"It is precisely because Ancestor transmitted his techniques across the void that this disciple was able to advance to the Earth Rank so quickly, discover the location of the Qingxu Sword, and awaken the Ancestor's legacy!"
In truth, from the very first moment Yang Kai had laid eyes on that statue, he had sensed something within it. Combined with certain records he had glimpsed in his memories, he naturally deduced that it was the Qingxu Sword—which the Xuling Sword Sect had lost many years ago.
Gu Kangning nodded. "It seems the Ancestor has not abandoned us useless descendants after all. We have brought shame upon his name."
Su Changfa looked at Yang Kai with concern. "You have already advanced to the Earth Rank—have you experienced any discomfort?"
Yang Kai's advancement had been far too rapid. They had watched it happen with their own eyes—from the seventh layer of the Human Rank to the Earth Rank in a matter of days. Speed like that meant an unstable foundation, and Su Changfa was deeply worried about that.
"Rest assured, Master. I feel perfectly fine," Yang Kai replied. He then held the Qingxu Sword reverently in both hands, stepped forward two paces, and said, "When Ancestor forged this sword, he sealed within it three Sword Qi of tremendous power. I have already unleashed one of them, leaving two remaining. They can serve as the foundation of our Xuling Sword Sect's strength. Master, please take custody of this sword."
Su Changfa glanced at the Qingxu Sword but did not take it, slowly shaking his head instead. "Since the Ancestor transmitted his techniques to you and revealed the sword's location to you, it means he places his hopes in you—he believes you are the one who can lead our Xuling Sword Sect back to its former glory. The sword... you should keep it."
Yang Kai pondered briefly, then nodded. "Very well. Ah, Master—during the transmission, the Ancestor also pointed out shortcomings in our cultivation and passed down an improved version of the Xuling Art. I have tested it, and it is indeed superior to the version we currently practice. I was wondering whether it might be passed on to the other junior brothers and sisters."
"Oh?" Gu Kangning's eyes lit up. "The Ancestor improved the Xuling Art? Tell us everything at once..."
As the Xuling Sword Sect's Grand Elder and its doctrine-transmitting Elder, matters of this nature were of the utmost importance to him.
Yang Kai immediately laid out the improved Xuling Art in its entirety. The sect's three leaders huddled together to study it, and seeing how engrossed they were, Yang Kai quietly withdrew from the great hall without disturbing them.
The Xuling Art had been refined by his own hand, and it was genuinely far superior to the original version. He was confident the three leaders would soon distribute the new technique throughout the sect. Once that happened, the disciples' cultivation would be twice as effective with half the effort. Moreover, since it was an improvement built upon the existing foundation, switching to the new art would pose no hidden risks.
Before that, however, the junior brothers and sisters still needed to properly solidify their foundations.
"Senior Brother!" Wan Yingying had been waiting outside the hall. The moment she saw him emerge, she hurried over. "Everyone is waiting for you."
"Mm." Yang Kai nodded and led Wan Yingying forward.
Before long, they arrived at the same plaza as before. The sect's disciples had gathered there—all told, there were only thirty or forty of them. Many still bore unhealed injuries, their faces slightly pale, but their spirits were remarkably high.
"Looks like everyone is hungry for power!" Yang Kai said with a sweeping smile.
One of the junior brothers called out, "Senior Brother, what should we do now? Please guide us!"
"Please guide us!" the crowd shouted in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.
Yang Kai nodded. "A tower of ten thousand feet rises from the ground up. What matters most to us as martial cultivators? It is not a powerful realm or overwhelming cultivation—it is the foundation! Without a foundation, everything is mere fantasy. And what is the foundation? It is our physical body. A strong body can channel more spiritual energy. A strong body can unleash greater power! So if you wish to cultivate, you must first temper your bodies! If one day you can refine your physical bodies to the absolute peak, then even without a single drop of spiritual energy, you will be capable of toppling cities and destroying nations!"
As he spoke, Yang Kai threw out a single punch. The violent force generated a sonic boom that made everyone's eardrums tremble and their eyes shine with fervor.
"I will now pass on to you a body-tempering art. When you return, cultivate it diligently—no slacking!"
"Yes!" the crowd roared in acknowledgment.
Yang Kai possessed quite a few body-tempering techniques. Over the years of rushing about and slaying countless powerful enemies, he had confiscated more cultivation manuals than he could count, including a number of body-tempering methods. With a bit of organization, he could easily pass them on to the young disciples of the Xuling Sword Sect.
As for how far they could ultimately go, that would depend on their own efforts.
After distributing the body-tempering art, Yang Kai called forward two junior brothers, wrote out a medicinal prescription, and sent them down the mountain to purchase the ingredients.
The Xuling Sword Sect's younger generation had far too low a level of cultivation to see any dramatic improvement in the short term. They would have to take things slow. Purchasing medicinal herbs to prepare body-tempering elixirs would at least accelerate their growth.
The two disciples accepted their orders and departed.
Yang Kai then had Wan Yingying lead him to another location.
Ashen Mountain—the name sounded desolate, but in truth the scenery was lush and beautiful with clear streams and verdant peaks. Beneath Ashen Mountain, in a mine shaft several dozen zhang deep, Yang Kai strode ahead while Wan Yingying followed behind holding a torch.
The further they went, the more they could sense the dense surge of spiritual energy.
After all, this place contained a Black Jade mineral vein, its deposits of Black Jade so vast that such rich spiritual energy was hardly surprising.