As time passed, half a month later.
Wang Yufan, along with Xu Changqing and little black, had reached the border of Eastern Spirit State. For the past half-month, Wang Yufan had been enjoying the scenery, while Xu Changqing had been diligently cultivating his physique.
"We've reached the border of Eastern Spirit State," Wang Yufan said.
"Yes, Master, look, there's a boundary marker there," Xu Changqing replied.
Wang Yufan nodded.
"Changqing, over a hundred miles of this Eastern Spirit State border is barren land. While your physique seems to have strengthened quite a bit over the past half-month, it's still far from enough.
For the time being, I'll give you a treasured sword. Carry it on your back, and once you can move with light steps, I will give you a sword dao technique."
As he finished speaking, a treasured sword appeared out of thin air. It was three feet long, with a greenish-blue blade and seven gems on its hilt.
When Xu Changqing excitedly took the sword, he was immediately weighed down by its heaviness and fell to the ground.
He hadn't expected the treasured sword bestowed by his Master to be so heavy; it looked so light.
Watching Xu Changqing sprawled on the ground, Wang Yufan shook his head, pointed a finger, and the long sword floated in the air.
Xu Changqing stood up, feeling as if his body was about to fall apart. He hadn't expected this treasured sword to be so heavy, almost like a small mountain.
Wang Yufan looked at Xu Changqing and said.
"It's normal that you can't pick it up now, but you must be able to pick it up after you've walked this hundred-kilometer path. Do you understand?"
Xu Changqing looked at the demand officially given by his Master, his gaze firm as he stared at the floating sword.
"Changqing will not disappoint Master's expectations."
Wang Yufan saw a determination in Xu Changqing's eyes, similar to his own when he first arrived in these Myriad Worlds.
Wang Yufan smiled, and then the floating treasured sword dropped to the ground.
"Changqing, cherish this treasured sword well. This sword is named Seven Star Immortal-Slaying Sword, and it is one of the few treasured swords I have acquired since I began cultivating.
This sword has a spirit; it will not easily submit to you. You must develop a connection with it. When you feel its emotions, that means it has acknowledged you."
Hearing Wang Yufan's words, Xu Changqing fell into a daze. This was a true treasured sword; no, it should be called an Immortal Sword. He felt that a treasured sword named 'Immortal' would not be so simple.
Thinking of this, he bowed deeply to Wang Yufan again.
"This disciple will remember Master's teachings and cherish this treasured sword well."
Wang Yufan felt that taking a disciple wasn't bad. If he were to return to the Myriad Worlds in the future, with this disciple leading the way, invincible, he, as the Master, would be very much at ease.
As he thought, a rope appeared in Wang Yufan's hand, which he then tossed to Xu Changqing.
"Since you can't carry it, just drag it."
Xu Changqing saw a finger-thick rope in his hand, so he wrapped it a few times around the Seven Star Immortal-Slaying Sword on the ground. Then, he tied the other end directly to his body.
Xu Changqing took a deep breath and stepped forward. He expected to pull it, but to his surprise, the Seven Star Immortal-Slaying Sword on the ground didn't move at all.
Wang Yufan looked at him and said.
"The time it takes us to cover this hundred-kilometer path depends on your speed. If you're slow, we'll be slow. But can your sister wait that long?"
After hearing his Master's words, Xu Changqing's strength surged this time, unleashing all of his Nascent Soul Realm power, and he finally took a step. The Seven Star Immortal-Slaying Sword also moved one meter.
Although it was only one meter, Xu Changqing saw hope.
With each burst of effort, he could only take one step. After walking about ten meters, all of Xu Changqing's strength was completely drained.
Wang Yufan pulled out a roasted chicken from somewhere, floating in the air, and the black dog, suspended to one side, began to drool, with saliva dripping onto the ground.
Just like this, a month had passed since they departed from Azure Spirit Sect. The plan to conclude Eastern Spirit State in three months now seemed likely to be delayed.
To date, Wang Yufan observed that his disciple, relying on his firm belief, had covered half of the hundred-kilometer distance. For Xu Changqing, who was at the fifth level of the Nascent Soul Realm, this was already quite extraordinary.
And for Xu Changqing, compared to the first day, his current strength had nearly quadrupled. Dragging the Seven Star Immortal-Slaying Sword no longer required him to use his full Nascent Soul Realm cultivation; relying on his physical strength alone, he could now directly drag it along.
If he were to use his physical strength, he would be able to try picking up the Seven Star Immortal-Slaying Sword.
Along this hundred-kilometer journey, by the two-thirds mark, Xu Changqing was directly carrying the Seven Star Immortal-Slaying Sword. By the time he completed the final stretch, Xu Changqing could fully lift the Seven Star Immortal-Slaying Sword.
Wang Yufan saw this and nodded. This child still had some of his own demeanor from back then.
"Changqing, we don't have much time left. This hundred-kilometer journey has taken you nearly over a month. It's been two months since we left Azure Spirit Sect."
Hearing this, Xu Changqing's originally happy face instantly turned grim.
Wang Yufan naturally knew what Xu Changqing was worried about.
"Changqing, we still have four months; there's enough time. Of course, as I said, saving your sister still depends on you. Once we obtain the Earth Dragon Scale Armor, we will immediately go to Western Spirit State."
Upon hearing Wang Yufan's reassurance, Xu Changqing also felt relieved.
"Little Black, let's go."
Wang Yufan called out to the black dog, who was wandering nearby. The black dog's figure flashed, and it immediately appeared at Wang Yufan's feet.
After crossing this barren land in Eastern Spirit State, a dense forest would appear, and it was rumored that fifth-order demonic beasts, and even sixth-order demonic beasts, could be found within this forest.
Xu Changqing had also heard about this incidentally from others.
Soon after the two people and one dog stepped inside, a roar echoed out.