Several days later.
Inside the cave dwelling, Lü Yang sat upright on his meditation cushion, his right hand forming a seal. A point of spiritual light condensed at his fingertip, finally transforming into a thin, cicada-wing-like white bone flying sword. The sword gleamed bluish-white, humming with a sound like rolling thunder.
"Go!"
Lü Yang flicked his finger. The white bone flying sword instantly transformed into a magnificent streak of light several meters long, shooting out with a roar like thunder splitting the sky!
"An excellent sword technique!"
A hint of joy appeared on Lü Yang's face. He changed his sword seal, and the white bone flying sword immediately split into two streaks of light mid-air. The next moment, Lü Yang's figure vanished from his original spot, as if teleporting, directly reappearing where one of the sword lights had been. As his sword technique shifted, his figure seemed to transform into a bolt of lightning, freely maneuvering between the two streaks of sword light.
After a long while, Lü Yang finally stopped, his face full of excitement.
"Magnificent! Truly a magnificent Divine Firmament Sword Control Art!"
This sword technique was deceptively simple. After mastery, the practitioner could create sword light and then instantly teleport into it.
The greater the magical power, the farther the teleportation distance.
If the Pavilion Master of the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion were to execute it personally, he could sit within the pavilion and, with a single sword strike, teleport thousands of li, effortlessly taking an enemy's head with a smile.
This was only the initial transformation of the technique.
It was said that at higher levels, the sword light could truly manifest the power of Divine Firmament Thunder. Unfortunately, that part of the technique was beyond Lü Yang's reach.
Not that he couldn't obtain it, but rather, Yun Miaoqing herself didn't know it.
This was normal. A complete Divine Firmament Sword Control True Technique would never be bought for a mere 1,000 contribution points—10,000 would be more like it.
"Hmph. Utterly stupid."
A cold laugh came from behind. Lü Yang turned to see the woman from the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion looking at him with a mixture of disgust, disdain, and contempt.
After several days together, Lü Yang had come to understand her better.
The woman was named Yun Miaoqing, an inner disciple of the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion, a student of the Shenxiao Zhenren, specializing in the Shenxiao Sword Control True Technique, and once possessing a cultivation at the sixth level of the Qi Chain Realm.
Lü Yang looked at Yun Miaoqing curiously. "Did I execute the sword technique incorrectly?"
Yun Miaoqing turned her head away. "Do you think I would tell you? Demonic fiend, even if you stole my sword technique, you're merely aping it!"
"Why be like this?"
Lü Yang shook his head, walked up to Yun Miaoqing, and said helplessly, "Are you sure you won't tell me? Or must I use that method again?"
"You—!"
A blush instantly spread across Yun Miaoqing's delicate face. Her beautiful eyes glared momentarily before she snapped back to reality, staring at Lü Yang with hatred.
"It's just demonic sorcery. Do you think I would yield?"
"You say that, but you've already yielded once." Lü Yang pointed to the mark on Yun Miaoqing's chest. "You haven't forgotten, have you?"
"You're talking nonsense!"
Looking at the mark on her body, Yun Miaoqing bit her lip in humiliation. "That time… you merely took advantage of my moment of weakness!"
As she spoke, she gripped the pendant around her neck—an exquisitely crafted white jade sword. It was a magic sword only disciples of the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion possessed, serving the same purpose as Lü Yang's disciple token.
"I am a disciple of the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion, sworn enemies with the demonic path. That will never change!"
"No matter how powerful your demonic arts, they cannot sway a heart bewitched by evil forces."
"My loyalty to the Sword Pavilion will never waver."
"I swear upon my magic sword!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Yun Miaoqing gritted her teeth, her gaze fixed firmly on Lü Yang, like a pure lotus rooted in mud yet unstained by filth.
Another day passed.
Inside the cave, Lü Yang sat cross-legged on his cushion, palms facing upward.
After a long while, Lü Yang finally let out a heavy sigh. Simultaneously, Yun Miaoqing raised her swan-like neck and released a long, leisurely breath.
"You've actually grasped the Divine Firmament Sword Control Art quite well. There are no major issues. Any problems lie in external aspects," Yun Miaoqing said weakly, her face flushed.
Under Lü Yang's "severe interrogation," she had finally begged for mercy. When Lü Yang questioned her again, she merely snorted coldly before obediently explaining:
"Disciples of our Sword Pavilion, upon reaching the Qi Chain Realm, use a secret sect method to extract metallic essence. With the aid of various external medicines, we refine a Sword Pellet. All Sword Pavilion techniques require the Sword Pellet's assistance to unleash their full power. The higher the Sword Pellet's quality, the greater the technique's might."
After Yun Miaoqing's explanation, Lü Yang finally understood.
Currently, his cultivation of the Divine Firmament Sword Control Art only allowed him to generate two streaks of sword light, with effects limited to teleportation. While his speed increased, his offensive power was lacking.
However, with the addition of a Sword Pellet, the number of sword lights Lü Yang could generate would at least double. Simultaneously, he could merge with the Sword Pellet, unleashing astonishing strikes while maneuvering within the sword light, granting him a significant advantage in combat.
In direct confrontation, Lü Yang only needed to control the Sword Pellet and scatter sword lights in all directions. His opponent, surrounded by sword light, would be trapped as if in a net.
Afterward, no matter what methods the opponent used, Lü Yang could easily evade and attack from another angle, forcing them into constant defense. After several rounds, the opponent would inevitably reveal a fatal flaw. Then, a single powerful strike would seal their fate.
"Therefore, the disciples of the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion are unrivaled in combat throughout Jiangnan!"
At this point, a proud expression appeared on Yun Miaoqing's face.
However, the next second, as Lü Yang applied forceful pressure, the pride on her face vanished, replaced by a blush as she couldn't help but let out a soft moan.
Yun Miaoqing tightly closed her beautiful eyes, silently waiting. But after a moment, she realized Lü Yang had stopped moving. She twisted restlessly for a bit, then opened her eyes again.
"Demonic fiend, you…"
Lü Yang stood up and changed his clothes. "So it was a lack of a Sword Pellet. I know the refining method as well. Alright, that's enough for you. Go rest."
Yun Miaoqing: "???"
Suddenly separated, all that remained on Yun Miaoqing's face was confusion.
A lie? It was over already?
What about the dual cultivation?
The next moment, she suddenly came to her senses and subconsciously gripped the magic sword at her neck. "No… this is for the best. I am a disciple of the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion."
"I need to make some money."
Walking out of the cave, Lü Yang began pondering the future.
"I only have 50 contribution points left. After deducting 30 for this month's cave rent, if I don't earn more, I'll have to move back to the Huan Palace next month."
Within the Chu Sheng Sect, there were many ways to earn contribution points.
These included, but were not limited to: holding various positions within the sect, selling personal items, completing bounties, and undertaking sect missions.
"But for a disciple like me—no backing, no assets, no strength—I have no connections to secure a sect position. Most of my personal items are worthless, and I can't afford high-priced bounties. My only option is to take on sect missions and work for the sect to scrape by."
Lü Yang grew increasingly irritated.
I'm cultivating immortality, and I still have to work a day job?