"In the storage bracelet I prepared spirit meals for you. You have not begun fasting yet. The meals contain almost no impurities and will support your growth and cultivation. There is also a bottle of Fasting Pills for you to take when you advance."
"Thank you for your care, Master."
Wei Xueru slipped the storage bracelet onto her wrist. She knew that with only early Qi Refining cultivation, she could not use a storage ring or bracelet that required spiritual energy, only a storage pouch. Yet her Master had given her a spacious storage bracelet.
A storage bracelet can be used without spiritual energy or Primordial Soul sense, making it the best choice for storing items in places without spiritual energy.
"In the storage pouch is your apprenticeship gift. It will be enough to cultivate you to Foundation Establishment." Seeing Wei Xueru had put on the bracelet, Jian Dan continued.
Inside the pouch were resources Wei Xueru would need during Qi Refining: spirit stones, spirit herbs, a jade bottle of low-grade Spirit Spring Water, a flying artifact, an ironwood practice sword, and a wind-attribute spirit sword.
Wei Xueru hung the pouch at her waist and bowed again to Jian Dan.
This time Jian Dan waved her hand and bestowed a set of "weight rings."
Wei Xueru felt her wrists and ankles grow heavier. She swung her arms to test the feeling, then looked at Jian Dan with wide, curious eyes, asking for an explanation.
"These are weight rings. They steadily increase your physical endurance so that you are always training under load."
"Wei Xueru understands."
Jian Dan went on, "Although your meridians have been cleared, they were once obstructed. The finer channels still need to be opened through your own cultivation. My recommendation is body cultivation."
"Wei Xueru will follow Master." Her crisp reply made Jian Dan smile.
"Sword cultivators are called the strongest in battle because the sword is already a weapon of pure lethality. Through our own cultivation we become one with the blade and push its destructive power to the limit. A strong physique is essential. So you will start body cultivation."
Jian Dan handed her a jade slip containing the Qi Refining section of the Ice-Jade Demon Body Art. It needed to be paired with body-tempering decoctions to achieve real results.
Wei Xueru pressed the jade slip to her brow, memorized the contents, then offered the slip back.
Jian Dan nodded in satisfaction. Despite her age, Wei Xueru was cautious and respectful. She understood any art granted by her Master was top tier, so she only recorded the part she should practice, without grasping for the whole art.
"Tomorrow I will have Yun Shu prepare your first stage of body-tempering decoction. Be ready."
"Yes, Master. Wei Xueru will study the body cultivation art today."
"Good. Now about sword practice. Since you have chosen the sword path, you must devote time to it. The ironwood sword in your pouch must be carried at all times, not stored away. Build rapport with your sword. You must practice swings every day."
Hearing this, Wei Xueru immediately took out the ironwood sword. It had been custom-made and fit her perfectly. Without a word, she strapped it to her back.
"Lastly, your cultivation method. You have a Wind root, so wind-attribute arts suit you best. Unfortunately I do not cultivate wind. Fortunately, you are still in Qi Refining, so your current method will suffice for now."
"Master has already thought it through. My family has wind-attribute arts. My parents said they would exchange for one for me." Wei Xueru answered obediently.
But Jian Dan shook her head inwardly. Now that Wei Xueru had joined the Heavenly Sword Sect and taken her as Master, she was effectively separate from her clan. The Wei family would not hand her a core art. Jian Dan did not puncture the hope. When the time came, truth would reveal itself.
"If that is so, all the better."
They spoke off and on for half a day before Ting Feng arrived to report:
"Zūnshàng, Wei Zhengrong requests an audience." He glanced at the well-behaved Wei Xueru as he spoke.
Hearing it was her elder brother, Wei Xueru's eyes flicked toward the entry passage, but she remained seated properly.
"Let him in."
Jian Dan knew Wei Zhengrong would want to confirm that his sister had fulfilled her wish. She had no objection. In fact, she intended to have him take Wei Xueru to the Affairs Hall to register for a personal disciple's identity sword token.
"Zhengrong pays respects to Zūnshàng."
"You are here to see your sister."
While he saluted, Wei Zhengrong had already taken in the sight of his sister. She wore a purple-pink robe, an ironwood sword on her back, two pouches at her waist, black rings at her wrists and ankles, and sat properly on the jade stool beside Zūnshàng.
"Many thanks, Zūnshàng. For Wei Xueru to enter your tutelage is the greatest fortune of her life." He bowed solemnly.
Without Zūnshàng, they would have had to watch Wei Xueru leave them in a hundred years. His gratitude toward Jian Dan was heartfelt.
"Now that she is my disciple, I will teach her with care. You need not worry so much. Since you are here, I will grant Wei Xueru half a day of leave. Take her to the Affairs Hall to register for a personal disciple's identity sword token, then show her around the sect."
As she spoke, Jian Dan's purple jade sword token appeared before Wei Zhengrong. He received it respectfully with both hands.
"Yes. I will take Wei Xueru to handle it at once."
Jian Dan waved to Wei Xueru, sending her off with her brother. The two bowed and happily went to their tasks.
Once the siblings departed, Jian Dan brought out her rocking chair, sat down at ease, and let it sway. In her mind she made plans.
She must find a set of wind-attribute arts. Later she would search her spatial realm, then check the Book Repository. The sooner this was settled, the better.
Also, the life-preserving talisman she had given today was an ordinary one, unlike those she had crafted for Mao Dou and Yu Zongfan. She would refine another of equal strength for Wei Xueru, so the girl could protect herself in danger.
Another thought. She recalled her agreement with the Hua family to swindle Du Yanran's chance. Among the gains had been a "Wind Spirit." She did not know whether the Hua family had used it or auctioned it. It would be perfect for her little disciple. She would have Zhengrong make a trip.
Jian Dan realized she already treated Wei Xueru like a daughter. She needed to be thorough.
She could not enter a long seclusion soon. She had promised Senior Brother Jian Li to finish the trial artifact. Once her little disciple's body conditioning was on track, she would immediately start special training for the Battle Hall team. She also needed to hold a small class for the Young Disciples Hall. Still no definitive word from the Zixiao Sect, which made her anxious.
She had sent Jade and Mo Ran to study among the beast clans. She did not know if things were smooth there. Yue Liang was on the verge of advancing to the seventh rank. She herself needed time to push her cultivation to mid Unity. She had suppressed it for too long.
Fortunately, she had been wise enough to hand the Law Enforcement Hall back to Senior Brother Jian Li as soon as he emerged from seclusion.
A brief moment of thought and she already had a pile of tasks waiting. She could only sigh. What a busy life.
Wang Yu hurried to the cave abode beneath Jian Dan's banyan tree. After bowing, he reported:
"Zūnshàng, I saw Wei Zhengrong leaving the Affairs Hall with his sister. They seem to have clashed with a member of the Wei family. The patrol team intervened. They should all be in the Law Enforcement Hall now."
Jian Dan's beautiful eyes flashed. She asked evenly, "Is Wei Xueru with them?"