Chapter 317: The Secret of Spirit Bodies, Sword Intent Follows the Heart

Chapter 317: The Secret of Spirit Bodies, Sword Intent Follows the Heart

"For now, I'll believe your ghost story."

Xu Yan shook his head, choosing not to probe further into Cui Huayu's background.

"I've heard that all the proud and talented disciples of the Super Spirit Sect possess spirit bodies. Why is it that none of the proud disciples of the Thousand Swords Temple have spirit bodies?"

This had been a long-standing question in Xu Yan's mind.

Could it be that the Thousand Swords Temple was hiding their true prodigies?

But that didn't make sense either. He had already shown up at their doorstep and challenged them, yet they still didn't come out to face him?

Or perhaps, they were avoiding battle because they didn't have the assurance of victory?

"Spirit bodies are rare in this world. Once someone is found to possess a spirit body, no matter how humble their background, they will receive special attention and be recruited by the Super Spirit Sect.

"Reporting the discovery of a spirit body prodigy to the Super Spirit Sect is considered a great contribution.

"Only the core disciples of the Super Spirit Sect, the true prodigies, possess spirit bodies. These prodigies rarely travel the spiritual realm, and even if they do, their identities remain unknown."

Cui Huayu paused for a moment before explaining.

Xu Yan's eyebrows furrowed. Was there some hidden secret behind this?

"Even I don't know the more secretive matters," Cui Huayu continued. "But from what I understand, the very existence of the Super Spirit Sect is for the purpose of cultivating these spirit body prodigies.

"As for what lies behind all this, it's beyond my reach." Cui Huayu spread his hands helplessly.

"Are spirit bodies very rare?" Xu Yan asked thoughtfully.

His junior sister, Su Lingxiu, was a spirit body, as were Yue'er and Yue Changming.

"Of course, they are!" Cui Huayu replied solemnly. "I once heard that all thirty-six elites of the Myriad Stars Martial Arts Institute are spirit body prodigies..."

"Really?" Xu Yan asked, puzzled.

Cui Huayu shook his head. "It's just a misconception. The so-called spirit bodies that are widely recognized in the martial arts world are a little different from those acknowledged by the Super Spirit Sect."

"Oh? How so?" Xu Yan was intrigued, curious about the Super Spirit Sect's criteria for spirit bodies.

Cui Huayu explained, "Most of the spirit bodies that are commonly known in the spiritual realm are actually spirit rhythm bodies, not true spirit bodies. A spirit rhythm body exhibits similarities to a spirit body, but it only possesses a superficial resemblance. It is not a true spirit body.

"A spirit rhythm body appears ethereal and similar to a spirit body, but it is not the real thing. Nonetheless, it is still considered an exceptional talent, allowing one to be closer to the heavenly and earthly spiritual energy and more sensitive to the heavenly mysteries..."

As Cui Huayu explained, Xu Yan finally understood that most of the so-called spirit bodies in the spiritual realm were merely individuals with a spirit rhythm constitution and not true spirit bodies.

Distinguishing a true spirit body required special spirit objects and unique methods.

Typically, sects below the top-tier spirit sects were not equipped with the means to make this distinction and often mistook those with a spirit rhythm constitution for spirit bodies.

Even though a spirit rhythm constitution was far inferior to a spirit body, it was still considered an outstanding talent, and the Super Spirit Sect didn't bother to correct this misconception.

"As a martial artist with a spirit rhythm body cultivates and improves their realm, the spirit rhythm gradually merges with their cultivation, and they lose the resemblance to a spirit body," Cui Huayu further elaborated. "For example, Wu Yuan of the Thousand Swords Temple has a spirit rhythm body, but his spirit rhythm has already fused with his cultivation, which is why his strength surpasses that of a treasure body prodigy."

"I see!" Xu Yan exclaimed, enlightened. "So, the thirty-six elites of the Myriad Stars are actually spirit rhythm bodies and not true spirit bodies."

"Most of them have a spirit rhythm constitution, but there are indeed true spirit body prodigies among them," Cui Huayu sighed. "It is said that the top five prodigies are all true spirit bodies."

"How can one distinguish a spirit body then?" Xu Yan asked curiously.

Although he could sense spirit bodies, he had no experience in differentiating between a spirit body and a body that merely possessed a spirit rhythm.

"You need spirit objects and certain methods," Cui Huayu replied after a moment's thought. He then took out a small, verdant tree.

"When a spirit body touches this spirit tree, a unique method is used to stimulate it. If it's a spirit body, the leaves will glow. If it's a spirit rhythm body, the leaves will only shine faintly."

Cui Huayu was eager to try it out on Xu Yan, curious to see if this exceptional talent indeed possessed a spirit body.

"A spirit rhythm body appears more ethereal, while a spirit body is more restrained and substantial. Is that the difference?" Xu Yan asked, his eyes narrowing as he seemed to have figured out the distinction between the two.

All he needed to do now was compare it with his junior sister Su Lingxiu or Yue'er, and he would know if he had a spirit body or a spirit rhythm body.

"That should be the case," Cui Huayu nodded, his curiosity piqued as he wondered if Xu Yan could discern this without the use of the spirit tree.

Xu Yan extended his hand and touched the small tree in Cui Huayu's hand. Cui Huayu's heart leaped with joy, and he quickly employed his method to examine Xu Yan's spirit body and gauge its strength.

Even among spirit bodies, there were varying degrees of strength and grades.

Snap!

However, just as the tree began to glow slightly, it suddenly crumbled into pieces.

Cui Huayu was taken aback.

Xu Yan blinked and said, "Your tree doesn't seem very reliable."

But in his heart, he mused, "As I thought, I've surpassed the spirit body. Next time I return, I'll ask my master about this."

Xu Yan's heart thumped with excitement.

Cui Huayu scratched his head, wondering if there was something wrong with his spirit-sensing tree.

"How many spirit bodies are there in the Spirit Controlling Manor?" Xu Yan asked curiously.

"I don't know. That's one of the Super Spirit Sect's most closely guarded secrets," Cui Huayu replied, shaking his head.

The two chatted leisurely for a while before Cui Huayu asked, "Brother Xu, where do you plan to hide from the Thousand Swords Temple?"

"I don't need to hide," Xu Yan said with a faint smile, unperturbed by the Thousand Swords Temple's pursuit. "I want to find a place suitable for adventure and martial arts practice, a place where I can roam the spiritual realm.

"As a true disciple of the Spirit Controlling Manor, you should be quite familiar with the spiritual realm. Do you know of any places that are more chaotic and suitable for adventuring?"

Xu Yan intended to travel the spiritual realm, experiencing the wonders of the heavens and the earth. The more chaotic a place was, the more likely conflicts and battles would erupt, and that was exactly what he sought.

"If we're talking about chaotic places in the spiritual realm, it has to be Dachuan State," Cui Huayu replied. "It's a land of many mountains, bandits, and dense forests, second only to Tianling State in terms of spiritual beasts. The terrain is rugged, with numerous rivers and valleys, and the people of Dachuan are exceptionally fierce.

"Even the influence of the Super Spirit Sect is weaker in Dachuan State compared to other states. The Blood Devil established the Blood God Sect there and rose to power.

"It is said that remnants of the Blood God Sect still linger in Dachuan State, and it's challenging to eradicate them completely.

"With so many mountains, it's easy to hide, and there are even rumors of ancient tombs appearing from time to time. Of course, these are all stories from a long time ago.

"There are also rumors that the Blood Devil obtained his Blood God technique from an ancient tomb in Dachuan."

Cui Huayu paused, deep in thought, before continuing.

Xu Yan's eyes lit up. "Then let's go to Dachuan State. You can spread the word to the Thousand Swords Temple that I, Xu Yan, am heading to Dachuan State. Let's see if that gets their attention."

If the Blood Devil had risen to power in Dachuan State, how could the Thousand Swords Temple not take Xu Yan seriously when he went there?

Cui Huayu readily agreed.

"Let's go, farewell for now!"

Xu Yan took a step out of the palace, ready to embark on his journey to Dachuan State.

Suddenly, he turned back and said, "Seeing your sickly appearance, it seems your body really has some issues. You can go to the Evergreen Pavilion and ask my junior disciple to help you with a check-up."

Cui Huayu paused, then exclaimed, "The Evergreen Pavilion? I understand!"

Xu Yan nodded and took a step forward, vanishing into thin air as he headed straight for Dachuan State.

Cui Huayu breathed a sigh of relief, finally relaxing now that the pressure of facing Xu Yan was gone.

He glanced at the broken branch of the spirit-sensing tree and wondered if there was something wrong with it.

"Return to the Spirit-Controlling Manor. Regardless, try not to become an enemy of Xu Yan, absolutely do not become his foe!"

Cui Huayu had a premonition that this time, the Thousand Swords Temple's luck might have reached its end.

Xu Yan's rise was unstoppable, far surpassing that of the Blood Devil from years past.

Several days later, news of Xu Yan's journey to Dachuan State began to spread, and as expected, the powerful warriors of the Thousand Swords Temple grew serious. In addition to the Elder with the knife, two other elders set out for Dachuan State to pursue and kill Xu Yan.

In the Luozhou State, within the Evergreen Pavilion...

The name of the Elixir Fairy began to circulate, and gradually, warriors started arriving in search of medical treatment. Most of them suffered from chronic illnesses that had not healed over the years, or even damaged foundations. They came with a glimmer of hope.

The people in the Evergreen Pavilion became busy.

Injured and weak warriors were given dan pills for treatment, while those at the Refining God or higher cultivation levels were personally attended to by Su Lingxiu.

Lei Tong also visited every few days, and each time, he left extremely satisfied, as if he had gained great insights.

However, he was unaware that everything he had witnessed was merely an illusion.

Fang Hao was in the process of refining a flying boat. The outline of the boat had already been crafted, and some of its functions had been refined as well.

But it was still a ways off from being completely refined.

Li Xuan observed and nodded in satisfaction. This flying boat was impressive. In the future, when they traveled through the spirit realm, they wouldn't have to ride spirit beasts, which was quite a mundane way of traveling.

Moreover, the flying boat could directly transform into the Evergreen Pavilion, making it convenient for Su Lingxiu to practice medicine everywhere.

"Your disciple Xu Yan has achieved great success in the Heart Sword Realm, and you have gained the ability to manifest sword intent with your heart."

Xu Yan had achieved great success in the Heart Sword Realm.

"Sword intent follows the heart!"

Li Xuan was thrilled. From now on, he wouldn't need to ponder and gain insight into sword intent. His heart's desires would directly shape his sword intent.

Any kind of sword intent would be achievable with just a thought.

"His strength has increased again," Li Xuan marveled. Moreover, his martial arts experience continued to grow as Xu Yan and Meng Chong provided him with constant feedback.

Time flew by, and news of Xu Yan and Meng Chong continued to reach Li Xuan.

Everyone in the Evergreen Pavilion was astonished, even Shi Er, who usually kept to himself, was stirred with excitement and seemed eager to venture out and make a name for himself.

Of course, he could only think about it, as his strength was far too lacking for such endeavors.

"Big Brother Xu Yan is too awesome!"

Fang Hao admired him sincerely.

Xu Yan had dared to snatch the Thousand Swords Temple's divine artifact right in front of them, and they could do nothing about it. He was ridiculously strong.

This time, the aloof Super Spirit Sect had been slapped in the face.

The respect solitary cultivators held for the Super Spirit Sect had diminished without anyone noticing.

"Among the countless geniuses in the world, is Xu Yan a model to follow?"

Li Xuan smiled silently.

"Meng Chong is also doing well. He should be close to a breakthrough."

Li Xuan was very pleased with this.

All four of his disciples had achieved something, and as their master, he felt proud.

"It's been a month. All of you from the Lei Cloud Villa have recovered, and there's no sign of a relapse. Do you still want to continue paying the observation fee?"

Yue'er looked at Lei Tong and asked.

The month-long period had come to an end.

"No need. I'll take everyone back now," Lei Tong said with a smile, as if he had gained something significant.

"Alright," Yue'er said with a hint of regret.

Lei Tong left with the injured, and the formation around the Evergreen Pavilion was dispelled, welcoming a constant stream of warriors.

Of course, there was a daily limit on the number of patients, and once the quota was reached, those who came later would have to wait for the next day.

Therefore, there was always a line outside the Evergreen Pavilion.

There were also those who came to cause trouble, but under Zhu Xingzheng's intimidation, they paid a heavy price.

Even a late-stage Refining God cultivator from the Super Spirit Sect who didn't want to wait in line was slapped to death by Cailing.

With such a powerful expert around, no one dared to cause trouble anymore.

Lei Tong and his group, who were on their way back to the Lei Cloud Villa, hurried along with excited expressions.

"Have you obtained the Elixir Fairy's techniques?"

Lei Tong asked in a low voice.

"Yes!"

One of the warriors nodded.

"Good. Our Lei Cloud Villa has countless geniuses. Once we thoroughly research these techniques, the Evergreen Pavilion will cease to exist!"

Lei Tong's eyes flashed with cold light.

"Did you also steal some dan pills?"

"Yes!"

Another warrior nodded.

"Take out the Elixir Fairy's techniques for me to see."

Lei Tong couldn't wait to see them.

The warrior who claimed to have obtained the techniques took out a small booklet from his storage bag.

"It's here, Elder!"

Lei Tong reached out, took the booklet, and flipped through it. His smile immediately froze.

"Did you get the wrong one?"

He asked suspiciously.

"No, Elder. This is the one!"

Lei Tong took a deep breath and threw the booklet back at the warrior's face, anger flashing in his eyes. "Look at this! What is it?!"

The warrior was stunned. He opened the booklet and saw that it was filled with scribbles and gibberish.

His face changed as he flipped through the pages, only to find that they were all the same.

"How... How is this possible? I clearly copied it down without missing anything," he stammered, taking out his storage bag and emptying its contents.

Indeed, the copied techniques were from that small booklet, but why...?

Lei Tong had a bad feeling. He turned to the warrior who claimed to have stolen the dan pills and asked, "Where are the dan pills?"

The other warrior also had a bad feeling. He took out the stolen dan pills and poured them into his palm, only to turn green when he saw what they were.

They seemed to be mud pellets!

Lei Tong's expression darkened. He felt like a monkey being played with, and he couldn't help but wonder what kind of jokes the people in the Evergreen Pavilion were making at their expense.

Moreover, the deeper he thought about it, the more terrifying it became.

Even a Refining God cultivator and a peak expert like himself had been deceived and trapped in an illusion. This was an incredibly frightening ability.

"I didn't detect anything unusual!"

One of the injured, the peak expert from the Lei Cloud Villa, said with a grave expression.

"Elder, the Evergreen Pavilion has played us for fools. This is an insult to our Lei Cloud Villa. Let's capture them directly!"

One of the warriors suggested angrily.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end