Chapter 1197: Chapter 1194: The Path is Long and Arduous Chapter 1197: Chapter 1194: The Path is Long and Arduous He thought of it and immediately chose an area where he buried the Dongxuan Sword Steles in the center. He also dug out a small pond, lined it with some Sword Dao treasures of little use, and brought over more than thirty Sword Tassel Fish from his cave abode.

After thinking it over, he decided to move the Blade Refinement Pavilion into his personal spatial space.

“Cultivating a Sword Dao spirit land truly demands too much; the main requirement being treasures like the Nine Heavens Thunder Summoning Stele that are used in Sword Dao.”

“These items I’ve arranged can only be considered early preparations.”

He was very patient, deciding to plan things slowly.

Afterward, he stayed in his personal spatial space, inspecting the many high-rank spirit plants planted all around.

“There are more and more Seventh Grade Spirit Plants; already over thirty in number.”

“And even quite a few Eighth and Ninth Grade, along with those of the Innate Spirit Root level.”

His divine sense swept through the personal spatial space, holding great expectations for these high-rank spirit plants.

“The Cicada Wood is almost ready to shed its skin for a new cycle.”

“And the Lamp Igniting Ancient Grass, Immaculate Spirit Wood, Incense Flame Wondrous Tree, all of which I have planted for many years, are now successively reaching their mature stages.”

Lu Xuan felt sentimental.

He didn’t want to rashly use his Taiyin Green Spirit Liquid. The half Divine Wood Green Pot was still storing and transforming the plant spirit aura, and thus he wasn’t in a hurry to ripen the Seventh Grade spirit plants.

After nurturing them diligently for a while, he then returned to his cave abode.

Two months passed in the blink of an eye. Today, accepting Li Xuanchen’s invitation, he visited the Sword Palace.

The interior space of the Sword Palace was vast and boundless, with Li Xuanchen’s dwelling cave abode located within.

“Junior Brother Lu, it’s been a long time.”

“Haha, Brother is well. Today, let’s drink heartily.”

Lu Xuan Laughed while handing over several bottles of Spirit Brew.

“Junior Brother, you are too modest. After making such a stir, it’s hard to see you in the Sword Sect.”

Li Xuanchen said with a big laugh.

“Brother, what do you mean by that? I have been always cultivating spirit plants in my cave abode; I am unaware of this big stir you speak of.”

Lu Xuan asked, puzzled.

“The Sword Peak competition from over two months ago!”

Li Xuanchen emphasized.

“Thanks to your Life-taking Prison Suppressing Sword Grass, Huanzhen Sword Peak has risen another spot, reaching the fifth rank.”

“In this, Junior Brother has played a significant role!”

“I see…”

Lu Xuan nodded slightly, his expression unchanged.

“Junior Brother has a very stable temperament.”

Seeing Lu Xuan’s calm and collected demeanor, Li Xuanchen couldn’t help but comment.

“It’s been so long since the cultivation of the Sword Grass. There’s no need to rest on the laurels of the past.”

Lu Xuan said with a light laugh.

“Junior Brother is very open-minded. It’s tough on the fellow disciples from the other two Sword Peaks.”

Li Xuanchen leaned in closer, wearing a teasing smile.

“I heard that, due to the rankings of this competition, the Sword Masters of the Pure Yang Sword Summit and Purple Cloud Sword Peak have been pressuring some Nascent Soul brothers in different ways, forcing them to find ways to contribute to the Sword Sect during the new cycle, to improve their regular scores.”

“Many Nascent Soul brothers and sisters are suffering under the pressure, having no choice but to get involved in all sorts of things.”

“My improved Life-taking Prison Suppressing Sword Grass has made the Sword Sect even more competitive?”

Lu Xuan was surprised in his heart.

The two sat together, tasting the Spirit Fruit Spirit Brew while exchanging discussions about matters of the Sword Sect and the Cultivation World.

“Junior Brother Lu, what’s the point of us going through so many hardships, even life and death trials, and breaking through to the Nascent Soul Stage?”

“Even if it prolongs life for a thousand years, we will eventually turn into a handful of yellow soil.”

Li Xuanchen suddenly sighed, expressing his contemplation.

“Why such words, Brother?”

Lu Xuan looked puzzled and curiously asked.

“It’s just a fleeting thought; don’t worry about it, Junior Brother.”

“Do you know of Brother Wen Chenyu from Qingwei Sword Peak?”

“I’ve heard of him, but I have never had the honor of meeting him in person. I heard that Brother Wen advanced to the Late Nascent Soul Stage many years ago and has been in closed-door cultivation within the sect’s blessed land.”

Lu Xuan spoke in a heavy voice.

“That’s correct, but he wasn’t undergoing closed-door cultivation; he was trying to extend his own life.”

“That Brother Wen…”

A foreboding thought arose in Lu Xuan’s mind, and his expression suddenly grew much more solemn.

“His, time, is, nigh.”

Li Xuanchen articulated each word distinctly, his voice laden with an indescribable sense of desolation and sorrow.

“…”

“What a pity.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Xuan fell silent for a moment, then let out a sigh.

“It’s hard to say if it’s a pity or not. After all, Brother Wen has lived for over thirteen hundred years, which is not a short life for a Primordial Infant Cultivator.”

Li Xuanchen shook his head.

“Did Brother Wen seek out any life prolonging cultivation techniques, or gather life prolonging spirit pills and spiritual medicine?”

“Indeed, he did.”

“Once he slowly entered the aging phase, Brother Wen began preparing to collect life prolonging treasures.”

“However, cultivation techniques for prolonging life suitable for someone at the Nascent Soul Realm are extremely rare in the Cultivation World, and they also need to be cultivated early on, in order to have a good effect once a certain realm is reached.”

“As for life prolonging spirit pills and spiritual medicine, they are similarly rare and hard to come by. Getting one or two occasionally can only quench one’s thirst but cannot solve the problem at its root.”

As an elder of the Sword Palace, Li Xuanchen naturally had much more understanding of the Sword Sect cultivators than Lu Xuan did.

“Has Brother Wen tried other methods?”

Lu Xuan looked as if he had something more to say but hesitated.

“Junior Brother Lu, we have a deep friendship; there’s no need for such caution.”

“Are you thinking of ‘body seizing’ or becoming a Ghost Cultivator?”

Li Xuanchen said gently.

Lu Xuan nodded slightly.

“Strictly speaking, these unorthodox and deviant methods are not tolerated by our Sword Sect, which prides itself on being part of the righteous path.”

“Moreover, they are not so easily executed.”

“For example, body seizing requires finding a target with excellent spiritual constitution, talent, and a soul compatible for possession. There are repercussions against nature, and breaking through to the Core Formation or Nascent Soul Realms becomes many times more difficult.”

“And the method of transforming into a Ghost Cultivator requires superior secret techniques and high-rank treasures to nurture the Yin Soul. Even if one successfully becomes a Ghost Cultivator, it’s nothing more than clutching at straws, neither living nor dead.”

Li Xuanchen spoke slowly.

“Elder Brother need not be so pessimistic.”

“From another perspective, Brother Wen being able to die a good death within the Sword Sect is already more than countless Primordial Infant Cultivators can hope for.”

“Keep in mind, there are countless Primordial Infant Cultivators who have died in various secret places or at the hands of enemies; only a few can pass away peacefully.”

Lu Xuan spoke up to comfort him.

“You’re not wrong, my brother. I’ve thought too much.”

Li Xuanchen nodded slightly.

“Thoughts like those can easily breed Heart Demons.”

Lu Xuan cautioned.

“Ha ha, right, after this I’ll firm up my resolve in pursuit of the Dao.”

Li Xuanchen laughed heartily.

“By the way, the Palace Master of the Sword Palace has sent word that Brother Wen might choose to perish in tranquility at Heart Sword Lake in these next ten days or so. Remember to come and bid farewell to our brother when the time comes.”

“Alright.”

Lu Xuan nodded solemnly, his expression serious.

“The Nascent Soul is just the beginning, the Dao is long and full of hurdles, there is still so much to do.”

He silently reminded himself in his heart.