"What dense yuan qi. It's even richer than in some of the inner-sect Cave Abodes." Standing here, Lin Yun couldn't help but marvel.
Although he didn't recognize the plants before him, he could easily tell from their ability to draw in the surrounding yuan qi that they were no ordinary things. Lin Yun memorized each of these plants, planning to go up the mountain to research them properly when he had time.
He had originally thought of swiping something else from the cave, but after a full search, he found that the only things left by the previous owner were this spirit field and the plants within it. Besides that, there was a pendant, which looked extraordinary, so Lin Yun took that with him as well.
On his way out, Lin Yun made sure to conceal the crack in the rock again so that others wouldn't discover it.
Afterward, he took another look at his panel.
[Name]: Lin Yun
[Realm]: Fifth Level of Yuan Sea Realm (Translator's note: Original text has a typo, reverting to third level. Translating based on established progression.)
[Destiny]: Son of Misfortune (Gray)
[Fate]: A Life of Futility (White)
[Son of Misfortune]: You are often plagued by misfortune and frequently encounter unlucky events. [Outcome]: You work diligently in the Flowing Cloud Sect and finally start to see some success, but you become a disposable pawn in a conflict between masters.
[Recent Turning Point]: The Zhao Yuhu brothers learn that you have been assigned to guard the mountain gate. Three days later, they will plot your assassination, luring a powerful demonic beast to eliminate you.
Heh, I spared you before, and you're still looking for death? Lin Yun sneered inwardly. He hadn't expected those two brothers would still dare to show their faces in front of him.
"You started it, so don't blame me for finishing it," Lin Yun muttered to himself, then quietly left Great Cloud Peak.
He hadn't taken more than a few steps when someone suddenly bumped into him from behind. Turning his head, he saw Bai Zhuqing wincing in pain.
"Bai Zhuqing, what are you doing here?" Lin Yun greeted him with a smile.
Seeing that it was Lin Yun, Bai Zhuqing smiled back. "Oh, it's you. The yuan qi in the outer sect has been thin these past few days. I was planning to go down the mountain for some training."
Lin Yun looked at Bai Zhuqing. Brother, you're a thousand-year unlucky soul. If you go down the mountain, you'll kick the bucket for sure, won't you?
He glanced at Bai Zhuqing's panel.
[Name]: Bai Zhuqing
[Realm]: First Level of Yuan Sea Realm
[Destiny]: Covered in Misfortune (Gray)
[Fate]: A Millennium of Decline (Green), Everything Goes Wrong (White), Stubborn Donkey (Blue) [Outcome]: Although you suffer a thousand years of bad luck, you accumulate great strength and finally achieve great things.
[Recent Turning Point]: One day later, loses ten spirit stones in Jingyang Town at the foot of the mountain. Two days later, suffers a stroke causing facial paralysis. Three days later...
Lin Yun couldn't bear to look anymore. The auspicious spiritual energy of the Flowing Cloud Sect had barely managed to suppress Bai Zhuqing's bad luck. If he went down the mountain, he'd be lucky to come back in one piece, let alone find any opportunities.
"Ahem, Bai Zhuqing, I suggest you don't go down the mountain. The Flowing Cloud Sect is pretty nice." Lin Yun patted his shoulder. At this moment, a bold idea formed in his mind. Although he had gotten rid of the "Lone Star of Calamity" destiny, this "Son of Misfortune" destiny wasn't easy to bear either. This had been vexing him.
But now, looking at Bai Zhuqing, he thought: A negative times a negative makes a positive. If two unlucky souls stuck together, could their bad luck cancel each other out? It might not result in good luck, but it probably wouldn't be too bad, right? It was worth a try.
Lin Yun's attempt to stop Bai Zhuqing was just to provoke him. Sure enough, Bai Zhuqing shook his head. "It's fine. I just want to go down and have a look. I've never been down the mountain since I joined the sect."
Lin Yun put on a troubled expression. "How about this. If you insist on going, let's go together. I've been on sect missions down the mountain before, so we can look out for each other."
Bai Zhuqing looked at Lin Yun, seemingly surprised by his enthusiasm. But he didn't dislike Lin Yun, so after thinking for a moment, he agreed.
Lin Yun returned to his bamboo hut at the foot of the mountain. Deng Pengzu was drinking under the moon.
"Elder Deng."
Deng Pengzu didn't even glance at him, just tossed a cup of wine to Lin Yun. "You brat, instead of properly guarding your mountain gate, where did you run off to?"
Lin Yun gave a dry laugh. "I was thinking of seeing if there were any good treasures down the mountain."
Deng Pengzu snorted coldly, then turned to look at Lin Yun seriously. "Kid, do you know what state you're in right now?"
Lin Yun shook his head blankly.
"Although the Flowing Cloud Sect was founded on the sword, in all its history, true sword cultivators have been few and far between. We sword cultivators value an open and unfettered mind. But these people in the cultivation world, after struggling for so long, have all become slick and cunning. Where is there any trace of an open mind, any trace of being unfettered?" As he spoke, Deng Pengzu's tone was filled with disdain.
"But aside from the difference in mindset, there's another point. The realms of sword cultivators can also be different from those of ordinary cultivators. Every time a sword cultivator breaks through a major realm, they have two choices: break through like an ordinary cultivator, or choose to break through in a desperate situation. The benefits of the latter are self-evident. Right now, by a stroke of luck, you have cultivated to the Sword Cultivator's Yuan Sea Realm. This is a good thing." He patted Lin Yun's shoulder with great satisfaction.
After learning of the changes in Lin Yun's body, he had spent the whole night consulting countless ancient texts. Finally, under a corner bookshelf, he found a book that was being used to prop up a table leg. Thousands of years ago, this was no secret. It was just that as the cultivation world gradually matured, those truly free and逍遥 sword cultivators had vanished. The remaining ones were caught up in worldly affairs, their minds no longer pure. How could they possibly achieve the pinnacle of the sword dao?
So, Deng Pengzu decided to properly cultivate Lin Yun. This was definitely a fine piece of raw material.
"Elder Deng must have looked through a lot of things to find that out, right?" Lin Yun asked with a smile. If it weren't for the system, he would never have known so much.
Deng Pengzu just grunted. "Your talent is good, and you work hard. But you mustn't be arrogant. You must continue to strive. The road ahead will only get harder."
As he spoke, he stood up. "Practice the sword arts you know now one more time. Let me see."
Lin Yun didn't hide anything from Deng Pengzu. This was his opportunity. Whether it was good or bad, he was willing to bet on it this time.
When he saw that Lin Yun had already mastered the Great River Sword Art, the Azure Origin Sword Art, and the Myriad Flower Sword Art, Deng Pengzu's mouth hung open for a long time. Good heavens. It's already a great effort for others to cultivate one sword art in their lifetime. Lin Yun just went straight for three.
The most terrifying thing was that the kid's attainment in all three sword arts was high; it wasn't a case of dabbling with uneven skill. Such talent was simply that of someone born to be a sword cultivator.
Although Lin Yun practiced well, Deng Pengzu could still offer a pointer or two. The old and the young spent the whole night like this.
The next morning, Lin Yun packed his things and prepared to go to Qingxia Peak. Since the Zhao brothers were seeking death, he didn't mind making some preparations in advance to let them walk right into his trap!