The next day, at dawn, Liu Qiyue came looking for Meng Chuan.
“Ah Chuan, Ah Chuan.” Liu Qiyue found Meng Chuan practicing his saber art at the training grounds. Meng Chuan was currently executing the complete Heart Intent Saber Art. Although he had only comprehended the Heart Saber Stance’s Saber Intent, it wasn’t difficult for him to make the other stances look correct on the surface. Every day, after he woke up, he would practice the complete saber art several times to comprehend the Saber Intent within.
“Why are you here so early today?” Meng Chuan stopped. Qiyue came to have breakfast with him every morning, just like when they were at Mirror Lake Meng Manor.
“I had a nightmare yesterday. I was bewitched and fell into the black fog. When I woke up, I was exhausted.” Liu Qiyue’s face was rather pale. “I couldn’t sleep after that.”
Meng Chuan comforted her. “I also had a nightmare. However, in my dream, I had a nagging suspicion that something was amiss. I suddenly realized that I was Meng Chuan, allowing me to wake up quickly.”
“I was in a stupor during my dream,” said Liu Qiyue helplessly. “I couldn’t shake off the bewitchment.”
“It’s fine. We’ll be fine in a few days,” said Meng Chuan with a smile. “It’s said that resisting the nightmare is also akin to tempering one’s will.”
“Forget it. I won’t be going to the Pit of Bewilderment for now. I’ll continue improving my archery skills,” said Liu Qiyue. “I need to reach the Realm of Intent as soon as possible before I can master the Phoenix Divine Body.”
It was very uncomfortable when one was unable to escape from a nightmare. Liu Qiyue suffered from nightmares for five days before finally breaking free from the torture. Meng Chuan was in better shape. He only suffered for three days before completely returning to normal. He managed to regain self-awareness in all three nightmares.
...
Ten days later.
In the evening, Liu Qiyue went to the Earth Fire Lava Pond for two additional hours of training! As a genius who had awakened her phoenix bloodline, cultivating in the Earth Fire Lava Pond was a form of enjoyment! Furthermore, her talent with fire was much higher than before she awakened, so her cultivation speed accelerated. This was why Archean Mountain was so confident in nurturing her.
Anyone who awoke a phoenix bloodline became talented with fire.
Whilst she was doing so, Meng Chuan went to the Pit of Bewilderment. This was his second time entering the Pit of Bewilderment.
This time, he reached the fourth ring’s 6th step! His improvement was huge.
...
Time passed.
He went to the Pit of Bewilderment every ten days. In the beginning, he would often have nightmares after entering the Pit of Bewilder. After his fifth entry into the Pit of Bewilderment, he no longer had any nightmares. However, the pit’s effects on will-tempering reduced after his fifth entry.
...
In the blink of an eye, more than three months passed. On 5th April, drizzle poured.
In the early morning, Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue headed to Grotto-Heaven Pavilion. They traversed the mountain with movement techniques, and the rain didn’t touch them at all.
“Ah Chuan, what books did you bring?” Liu Qiyue realized that Meng Chuan was holding two books.
“They are history books,” said Meng Chuan with a smile. “After the lecture is over, I’ll head to the library and exchange these for two new books.”
A disciple was allowed to borrow two ordinary books at a time. He would have to return these books for ones he hadn’t read.
“History books?” Liu Qiyue was puzzled.
“I’ve already stopped training at the Pit of Bewilderment,” said Meng Chuan as they traveled. “During my first two months at the Pit of Bewilderment, I kept improving and reached the fourth ring’s 22nd step. But in the third month, I’ve only managed to take one more step. The more I enter the Pit of Bewilderment, the weaker the will-tempering effects are. Anyway, our willpower will also improve when we cultivate normally.”
Liu Qiyue nodded. “Your current willpower hasn’t reached the Six Desire baneful aura refining threshold. What are you planning on doing?”
Currently, he reached the fourth ring’s 23rd step at the Pit of Bewilderment. The Six Desire baneful aura refining threshold was the fourth ring’s completion. He still had 56 steps to go!
“I’ve already made preparations. I’d rather take five to six years to complete the Ninth Refinement,” said Meng Chuan. “Although it’ll take some time, I’ll cultivate my saber arts during this period. My saber art cultivation can’t be delayed.”
His future would be affected depending on whether he completed the Eighth or Ninth Refinement before becoming a Godfiend. His future wouldn’t be affected much even if he took years longer to become a Godfiend.
Just like what was written in the books, when one’s willpower ranked in the top ten of the human race, even mortals could become Marquis Godfiends within a year. By the same logic, if one’s saber art reached a high realm, a mortal could also become a Great Solar Godfiend very quickly.
“Willpower is more reliant on life experiences and the insights one has in life,” said Meng Chuan. “It’s very difficult for us to gain such life experiences when we’re cultivating on the mountain. After reading several books, I discovered that reading is a way to improve one’s willpower. It’s especially so when reading history books. I read about the lives of all famous individuals in history and the rise and fall of dynasties.”
Meng Chuan said, “Although I haven’t experienced it myself, I have gained insights from reading about history. I believe that after five to six years of reading, my knowledge pool will be massive.”
He planned to focus on many aspects for five to six years. He had decided to focus on his saber art, reading, and an escape art.
His saber art was the most important! He understood that his talent with the saber was at the average genius level. He was only a peerless genius when it came to painting. He mastered the Heart Saber Stance in half a year purely because the Saber Drawing Stance and the Heart Saber Stance were very similar. Since his talent wasn’t as high as his master had said, he had to be more diligent.
Cultivating diligently—rain or shine—also tempered his will.
Reading broadened his horizons and gave him insight.
The escape art was a technique created by an Archean Mountain senior. Deep in the Thousand Sabers Cavern—over 1000 feet deeper than where Meng Chuan normally cultivated—the wind blades could heavily injure Meng Chuan. A handful of wind blades were enough to kill him! He had to use his movement technique to avoid the wind blades. If he was careless, he could die.
There was something terrifying about being on the edge of life and death! His psyche rapidly improved as he dodged and blocked desperately.
Every time he was seriously injured, he would stop immediately. His injuries healed quickly. With the consumption of pills, he recovered from severe injuries in three days. Therefore, he would train his escape art—while on the edge of life-and-death—every three days. He worked hard every time, trying to last longer. This was a method to squeeze his potential out of him.
Meng Chuan had only tried it once. He bandaged his wound behind Qiyue’s back and consumed pills.
Saber art, reading, and escape art. By training like this, I believe my willpower will reach the Six Desires baneful aura refining threshold in five to six years.
...
Meng Chuan and Liu Qiyue arrived at Grotto-heaven Pavilion, their seating arrangement had changed.
“Senior Brother Xue Feng has passed the Nine Mystical Caves. He has already left the mountain.”
“Senior Brother Xue Feng has been on the mountain for nearly twelve years. He reached the Great Solar realm with a perfected Black Sand Fiend Body. He completed the Nine Mystical Caves test after reaching the Great Solar realm. Senior Brother Xue Feng’s Nine Mystical Caves test was really difficult.”
“Senior Brother Xue Feng’s current strength is at the peak of Great Solar Godfiends, right?”
This morning, Grotto-Heaven Pavilion was filled with discussions. They were discussing King Calm Sea’s fifth son, Xue Feng.
“Senior Brother Xue Feng has left?” Meng Chuan was astonished.
“It sounds like he left yesterday.” Liu Qiyue was also surprised. News didn’t spread quickly if the disciples didn’t convene.
Meng Chuan was shocked. Xue Feng only left the mountain after becoming a Great Solar Godfiend? The Nine Mystical Caves test sure was difficult for Xue Feng!
Most inner sect disciples left the mountain after becoming Indestructible Godfiends. It was the same for Jadesun Palace Lord at Eastcalm Prefecture. Most disciples only had a chance of reaching the Great Solar realm after 30 to 50 years of cultivation due to their lacking talent.
It was impossible for Archean Mountain to support them for 30 to 50 years.
The Supremacy’s lecture was the same as before. The disciples carefully listened and raised questions about their cultivation.
Soon, the lecture ended. The disciples dispersed.
Liu Qiyue went to Marquis Heavenstar and trained her archery skills. Meng Chuan carried the two history books and was about to go to the library. At this moment, a voice sounded in his ears. “Meng Chuan, come and see me in the inner courtyard.”
Meng Chuan was taken aback. He stayed in Grotto-Heaven Pavilion. After the other disciples were gone, he entered Grotto-Heaven Pavilion’s inner courtyard.
In the inner courtyard, Meng Chuan saw the Supremacy.
“Master,” greeted Meng Chuan respectfully.
“Chronicles of North Wind?” The Supremacy glanced at the book in Meng Chuan’s hand and laughed. “Are you reading history books now?”
“Reading can broaden one’s horizons and increase one’s insights. It will also temper one’s heart and will,” said Meng Chuan.
“Haha...” The Supremacy laughed. “It looks like you have a plan for tempering your heart and will?”
“I’m still far from refining the Six Desires baneful aura,” reported Meng Chuan respectfully. “My plan will take five to six years. I can’t be anxious. I want to use the time to cultivate my saber art and escape art. Reading is to improve my willpower.”
The Supremacy smiled and shook his head gently. “Training an escape art while on the edge of life and death is too extreme. There’s no need to cultivate it. Reading? You can do so in the future, but you have to manage your time.”
Meng Chuan was stunned. His plan had been changed by the Supremacy? His will would improve slower.
“Tempering one’s heart and will can’t be rushed,” said the Supremacy with a smile. “As for refining the Six Desire baneful aura... I forgot to tell you something. Six Desires baneful aura is terrifying. When a mortal refines Six Desires baneful aura with lacking willpower, they might be controlled by their desires. However, Six Desires baneful aura is only slightly special. It poses a great threat to mortal souls, however, it can’t affect a Regis Godfiend’s Essence Soul at all.
“Although you are mortal, you already have an Essence Soul. Six Desires baneful aura’s influence on a mortal’s Essence Soul is much weaker than on a mortal without an Essence Soul.
“As long as you can reach the Darkness Altar’s summit, you will be able to refine Six Desires baneful aura. Your Essence Soul will help you maintain clarity of mind,” said the Supremacy.
Meng Chuan was stunned. He was pleasantly surprised!
“But why didn’t the notes regarding the Lightning Devastator Fiend Body mention this?” Meng Chuan could not help but ask.
“Haha, how many mortals have Essence Souls?” asked the Supremacy with a smile. “Ever since the Lightning Devastator Fiend Body was created, you were the only mortal with an Essence Soul.”
The Supremacy smiled and said, “Alright, you know about it now, at least. Go ahead and complete the Ninth Refinement.”
“Yes.” Meng Chuan respectfully retreated.
He turned around and left excitedly. He quickly came to his senses. Master didn’t say anything about this before. He only told me about this three months after I first entered the Pit of Bewilderment. Was it intentional?