Unrivaled Comprehension: From Mortal to Immortal King

Having determined that he needed to condense the Five Viscera using the Five Elemental Divine Beasts, Lin Jiufeng dedicated himself to the task. Every day, he cultivated, activating the energy of his internal organs and gradually condensing it. This was a long process, requiring patience and diligence—it could not be rushed. Lin Jiufeng was no longer a young man in his twenties; he was 130 years old, calm and steadfast, unmoved by external distractions. If it took time, so be it. Progressing little by little each day, he was certain that the Five Elemental Divine Beasts would eventually take form.

Since cultivation could not be rushed, he diverted some of his attention to his three junior disciples. Lin Jiufeng meticulously guided them in their training. The ten-year-old children practiced for ten hours daily, leaving only two hours for sleep. This routine remained unchanged day after day. At times, they were so exhausted that they fell asleep while meditating. Other times, they nodded off while eating. Yet not a single one of them complained. All three persevered, even the seemingly delicate girl, Wen Xinyun, who relied on her stubborn nature to endure. Hard work always paid off, especially for those with talent.

Three months later, just as Lin Jiufeng had condensed the Vermilion Bird within his heart, the three children successively broke through their First Seal on the same day. Ten-year-old children achieving their First Seal—without any external resources, relying solely on their diligence and the Feathered Ascension Sutra—was an astonishing feat. Even within the exalted Taishang Sect, such extraordinary talents were rare.

Upon breaking through, the three little ones rushed excitedly to find Lin Jiufeng. Wen Xinyun was so overwhelmed with emotion that she burst into tears, throwing herself into Lin Jiufeng's arms, sobbing like a pear blossom in the rain. Seeing her cry so bitterly, Zhou Tianzi and Yue Dashan also teared up.

Lin Jiufeng gently patted Wen Xinyun's back, speaking softly, "I know you've endured hardships. Let it all out."

Wen Xinyun continued crying, as though finally releasing the immense grievances she had long kept buried.

With reddened eyes, Zhou Tianzi explained in a low voice, "Shimei is different from us. She was born into a powerful family, but her parents died when she was very young. As a girl, she was not valued in her clan. She was treated worse than a mere servant, oppressed in every way. She had no choice but to flee for her life, which led her to Shifu and to this place."

Yue Dashan nodded. "Shimei never talks about it, but we all know she carries a deep resentment. She wants to prove to those people that her talent surpasses them all."

Lin Jiufeng was taken aback. He hadn't realized Wen Xinyun's past was so difficult. This frail-looking girl had endured far too much suffering and pressure for her age.

He smiled and said, "The past is behind you. From now on, you are the senior disciple of the Feathered Ascension Sect. In ten years, the entire cultivation world will know your name."

Tears still streaming down her face, Wen Xinyun looked up at Lin Jiufeng with determination and nodded firmly. "Shibo is right. I must be strong—I am the senior disciple of the Feathered Ascension Sect."

Lin Jiufeng glanced at her tear-streaked face and said with a chuckle, "Go wash your face. You look absolutely terrible when you cry."

Wen Xinyun's cheeks flushed crimson. Embarrassed, she covered her face and bolted out the door without looking back.

Lin Jiufeng, Zhou Tianzi, and Yue Dashan all burst into laughter.

Lin Jiufeng then turned to the two boys. "Do you have similarly tragic backstories?" he asked. "If so, Shibo's arms are open if you need a good cry."

Zhou Tianzi scowled. "A true man doesn't weep! My entire family is dead—only I remain. I must cultivate diligently to avenge them."

Yue Dashan, in contrast, gave a simple smile. "I don't have any family. I was abandoned as a child and grew up wandering the countryside, surviving on charity."

Lin Jiufeng teased, "You ate from so many households, yet still ended up this chubby?"

Looking aggrieved, Yue Dashan muttered, "I don't know why. I've been like this since I was little. No matter how little I eat, I just get fat. Maybe that's why my parents abandoned me."

"Let the past be the past," Lin Jiufeng said, ruffling their hair and messing up their hairstyles. "You have the Feathered Ascension Sect now—you have Shifu, Shibo, and we are family."

The boys looked at Lin Jiufeng with warmth, truly accepting the Feathered Ascension Sect as their home.

"How long will Shifu remain in seclusion?" Zhou Tianzi suddenly asked.

"Yeah, it's been over three months," Yue Dashan added.

"Three months is nothing," Lin Jiufeng replied. "At your Shifu's level, and given that he's entered death seclusion, it will take at least several years. Be patient."

"Then we'll train hard and give Shifu a surprise when he emerges!" Zhou Tianzi declared excitedly.

"I will train diligently too!" Yue Dashan pumped his fists in determination.

"Good," Lin Jiufeng said. "Cultivating the Nine Seals has only just begun. You have a long way to go."

The two boys immediately threw themselves into their cultivation with renewed zeal.

Lin Jiufeng, too, continued his own training. He read while condensing the energy within his five viscera. In three months, he had only managed to condense the Vermilion Bird within his heart. Next, he needed to condense the Azure Dragon within his liver. This, too, could not be rushed. Thankfully, the Feathered Ascension Sect was completely sealed off from disturbances, allowing him to cultivate in peace.

At present, Lin Jiufeng was reading the biography of a legendary swordsman. This predecessor had surpassed the Nine Seals in swordsmanship, wielding the Dao of the Heavens and using the very grass and trees of the world as his sword. His sword technique did not rely on external weapons but purely on comprehension. The deeper one's understanding of sword intent, the stronger the technique. At its peak, any blade of grass, any leaf, could become an unstoppable weapon. With this technique, the swordsman had dominated the world—so much so that even the overbearing Taishang Sect dared not challenge him. Unfortunately, like a meteor streaking across the sky, he vanished swiftly. Some said he was assassinated. Others claimed he had died. Some believed he had gone into hiding. No one knew for certain. What was truly regrettable was that his fearsome sword technique had not been passed down. Later generations could only imagine its power.

"Using grass and trees as swords… Just how powerful was that?" Lin Jiufeng murmured as he closed the book.

He shut his eyes, envisioning the legendary technique. Unbound by material forms, unrestricted by convention, following only one's heart—he imagined a world where all things, every blade of grass and leaf, could become a sword.

In his mind, an explosion resounded, as though the chaos of the void had been torn apart.

A single blade of grass shot forth, slashing toward the sun, moon, and stars.

Boom!

The celestial bodies collapsed.

The earth crumbled, and all things surged in turmoil.

Sword energy stretched like an endless wall, spanning the heavens and the earth.

Yet the blade of grass remained unchanged—it was still just a blade of grass.

At that moment, divine insight surged through Lin Jiufeng. Before his eyes, a line of text appeared:

[Through deep contemplation, you have awakened supreme comprehension and mastered the Grass and Wood Sword Technique.]

Lin Jiufeng's mind now held a sword technique of absolute slaughter:

Grass and Wood Sword Technique—focusing on one's true self, comprehending sword intent, and using any blade of grass or leaf as a sword.

"With this technique, I can slay a cultivator at the Fifth Seal." Lin Jiufeng spoke with unwavering confidence.