Immortal Soaring Blade Book 2, Chapter 255 – Ups and Downs

When everyone left, Zhao Jiuge wanted to coax Song Rujing. However, the little girl let out a cold snort when she passed him and left with Yuan Yixiu while completely ignoring Zhao Jiuge.

Zhao Jiuge didn't know if he should laugh or cry. It seemed like this little girl was holding quite the grudge. He didn't want to delay his teacher and elders, so he intended to wait until tomorrow to coax her during the journey.

Song Yuansheng stopped and looked at Zhao Jiuge with a mischievous smile. “You're going to suffer.” Then he left the puzzled Zhao Jiuge standing there.

Zhao Jiuge shook his head and decided not to think about it. He quickly followed his teacher. He had to properly adjust himself today. Tomorrow was when they would head out.

At night.

On a certain peak in the Ten Thousand Dao Sect, the members of the Mysterious Heaven Sword Sect were resting. However, none of them were resting aside from the two skinny elders recovering from their injuries. Everyone else was sitting inside the living room.

The living room was not luxurious, but it wasn't humble either. Aside from the few precious, pear-wood tables and chairs, the most precious things here were the ink paintings hanging on the wall. Each stroke of those paintings contained dao intent.

There was a dark-red candle burning on the large, round, wooden table. The orange glow from the candle flickered.

“Head Teacher, why are we not allowed to participate in this mission? Could the Ten Thousand Dao Sect be planning something?” Fang Qiwen was unable to endure it any longer and was the first to ask. He was very confused about this matter.

Jian Wuxian shook his head and said, “There is no scheme, it's just that the matter happened a bit too suddenly. The Great Barbarian Sect was the one to propose it. If they had any schemes, they wouldn't just target the Chief Head Disciples—they aren't that petty. I think they mostly just want to allow the disciples from various holy lands to get some experience. After all, the Battle Competition will be the main focus. This exchange is merely to get an idea of each other's strength.”

Hearing this from the Head Teacher, the disciples didn't say more. Although they were eager to go—and who wouldn't grasp such a good opportunity—they were helpless because they weren't qualified. They dreamed of distant lands and the idea of exterminating evil cultivators. They could only bury the thought for now and realize that dream when they left the sect to train.

“Head Teacher, although Jiuge is not weak, there is still a gap between him and the top disciples of the other holy lands. Those evil cultivators are cruel and inhuman; will he be in danger?”

Jiulian had a gloomy expression. She suddenly asked this out loud and couldn't hide her concern. Although she felt helpless that Zhao Jiuge already had someone in his heart, she couldn't help but worry about his safety.

“There will definitely be danger, but I have already talked with the Hundred Flower Valley and the Void Suspension Monastery to take care of Zhao Jiuge. No one can help him with this step. Only by experiencing danger and witnessing how bloody the world is can he grow.” Although Jian Wuxian said this, he still frowned deeply. He was obviously still worried about Zhao Jiuge.

Elder Dawn Wind suddenly said, “Don't worry about Zhao Jiuge, worry about yourselves instead. You all have to experience this as well. Tomorrow, after they leave, I'll take you four to a place to train. The degree of danger you will face will be no less than Zhao Jiuge. I hope that you will work hard. You all saw the cultivation of the disciples from the other holy lands. As the future core force of the sect, I hope you will all grow quickly. Wuxian will stay here at the Ten Thousand Dao Sect to wait for Zhao Jiuge. The other two can also stay here to recover a bit.”

The four of you go rest.” Elder Dawn Wind waved his hand.

Since Elder Dawn Wind had personally spoken, the four didn't dare to object. They knew that the elders had something to tell Zhao Jiuge in private.

From the beginning, Zhao Jiuge had been a bit absent-minded and hadn't said a word. He just stared at the burning, red candle on the table.

When Xu Jiahui saw Zhao Jiuge like this, he was a bit worried. He glanced at Jian Wuxian, and Jian Wuxian shook his head, signaling that nothing was wrong.

Jian Wuxian softly said, “Jiuge, although your cultivation is the worst, you don't have to be afraid, just try your best. No matter what happens, keeping yourself alive is the top priority. Don't worry about much else. As long as the forest remains, you don't have to worry about lacking fire wood.”

Hearing this from Jian Wuxian, Zhao Jiuge quickly reacted and said, “Yes, Teacher, Disciple will remember.”

Seeing Zhao Jiuge in a trance, Jian Wuxian smiled and teased, “As long as you successfully complete this mission, Teacher will immediately take you to the Hundred Flower Valley. How about it?”

“Why are we going to the Hundred Flower Valley?” Zhao Jiuge's eyes widened and he didn't immediately react to those words.

Jian Wuxian revealed a playful smile and joked, “To help arrange your marriage.”

Hearing this, Zhao Jiuge's mouth opened wide. He was filled with excitement and shock. It took him a while to recover, and he asked his teacher, “Really?”

Jian Wuxian rolled his eyes and said, “When has your teacher lied to you? If there is nothing else, go rest. You will head out early tomorrow morning.”

Zhao Jiuge nodded while feeling excited and complicated before he left. He was excited by his teacher's words, but he felt complicated due to the other two figures in his heart.

Before Zhao Jiuge left, Elder Dawn Wind said, “Jiuge, just remember, just doing your best is fine. If you really can't do it, use the three sword imprints your Master Moon gave you. Your teacher and I will wait here at the Ten Thousand Dao Sect for you. When the time comes to head to the Hundred Flower Valley, I'll go with your teacher to support you.”

Zhao Jiuge chuckled in embarrassment, then he said his goodbye to Elder Dawn Wind and Elder Xu Jiahui before heading into the inner room to rest.

After Zhao Jiuge left, only Jian Wuxian, Elder Dawn Wind, and Elder Xu Jiahui were left in the room. Even with their powerful cultivation, they felt a bit nervous about sending Zhao Jiuge to exterminate the devil cultivators.

After a long time, Xu Jiahui was the first one to speak. “To tell you the truth, I'm quite worried. After all, Jiuge is a whole realm weaker, and the power of those devil cultivators is not what it seems on the surface. Not to mention, the information from the Great Barbarian Sect might not be accurate.”

Jian Wuxian calmly said, “Let fate decide. We can't let them stay inside the sect forever like flowers in a greenhouse. Such is life; all the strong must experience these hardships.”

Then he thought of something and smiled. “Isn't the Great Barbarian Sect's Jiang Fuding also only at the late stage of the Spirit Core Realm? Since they dared to let him do so, why would we not dare to not let Zhao Jiuge go? Not to mention our Mysterious Heaven Sect's foundation is much stronger than the Great Barbarian Mountain's. With Zhao Jiuge's ability, he is no weaker than Jiang Fuding. Let's not worry about it and instead talk about where Elder Dawn Wind will take those other children tomorrow.”

“Yes, where does Elder Dawn Wind plan to take them?” Elder Xu Jiahui just remembered this matter when Jian Wuxian brought it up.

“Yin Tan Swamp.” Elder Dawn Wind's calm words shocked Elder Xu Jiahui and Jian Wuxian.

Yin Tan Swamp was located near their Xuan Province and could be considered a dangerous place. Although it was no threat to them, those disciples were only at the Spirit Core Realm.

Yin Tan Swamp not only had a complicated environment, it was also filled with yin energy. There were also many ferocious spirit beasts inside, so it was very easy to lose one's life. They didn't expect Elder Dawn Wind to take them there to hone their skills.

“Don't worry. With me present, there won't be any problems.” The light in Elder Dawn Wind's eyes was even more prominent under the candlelight.

Jian Wuxian and Elder Xu Jiahui looked at each other. Since Elder Dawn Wind had already spoken, they didn't object. After seeing the disciples of the other holy lands, they found that while their general strength wasn't bad, their top strength was too weak. Aside from Sha Sha, who was hidden back at the sect, no one else had reached the Nascent Soul Realm. This made the higher-ups somewhat anxious.

…...

Inside the room, Zhao Jiuge didn't rest. He was sitting on the wooden bed. His emotions were too chaotic right now for him to calm down and cultivate.

Zhao Jiuge was very happy when he saw the figure that had been haunting him. When he heard his teacher's words earlier, he was indeed very excited. However, now that he had some time, he considered some issues. He still had two other figures lingering in his heart.

One was the spirited and lovely Su Su, the other was the warm Bai Qingqing, who had accompanied him. He had made an agreement with both of them. If his teacher went with him to the Hundred Flower Valley and successfully arranged a marriage, how would he face them?

Thinking about this, Zhao Jiuge couldn't calm himself down. Throughout history, how many people had the word “love” harmed? Zhao Jiuge couldn't think of anything after a long time, so he simply gave up. Instead, he thought about this trip to the Liu Province. Thinking about the dangers he would face, Zhao Jiuge felt a little nervous.

Then he thought about his cultivation, and this made him feel even more helpless. His weak cultivation made him feel even more uncertain. He wished his cultivation was much stronger so he could change Ling Bo Re's view of him.

However, he soon calmed himself. Cultivation was a path that he had to traverse one step at a time. Didn't all those with high cultivation begin as mortals as well?

Wasn't he experiencing all this in order to improve himself and become stronger? After thinking for a while, he understood that there was nothing he could do that could improve his strength right away.

His Sanskrit Divine Body had reached a peak, and unless his cultivation level increased, he couldn't improve it right now. As for his comprehension of the sword art, he had never slacked off. There was no big qualitative leap, but it was still improving.

In an instant, Zhao Jiuge regained his self-confidence. What's more, when he thought about how he would be able to complete this mission with Ling Bo Re, he felt happy.

Then Zhao Jiuge entered a state of cultivation and strived to recover to peak condition.

Chapter end