Shi Ledong’s Reminder

The cultivation of the Body Forging Spirit Seal hinges significantly on repeatedly honing one’s physique.

Presently free from lessons, Shangguan Xue was engaged in this rigorous step within the martial arts society’s training grounds.

Wielding her wooden blade, she tirelessly struck the dummy, blow after blow. With each descending strike, the resistance she endured intensified.

Utilizing heavy pressure to temper the body was a widely adopted method.

****

*Thump!*

After an indeterminate number of strikes, the escalating pressure reached an unbearable degree for Shangguan Xue. Her body swayed, dropping her to one knee, and the wooden blade slipped from her grasp.

Sweat traced the contours of her skin, her hair, already plastered together, clung to her forehead, and a wave of heat emanated from her.

“Take a break, you’re pushing yourself too hard,” Dugu Ling advised, deactivating the dummy that applied pressure upon impact.

“I can’t afford not to push myself…” Shangguan Xue gasped for air, her chest felt as if it were ablaze, and her arms were too leaden to lift, making it impossible to wipe away the sweat.

She simply collapsed onto the floor. As her back met the cool Starfire Stone, a shiver of cold instantly permeated her.

“Both you and Qin Yueyan push yourselves this way,” Dugu Ling sighed. “Does the Body Forging Spirit Seal have a side effect that compels people to push themselves to their limits?”

Shangguan Xue found herself amused.

“Isn’t it precisely because we cultivate Body Forging Spirit Seals that we must exert ourselves to the utmost?”

“You young ones are truly resilient,” remarked Dugu Ling, merely fourteen years old and decades younger than Shangguan Xue.

Shangguan Xue disregarded her comment and instead inquired:

“Senior Sister, what steps must we take to acquire Spirit Seals in the future?”

“In the future…” Dugu Ling reminisced for a moment. “Next year, during the first half, you will embark on an outdoor training expedition. Prior to your expedition, you may claim an additional Spirit Seal.

Upon your return, depending on your performance during the expedition, you stand to receive anywhere from zero to three Spirit Seals.”

‘Zero copies? How could that be…’

Shangguan Xue’s lips curved into a tired smile. “Just how poorly must one perform to receive zero Spirit Seals?”

“Hmm… instances like deserting in the heat of battle, or covertly sabotaging teammates,” Dugu Ling spread her hands. “In essence, it involves committing a fundamental error.”

“Understood.” She had regained a modicum of strength, finally wiping away a bead of sweat. “Are these outdoor training expeditions an annual occurrence?”

Dugu Ling nodded. “Indeed, they take place every year during the first half. However, for the subsequent two expeditions, you will not be permitted to claim Spirit Seals prior to your departure.”

“Does that imply that, with a stroke of luck, one could potentially acquire a total of eleven Spirit Seals, including those granted upon advancing to the Body Tempering Realm?”

“You also receive one upon advancing to the Spirit Condensation Realm, and another for the Free and Unfettered Realm; each grants a single Seal,” Dugu Ling counted on her fingers. “Should one consistently demonstrate exceptional performance in every expedition, a grand total of thirteen Spirit Seals can be obtained free of charge.”

‘The Ink Pavilion is rather generous indeed. Then again, low-tier Spirit Seals aren’t inherently of great value; bestowing them freely upon the younger generation is an astute way to cultivate loyalty.’

As these thoughts flitted through her mind, Shangguan Xue couldn’t help but lament why she hadn’t been born in the Central Continent.

Having been born a commoner in the Southern Continent, under the dominion of the Xiye Dynasty, she was strictly forbidden from cultivating.

In those days, her Spirit Seals had been painstakingly acquired through acts of murder and robbery, of plundering the wealthy to aid the impoverished—she herself being quite impoverished.

For these very deeds, she had been relentlessly pursued on countless occasions, narrowly escaping death each time.

“Oh, that reminds me… the time is almost upon us,” Dugu Ling uttered a seemingly nonsensical remark.

“What’s almost here?” Shangguan Xue was perplexed. Yet, an answer instantly sprang to mind:

‘The Grand Spirit Lotus, one of the fated opportunities for the Child of Fortune.’

“The Grand Spirit Lotus is about to mature,” Dugu Ling chuckled mischievously. “The very name of our academy is derived from the Grand Spirit Lotus cultivated within the central lake.”

‘I am well aware that the Grand Spirit Lotus arises from absorbing the spiritual essence of heaven and earth. This entity, rather than being a mere plant, functions more akin to a crystallization of spiritual energy.

Upon assimilation, it transmutes into the spiritual energy of heaven and earth within the body, thereby enhancing one’s cultivation.

The Martial Saint, having traversed the world for many years, possesses a certain breadth of knowledge.’

“I wonder how many stalks there will be this year…” Dugu Ling mused aloud. “Nevertheless, one is assuredly reserved for you new students.”

‘Three stalks in total, one for each year group. In the previous cycle, the one designated for new students was claimed by Luo Jin.’

Shangguan Xue recited this silently in her mind, yet she maintained a façade of ignorance.

“For us? Will we need to pay for it?”

“You don’t possess the necessary currency—I refer to Spiritlight Liquid,” Dugu Ling smiled. “Rest assured, it’s free, though you’ll have to contend for it.”

‘Indeed, a contest of snatching will ensue. In past cycles, Luo Jin invariably emerged victorious.

Hmm… in truth, he awakened his Merman bloodline here, achieving success with the aid of the lake itself.

Had the contest taken place on solid ground, Qin Yueyan might not necessarily have been defeated by him.

However, this time I am present. My apologies, Child of Fortune, but you shall have to relinquish your prize.’

As Shangguan Xue’s thoughts raced, her excitement mounted, causing her to spring from the ground and retrieve her wooden blade.

“Time to resume training!”

This time, she opted for a different dummy, lunging at it with a powerful thrust of her blade. The instant the blade’s tip made contact, a surge of electrical current coursed through Shangguan Xue’s body.

Utilizing electrical currents to temper the body is another rather common method.

****

After a full day of rigorous exercise, Shangguan Xue arrived home utterly exhausted, on the verge of tears. Her entire body ached with a profound weakness; every movement felt like a thousand needles pricking her skin.

Collapsing onto her bed, she resolved to rest for a brief period before resuming her cultivation.

“I truly fear you’ll collapse from sheer exhaustion,” Jia Nan remarked, leaning against the doorframe.

“Nonsense, haven’t I always managed before?” Shangguan Xue dismissed the notion, but then, sensing a fluctuation from her communication bronze mirror, she swiftly retrieved it.

A face materialized within the mirror: amber pupils shimmered brightly, and an imposing, self-assured aura, devoid of overt anger, emanated from her brow.

“What do you need, Sister Dong?” Unable even to lift her neck, Shangguan Xue resorted to holding the mirror aloft with her spiritual sense.

“Is Jia Nan present?”

Shi Ledong’s gaze shifted, and only after seeing the nine-tailed fox waving at her from the side did she speak.

“A Nirvana Realm Yan has been sighted infiltrating your vicinity; do exercise caution for your safety.”

After a five-second pause, Shangguan Xue, hearing no further words, prompted:

“Is that all?”

“Indeed.” Sister Dong nodded.

“My spiritual sense… it might fall somewhat short against a Thorough Earth Realm cultivator. However, a Nirvana Realm entity certainly cannot harm me. Moreover, the academy’s dean is a Nirvana Realm expert; it would be utterly incapable of breaching our defenses.”

Shangguan Xue’s face was etched with an expression that plainly declared, ‘I’ll be perfectly fine.’

“Safety remains paramount,” Shi Ledong stressed.

“Understood. Thank you for the warning, Sister Dong.” Shangguan Xue expressed her heartfelt gratitude.

“That will be all.” No sooner had the words left her lips than Shi Ledong vanished from the mirror’s surface.

“I had hoped to exchange a few more words with her…” Shangguan Xue stared wide-eyed at the bronze mirror.

Jia Nan let out a soft chuckle. “Sister Dong hardly has time for idle chatter with you.”

“Of course, only you have ample time.” Shangguan Xue pouted. “Lord Jia Nan, would you care to join me for a chat?”

“I charge for my time.” Jia Nan’s smile mirrored the slyness of her true form. “Five slaps per quarter-hour.”

“You simply wish to pummel me, don’t you?” Shangguan Xue sighed. “What transgression have I committed this time?”

“Ponder it yourself.”

“Wasn’t it merely that when they visited last time, I embraced them, yet neglected to embrace you?” Shangguan Xue rose and wrapped her arms around Jia Nan’s thigh.