Five Elements Lotus Seeds Take Form

“Sect Master Nian, I have already dispatched disciples to escort the rogue cultivators who attacked to Tianliu City prison.”

“Elder Qi, the sect will remain under strict lockdown until all these treasure-seeking cultivators have left Tianliu City.”

“Understood!”

Boom!

Nian Yinfeng and Elder Qi exchanged a glance.

“Sect Master, I understand your intentions. Go on, then; with me here, the sect will be safe.” Elder Qi bowed and then turned to leave.

Nian Yinfeng smiled, watching Elder Qi’s retreating back. “Indeed,” he mused, “it would be a pity to miss such a grand event.”

‘Both of us are cultivators at the peak of the Mahayana stage,’ Nian Yinfeng pondered. ‘What exactly is the difference between me and Senior Luo? Why is Senior Luo so much stronger than I am?’

With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Nian Yinfeng soared skyward. He observed that nearly all the treasure-seeking cultivators had begun to cast their spells, while Senior Luo stood alone, facing them.

‘How could this be tolerated? To gang up on one person, did these people feel no shame?’

Just as he was about to step forward to assist, he heard a resonant cry: “Sword, come!”

From the distance, an object streaked forth like a meteor, moving so swiftly that it left afterimages in its wake, making its true form impossible to discern!

Then, the white plain robes of Palace Master Luo began to flutter, though no wind stirred.

Palace Master Luo slowly extended a slender, jade-like hand, her palm held flat.

It was ‘External Spirit Gathering’!

Nian Yinfeng had witnessed this very technique earlier, while still on the ground.

As the rapidly approaching object drew nearer, Nian Yinfeng finally discerned its true form.

It was…

A little girl!

Miaomiao sprinted forth, and upon seeing Luo Bingyan ‘gathering spirit’, she immediately understood her intent. Having been inseparable companions for a millennium, their understanding was profound.

Unleashing her spiritual energy, her flight speed increased yet again. Her clothes began to fall away, while a brilliant light erupted from within Miaomiao’s body, obscuring all vision of what was truly happening.

All of this transpired in but a single instant.

Whoosh!

Clang!

Hum!

With a resounding sword cry, a flying sword, pure white from hilt to tip, shot forth from the blinding light, carrying the momentum of rolling clouds and tsunamis, and instantly settled into Luo Bingyan’s hand.

Hum… hum hum…

Astonishingly, the flying swords beneath the treasure-seeking cultivators all began to hum in unison, as if trembling.

All the cultivators broke out in cold sweat from shock. Many were standing upon their own Natal Flying Swords! Yet, these swords seemed to be losing control, even appearing to ‘want to flee’.

“The Vast Immortal Sword!”

Nian Yinfeng was now so agitated that his entire body trembled!

“Father, over tens of thousands of years, countless artifact forging grandmasters have emerged on the continent. Has anyone ever forged the strongest immortal sword?” young Nian Yinfeng asked.

Nian Cangsheng let out a hearty laugh. His eyes grew somewhat fervent, with tiny points of starlight within them, his longing evident in every expression.

“For you to be so interested in the art of artifact forging at such a young age, your father is truly delighted,” Nian Cangsheng said. He crouched down and gently ruffled his son’s hair. “My child, remember this: whether it’s a magical treasure or an immortal sword, the strongest of them all is the ‘weapon without a weapon’.”

“A weapon without a weapon?”

“Born of nature, nurtured by heaven and earth, possessing extraordinary talent, and with spiritual consciousness self-awakened – that is the strongest!”

“Since Father knows of it, have you ever seen one?” Young Nian Yinfeng’s hands were tightly clasped, his anticipation boundless.

“Hehe…” Nian Cangsheng merely chuckled, then moved to the window, gazing silently at the Forgetfulness Sea to the west for a long, long time.

‘So Father truly had seen it,’ Nian Yinfeng realized. ‘The legend is real; the Vast Immortal Sword truly exists in the mortal realm…’

‘Indeed, only the strongest cultivators are worthy of this strongest immortal sword!’

Nian Yinfeng’s eyes widened dramatically, almost as if he wished to pop them out, to get an even closer look at that immortal sword.

The moment Luo Bingyan’s hand touched the sword hilt, she channeled the gathered spiritual energy into the Vast Immortal Sword. Then, with a casual flick of her wrist, she unleashed a sword strike, utterly devoid of any embellishment.

Clang!

Boom!

The ‘Vast Sword Qi’ erupted, yet it was the complete opposite of the ‘Invisible Sword Qi’ that had previously guarded the treasure.

The ‘Invisible Sword Qi’ had been soundless and formless when it struck, yet it possessed an unstoppable sharpness when it pierced through the Immovable Wisdom King Formation. It was direct and straightforward, outwardly Yin but inwardly Yang.

Now, however, with the ‘Vast Sword Qi’ unleashed, a white sword energy, leaving a prominent trail, flew in an arc. It continuously accelerated as it moved, and with each burst of speed, its tail emitted a terrifying series of sonic booms, powered by immense force!

At every point of a sonic boom, ice crystals scattered. Before long, the sword energy had completed a full circuit above the crowd of treasure-seeking cultivators.

“What kind of move is this? Artificial snowfall?” A cultivator, utterly bewildered, muttered.

Ice crystals fluttered down like goose-feather snow, but their descent varied in speed, sometimes fast, sometimes slow.

Some cultivators even reached out to catch them.

“Do not touch them!”

Some more experienced cultivators hastily warned the others, and even as they spoke, they had already begun forming sword-controlling hand seals, preparing to flee the area.

Alas, it was already too late.

The ice crystals landed in their hands, but the expected melting upon contact with warmth did not occur.

Instead, the instant they touched skin, the ice crystals, as if alive, instantly covered the cultivators’ entire bodies!

Perfect human-shaped ice sculptures!

“Holy moly, this is terrifying! Grandpa’s out of here!”

Seeing the cultivators who had just been chatting and joking around, now one by one transforming into ice sculptures yet still suspended in mid-air, even a fool would know that Palace Master Luo was casting a spell to protect them.

‘To unleash such terrifying sword qi,’ they thought, ‘and still have the remaining power to cast a spell to save people – what cultivation realm is this? Mahayana? Is this a joke? Can a Mahayana cultivator truly achieve this?’

Moreover, Palace Master Luo had wielded her sword qi with such effortless control, so nonchalantly.

Most others’ ultimate moves were single-target, full-power attacks.

Yet Palace Master Luo’s was a basic attack imbued with elemental properties, an area-of-effect spell with combos.

Who could possibly withstand that?!

In an instant, those who had not yet been frozen scattered like startled birds and beasts, fleeing as fast as their legs could carry them!

Outwardly Yang, inwardly Yin – this was Palace Master Luo’s ‘Vast Sword Qi’!

Seeing that the opponents had conceded defeat, Luo Bingyan raised her left hand before her, and with a slight twitch of her index and middle fingers, the sword qi that had still been ‘firing’ in the distance slowly dissipated.

‘There was even a follow-up move…’

Nian Yinfeng had initially been worried, then inexplicably excited, but now he felt utterly uncomfortable.

‘Can a Mahayana cultivator truly reach such a level?’ he mused. ‘I feel like my peak Mahayana stage is just a fake…’

“Young Nian, did you see clearly?”

“Eh?”

Nian Yinfeng froze for a moment, before realizing with a start that Senior Luo’s previous sword strike had actually been intentionally demonstrated for his benefit!

He hastily tidied his appearance, then flew on his sword to stand before Palace Master Luo, bowing deeply as he said, “Many thanks for Senior Luo’s guidance!”

“Cultivation has no end; never become complacent!”

“Understood!”

Nian Yinfeng had been renowned in Tianliu City for many years. If anyone else had lectured him, a peak Mahayana cultivator, in such a manner, he would undoubtedly have been indignant. However, since it was Senior Luo offering the lesson, he couldn’t even conjure a hint of rebuttal.

“I shall depart now. Take care!”

Luo Bingyan departed on her sword, moving with astonishing speed. With such an immortal sword at her command, it was no wonder she bothered little with meticulously studying flight techniques.

Nian Yinfeng watched Luo Bingyan’s departure until she was out of sight. “Why is Senior Luo heading towards the city center?” he wondered.

“Sect Master Nian, good news, wonderful news!”

Hearing someone call out to him, Nian Yinfeng turned to see Elder Qi.

“What good news do you bring?”

Elder Qi bowed. “Hehe, congratulations, Sect Master, on the birth of your daughter!”

“My wife gave birth?” Nian Yinfeng seized Elder Qi by both shoulders, his face alight with excitement and joy.

Though the Sect Master, immersed in joy, gripped him painfully, Elder Qi was all smiles. “Indeed, she has given birth! Congratulations, Sect Master! Your precious daughter, just like you, possesses a full innate fire spirit root!”

“Hehe, haha… Heaven truly has eyes! My Tianjian Sect has hope for revival!” Nian Yinfeng burst into a series of wild laughs, appearing almost frenzied.

Finally, Nian Yinfeng glanced once more in the direction Luo Bingyan had departed. He seemed lost in thought, nodding slightly, though what decision he had made in his heart remained unknown.

The following day.

City Lord Dai stood atop the Ocean Gazer Tower, respectfully bidding farewell to Luo Bingyan. Her meeting with her idol the previous night had been delightful, leaving her utterly satisfied. Now, she held a signed piece framed in refined gold, overflowing with happiness.

“Grandma Dai, the ice sculptures in the prison have melted. Should we interrogate them?” A patrolling cultivator flew on his sword to Dai Yimei, reporting.

“Of course.”

“Miaomiao, look, this outfit is pretty! It even has lace trim~” Luo Bingyan, still beaming, pulled out an outfit from her spatial storage bag that she had long wanted Miaomiao to wear. Miaomiao’s previous clothes were nowhere to be found, so she was currently still in the form of the Vast Immortal Sword, carrying Luo Bingyan in flight.

“Get away!” The Vast Immortal Sword bucked, Miaomiao clearly irritated, but she couldn’t shake Luo Bingyan off.

“Then how about you don’t wear it? We can just… oh-ho-ho~ when we get back to bed,” Luo Bingyan mused, fantasizing as she spoke, her exquisite face twisting mischievously.

“You did that on purpose?” Miaomiao suddenly realized.

“Did what on purpose?”

“Yesterday, when you used that move, you deliberately made me take human form?”

“How… how could I? Heh… heh…” Luo Bingyan’s eyes darted nervously.

“Hmph!”

“Oh, come on! Don’t be mad…”

“Throw the clothes away!”

“Impossible!” Luo Bingyan adamantly refused, then quickly realized she couldn’t afford to upset Miaomiao now. She softened her voice, “This is the only set. You don’t want to stay in sword form forever, do you?”

“…”

At Saint Water Palace, beside the Soul-Snatching Cold Pond, within a small bamboo house.

The moment Miaomiao returned home, she burrowed under the covers. Five days passed, and she hadn’t emerged.

Initially, Luo Bingyan thought Miaomiao was simply sulking, preferring to stay in bed rather than wear the clothes she had made.

Only later did she realize Miaomiao was genuinely feeling unwell.

This was rather amusing. Who had ever heard of a sword getting sick?

Yet Miaomiao’s complexion was rosy, and the spiritual energy within her had increased rather than decreased. This was a great benefit, was it not? What harm could there be?

But Miaomiao kept saying she felt like vomiting.

Could a sword vomit? Vomit what?

The Vast Immortal Sword, born from the Soul-Snatching Cold Pond, gathered the essence of Soul-Snatching fine crystals. It took tens of thousands of years to take shape, and tens of thousands more to slowly develop sentience.

The first Palace Master of Saint Water Palace discovered the Soul-Snatching Cold Pond and unexpectedly found the Vast Immortal Sword. Subsequently, the sect developed discreetly on the island, using it to conceal the immortal sword’s existence. This was why Saint Water Palace remained isolated overseas, known to few.

It wasn’t until the great calamity in the mortal realm eight hundred years ago that cultivators on the continent finally learned of such a sect existing within the Forgetfulness Sea.

Currently, within Miaomiao’s sea of consciousness, the five-colored lotus seeds churned, spiritual energy continuously gushing forth. The water-elemental lotus seed, in particular, was ceaselessly absorbing the essence of the Soul-Snatching fine crystals.

The water of the Soul-Snatching Cold Pond was originally a divine substance that could help cultivators solidify their divine sense. The Soul-Snatching fine crystals within it were even more extraordinarily effective. However, while it was instrumental in Miaomiao gaining sentience, it also served as a shackles limiting the growth of her divine sense.

By absorbing the purest essence, the water-elemental lotus seed not only achieved true perfection but also gradually liberated Miaomiao’s divine sense, allowing it the possibility of continued growth. With all five elements perfected, the soul fire would gain a physical body!

The Invisible Sword Qi, having fulfilled its purpose, faded away, its defensive power gone, and was swiftly absorbed by Miaomiao’s divine sense.

“Miaomiao, look what I caught on the island!” Luo Bingyan exclaimed, her face beaming. She held a scruffy, short-legged tiger in one hand and a long-eared yellow fox in the other, shouting as she kicked the door open. “Later, I’ll stew them both to nourish your bo—dy…”

Luo Bingyan’s voice trailed off.

Inside the room, Miaomiao sat on the edge of the bed, her forehead slick with sweat. In her small arms, she held a baby, her expression utterly bewildered.

Luo Bingyan stood frozen in the doorway for a long time.

Until the blanket covering Miaomiao slipped, revealing her delicate shoulder…

“Who did this…”