Chapter 33

Chapter 33

Before long, the Taixu Sword Sect contingent departed Xizhou and returned to Mount Taixu.

As they left, Wang Yi clapped Rong Yu heartily on the shoulder, urging him to visit often, and chuckled, "Xiao Yu, you're always welcome at Uncle Wang's, no matter when you come."

Upon returning to the mountain, Rong Yu and his disciple headed straight for Pofeng Peak. As they walked the mountain path, before even reaching their cave abode, they spotted a youth in black robes waiting for them by the roadside.

The youth was crouched on a rock beside the path, propping his chin with one hand, chewing on an unknown blade of grass, and gazing down the mountain with half-closed eyes, looking utterly bored.

Seeing the two return, the young man leisurely rose, brushed off his robes, and called out with a smile, "Master, Senior Brother."

Rong Yu was somewhat surprised and casually asked, "Chengxue, what are you doing here?"

Jiang Chengxue grinned, "I missed Master terribly. Last night, I observed the stars and calculated that Master would return, so I waited here."

There was a peculiar, saccharine quality to the youth's words at times—they sounded intimate, yet gave off the opposite impression.

Rong Yu listened to Jiang Chengxue's fanciful talk, smiled, and casually patted his head.

As he did so, he mused: *Hmm, Jiang Chengxue's height is just right—perfect for patting. It's a pity Shitu has grown so tall now; reaching his head takes effort...*

Lu Shitu watched Rong Yu's hand, pressing his lips together, feeling a flicker of inexplicable irritation. He disliked this strange version of himself and averted his eyes, slowly exhaling.

Somehow, he couldn't help but recall the cool, soft touch of his master's hand lightly stroking his hair. His master always performed such gestures with a touch of casual detachment, his fingers like sculpted cold jade, gently running through his hair strand by strand. That feeling...

Lu Shitu's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and a sudden, burning desire arose in his heart—a wish for his master to touch him.

He reined in this strange emotion and continued walking forward.

At that moment, Rong Yu lightly patted Lu Shitu's shoulder and said, "Shitu, come to my room later. Remember to bring the Frostheart Pot and Golden Wu's Unrestricted Night."

It was just a casual gesture, but Rong Yu noticed that Lu Shitu seemed to shiver faintly. Rong Yu glanced at him but saw nothing unusual, so he didn't dwell on it.

At this moment, Rong Yu was actually quite excited. After so long, he had finally reached this moment—Lu Shitu was about to reshape his spiritual root.

Since arriving in this world, he had been planning for this very thing. And now, with just one step left, he was about to achieve it.

Moreover, beyond that, he had another peculiar feeling—as if a heavy weight in his heart was about to lift, or as if he were nearing the completion of some crucial task.

Not long after returning to the peak, Lu Shitu knocked on Rong Yu's door.

Rong Yu opened the door, led Lu Shitu to the daybed, and gestured for him to place the Frostheart Pot on the table.

Standing before the daybed, Rong Yu focused his will and brought Lu Shitu into the Frostheart Pot with him. As the artifact had not yet recognized an owner, Rong Yu could freely enter and exit.

Though the Frostheart Pot appeared to be nothing more than a finely wrought white jade pot, its interior held an expansive realm. The reliefs of mountains, rivers, and lakes on its surface truly existed within the pot.

However, the space inside the pot was not particularly large—roughly the size of Rong Yu's cave abode—and the mountains and lakes within were scaled-down replicas.

Rong Yu looked around at the layered blue-green distant mountains, about his height, and the small azure lake at his feet, resembling a koi pond, and felt a sense of wonder.

This magical artifact was truly marvelous.

After his moment of curiosity, Rong Yu turned to Lu Shitu and began explaining the important matter: "Shitu, first take out Golden Wu's Unrestricted Night."

When Lu Shitu took out the dark golden heavy sword and held it in his hands, Rong Yu said, "Next, I will help you refine it into your lifebound sword. This is the first step in reshaping your spiritual root."

Lu Shitu was slightly shocked. "Lifebound sword..."

Rong Yu nodded. "Indeed. For thousands of years, few have refined their spirit swords into lifebound swords. I learned this method from an ancient text—it may not be perfect, but with the protection of the Frostheart Pot, I won't let you get hurt."

Lu Shitu calmly shook his head. "Master, I'm not afraid."

Before casting the spell, Rong Yu first explained the principle to him: "Shitu, do you know why I had you obtain Golden Wu's Unrestricted Night step by step? Think about it—what attributes does it possess?"

Lu Shitu's eyes flickered. "It has no attributes. It is neither wood nor fire, neither earth nor metal. It is simply an immensely powerful sword."

Rong Yu smiled. "Exactly. What it possesses is only boundless sword qi. And that is precisely what we need. Once you achieve the unity of man and sword, it can forge a new spiritual root within you—a Sword Spirit Root."

For a moment, Lu Shitu's eyes lit up. Seeing his expression, Rong Yu smiled and added, "In truth, it might not be considered a spiritual root—it's just a name. In any case, with it inside you, you can begin cultivating again, and your control over sword techniques will be exceptionally strong. Your progress will also be rapid."

Sword energy would shape his soul, and sword intent would temper his heart. From then on, Lu Shitu would become a true prodigy—the unity of man and sword wouldn't even suffice to describe his state; he would essentially become a sword himself.

A faint excitement showed on Lu Shitu's face. Soon, he would regain his spiritual root and possess power. He would quickly become strong enough to protect his master.

Rong Yu's eyes were also shining brightly, but he seemed to have some reservations. After pondering for a moment, he unusually showed hesitation: "However, Shitu."

"I've only heard that this can be done, but the specifics of how to proceed will require your own comprehension. Moreover, I don't know... this process likely won't be easy. It might be a hundred times more difficult than the Wu Wei Mind Method and the Vajra Spirit-Refining Art, and I have no idea what exactly will happen."

He thought these words would give Lu Shitu some pause. But when he looked over, he found Lu Shitu studying him closely. After a moment, Lu Shitu smiled quietly.

Lu Shitu said, "I cannot rely on you for everything, Master. I can handle the path ahead on my own. You only need to keep watching me."

In fact, an all-knowing and all-powerful master was certainly good, but the master before him... made his heart burn even more intensely.

Rong Yu was taken aback for a moment, then smiled in relief. "You're right. I was being foolish. You've grown up and should find your own way now."

This method was something he had devised after summarizing the background lore from the original story as he remembered them. The principle was sound, so the outcome would not go wrong—it was just that the process was unknown to him.

However, cultivation was ultimately a personal journey. Everyone had to sweep the snow from their own doorstep and overcome their own obstacles—no one could do it for another. He had simply grown too accustomed to guiding his disciple and had worried excessively. Now, this child no longer needed that kind of protection.

Two days later, the sect's celebration banquet.

This sect banquet was not a grand event—just a small gathering organized by the sect to honor the outstanding disciples from the Immortal Sword Secret Realm and to distribute rewards to those who had performed exceptionally.

When Lu Shitu entered the venue, a small burst of excited murmurs erupted, followed by disciples rushing forward to offer congratulations.

For in Lu Shitu's hands was the legendary divine sword—Golden Wu's Unrestricted Night.

It was a tradition at the celebration banquet for disciples who had obtained fine swords to carry them into the venue and leave a sword mark on the trial stone in the center of the square, showcasing their newly acquired blades to everyone.

Disciples crowded around Lu Shitu—an unusual occurrence—as everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of the divine sword.

These were disciples who had not qualified to enter the Immortal Sword Secret Realm. They praised fervently: "As expected of a divine sword—truly majestic and imposing!"

"I've heard about it for years, but I never thought I'd actually see it one day. A dream come true..."

"Senior Brother Lu is truly a once-in-a-generation talent!"

"Yes, it's nothing short of a miracle!"

Even Elder Xuanming approached, carefully examining Golden Wu's Unrestricted Night. His eyes held undisguised admiration, along with a hint of barely noticeable envy. He muttered incoherently, "Good, very good..."

Rong Yu had already separated from Lu Shitu and gone to the elders' seating area. From afar, he watched the bustling scene around Lu Shitu, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction.

The disciple who had been the first to approach Lu Shitu wore an ingratiating smile—the very same disciple who, during the Sect Tournament, had been the first to mock Lu Shitu when he arrived at the Bright Mirror Platform.

The disciple who eagerly hovered around Lu Shitu, even mopping his brow, happened to be the one who had once struck Lu Shitu's temple with a stone, leaving a wound. Fortunately, Rong Yu had treated it promptly, so no scar remained.

And that Elder Xuanming... he was Elder Lingxiao's right-hand man, willing to do anything for cultivation resources. Back when Lu Shitu was imprisoned in the water dungeon, he eagerly offered all sorts of underhanded schemes, contributing greatly to the torment Lu Shitu endured.

Moreover, Rong Yu clearly saw it—their flattery and sycophancy were tinged with regret and a hint of fear.

*How about it? Never expected that worthless trash you once trampled upon could actually turn things around, did you? Worried he might soar to great heights someday and pay you back for all the past grievances?*

*This jealousy, this regret, this fear—savor every bit of it, because this is only the beginning.*

Amidst such commotion, Lu Shitu stood out even more. He was the steadfast anchor, holding that majestic divine sword in his hands, yet he held his ground effortlessly. Instead, he appeared perfectly suited to it, as if he were destined to wield such a blade—utterly convincing.

Even such a seemingly boastful act was carried out by him with poise and confidence. His demeanor was calm and steady, his movements natural and dignified, leaving no room for envy—only genuine admiration.

The sword was so radiant, yet he was its most natural and fitting wielder, never overshadowing it. But if one’s gaze lingered on him, it was easy to be captivated by his presence, unable to look away.

The other disciples holding their swords seemed influenced by his composure as well, each carrying themselves with similar grace. The procession moved forward steadily, exuding the dignified aura of a major sect—a truly pleasing sight.

Rong Baichuan laughed and said, “A-Yu, you’ve taught your disciple well. He looks truly impressive—such a steady temperament. Rare, rare indeed.”

Rong Yu was bursting with joy to hear this and replied with a smile, “You flatter me.”

Moreover, the steadiness in Lu Shitu was no longer the precocious maturity of his childhood. Now with a slender, tall frame, his waist neatly cinched, he exuded the broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted figure of someone between youth and adulthood. His eyebrows were like ink paintings, his eyes like pools of lacquer, his expression calm and his steps firm—as if he would stride steadfastly to the summit of the world, evoking an inexplicable sense of reassurance and charm.

Rong Yu could even hear the whispers of many female disciples in the crowd: “Why look at Junior Brother Chen? Take a look at Brother Lu Shitu!”

“Oh my, truly! I never realized Brother Lu Shitu was this handsome!”

“Brother Lu Shitu usually keeps such a low profile—who would’ve thought he’d grown so dashing and elegant…”

“Why are you blushing while saying that?”

“Hahahaha…”

Yet Lu Shitu, surrounded by such praises, seemed completely unaware of the chatter. He had already led the procession slowly to the Sword-Testing Stone, and the surrounding crowd had gradually dispersed.

Lu Shitu solemnly gripped the sword hilt, lifted his gaze, and looked into the distance toward Rong Yu.

Author’s Note: Rong Yu: It feels like the training game is almost complete! (Just kidding)