Vol.2-Chapter 200 – Marrow and Meridian Cleansing Soup

“Disciple gained his understanding of the second layer by borrowing what he learned from the first layer. Because the first layer focuses on a sense of vastness, I thought the second layer would have its own unique characteristic as well. I believe the seven layers of the Mysterious Heaven Sword Art don't only correspond to cultivation realms, but also to unique domains. That’s why this disciple pondered the chant and felt that the key was the word ‘desolate.’ In the first layer, the key was the lonely boat. The lonely boat facing the storm was like facing the vastness of the sword energy. I think the second layer, Autumn Wind, focuses on desolation, and as long as I understand that, the power of the second layer will grow.” Zhao Jiuge was very cautious and constantly looked at Jian Wuxian’s expression. When he noticed the smile on Jian Wuxian’s face grow wider and wider, Zhao Jiuge began to talk faster as well.

When Zhao Jiuge finished speaking, Jian Wuxian couldn’t help but nod in agreement. His smile widened and he said, “Roughly speaking, it’s not bad, but I want to remind you. Each layer of the sword art corresponding to a cultivation realm isn’t always true. That’s normally the case, but your second senior brother was able to touch the fifth layer at the Spirit Core Realm. The ancestor gained enlightenment and created the Mysterious Heaven Sword Art that corresponds to the Mahayana Realm at the Nascent Soul Realm.”

Hearing this, Zhao Jiuge was completely shocked. No wonder Fu Hongling had said that their second senior brother was the most promising person in the sect and most likely to ascend after the ancestor. Unfortunately, the heavens were jealous of talent and his whereabouts were unknown.

No one in the Huaxia Dynasty had ascended in thousands of years. Even the number of people at the Mahayana Realm had lessened. No one knew why this was happening, but this didn’t stop cultivators from pursuing it, despite all the danger. They would continue forward, no matter how slim the chances were.

After all, as long as you were human, you would have emotions and desire. Zhao Jiuge believed that even those that ascended to become immortals wouldn’t be able to escape their emotions and desires.

Seeing Zhao Jiuge’s surprised expression, Jian Wuxian didn’t continue on this subject. Zhao Jiuge’s cultivation was still low. Sometimes, knowing more wasn’t always a good thing.

“It looks like you’re not too dumb and your understanding is on the right path. Keep pondering and expend all your spirit force practicing on the square. There is something you have to do tonight.” Jian Wuxian turned to leave, then he seemed to think of something and said, “That’s right, Sha Sha comprehended two layers of the sword art in one day.”

After he finished speaking, Jian Wuxian didn’t care about Zhao Jiuge’s reaction and left without looking back.

Hearing this, Zhao Jiuge, who felt a little smug that he had passed the test, suddenly felt his smile freeze.

Although his teacher had said that he wasn’t too dumb, Zhao Jiuge thought his teacher was just being kind. However, he hadn’t expected those final words from Jian Wuxian. Could it be that Jian Wuxian was reminding him not to become arrogant?

He shook his head. He no longer thought about the deeper meaning or about what he had to do at night. Zhao Jiuge walked out of the temple and quickly practiced the sword art. He had been stimulated. He couldn’t comprehend two layers in one day, but he could be the early bird. He believed that as long as he worked hard and persisted, there was no height he couldn’t reach. He knew that his talent was lacking. If others could do it in one day, then he would simply take one month. If one month wasn’t enough, he would take one year. He didn’t believe he wouldn’t be able to achieve the same result if given enough time!

He threw aside all distractions and repeated the same, boring actions. He repeatedly attempted to comprehend the sword intent and practice the sword art.

Soon, a day of practice was over and Zhao Jiuge’s comprehension of Autumn Wind had become a little more proud. Zhao Jiuge dragged his exhausted body back to the temple. After today’s practice, he had a preliminary understanding of the second layer of the sword art.

He stepped up the white jade stairs and saw that Jian Wuxian had unknowingly appeared. Jian Wuxian was standing next to the red fence, looking at Zhao Jiuge. He must have arrived while Zhao Jiuge was practicing.

Jian Wuxian observed Zhao Jiuge and softly asked, “Finished practicing?”

Zhao Jiuge replied, “Yes, Teacher.”

“Come with me, I’ll take you somewhere.” After Jian Wuxian spoke, he waved his sleeve and pulled Zhao Jiuge over.

The next moment, Zhao Jiuge felt himself fly off into the air. He only felt that Jian Wuxian had flown him away from the Mysterious Heaven Temple.

𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

After only a moment, Zhao Jiuge felt his feet land. He panicked, as this was the first time he had flown through the air without a flying sword. This also allowed him to see how powerful his teacher was.

He looked around and was startled by the surrounding scenery. It was a mountainside with vegetation everywhere. The edge of the mountain had green and yellow rocks. As for the scenery below the mountain, he couldn’t see anything.

Zhao Jiuge was filled with doubt and confusion. He looked around and asked, “Teacher, why are we here?”

Jian Wuxian didn’t directly answer his question. Instead, he quietly asked a question, “Jiuge, do you know why, even though sword cultivation doesn't have as many spells as daoists, we can still become so famous with just a flying sword?”

Zhao Jiuge thought for a moment and then said without hesitation, “That’s because flying swords are sharp and tyrannical. They can attack enemies from afar and defend up close. Even though sword cultivators don’t have as many spells as the daoist cultivators, we can still match them with just a sword.”

A smile slowly appeared on Jian Wuxian’s face, and he subconsciously nodded. He waited for Zhao Jiuge to finish and mysteriously said, “That is the reason. However, you only know one of them, but not the other.”

“Oh? Then, can Teacher tell me what the other reason is?” Zhao Jiuge raised his brows and became interested.

“That’s because of physique. If you don’t have an overbearing body, how can you fight against sharp swords in close range? That’s why all disciples in our sect have very powerful bodies along with their sharp swords. In the south, there is a holy land named the Tai Barbarin Mountain. Their sect focuses on body refining, but our disciples’ bodies don’t lose out to their ordinary disciples’ bodies. Do you know why?” After Jian Wuxian finished speaking, he suddenly looked at Zhao Jiuge.

“Why?” Zhao Jiuge asked in a meek voice. When he saw Jian Wuxian’s gaze, he suddenly felt like something bad was going to happen.

Jian Wuxian didn’t speak and pointed below the cliff. Zhao Jiuge was filled with doubt and quickly stepped forward to the cliff. He looked down, and what he saw scared him to death.

Over 100 meters below was a cold, green pool. A few bubbles occasionally appeared on the surface and then burst.

Because Zhao Jiuge was at the edge, he caused a few rocks to roll down. When they fell, they didn’t fall into the pool. Instead, when they touched the bubbles, the rocks instantly corroded to ashes, leaving behind smoke and the smell of decay.

Seeing this, how could Zhao Jiuge not be scared to death? If he accidentally fell in, even with his Foundation Realm cultivation, he would be dead without a corpse!

Beside it was a waterfall that looked like a white dragon. The waterfall sounded like an army of charging horses. The white and green formed a sharp contrast. In Zhao Jiuge’s eyes, the green pool was like a bloody mouth ready to devour him. The unknown was the most terrifying. Zhao Jiuge knew that his teacher must have brought him here for a reason. Then he remembered how his teacher had said something about physique, and this made Zhao Jiu feel like something bad was going to happen.

Zhao Jiuge was still just a youth, so it was easy for him to lament about his own insignificance when facing the power of nature. However, for some people, the more they felt like this, the more they would want to control their own fate.

“This is my Mysterious Heaven Sect’s Poison Miasma Swamp.” Jian Wuxian paused for a moment and then continued, “This is also one of the locations with the most dense spirit force in the sect. Over the years, the spirit force has accumulated to a terrifying degree. Then I deliberately dropped a lot of poisonous spirit herbs that combined with the miasma, resulting in the power of this swamp reaching a terrifying degree.”

The mountain wind caused Zhao Jiuge’s robe to flutter. His face was pale and his mouth was dry. He forced himself to swallow and secretly took another glance. Afterward, he no longer wanted to look at it.

Jian Wuxian wasn’t affected and continued, “Jiuge, do you know why out of the countless cultivators, only a few reach the top?”

Zhao Jiuge calmed himself. His voice trembled as he said, “Cultivation method, spells, or talent?” Zhao Jiuge already knew what was going to happen.

Jian Wuxian shook his head. Due to the wind, he looked even more ethereal. “Wrong. It's persistence and willingness to pay the price. It’s one’s neverending belief and determination.”

.

After he finished speaking, he looked at the cold pool below and said, “With your current talent, there is a very slim chance that you will reach far. Drink this Marrow and Meridian Cleansing Soup and jump down.”

Then a small, black jade bottle appeared in Jian Wuxian’s hand. It contained something unknown. However, from the name, it had to be some kind of liquid.

Jian Wuxian didn’t explain what the effect of this soup was, why Zhao Jiuge needed to jump down, or the consequence of jumping down. He only told Zhao Jiuge that if he wanted to advance further, he had to pay a price that ordinary people weren’t willing to pay.

He seemed to have guessed Zhao Jiuge’s fear and added, “Everything is your choice, I won’t force you.” As the mountain wind blew by, his voice became even more ethereal.

Hearing Jian Wuxian’s words, a great battle raged in Zhao Jiuge’s mind. He was hesitant.

Jian Wuxian’s words had moved him. Deep inside his bones, he was willing to pay any price for strength. However, on the other hand, just one look at the pool below him terrified him.

However, Zhao Jiuge didn’t think for too long. He only pondered for a moment before making a decision!