Zhu Xian: They've all been reborn

Slow down my ass!

Jiang Xiaochuan clutched his head, groaned, and curled up into a ball. What kind of mess is this?!

Little White wandered back from somewhere, jumped onto the rock, tilted its head to look at him, its eyes full of "Look at how pathetic you are."

"...What are you looking at!" Jiang Xiaochuan glared at it irritably.

Little White flicked its tail, lay down, rested its head on its paws, and closed its eyes. It seemed to be saying: "I'll bear the consequences of my own actions."

The days... seem to have really just slowly passed by.

Six months is neither a long nor a short time. The grass turned yellow and then green again, and the snow on the mountain accumulated and then melted.

Zhang Xiaofan finally managed to complete the first level of the Taiji Xuanqing Dao incantation, albeit with some difficulty. A faint but definite wisp of Qi, barely thicker than a hair, appeared within his body. It took him almost a year to reach the first level of Yuqing.

When Tian Buyi checked, he grunted in response, neither saying it was good nor bad, and simply told him to keep practicing.

This speed is similar to Jiang Xiaochuan's back then—ordinary, even a bit slow.

But Zhang Xiaofan himself was quite happy. A simple smile appeared on his dark face. He rubbed his hands together and went into the kitchen to think about whether to stew the fresh mushrooms picked from the back mountain or braise the wild rabbit he hunted yesterday.

Lin Jingyu was different. This kid was like a dried-up sponge, desperately absorbing everything. He practiced the hardest, asked the most questions, and made the fastest progress.

In just six months, he went from barely touching the first level to reaching the peak of the second level of Jade Purity, and it seemed that the third level was not far away. He performed a set of introductory fist techniques with great force, occasionally drawing in spiritual energy, and his fists could be seen to emit a faint blue light.

The way Tian Buyi looked at him was like a miser seeing a piece of uncut, exquisite jade; even his stern face couldn't help but light up.

He became increasingly devoted to giving guidance, sometimes even personally sparring with the young master, the two of them sparring in front of Shoujing Hall, raising dust high. He Dazhi privately murmured to Du Bishu that his master probably cared more about the Eighth Brother than he had for his eldest brother back then.

Du Bishu chuckled, cracking sunflower seeds, "That's right, our Dazhu Peak finally found a decent prospect, so Master has to treat him like a treasure. Look at Seventh Brother..."

He gestured towards the back mountain with his chin, "Master is too lazy to scold us anymore, he's just letting us roam free."

On the back mountain, Jiang Xiaochuan's wrist was just lightly struck by Lu Xueqi's sword sheath, and Xuechuan Sword almost slipped from his hand again.

Lu Xueqi seemed to be in a good mood today (although you couldn't tell from her face), she gave more detailed instructions and stood closer to her.

The cool fragrance emanating from her kept wafting into Jiang Xiaochuan's nose, making him uneasy and causing him to make numerous mistakes.

"Concentrate." Lu Xueqi frowned and gently tapped his shoulder with her sword sheath. "Your lower body is unsteady, and your breathing is erratic. What are you thinking about?"

"N-nothing!" Jiang Xiaochuan quickly focused his mind, but inwardly he was in despair.

Since that day, Lu Xueqi has become increasingly "good" to him, taking it all for granted, and increasingly... unable to refuse.

He would guide him in his cultivation, provide him with food, and occasionally "on the way" take him flying over a scenic valley to see the sea of ​​clouds and the sunset.

She no longer mentions the word "love," but every glance, every seemingly unintentional touch, seems to silently repeat that word.

Did he manage to dodge it?

He dodged it. He made excuses, saying he needed to go into seclusion, help Zhang Xiaofan taste the dishes, and instruct Lin Jingyu on boxing techniques (even though he himself was only half-baked).

But Lu Xueqi always found a way to find him, or she would simply wait for him on his usual route.

He was at a loss when he saw her standing there so aloof and indifferent.

Tian Ling'er, however, continued to squeeze between them whenever she could, like a wary little hen.

One moment she'd bring over some newly made (occasionally edible) snacks, the next she'd drag Jiang Xiaochuan to try out her new Zhu Ling moves, and then she'd clamor for a sparring match.

She and Lu Xueqi didn't exchange many words, but when their eyes met, there was always a faint sense of tension in the air.

Jiang Xiaochuan was caught in the middle, with no one around him, so he could only bury his head in practicing his sword and pretend he was a block of wood.

Where's Xiaobai?

Xiao Bai was happy to watch the show.

During the day, he mostly appeared as a fox, following Jiang Xiaochuan, watching him and Lu Xueqi "learn swordsmanship," watching Tian Ling'er angrily cause trouble, and occasionally giving Jiang Xiaochuan a meaningful look.

At night... well, if it's in a good mood at night, it turns into human form and insists on sleeping in his bed, calling it "repaying a debt of gratitude" or "keeping warm."

Jiang Xiaochuan protested, but to no avail.

He always felt that the old fox monster was just amusing him.

Ghost King Sect Deep Gate.

Blood was everywhere.

Although it wasn't real blood, it was a thick, dark red malevolent aura that filled the entire secret chamber, churning and surging, vaguely forming painful, wailing faces before suddenly dissipating.

At the center of the malevolent aura, Biyao sat cross-legged in mid-air, her eyes closed, her water-green dress fluttering without wind.

Her left palm faced upward, cradling the Bloodthirsty Bead, which had turned a deep crimson like blood, its interior seemingly swirling with a vortex of blood. Her right hand formed a strange hand seal, her fingertips shrouded in a faint golden halo, echoing the Hehuan Bell at her waist, which floated on its own, trembling gently and emitting an ethereal tinkling sound.

The Bloodthirsty Bead is ferocious and tyrannical, while the Acacia Bell is agile and unpredictable.

These two extraordinary treasures, which were originally completely unrelated (although their previous owners were deeply entangled), have now reached a certain balance in a strange way under Biyao's guidance.

The bloodthirsty energy of the Bloodthirsty Bead no longer overflowed wildly, but was harmonized and regulated by the sound of the Hehuan Bell, becoming slightly "docile" and easier to absorb and refine.

After absorbing some of the pure blood essence, the sound of the Hehuan Bell seemed to have gained an indescribable, captivating, and sharp quality.

Biyao's aura steadily rose amidst the interplay of bloodlust and bell sounds.

Outside the secret room, Xiao Chi leaned against Wan Renwang's chest, gazing in the direction of the stone gate, her beautiful eyes filled with worry.

"Wanrenwang, is Yao'er... really alright cultivating like this? That Bloodthirsty Bead is a vicious creature after all; I've been having nightmares about it these past few days..."

Wan Renwang embraced his wife tightly, his gaze deep. "Don't worry. Yao'er... she knows what she's doing. The Bloodthirsty Pearl is indeed ferocious, but it has already been bestowed upon Yao'er by that one... well, there must be a reason for it. The Joyful Union Bell is also a rare treasure of our Holy Sect, capable of harmonizing its malevolent energy. Look at Yao'er's progress now, far surpassing ordinary people, and her foundation is not weak. Perhaps this is her destiny."

He paused, then said in a low voice, "It's just that this child is too calculating. Sometimes, even as her father, I can't figure out what she's thinking when I look into her eyes."

Xiao Chi sighed softly and buried her face in her husband's chest. "I only wish for her to be safe and sound."

Two more years passed.

One day, Du Bishu's face lit up with joy while he was eating. (Jade Purity, fourth floor.)

Tian Buyi put down his chopsticks, glanced at him, and said calmly, "Hmm, your foundation is quite solid. In a few days, go down the mountain yourself, find suitable materials, and refine a magic weapon. You know the old rules of Qingyun Sect: you must not do anything wrong, you must not linger too long, and you must return as soon as you find it."

"Yes, Master!" Du Bishu rubbed his hands excitedly, his eyes shining, already thinking about what kind of powerful magic weapon he could forge.

Should we forge a gleaming golden seal that leaves a dent with every strike? Or should we craft a stylish flying sword with a distinctive hilt?

Jiang Xiaochuan, still eating, looked up when he heard this and mumbled, "Sixth Senior Brother, crafting magic weapons is a big deal. You should think it through before you start. Don't... don't craft anything weird or strange, like dice or something. They're not suitable."

He remembered that in the original story, Du Bishu's magic weapon was three dice, which was interesting, but he always felt it wasn't serious enough.

Du Bishu was taken aback, blinked, looked at Jiang Xiaochuan, then lowered his head to think for a moment. Suddenly, the corners of his mouth slowly turned up, revealing a somewhat strange yet excited smile.

"Dice...hehe, Seventh Brother, your idea...seems kind of interesting..."

Jiang Xiaochuan: "..." No, I didn't, don't talk nonsense!

He Dazhi, standing beside him, adjusted his glasses and shook his head, saying, "The Heavenly Cycle is forty-nine, and Man escapes one. Divination with dice secretly aligns with the Heavenly Numbers. If Sixth Brother were to use this to enter the Dao, it might not be a bad path..."

Du Bishu's eyes lit up even more.

Jiang Xiaochuan sighed, "Well, it seems those three divine wood dice are probably not going anywhere."

Not long after, Lin Jingyu also broke through.

The aura of the fourth level of Jade Purity soared into the sky, carrying the sharpness and vigor unique to young people, startling the entire Great Bamboo Peak.

Tian Buyi laughed heartily and personally took Lin Jingyu to Dragon Head Peak. When they returned, Lin Jingyu had a sword on his back.

The scabbard is ancient and has a faint bluish-green hue. Even before the sword is drawn, one can feel its righteous spirit and restrained sharpness.

Dragon-Slaying Sword.

When Tian Buyi handed the sword to Lin Jingyu, his hand trembled slightly, and his eyes were filled with complex emotions. After a long while, he simply patted Lin Jingyu's shoulder and said, "Take good care of it. Don't disgrace this sword."

Lin Jingyu nodded emphatically, gripping the sword hilt so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

He could sense a faint, almost imperceptible, spiritual energy emanating from the sword, as if it had been dormant for a hundred years.

Jiang Xiaochuan looked at the sword, a strange sense of emotion welling up inside him. Zhanlong, Wan Jianyi's sword… now it was in Lin Jingyu's hands. This fate had taken a turn, seemingly connecting with some other thread.

With only two years left until the once-every-sixty-years "Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament," the atmosphere of cultivation on and off Dazhu Peak has become noticeably more tense.

On this day, a young disciple dressed in the Tongtian Peak robes, with a dignified appearance, arrived on his sword and landed in front of the Shoujing Hall. He was Chang Shu, a disciple of Dao Xuan Zhenren. Tian Buyi welcomed him into the hall and served him tea.

Chang Shu cupped his hands and said, "Uncle-Master Tian, ​​I have come here on the orders of the Sect Leader. This is for the 'Seven Sects Martial Arts Tournament' four years from now."

Tian Buyi hummed in agreement: "Go ahead."