Chapter 83: Soul Nourishing Blade

Chapter 83: Soul Nourishing Blade

The most direct manifestation of breakthrough.

Ji Jingqiu's appetite had already caught up with that of his senior brother.

Luo Tianyou looked at the few master and disciples at the dining table and shook his head, "Jingqiu, even when you go to the core zone, you still need to use high-energy nutrition bars appropriately."

"What does that mean, Master Uncle?"

"There are very few ordinary people in the core zone, and they can't stay for long. So, the most expensive thing there is labor."

Luo Tianyou glanced at the dining table,

"They value efficiency and speed. Even ordinary people use nutrition bars to solve their three meals a day."

Ji Jingqiu seized the opportunity to ask, "Has Master Uncle been to the core zone? What's it like there?"

"Both your master and I have been there."

Luo Tianyou's face showed a hint of nostalgia,

"As formal disciples of Longhu Dojo, our initial review wasn't difficult. We stayed there for three years, forging our body essence, and breaking through to the Divine Soaring Realm."

"Later, we left because we didn't pass the subsequent residency qualification assessment."

"Subsequent residency qualification assessment?" Ji Jingqiu asked, his curiosity piqued. Was that place so strict?

Yang Yan nodded,

"The residency assessment in the core zone is very strict. Even following Longhu Dojo's path, you can only stay for three years, and an assessment is required for an extension."

"The assessment considers not only martial arts but also a crucial indicator called the Health Index."

"We didn't pass the index, so we had to leave."

Luo Tianyou added, "This is also why labor is the most expensive in the core zone. The Federation's assessment for ordinary people entering and exiting is even stricter than for martial artists."

Ji Jingqiu's heart stirred, "Health Index? Which aspect of health does it measure, physical or mental?"

He recalled Yang Shi mentioning that something dangerous was sealed beneath the core zone.

And before that, the eighth brother had made a similar statement.

Suddenly, he had a guess.

It was likely related to the Mind Ocean.

Beneath the core zone was the Abyss, and within it, the monsters of the wilderness?

It seemed that the Federation didn't prohibit religious deities, and all shrine headquarters had to be established in the core zone, probably for this very reason.

He asked again, "I heard that as long as one doesn't want to die there, they won't die. Is that true?"

This statement caught even Yang Yao's attention.

He hadn't been there either, spending these years traveling with his master.

Hearing this question,

Luo Tianyou and Yang Yan both fell into deep reminiscence, their expressions complex and unspoken.

As if recalling scenes beyond words.

After a long while, Yang Yan sighed,

"Yes, so it's the best place to forge the body essence and repeatedly experiment without worrying about the consequences of failure."

"For martial artists who have already entered tranquility, it's also a paradise for mental cultivation."

"As for why..."

Yang Yan shook his head,

"We can't quite explain it, but in that place, as long as you firmly believe in your heart that you won't die, even if someone twists your neck or explodes your heart, you'll recover in a short time.

"When we left the core zone, we felt like we had just woken up from a three-year-long dream."

"But our bodies also told us that it was all real, because we had indeed completed the forging of our body essence there."

Hearing this description, everyone was slightly dazed.

The mystery of the core zone remained, and instead of gaining a clearer understanding, it became even more enigmatic.

As long as one firmly believes they won't die, they absolutely won't?

What kind of place was this?

Ji Jingqiu's earlier guess was partially confirmed.

It seemed that the core zone was indeed related to the Mind Ocean, and it was highly likely that the rules there had been altered by its influence.

Had the fundamental rules of the world undergone a mutation in that place?

To believe that one wouldn't die and then not die seemed too idealistic.

However, it was unclear whether this idealism was limited to the concept of "death."

Luo Tianyou also spoke up,

"There's a place called the 'Celestial Path,' which is the fusion point between the Mind Ocean and the mortal world. The rules there are completely different from reality."

"Ordinary people who directly enter the Celestial Path will instantly collapse mentally and die. Only Divine Soaring martial artists who have ignited their heartfire are qualified to enter and explore. But even with just the heartfire ignited, it's difficult to survive there."

"The core zone is similar to the Celestial Path in some ways but also very different. It's nicknamed the 'Artificial Celestial Path.'"

"Sanxi, work hard. Once you break through the fourth limit, I can apply for you to take the dojo path and gain access to the core zone."

Shi Sanxi nodded repeatedly, his eyes filled with curiosity about the place his master and uncle were describing.

Yang Yan, unmoved, said, "Perfect timing. If your senior brother has already stabilized his position, you can go to him."

Shi Sanxi nodded repeatedly.

Luo Tianyou's mouth twitched.

After the meal,

Ji Jingqiu and Master Luo went to the training ground.

Luo Tianyou handed Ji Jingqiu a wooden sword.

Ji Jingqiu waved it in his hand, feeling it was too light and couldn't exert any strength.

"I didn't tell you to swing it; I just want you to get a feel for the sword so you can learn the blade."

Luo Tianyou said casually.

He had already discussed with Yang Yan that once Ji Jingqiu breaks through the fifth limit and achieves mastery in Eternal Blade Technique, he would teach him a few moves.

Yang Yan, being an old friend, naturally had no objections and was considering what martial path would suit Sanxi.

A favor must be returned.

"I'm going to teach you the blade because you're cultivating the Eternal Blade Technique."

"This technique transforms the vigorous spirit into a blade, sharpening it with the mind's energy. It's not only a limit-breaking method but also a nourishing blade technique. It would be a shame if you don't learn a few blade techniques after mastering it!"

Luo Tianyou sighed.

Ji Jingqiu listened attentively to Master Luo.

According to Master Luo, the Eternal Blade Technique, forged by the vigorous spirit and sharpened by the mind's energy, was an excellent method for nourishing the soul and, when necessary, a lethal technique, especially in life-or-death situations.

The principle is similar to the art of drawing the sword in swordsmanship.

Of course, the latter is actually quite wasteful.

The most crucial aspect lies in its role in cultivating the mind.

On the path of martial arts, whether one studies swords, knives, fists, or staffs, guns, sticks, spears, or halberds, nurturing the mind and perceiving the divine is essential.

In ancient times, the true essence of martial arts was the presence of the "Divine."

In modern times, it's more straightforward.

A martial artist ignites their heartfire, constantly adding fuel to the flame. When the heartfire reaches its peak, combined with their martial arts will, they have a chance to glimpse their unique Martial Dao Deity.

This made Ji Jingqiu recall the day when Master Luo allowed him to experience the so-called "God within the Blade."

What Master Luo spoke of should be the same thing.

That afternoon.

Under Master Luo's guidance, Ji Jingqiu transformed the Eternal Blade into a blade for nurturing the mind, a method for cultivating the soul.

Initially, Ji Jingqiu looked at the five blades, unsure which to choose.

In the end, he selected the fifth one.

The original text can be found at 69@book/bar!

This blade was the sharpest among them, and even the fifth level, said to have the same difficulty as the combined first four levels, was like paper before it.

Fat Tiger's craftsmanship is truly impressive!

It's a pity there's no sixth blade.

He did sense that there was still a path before the Fifth Limit, but it seemed to have reached its end.

So, Ji Jingqiu planned to have Fat Tiger regrind the first four blades, striving to make all five blades identical, without favoring one over the others.

Additionally, the method of cultivating the soul also blunts the edge of the Eternal Blade.

Thus, while there appear to be five blades, there are, in fact, countless.

As long as life persists, blade polishing continues.

After imparting the technique, Master Luo left with his hands behind his back.

Alone in the training ground, Ji Jingqiu contemplated this method of nurturing the blade.

Although it's called nurturing the blade, it's also a mind secret technique, similar to his Meditation Seal.

Recalling that Master Luo had also mentioned it as a life-risking technique with effects akin to drawing the sword, Ji Jingqiu couldn't help but feel a bit excited.

He closed his eyes and activated the technique.

He had learned on the first day about the difficulty of directly interfering with the outside world using his mind.

Yang Shi had reached the pinnacle of tranquility, and he used the Purifying Incense as a medium for his mental power, guiding everyone into meditation. This demonstrated the challenge of such an endeavor.

After entering tranquility, Ji Jingqiu also attempted it.

With his Meditation Seal, even with the "accessories" of the Flame Prison Meditation Chart, he felt as if his mental power was tightly bound by iron chains within his body, making it difficult to even probe, let alone break free.

And at this moment.

Ji Jingqiu carefully activated the Eternal Blade, using his mind to simulate a single slash.

In an instant, it was as if something that had always constrained him was severed.

A wind surged from his body, formless and weightless, moving forward in a straight line.

On the ground in front of the training ground, a shallow blade mark appeared at some point.

After a long while.

Ji Jingqiu opened his eyes.

Contemplating the previous transformation.

His gaze fell on the ground, and he crouched down, gently caressing the faint blade mark. Only two words remained in his mind:

Badass!

Master Luo's life-risking technique, when combined with practical blade techniques, was pure mental power!

Even if this strike was temporary, in the heat of life-and-death battles, it would undoubtedly leave the enemy bewildered and unprepared.

If he could take it a step further...

...

...

That night.

Zhang Chongba hurriedly returned with two people.

Ji Jingqiu noticed that this guy's clothes still had a few crimson stains, indicating a recent fight.

The two people he brought were a man and a woman, and the woman was around the same age as Ji Jingqiu. Moreover, he recognized her.

She was Lou Qinglan, the girl Starlight Corporation couldn't stop thinking about.

The other person introduced himself as Ji Anyu.

Eighth Brother chuckled, "Your surname is the same as mine, and you know which character it is."

Ji Jingqiu felt as if he had seen a divine being, repeatedly examining the legendary member of the Six Great Families.

Ji Anyu couldn't help but laugh, "Well, you're exaggerating. I was just lucky to be born into a good family, and I didn't grow any longer arms."

Zhang Chongba coughed and introduced, "Brother, this is the important shareholder I mentioned to you before. I brought her here for you to meet, and the other young lady has come to express her gratitude."

Upon hearing the first half of the sentence, Ji Jingqiu became solemn, as if he had seen the Supreme Buddha.

On the other side, the girl bowed deeply, and her hair fell with the bow:

"Mr. Ji, I truly appreciate you!"

Ji Jingqiu's impression of Lou Qinglan was actually quite neutral.

This impression stemmed from their first meeting.

When he rescued the girl, she didn't just think of herself; she also helped those she could.

With Zhang Chongba's teasing, the atmosphere became more harmonious.

"Brother, I have a suggestion. You should be able to sense that you need an opponent, someone to gauge your position in the food chain among your peers, and Dong Sanhuang Star can't fulfill that need."

"But the central zone only opens its quota every six months, so if you follow the normal procedure, you'll have to wait another two months."

Zhang Chongba pointed at Lou Qinglan and said,

"But there's a way now. If you're willing to accompany Qinglan to the central zone, the Ji family will help you solve the issue of entering the central zone. What do you think?"

Ji Jingqiu didn't rush to agree, "Just accompany her?"

Zhang Chongba laughed, "It's not that simple. She's going to take over Starlight Corporation's branch in the central zone. Although the Ji family has reached an agreement with Starlight Corporation's upper management, there might still be some trouble from the lower levels."

There's one more chapter, but I feel a bit dizzy and disoriented today. My schedule has been chaotic these past two days, so I'll go to sleep now and continue typing around dawn.

I'll try to post updates before 10 PM.

Do you guys prefer reading together, or would you like one in the morning, one in the afternoon, and one in the evening?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end