Chapter 61 Yes, That's the Exact Flavor

In the blink of an eye, three or five days passed.

Without the disturbance of Xiao Xuanzhen, Chen Yi's life returned to peace.

Every day, long before dawn, he would rise early to instruct his fellow martial brothers and sisters of Sword Peak in the practice of the sword path.

This continued until the sun hung high at noon, after which they would together enjoy a lavish feast outside the side chambers.

At the same time, each person would additionally receive a True Origin Pill, used to restore the true origin within their bodies in preparation for the afternoon's cultivation of techniques.

It was worth mentioning that the chores on Sword Peak, including tidying and cleaning the side chambers, were handled by outer disciples.

Among those outer disciples, some had voluntarily stayed on the mountain after failing one or two of the three assessments during master admission.

Others were disciples with innate talent brought back down from the mountain by outer elders, many of whom came from the background of displaced orphans.

There were as many as fifteen such outer disciples on Sword Peak.

Compared to Chen Yi and the other formally accepted direct-transmission disciples, the outer disciples on Sword Peak not only practiced lower-grade techniques and sword skills, but also had to rely on themselves for food, clothing, and daily expenses.

Aside from daily sweeping and meals, during their spare time from cultivation, they would head to the Law Enforcement Hall, the Martial Arts Hall, the Book Mountain, or the Demon-Catcher Hall to accept tasks within their capabilities.

Completing these tasks not only earned them money, but sometimes also rewarded them with pills, cultivation techniques, and other items.

Yet those things were considered utterly useless in the eyes of the direct-transmission disciples.

At least the sword skills studied by the outer disciples were, in Chen Yi's eyes, no different from trash.

Of course, this was the sect's inherited legacy, and whether it was trash or not had little to do with him.

Much like when he was back in the Capital Prefecture, where the household was strictly divided into the main lineage, collateral branches, and domestic guards and retainers, maintaining rigid distinctions.

Consequently, the martial arts practiced by each group also varied significantly.

"Good Brother, if I want to cultivate the sword path to be as formidable as you, how long would it take?"

Taking advantage of a lull during the meal, Hua Youxiang carried her rice basin, topped with three steamed buns, and sidled over with a silly grin.

"To my level? Well, let me calculate."

Chen Yi seriously calculated the time.

From the ten thousand sword forms required for sword path initiation, to the minor accomplishment of traveling across mountains, rivers, and seas through bloody battles and trials, plus the hundred years required for the major accomplishment realm.

"Just under three hundred years, I suppose."

"Three years... Three hundred years?!"

Hua Youxiang's eyes widened, as if wondering if her innate talent for the sword was truly that abysmal.

Chen Yi glanced at her sideways without answering, directly lifted his rice basin, and took a large bite.

And that was even considering the conservative estimate.

Otherwise, given Hua Youxiang's moderate sword talent, the time spent solely on those ten thousand sword forms alone would amount to one hundred and fifty thousand days and nights.

A full four hundred years.

"Then does that mean I won't have any way to catch up to Senior Brother's cultivation in this lifetime?"

"Not necessarily."

Chen Yi ate a few bites, put down his rice basin, and consoled her: "As long as you specialize in a single set of sword techniques and persevere, reaching the minor accomplishment realm in the sword path is not difficult."

"As for the major accomplishment realm, where sword intent is consummate—that cannot be achieved merely through closed-door cultivation."

"You will need some life experiences, traveling the four directions or upholding chivalrous deeds to find your own direction in the sword path."

Hua Youxiang nodded with a look of half-understanding, her mind retaining only "specializing in a single set of sword techniques" alongside "upholding chivalrous deeds."

After pondering for a long while, a bright smile suddenly bloomed on her face.

"Then I'll listen to Senior Brother and wholeheartedly practice a single set of sword techniques from now on!"

For she had figured it out.

Good Brother not only possessed profound sword cultivation, but had an even better character; he would certainly never harm her.

Listening to his words could never be wrong.

"You're right to think that way," Chen Yi said while eating. "Later on, I will select a suitable sword technique for you."

These words instantly made Hua Youxiang beam with joy, the smile on her little face as radiant as her moniker, "Double Flower."

Seeing this, Chen Yi smiled and said nothing more.

Though his own sword path had come easily, his understanding of the sword was solid and genuine.

If Hua Youxiang took him as her benchmark, she would likely find it hard to ever match him in this lifetime.

Rather than wasting time learning a multitude of sword techniques, it was better to focus on a single path; who knows, she might progress faster and cultivate sword intent.

As for the sword technique selection he had just mentioned, he wasn't fooling Hua Youxiang either.

On the contrary, the variety of sword techniques he had studied was vast, and he could always find a set suited to Hua Youxiang.

And if none fit?

At worst, he could custom-tailor a set specifically for Junior Sister Double Flower!

Before long, Chen Yi finished his lunch, shook out a True Origin Pill, and popped it into his mouth to restore the true origin consumed during morning class.

Who would have thought—

[At the age of thirty-three, having already reached the major accomplishment of the sword path and the realm of consummate sword intent, you were plotted against by someone and mistakenly ingested the "Power-Dissolving Powder."]

[High-grade poison detected, absorbed. Counterattack Points +5.]

[Name: Chen Yi]

[Age: 33]

[Cultivation: Eighth Rank, Origin-Gathering Realm (Lower Stage)]

[Innate Talent: Late Bloomer — The older the bone age, the faster the cultivation speed.]

[Fundamental Technique: Major Accomplishment — Droplets wear away stone, eventually achieving greatness.]

[Sword Path: Major Accomplishment — A hundred years of bloody combat, sword intent refined to the utmost purity. With a single sword strike, ten thousand bones wither!]

[Counterattack Points: 5/100]

Seeing the light screen suddenly materialize before his eyes, Chen Yi was momentarily stunned.

What is this?

A few seconds later, Chen Yi recovered his senses, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly with a hint of quiet joy.

That's right, this is the exact flavor.

The familiar taste, the familiar feeling, it's back!

Ever since that day when Gu Tianyang gifted him the Sumeru Pouch without any auspicious reward, Chen Yi had almost given up hope of gaining Counterattack Points while cultivating in the sect.

And how much time had passed?

Barely over two months, and unexpectedly, someone had poisoned him once again.

Furthermore, it was the Power-Dissolving Powder, a high-grade poison worth as many as five Counterattack Points.

As for the effect of this poison, it caused a martial artist's true origin to gradually dissipate within five hours.

Don't ask Chen Yi how he knew.

Ever since he had ingested the Cartilage-Softening Powder previously, he had self-taught knowledge of famous poisons circulating in the pugilistic world.

Although he lacked the recipes, the names and effects of the drugs were thoroughly memorized.

Truth be told, aside from courting death, the actions of the person who poisoned him completely aligned with Chen Yi's wishes.

It was practically more attractive to him than the "Ten Taoist Fairies."

However, after his initial delight, Chen Yi cast a glance around.

Confirming that the rest of them showed no abnormalities, he set his mind at ease.

One thing could be determined—the target of the person administering the poison remained extremely precise, with no one else in mind except him!

However...

Chen Yi leisurely put the medicine bottle away into his Sumeru Pouch, his gaze sweeping over his surrounding martial brothers and sisters, even noting the outer disciples in the distance deep in his mind.

Times have changed, after all.

Back then in the Marquis of Wu'an's estate, he was young and his strength was low, so he had to be cautious lest any action startled the snake and implicated others.

Now, however, he was in the Taixu Taoist Sect, right upon Sword Peak.

His identity had also progressed from an illegitimate son of a marquis to an "instructor" of Sword Peak, and a future elder of Sword Peak.

More crucially, he had mastered slaughtering sword intent, and his strength was vastly superior to before!

"If even under these conditions I can't take you down, I might as well find a block of tofu and headbutt it to death!"

...

Night fell, the moon bright and the stars scattered.

The entire Sword Peak was silent, swept by a slightly chilly mountain wind.

Chen Yi quietly drifted out of the side chamber, seating himself atop the rooftop with the Chunyu Sword in his hand, fully primed and ready.