173: Chapter 173: A Prodigy with an Ice Spiritual Root Becomes a Disciple, Rapidly Develops in Ten Years and Draws a Golden Attribute!

[You gaze at the young man before you. The boy who lacked front teeth ten years ago has grown more than three feet taller.]

[Traces of Lu Yuanming remain in his features, but his temperament is completely different.]

[Lu Yuanming was gentle, but this child exudes a chilling aura.]

[The Ice Spiritual Root has soaked into his bone marrow for ten years, and the chill is internalized.]

[Your gaze falls on the icy blue longsword at his waist, then shifts to his right hand.]

[There is a thick layer of calluses on the web of his right hand.]

["Did you bring the bamboo sword?"]

[Lu Bingyun reaches into his robes with his right hand and takes out an object.]

[A three-inch bamboo sword lies across his palm.]

[The color of the bamboo body has changed from emerald green to dark brown, and the bamboo fibers are pressed extremely tight.]

[The edge of the sword remains sharp, and the carved tip shows no signs of dulling.]

[You reach out to take the bamboo sword, your fingertips brushing over the blade.]

[The Sword Intent sealed inside is still there, unscattered after ten years.]

["Follow me."]

[You turn and walk out of the main hall.]

[Lu Bingyun follows, his pace steady.]

[You pass through the backyard of Fire Cloud Hall and walk up the stone steps.]

[There is an open, flat area on the back mountain, surrounded by century-old pine trees.]

[The ground is paved with bluestone slabs, and there is no one else around.]

[You stand still and toss the bamboo sword back to him.]

[Lu Bingyun catches it with one hand.]

["Ten years ago, I told you to trigger the Sword Intent within the bamboo sword and make it emit a sword hum."]

[You step back five paces, hands behind your back.]

["Now."]

[Lu Bingyun grips the bamboo sword, not rushing to circulate his Spiritual Qi.]

[He closes his eyes, his breathing slowing.]

[The surrounding temperature drops sharply.]

[A layer of white frost condenses on the surface of the bluestone slabs.]

[Spiritual Qi gushes from his Dantian, pouring into the bamboo sword along the Meridians of his arm.]

[The blue light seeps from the scratches on the surface of the bamboo sword, spreading along the patterns worn in over ten years, enveloping the entire sword.]

[Hum—]

[The sound of a sword hum rises.]

[The Cold Ice Sword Intent is stimulated into resonance.]

[Within a three-foot radius of the bamboo sword, water vapor turns into floating ice crystals.]

[The non-attribute Sword Intent you sealed inside is completely triggered by his Ice-attribute Spiritual Qi.]

[After ten years of soaking, the Sword Intent has been assimilated by his Ice Spiritual Root, transforming into Cold Ice Sword Intent.]

[Lu Bingyun opens his eyes.]

[He pushes the sword forward and steps out with a strike.]

[First Form.]

[The sword edge carves an arc, and the ice crystals align along the trajectory, forming a translucent ice blade.]

[Second Form.]

[His wrist turns, the bamboo sword pulls back, and the ice blade shatters into dozens of ice needles, shooting forward.]

[The ice needles nail into the trunk of a pine tree ten feet away, piercing deep into the wood.]

[Third Form.]

[He spins his entire body, and the bamboo sword draws a complete arc around him.]

[The cold air spreads outward with him as the center, and the frost layer on the ground thickens to half an inch.]

[The three forms finished, Lu Bingyun sheathes the sword and stands still.]

[His breathing is steady, and his complexion is normal.]

[You gaze at the frost marks on the ground and the ice needles on the tree trunk.]

[His sword trajectory changes with the direction of the ice crystal condensation; each form is adjusted in real-time according to the distribution of water vapor in the environment.]

[Seventeen years old, Foundation Establishment Level 2, self-created sword technique.]

["Who taught you this set of sword techniques?"]

[Lu Bingyun shakes his head.]

["No one taught me. When I practiced with the bamboo sword, the Ice Spiritual Qi would pour into the sword on its own. I just followed its direction; after practicing for a few years, it became what it is now."]

[You nod.]

[His Spiritual Root and Sword Intent are naturally compatible; he doesn't need external guidance to find his own path.]

["Lu Bingyun."]

["Present." The youth straightens his back.]

["From today on, you are my closing Disciple."]

[Lu Bingyun grips the bamboo sword tightly and kneels on one knee.]

["Disciple Lu Bingyun pays respects to Master."]

["Get up."]

[You step forward and take the bamboo sword from his hand.]

[You inject Spiritual Qi from your fingertips, re-condensing the remaining Sword Intent within the bamboo sword and pressing it back into the blade.]

[The blue light on the surface of the bamboo sword recedes, returning to invisibility.]

[You return the bamboo sword to him.]

["Keep this bamboo sword. When you forge your own life-bound Flying Sword in the future, fuse its Sword Intent into it."]

[Lu Bingyun takes it with both hands and tucks it properly into his robes.]

[You turn and walk toward the stone steps.]

["Follow. I will arrange a place for you to stay first."]

[Returning to Fire Cloud Hall, you cast a beam of light for communication.]

[Three breaths later, Huo Quji runs over from the direction of the alchemy room; his leg injury has long since healed, and he runs with great vigor.]

["Brother Shen!"]

[He sees the youth with icy blue pupils standing behind you, and his footsteps falter.]

["Who is this?"]

["My Disciple, Lu Bingyun."]

[Huo Quji opens his mouth.]

["Brother Shen, you took a Disciple?"]

["Mm. Arrange a place for him in Fire Cloud Hall, a courtyard near the training field."]

[Huo Quji's gaze sweeps over Lu Bingyun.]

[The youth stands straight, his icy blue eyes looking back at him without blinking or dodging.]

[Huo Quji grins and pats Lu Bingyun's shoulder.]

["Alright! Follow me, Little Junior Nephew!"]

[Lu Bingyun looks at you.]

[You nod.]

["Go. Once you are settled, familiarize yourself with the environment. Come find me at the back mountain at the Hour of the Dragon tomorrow."]

["Yes, Master."]

[Lu Bingyun follows Huo Quji away.]

[Huo Quji's loud voice comes from the other end of the corridor.]

["Your Master is the best fighter in the entire Eastern Region among the Golden Core — no, wait, he is at the Nascent Soul Stage now. Anyway, you are a lucky kid..."]

[The voice fades away.]

[You turn and return to your own residence.]

[Inside the stone room are a meditation cushion, a stone table, and an eternal lamp.]

[The traces of ten years of seclusion are still there, with empty jade bottles piled in the corner.]

[You sit on the meditation cushion and bring up the System panel.]

[During the ten years of Instant Deduction, the trait drawing continued as usual.]

[Once a year, ten draws in ten years.]

[The drawing records from age thirty-nine to forty-eight unfold one by one.]

[Age thirty-nine: Green Trait — All Grass and Trees Are Soldiers. Effect: Perception range of the surrounding environment increases by 30%.]

[Age forty: Blue Trait — Cold Pool Reflecting the Moon. Effect: Spiritual Qi recovery speed increases by 50% during meditation.]

[Age forty-one: Purple Trait — Unrivaled Formation Breaking. Effect: Ability to break Formations is greatly improved, and one can intuitively perceive the location of Formation eyes.]

[Age forty-two: Green Trait — Copper Skin and Iron Bones. Effect: Physical Body defense increases by 20%.]

[Age forty-three: Blue Trait — Spiritual Breath Tracking. Effect: Once a target's aura is locked, one will not lose direction within a thousand miles.]

[Age forty-four: Purple Trait — Heavenly Gang Body Protection. Effect: Protective Spiritual Qi strength is doubled, and it can automatically resist one fatal attack.]

[Age forty-five: Blue Trait — Ten Thousand Mile Sound Transmission. Effect: Communication distance breaks the ten-thousand-mile limit, allowing cross-region communication.]

[Age forty-six: Green Trait — Treasure Gathering and Spiritual Attraction. Effect: Perception distance for surrounding Spirit Stone veins increases to one hundred miles.]

[Age forty-seven: Golden Trait — Primordial Origin Refining. Effect: Cultivation Spiritual Qi absorption efficiency increases tenfold; the power of Heavenly Tribulation is reduced by 30% when breaking through Realms; exclusive to Cultivators at the Nascent Soul Stage and above.]

[You gaze at this Golden Trait.]

[Age forty-seven, the very year of the Breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Early Stage.]

[Golden Legend.]

[Cultivation exclusive.]

[Age forty-eight: Purple Trait — Starfall Sword Art. Effect: Comprehend one form of the Starfall Sword technique, using extraterrestrial meteor power to enhance sword moves; armor-piercing ability is extremely strong.]

[Ten years.]

[One Gold, three Purple, three Blue, three Green.]

[You close the drawing records and open the trait equipment panel.]

[Instant Deduction consumption is finished, and the slots are empty.]

[After breaking through to the Nascent Soul Stage, the trait slots have expanded to nine.]

[Directly equip Primordial Origin Refining.]

[Equip Starfall Sword Art.]

[Final configuration confirmed.]

[Name: Shen Ji]

[Cultivation: Nascent Soul Early Stage]

[Current Luck: 998]

[Equipped Traits 9/9: Wealth Returns After Being Spent (Gold), Supreme Sword Bone (Gold), Primordial Origin Refining (Gold), Thirteen Gale Strikes (Purple), Void-Escaping Purple Shadow (Purple), Sword Dao Insight (Purple), Star-Shifting Shadow-Swapping (Purple), Phantom Raid (Purple), Starfall Sword Art (Purple)]

[Three Golden traits, six Purple traits. Nine slots, filled with Gold and Purple.]

[You close the panel and close your eyes to regulate your breath.]

[The effect of the Primordial Origin Refining trait begins to take effect, and the Spiritual Qi in the Immortal Cave pours into your Meridians.]

[Outside the window, twilight descends.]

[You sit cross-legged on the meditation cushion and begin to Cultivate.]

[One night passes.]

[You open your eyes.]

[The Spiritual Qi of the Nascent Soul Early Stage has solidified by 30%.]

[You stand up and push open the stone door.]

[The morning light is dazzling.]

[Footsteps come from afar.]

[Lu Bingyun walks over from below the stone steps, followed by Huo Quji.]

["Master." Lu Bingyun bows.]

[Huo Quji grins.]

["Brother Shen, this kid got up to practice sword at the Hour of the Rabbit last night; he is much more diligent than I was back then."]

[You look at Lu Bingyun.]

[The hem of the youth's clothes is stained with dew; it looks like he has been practicing for quite a while.]

["From today on, come to the back mountain at the Hour of the Dragon every day."]

["Yes, Master."]

[You turn and walk toward the training field.]

[Lu Bingyun follows.]

[Huo Quji scratches his head and turns to go back to the alchemy room.]

[On the training field, you draw your sword.]

[The Qiankun Yin-Yang Sword leaves its sheath, its blade reflecting the sunlight.]

["Watch closely."]

[You raise your hand and swing the sword.]

[The fourth form of the Burning Heaven Nine Sword Arts. The crimson sword light burns the air, leaving a scorch mark on the ground.]

[Lu Bingyun stares at the scorch mark, firelight reflecting in his pupils.]

["The essence of this form lies in building momentum. After running your Spiritual Qi through three cycles along the Meridians of your arm, it erupts at the tip of the sword."]

[You sheathe the sword.]

["You try."]

[Lu Bingyun draws his icy blue longsword and swings it accordingly.]

[Ice crystals form at the tip of the sword, but there is no eruption.]

["Your Spiritual Qi circulation is too slow." You point out the problem.]

["The three cycles must be completed within one breath. Your Ice-attribute Spiritual Qi circulation path is different from the Fire-attribute; you need to find your own rhythm."]

[Lu Bingyun nods and swings the sword again.]

[This time, the ice crystals shatter at the tip of the sword, shooting forward three feet.]

[A great improvement over the first time.]

[You offer no further comment and turn to demonstrate the next form.]

[Master and Disciple practice on the training field for the entire morning.]

[At noon, Ling Qingmeng walks over from the corridor.]

["Come with me." She stops at the edge of the training field. "Hall Master Chi Yang wants you to go to the meeting hall."]

[You sheathe your sword.]

["Understood."]

[You look at Lu Bingyun.]

["Practice on your own. Come find me at the Immortal Cave in the evening; I will explain the techniques for operating Sword Intent."]

["Yes, Master."]

[You follow Ling Qingmeng away.]

[The two walk along the corridor.]

[Ling Qingmeng turns her head to look at you.]

["You broke through."]

[Her tone is certain.]

["Mm."]

["Nascent Soul Early Stage?"]

["Right."]

[Ling Qingmeng doesn't speak again.]

[She walks in front, her back straight.]

[You gaze at her back.]

[At the entrance of the meeting hall, Hall Master Chi Yang is waiting.]

[Seeing you, he raises his eyelids.]

["Your aura is wrong."]

["Immortal Master has keen eyes."]

[Hall Master Chi Yang stares at you for three breaths.]

["Nascent Soul Early Stage. You really succeeded in your Breakthrough?"]

["Mm."]

[Hall Master Chi Yang makes a clicking sound, turns, and walks into the hall.]

["Come in. I have something to discuss with you."]

[You follow him inside.]

[Hall Master Chi Yang sits in the main seat, his fingers tapping on the table.]

["News has come from Beishun City; traces of Yao Race scout activity have been discovered."]

[He looks at you.]

["Although Demon Emperor Lietian hasn't made a move, his subordinates haven't been idle."]

["Your Nascent Soul just broke through; it's the perfect time to use these scouts to practice."]

[You stand in the hall, not answering.]

["There is something else."]

[Hall Master Chi Yang nods.]

["Someone came from the Central Plains!"]

["An envoy from the Xuantian Holy Sect heard that you broke through to the Nascent Soul Stage and came out of seclusion; they specifically asked to see you."]