Chapter 17: The Invincible Dragon – Part 16

The matter of going to the Sword Tomb was thus settled.

Yaoguang led Su Bai on a tour of the entire Ruofeng and immediately began instructing her in magical techniques.

“Though I do not understand swordsmanship, observing your sword intent, it is precisely a fusion of water-element magic and formation techniques. However, to wield such large-scale magic without an Ice Spirit root requires the cultivator to possess immense spiritual energy, considerable preparation time, and a profound understanding of the laws governing the flow of heavenly and earthly spiritual energy.”

Yaoguang’s fingertips condensed a droplet of water.

That droplet sprouted delicate branches, which at their tips bifurcated further, repeating the process endlessly until the tiny bead of water, no larger than a grain of rice, unfurled into a small snowflake.

“Frostfall!”

With a sharp exclamation, Yaoguang formed a seal with her hands. The snowflake-shaped droplet, previously crushed into a thin sheet, instantly crystallized into a pure white, genuine snowflake, drifting gently onto her palm.

“True magic is not about the conflict between elements, but their harmony.”

Lowering her gaze to the snowflake, Yaoguang murmured, “This is a truth I only came to understand later.”

Beside her, Su Bai silently conjured a snowflake identical to Yaoguang’s, signaling her participation.

This snowflake was not a transparent ice crystal, but covered with a faint frost, its eight edges sharply defined and branching into countless tiny notches.

A flicker of surprise crossed Yaoguang’s eyes.

The legendary “Sword Frost Cold of Fourteen Provinces” builds on the utmost coldness, aiming to freeze water into ice instantly. Yet to condense water into frost requires the cultivator to meticulously manipulate spiritual energy to control the temperature—too much, and it becomes ice; too little, and it remains intangible.

That Su Bai could condense a water droplet into frost rather than simple ice in such a brief moment revealed a terrifying depth of understanding of the laws governing heaven and earth.

“I spent many years cultivating magic before grasping this truth, yet you, a mere child, have effortlessly unraveled it.”

Yaoguang shook her head with a helpless smile, her voice tinged with pride.

There had been rumors that the Water Cloud Technique and the Celestial Evolution Sword Art were intrinsically linked.

She had once thought Qin Yang, who mastered the Celestial Evolution Sword Art in less than a year, a prodigy of rare talent, worthy of friendship to glean any hope from the sword art for the Water Cloud Technique.

Recalling the past, she sighed, “Alas, it is precisely because of this that I chose you.”

That day, when Su Bai had condensed ice with sword intent before everyone, even the cunning elders of the Infinite Sect were astonished.

What truly moved Yaoguang, however, was Su Bai’s words.

In engagement between man and woman, loyalty is first; love, second.

Yet not only the disciples of the Infinite Sect, even Yaoguang herself, had long failed to see through this truth.

Admiration and jealousy from peers and the opposite sex breed blind arrogance—an obstacle cultivators rarely perceive.

“From today onward, I shall personally teach you the Water Cloud Technique,” Yaoguang declared gravely. “I have heard that you and Qin Yang received the Sacred Sovereign’s sword art inheritance together. Perhaps the third stage of the Water Cloud Technique, which I cannot decipher, is the path the Heavenly Dao intends for you.”

The young woman who had idly conjured snowflakes beside them lifted her head in surprise, her eyes finally stirred.

According to the original narrative, Elder Yaoguang had once humbled herself for the Water Cloud Technique, proactively befriending Qin Yang and generously offering countless spiritual herbs, rare treasures, all in hopes that one day Qin Yang might master the three forms of the Celestial Evolution God-Slaying Sword Art, thereby inspiring her to breakthrough the third level of the Water Cloud Technique.

Yet even by the story’s end, despite being drawn to Qin Yang through constant companionship, Elder Yaoguang never fully revealed the Water Cloud Technique.

The large cluster of snowflakes floating in the air, having lost spiritual energy control, fluttered down one after another.

---

Elder Yaoguang noticed the young woman’s slightly shocked reaction and could not help but curl her lips in quiet satisfaction.

So what if it was the Celestial Evolution Sword Art?

Her own disciple, possessing the same lineage of Heavenly Water Spirit Root, had no reason to be deemed inferior to those with the mutated Thunder Spirit Root in the eyes of the world.

Yaoguang refused to admit defeat.

Therefore, her disciple could not lose either.

---

A secluded courtyard nestled halfway up Ruofeng.

Ruofeng, the second-highest peak of the Infinite Sect, was already shrouded in clouds and mist at its mid-slope. From afar, a waterfall cascaded three thousand feet, ancient trees housed soaring birds, and the mountainside was carpeted with fiery red hibiscus blossoms.

Yunzhu alighted from her lotus-shaped flying artifact, brushed her wind-tousled black hair aside, and approached the courtyard hidden among the lush flowers and trees.

She reached out to knock on the copper ring hanging on the wooden door but hesitated for a moment.

Frowning, Yunzhu pulled out a communication jade slip from her Cosmic Bag, her mind restless.

As expected.

He still hadn’t taken the initiative to contact her.

Her chat history with Qin Yang remained frozen several days prior, when he had just suffered defeat at the hands of his so-called “good sister” and endured an engagement cancellation that shook the entire Infinite Sect.

Qin Yang: “Zhu Zhu, rumors about me have been spreading recently. It’s better we keep our distance.”

Yunzhu clicked her tongue.

Keep our distance?

She had begged her master to allow her to study alchemy at the Infinite Sect to be near Qin Yang, to tolerate his bothersome fiancée’s presence, and to stay at his side without proper status.

Having finally broken off that engagement, now he worried about his reputation again—how utterly absurd.

Her anger simmered, and she stubbornly refused to reach out, but if she didn’t, Qin Yang never sent a word, as if unaware she still lingered in the Infinite Sect.

Just as Yunzhu’s thoughts churned and her emotions surged, the wooden door creaked open.

“Zhu Zhu?”

Yue Nianxin poked her head out, pleasantly surprised. “Why didn’t you say you were coming today?”

It had been at least seven or eight days since Yunzhu last spoke to Yue Nianxin, ever since she had witnessed Su Bai’s arena match alongside Shen Xing.

Yunzhu looked up, about to complain as usual about Qin Yang’s silence, but the sight of a figure inside stopped her words abruptly.

In the courtyard, a young woman with her black hair swept high, a solitary sword at her waist, propped her chin with one hand and held a white porcelain teacup with the other, poised to sip.

Seeing Yunzhu’s uncertain gaze from outside, Su Bai hesitated mid-drink.

Then, she set down her cup and greeted her calmly.

“What a coincidence—you’re here for tea too?”

Not a coincidence at all.

Yunzhu gritted her teeth, feeling her fury rush to her head.

This was a blatant provocation!

“Have you been spending these past few days with her?” Yunzhu pointed at Su Bai, her brows knitting as she spoke to Yue Nianxin.

That woman was utterly relentless!

Her engagement cancellation was masterfully executed; not only did Qin Yang ignore her now, but it also placed Su Bai on a morally superior pedestal, making Yunzhu appear unreasonable.

Yue Nianxin was stunned, then stammered, “I—I… Su junior sister just arrived at Ruofeng… and lives nearby…”

“I’m teaching her swordsmanship,” Su Bai interrupted. “Nianxin told me she wants to learn swordplay, so when I’m free, I come to guide her a bit.”

Learning swordplay?

Yunzhu laughed bitterly. “I introduced Qin junior brother to you to teach you swordplay, yet you vanished after only a few days because you found her?”

Yue Nianxin wrung her hands. “Zhu Zhu, I told you… I want to learn swordsmanship from Su junior sister…”

“And at that time, Qin junior brother was with you day and night—I didn’t want to disturb him,” she added.

Yunzhu refused to listen.

Her anger flared, and she was about to storm off, but then she reconsidered.

It was because of her initial concessions, step by step, that this girl had dared to push her around and mock her.

Now that this girl had no binding engagement to Qin Yang, and Yue Nianxin was her childhood friend, what reason did she have to yield her place?

Having resolved this, Yunzhu stayed, forcing a smile, straightening her posture, and strode inside with purpose.

“Aren’t you all here to drink tea? Then drink! I’m joining you!”

Yue Nianxin was overjoyed, quickly fetching a brand-new tea set and pouring a full pot of fine tea for Yunzhu.

Three sat around the small stone table, eyes locked in silent rivalry, each harboring their own schemes.

Yunzhu racked her brains to irritate Su Bai.

Yue Nianxin anxiously feared Yunzhu’s anger.

As for Su Bai—

She thought of nothing but earnestly explaining the Infinite Sect’s beginner sword techniques to Yue Nianxin.

“The Twilight Star Waning Moon Sword Technique consists of five forms, each with thirty-one moves. The most important aspect of the first form is the speed, precision, and ruthlessness of the sword strike. When striking, attention must be paid to the sword’s angle…”

Though Yunzhu did not practice swordsmanship, having spent two years fighting monsters alongside Qin Yang, she was somewhat versed in sword principles. Hearing Su Bai dissect the Twilight Star Waning Moon Sword Technique, she could not help but interject, “Nonsense! Each form of the Twilight Star Waning Moon Sword Technique has only twenty-six moves. You first raise the sword, then thrust straight ahead. Nothing fancy like you described.”

Su Bai nodded. “Indeed, but these five moves were added later by me. To ensure continuity with these added moves, the first strike must differ from the original.”

Unwilling to admit defeat, Yunzhu sneered, “Adding meaningless moves is just gilding the lily.”

“Do you really think you’re on equal footing with the Sword Sovereign?”

Su Bai remained unruffled, raising her hand in invitation. “If you don’t believe me, you’re welcome to test your sword against mine.”