Chapter 110 - Surprise (2) (1/2)

The next day, at dawn, Liu Qiyue came looking for Meng Chuan.

“Ah Chuan, Ah Chuan.” Liu Qiyue found Meng Chuan practicing his saber art at the training grounds. Meng Chuan was currently executing the complete Heart Intent Saber Art. Although he had only comprehended the Heart Saber Stance’s Saber Intent, it wasn’t difficult for him to make the other stances look correct on the surface. Every day, after he woke up, he would practice the complete saber art several times to comprehend the Saber Intent within.

“Why are you here so early today?” Meng Chuan stopped. Qiyue came to have breakfast with him every morning, just like when they were at Mirror Lake Meng Manor.

“I had a nightmare yesterday. I was bewitched and fell into the black fog. When I woke up, I was exhausted.” Liu Qiyue’s face was rather pale. “I couldn’t sleep after that.”

Meng Chuan comforted her. “I also had a nightmare. However, in my dream, I had a nagging suspicion that something was amiss. I suddenly realized that I was Meng Chuan, allowing me to wake up quickly.”

“I was in a stupor during my dream,” said Liu Qiyue helplessly. “I couldn’t shake off the bewitchment.”

“It’s fine. We’ll be fine in a few days,” said Meng Chuan with a smile. “It’s said that resisting the nightmare is also akin to tempering one’s will.”

“Forget it. I won’t be going to the Pit of Bewilderment for now. I’ll continue improving my archery skills,” said Liu Qiyue. “I need to reach the Realm of Intent as soon as possible before I can master the Phoenix Divine Body.”

It was very uncomfortable when one was unable to escape from a nightmare. Liu Qiyue suffered from nightmares for five days before finally breaking free from the torture. Meng Chuan was in better shape. He only suffered for three days before completely returning to normal. He managed to regain self-awareness in all three nightmares.

…

Ten days later.

In the evening, Liu Qiyue went to the Earth Fire Lava Pond for two additional hours of training! As a genius who had awakened her phoenix bloodline, cultivating in the Earth Fire Lava Pond was a form of enjoyment! Furthermore, her talent with fire was much higher than before she awakened, so her cultivation speed accelerated. This was why Archean Mountain was so confident in nurturing her.

Anyone who awoke a phoenix bloodline became talented with fire.

Whilst she was doing so, Meng Chuan went to the Pit of Bewilderment. This was his second time entering the Pit of Bewilderment.

This time, he reached the fourth ring’s 6th step! His improvement was huge.

…

Time pa.s.sed.

He went to the Pit of Bewilderment every ten days. In the beginning, he would often have nightmares after entering the Pit of Bewilder. After his fifth entry into the Pit of Bewilderment, he no longer had any nightmares. However, the pit’s effects on will-tempering reduced after his fifth entry.

…

In the blink of an eye, more than three months pa.s.sed. On 5th April, drizzle poured.

In the early morning, Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue headed to Grotto-Heaven Pavilion. They traversed the mountain with movement techniques, and the rain didn’t touch them at all.

“Ah Chuan, what books did you bring?” Liu Qiyue realized that Meng Chuan was holding two books.

“They are history books,” said Meng Chuan with a smile. “After the lecture is over, I’ll head to the library and exchange these for two new books.”

A disciple was allowed to borrow two ordinary books at a time. He would have to return these books for ones he hadn’t read.

“History books?” Liu Qiyue was puzzled.

“I’ve already stopped training at the Pit of Bewilderment,” said Meng Chuan as they traveled. “During my first two months at the Pit of Bewilderment, I kept improving and reached the fourth ring’s 22nd step. But in the third month, I’ve only managed to take one more step. The more I enter the Pit of Bewilderment, the weaker the will-tempering effects are. Anyway, our willpower will also improve when we cultivate normally.”

Liu Qiyue nodded. “Your current willpower hasn’t reached the Six Desire baneful aura refining threshold. What are you planning on doing?”

Currently, he reached the fourth ring’s 23rd step at the Pit of Bewilderment. The Six Desire baneful aura refining threshold was the fourth ring’s completion. He still had 56 steps to go!

“I’ve already made preparations. I’d rather take five to six years to complete the Ninth Refinement,” said Meng Chuan. “Although it’ll take some time, I’ll cultivate my saber arts during this period. My saber art cultivation can’t be delayed.”

His future would be affected depending on whether he completed the Eighth or Ninth Refinement before becoming a G.o.dfiend. His future wouldn’t be affected much even if he took years longer to become a G.o.dfiend.

Just like what was written in the books, when one’s willpower ranked in the top ten of the human race, even mortals could become Marquis G.o.dfiends within a year. By the same logic, if one’s saber art reached a high realm, a mortal could also become a Great Solar G.o.dfiend very quickly.

“Willpower is more reliant on life experiences and the insights one has in life,” said Meng Chuan. “It’s very difficult for us to gain such life experiences when we’re cultivating on the mountain. After reading several books, I discovered that reading is a way to improve one’s willpower. It’s especially so when reading history books. I read about the lives of all famous individuals in history and the rise and fall of dynasties.”

Meng Chuan said, “Although I haven’t experienced it myself, I have gained insights from reading about history. I believe that after five to six years of reading, my knowledge pool will be ma.s.sive.”

He planned to focus on many aspects for five to six years. He had decided to focus on his saber art, reading, and an escape art.

His saber art was the most important! He understood that his talent with the saber was at the average genius level. He was only a peerless genius when it came to painting. He mastered the Heart Saber Stance in half a year purely because the Saber Drawing Stance and the Heart Saber Stance were very similar. Since his talent wasn’t as high as his master had said, he had to be more diligent.

Cultivating diligently—rain or s.h.i.+ne—also tempered his will.

Reading broadened his horizons and gave him insight.

The escape art was a technique created by an Archean Mountain senior. Deep in the Thousand Sabers Cavern—over 1000 feet deeper than where Meng Chuan normally cultivated—the wind blades could heavily injure Meng Chuan. A handful of wind blades were enough to kill him! He had to use his movement technique to avoid the wind blades. If he was careless, he could die.