289: Chapter 289 Lingxiao, Setting Off

A few days later.

The night was deep, and a cold moon hung high in the sky, casting a pale glow across the ground.

Inside the quiet courtyard, the evening breeze brushed against withered branches, producing a faint rustling sound.

Chen Ran sat cross-legged on the couch, his eyes slightly closed, his breathing long and steady.

[Guard the heavenly prison for several days, reward 5 years of cultivation power]

Accompanied by the information surfacing in his mind, a surge of pure power quietly emerged in his Dantian, merging into his limbs and bones.

The overbearing nature of the heavenly book of prison suppression lay in its ability to transform the cultivation foundation of those suppressed into the purest Origin force.

Chen Ran opened his eyes slightly and whispered softly.

"heavenly book of prison suppression, add points for me."

[Whether to consume cultivation power to upgrade the Cultivation Technique "Lingxiao Sword Art" (Initiation)?]

"Yes."

Chen Ran's thoughts slightly moved, guiding the pure cultivation power accumulated over this short period, entirely converging into the circulation route of the Lingxiao Sword Art.

The Lingxiao Sword Art was a top-tier swordsmanship ultimate technique secretly passed down by the Lin Family.

With the continuous injection of cultivation power, Chen Ran's comprehension of the sword art in his mind began to undergo earth-shattering changes.

The originally obscure and difficult-to-understand sword principles were now like clearing away the clouds to see the sun, suddenly becoming enlightened.

He seemed to be placed on the summit of a vast, snowy mountain.

Around him were howling cold winds, and beneath his feet was an abyss of ten thousand zhang.

There was no sword in his hand, but there were tens of thousands of crisscrossing Sword Qi in his heart.

The true meaning of the Lingxiao Sword Art lay in the word "Ling".

Soaring above all things, cutting off all secular shackles.

Chen Ran's breathing gradually merged into one with this Sword Intent.

The True Essence within his body began to undergo a qualitative change, and the originally peaceful True Essence gradually became tainted with a layer of ultimate sharpness.

Within the Meridians, it was as if countless tiny Qi swords were wandering, emitting bursts of clear and resonant sword hums.

This feeling was extremely wondrous.

The chill rose from the Dantian, following the spine straight to the Baihui acupoint.

Chen Ran's face appeared increasingly stern under the moonlight, resembling a deity carved from ice and jade.

Every breath was accompanied by a seemingly nonexistent inhalation and exhalation of Sword Qi.

Time slowly passed in silence.

I do not know how long had passed, but the Sword Qi within Chen Ran's body suddenly condensed.

All the sharpness instantly converged inward, returning to calmness.

[You have diligently practiced for several years and gained some insight, Cultivation Technique Lingxiao Sword Art (Initiation) → Lingxiao Sword Art (Minor Achievement)]

Chen Ran slowly opened his eyes.

Inside the dim room, two chilling flashes of lightning seemed to light up out of thin air.

He raised his right hand, combining his fingers like a sword, and casually slashed forward.

"Chi."

The air ahead seemed to be split into two, making a slight sound of tearing silk.

A transparent sword mark, difficult to distinguish with the naked eye, flashed away in mid-air, and finally merged into a wooden pillar not far away.

The surface of the wooden pillar had no abnormalities, but the internal texture had already been completely shredded by that sharp Sword Intent.

Chen Ran looked at his fingertips, a trace of admiration flashing in his eyes.

"What an overbearing Sword Intent."

"Although it is a sword technique, it can also be applied to my saber. Cultivation Techniques of the same Origin type are not much different..."

He whispered to himself, his tone carrying a bit of emotion.

The martial art belonging to the Lin Family's Legacy was indeed so formidable that it was somewhat unimaginable.

Merely at the Minor Achievement Realm, it could nourish a trace of Sword Intent within the True Essence, allowing one to use Sword Intent out of thin air.

If it could be Cultivated to Major Achievement, or even Perfection, completely staining the True Essence with Sword Intent, the power of that single sword strike would be how earth-shattering.

However, when he tried to continue deducing the subsequent changes of the sword art, his brows furrowed slightly.

The operation of the True Essence in his body reached a certain critical node and stopped abruptly.

An invisible barrier seemed to appear ahead, completely blocking the path forward.

Chen Ran calmed his mind, carefully perceived for a moment, and then shook his head helplessly.

There was no follow-up; he had already reached the limit of the Realm he could currently Cultivate.

What the Lin Family gave him back then was merely half of a remnant martial arts text,

This half of the Lingxiao Sword Art could at most support him in Cultivating to the Minor Achievement Realm.

To continue making a Breakthrough, he had to complete the remaining Cultivation Technique.

Chen Ran understood in his heart,

this move by the Lin Family was mostly out of precaution.

Top-tier martial arts have always been the foundation of various Families for establishing themselves; how could they be easily taught to an outsider?

"However, the remaining half volume of the sword art does not need to be cared about too much. When I find a chance to reveal my progress, getting the second half is only a matter of time."

Chen Ran restrained his mind and suppressed all the turbulent Sword Qi within his body.

If judged by his previous performance, his current image should be that of a Genius with Heaven-Defying Comprehension Ability. It was only a matter of time before the Lin Family wanted to Cultivate him.

With the improvement of strength, just a sword technique was not enough to make him particularly tempted right now.

He stood up, walked to the window, and pushed open the wooden window.

The cold night wind blew against his face, fluttering his long hair.

The white moonlight in the courtyard was still bright and clear, like scattered silver pieces all over the ground.

Chen Ran looked at the waning moon in the sky, his eyes as deep as an abyss.

The improvement of strength gave him an extra bit of confidence to protect himself within this treacherous Dynasty.

But from truly fearing nothing, not eating beef, he was still very far away.

He needed stronger power.

...

In another quiet villa in the capital.

The morning light was slightly revealed, and the horizon tinged with a fish-belly white.

The Disciples of Ciyin Medical Valley had already gotten up early and started packing their luggage.

Five days of time passed in a flash, the aftermath of the martial arts tournament gradually subsided, and it was time for them to leave.

In the yard, several young female Disciples were gathering together, chatting and laughing while tidying up their medicine chests.

The morning dew still hung on the flowers and leaves in the courtyard, and the air was filled with a faint, fresh fragrance of herbs.

"This trip to the capital has truly opened my eyes."

A round-faced Disciple carefully packed several precious herbs into a wooden box, her tone carrying a bit of excitement.

"Yeah, the duels of those Jianghu experts can usually not be seen in the valley."

Another Disciple echoed, her eyes flashing with a yearning light.

"However, although the capital is good, it is too noisy; our Medical Valley is still peaceful."

"That's right, having been out for so long, I'm somewhat missing the fragrance of medicine in the valley."

Everyone chatted and discussed noisily, the atmosphere relaxed and joyful.

Ciyin Medical Valley has always lived in seclusion without coming out, and the Disciples in the valley are mostly simple-minded people. Entering the Mortal World this time and witnessing the prosperity of the Mortal World, their hearts were naturally filled with myriad emotions.

Senior Sister Liu, who was responsible for leading the team, walked out from the main hall. Looking at these Junior Sisters, she shook her head helplessly.

Liu Qing looked to be around thirty years old, with a dignified appearance and a steady temperament.

Her seniority in the Medical Valley was quite high, and her actions were also the most prudent, which was why the Valley Master would rest assured letting her lead the team out.

"Have everything been tidied up properly?"

Senior Sister Liu clapped her hands, signaling everyone to be quiet.

"Reporting to Senior Sister, the luggage has already been loaded onto the carriage, and we can set off at any time."

Senior Sister Liu nodded, swept her gaze across the crowd, and her brows slightly furrowed.

"Where is Nianci?"

As the words fell, a clear and graceful figure turned out from the back courtyard.

Bai Nianci wore a simple and elegant moon-white long dress, without applying any makeup, yet it was still difficult to hide that ethereal and transcendent temperament.

On her back, she carried a huge bamboo-woven medicine basket.

The medicine basket was stuffed with oil-paper packages of all sizes, exuding a rich fragrance of medicine.

"Senior Sister Liu."

Bai Nianci walked up close and slightly bowed to salute.

Senior Sister Liu looked at the large medicine basket behind her, a trace of doubt flashing in her eyes.

"Nianci, what are you doing?"

"We are about to set off back to the valley, where are you going carrying so many medicinal materials?"