Chapter Five: Mastery of the Arcane Arts

Su Yizhao made his way toward his lodgings. From a distance, he spotted a middle-aged man standing before his door, hands clasped behind his back.

He paused for a moment, then strode quickly forward and bowed respectfully. “Patriarch, are you waiting for me?”

The visitor was none other than Li Tiancheng, head of the Li family, who had raised him since childhood.

As Li Tiancheng turned to face him, the rich aroma of medicinal elixirs filled the air. The third elder of the Alchemy Hall, renowned within the entire Profound Qi Sect—let alone being the patriarch who had nurtured him since he was a boy.

“You’ve always been clever. You should know why I’ve come,” Li Tiancheng said.

Su Yizhao’s expression remained calm. The engagement to Li Xiumoon had been arranged by Li Tiancheng; now, should he wish to dissolve it, Su Yizhao held no objections.

He replied evenly, “Is it about my engagement to Xiumoon?”

Li Tiancheng’s gaze swept over him, a hint of regret flickering across his face. He nodded slightly. “Yes, and no.”

Su Yizhao knew Li Tiancheng could not discern his cultivation, thus assumed he had not yet recovered his strength.

“The patriarch has shown me great kindness in raising me. Whatever you decide, I will do my utmost to repay that debt.”

“You misunderstand me, Yizhao,” Li Tiancheng said gently.

Su Yizhao’s brows lifted in surprise.

Li Tiancheng sighed. “Xiumoon possesses remarkable talent for alchemy.”

Su Yizhao nodded. He had heard as much.

Within the Alchemy Hall of the Profound Qi Sect, from the Hall Master down to the elders, all wished to take her as a disciple. Yet none had dared, for fear of hindering her future.

Her talent was so extraordinary that such genius appeared only once in a century.

“Is that what you’re implying, Patriarch?”

“The Grand Elder of the Main Sect’s Alchemy Hall has personally selected Xiumoon. In a month’s time, she will officially become his disciple.”

A trace of delight flashed in Su Yizhao’s eyes. “You truly have a remarkable daughter.”

Li Tiancheng replied, “Indeed. Who would have thought her talent would even draw the attention of the Grand Elder? His mastery surpasses all others, both in alchemy and cultivation.”

Su Yizhao began to understand. “Does the Grand Elder wish to prevent our engagement?”

“No. He wishes to see you first.”

“To see me?”

Su Yizhao’s heart sank. If the Grand Elder were to discover anything amiss, wouldn’t that spell trouble?

Li Tiancheng’s tone softened. “It’s for the best. With the Grand Elder’s expertise, he may even be able to resolve your lost cultivation. Of course, if he decides to dissolve your engagement…”

“It would be because I am not worthy of Xiumoon’s accomplishments?”

“Exactly, Yizhao. If Xiumoon becomes the Grand Elder’s disciple, her prospects are limitless. Without sufficient strength, you may bring her nothing but trouble.”

“Do you regret it, Patriarch?”

Li Tiancheng hesitated, then asked, “Regret? Haha, there are two things in my life of which I am most proud. Would you like to hear them?”

Su Yizhao had a sense of what was coming, but still asked, “Please, Patriarch.”

“First, adopting you into the Li family and bringing you into the Profound Qi Sect. To be named a Gold Medallion Enforcer—what an honor! Second, betrothing Xiumoon to you. These are the two things I am proudest of. Why would I have regrets?”

“But my cultivation…”

“Cultivation is but a small matter. If you work hard, nothing is impossible.”

Su Yizhao pondered this in earnest.

The Li family had always treated him as one of their own, caring for him with great devotion. Now, even after his cultivation was lost, neither Li Xiumoon nor Li Tiancheng had once thought to abandon him.

Such kindness was difficult to repay.

He could only nod and say, “Thank you, Patriarch. But perhaps it is unnecessary to trouble Xiumoon’s new master on my account.”

He had expected Li Tiancheng to agree, but instead, a hopeful gleam appeared in the patriarch’s eyes. “Xiumoon invited him. Since he’s coming, you must let him see you. Besides, I have a few questions about alchemy myself. If I can seek his advice, it will be a great benefit.”

Su Yizhao was left speechless.

“Oh, by the way, Xiumoon and the others are currently with the Envoy from the Main Sect. If you have time, go and join them. The Envoy is here to select disciples who may enter the Main Sect without examination. As a Gold Medallion Enforcer, you also have that right.”

Su Yizhao sighed inwardly, just as he was about to reply, he saw Li Tiancheng begin circulating his cultivation technique. His figure gradually blurred until only his voice remained, drifting into the room: “They’re in the Alchemy Hall. I must go ponder these alchemical puzzles…”

Su Yizhao had already returned his Gold Medallion, and was no longer a Gold Medallion Enforcer. Moreover, Elder Huang had already informed the Main Sect that Su Yizhao’s title no longer matched his abilities, and his exemption qualification had been revoked.

He pondered for a moment, then entered his room.

Sitting cross-legged, he began circulating the Profound Qi Technique. At the same time, the Creation Technique within him started operating uncontrollably.

His surging qi swept through his meridians, the stabbing pain piercing his heart and draining the color from his face.

Pain.

Unbearable agony.

Now that his qi had doubled, so too had the force it exerted upon his meridians.

It felt as if his meridians were being torn apart, the pain beyond endurance.

After a dozen breaths, he could bear it no longer and had to stop.

“Though this accelerates my cultivation, this pain is not something ordinary people can endure. Unless I increase the resilience of my meridians!”

He muttered to himself.

But no matter how he tried, he had no idea how to strengthen his meridians. He could only give up for the time being.

Within his storage pouch, only seventeen essence stones remained. Even if he absorbed them all, his progress would be meager.

With nothing else to do, he brought out his flying sword and continued to hone the Sword Control Art.

The Sword Control Art was a third-tier technique, corresponding to the Three Qi Realms.

Depending on one’s mastery, it was divided into Novice, Proficient, and Perfected levels.

He had been stuck at Proficient for many years, perhaps because his practice time was too short to reach Perfection.

Still, few managed to achieve Proficient mastery of a third-tier technique.

With the Sword Control Art, he had often turned the tide in countless life-and-death enforcement missions.

But now, his cultivation had reached the Fourth Profound Realm. The flying sword driven by a third-tier technique seemed slow to him.

A fourth-tier Sword Flight Art required essence stones to purchase, which he currently lacked.

With only a month left, he saw no way to gather enough essence stones. Thus, he resolved to continue practicing the Sword Control Art.

If he could perfect the Sword Control Art, his control over the flying sword would surely double in power.

The qi within his dantian roiled and surged into specific meridians in his right arm.

Forming seals with his right hand, his flying sword vanished in an instant.

Six streams of profound qi remotely controlled the sword in the air, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, sometimes sharp, sometimes gentle.

Within his spiritual sense, the sword moved with lively agility, its tip sending out cold flashes that disappeared in a blink.

Suddenly.

The Creation Technique once again began to operate on its own.

Su Yizhao’s expression changed, then turned to elation.

The speed of his qi circulation increased dramatically; his mastery of the Sword Control Art soared, progressing four or five times faster than before.

“Xiumoon, he’s already lost his exemption qualification. Why are you still seeking him out?”

A voice drifted in from outside. Su Yizhao slowly opened his eyes.

He raised his hands before his eyes, his fingers forming seals in quick succession, leaving afterimages in his vision.

Now, with a single thought, he could unleash any spell instantly.

Fireball, Ice Spike, Vine Snare, Leap—and so on.

Every third-tier spell he had ever practiced, including the Sword Control Art, was now perfected.

Perfected—every single one.

Speed and power had increased four- to fivefold.

If before, he could launch thirty sword attacks in a single breath, now he could unleash one hundred and fifty.

Amazed, he gazed at the white streak of sword light spinning with invisible speed between the fingers of his right hand.

“Fellow Daoist Mu, are you speaking of that Gold Medallion Enforcer, Su Yizhao?”

“Yes, Su Yizhao. He barely matched Xiumoon as a Gold Medallion Enforcer, but now, with his cultivation lost, his exemption has been revoked.”

“Haha, his exemption really has been revoked. Xiumoon, there’s no need to look for him. Why don’t we visit the forbidden zone outside Gravel Sand City? I hear something unusual has been seen there.”

The voices outside drew closer.

Su Yizhao rose slowly and activated the Illusory Transformation Technique.

The mist concealing his dantian dissipated, revealing the cultivation of a mid-stage Third Profound Realm practitioner.

He brushed his sleeves, stepped forward, and gently opened the door…