novelraw Chapter 120: The fight isn't over
Chapter 120: The fight isn't over
Once perched, the roc turned its head towards Wuyi, seemingly recognizing him. "Raaawwwk," it vocalized, appearing pleased.
A smile crept onto Wuyi's face; the creature seemed to like him. "We're both outsiders, little one," Wuyi mused, resuming his pacing but now cradling his left arm with his right due to the bird's unexpected weight.
Returning to the window, Wuyi studied the painting for cultivation techniques. Another question dawned on him: if such a method was left in public view, what else might be hidden here? There were some books on the window sill that he had only glanced at briefly during his initial visit, dismissing them as uninteresting. Now, he started examining them more carefully.
Wuyi began going through each tome kept there. Crafted with exquisite skill, featuring intricate calligraphy, ornate illustrations, and gold embellishments, the volumes were compilations of the lives of the Ancestors of the Lotus sect—a subject that initially held no appeal for Wuyi. Yet, his recent experience with painting compelled him to take a closer look.
The statue of knowledge spun again, releasing energy to enhance his vision. When he started reading, the manual that caught Wuyi's eye depicted the life of the Immortal Guanyin. The ink drawings in it were vivid and captivating, not just characters but hidden images, each one depicting Immortal Guanyin practicing the Emperor Path cultivation method, the same method that was shown in the painting.
Wuyi hurriedly scanned each page, taking mental pictures of each image. Chuckling to himself, he moved on to the second tome.
To outsiders, these might seem like mere biographies of ancestors, but in truth, they were manuals of their cultivation techniques. Wuyi delved deep, taking mental pictures of each method mentioned in the books and paintings of ancestors in the hall. He was determined to absorb it all.
His thoughts were interrupted when the door to the private chambers of the Pavilion Mistress opened. The Monk hurried out, his hands clenched and his expression stern. Following him, Lady Xueyan chuckled softly. "I never thought you'd be interested in the life of our ancestors," she said, her eyes resting fondly on the young roc perched nearby.
"I'm amazed that such poor quality paper would be used by such skilled artists," Wuyi commented, flipping through another manual without revealing any expression that might betray his true intentions. "If this little bird is yours, you're braver than I initially thought," Wuyi said, smoothly changing the topic.
"Is that so?" Lady Xueyan replied. "He is not mine; we are supposed to care for him, but he is a handful for my little disciples." She looked at the bird affectionately as it fluttered on its perch. "As for the manuals, I don't think the paper is of bad quality; it's just that they have aged and not been kept in proper care over the thousands of years." Her smile hinted at a hidden secret.
Wuyi gave her a curious look, wondering if she knew the truth. But then Lady Xueyan smiled warmly, "We do have a library, you know. You're welcome to explore it during your stay. We have an extensive collection. But instead of biography manuals, I would suggest trying the cultivation manuals that could help your cultivation reach the level of Soul General."
Soul General was a new cultivation level that Wuyi heard of for the first time. He started contemplating: if Qi condensation was for Qi masters, Foundation establishment was called Qi lord, core formation was known as War Duke, and golden core was referred to as War King Level, then Soul General must mean the Nascent Soul level of cultivation.
Wuyi immediately realized she knew; she was aware that the paintings and books were special and that he had figured it out. She was essentially telling him that it was okay, but these cultivation techniques were too difficult for him to practice, so she suggested he try a cultivation technique of a lower level first. Wuyi offered a modest bow, locking eyes with the pavilion mistress.
"Would you be shocked if I told you that your sect's forebears don't really intrigue me? It's their cultivation that intrigues me. I think I would like to try their cultivation technique that I learned here. Nascent Soul cultivation is honestly not of my interest. I would be interested in the immortal techniques of the forefathers of your sect."
The Lady stared at him, bewildered. This youth, who had only controlled a handful of rogue cultivators, was dismissing Nascent Soul level as if that level was insignificant. Did he grasp the power that came with that stage? A Nascent Soul cultivator, or a Soul General, could single-handedly vanquish an entire battalion.
More importantly, another question that intrigued the pavilion mistress was how did he read the hidden ancient language in the manuals? Those characters were something not anyone could read; they were older than the ancient Zenith text.
She gave a dismissive shrug. "Go ahead, young master black, boast all you want. The heavens still favor you. You've made remarkable progress in your cultivation at such a young age; perhaps you'll even touch the Nascent Soul phase one day, maybe more. That's the aspiration of every sect and its cultivators," she offered with a half-smile.
"I apologize—I'd relish a sparring session, but I'm caught up in a household crisis. Shall we proceed?" She gestured toward the cushions. "You're still donned in your Qi armor cloak, I see."
"The fight isn't over," Wuyi responded, sitting cross-legged.
"You've slain the creatures. Know that we're thankful. I regret my earlier tone, especially considering you lost valuable men and were quite effective," she said, her voice softening. "Moreover, you've completed your task before the new month—and before the fair begins."
Wuyi pulled a grim face. "Madam, I'd be honored to earn your respect, and nothing would please me more than to hear you say sorry." He shrugged. "But I didn't come here for a sparring match. I thought you were making me wait to instill some humility in me."
She glanced at her palms. "You could benefit from some humility, but I have other pressing matters today. Otherwise, I'd gladly school you in etiquette. Now, why do you think you're undeserving of my respect?"
"We did eliminate two creatures," he conceded, his tone grave. "But they weren't the ones responsible for Elder Xingchen's death."