Vol.2-Chapter 198 – Calming Meditation Furnace

Seeing Zhao Jiuge’s expression, he seemed to be able to guess what Zhao Jiuge was thinking. “Since things are like this, you just have to try your best. I have already planned your next two years of training.”

After he finished speaking, Jian Wuxian walked through the temple toward the inner temple, where he normally cultivated. Zhao Jiuge quickly followed. His blood boiled when he thought about what Jian Wuxian had said. He wanted to achieve his goals and reach a new level of strength. However, he wondered if he ?would be able to complete his goals. Fortunately, Zhao Jiuge did not lack determination.

After entering the innermost part of the temple, Zhao Jiuge was attracted by everything he saw. Perhaps because this was where Jian Wuxian cultivated, everything seemed so special. Zhao Jiuge became curious.

Zhao Jiuge had to walk through a hall with red walls on both sides to arrive at the inner temple. His gaze was attracted to the center of the inner temple. The so-called inner temple was like a secret chamber.

There was a black and white incense furnace at the center of the inner temple. Zhao Jiuge was surprised and walked up to it. He knew that the incense furnaces had many uses and that they were not the same as the ones ordinary families used. He had seen incense furnaces twice, but none of them were this mysterious.

The entire incense furnace was black and the pattern was white. The furnace was not big, only one meter tall. The bottom was a rectangle, but the higher up you went, the more narrow it became, like a pyramid.

There was a protruding edge near the top, and carving on it that allowed you to see inside. There were some unknown herbs inside. There was a similar edge below, only there was some grey powder in there.

Although the incense furnace was not ignited, Zhao Jiuge could still smell the lingering fragrance. The smell wasn’t strong, but he could feel his mind become clear. He thought that this was something a cultivator would light up when they wanted to comprehend a spell.

Jian Wuxian seemed to notice Zhao Jiuge’s interest in the incense furnace. “This is called the Calming Meditation Furnace. Don't’ look down upon it, it is a spirit treasure. It requires burning expensive and rare herbs to function. Each herb has a different effect, and they can help you quickly focus to comprehend spells.”

Zhao jiuge suddenly nodded. Although he knew the effects of incense furnaces, he was still shocked. He didn’t know this incense furnace was actually a spirit treasure. This kind of special treasure was much more rare and precious than a flying sword.

“During this time, you will practice the sword art in the square outside the main temple. At night, you will cultivate here. While you cultivate, you must comprehend sword intent.” Jian Wuxian explained Zhao Jiuge’s goals for now.

Zhao Jiuge nodded in agreement and then he began observing the arrangement of the inside of the temple. There were grey walls with no tables or beds. There were only two cultivation mats around the incense furnace. The mats were ? of a meter wide and were lightly grey. This was probably where Jian Wuxian cultivated.

There was a painting hanging on the right of the wall. The painting was of a young scholar riding a cow while holding a branch. He looked very leisurely.

It was not difficult to see that this person was the ancestor and founder of the Mysterious Heaven Sword Sect. He was also Zhao Jiuge’s ancestral teacher. After all, the Mysterious Heaven Peak was the ancestor's branch.

There was a scroll hanging on the left wall. There were three large words written on it: “Endless Sword Sea.”

The moment Zhao Jiuge saw those three words, he felt a wave set off in his heart. It was as if the worlds were filled with countless swords, and he found himself intoxicated by them. He knew that he would injure himself if he continued, but he enjoyed the feeling of this profoundness.

“Stop!”

Jian Wuxian let out a gentle snort and Zhao Jiuge became sober. Although it was not the first time he saw it, the profound sword intent inside those three words was not something a rookie like him could comprehend.

“These three words were written by me based on my understanding of the sword art and suddenly gaining enlightenment. You can view it, but don’t indulge yourself in it. It's not time for you to comprehend it yet, or else you will damage your body, which will affect your cultivation.” Jian Wuxian’s expressions as serious. It was fortunate he was nearby.

“Disciple will remember.” Zhao Jiuge felt a lingering sense of pain. There was nothing strange in the room that caught his attention; everything was very simple. Jian Wuxian should have spent more of his time here cultivating.

“Come here, I’ll teach you the second layer of the sword art. The rest will be up to you. While you are comprehending the sword art, you can stay in here. When you want to try something, you can go to the square outside. Don’t worry about damaging the square, its material is not ordinary and you aren’t currently capable of damaging it.” Jian Wuxian’s words gave off a sense of pressure, and Zhao Jiuge became even more respectful.

Zhao Jiuge copied Jian Wuxian and sat down on the grey mat. He sat down next to Jian Wuxian and was ready to listen to Jian Wuxian teach him the sword art. His expression was a bit serious. This wasn’t like when he learned from Instructor Zhou. Zhao Jiuge was still not used to his identity as Jian Wuxian’s disciple yet. He was a bit nervous and excited while he looked up at Jian Wuxian.

Jian Wuxian saw Zhao Jiuge’s expression and found it a little funny. However, he didn’t say anything about it and began to seriously explain, “The Mysterious Heaven Sword Art is divided into seven layers, and each layer corresponds to a cultivation realm. Each layer has its own unique sword intent. Only by comprehending the sword intent can you display the true power of the sword art, and the more profound your understanding, the more powerful it will be. Of course, this is under the premise you have enough spirit force. Even if you have a profound understanding of the sword art, you can’t display its true power if you lack spirit force.”

Seeing that Zhao Jiuge had digested it all, Jian Wuxian continued, “I believe you had an understanding of this when you learned the first layer. Each sword layer can be easily explained in one or two wods. The first layer is called Elucidation, but everyone has a different comprehension of it and displays different amounts of power. This is why you feel that the first layer is lacking. I’ll teach you the second layer, but I won’t tell you its name. In three days, I’ll ask you for the name. During this time, focus on comprehending the sword intent of this layer. After all, you can only rely on yourself, no one can help you.”

“I understand, Teacher.” Hearing that Jian Wuxian was finally going to teach him the sword art, Zhao Jiuge was excited. He had waited for this moment for a long time.

“Listen well, I’ll only say it once.” Jian Wuxian ignored Zhao Jiuge’s excited expression and then recited the second layer.

“Beginning of spring, Coming to an end; West Wind, Oppressive Shine; Delicate and Deliberate; Big Dipper; Stopping the Autumn Wind; Slating Wind, Fine Rain; Rain Clears, Wind Stops; Desolate Night Rain.”

“It’s over? Teacher?” Zhao Jiuge was shocked. If it was so short, what could he comprehend?”

Jian Wuxian raised his brow and asked, “Do you think there is more?”

Zhao Jiuge smiled in embarrassment and remained silent. Although he was a bit shocked, he had still memorized the second layer of the sword art in his heart.

“Okay, I have said everything I need to say. The rest will depend on you. I’ll light the incense furnace and you can begin comprehending the sword art. If you think of something, go outside to the square to practice.” Jian Wuxian put some unknown herbs into the incense furnace and lit it up. When Zhao Jiuge smelled the fragrance, he felt his mind become clear.

The Mysterious Heaven Sword Sect trained disciples differently than others. They first cultivated the person, then their heart, and finally their dao, which was the sword.

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

They didn’t focus wholeheartedly on cultivation, but first cultivated the heart and then cultivation. Even Jian Wuxian’s disciples were no different. Instead, he was even more harsh on his own disciple. This could be seen from the gift he had given Zhao Jiuge. He had given each of his disciples a sword embryo and not a complete flying sword. Although the sword embryo was high in quality, the disciple still had to complete it on their own.

Jian Wuxian won’t explain his experience or teach them, he would let his disciples comprehend on their own.

This shocked Zhao Jiuge. He originally thought that he would take fewer detours with a teacher teaching him. However, now he was dumbfounded. Jian Wuxian had only told him the sword art and was ready to leave.

However, Zhao Jiuge didn’t understand Jian Wuxian’s intention. Sword intent was most profound when one comprehended it themselves. If you were to use someone else’s experience as a reference, then at most you would only end up the same as them. Each person was like a blank piece of paper, and the more profound one person’s understanding, the more colorful the painting would be. However, if you looked at someone else’s painting, then yours would only be as colorful as the one you learned from. You would give up on the chance to comprehend it yourself.

Jian Wuxian was doing this for Zhao Jiuge’s own good. Only after Zhao Jiuge had his own understanding could Jian Wuxian teach him a bit. Other teachers would be in a rush to impart their experience to their disciples.