Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 434

Volume 3 - Chapter 125: The Holy Daughter Bian Ruxue – Part 3

Shi Huajin glared at him in frustration. If anyone else had heard those words, they would have been trembling with excitement by now.

"I really don’t know what you’re thinking. Do you expect me to beg you?"

She felt even more exasperated than Li Hao. The alchemical formulas that alchemists treasured as priceless were unattainable to others, yet they had to plead with Li Hao to learn them. They hoped he would inherit their legacy and strive to become a Grandmaster of the Alchemical Dao. However, Li Hao couldn’t even be bothered to study them. It was absurd.

"Forget it. I’m exhausted from refining pills today. These are pills I prepared for Holy Daughter Xue’er. You and Xiaohui can deliver them for me," Shi Huajin said, a trace of weariness flashing in her eyes. Pill refinement was mentally taxing, and if not for the excitement of successfully creating the pills, she would have already fallen asleep.

"Fine," Li Hao reluctantly agreed, seeing her state.

Outside the door, Jiang Xiaohui heard their explosive conversation and couldn’t help but twitch her lips. She wanted to rush in and cover the mouth of this Qingfeng Dan Master, shouting on his behalf, "I’ll learn! I want to learn!"

Shi Huajin placed the Condensed Dao Pills into a treasure calabash and handed it to Li Hao, waving him off tiredly.

Li Hao took the treasure calabash without further comment and signaled Jiang Xiaohui at the door to lead the way.

Jiang Xiaohui knew that with such precious pills, her master wouldn’t trust her alone to deliver them. She smiled bitterly to herself. Despite being a close and long-time personal disciple, it seemed her master trusted this Qingfeng Dan Master more.

"Qingfeng Dan Master, please," Jiang Xiaohui said respectfully, suppressing her stray thoughts.

The two of them flew out of the Medicinal Mountain, heading toward the disciples’ area of the Sword Ancestor Holy Land.

For Li Hao, this was his first time leaving the alchemist quarters and heading to the cultivation grounds for the disciples.

The Sword Ancestor Holy Land was vast, with the disciples' training area occupying most of it.

After flying for thousands of miles, they entered a range of undulating mountains. Many peaks were shrouded in spiritual arrays, radiating treasure light, and figures of disciples could be seen moving about.

They flew over ten thousand miles before arriving at a towering mountain peak.

The mountain, reaching into the heavens, was majestic beyond measure. The surrounding peaks seemed diminutive in comparison.

Encircling the main mountain were rivers, and several shorter peaks formed a pentagonal arrangement, resembling a grand array. This setup gathered and channeled the world’s energy into the towering mountain. It was clearly a man-made formation, reshaping the earth veins to form an array.

The monumental effort and resources spent here indicated that the person residing on this peak was of extraordinary status.

Jiang Xiaohui led Li Hao to the mountaintop, landing in front of the gatehouse steps guarded by attendants.

"By order of my master, I am here to deliver medicine to the Holy Daughter," Jiang Xiaohui announced, presenting Shi Huajin’s command token.

The guards’ previously stern expressions immediately softened into welcoming smiles.

"So, you’re the esteemed disciple of Dan Master Shi. Thank you for your effort," one of them said warmly.

Jiang Xiaohui nodded slightly, refraining from any pleasantries and signaling them to lead the way.

Passing through a spacious plaza, they soon arrived before a grand and magnificent structure at the summit.

Li Hao gazed at the central building, his eyes showing a hint of surprise.

The architecture reminded him of the Celestial General Mansion’s gates.

"The Holy Daughter is waiting inside. Please enter," the attendant at the door said respectfully.

Once inside, Li Hao glanced around and froze.

The interior corridor and layout were uncannily similar to something from his memory.

Following the maid leading the way, they quickly arrived at a courtyard.

Upon entering, Li Hao noticed that the courtyard’s layout resembled that of the Mountain and River Courtyard.

The lotus pond, catalpa tree, main hall, side hall, and woodshed—the arrangement was identical, even down to the dimensions.

Even the pavilion in the courtyard was in the same spot, complete with stone paths.

Li Hao’s gaze moved subtly, sweeping across the courtyard until it fell upon a familiar corner.

A figure dressed in white was practicing swordsmanship in slow, deliberate movements, akin to Lin Qingying’s graceful dance.

Yet, Li Hao could discern that the movements were a cultivation of sword intent.

As the figure turned slightly, revealing a profile, Li Hao’s eyes trembled slightly. At that moment, he understood.

He had not expected to meet a familiar face here.

Before departing for the Imperial Palace in the mortal world, he had encountered the Sword Saint Jian Wudao, who had mentioned that someone had been chosen by a Saint and brought to the world of the immortal sects.

So, this was where she had ended up.

Li Hao was momentarily stunned, surprised yet unsurprised.

The Saints of the Sword Ancestor Holy Land were referred to as Sword Saints.

This was a true Sword Saint, and only someone like them would take an interest in a sword wielder like Bian Ruxue.

Jian Wudao had mentioned that her sword bone, hidden under years of neglect, had been recognized by a Saint...

"The Holy Daughter, the Dan Master has brought you medicine," the maid leading the way said softly, bowing before the white-clad figure.

The figure paused mid-swing, lowering her sword slightly before glancing toward Li Hao and Jiang Xiaohui.

Time had refined her features, but the familiar contours of her face remained.

Li Hao didn’t mistake her—she was indeed Bian Ruxue.

Yet, she was no longer the young girl who never let her sword out of her sight. Now, she exuded an ethereal, otherworldly aura, like an immortal woman with unparalleled beauty and elegance.

Her eyes, as tranquil as a lake on a snow-capped mountain, carried a profound stillness born of unshakable confidence.

"Greetings, Holy Daughter Xue’er," Jiang Xiaohui stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

Though she was a personal disciple of Shi Huajin, one of many, the Holy Daughter’s status exceeded even her master’s. What’s more, Bian Ruxue was destined to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Saints.

Whether she could attain sainthood was uncertain, but at the very least, she had the potential—a possibility denied to countless cultivators in the world.

"Hmm? And who is he?" Bian Ruxue’s gaze swept over Jiang Xiaohui before lingering on Li Hao. She caught a faint medicinal scent from Jiang Xiaohui, which she found unpleasant but didn’t show it. Instead, her eyes focused on the young man behind her.

His gaze, too, had caught her attention. It lacked the greed or adoration she often saw in others. Instead, it held a peculiar quality she couldn’t quite place—something that felt oddly familiar.

"He’s Qingfeng Dan Master. He accompanied me to deliver the medicine to the Holy Daughter," Jiang Xiaohui explained hurriedly.

"A high-ranking alchemist, is he? Then why does he not bow when meeting the Holy Daughter? Does he wish to lose his eyes for daring to look directly at her?" the maid who had been leading them suddenly snapped, her tone sharp and scolding.

Jiang Xiaohui paled and quickly interjected, "Qingfeng Dan Master is new here and unfamiliar with the rules. Holy Daughter, please forgive him." At the same time, she tugged at Li Hao’s sleeve, urging him to bow and apologize.

Li Hao withdrew his gaze and, hearing the maid’s reprimand, couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly. The transformation was laughable—humans behaving like dogs, baring fangs to please their master the moment she was present. The speed of her shift in demeanor was astonishing.

"Qingfeng greets the Holy Daughter," Li Hao said, cupping his hands in a slight bow.

For now, he chose not to reveal his identity to avoid unnecessary complications. After all, the "little tail" he had once known was no longer the same person.

The maid, about to scold him again for his lack of formality, was silenced by a gesture from Bian Ruxue. She then looked at Li Hao and asked, "Have we met before?"

Li Hao’s eyes flickered slightly. "Why does the Holy Daughter ask?"

"You remind me of someone I once knew," Bian Ruxue said softly. She couldn’t explain the feeling—though his appearance and aura were entirely different, something about him brought a distant memory to mind.

"The world is vast, and there are many similar faces. The Holy Daughter must be mistaken," Li Hao replied calmly.

Bian Ruxue studied him for a moment before falling silent.

Yes, the one she was thinking of remained in the mortal realm while she had been brought to the World of Saints by her master. The distance between them was immeasurable.

She thought back to their parting words around the campfire. Now, she had the chance to climb the pinnacle of the Sword Dao and witness what lay at its peak.

If she could comprehend the ultimate sword technique, she wanted to show it to him, as they had once promised.

But would he even be amazed by it?

A faint sigh escaped her lips. The pinnacle of the Sword Dao was only captivating to swordsmen. Her "brother" had always been different, more interested in seemingly useless arts, squandering his talent.

Even if she showed him her achievement, he might not understand its brilliance.

Such a revelation would undoubtedly fail to resonate with him, just as they had always struggled to understand each other.

She couldn’t see through his desires and thoughts, just as he couldn’t comprehend her passion for the Sword Dao.

Still, she had promised him she would reach the summit and tell him what she saw from the top.

"You are an alchemist?" Bian Ruxue asked softly.

"...You could say that," Li Hao replied vaguely.

Bian Ruxue withdrew her gaze, convinced that he couldn’t be the person she remembered. She had been taken to this World of Saints while he had still been at Tianmen Pass.

Over ten years had passed in this world, which meant over a century had elapsed in the mortal realm.

"Leave the medicine here. My thanks to both Dan Masters," Bian Ruxue said, lifting her sword again and resuming her practice.

As she moved, her sword intent filled the air—a frosty aura unique to the Ice and Snow Sword Intent.

Her first sword technique, Falling Snow Sword Technique, had clearly advanced to new heights.

Li Hao recalled Lin Qingying mentioning the Sword Deity Battle. Would Bian Ruxue be one of the participants?

If so, it would pit her Ice and Snow Sword Intent against Lin Qingying’s Supreme Soft Sword Intent. Both were close in nature, yet one embodied coldness, and the other supreme gentleness. Who would prevail?

Li Hao retracted his gaze, knowing it wasn’t his place to comment.

The "little tail" he once knew was no longer the same. She had her master and her path, and he no longer had the right to guide her.

He handed the treasure calabash to the maid and departed without further delay.

As Li Hao and Jiang Xiaohui walked away, their figures gradually faded from the courtyard, neither of them turning back.

...

After returning from Saintess Peak, Li Hao began his own cultivation in earnest.

As his true energy continued to condense, he one day sensed faint threads of a mysterious power drifting through the void and entering his body.

This power was different from the natural energies of heaven and earth; it was something elusive and indescribable.

After some thought, Li Hao realized... it seemed to be incense power.

Table of Content - Next Chapter >>>