taixu Sword Sect's higher-ups.
The future Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy would inevitably lead his fellow disciples to conquer the world, bringing great fame to the Taixu Sword Sect.
By planting the image of the Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy as a peerless genius in the hearts of the disciples in advance, it would also help him command the disciples in the future.
Under such sect-level propaganda, even if some core disciples had their own thoughts, they dared not go against this tide.
They all lay low, waiting for a better opportunity to prove that they were more outstanding and more deserving of the sect's full support than this future Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy.
...
In the courtyard of Flaming Phoenix Peak.
Li Chunjun opened his mouth and inhaled. A Sun True Crystal transformed into a cluster of golden flames, which he refined into his body, quickly merging with the Profound Phoenix Sword Qi within him.
In an instant, the Profound Phoenix Sword Qi grew stronger, seemingly reaching the limit of what his body could contain.
After a moment, Li Chunjun ended his cultivation.
Feeling the Natal Sword Qi within him, which could split into dozens or even hundreds of Profound Phoenix Sword Qi with a wave of his hand…
"I'm almost at the peak of the Qi Refining Realm!"
He said.
At the peak of Qi Refining, the next step was to plan for Core Formation.
The Core Formation Realm was the core of a person's essence, energy, and spirit.
Once Core Formation was successful, not only would one be able to perfectly coordinate all their power, taking their cultivation to a whole new level, but they could also extend their lifespan by at least three cycles, living to over three hundred years old.
"Virtual Core, True Core, Golden Core—these are essentially the purification and strengthening of one's essence, energy, and spirit. The human body is a treasure of the world, and humans often only scratch the surface of its potential. Ordinary people use only two to three percent of their brain, while a peak Qi Refining cultivator uses less than ten percent of their body's functions. The rest operates on instinct. Only by coordinating the essence, energy, and spirit to form a core can one utilize their full potential!"
In Li Chunjun's understanding, Core Formation was the complete reception and utilization of the subconscious and instincts by the human body.
Using the conscious mind to take over the subconscious.
This step, for life, could be called a great leap forward.
If successful, one's bodily functions would be fully under control, akin to achieving godhood in the flesh, ascending to the heavens in a single step.
If failed, one's essence, energy, and spirit would become disordered, and life or death would be uncertain.
"Perfectly controlling bodily functions is incredibly difficult! If an ordinary person tried to use their conscious mind to take over their subconscious, they probably wouldn't even be able to eat a simple meal, let alone do anything else. Core Formation cultivators also rely on the 'True Core' as a central hub to adjust their essence, energy, and spirit, allowing them to better explore, utilize, and strengthen their own power…"
If forming a core within one's own body was already this difficult, then the Sword Cultivator's method of refining the sword into a core was even more so.
Using an external object—the Lifebound Flying Sword—to coordinate one's essence and energy.
For ordinary people, even a heart transplant could bring rejection reactions that would torment them endlessly. How much more difficult would it be to use a Lifebound Flying Sword, an external metal object, to take over the subconscious and coordinate all the essence and energy within the body?
Out of ten Sword Cultivators at the ninth level of Qi Refining, nine would fall at this step.
"For all cultivators, forming a core is best done when one is young. Using the perspective of an ordinary person, youth means vigorous essence and energy, fast metabolism. Even if something goes wrong when the True Core takes over, and the essence and energy decline, the body itself can endure longer. The same is true for Sword Cultivators…"
Vigorous essence and energy, fast metabolism—these can be collectively referred to as strong vitality.
And he…
When refining the sword into a core, increasing his life level would give him a much higher margin for error compared to others.
"The Flaming Phoenix Blood needs to be explored further to ensure it has the ability to undergo one rebirth. The experience points also need to be controlled slightly to ensure I can borrow the state recovery from one level-up…"
Li Chunjun assessed.
If even under these circumstances he still couldn't refine the sword into a core, he would accept it.
He would take the ordinary Core Formation path.
However…
Li Chunjun waved his hand.
The Scarlet Gold Sword appeared in his grasp.
The Profound Phoenix Sword Qi erupted, surrounding the flying sword and continuously tempering it.
But if one observed closely, they would notice a distinct golden light flowing on the surface of the Scarlet Gold Sword, completely incompatible with the sword itself.
This was the Taiyi Essence Gold.
"Judging from the progress of the past month's refinement, it will take me forty years to refine the Taiyi Essence Gold into the Scarlet Gold Sword…"
And this was because the Scarlet Gold Sword hadn't been refined with any advanced materials yet.
When it came time to refine the Black Flame Diamond, the timeline would likely stretch to sixty years.
And this was after he had used his Essence Blood three times to refine the Scarlet Gold Sword, turning it into a perfect sword embryo.
"Once I cultivate Sword Intent, it should get better. The time could be shortened from a hundred years to twenty or thirty years…"
But…
Not to mention that he currently had no clue about Sword Intent.
Even if he did cultivate Sword Intent, spending twenty or thirty years to complete the refinement of the Scarlet Gold Sword was still unacceptable.
Too long.
Far too long.
On the road to the underworld…
Is it cold?
Li Chunjun's gaze on the sword grew distant.
In the blazing flames of the Profound Phoenix Sword Qi, he faintly saw a beautiful figure swaying in the dark wind, speaking of longing and loneliness.
As his gaze gradually blurred, the figure seemed to become clearer, more real.
And…
Closer to him.
Just as Li Chunjun tried to focus and see her true appearance, a fresh scent wafted over.
Accompanying it was a gentle call: "Junior Brother? Junior Brother?"
Li Chunjun looked up.
At some point, Jiang Wanyu had already approached.
"Refining the flying sword requires focus."
She gently reminded him.
In his daze, he seemed to see another figure in her.
"Do your homework carefully."
Suddenly!
Li Chunjun focused!
"Too slow."
"What?"
Jiang Wanyu was a bit confused: "Junior Brother, what are you talking about?"
"Nothing."
Li Chunjun said.
"Oh, today, shall we continue practicing swordsmanship?"
Jiang Wanyu smiled: "Your Sword Energy Meteor is almost at the minor mastery level, and the Profound Phoenix Sword Wheel has also reached the beginner stage. Your efficiency is incredible. It took me three months to master these two killing moves. Junior Brother, you're truly amazing."
She looked at him with a curved smile: "At this rate, mastering the Flame Phoenix Sun Refining within a year is no problem. At most, three years, and you'll have learned all three killing moves, allowing you to cultivate the Flaming Phoenix Profound Light."
"Three years."
It would take three years to cultivate the Flaming Phoenix Profound Light.
What about the Void Sword Flash?
Four years? Five years? Six years?
Moreover, before cultivating the Void Sword Flash, he would need to first comprehend the Taixu Sword Scripture, at least up to the Core Formation stage of the Spirit Refining chapter.
Too much.
There was too much to cultivate, too much to master.
Taking it step by step, it would take forty to fifty years.
Under the best circumstances, he would still need forty to fifty years to hope to achieve Core Formation and truly become the Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy.
Of course, to outsiders, a Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy in their sixties or seventies would be considered very young.
Deserving of the title "boundless potential."
But to him…
He needed to quickly raise his life level to 20 and max out his experience points, using the epiphany brought by reaching the peak of the realm to master all the killing moves, secret techniques, and Sword Intent in one go.
At this moment, he turned to Jiang Wanyu: "I believe that the path of the sword is the path of slaughter. A Sword Cultivator's cultivation should not be done behind closed doors!"
Jiang Wanyu was stunned: "Junior Brother…"
"Sect Sword Cultivators all need to carry out missions, whether it's guarding, capturing criminals, or killing enemies. They use battle to nurture battle, using the sword to hone the sword. As a Flaming Phoenix Sword Cultivator, I should do the same."
Li Chunjun said resolutely: "Therefore, I wish to follow the example of ordinary Sword Cultivators, carry out missions, and go out to gain experience."
(End of the Chapter)
---
Read (MI) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c172. [+8.5k Words]
Early Access at $5.
Translated (5) Series, (2.2K+) Chapters, (2.9M+) Words.