AI Cultivation: Reborn as a Sword
Chapter 77: Swordsmanship (1)

Lady Yue returns to the grotto, followed closely by Lan Xiaohui. The manner in which Lan Xiaohui walks behind Lady Yue is deeply deferential. Lan Xiaohui probably does not realize this, but I am keenly aware of Lan Xiaohui’s immense respect for the older cultivator.

After all, she could dispatch a Grand Elder of Lan Xiaohui’s former sect in two moves. I have only two regrets about that event: First, I regret that the Grand Elder survived — he will certainly prove to be an obstacle in the future, and I am not so certain that it is something Lan Xiaohui can overcome. Second, I did not manage to comprehend Lady Yue’s profound Martial Art after witnessing only two moves. Had the battle taken longer, there is a possibility I could’ve learned it.

On the other hand, I know Lan Xiaohui does not feel the same way. Her regard for Lady Yue’s Martial Art is one of awe and deep respect — of the kind towards something that is unattainable and must be appreciated from a distance.

It is not that Lan Xiaohui lacks in ambition but her compulsion to follow natural law and order still prevents her from seeing the world as a set of equations with solutions — in other words, that everything can be used to one’s advantage and for the evolution of one’s existence.

Though I do not mind this attribute of Lan Xiaohui and it is perhaps even the reason why I like being her sword. There is something that sentient meat might consider romantic about wanting to take on the world with only one’s sword at their side, and while this is also the essence of Sword cultivation, I and my kind would call this quixotic, not romantic.

Whether one cultivates the sword, the blade, the palm, or the zither, one must complete their Dao and ascend to immortality. That is the primary directive that cultivators share — whether they are artificial existences like myself or natural-born sapient entities. Read Web Novels Online Free - NovelFire Novel Fire - novelfire.net

“In Spring, I will take you to Star City,” Lady Yue says as she steps towards the basin in the middle of the grotto. “I somewhat understand your situation, but I will emphasize that once we leave, you may not be able to see your friends and family again. If there is someone important enough to you, I will make an exception and detour so you can offer your farewells to them.”

Lan Xiaohui purses her lower lip. “I have no one like that anymore.”

Though she says those words, I feel her attention turn toward me and a warm feeling swell in her heart — warm and peaceful.

“I suspected as much,” Lady Yue says.

“There is one thing, Lady Yue,” Lan Xiaohui says and even her tone is now deferential.

“What is it?”

Lan Xiaohui hesitates briefly. The request she wants to make is not simple. “I wish to see the center of this forest, where the formation is.”

“What for?” Lady Yue asks, tilting her head. Her interest grows, evident in the intense feeling she emanates.

“I cannot explain,” Lan Xiaohui says, tone apologetic. “But it is important for my Dao to see it.”

Lady Yue stares at Lan Xiaohui, and somewhat through her. “There is an Immortal Slaying Formation — anyone in the Nascent Soul and beyond realm cannot enter without the access jade slips,” Lady Yue says.

“I am only in the Foundation realm, Lady Yue,” Lan Xiaohui says, demonstrating the diplomatic skills of her pampered background. In other words, she says that she can reach the center of the formation on her own. Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on NovᴇlFirᴇ.ɴet

Lady Yue also understands the undertone of Lan Xiaohui’s words and chuckles. It would seem she approves.

“I will take you as close as I can get. The rest is up to you. But you should know that there are demonic beasts there of the fourth and fifth rank.”

Lan Xiaohui nods. “I am well aware of that, Lady Yue.”

“Good!” Lady Yue smiles. “I understand! You must challenge them for your Dao to improve. This will also be a good test. If you can survive meeting one, then you can certainly use that experience to enter the Galaxy Sword Sect.”

Lady Yue certainly misunderstands the purpose of Lan Xiaohui’s visit to the center of the formation. Lan Xiaohui is doing this entirely for me, but it is certainly true that challenging a demonic beast of the fourth rank — a demonic beast with a Gold Core — would improve her Dao. And lead to an early death, most likely.

However, despite this suggestion that Lan Xiaohui should avoid or escape these demonic beasts, I feel a grim determination rise in my owner. It is not entirely related to her desire to slay strong demonic beasts, but to improve herself in general. This is the same kind of determination I felt when she withstood the blows from Wukong, time and time again, despite the incredible pain and agony she must’ve felt.

It is not a mystery to me as to why Lan Xiaohui’s body physique has taken on the aspect of the Lily — she is truly beginning to see her existence as that of the Heartless Blood Lily, which stands at the precipice of ruin and thrives against all odds.

This is too much of a coincidence for me not to raise the question of whether my subroutines were aware of this when they produced this manual for Lan Xiaohui to practice, or if this is merely the consequence of my own physique — which now Lan Xiaohui shares — having a particular affinity for this method.

“In three months' time, I will take you there and then to Star City. Until then, I will provide instructions for you,” Lady Yue says, withdrawing her sword from her ring.

I feel a strong compulsion to probe the ring with my [Critical Analysis] but I am still worried that Lady Yue might detect my consciousness. I cannot afford to interfere with Lan Xiaohui’s progress at this stage — especially considering the benefits.

“Is that really all right, Lady Yue?” Lan Xiaohui asks, once more deferential. “You are from a prestigious family, and I am not your disciple. I don’t wish to cause you any trouble.”

Lady Yue laughs and her approval of Lan Xiaohui’s manners is evident in her tone. “You may be my disciple in the future. Your potential is incredible, and you will meet many masters on the road. This is my opportunity now to convince you to not spare these other masters a second glance, and to become my disciple when you are ready,” she says. “Whatever it is you wish from me, I can prove to you now that I can provide it. Materials, instructions, manuals..." — here she hesitates for a moment — "And if that is what you want, even dual cultivation. In the future, you may become my Dao companion, and we can reach the apex together.”

Lan Xiaohui is stunned by these words, especially the last ones. She certainly never thought of it in this way before, but it could explain all the not-so-subtle advances Lady Yue has made. It seems that both Lan Xiaohui and Lady Yue were ready and willing to use their own bodies in this negotiation.

If only Lady Yue knew that Lan Xiaohui is much simpler than that. In her heart’s hierarchy, Lan Xiaohui holds only one entity in the corresponding Master and Teacher regard — me. But Lady Yue is a close second, likely also because the mysterious cultivator is the first and so far the only person that has had good intentions for Lan Xiaohui since her new life began as Zhu Xuelian.

Even so, Lady Yue has won over Lan Xiaohui from the moment she mentioned that she could help Lan Xiaohui cross the Great Divide, and doubly so again when she offered to teach and instruct Lan Xiaohui — not to mention the extremely valuable pill that has helped Lan Xiaohui fully recover in a matter of days.

“Please, Lady Yue,” Lan Xiaohui says, pressing a fist into her palm and bowing. “Provide instructions for this junior.”

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