Chen Huzi returned to Yanzi Cave with a bunch of heads and called over two sword transmission disciples to inquire, only to end up with a headache.
"The children we just recruited, less than three months ago, we lost three already?"
Zhou Feng squinted his eyes, "Liu Xiaoliu saved one back."
Chen Huzi breathed a sigh of relief, "Good, as long as they're saved. So there are still six left..."
Yue Peng looked at his junior brother, then at his master,
"Ah, no, there are only three left."
Chen Huzi, "What?"
Zhou Feng remained silent.
Yue Peng had no choice but to count on his fingers,
"Those kids saw blood, got caught in illusion, and were scared into a heart demon. Then, within two days, two of them went possessed by demons, one got his heart meridian severed by sword energy, another was beheaded by sword wind, couldn't be saved.
The last one was scared witless and ran away in the middle of the night, only to fall off a cliff in the dark, ending up like a bloody mess...
So now among our sect's children, only Tie Dan, Jian Jia, and Xiaoliu remain."
"Wait, sword energy?"
Chen Huzi frowned,
"They haven't been in the sect for a year, and their foundation is not secure, yet they are refining sword energy! How have you been teaching them!"
Zhou Feng lowered his head, feeling very guilty.
Yue Peng also gave a bitter smile,
"I did say, warned them a thousand times, that without three years of hard work, they're not allowed to self-cultivate Qi Sword. But... alas, if everyone's abilities are about the same, it's fine. However, if someone excels among peers, these youngsters are bound to be competitive and not want to fall behind.
I guess, maybe, perhaps, they saw others advancing smoothly in refining sword energy and progressing in Taoist skills without any pressure, and thought they too were chosen ones, with spirit root and bones, not inferior to anyone, and believed that with enough effort, they too could succeed..."
Chen Huzi understood, oh, so when Tie Dan refines sword energy, the others follow suit.
"Forget it, where there's genius there's also folly. Without talent and family heritage, and not listening to advice, how can one walk this path for long..."
But thinking about the treasures left, Chen Huzi also felt a headache, and spread three Sound Transmission Talismans,
"You three, come up the mountain."
Then after a while, that unfortunate Liu Xiaoliu, who had his leg broken in a dream and woke up with his leg buried, hobbled up with a crutch to pay respects.
Chen Huzi helplessly,
"Xiaoliu... do you want to continue cultivating, or go down the mountain and return home?"
Liu Xiaoliu immediately knelt on the ground, kowtowing,
"True Man, my home was flooded, the whole village is gone, it was the two senior brothers who saved my life.
Please don't drive me away, Xiaoliu is willing to tend to the Medicine Garden down the mountain."
Chen Huzi sighed, helped him up,
"No need for that, Guangxia Mountain is your home now. Don't lose heart, our Sword Sect cultivates Sacrificial Sword, even if there's slight damage to the Dao body, it's not a hindrance.
Your talent isn't bad, as long as you progress step by step, avoid being hasty and impetuous, you won't follow the path of those others. When you reach Nascent Soul, you can find a Dao body and reincarnate to cultivate anew.
Therefore, you won't need to refine the Inner Core Technique, it doesn't achieve much with a damaged Dao body, I'll teach you a Sword Control Technique, let's see your talents.
Zhou Feng, come, personally guide Xiaoliu's cultivation, there must be no more mistakes."
"Thank you, True Man." "Yes, Master."
Then Chen Huzi waited a while,
"...Hmm? Where are those two? Xiaoliu is here, why aren't they?"
Yue Peng glanced at his master and junior brother, scratched his chin,
"Maybe they're sword fighting?"
"Ah? Sword fighting? What kind of sword fight in the Qi Refining stage??"
"You bastard! Die—!"
On the mountain path of Yanzi Peak, Jian Jia took the advantage of the terrain with a sharp and fierce sword style, unleashing twelve streaks of sword wind with one sword, enveloping the opponent from all directions, like a thousand troops and horses, torrential floods, and landslides, attacking aggressively from above.
Tie Dan pinched a formula with his left hand, made a sword gesture with his right, gathering a three-inch long Qi Sword at his fingertips, scattered the sword wind with quick thrusts and jabs, then mimicked the Xuan Nu on the painting, executing Crane-shaped Jump, leaping left and right along the mountain path, his Daoist robe fluttering like a green leaf descending with the wind, completely avoiding damage despite being confronted by the fierce sword wind.
"You bastard! What are you dodging for!"
Jian Jia shouted angrily, but she was experienced in fighting this bastard often, seeing him trying to float away to escape, immediately spun her wrist, withdrawing the treasure sword, pulling out a horn bow from the Storage Jade, affixed a yellow talisman to her palm, rolled a lead bullet into her waistband, activated her True Breath, drew the bow and notched the arrow,
"Take this!"
With a light shout, a golden light arrow shot directly towards Tie Dan's left eye!
"Humph!"
This bullet flew swiftly, like wind, thunder, and lightning, reaching right in front in an instant!
However, Tie Dan was prepared, exhaling sword energy from his nostrils, cleanly severing the lead bullet in half head-on!
Though he broke the lead bullet, the Fire Talisman exploded ferociously, "Boom!" turning into a fireball in the air, blasting the shattered lead pieces like heavenly maidens scattering flowers! Shredded lead rained down on Tie Dan, driving him from the clouds, rolling down the mountain path!
"Die—!"
Seizing the opportunity, Jian Jia yelled angrily, drew her sword and charged, thrusting a sword directly towards Tie Dan's heart!
Then, her waist's golden bell rang "ding-ling-ling!" sharply!
Jian Jia's heart skipped a beat, knowing that a senior from the sect had arrived, but with the opportunity for revenge right before her, she wasn't willing to let it go! Instantly reciting an incantation, she summoned her golden bracelet into a shield, placing it behind her to guard against senior brothers intervening to save him!
However, just as she rushed forward, stepped down, ready to give a heart-stabbing sword, a sudden sharp pain came from underfoot!
Jian Jia, having tangled with this bastard many times before, kept some power in reserve, quickly became alert, sharply stopping her advance, turning around to dodge!
So close! A streak of sword energy! It narrowly missed her foot, and a sword grazed past her chest, slicing across her forehead! The vestment and bellyband deflected the sword energy, avoiding a disembowelment, though it chopped off a large swath of her forelock, nearly shaving off half her face!
"Watch the sword energy!"
The supposedly dead Tie Dan flipped back around with a great shout, raised a hand.
Jian Jia had no time to evade, blocking with her sword, mind turned around, called back her Qi Shield to protect her torso and Life Gate!
Yet didn't expect Tie Dan to toss over a pebble! Thud! Leaving a bump on her head!
Even though Jian Jia had undergone Foundation Establishment and Body Refinement, hit unexpectedly she still got dizzy from the blow, head spinning and bloody, feet wounded by sword energy, unable to exert strength, tilting and falling back onto the mountain path!
Thus the situation reversed!
With jingling bells, Tie Dan turned back, grabbing Jian Jia's wrist, controlled the treasure sword, pointed with a finger! Gathered three-inch sword energy! Thrust it!
This strike, once his hand passed through the Divine Gang Qi Wall, he only then gathered Divine Gang Sword Qi at his fingertip, stabbing through Jian Jia's throat, piercing a bloody hole!
"Ahh—!"
At the brink of death, Jian Jia went all out, striking back fiercely with all her strength!
The two were entwined, Tie Dan knew he couldn't dodge, only had time to twist his waist, avoiding vital organs, taking her palm strike with his ribs!
But his opponent had undergone Foundation Establishment and Body Refinement first, with overwhelming power, the palm strike blasted Tie Dan flying down the mountain path!
Within the blink of an eye, this deadly duel of two or three rounds was over.
By the time Chen Huzi arrived, he saw Jian Jia clutching her throat, spitting blood from two sword wounds, and Tie Dan, clearly with broken ribs, face pale, for a moment he was speechless.
"...Why do the two of them act like this every day?"
Yue Peng, skilled at first aid, came forward, putting Qi and Blood Replenishing Pills into their mouths, pasting Bone Healing Talismans on them, said helplessly,
"Isn't that right, they clash like their astrology is incompatible, every three days or so they end up this miserable, I haven't seen such fierce fights even in Honzan..."
Seeing things like this, Chen Huzi also knew he couldn't keep these two together anymore, with so few children it would be a matter of time before someone died,
"Tie Dan is one realm behind, suffering too much, take him, heal the wounds and train him down the mountain, seek some Da Bao Foundation Establishment."
"Yes, Master."
Thus Chen Huzi personally carried Jian Jia back to Yanzi Cave, transferring True Qi to sustain life, and checked the pulse for progress.
Among the disciples' cultivation, Jian Jia was currently the highest, having reached Foundation Establishment on the treasures of the Marquis Mansion within a few months, but that wasn't necessarily a good thing.
After all, Mystic Sect cultivates the Inner Elixir Dao, Qi Refinement emphasizes a solid foundation, progressing step by step, but Jian Jia, seeking revenge, abusively used Alchemy Pills, forcefully advancing with External Pill Foundation Establishment of the Demon Palace. Though her realm broke through, advancement was rapid like divine assistance, but it's unavoidable that her progression was unstable, limiting her future potential.
However, being a second-generation with family teachings, she remembered her family's lessons, not aiming too high or recklessly cultivating the Beichen Sword Qi, repeatedly honing True Qi Dao Breath, supplemented by family Qinggong Sword Techniques, refining, and stabilizing her cultivation at Foundation Establishment.
Honestly, despite the Shen family connection, Chen Huzi initially didn't want to accept her as a disciple.
The reason wasn't just due to her conduct when entering the sect; fundamentally, it was because the Sword Sect's methods predominantly were passed from male to male, not female.
First, as the Sword Sect lifestyle meant facing deadly trials, with frequent heart-piercing, decapitations, blood, and flesh everywhere, very few female cultivators were willing to endure such harsh training, as most joiners were sturdy men from military or Jianghu backgrounds.
Secondly, the customary practice of master-disciple inheritance was typically male mentoring male, female mentoring female, unless relatives like Daoist companions or nephews, otherwise teaching meridian points or inner strength secrets wasn't convenient. Many orally transmitted Heart Sutra and secret manuals, due to gender differences, were inconvenient and sometimes inappropriate to teach to the opposite gender without being Daoist companions.
However, since Jian Jia was still young, and her family had taught most of the foundational skills, reaching Foundation Establishment wasn't a problem, but for further cultivation, Chen Huzi wasn't well-suited to instruct her.
So if it were up to Chen Huzi, he'd send Jian Jia to Heng Mountain to become a female crown, which being the same Mystic Sect orthodox would not hinder her future prospects.
Jian Jia, of course, was unwilling, as she carried a packet like a duck in her chest, reminding herself nightly of avenging Young Master.
Considering the fate tied with the Shen ancestral family, Chen Huzi couldn't abandon her, especially since regardless of anything, she had succeeded in Foundation Establishment, refined Qi commendably, showing talent, making it hard for Chen Huzi to see her waste her cultivation, brought up the matter again.
"Jian Jia, with the Demon Palace's External Pill Foundation Establishment, your future achievements are limited, but you are still young, it's not too late to abandon your cultivation and start over.
I have past relations with Master Huilan of Yellow Court Temple in Heng Mountain, she is profound in her Daoist practices, how about I send you to her sect for cultivation. Heng Mountain is among the nine major sects, a prestigious and orthodox sect in Shangqing Dao, Ancient Taoist Sect, your future prospects could be limitless..."
Jian Jia just remained silent.
Chen Huzi advised,
"As for the previous matter, let's say it was a moment of anger, but now isn't it time to calm down?
We who cultivate are defying the heavens in pursuit of the Dao, lives are impermanent, surrounded by deadly trials, if you can't get past life and death, if you can't see through the trials of the mortal world, you won't succeed in top-level Daoist skills.
Moreover, even if you truly want revenge, can you be sure of winning by continuing this way?"
Jian Jia bowed and said,
"True Man's guidance is right, Immortal Fate is rare, I too wish to achieve the Great Dao.
However, I also heard from my mother, that people live for pride, if the pride is unreleased, the heart is unsatisfied.
If this cause and effect isn't resolved, my Daoist progress likely can't advance."
Seeing her resolve, Chen Huzi didn't press further.
"Alright, then continue your cultivation under me. But since you've already reached Foundation Establishment, you can't waste time idly.
In any case, I'll personally take you to Heng Mountain to have Master Huilan guide you in Inner Strength for three months, then I will teach you the sect's swordsmanship.
Until you've mastered the swordsmanship, you're not allowed to challenge Tie Dan again."
"...Yes, thank you, True Man, for accommodating."