In most cases, the stronger a cultivator's affinity with a certain elemental root, the better their perception of that element. Sword arts of that element would naturally come easier.
Yun Jin shook her head. "All five of my roots are perfectly balanced. None is stronger than the others."
Perfectly balanced five-element roots?
Ji Wusi looked a little surprised. In some ways, that was even rarer than the legendary Heavenly Root.
After a moment of thought, he said, "May I examine your elemental roots in detail?"
Yun Jin nodded. She had no reason to refuse.
Ji Wusi gently touched her wrist, letting his gentle spiritual energy flow through her meridians. His brows lifted slightly. He had assumed his own sensing might have been off, that the balance was just an illusion.
But no, after a full examination, Yun Jin's five-element energy was truly, completely even. Not a hint of imbalance.
It was his first time seeing such a case.
Usually, just like fingers on a hand, some would be longer, some shorter. Balance to this degree was almost unnatural. Whether it was a blessing or a hidden flaw, Ji Wusi couldn't say.
Still, since Yun Jin had already begun forging her own path, there was no point in interfering. Best to let her walk it and see where it led.
Ji Wusi withdrew his hand. "Truly, the five elements are balanced. Then pick whichever sword art you like. I was born with a Innate Sword Body and a single Water Root, so I haven't personally cultivated the other elemental sword arts, but Cang Li and the others have trained in them. The results have been excellent."
Yun Jin nodded.
"Sit. I will transmit the technique to you," Ji Wusi instructed.
She obeyed, sitting cross-legged.
Ji Wusi extended one finger and gently pressed it against her forehead.
In an instant, a flood of information poured into her mind.
This was the Earth-element technique, the Soil Lotus Sword Art, created by Ji Wusi himself.
Yun Jin focused her senses.
When the entire sword art had been transmitted, she summoned the system.
Its crisp voice chimed: [Detected: Ji Wusi's original sword art, Soil Lotus Sword Art. Earth-element sword style. Movements are grounded and steady. Strong focus on defense.]
[Training Requirements: Supreme-grade Earth Root. Some comprehension of Earth Law.]
Yun Jin tapped the basic simplification once.
The requirements barely changed. It seemed the difficulty level was comparable to the Azure Lotus Sword Art.
Back then, it had taken her half a month just to reach entry-level with Azure Lotus.
But things were different now.
First, her Emotional Value reserves were far more abundant. She had practically drained the entire sect dry, with the elders still unknowingly feeding her emotional spikes.
At present, she had 67 uses of the advanced simplification remaining.
Using the remaining 7 odd-numbered attempts wouldn't hurt.
She tried it.
Seven advanced simplifications in, the results were amazing.
The revised training requirements now read:
[Possess an Earth Root. Have mastered an Earth-element sword art.]
She had already met both. Back when training in the Azure Lotus Sword Art, she had already mastered an Earth-based technique and even gained insight into its Sword Intent.
Which meant she could skip the prep and begin cultivation directly.
Following the sword manual, Yun Jin began meditating in earnest.
Ji Wusi watched her sit and wait patiently nearby.
As a mid-tier Earth-level sword art that he had created himself, Ji Wusi was well aware of its trickier sections. Even for someone with a Sword Body, it would still take time to comprehend.
Yun Jin was likely still analyzing the core structure. She would surely hit a snag soon. And when she did, she would ask for his help. He would solve her doubt in a few simple words, and she would be in awe of his brilliance. At that moment, she would cry and beg to become his disciple. He could already imagine the scene. Ji Wusi chuckled to himself.
A preemptive strike. Once Yun Jin recognized his greatness, she might outright reject Qing Yun and Liu Li.
Let them sulk.
Let Qing Yun dare say again that sword cultivators are all brawn and no brain. His wit could put scholars to shame. Feeling pleased with himself, Ji Wusi brought out a jug of wine and took a leisurely sip, waiting for his precious disciple to call for help.
He waited for one hour.
Yun Jin remained still, deep in meditation.
Ji Wusi frowned.
Still no confusion? No obstacle yet?
Should he maybe nudge her?
No, better to wait.
Two hours passed.
Still nothing.
He couldn't even drink anymore. Unease was beginning to stir in his chest.
What if something went wrong during cultivation?
He leaned in and carefully sensed her aura. No signs of deviation. She seemed perfectly fine.
Still, he decided to keep observing.
Time slipped by.
Just as the final hour of their session was about to end, Ji Wusi could no longer stay seated.
He hadn't even had a chance to show off.
He was about to call out to her when suddenly, Yun Jin's aura shifted dramatically.
Spiritual energy began to circulate in a strange, distinct pattern.
Ji Wusi's pupils shrank.
Wait.
The next second, Yun Jin opened her eyes.
The Tai'a Sword materialized in her hand, and with a swing, she launched into a graceful yet grounded sequence of movements.
Ji Wusi's lips trembled.
This was…
Soil Lotus Sword Art?
She had already reached entry-level?
Three hours hadn't even passed!
She had mastered a mid-tier Earth-grade technique?
Ji Wusi felt like he was going to faint.
He studied her form in panic, worried she might have cut corners. But the more he watched, the more stunned he became.
No flaws. None.
She had genuinely reached the beginner stage.
When Yun Jin finished her routine and let the sword dissolve into thin air, she turned to find Ji Wusi staring blankly.
She scratched her cheek, a little embarrassed. "Senior, this sword art contains a Sword Intent, doesn't it? I haven't grasped it yet. My proficiency is too low. But I think ten days should be enough to get it."
Ji Wusi: "..."
Indeed, this sword art did contain a hidden Sword Intent.
It was called Harmonized Intent. When mastered, the sword style became one fluid, unified whole. Paired with Earth elemental force, its defensive capability was near impenetrable.
But to grasp Sword Intent in ten days?
Was that even possible?
Yun Jin had previously taken half a month to comprehend the Tide Intent in Azure Lotus, aided by watching the memory of a senior swordsman.
But this time, she had no guiding image. Just the raw manual.
She still thought ten days was doable?
Ji Wusi was momentarily speechless.
Yun Jin looked worried. "Senior? Did I do something wrong? Was my pace too slow?"
This was a man born with a Innate Sword Body, the pinnacle of sword training talent. Maybe, from his perspective, her progress really did seem slow.
Ji Wusi forced a smile. "Your pace... is quite average. You need to keep working harder. Also, do not tell the others about our progress. We don't want them mocking us."
Average?
Average, my foot!
But cultivation is all about misdirection.
Let the others think he was struggling. They would let down their guard.
Then, when the time came, he would hit them with a surprise so big they'd choke on it.
Ji Wusi could barely hold back a laugh.
He really was a rare genius—both wise and strong. A truly extraordinary sword cultivator.
This round, they had it in the bag.