Seeing the two still hesitating, Ye Ling could not help but laugh softly and joke.
“I wouldn't want gossip spreading in the sect later on, saying that Ye Ling's friends are still stuck in the Houtian Realm.”
“You two must also hasten your cultivation and break through to the Xiantian Realm as soon as possible. I will be waiting for you.”
Hearing her words, the two women's worries completely dissipated, and they finally accepted the pills and spiritual ingredients.
Immediately after, they each took out the items they had prepared to give to Ye Ling in return.
Su Qinghe stepped forward first, handing over a sealed porcelain jar and speaking softly.
“This is bayberry wine that my master and I brewed together a few years ago. The taste is sweet and rich. I've been keeping it safe, thinking of giving it to you whenever I saw you.”
“I come from a rogue cultivator background and don't have any precious treasures on me. I hope you won't look down on it.”
Ye Ling did not decline. She reached out to take it, her nose already catching the sweet, fruity aroma wafting from the jar. She immediately smiled.
“I smelled this sweet fragrance the moment you took it out. May I open the jar and try some now?”
Su Qinghe's eyes curved as she smiled gently. “Of course. Let's have a drink together.”
Beside her, Su Qinghan followed suit. She took out a warm jade token engraved with the character “Su” and placed it in Ye Ling's hand, instructing her seriously.
“My Su family can be considered a first-rate family in Heishui Commandery.”
“If the Ye family ever wishes to expand into Heishui Commandery in the future and encounters difficulties, Uncle only needs to take this jade token to the Su family to find my father.”
“As the head of the family, once he sees this token, he will definitely do everything in his power to assist.”
Ye Ling nodded solemnly and readily accepted the jade token as well.
Having exchanged gifts, the three sat around the stone table in the courtyard and poured the bayberry wine to drink together.
Upon entering the mouth, the fruit flavor was rich, sweet and lingering, crisp and refreshing—truly an exquisite taste.
This was the first time Ye Ling had ever drunk alcohol across her two lifetimes. She had thought that wine would mostly be spicy and harsh on the throat.
She had not expected this hand-brewed bayberry wine to be so mild and sweet, without any bitterness. It tasted excellent and instantly captured her heart.
She could not help but speak again, looking at Su Qinghe. “This taste is truly wonderful. It suits my palate perfectly.”
“Qinghe, I wonder if I could ask you for another jar?”
Seeing that she liked it, Su Qinghe quickly replied with a smile, “I'm so glad it's to your liking. It's just that I don't have any left in stock right now.”
“If you like it, the next time I go home, my master and I will brew a few more jars and make a special trip to deliver them to you.”
“Alright.”
The three chatted for a long time. Unknowingly, the sun sank in the west, the twilight deepened, and the sky gradually darkened.
Seeing this, Ye Ling rose at the right moment, cupped her hands, and took her leave.
She already had a clear cultivation plan in mind. Tomorrow, she had to go to the Second Sword Peak to study its exclusive sword technique and movement technique, so it was not wise to stay too late.
She would prioritize going to the Second Sword Peak to thoroughly master the top-tier sword and movement techniques inherited by the peak, and then head to the Fifth Sword Peak.
Afterward, she would enter closed-door cultivation for a period to master the sword and movement techniques while refining her cultivation.
Once her strength was completely stabilized, she would complete the backlog of unfinished sect missions from this year along with next year's quota.
After a simple farewell to Su Qinghan and Su Qinghe, Ye Ling turned and left the small courtyard, calmly walking back toward her residence through the twilight.
At the crack of dawn the next day, Ye Ling arrived early at the Second Sword Peak.
Not long after she stepped into the peak's territory, Zhao Lin, the Peak Master of the Second Sword Peak, immediately appeared and looked at her with a smile.
“Haha, I knew you would definitely come to my Second Sword Peak first.”
Ye Ling calmly cupped her hands. “This disciple is extremely fond of the sword and movement techniques of the Second Sword Peak, so I prioritized coming here to learn.”
Hearing this, Zhao Lin was overjoyed. “Good, good, good! It's great that you want to learn. Follow me.”
With that, he led Ye Ling to an extremely quiet, exclusive martial arts stage within the peak.
The Flowing Cloud Wind-Chasing Sword Technique and Wind-Chasing Movement Technique were the signature heritages of the Second Sword Peak, belonging to the sect's top-tier Profound-grade peak-tier cultivation methods.
Aside from the Peak Master and the True Disciples of this peak, others did not even have the right to watch, so they naturally had to be taught in private.
Zhao Lin first patiently and meticulously explained the cultivation foundation, qi circulation pathways, key points of the moves, and the crucial factors for breaking through boundaries for both cultivation methods.
He made sure to highlight all cultivation taboos and advanced difficulties.
Once the explanation was complete, he stepped into the center of the stage and personally demonstrated the techniques in their entirety for Ye Ling.
The sword light suddenly flared, like wind rolling through drifting clouds—light, ethereal, and changing speed at will.
On the entire martial arts stage, sword qi lingered continuously, shifting between illusion and reality. When the Sword Force was gentle, it was like an evening breeze brushing over the hills; when swift, it was like a passing shadow cutting through the sky.
The Peak Master's figure drifted through the air, his footwork ethereal and traceless, advancing and retreating without the slightest stagnation.
The movement technique and sword moves blended perfectly, vividly showcasing the light and swift essence of the Second Sword Peak's sword Dao.
Ye Ling stood quietly to the side, her eyes focused, taking in every single stance and step.
The slight vagueness she previously felt toward this set of techniques instantly vanished, and she grew increasingly fond of this elegant and agile swordplay and movement, her desire to practice it burning even brighter.
As the demonstration ended, Zhao Lin sheathed his sword and stood, laughing with a self-satisfied look.
“How is it? I didn't let down your choice, did I?”
“The sword and movement techniques of my Second Sword Peak are simply stronger than those of the other sword peaks.”
Ye Ling's expression remained calm. She only nodded slightly and did not offer any flattering words.
Zhao Lin did not mind at all, immediately beginning to guide Ye Ling hand-in-hand to start her practice.
The Flowing Cloud Wind-Chasing Sword Technique and Wind-Chasing Movement Technique were both Profound-grade peak-tier, with extremely high thresholds. Cultivators in the Xiantian Realm, limited by their cultivation, could normally only master the first four forms at most, which was already the limit.
But the more he taught, the more shocked Zhao Lin became.
He had only explained them repeatedly a few times, breaking down the qi circulation and move details, and after Ye Ling practiced them on her own just a few times, she successfully entered the basic level of both profound techniques.
Without a single mistake, this comprehension speed was simply terrifying.
With such terrifying comprehension, throughout the thousand-year heritage of the Second Sword Peak, not a single person could compare to her.
Only after a long while did Zhao Lin give a sheepish laugh, praising her from the bottom of his heart.
“Excellent comprehension! You are far stronger than the True Disciple on my peak.”
Hearing that the Second Sword Peak had a True Disciple whom she had never met, Ye Ling did not respond, remaining focused on refining her moves and practicing quietly.
Her rapid progress was due not only to her own heaven-defying talent but also to the Peak Master's unreserved one-on-one guidance, which helped her avoid countless detours in her cultivation.
For the next three whole days, Ye Ling worked tirelessly day and night, forgetting to eat and sleep as she rooted herself in the martial arts arena to practice bitterly.
In just three days, she thoroughly mastered and integrated the first four forms of the Flowing Cloud Wind-Chasing Sword Technique and Wind-Chasing Movement Technique, enough for her to refine and improve them on her own in the future.
Having witnessed the entire process, Zhao Lin had long since become numb with shock. Looking at Ye Ling, he could not help but sigh softly.
The world always said that geniuses were rare, but Ye Ling not only possessed true peerless talent, but she was also so diligent, which was even rarer.
He finally waved his hand with a wry smile. “Forget it, I have nothing left to teach you.”
“You can refine them on your own from now on. Remember to balance work and rest, and take a good rest.”
Ye Ling obediently nodded and agreed. She took a brief rest that day to stabilize her overall cultivation and sword Dao insights.
By the next morning, her rest was complete. Taking her leave of the Second Sword Peak, she turned and headed straight toward the Fifth Sword Peak.
Rate on N.U.
