The Sword-Light Lotus

“My name is Luo Qing,” said the silver-robed woman, looking at the Skygreen Serpent.

The Skygreen Serpent replied, “I am Ji Qingqing.”

With a bit of laughter and chatting, the two who shared the name ‘Qingqing’ quickly grew close. From that day on, Senior Apprentice-Sister Nine Lotos and the others took up temporary residence on Brightheart Island.

By evening, the snow had stopped.

On the Brightheart Island sword-training plaza.

“Young master.” Ji Mo’s voice was filled with reverence, his eyes burning with anticipation and fervor. “Please guide me.”

Ji Ning stood a short distance away, his hands clasped behind his back. With a thought, sword-light formed of water and fire materialized in the air around him—sharp, fierce, and exuding an overwhelming pressure. The sword-light began to circle around Ji Mo, and his expression changed color. Even though Ji Ning was only drawing on the power of Heaven and Earth, to a Xiantian lifeform it still represented an infinite threat.

“Condense,” Ji Ning said, his gaze fixed on the sword-light.

The many streaks of water-fire sword-light swirling through the air quickly coalesced into a massive lotus of sword-light, dozens of zhang in diameter. The fully bloomed lotus formed of swords enveloped Ji Mo completely.

“Ji Mo,” Ji Ning said. “This Sword-Light Lotus contains some fundamental insights into the art of the sword. Surrounding you are ninety-one lotus petals; each petal holds a different sword-intent. Your task is to break through every single petal. On the day you shatter them all, your swordplay can be considered as having truly entered the gate.”

“You mean I haven’t entered the gate yet? I’ve already reached Unity of Man and Heaven,” Ji Mo couldn’t help but protest.

“You haven’t even comprehended a True Meaning of the Dao, so how can that count as entering the gate?” Ji Ning shook his head. He then sat down at ease, taking up a wine flask and leisurely sipping the fine fruit wine that Qiuye had prepared, while pondering the fourth stance of the Three-Foot Sword.

Just then—

“Junior apprentice-brother Ji Ning.” Two women approached from the distance. It was Senior Apprentice-Sister Nine Lotos and Senior Apprentice-Sister Luo Qing. In terms of pure beauty, they were unrivaled on Brightheart Island. As for temperament, both were disciples of the Black-White College. Luo Qing’s aura was unique, and Nine Lotos shone brilliantly even within the College itself, attracting the pursuit of countless disciples.

Ji Ning turned his head and rose to his feet. “Senior Apprentice-Sister Nine Lotos, Senior Apprentice-Sister Luo Qing.”

“You’re training a clansman?” Nine Lotos looked with interest at the enormous Sword-Light Lotus and at Ji Mo, who was desperately attacking the petals inside.

“A lotus?” Luo Qing smiled in surprise. “You can draw upon the power of Heaven and Earth to form a Sword-Light Lotus. It seems Junior Apprentice-Brother Ji Ning has quite a deep understanding of lotuses.”

Ji Ning shook his head. “I’ve merely gained a little insight and created a defensive technique, the Water-Fire Lotus. That’s the extent of my lotus comprehension.”

The lotus…

Its very existence contained endless mysteries.

In the Three Realms, many mighty figures had lotus dharma-thrones, lotus treasures, or lotus techniques.

“Senior Apprentice-Sister Nine Lotos also has deep insights into lotuses,” Luo Qing said quickly.

“I’m still a bit behind Junior Apprentice-Brother Ji Ning,” Nine Lotos demurred.

“Why be so modest?” Luo Qing frowned and pouted. “When it comes to sword arts, you’re no match for Ji Ning, I admit. But when it comes to lotuses—Senior Apprentice-Sister, you come from the ‘Green Lotus Tribe,’ the Dongyan clan. Your clan’s foundational secret manual is the Green Lotus Sutra. Among the third-generation disciples of the Black-White College, I doubt anyone can surpass you in lotus techniques.”

Ji Ning looked at Nine Lotos in surprise. The Dongyan clan?

He had read the intelligence reports on the major powers of the Anchan Commandery. The Dongyan clan was an extremely powerful tribe.

Although it was not listed among the Eight Great Powers of the Anchan Commandery, the Dongyan clan was actually stronger than the Black-White College, the Heaven-Splitting Sword Sect, the Donghe clan, the Dragonhunter clan, and the other Seven Great Powers! This was because the Dongyan clan’s foundation was in another commandery called the Upper River Commandery.

The Dongyan clan was rooted in the Upper River Commandery but had spread its influence to other commandery cities. In truth, the Dongyan clan spanned three entire commanderies. It was a truly ancient and powerful tribe. Because it was generally counted as a power of the Upper River Commandery, it wasn’t included in the Eight Great Powers of the Anchan Commandery.

In terms of overall strength, within the Anchan Commandery only the Marquis of Anchan and the Yinglong Guard branch could suppress it.

“So that’s why Senior Apprentice-Sister Nine Lotos has such an extraordinary temperament and stands out even in the Black-White College,” Ji Ning marveled inwardly. “She’s from an ancient tribe like the Dongyan clan. The genius disciples of such a deeply rooted tribe are indeed exceptional.”

“Senior Apprentice-Sister, since you’re from the Dongyan clan, whose Green Lotus Sutra is famed far and wide,” Ji Ning said with a smile. “I have some doubts. Would you be willing to enlighten me?”

“Ask whatever you wish, Junior Apprentice-Brother. If I know the answer, I will naturally tell you. If I cannot answer, please don’t take offense,” Nine Lotos said.

Ji Ning was secretly pleased.

Senior Apprentice-Sister Nine Lotos, hailing from the Dongyan clan, likely had extremely deep research into lotuses.

“I once created a technique called the Water-Fire Lotus,” Ji Ning began, immediately launching into his questions. As he spoke, a blooming Water-Fire Lotus appeared in his palm, and he began to describe some of his confusions.

“Junior Apprentice-Brother, you have actually studied quite deeply; you simply haven’t noticed the mutual resonance within the technique.” Nine Lotos produced a green lotus in her own palm. She lightly tapped one of its petals, and the petals unfurled one after another, just like a real lotus. Even dewdrops could be seen on them.

Ji Ning’s eyes lit up.

“But this Water-Fire Lotus of yours…” Nine Lotos began asking in turn.

“The principle is actually quite simple,” Ji Ning explained.

Both of them possessed extremely firm Dao-hearts and were deeply committed to the path of cultivation. Once they immersed themselves in ‘discussing the Dao,’ they naturally forgot everything else.

One was a true monstrous genius of the sword, with the aquatic palace as his foundation, and had gained some insights into lotuses.

The other came from the great Dongyan clan and had comprehended the Green Lotus Sutra; she was even more accomplished in the way of the lotus.

The two discussed the Dao, each inspiring the other, each improving.

This was the reason why cultivators enjoyed discussing the Dao with those of a similar level. If they truly shared their insights without holding back, this kind of mutual exchange could greatly benefit both sides.

The Water-Fire Lotus was Ji Ning’s auxiliary technique, one he had comprehended himself, so he had no need to keep it secret.

As for Nine Lotos, she knew her limits. The Dongyan clan’s foundation was immense, and they had strict rules about what the clan’s disciples could and could not discuss in outside exchanges. Nine Lotos only shared insights that were no longer truly secret, yet that was enough to give Ji Ning immense satisfaction.

“These two are certainly talking up a storm,” Luo Qing muttered helplessly from the side. Ji Ning and Nine Lotos were completely absorbed in their discussion, ignoring her entirely.

“Hmph.” Luo Qing sat down to one side and began drinking the wine that had originally been prepared for Ji Ning.

The Dao-discussion lasted through an entire night.

Qiuye and the others didn’t dare disturb them.

By the time evening of the next day came, the sun was nearly setting.

“What? You two are still at it?” Luo Qing, dressed in silver, strode over, glaring. “Hey!”

Her shout snapped Ji Ning and Nine Lotos back to reality. They both realized that an entire day and night had passed.

“Junior Apprentice-Brother Ji Ning is truly gifted with brilliance,” Nine Lotos thought with increasing admiration. “Even in the Water-Fire Lotus, which he hasn’t studied deeply, he has so many insights.” She had been in the Black-White College for a long time, but she remembered when Ji Ning had first entered; even in the Dao Discussion Hall, he had defeated many senior and junior fellow disciples. If she had fought and discussed the Dao with him back then, she would have lost as well.

She had begun to admire Ji Ning from that time.

Now, even in the field of lotuses—her own specialty—Ji Ning had so many perceptions. She admired him even more.

“Senior Apprentice-Sister Nine Lotos has treated me so well, telling me so many secrets,” Ji Ning thought, grateful. Although these methods were not lightly passed down, and many were merely a layer of window-paper away, once Nine Lotos had pointed them out, he understood. But if no one had pointed them out, it might have taken him a very long time before he figured them out himself.

“Junior Apprentice-Brother Ji Ning, we have discussed the Dao for so long. I have gained a great deal. I will go back and meditate on it carefully.” Nine Lotos rose to her feet. She then took Luo Qing by the hand and headed toward their residence.

Ji Ning watched her go, recalling the day and night of Dao-discussion and conversation. A strange feeling stirred in his heart.

It seemed…

That he and Nine Lotos were very compatible.

“Hm?” Ji Ning turned his head. The Sword-Light Lotus he had manifested was still there. Within the lotus, Ji Mo’s face was pale and his eyes bloodshot. A full day and night of exhausting himself trying to break the formation had drained his spirit.

“I’ve kept Ji Mo locked in there for a whole day and night,” Ji Ning thought, a little ashamed. With a thought—

Whoosh.

The Sword-Light Lotus dissolved into thin air.

“Where are the petals? Where did the petals go?” Ji Mo looked around frantically, his bloodshot eyes frightening.

“Ji Mo,” Ji Ning said, feeling a bit guilty but maintaining a calm tone, “You’ve been breaking the formation for a day and a night. You must be tired. Go back and rest. Come again tomorrow to break the Sword-Light Lotus.”

With that, Ji Ning turned and left.

Ji Mo stood there, stunned for a moment, then grew worried: “I couldn’t break the Sword-Light Lotus in a whole day and night… Did I make Young Master Ji Ning angry?”

Time passed.

Both Nine Lotos and Ji Ning were gaining benefits from their Dao-discussions, so they naturally continued. Every three to five days, they would discuss the Dao again. In the blink of an eye, three months of this leisurely life had slipped by.

In a quiet courtyard on Brightheart Island—the residence of Luo Qing and Nine Lotos—the two women were sitting at a jet-black stone table that gleamed like jade. Fruits and fruit wine were set upon it.

“Senior Apprentice-Sister,” Luo Qing said, “We’ve been here for over three months. Shouldn’t we be leaving? Our whole ‘adventure’ has been just ‘venturing’ around Serpentwing Lake. We haven’t gone anywhere else.”

“No hurry,” Nine Lotos said. “Let’s stay a few more days. My lotus techniques have improved significantly these three months—more than in the past three years. Junior Apprentice-Brother Ji Ning is truly remarkable; he always has unique insights, opening new paths.”

“You still don’t want to leave?” Luo Qing stared.

She scrutinized Nine Lotos, looking her up and down as if trying to find a mole on her face.

“What are you staring at?” Nine Lotos frowned slightly.

“Senior Apprentice-Sister, let me ask you directly… Have you taken a liking to this Ji Ning? Do you want him to be your Dao-companion?” Luo Qing asked bluntly.

Nine Lotos was startled. For a moment, even she, who was always so composed, showed a trace of embarrassment.