Chapter 87: Gathering

Of course, it wasn’t actually that miraculous. Otherwise, the disciples of the Suitian Sword Sect would only need to drink to comprehend the sword, so why bother swinging and meditating on their blades every day? The Shattered Star Brew sounded impressive, but in truth, it was just a strong alcohol rush that simulated a drunken state of comprehension. To put it bluntly, once you were drunk, anything was possible.

But for sword cultivators, even a sudden flash of inspiration for a sword move could trigger an epiphany. Thus, the price of Shattered Star Brew on the outside market had always remained high. Aged Shattered Star Brew had even fetched astronomical prices at auctions.

Long, long ago, the Suitian Sword Sect had even relied on the sales of Shattered Star Brew to support the sect’s daily expenses. Of course, the current Sword Sect had a massive enterprise and no longer relied entirely on the brew to survive.

“It is said that the recipe for Shattered Star Brew is constantly being improved. The Suitian Sword Sect owns the largest spiritual sword workshop in the cultivation world, practically monopolizing over half of the market for mid-to-high-grade spiritual swords. Rumor has it that the spiritual glow of swords of different grades gives the brewed Shattered Star Brew a different flavor.”

It felt like he had listened to a long speech but learned absolutely nothing. Still, Bian Chunzhou listened with great amusement. “So you’re saying every single bottle of Shattered Star Brew tastes different?”

“Theoretically, yes.”

Bian Chunzhou picked up the cup on the table and sniffed it. It had a very strong, pure aroma. His Gongshang Bistro also sold alcohol, but that was just ordinary liquor, which naturally couldn’t compare to spiritual wine. “Then I must have a proper taste.”

Bian Chunzhou wasn’t much of a drinker. In his past life, he could barely handle beer. After transmigrating to the cultivation world, his two close friends didn’t touch a drop of alcohol either, which meant their hotpot gatherings were always accompanied by freshly squeezed fruit juice. Taking a sudden, deep gulp of this first sip, good grief, it burned straight through his chest and lungs.

“It’s burning! It really burns!”

Bian Chunzhou instantly pushed the wine cup far away. How was this spiritual wine? This was clearly pure firewater!

Chen Zui was startled. “Your face is so red! Are you okay?”

“I… I…” Bian Chunzhou tried hard to suppress the rising heat of the alcohol in his throat. However, immediately after, a dizzying sensation rushed to his head. In an instant, he felt as if someone had dumped a thousand mints into his mouth, sending a chill from his mouth all the way down to his Dantian, so cold that his brain buzzed.

As expected of the Suitian Sword Sect. This wine sounded so light and refreshing, but drinking it was such a scam!

“Do you want some water? Are you alright?”

Bian Chunzhou tried to shake his head, but then, with a loud thud, he collapsed face-first onto the table. He felt like there were a hundred swords swinging over his head. It was so annoying.

Holding a cup of water, Wen Xu immediately turned his head. Seeing this, Bushi quickly raised his hands. “This… this is not this little monk’s fault. The Shattered Star Brew is indeed quite strong, but his tolerance is simply too weak.”

“Really, this little monk does not lie. Look at the senior brothers and sisters from your sect, aren’t they drinking just fine?”

Wen Xu let out an “oh.” “You know full well I can’t see.”

…Ah, a miscalculation. Bushi finally shut up and quietly drank his wine.

After the welcoming feast, the Foundation Establishment and Golden Core disciples participating in the competition returned to their rooms to cultivate, preparing for the Five Sects Conference the day after tomorrow. Although the nine Qi Refining disciples didn’t have to fight, they couldn’t slack off on their cultivation just because they were away from home.

After Wen Xu and Chen Zui sent the drunk Bian Chunzhou back to his room, they also returned to their own rooms to enter meditation.

The 《Jianfeng Sword Art》 he had obtained today was gorgeous and erratic, completely different from the broad, open, and upright styles. It also demanded a great deal from its user. Yet, Wen Xu liked it very much. Unlike the simple, direct, and easy-to-learn 《Nine Revolutions Sword Art》, although the 《Jianfeng Sword Art》 also had only nine forms, every single form was extremely tricky.

This was undoubtedly a fast sword art. The primary requirement for the user was the utilization of wind, followed by being fast enough.

After his duel with Chen Zui, many people had praised his sword for being extremely fast. Having heard it so often, he had also come to believe his sword was a fast one. But yesterday, under the Shattering Heaven Sword Light, the way he clumsily swung his sword had been truly pathetic.

Was he fast? Perhaps. But there were plenty of people with faster swords than him, and he was still far from mastering the Jianfeng Sword Art. Once this trip ended and they returned to Yonglu Mountain, his master would surely hear about him obtaining the Sutian Sword opportunity. If his master asked him to demonstrate the sword art then, and he was still as clumsy as he had been during the day… Just thinking about it, Wen Xu felt he couldn’t afford to lose face.

Practice! He had to practice! He had to practice like his life depended on it!

Thus, after ending a day and night of “friendly socializing,” a certain Sect Master surnamed Gu returned to the Guest Peak where they were staying, exhausted. Unlike Yonglu Mountain, the Suitian Sword Sect was located at the northern end of the continent, where the freezing weather was practically torture for ordinary people.

Even low-level cultivators wouldn’t be foolish enough to cultivate outside at night.

Gu Wufang rubbed his eyes. Well, look at that, it was a disciple robe from his own sect. Working so hard? He couldn’t help but weep tears of joy in his heart. Actually, there was no need to push so hard for the Five Sects Conference. After all, Yonglu Mountain was middling, better than the worst, but worse than the best.

“Huh? Little Martial Uncle?” Was this… Could he have been played by some old friend of the Dragon Venerable?

As the saying goes, laymen watch for entertainment while experts look for the craft. Although Gu Wufang didn’t practice the sword, he was already at the Soul Transformation realm, so his judgment was naturally top-tier. After watching for a short while, he roughly guessed that this was the opportunity of the Suitian Divine Sword.

This sword art was truly tailored for a Wind Spiritual Root. Its form was ethereal, its power erratic, its moves like mist, and its intent formless. He had originally thought that the potential of the Wind Spiritual Root had been fully exhausted by Divine Venerable Jun Zhaoying, but his Little Martial Uncle had taken a completely different path of cultivation. This way, if the Hehe Sect wanted to poach him, they wouldn’t have a leg to stand on.

How could anyone say Yonglu Mountain wasted talent? Look how well he was learning, even if the sword technique was a complimentary gift from the Suitian Divine Sword.

Excellent, now he had the energy to bicker with those old fogeys tomorrow. Gu Wufang rubbed his hands with a smile and strolled back to his room.

The next day, the entrance of the Suitian Sword Sect became even more bustling.

The gathering of the Five Great Sects at the Suitian Sword Sect was a grand event in the cultivation world. On such an occasion, if one could take the stage and catch the eye of some mighty figure, it would be like a carp leaping over the dragon gate^[1]. Although the chances were slim, cultivators fought heaven for fame and would never let any opportunity slip by.

However, they had not been invited by the Suitian Sword Sect, so they could only stay in the outer sect area.

But even if it was just the outer sect, being able to wander around a major sect was still something to be thrilled about. Along the way, they could watch the disciples of a great sect cultivate, and maybe even steal a trick or two.

“Oh, come off it. If the skills of a major sect could be learned that easily, you’d have founded your own sect by now.”

“You never know. What if a miracle happens, right?”

“Sure, sure, keep dreaming of miracles. I heard that when Yonglu Mountain arrived yesterday, the Shattering Heaven Sword Light rained down. I wonder which lucky genius got that opportunity.”

“…How would we know? I heard the square was incredibly lively yesterday. Huh? It’s pretty lively today, too. Which sect is arriving now?”

The two couldn’t resist following the crowd to see the commotion. Only when they got closer did they realize that the Pavilion Master of the Tianji Pavilion had arrived with his disciples.

“Man, when will I get a good master? Rumor has it that the Pavilion Master of the Tianji Pavilion understands the Yin and Yang of heaven and earth. I wonder if it’s true?”

“…You’re asking me? I’m just a frog at the bottom of a well myself.”

Brother, there was really no need to have such a painfully clear self-awareness. As rogue cultivators, they were still much better off than ordinary mortals.

The Tianji Pavilion was the most prestigious sect below the Five Great Sects. However, it was not known for its martial prowess. Instead, it focused on “knowing the secrets of heaven and comprehending the world.” Rumor had it that long ago, the previous Pavilion Master had earnestly invited a certain divine dragon to succeed him, but the dragon had flatly refused with a single sentence: “Too tiring.”

The current Pavilion Master was named Qin Guan. He looked like a middle-aged man, wearing a Daoist robe with an otherworldly, immortal air, carrying the grand aura of a state preceptor^[2]. Walking behind him were his two personal disciples. Notably, one of them was only at the seventh layer of Qi Refining.

“Old Qin, a new disciple?”

As the host Sect Master, Tang Ji naturally came forward to greet him immediately. Compared to dealing with that slippery fellow from Yonglu Mountain, he was certainly more willing to chat with Qin Guan, even though… Qin Guan often said things he didn’t like to hear.

Qin Guan was upright and disliked jokes. Hearing this, he said, “Sect Master Tang, this is my junior sister, Xin Ci.”

Xin Ci possessed a face as beautiful as a lotus, and she wore the robes of Tianji Pavilion. She looked as awe-inspiring as a goddess from the heavens. Hearing his words, she bowed and said softly, “Xin Ci greets Sect Master Tang.”

What was this? Had it become a trend for these old monsters in the cultivation world to take in disciples lately?

First came Yonglu Mountain’s Little Grand-Uncle Master, and right on his heels was Tianji Pavilion’s junior sister. Tang Ji couldn’t help but glance in the direction of the Suitian Divine Sword. Fortunately, no sword light descended this time.

“So it is Junior Sister Xin Ci. No need for such pleasantries, please come inside.”

While the big shots were busy socializing and the competing disciples were busy training, the minor disciples had a much easier time. When Bian Chunzhou woke up early this morning, he didn’t have a splitting headache from a hangover, but…

“This is bullying! Absolute bullying! Last night, a hundred swords were bullying me in my dreams! They held my head down and forced me to practice swordplay! It was torture, absolute torture!”

Wen Xu fell silent for a moment, then handed over a cup of warm water. “Is there a possibility that you were actually comprehending the sword and cultivating your sword path?”

Bian Chunzhou took it and gulped it down. “Impossible! Absolutely impossible!”

“Huh? Where is Chen Zuizui?”

“Him? He finished his saber practice this morning and eagerly went looking for someone to fight. Judging by the direction, he probably went toward the Hehe Sect.”

Bian Chunzhou couldn’t help but look outside. “…You didn’t stop him?”

“Why stop him? Besides, I couldn’t have stopped him even if I tried.”

Bian Chunzhou thought about it and realized he was right. Then, his interest was piqued. “How about we go take a look too? Wait, can you go out right now?” This wasn’t Yonglu Mountain. Wen Xuxu had a special identity, and with yesterday’s Shattering Heaven Sword Light, there was no telling…

“I can. Besides, even if I don’t go out, someone will come looking for me.”

Yesterday’s encounter with Bushi was only the beginning. After all, there were thirty pages. Wen Xu had long prepared himself mentally.

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. Wen Xu highly suspected that this person had been waiting at the courtyard gate since early morning. “I heard Fellow Daoist Bushi has just reached Foundation Establishment. Do you not need to stabilize your cultivation?”

Bushi thought to himself that this man really held a grudge, still remembering how he had gotten Junior Brother Bian drunk yesterday. “Benefactor Wen, you are mistaken. When it comes to Foundation Establishment, it differs for a thousand different people, and varies for ten thousand others. For this poor monk, this moment is the best way to consolidate my cultivation.”

“Benefactor, you appear to be a man of great learning. Have you ever heard these words?” Bushi recited a Buddhist verse. “Like a monk with hair, like a layman without dust, dreaming a dream within a dream, seeing a body outside the body.^[3] The reverse of these words is also true.”

Since coming to the cultivation world, Wen Xu had received a lot of kindness. But the Bushi before him, despite having no prior connection, repeatedly offered him guidance. Did he really look that lost?

Wen Xu replied, “I have never heard of it.”

Bushi: “…”