"Your excellency, the ten low-grade spirit swords are all inside. Please inspect them," Qiu Zhen said as he took the ring from Xiao Yu and handed it to Li Xuan.
"No need. I trust your pavilion's reputation," Li Xuan shook his head and put the ring away without even looking. Seeing Li Xuan's casual demeanor, Qiu Zhen became even more certain that Li Xuan's background was extraordinary.
Unbeknownst to Qiu Zhen, Li Xuan already knew the number of low-grade spirit swords in the ring through Yi Qin, so there was no need to check again.
"I am very pleased with your trust. Regarding the price of the ten low-grade spirit swords, here are one hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones. Now that the transaction is complete, about those last two herbs..." Qiu Zhen's gaze towards Li Xuan grew more ardent as he took out another ring and presented it to Li Xuan.
"It's easily done," Li Xuan smiled faintly and quickly wrote down the last two herbs.
"Pleasant cooperation!" Qiu Zhen said with a smile as he saw Li Xuan write down the names and dosages of the two herbs.
"Pleasant cooperation," Li Xuan nodded with a smile. His gaze then shifted to Xiao Yu, "Thank you for your service. You are very good. Take these ten thousand low-grade spirit stones as a reward."
"Since it's a reward from senior, why aren't you thanking him quickly?" Qiu Zhen said with a laugh, seeing Xiao Yu's bewildered expression.
"Xiao Yu thanks senior," Xiao Yu quickly bowed to Li Xuan and expressed her gratitude.
"Pavilion Master Qiu, we shall meet again," Li Xuan smiled and waved his hand, then cupped his fist towards Qiu Zhen.
Qiu Zhen smiled and nodded, "We shall meet again."
"Xiao Yu, you've been at the Treasure Pavilion for quite some time now, haven't you?" After Li Xuan left, Qiu Zhen looked at Xiao Yu and said with a smile.
"Replying to the Pavilion Master, two years and three months," Xiao Yu replied.
"Hmm, very good. You did well today receiving this guest. From now on, you are the head of the Treasure Pavilion's reception team. If this senior ever visits again, you must be the first to attend to him." Qiu Zhen said.
"Team leader?" Xiao Yu was stunned. She had been promoted to team leader just for receiving one guest?
Sensing Xiao Yu's confusion, Qiu Zhen smiled slightly, "Although that person only provided a recipe for a grade four spirit pill, it was enough to make a grade six alchemist lose composure. Do you think that recipe is a simple matter? Go prepare yourself. That person should arrive tomorrow. Speaking of which, this is the first time I've seen that individual lose their composure in all these years. I must have a good chat with them then." xxs壹贰
"Yes!" Xiao Yu's small mouth parted, and it took her a while to react.
An alchemist from the main branch was coming to a sub-branch!
Could it be because of that grade four spirit pill recipe?
Treasure Pavilion, first floor lobby.
"Did you hear? Xiao Yu actually received a distinguished guest who made the Pavilion Master himself come out to meet them."
"Hush, you can't call her by her name like before. You have to call her Team Leader Xiao Yu from now on."
"Oh, right. I didn't expect Xiao Yu to be promoted to team leader just by receiving one guest."
"..."
As soon as Xu Qian reached the first floor, she overheard the maidservants who were waiting for guests whispering. Her eyes widened.
Even the Pavilion Master personally came out?
And Xiao Yu was promoted to head of the reception team?
"Team Leader Xiao Yu, congratulations!" Just then, Xiao Yu walked down, and the other maidservants immediately stepped forward to congratulate her.
"Thank you, everyone. Please continue with your work," Xiao Yu smiled and nodded, then turned and walked to the side.
"Damn it! Ugh, it's too infuriating!" Looking at everyone fawning over Xiao Yu, Xu Qian felt nothing but regret and resentment. All of this should have been hers, but she had let the opportunity slip through her own fingers.
After leaving the Treasure Pavilion, Li Xuan took a long detour and changed back into his usual clothes in a secluded corner before returning to the Li family. After much deliberation, he decided to absorb the spirit swords within the Prison Suppressing Ring, as Yi Qin was the only one there. If any trouble arose, Yi Qin could intervene immediately.
Furthermore, Li Xuan was concerned about the potential disturbances that might occur while he absorbed the spirit swords, which could attract the attention of Li Wen Tian and others. His possession of the Prison Suppressing Ring must not be exposed.
"Let's begin." Yi Qin nodded in agreement to Li Xuan's request. In fact, Yi Qin was also somewhat curious about this unconventional sword cultivation method taught by the woman in yellow.
Li Xuan took a deep breath, then sat down cross-legged and took out all ten low-grade spirit swords from the ring.
*Pfft!*
Under Yi Qin's watchful gaze, Li Xuan directly took a low-grade spirit sword and inserted it into his dantian.
*Buzz!*
As the low-grade spirit sword entered his body, it was instantly absorbed by the Azure Firmament within Li Xuan's dantian. As the Azure Firmament flashed, a surge of sword energy permeated the surroundings. Then, a stream of pure spiritual energy flowed towards Li Xuan's body, and Li Xuan immediately felt his body undergoing a transformation.
"With just one low-grade spirit sword, he's already reached the intermediate stage of the Spirit Beginning realm. This cultivation method is indeed very rapid. It makes sense, how could someone by her side be ordinary?" Yi Qin murmured to herself with a hint of complexity as she observed Li Xuan's physical changes.
Intermediate Spirit Beginning realm!
Li Xuan opened his eyes, a look of surprise and joy on his face. He hadn't expected that a single low-grade spirit sword would elevate him to the intermediate stage of the Spirit Beginning realm. Li Xuan felt increasingly fortunate for the sword cultivation method taught to him by the woman in yellow. Without it, and without a dantian, he might never have reached this level in his life.
"Thank you, senior," Li Xuan cupped his fist and bowed to Yi Qin, his thoughts turning to her. Li Xuan hadn't forgotten that without Yi Qin's grade four spirit pill recipe, he probably wouldn't have been able to afford even a single low-grade spirit sword.
"It was just a grade four recipe, nothing to fuss about. Also, don't be too overjoyed. From your cultivation process just now, I discovered a problem: as your strength increases, the grade of spirit swords you require will also increase. Therefore, find a way to earn money." Yi Qin said.
Li Xuan nodded with a wry smile. This was something Li Xuan himself had also considered. He marveled that while others cultivated by seeking cultivation resources, his method required him to first earn enough spirit stones.
"Continue absorbing. Your physical body has already strengthened and should be able to withstand the power of three more low-grade spirit swords," Yi Qin said without elaborating further, seeing Li Xuan's realization.
"Alright." Li Xuan nodded and took another low-grade spirit sword, inserting it directly into his dantian.
One, two...
*Boom!*
Half an hour later, a rumbling sound emanated from Li Xuan's body.
Peak Spirit Beginning realm!
Li Xuan clenched his fist slightly, feeling his body surge with power. Of course, Li Xuan also sensed his body's current condition. Just as Yi Qin had said, Li Xuan felt that he could no longer fully absorb any more spirit swords. Furthermore, forcing himself to absorb them would be detrimental to him.
It felt akin to only being able to eat two bowls of rice but insisting on eating a third.
Fullness.
"Not bad. You have now entered the threshold of sword cultivation and can begin learning sword techniques," Yi Qin said, a flicker of admiration in her eyes as she watched Li Xuan stop after absorbing three low-grade spirit swords.
"Sword techniques?" Li Xuan was taken aback. The woman in yellow hadn't taught him any sword techniques.
"Hmm, you're in trouble outside. Come back in after you've resolved it," Yi Qin said suddenly, sensing something.
"Outside? I understand, senior." Li Xuan immediately thought of Li Xian and Li Xin, as they were the only ones he had any past grievances with. After speaking, Li Xuan's mind moved, and his figure appeared in the room.
"Big brother, Li Xuan lives here!" Li Xian's voice reached him. Li Xuan frowned slightly at the sound.
Li Xian's "big brother" was named Li Yong. He had joined the Blazing Fire Sect, which was on par with the Azure Cloud Sect, several years ago. Being selected by the Blazing Fire Sect, Li Yong's talent was naturally not ordinary. Moreover, after all these years, his strength should not be weak.
Li Xuan was puzzled as to why Li Yong, who hadn't returned for so many years, had suddenly come back now.