Chapter 566: Hidden Sword Gathering Spirit Stance

He swept his Divine Sense, confirmed that the three were unharmed, then lightly tapped his fingers, and three Demon Beast demon cores slowly floated into his hand.

"If you are unharmed, return to the Sect early."

"Tha...thank you, Senior Brother, for saving us!"

"May I ask, Senior Brother..."

"Senior Brother!"

Ignoring the distant thanks of these Disciples, Song Yan left Xiawei Peak directly.

He hadn’t specifically traveled thousands of miles to save these unfamiliar fellow Disciples.

His purpose for this trip was the Shadow Cat Demon’s demon core in his hand; he had just happened to come across that Junior Brother’s distress Talisman and, out of curiosity, came to take a look.

Unexpectedly, there really was a cat demon.

"Finally, I’ve gathered six demon cores. I can go back and report."

This task was truly not simple. Although the Shadow Cat Demon was not strong, it could really run. The first three were fine; the Shadow Cat Demon’s killing intent was strong and easily sensed by Song Yan’s Divine Sense.

After that, these Demon Beasts became quiet and reclusive, making Song Yan spend three to five days searching the Yanran Mountain Range.

Fortunately, he had now gathered them all and could return to the Sect to report.

More than three months had passed since Song Yan comprehended the embryonic form of his Dao Heart from the Eight Directions Returning Origin Sword Post, and he had finally recovered to the fifth level of Qi Refining Realm.

He had even made some progress compared to before his cultivation was scattered and he re-Cultivated.

Since that day, in addition to accumulating spiritual power and refining Sword Qi through daily Cultivation, Song Yan had also earnestly practiced some sword control techniques from the Essentials of Swordsmanship.

One of these methods, which couldn’t truly be called a sword technique, was a secret stance technique for concentrating one’s spirit, restraining one’s aura, and concealing one’s sharpness.

It was called the "Hidden Sword Gathering Spirit Stance."

It allowed one to conceal one’s own Realm’s Spiritual Pressure and aura, preventing others from discerning one’s cultivation.

However, Song Yan did not conceal his Realm within the Sect.

After all, it had been more than two years since he joined the Sect, and the fifth level of Qi Refining Realm could only be considered average; if the time spent on re-Cultivation was included, it was even a bit slow.

And the fact that his Realm had recovered would eventually be exposed, so it was better to be open about it from the start.

If he were to travel alone outside the Sect in the future, this would be a very practical stance technique.

Another move was the sword control technique for slaying enemies that Song Yan had diligently practiced and studied daily, the "Cloud Piercing Sword."

This move possessed considerable power, and its consumption was also significant.

Most of the other sword control techniques recorded in the Essentials of Swordsmanship pursued the ultimate single sword strike, a single sword breaking all techniques.

However, those sword techniques generally had high requirements for the Sword Cultivator’s comprehension of Sword Intent and the refinement level of their Natal Flying Sword.

The Cloud Piercing Sword, however, was different; it only required a sufficiently powerful Divine Sense to split into several Sword Qi, which could then be controlled individually to achieve astonishing power.

Although the variations within it were also quite complex, Song Yan wholeheartedly immersed himself in the application methods mentioned and exemplified in the Essentials of Swordsmanship.

His idea was very simple: since he was a beginner, it was not advisable to be greedy for quick success.

He chose a highly versatile sword technique, took a down-to-earth approach, step by step.

Only after mastering it to the pinnacle would he consider practicing the next sword move.

Perhaps it was a clumsy method, but its effects were significant.

Over three to four months, practicing the same sword move repeatedly, day after day, he had naturally achieved Minor Achievement.

After Song Yan left, the three of them quickly supported each other and descended Xiawei Peak.

"That Senior Brother looks unfamiliar; I don’t seem to have seen him before..."

"Among the many Cultivators in the Outer Sect, is there such a powerful Senior Brother...?"

Song Yan’s Daoist robe was no different from what the three of them wore, so they also knew he was an Outer Sect Disciple.

"I think I’ve seen him somewhere... Hmm..."

The honest young man thought hard: "Ah, yes, I saw him in the Modao Courtyard."

"At that time, Senior Brother Sun even said that his calligraphy was like his person, and that this Senior Brother’s state of mind was becoming more and more tranquil and clear, and so on..."

The young man pondered thoughtfully, then said after a moment, "Senior Brother was righteous and awe-inspiring, but we must not forget our manners. If there’s an opportunity, let’s visit him to express our gratitude."

"Okay."

...Song Yan walked out of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall and went straight back to his Immortal Cave.

Outside the Immortal Cave, there was a transmission Talisman.

"Hmm?"

He was a little puzzled; he had few friends in the Sect, and he had already exceeded his Sect tasks these past few days. At this juncture, who would be looking for him?

A surge of spiritual power was poured into it, and the transmission Talisman opened.

"An anomaly has occurred in Linxi County. Disciples are dispatched to investigate. Gather at the Entrance Plaza mountain gate at three-quarters past the hour of Si today."

"List of dispatched Disciples: Qin Ying, Li Qingfeng, Song Yesheng."

The person speaking was a woman, with a clear and cold voice, unfamiliar to Song Yan.

"Qin Ying?"

It sounded somewhat familiar. After pondering for a long time, Song Yan suddenly realized.

"This should be that peerless Genius, the favored daughter of heaven among the Inner Sect Disciples, who established her Dao Foundation at the age of twenty-nine."

Perhaps due to the special nature of the task, the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall even issued a permit to leave the Sect.

The permit was in the form of a Talisman, in duplicate. The copy kept in the Sect was reportedly to check whether temporarily out-of-Sect Disciples encountered any danger.

"A Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator leading the team, and a life-bound Talisman? What kind of urgent matter is this?"

Song Yan thought for a moment, did not enter his Immortal Cave, but turned and headed straight for the Lingyuanze Market.

The Relief Grocery Store hadn’t changed at all. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Pushing the door open, Granny Qin still had that lazy look. No matter when he came, Granny Qin would be there, as if she didn’t need to Cultivate, but was instead devoted to leisure.

"Oh, isn’t this our Ye Sheng? What wind blew you, our distinguished guest, here?"

It was good.

Granny Qin’s sarcastic tone hadn’t changed either.

Qin Xijun lightly tapped her finger, and a cup of spiritual tea moved in front of Song Yan.

"Eight or nine months have passed, and today you finally remembered this old woman?"

Speaking of which, ever since the Jiran Valley incident ended, apart from coming to the grocery store once to sell some Spiritual Artifacts and Talismans, he had indeed focused entirely on Cultivation and hadn’t returned here.

"Oh, it’s like this, Granny. I have some things to sell, and I want to buy some things incidentally."

Song Yan rummaged through his qiankun bag, completely oblivious to the rapidly changing expression on Qin Xijun’s face.

"..."

By the time Song Yan came to his senses, he had already been sent out of the shop.

Bang!

The door closed, just like before.

"I’m in a bad mood today, so I’m not entertaining guests!"

"Oh, Granny, don’t! In a moment, I’ll be leaving the Sect to slay demons and eliminate evil. I’m utterly penniless now, so I’m afraid the outcome will be more bad than good!"

Song Yan spoke with increasing gravity, as if not being allowed into the door meant certain death outside.

"Hmm? What task...?"

The door indeed opened.

"Hehehe..."

Song Yan chuckled, "I don’t know, but it’s definitely extremely dangerous, Granny! This isn’t a joke; the leader is actually a Foundation Establishment Realm Inner Sect Disciple!"

"Oh?"

Qin Xijun frowned.

"Who?"

"I know her, but she doesn’t know me. Senior Sister Qin Ying from the Inner Sect..."

"..."

Song Yan didn’t see the expression on Qin Xijun’s face. He set out his items, then rubbed his hands.

"Hehe, Granny, that half-broken Talisman you picked up at the Night Market last time, you can’t use it for now anyway, so... can I borrow it?"

The last time he came, Qin Xijun mentioned that she had found a half-broken protective Talisman at the Lingyuan Ze Night Market, which could withstand a full-strength attack from a Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator, but only once.

This task looked dangerous, and if he could borrow it, it would be an insurance policy.

"Look, it’s like this: if I don’t use it, I’ll return it to you when I come back. If I do use it..."

Before Song Yan could continue, Qin Xijun spoke, "If you use it, you little brat, you’ll have to work like an ox for me, and it won’t be over until you’ve done two hundred... three hundred Spirit Stones worth of work."

"Take the Talisman and get out now!"

"..."

Song Yan carefully put away the azure spiritual Talisman and happily returned.

Qin Xijun lay in her chair, "This brat, he has no conscience at all. It’s a waste of my worry for his safety and my efforts to arrange things for him back then."

After being angry for a while, it subsided.

After all, Song Yan didn’t know the details, only thinking of her, "Granny Qin," as someone who dealt in spiritual goods.

"However, it seems this brat is fine. In less than a year, he has re-Cultivated his Realm."

Qin Xijun also felt a little relieved.

It was not uncommon for some Cultivators to have their Realm fall for various reasons, such as being severely injured from exhaustion in a fight, or accidentally taking some spirit-scattering wonder medicine, and so on.

If the Foundation was not damaged, normal Cultivation and Realm recovery would be at this speed, neither fast nor slow.

"Sigh."

She sighed, repeatedly muttering that name.

"Qin Ying."