"This Wood Cutting Blade is a magic artifact I crafted in my earlier years. It's not graded, but aside from being quite sharp and effective against sinister forces, it can store the 'Metal Sharpness' from the Sharpness Technique to unleash a powerful strike. Storing thirty-three Sharpness Techniques can rival Early-Stage Qi Cultivation, sixty-six can compete with Mid-Stage Qi Cultivation, and ninety-nine can even harm Late-Stage Qi Cultivation."
"However, you can only release one strike with the stored Metal Sharpness. If not used, the Metal Sharpness will gradually dissipate over time, completely vanishing in seven days. You should practice the Sharpness Technique with this blade, make full use of it, and keep it for self-defense."
Jiang Yuebai received the Wood Cutting Blade, feeling its weight and sharpness in her hands.
The blade's body was entirely black and covered in old marks, with visible rune grooves awaiting her to infuse Metal Sharpness.
Tao Fengnian led her through dry grass, ascending the slope. A solitary peak stood dangerously in the distance, with jagged rocks, as if split open by a giant blade, leaving a narrow mountain creek.
The wind howled within, like the wails of a hundred ghosts, unending.
Jiang Yuebai gripped the Wood Cutting Blade and followed closely behind Tao Fengnian.
After a short while, Tao Fengnian halted, "Up ahead is the Ghost Lamp."
Jiang Yuebai tilted her head, peeking out from behind Tao Fengnian, seeing a lantern-shaped green phosphorous flame floating under a dead tree ahead, flickering as if breathing.
"Yinfeng Creek used to be the battlefield of Cang and Yun Countries, burying nearly a million bones. Later, when the Heavenly Interference Sect expanded, they used the Mountain Moving Method to suppress two peaks to prevent Blood Corpse Evil Ghosts from forming here, leaving only Yinfeng Creek as a place for cultivation."
"Ghost Lamps are small ghostly creatures born from the accumulation of Yin Qi and bone phosphorus flames, with little spiritual wisdom. They like to collide with living people, but at most, it just results in being entangled by Yin Qi, leading to weakness for a few days."
Hearing this, Jiang Yuebai stepped out from behind Tao Fengnian, curiously watching the ghost fire lantern under the tree.
Her gaze drifted afar, discovering more Ghost Lamps deeper on the slope, overlapping in layers, a sea of green.
"Why are there so many Ghost Lamps, and no one's managing them?"
In a fairyland domain, wouldn't rampant ghosts be a joke?
"Ghost Lamps are weak and not a threat but are agile and hard to catch. Especially when they sense cultivators with high cultivation, they run faster. After being eradicated, they reappear in just a few days, so the Sect only thoroughly cleans them up every three to five years."
After speaking, Tao Fengnian approached silently, his hands moving swiftly, and in merely a breath, activated the Sharpness Technique.
A short burst of golden light shot out, making the Ghost Lamp disappear with a puff.
At this moment, another Ghost Lamp rushed from the grass beside them, heading directly for Jiang Yuebai.
Tao Fengnian didn't intervene. Jalng Yuebai's eyes widened as she retreated step by step. The ghostly green light illuminated her face before she remembered to use the Chasing Star Step to sidestep, immediately swinging her blade to slash down.
The Wood Cutting Blade broke the Ghost Lamp, scattering the phosphorous light like the wind.
[You used the Chasing Star Step to dodge the Ghost Lamp; it was clumsy, almost causing you to fall, but it succeeded. Chasing Star Step Skill Level +1]
[You used the Wood Cutting Blade Method against the Ghost Lamp; the technique was inept, but luck led to a successful kill, increasing Wood Cutting Blade Method Skill Level +1]
The Ghost Lamp was extinguished, and Jiang Yuebai, not even having time to check the panel prompts, saw more green lanterns floating up from the ground, surrounding her in an instant.
Phosphorescence rose and fell, rippling green waves.
Beautiful yet dangerous!
Jiang Yuebai swallowed, standing still out of fear, stiffly looking toward Tao Fengnian in the distance, seeing him with his eyes lowered, leisurely taking out the smoke rod and lighting it, puffing leisurely.
Dozens of Ghost Lamps were attracted by the living aura from her, erupting in an instant, flashing wildly, crashing into her.
Jiang Yuebai's eyes widened, operating the Chasing Star Step, and swinging the Wood Cutting Blade.
The step method was unrefined, and the blade method clumsy. Just after slicing a Ghost Lamp in front, three more hit her back.
The phosphorous light exploded, the bone-chilling Yin Qi penetrated her body, making Jiang Yuebai shiver; her swing went off, another Ghost Lamp hit her right arm.
A sensation of blood freezing struck, making her right arm stiff and hard to move. Jiang Yuebai dodged left and right, trapped within the encirclement, as the Ghost Lamps pressed closer, becoming more aggressive.
Tao Fengnian still showed no intention of intervening; Jiang Yuebai's eyes turned determinedly cold. Her experience in the Mortal World made her more composed in danger.
As a group of Ghost Lamps rushed at her face, she dodged to the back of a dead tree, circled around, and attacked from the side.
The Wood Cutting Blade swept across, scattering phosphorescence across the sky. As the Ghost Lamp group turned, she used the Chasing Star Step again, circling the tree for a backstab.
Leaning against a dead tree, Jiang Yuebai no longer panicked, remaining calm and composed. The Chasing Star Step and Wood Cutting Blade Method complemented each other, advancing and retreating in an orderly manner. The dozens of Ghost Lamps were gradually cut down by her.
Tao Fengnian nodded slowly, his gaze on Jiang Yuebai growing brighter.
The last Ghost Lamp was extinguished, and Jiang Yuebai relaxed entirely, fear catching up to her.
She leaned against the tree, feeling icy cold all over, panting heavily. Just as she straightened up to speak, more Ghost Lamps emerged from the ground.
Clearly taking advantage of her weakness to finish her off!
Jiang Yuebai's small face immediately fell, pouting as if about to cry.
"Grandfather..."
"Haha."
Tao Fengnian laughed heartily, taking a deep drag from his smoke rod, exhaling a waft of white smoke.
The white smoke dispersed, startling the Ghost Lamps, which disappeared in a flash like lightning, leaving Jiang Yuebai leaning against the dead tree, sliding down to sit on the ground in anger.
"Cowardly Lantern Monsters! If you've got the guts, come again!"
Tao Fengnian walked over, squatting down and placing his hand on Jiang Yuebai's shoulder, infusing her with warm Fire Element Spiritual Energy to dispel the cold left by the Ghost Lamps.
"Grandfather, am I useless?"
"Don't underestimate yourself, you're already very skilled. Today I'm with you, but in the future, come here by yourself every few days. Besides step methods and martial arts, also try using the Sharpness Technique against the Ghost Lamps. Remember, fear comes from feeling you're not strong enough to defeat them. Once you do, you'll find these Ghost Lamps aren't so dangerous after all."
Jiang Yuebai nodded sullenly. She didn't find it all that terrifying; if she couldn't win, she'd just run. She simply didn't want to disappoint her grandfather.
Tao Fengnian pulled Jiang Yuebai up from the ground, "Let's go, further in."
Jiang Yuebai followed behind Tao Fengnian. During her previous battle, she hadn't had the chance to check, but now the Immortal Cultivation Panel flashed many skill level-up notifications, which filled Jiang Yuebai with joy.
[Martial Arts]
Chasing Star Step (Entry Level: 26/100)
Wood Cutting Blade Method (Entry Level: 32/100)
Previously, her skill levels were only 15, requiring her to complete a whole set to increase by just 1 point, taking time and effort.
But now, just through one battle, they increased so much!
Thinking back, it made sense; during practice, restricting herself to fixed routines, she couldn't find the right method.
During combat, with pressure from crises, fixed routines became effective attacks, utilized flexibly.
Even if not one Ghost Lamp increased the skill by 1 point, through continuous use and real combat, skill levels rose much faster than training alone.
With that thought, Jiang Yuebai's palms grew hot.
Now, seeing the ghost lamps all over the mountain, they were no longer bullying Lantern Monsters—each one was a cute helper, boosting her magical techniques and martial arts!