Soul Emperor Martial God

"Can't Break the Core?"

"True Veins showing almost no signs of melting?"

Old Man Yi's eyes widened as he looked at Xiao Yi.

After Xiao Yi emerged from the seclusion room, he saw Old Man Yi had been waiting for him and thus told him what had happened.

"Indeed," Xiao Yi nodded, saying, "I have no idea what went wrong."

Old Man Yi took a deep breath and fell into contemplation on the spot.

After a long while, he spoke solemnly, "It seems that in your Cultivation method, I have not considered everything thoroughly enough."

"Owners of the Fire Control Beast Martial Soul progress very slowly in their Cultivation. Apart from you, I have never seen anyone in my life who has Cultivated beyond the Innate Realm."

"Let alone seen anyone who has been able to condense a Qi Spring and reach the Mysterious Profundity Realm."

"I originally thought that your comprehension was exceptional, which is why you stood out. Now it seems that there are other issues to consider."

Old Man Yi fell into deep thought once again.

His Martial Arts Knowledge was profound.

But at this moment, he shook his head repeatedly, apparently pondering the cause of the problem and yet constantly rejecting his own ideas.

Xiao Yi did not speak.

The atmosphere was filled with silence, punctuated only by Old Man Yi's occasional murmurs.

Two hours later, Xiao Yi was the first to break the silence.

"Old Man Yi, I would like to go out and gain experience," said Xiao Yi.

"Gain experience?"

Old Man Yi stopped his contemplation, nodded, and said, "Yes, that's a good idea."

"A Martial Artist knows their own body far better than anyone else."

"Seeking out the problem during your experience, expanding your knowledge and broadening your horizons, one day you might find the solution yourself."

"However... your trip for experience this time will inevitably be lengthy."

"Go home today, think it over properly, whether you truly want to go. Come to find me again tomorrow."

Xiao Yi bowed respectfully and replied, "Yes."

Then he turned around and went back to the rear mountain.

...

On the rear mountain, for once, Xiao Yi did not Cultivate. Instead, he found a shady spot and lay down of his own accord.

He clasped his hands behind his head, gazing up at the sky.

Breezes blew by occasionally, refreshing his entire body.

In his eyes, the clouds drifted gently with the wind.

A few birds chirped as they flew above him.

Xiao Yi smiled faintly, "Flying must feel great."

Old Man Yi attributed Xiao Yi's inability to Break the Core to an inadequacy in the Cultivation methods he had provided.

But Xiao Yi himself was well aware that it was because his Qi Pill, True Veins, and Martial Soul were too strong, making it difficult to Break the Core and Transform Meridians.

To achieve that, the amount of Pure Elixir required was astronomical.

He did not want to trouble Old Man Yi, even though he knew the old man was capable of a lot.

He had heard that Old Man Yi had not gone out of the Sword Sect for many years.

The one time he went out a month ago was the first in many years.

For some reason, Xiao Yi felt that Old Man Yi was a man with stories.

Old Man Yi did not like to go out; it seemed that the Sky-splitting Sword Sect was the only place he felt he could stay.

Also, Old Man Yi was somewhat of a stickler for tradition.

Xiao Yi shook his head and decided not to trouble Old Man Yi.

The night passed uneventfully, and Xiao Yi did not sleep at all.

The next day, he went to see Old Man Yi again.

"You're here," was the first thing Old Man Yi said when he saw Xiao Yi, as always.

"Yes," Xiao Yi also always nodded in response.

Every meeting between them always started this way.

"I thought about it all night and couldn't figure out why you can't Break the Core and Transform Meridians," Old Man Yi said gravely.

How could he know that Xiao Yi had taken Divine Medicine such as Golden Vein Pills and Five Elements Pills? Nor did he know that Xiao Yi harbored a deep purple Ice Phoenix Sword Soul within his body.

Naturally, he was puzzled. The canonical source for this content: M|V|L2EMPYR.

"Old Man Yi, you've taken a lot of trouble," Xiao Yi said with gratitude.

"Have you made a decision?" Old Man Yi didn't say much else but asked.

"I've made my decision," Xiao Yi nodded.

What they were talking about, of course, was whether Xiao Yi had decided to go out and gain experience.

"Good, then today I will guide you once more."

"Thank you, Old Man Yi."

"You have come to the Sky-splitting Sword Sect to Cultivate in the way of the Sword; your Fire Control Beast Martial Soul is too weak, and you can't walk other paths, only the Sword Dao."

"The lad understands," Xiao Yi nodded in agreement.

Old Man Yi said, "The Martial Arts encompass everything, but the Sword Dao is the most difficult, especially with your current situation, it's extremely challenging."

"The Sword Dao is not as flashy as the Fire Dao, not as cold as the Cold Ice Skill, not as continuous as the Water Dao, not like…"

"But, the Sword Dao is the purest."

"And because of its purity, it is the easiest to face Heart Demons in the journey of Martial Arts."

"So, you need a resolute Martial Arts Heart, also known as the Sword Heart."

"There are countless paths in martial arts: the Fire Dao, the Water Dao, the Blade Dao, the Hammer Dao... Every path, when cultivated by martial artists, has its own Dao Heart. Only the Sword Dao is known as the Sword Heart."

"The nature of the Sword Heart depends entirely on what lies within the martial artist's heart."

"Ruthless, tender, persevering, ghostly, domineering, light, resolute... they all originate from your heart."

"The sword in your hand, will it help you cut through waves and thorns on your journey, or break halfway? Will it help you slay the Heart Demon, or will you sink into yourself? That also depends entirely on you."

"In summary, the Sword Dao itself can also encompass thousands. Ten thousand Sword Dao practitioners will have ten thousand kinds of Sword Dao."

"You will also have a Sword Dao that belongs only to you."

"Your path is yours alone to walk."

Xiao Yi understood his meaning; in the practice of martial arts, Elder Yi could only lead him to the threshold. Whether he would achieve anything in the future still depended on himself.

"The Sword Dao is the path most adept at combat, without a peer."

"Soon you will set out to gain experience outside. Today's guidance also comes to an end here. You have already acquired a great deal of knowledge from the Mystic Realm Stele, and my further words would be superfluous."

Xiao Yi nodded, expressing his gratitude, "I understand, Elder Yi."

"Mhm," Elder Yi nodded slightly, then took out an item and handed it to Xiao Yi.

"On this journey of experience, it's uncertain how long you will be gone. Northern Mountain County is vast; while broadening your horizons, you will inevitably encounter dangers beyond your expectations."

"This item, I gift to you for self-protection."

Taking it, Xiao Yi was then startled, "Four Fire Puppet Balls?"

"Yes," Elder Yi said, "Inside are four Fire Attribute puppets with Half-step Breaking Profound Cultivation."

"But remember this. With your cultivation, you cannot infuse True Qi into this Puppet Ball."

"Therefore, its uses are limited, and you must use it with caution."

Once the power inside the Puppet Ball is exhausted, without the ability to infuse True Qi, it will become ineffective.

"Thank you, Elder Yi," Xiao Yi bowed earnestly. Four Fire Attribute puppets with Half-step Breaking Profound Cultivation were undeniably precious.

At this moment, Elder Yi said, "Stretch out your hand."

Xiao Yi extended his left hand, looking puzzled.

Elder Yi condensed his two fingers, and a surge of True Qi automatically circled around Xiao Yi's palm.

Finally, the True Qi transformed into a Sword-shaped pattern, hiding beneath the skin of his hand.

"This is my Sword Qi. When not in use, it's silent and unnoticed by anyone."

"When needed, you only have to think about it to activate it."

"In Northern Mountain County, should you encounter any danger, this Sword Qi can save your life."

Xiao Yi was immediately astonished. The confidence and certainty in Elder Yi's words "any danger" were profound.

"Likewise, be clear on this; this Sword Qi can only be used once. That is to say, it can only save you once."

"How to use it is up to you."

"Thank you, Elder Yi," Xiao Yi retracted his palm, bowing sincerely once more.

Elder Yi waved his hand, saying, "Alright, no need for a third bow. I'd like to live a few more years. Go now."

"Uh," Xiao Yi chuckled.

"Next time you return to the Sword Sect, I expect you to have reached the Mysterious Profundity Realm," Elder Yi said lightly, then fell silent.

"Yes, Master, your disciple will not let you down," Xiao Yi nodded seriously.

"Master?" Elder Yi shook his head, "I've said before, I only provided you guidance. Between you and me, there's no formal relation."

Xiao Yi smiled, "Then, Elder Yi can be my unrelated Master."

As soon as the words fell, Xiao Yi's figure disappeared from the spot, racing away.

On the spot, Elder Yi stared blankly at the retreating figure of Xiao Yi.

"An unrelated Master?" Elder Yi murmured to himself.

After a long while, Elder Yi chuckled, "Clever kid, always knowing how to seize an advantage."

...

At this time, four silhouettes suddenly flew through the sky.

It was Lin Jin, Tie Niu, Liu Yanran, and Qin Feiyang.

"Look, it's Elder Yi," Lin Jin pointed out while in the sky.

"I've heard this Elder Yi is very strange and doesn't take kindly to anyone," Tie Niu said with a deep voice.

Liu Yanran shook her head, "Not even the Deacons of the Inner Sect know of his identity, and yet they all treat him with the utmost respect."

"The elders seem to know, but when I asked my master, he refused to tell me."

Qin Feiyang said, "Who cares, we came here to find Brother Xiao Yi."

Having said that, the four of them descended from the sky and approached Elder Yi.

"Hey, Old Yi, where's Brother Xiao Yi?" Qin Feiyang said loudly.

Lin Jin was startled, quickly pulling Qin Feiyang back and then bowing to Elder Yi, "Please forgive us, Elder Yi. My brother's brain isn't quite right."

"Do you know where Brother Xiao Yi is?"

Elder Yi glanced at them, "In less than three months, you've broken through to the Mysterious Profundity Realm and can fly through the sky. Your talents are indeed commendable."

It was apparent that Elder Yi recognized them as Xiao Yi's friends and newcomers from this year.

"He has gone out for trials," Elder Yi said indifferently and then turned to leave.

"How has he gone for trials? Isn't he supposed to cultivate within the Sword Sect?" Lin Jin asked politely.

Elder Yi didn't answer, simply walking away.

"May I ask Elder Yi, did he say when he would return?" Lin Jin continued to inquire.

"I don't know, but he will eventually return," Elder Yi said without turning around, then faded away like a wisp of smoke.

Lin Jin and the others were left looking at each other, nonplussed.