The Ultimate Lesson

That ring could be considered a divine-grade magical artifact, personally refined by Zhuang Xun. Back then, he had nearly destroyed his own physical body several times in the process of forging it.

“Disciple…. mm~ will not disappoint Master’s kindness~”

Qin Zhaoyu almost panted out the words, her face flushed a vibrant, alluring red.

‘….’

‘Why does this way of speaking feel a bit strange…’

‘Never mind, I’ll ignore it…’

‘Anyway, I’m going to send her away soon.’

Zhuang Xun shook his head, then quietly lay back on the chair, intending to take a short nap while waiting for her marrow cleansing and bone tempering to complete.

****

In a tranquil moment, Zhuang Xun seemed to hear a voice filled with both resentment and infatuation.

“Master~ Where exactly are you~”

“Luoshui misses you so much~”

Yet, just as Zhuang Xun attempted to pinpoint the source of that voice, it shifted, as if a mere hallucination.

It transformed into a resentful, coquettish whine.

“Master~ Yun’er knows she was wrong~”

“I’ll definitely listen to Master’s words from now on~”

‘…..’

‘Damn it, what’s happening…’

‘Why does my consciousness feel like it’s sinking into a quagmire…’

Just as Zhuang Xun realized what was happening and tried to pull himself free, the voice morphed again.

This time, it became a warm, gentle embrace, as if drawing him into its arms.

“Master~ The next time Xin’er sees you…. let’s never be separated again~”

“Okay~?”

‘……’

Zhuang Xun seemed to have grown somewhat numb, no longer offering much resistance.

“Danqing will surely fulfill Master’s grand aspirations….”

“And then, amidst the vast multitude, find you once more…”

“Just as we met all those years ago…”

The final, resolute words faded, like the gentle chime of a spring, pulling Zhuang Xun from the boundless chaos.

****

“Master? Master!”

“Hmm?”

“What is it…?”

Zhuang Xun slowly opened his eyes, his vision gradually clearing, his voice tinged with hazy languor.

‘What’s been happening lately….’

‘Why do I keep hallucinating their voices from the past….’

‘And that strange, immersive feeling…’

“It’s already morning.”

“I know.”

Zhuang Xun rose from the recliner, gazing at the graceful, ethereal maiden before him, and let out a deep sigh.

“Alas….”

“Master, why do you sigh? Is there something Zhaoyu has done wrong?”

“Zhaoyu can change!”

Qin Zhaoyu was terrified of displeasing her Master or incurring his anger, which might diminish his favor towards her.

“It’s nothing.”

A plain three-foot-long azure sword suddenly appeared in Zhuang Xun’s hand as he asked, “You’ve been in the Golden Core stage for some time now, haven’t you?”

‘….’

“Reporting to Master, it has been forty-nine days.”

“A good number.”

“Come, let’s spar. It’s a good opportunity for this Master to test your capabilities…”

“This disciple dares not.”

“Why not?” Noticing the evasiveness in Qin Zhaoyu’s eyes, Zhuang Xun sternly rebuked, “This Master is merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator, while you are already at the Golden Core stage…”

“If you dare not even do this, if you cower before the fight, wouldn’t you become a laughingstock once you venture out?”

“I….”

“I’m afraid of hurting Master…”

‘…..’

At these words, Zhuang Xun’s gaze darkened, then he suddenly let out two soft chuckles.

He continued, “Let this Master ask you: what is the highest realm of cultivation?”

“To achieve profound enlightenment, and with one’s true self, seek the myriad Great Daos.”

Qin Zhaoyu recited the standard answer he had taught her.

“Then how does one judge a cultivator’s overall strength?”

“Their realm, magical artifacts, combat style, state of mind, and heavenly fortune.”

“Which part among these is the most crucial?”

“The state of mind.”

“Then isn’t that precisely it?”

Zhuang Xun pointed the tip of his sword directly at her throat and declared loudly, “You are currently burdened by too many reservations, so much so that you dare not offend even your Master. When you return to the mortal world, how will you ever defy those above you?”

‘…..’

Qin Zhaoyu bit down hard on her lower lip.

The oppressive force emanating from her Master at that moment was like an overwhelming tide, relentlessly tearing at her rationality.

****

After a long while, a spiritual sword, shimmering with flowing light and featuring a hilt like a golden phoenix spreading its wings, materialized in Qin Zhaoyu’s hand.

Her eyes gleamed with understanding; she had made up her mind.

*Clang!*

She parried the sword tip Zhuang Xun had aimed at her throat, then stood firm, sword in hand, like an ancient divine mountain.

“Then, Master, please enlighten me!”

“Come.”

Zhuang Xun’s eyes were devoid of joy or sorrow.

His entire being exuded an indescribable, chaotic Dao韵, as if he had entered a profound state of artistic conception.

Qin Zhaoyu’s gaze sharpened, a flash of spiritual light flickering in her bright phoenix eyes.

Nine years had passed like a shuttle.

The figure standing before her now had once descended like an immortal to the mortal world, shielding her from countless glints of cold steel.

He had taken her in, found her refuge deep in the mountains, and imparted the Dao and scriptures.

He taught her the methods of cultivation and the principles of being human, just as a true father should.

Although she had always hidden the feelings that had long since changed within her heart, it was just as he had said: if she couldn’t even bring herself to draw her sword against him, how could she ever strike that man with ruthless resolve?

“A flaw!”

Instantly, she moved without leaving a trace on the snow, a cold gleam flashing.

In but a single breath, Qin Zhaoyu found a minute opening in Zhuang Xun’s profound state.

Her spiritual sword, without mercy, thrust forward with piercing sharpness, aiming directly for Zhuang Xun’s vital spot on his chest.

*Whoosh!*

Snowflakes suddenly scattered. Qin Zhaoyu watched as she seemingly pierced ‘Zhuang Xun,’ her pupils constricting sharply.

‘It’s an afterimage!’

‘When…?’

Just then, a powerful force came from behind her, yet it merely pushed her to the ground.

*Thud!*

Qin Zhaoyu’s face made intimate contact with the snowy ground.

Zhuang Xun, having appeared behind her at some unknown moment, calmly stated, “One move, one stance. You still have one more chance to make an offensive move.”

‘…..’

Qin Zhaoyu propped herself up, reaching to wipe the snow from her face.

“Since Master says so, then this disciple will certainly give her utmost….”

“To defeat Master!”

She held her sword upright before her, muttering a cryptic and difficult-to-understand forbidden incantation.

Terrifying spiritual flames surged around Qin Zhaoyu, instantly melting the surrounding snow into wisps of smoke, engulfing Zhuang Xun within the fiery red inferno.

“You can even control the Heavenly Fire Spiritual Flame now, not bad…”

“It wasn’t in vain that I found so many spiritual materials for you to refine and nourish your body.”

Zhuang Xun’s tone remained as unhurried as ever. With a wave of his azure sword, like a gentle breeze, he suppressed the fierce flames.

However, the Heavenly Fire Spiritual Flame was an exotic fire from beyond the heavens; once it took root, it was endless.

In just a few breaths, the suppressed spiritual fire reignited, becoming even more ferocious, causing beads of sweat to form on Zhuang Xun’s forehead.

“Master, concede. The chasm of realms cannot be bridged by mere artistic conception.”

Bathed in the flames, she stood with what appeared to be a golden fire phoenix behind her, majestic and awe-inspiring, its cry echoing through heaven and earth.

Meanwhile, Zhuang Xun, adrift in this sea of fire, resembled a solitary boat swaying alone.

“Alas….”

“Allow this Master to give you one final lesson.”

“Unless you have opened up a new domain of heaven and earth….”

“Within this current heaven and earth, before me, all power is but that of an ant.”

Zhuang Xun’s eyes narrowed. He wielded his three-foot azure sword fiercely, and a mysterious power of heaven and earth enveloped the sea of fire, uprooting it completely.

Subsequently, the spiritual fire was forcibly gathered in his hand, slowly forming into a bead-like size.

“Mm!”

Qin Zhaoyu’s throat sweetened, and threads of blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.

The fire phoenix behind her seemed to suffer from the draining of its spiritual energy, wailing incessantly.

“Heaven and earth share a common origin. To contend against a Nascent Soul cultivator’s domain, one must either use a counteracting force…”

“Or discover its flawed technique….”

“And this final method….”

“Is to drain all the power of heaven and earth, leaving it without source or life.”

Zhuang Xun’s palm gently clenched, and the fire bead within his grasp shattered, transforming into scattered spiritual energy that dispersed throughout heaven and earth.

‘…..’

Qin Zhaoyu supported herself with her spiritual sword, her body slightly bent, breathing exhaustedly.

“Hah…. hah…..”

“This disciple….”

“Has learned a valuable lesson….”