Chapter 1089: Who is Seeking Death?

"Alright, alright."

"Xu Xiaoshou entered meditation quite quickly; his talent is indeed very good... hmm, meditation talent."

On the ancient, weathered long street, Xiao Kongdong continued circling around Xu Xiaoshou, who was sitting cross-legged in meditation. He stroked his chin thoughtfully, examining him as if he were a rare specimen, and said seriously.

How rare it was to see Xu Xiaoshou finally settled down!

In the past, every time he encountered him, the kid was either causing trouble or on his way to cause more. When had he ever been this well-behaved and still?

Only in moments like this could one truly see Xu Xiaoshou's cultivation talent.

Indeed, in just a quarter of an hour, the kid had achieved a state of complete mental clarity in meditation. And looking at the momentum building steadily on him...

Mu Xia Shen Fo might be possible!

Xiao Kongdong had guided no fewer than tens of thousands of swordsmen in Can Yue Xian Cheng who aspired to become ancient sword cultivators.

Many like Xu Xiaoshou entered meditation quickly, and some even faster than him.

But among those who, after entering meditation, could manifest their inner visualization of momentum externally in just a quarter of an hour—finding their true self and displaying it in the spiritual world—such cases were exceedingly rare!

This kind of talent, even if not as exaggerated as what Si Ren Mister described, where one could cultivate Mu Xia Shen Fo instantly, meant that once the feeling was grasped, progressing step by step to master the heart sword technique was merely a matter of time.

Well, time... it varies, all depending on comprehension!

Some people, after finding the feeling, could achieve the first realm in as little as three months or as long as a year. Those with exceptional talent could reach it within that period.

But others might spend their entire lives, exhausting decades until the end of their days, just to extend that feeling and cultivate Mu Xia Shen Fo.

"How long will it take Xu Xiaoshou?" Xiao Kongdong wondered curiously.

He remembered his teacher's record was about half a shichen, while his own was six shichen.

But these weren't comparable, as both he and his teacher had only begun practicing the heart sword technique after nearly mastering other sword arts.

With the accumulation of prior knowledge and momentum, finding and manifesting the 'intention' in a short time was easy.

Of course, this idea of 'easy' came from Xiao Kongdong comparing his own school with Mei Si Ren's school.

If he compared himself to those in Can Yue Xian Cheng...

They all practiced the same school, starting the heart sword technique only after achieving something in other sword arts. Compared to the strongest genius Xiao Kongdong had ever guided, who took nearly half a year, the difference was vast!

Still, that was a genius!

Xiu Yuan Ke... Xiao Kongdong remembered that name; he was incredibly strong, an unparalleled talent in the ancient sword cultivation path, aside from himself and his teacher.

"Si Ren Mister, how long did it take you to grasp something when you cultivated the heart sword technique?" As he thought about it, Xiao Kongdong couldn't hold back his curiosity and asked.

He didn't say "achieve Mu Xia Shen Fo" directly, because Mei Si Ren's school was different. As long as one found the feeling and formed a rudimentary shape, it counted as success.

Then, through further refinement in sword dao cultivation, it could be polished.

"Seven days."

Mei Si Ren answered casually, not finding the question abrupt. He enjoyed answering questions from juniors, perhaps it was his flaw of being overly eager to teach.

"Seven days? You must have started with the heart sword technique, and grasping its rudimentary form in seven days is incredibly impressive." Xiao Kongdong sighed sincerely.

He thought that if it had been him as a child, starting with the heart sword technique, he might not have achieved anything in seven years.

Mei Si Ren smiled at the comment, shifting his gaze from Xu Xiaoshou to Xiao Kongdong. Fanning himself with his paper fan, he said, "What I cultivated in seven days wasn't just the rudimentary form of the heart sword technique; I achieved the chaotic form of Mu Xia Shen Fo."

"Uh?" Xiao Kongdong's face froze in shock—this was terrifying!

"How old were you back then?" He couldn't help but ask, wanting to make a comparison.

"About twelve or thirteen?" Mei Si Ren recalled vaguely, not remembering clearly.

Xiao Kongdong fell silent for a long moment, then asked, "Was that your first time holding a sword?"

"No."

Mei Si Ren's response brought some comfort to Xiao Kongdong.

But after a pause, he heard the old sword immortal continue, "That was three days after I first held a sword."

Xiao Kongdong: ???

Three days? What was the difference from the first time?

Mei Si Ren gave a small chuckle, clearly enjoying the impact on the younger man's mindset, and said with a smile:

"I'm just naturally talented in the heart sword technique. Other cultivations were tough for me; it took decades of effort."

"Don't think that at your age, I had much combat power. Compared to a prodigy like your master, I was nowhere near."

"Three breaths to innate realm, three years to sword immortal... that's an absolute prodigy that even Yu Tu feels inferior to!"

That was true!

Xiao Kongdong agreed wholeheartedly.

In theory, mastering the first realm of any of the nine great sword techniques qualified one to become a 'sword immortal.'

As long as they grew strong enough to have the basic power to slay a Taixu with their dao, they could challenge for one of the seven sword immortal positions.

But the battles for the 'seven sword immortals' titles had grown increasingly fierce since the last sword cultivation era, to the point where even mastering the first realm of a sword technique didn't qualify for challenging the previous generation.

But his teacher was different...

Xiao Kongdong had a deep understanding of his teacher's 'terror.' From the very first day he held a sword, it took only three years to master the eight great sword techniques except for the hidden sword technique.

Here, 'master' meant the first realm.

Even so, combining the various realms made challenging an ordinary sword immortal as easy as pie.

What's more, during that period, the eight zuns were not limited to the first realm; they had mastered the second realm in some sword techniques, making their combat power several times that of a typical sword immortal!

"What a pity, extremes lead to breakage..."

Mei Si Ren's thoughts drifted as well.

In his youth, Ba Zun An's temperament perfectly matched the path of ancient sword cultivation—wild, arrogant, and untamed.

But precisely because of that, after displaying such talent, continuing to live freely became nearly impossible.

He was like a sword with an edge too sharp, refusing to turn back until hitting a wall. Ultimately, under external pressures, that sword nearly broke like Qing Ju's, but fortunately, he survived and was forced to sheathe it.

That sheathing lasted decades.

Yet, in the vast sword dao of three thousand paths, misfortune and fortune depend on each other.

"The hidden sword technique—was that what your teacher began cultivating seriously after restraining his edge?" Mei Si Ren looked at Xiao Kongdong, implying something.

"I'm not sure..." Xiao Kongdong replied cautiously, not daring to speculate about his teacher behind his back.

But deep down, he knew very well that his teacher's current realm was an absolute perfection beyond great completion.

A sheathed sword brings menace; a gentleman sword first shows courtesy, then force!

From his teacher's wild youth to his current restrained edge, both the 'menace' and 'courtesy' aspects had been cultivated to the extreme.

In a state where yin and yang harmonized perfectly, how stunning would his swordsmanship be? Xiao Kongdong didn't dare imagine.

"Sometimes, I really envy true geniuses—they dare to charge ahead, dare to fight... Even setbacks, as long as they don't die, become stepping stones to another realm, quickly leading to breakthroughs." Mei Si Ren sighed with emotion, fanning himself.

Xiao Kongdong just nodded in agreement, not daring to dwell on the topic for fear of accidentally revealing information about his teacher.

"Isn't Xu Xiaoshou just like that?"

He glanced at the young man sitting cross-legged and smiled. "I've always thought our teacher put too much pressure on him. Xu Xiaoshou's current level is facing roles he shouldn't be dealing with yet."

"But sometimes, I think that with such immense pressure, he still manages to handle everything perfectly and resolve so many troubles."

"Maybe his potential hasn't been fully tapped yet."

Pausing, Xiao Kongdong suddenly shuddered and grimaced. "But then I think again, it's too cruel. After all, Xu Xiaoshou is just from the younger generation and shouldn't be dragged into the wars of the elders."

"Some situations he's facing are even hard for me to intervene in..."

Mei Si Ren chuckled at this, fully understanding the 'eighth sword immortal's' intentions. He said softly, "It's true he shouldn't face such pressure, but I think your teacher might see his younger self in Xu Xiaoshou."

Xiao Kongdong was slightly stunned, then seemed to grasp the idea.

Indeed, Xu Xiaoshou's talent was strong—perhaps even surpassing his own.

His teacher's arrangements for him were exactly following the path of his own youth, using maximum pressure to force the fastest growth.

Because Xu Xiaoshou had entered the game too early; if he didn't grow quickly, he'd soon become a pawn discarded by the big players.

For a discarded pawn, the only way out was death.

"Buzz!"

As they chatted, Xu Xiaoshou, sitting cross-legged beside them, trembled. His momentum surged like waves and tides, erupting fiercely.

The surging sword intent rampaged across the ancient long street, and Xu Xiaoshou rose into the air like an ancient sleeping lion awakening. Though his eyes were tightly closed, he gave off a sense of 'awakening,' 'returning,' and 'going mad'!

"The Qiong Qi silently nurtures in the heart, the outer body withers like dead wood..."

Xiao Kongdong stepped back a bit, feeling his spiritual world slightly affected.

Incredibly, he saw shadows of his teacher's description of the 'Qiong Qi' aspect in the heart sword technique from Xu Xiaoshou, who was just beginning it.

"This kid really has a lot of pressure; his 'true self' is a bit fierce, a bit terrifying."

Xiao Kongdong subtly glanced at the ferocious sword image behind Mei Si Ren.

Perhaps the old sword immortal had seen that Xu Xiaoshou's 'true self' might not be weaker than his own, which is why he was moved to teach him swordsmanship?

"It's indeed very fierce; I just don't know how long he can maintain this state or if he can immediately find his true self." Mei Si Ren nodded slightly, his eyes showing even more satisfaction.

With the sword image looming behind him, he stood firm, unmoved by Xu Xiaoshou's will.

"I think it's unlikely..."

Xiao Kongdong hesitated, speaking up. Since they were in the same school, he compared it to Mei Si Ren.

This old sword immortal had held a sword for three days and then used seven days to grasp the chaotic form of Mu Xia Shen Fo—a total of ten days!

How long had Xu Xiaoshou been at it since he started? Half a year?

Assuming he'd held a sword for half a year, but he'd been walking a wild path before. Now, with Mei Si Ren's guidance, could he grasp Mu Xia Shen Fo in just a few quarters of an hour of meditation?

That talent would be far more terrifying than his own or his teacher's!

At most, Xu Xiaoshou might grasp the chaotic form of Mu Xia Shen Fo, like Mei Si Ren, and then spend another half-year polishing it to make it his own... Xiao Kongdong quickly judged.

"Crack!"

However, Xu Xiaoshou, still sitting with eyes closed, saw his momentum rise unreasonably fast and terrifyingly!

Soon, cracking sounds filled the long street around them.

In the distance, the ancient, towering city walls were affected by the sword intent, beginning to crack and then collapse.

"Rumble—"

The massive noise approached, and Mei Si Ren raised his stone sword. His illusion sword technique quickly constructed a simple, rough virtual world, containing the surrounding anomalies and directing the explosive sounds into this false space-time, so they wouldn't disturb his disciple Xu Xiaoshou.

"This momentum is rising too frighteningly fast—what could he have encountered in his spiritual world? How immense is his pressure?" Xiao Kongdong felt the growing pressure, his pores tightening as he became serious and vigilant.

How could a Zong Shi like Xu Xiaoshou have such momentum?

How severely had his 'true self' been suppressed to rebound this powerfully?

Mei Si Ren's gaze shifted from approval and satisfaction to gravity and concern, with a hint of reproach as he said:

"Ba Zun An, that's excessive!"

"The burden Xu Xiaoshou is bearing in his spiritual world is probably far more difficult than we imagined. Afterward, I must demand an explanation from him."

Xiao Kongdong silently lifted his eyes to glance at the old sword immortal, shuddering and not daring to respond.

He tried to change the topic: "Si Ren Mister, the heart sword technique emphasizes refining the heart. I'm worried that his momentum rising so quickly might not be good and could lead to danger."

"Heart demon?" Mei Si Ren asked without shifting his gaze, constantly monitoring Xu Xiaoshou's changes.

"Something like that..." Xiao Kongdong shrank back slightly. "I mean, if in his spiritual world he's forcibly trying to crush the Ban Sheng he's faced before and experience that 'thrill,' it might backfire, causing harm and breeding extra distractions that affect his heart sword technique cultivation."

He chose his words carefully.

Even so, it clearly irritated Mei Si Ren.

"A heart demon is a heart demon—why beat around the bush? But that's impossible!" Mei Si Ren shot him a sharp look, then quickly refocused on Xu Xiaoshou's state.

The glance from the sword image left Xiao Kongdong numb, and he said in panic:

"Yes, you're absolutely right!"

"Xu Xiaoshou is exceptionally talented and has an outstanding character; he won't breed a heart demon unless influenced externally..."

He stopped there and chuckled to himself.

With both Mei Si Ren and himself here, who would dare disrupt Xu Xiaoshou's cultivation? Given Mei Si Ren's protective attitude just now, they'd be skinned alive!

Right then, as the momentum peaked and even the virtual world constructed by Mei Si Ren's illusion sword technique began to shake and crack...

Xu Xiaoshou's body suddenly trembled violently. Though he should have been fully immersed in his spiritual world with no emotions showing, his face now displayed visible tension.

Following that, faint black energy started seeping from his seven orifices.

"This?" Xiao Kongdong's pupils shrank.

Wasn't this...?

Sure enough, Mei Si Ren's face turned furious as he looked over. Though he said nothing, Xiao Kongdong felt as if everything had been said, and he nearly dug a hole to bury himself.

"Don't let anything happen; you absolutely can't mess up—if you do, I'm done for too..." Xiao Kongdong sneaked a peek at Mei Si Ren, clasped his hands together, and began praying.

But the more you fear something, the more it happens!

In the next instant, Xu Xiaoshou's whole body shook violently. His internal sword energy went haywire, as if he'd taken a wrong path. His body cracked and bled all over, with surging demonic energy bursting forth.

—It was just like Sang Lao after being struck by the evil sin bow arrow, completely deviating into demonic possession!

"You jinx!" Mei Si Ren finally lost his temper, raising his stone sword to strike.

"It's not my fault..." Xiao Kongdong jumped in fright and tried to flee.

But at that moment, both realized something and turned in unison toward a distant spot—unbelievable, it wasn't a jinx; someone was really interfering and affecting Xu Xiaoshou's cultivation state!

This was also a jinx!

"Who did this?"

Xiao Kongdong instinctively wanted to make up for his jinxing by going out to find the culprit and beat them to death.

But the next second, he sensed the atmosphere around him had turned wrong...

Stifling! Shocking! Terrifying!

The great senior brother of Can Yue Xian Cheng felt trapped in quicksand at that moment, struggling even to lift a foot, let alone act.

Desperately trying to turn his head, Xiao Kongdong attempted to move...

Because he felt Mei Si Ren beside him had changed; he was no longer the gentle elder, as if he'd transformed into someone else entirely.

If he didn't act now, it would be too late!

The dreadful aura emanating from beside him was like endless volcanoes in the Jue Jin Fire Domain being stirred viciously by a god with a Ding Hai God Needle.

It was foreseeable...

In the next second, there would be a world-ending volcanic eruption!

Straining with all his might, Xiao Kongdong finally managed to turn his head and look toward Mei Si Ren.

Then, a thunderous roar exploded in his ears, as if it would shatter his mind, body, soul completely—maniacal and terrifying.

"Who?!"

Xiao Kongdong's heart nearly stopped in fear.

What he saw was Mei, the old sword immortal, with a face stern and gloomy to the extreme, flushed red from exertion, his neck veins bulging clearly.

Mei Si Ren stared fixedly in that distant direction.

He gritted his teeth, his anger soaring to the heavens. As he opened his mouth, Xiao Kongdong's Mu Xia Shen Fo was forced out, but he didn't dare move, only covering his ears.

Sure enough, a suppressed, low voice squeezed through the old sword immortal's teeth, terrifying beyond measure.

"Who is looking for death!!!"