Chapter Thirty: Grueling Training

“Master, are you sure it’s safe here?” Lu Han asked anxiously. With so many of Zheng Qi’s men, it would be easy for them to find this place.

“Relax. Did you forget how they tracked you before? I used the same trick to lead them elsewhere. It won’t be easy for them to find us here,” the old man Ling said with a hint of pride.

“Kid, I told you before, I only did that to test you. Even if I hadn’t, sooner or later they would have caught you anyway,” Ling explained quickly, seeing Lu Han’s unhappy expression.

Whenever Lu Han recalled his previous capture, anger welled up inside him, but remembering what he had gained, he forced himself to let it go. Besides, he’d ended up with a master at a bargain.

“Now it’s time to guide your cultivation. From today, you must carry Bilu sword on your back at all times,” Ling instructed. According to the old man, keeping Bilu on his back would require Lu Han to constantly channel his energy, which was exhausting but greatly beneficial for his training, and especially helpful for mastering Heavenly Garment.

“Heavenly Garment forms a layer of energy gauze around your body. It demands a high degree of balance in your internal force, with every part receiving exactly equal energy. I have a shortcut, if you wish to try it,” Ling said with a mischievous smile.

“Master, what’s the shortcut?” Lu Han asked nervously, sensing from Ling’s expression that it probably wasn’t something pleasant.

According to Ling, Heavenly Garment was merely the first volume; the energy gauze would only cover the upper body and arms. For someone at Lu Han’s stage, it was still too strenuous to cultivate, so external assistance was necessary.

Ling himself would be that external force. First, Lu Han would form the gauze according to Heavenly Garment, then Ling would help him temper its balance. By “tempering”, he meant whipping.

“Master, isn’t there another way?” Lu Han pleaded, his face drawn.

“There is—you could take half a year or a year to cultivate slowly. But Zheng Qi, unable to find you, would wait at the foot of the mountain. Do you plan to hide in Cloud Crystal Mountain forever? Don’t forget about your family’s annual meeting…”

“Fine, let it be,” Lu Han cut him off before Ling could finish.

Ling was right. Lu Han didn’t have time to waste. He had to train hard. Even if he couldn’t defeat Zheng Qi, at least he needed to escape him, so he could leave Qingshi Town for Maple Leaf City. With his current strength, he was no match for Zheng Qi.

It was unrealistic to reach the ninth stage of Later Heaven in a short time, so he had to focus on Heavenly Garment and Sword Ground Ice Lotus.

A young man shed his shirt and sat on the ground, his sword-like brows and starry eyes, nose chiseled as if by a knife, his youthful face contorted in pain. Before him, a transparent old man wielded a whip of energy, lashing the boy’s back, wrists, and arms. This was Lu Han and the old Ling.

“Kid, that’s enough for today,” Ling said, satisfied that although Lu Han was in pain, he hadn’t uttered a sound.

It was the third day already, and Lu Han was doing even better than Ling had expected.

Lu Han picked up the Bilu sword lying across his legs and stood, gritting his teeth. Though the gauze protected him, his body bore many whip marks.

“Here, eat this and you’ll be fine.” The deep blue ring flashed, and a pea-sized pill flew out.

Lu Han took the pill but didn’t swallow it. Instead, he asked, “Master, you have so many pills—are there any that can raise my strength?”

Ling looked at his hopeful expression and replied, “There are, but if you take them, the ninth stage of Innate will be your final limit.”

“To ascend in one leap always comes at a price. A warrior must build a solid foundation, step by step, to go further on the path of cultivation,” Ling admonished him.

“Relying on pills for advancement leaves your combat power inferior to others at the same level, and causes severe side effects. Of course, there are some miraculous pills, but sadly, your master doesn’t have any.” Ling spread his hands.

Lu Han was growing restless. He had only just begun to understand Heavenly Garment, and he desperately wanted to return to Maple Leaf City to tell his father everything—to tell his mother he was still alive.

“Don’t be impatient, kid. Your progress is already rapid. As for Sword Ground Ice Lotus, remember—it’s my own creation. With me here, what do you have to fear?” Ling tried to comfort him, understanding Lu Han’s feelings.

Lu Han walked to the fire, donned his tattered white robe, which after days of running through the mountains was now in ruins. He strapped Bilu sword onto his back again and sat down with his eyes closed. The pill Ling had given him needed to be absorbed quickly—tomorrow would bring even tougher training.

Ling watched Lu Han slip into meditation, then returned to his deep blue ring.

Lu Han practiced sword by day and cultivated Heavenly Garment by night, and in a blink, ten days passed.

“Han, you’ve mastered the fundamentals of swordplay. Now you can attempt to cultivate Sword Ground Ice Lotus,” Ling said with surprise—Lu Han seemed to possess a special talent for swordsmanship. Even Ling himself had taken a month to master the basics, and this made him quite pleased.

“I can start?” Lu Han was excited. He’d thought he could begin training Sword Ground Ice Lotus directly, but Ling had made him practice basic sword moves—thrust, slash, lift, cloud, hang, and collapse. At last, he could try a martial technique.

“Han, as a reward for your hard work, I’ll give you a great gift.” Ling formed a sword gesture and pointed it at Lu Han’s brow.

Lu Han’s mind exploded.

He saw a middle-aged man in a brocade robe, striding like a dragon and tiger, wielding a three-foot sword, wind whirling at his feet.

Suddenly, the man’s sword erupted with a dazzling icy blue light. He shouted, “Sword Ground Ice Lotus!”

His foot struck the ground, launching him into the air. With a flip, his body arched downward, sword pointed toward the earth.

Hissss…

The man held his downward pose as the sword plunged halfway into the ground. Within a hundred meters, everything froze, centered on the sword, forming a lotus shape.

A chilling blow—terrifying to behold!

“Was Master really this powerful?” Lu Han whispered as he slowly opened his eyes.

“Well, Han, what do you think? Not bad, eh?” Ling said proudly. This move was nearly at the earth-level of martial arts, his masterpiece.

“I never imagined you were so heroic in your younger days.” Lu Han teased, seeing Ling’s self-satisfied expression.

“That’s right! Back then… ah, forget it, that’s all in the past. Don’t ask about it again.” Ling clearly didn’t wish to recall old memories. Even to his disciple, he hadn’t revealed his full name, only saying his surname was Ling.

Far away, in the palace of the Great Xia Empire.

A noblewoman wearing a black veil and dressed in purple court robes, her long black hair cascading to her waist, walked slowly into the main hall and knelt before the screen. “Father, you summoned me—what is it?”

“Qingcheng, recently there have been strange phenomena in heaven and earth. The ancestor said the signs were to the west. You visited the small western city of Maple Leaf last time. I order you to investigate. If you discover anything, report to me immediately.” The authoritative voice behind the screen brooked no refusal.

“Yes, Father.”

“Sword Ground Ice Lotus!”

“Ah!”

Bang…

Ling watched as Lu Han repeatedly failed in the distance and shook his head.

“This silly boy thinks an advanced Xuan-level martial art is so easy to master.”

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