Chapter 103 First Release on Jinjiang Literature City: Listening to...Heartfelt Words
After emerging from seclusion, Yao Sisi maintained a relatively good mindset. After all, cultivation is never smooth sailing without bottlenecks!
She went to the cranes' habitat and caught some of the sacred animals to feed them.
The closest one to this place is Yan Li. After Yao Sisi went into seclusion, he also fell into hibernation, desperately trying to absorb nutrients to promote his cultivation. However, five years have passed, and even though there are not many spiritual objects in the mountain, and almost nothing can compete with him for nutrients, his cultivation has still increased very little.
This frustrated him somewhat.
Seeing that Yao Sisi's cultivation had increased significantly, his frustration became even more real.
His vines spread across the ground, reaching her ankles, before letting out a sigh: "Cultivation is really hard..."
Yao Sisi knew he was nearby. She kept feeding the crane and spoke to him in a seemingly casual manner, "It's really difficult. I've hit a bottleneck, and I might have to leave in a while."
Yan Li's voice was carried on the wind, soft: "Going out to gain experience?"
Yao Sisi: "I guess so, but I received news that the Mountain and Sea Secret Realm, which opens once every thousand years, is about to appear. I want to go inside and take a look."
Yan Li: "I've heard of the Mountain and Sea Secret Realm. It's teeming with powerful demons and countless Nascent Soul cultivators. It's extremely dangerous. Only those with no hope of ever reaching the end of their lifespan go there to seek opportunities. You have absolutely no need to go!"
Yao Sisi naturally knew the danger: "A secret realm that only opens once every thousand years must contain countless treasures. My natal magic weapon is still not finished being refined. Many materials cannot be found outside. Even if they can be found, they need to be exchanged for something of equal value. My foundation is too weak, and there are not many things I can exchange for. The Mountain and Sea Secret Realm has come at the perfect time."
Yan Li said worriedly, "Wouldn't it be detrimental to your combat power if your natal magic weapon isn't finished being refined yet? It's too dangerous. If you really want to go, I'll go with you."
Yao Sisi shook her head. It was obvious that Yan Li had no intention of going to this secret realm. If something dangerous happened because of her, she would feel guilty. So she simply said, "How can I train if you go? The Thousand-Year Secret Realm is dangerous, but it's still manageable for me. If you want to go to a secret realm, doesn't the sect have secret realms that open every hundred years? You can wait for those."
As the two were talking, Qi Mu arrived carrying his sword, suddenly making the usually quiet back mountain lively.
He stood not far away, watching the branches of Yanli entwine around Yao Sisi's ankle, and a wisp of sword energy shot up. "It's been a long time since I've been here, and I haven't repaired the back mountain. There are all sorts of messy spiritual plants here."
Losing a vine was nothing to Yan Li. He transformed from his original form, his long, flowing hair floating in the air. Coupled with his bare feet and eerie totem patterns, he looked different from human cultivators, possessing an extra alluring charm.
He said with dissatisfaction, "I've been staying in this back mountain for years and you haven't come here. But as soon as you arrive, you break my branches. Isn't that going too far?"
Qi Mu's face darkened as she looked away from him: "Don't let the branches sway wildly, or I won't be able to see what's causing the trouble."
Yao Sisi: "..."
This mountaintop is simply unbearable to stay on!
Not far away, Qi Mu didn't waste time arguing with Yan Li. He looked at her gently and said, "You've come out of seclusion!"
Yao Sisi gave an awkward laugh: "Well, this seclusion wasn't very helpful. I just organized some ideas. I plan to go out for a trip soon."
A hint of sadness flashed in Qi Mu's eyes. He hadn't seen her in so long, and now that they had just met, she was leaving again: "Where are you going? For a long time?"
Yao Sisi honestly replied, "I don't know how long it will take. I plan to go to the Mountain and Sea Secret Realm."
The Mountain and Sea Secret Realm is a renowned secret realm that attracts cultivators from all walks of life every time it opens. Especially with its upcoming opening in recent years, Qi Mu has naturally heard of it.
"I've heard that there are many opportunities inside, and I'd like to go and see for myself."
Yao Sisi said, "It's very dangerous inside, young master, you should think it through carefully."
Qi Mu pursed his lips. He had been to many dangerous places over the years, otherwise he would not have been able to develop sword intent.
"I want to go, but before I go, I want to refine my natal spirit sword. Can you help me?"
Upon hearing that it was about weapon crafting, Yao Sisi immediately became interested. "Have you prepared your materials?"
Qi Mu nodded: "I got some materials when I went to the Immortal Sword Sect, and I've already gathered them all."
Yao Sisi: "Then what are we waiting for? Come to my cave and refine the materials now."
Qi Mu glanced casually at Yan Li behind him, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Alright, I also have a different kind of fire, so I can lend a hand. Miss Sisi, feel free to use me."
However, it's been so long and he still hasn't visited her cave, and she doesn't seem to have any intention of visiting him either, spending most of her time greeting him from outside...
well……
***
The two walked together toward the mountaintop. Yao Sisi took a few steps before remembering Yan Li, as she had been too excited about being able to refine her natal magic weapon. "Yan Li, you should focus on your cultivation. I'm going to get busy. If you need any treasures, just let me know. If I come across any in the secret realm, I'll bring them back for you."
Yan Li flew in mid-air, a little reluctant to leave. The flamboyant branches seemed to be laying out a skirt for her as she moved forward. His voice was deep and pleasant: "You can tell me if you need anything."
Yao Sisi made an affirmative gesture and led Qi Mu to the top of the mountain.
Besides the main hall that serves as the entrance, there is also a cave on the other side of the mountain. No outsiders have ever been to the cave before, so this is Qi Mu's first time here as well.
The cave dwelling is fully equipped yet simple, with a thousand-year-old sunken wood bed, a mysterious ice pillow, and a training room separated by a wall.
There were futons in the room. Yao Sisi led him into the training room and then activated the array in the training room, without paying attention to his gaze.
Qi Mu's gaze lingered on her back for a moment, then he looked around the training room. On both sides were small cabinets carved into the stone walls, with some tools scattered around. In the center of the training room was a weapon-refining furnace, arranged in a similar way to when they lived outside.
Yao Sisi: "Let me take a look at your materials."
Qi Mu took out the materials one by one. The first one was a piece of millennium spirit iron, which was not very big. Anything that can be called spirit iron is much rarer than other iron ores.
Yao Sisi carefully picked up the fist-sized iron ore: "Spirit iron! It might develop a spirit over time. What a good thing!"
Qi Mu originally thought that such a small amount of iron ore was not enough to forge a complete sword, which made him feel bad. However, since spirit iron was hard to find, he could not delay any longer in order to obtain his natal magic weapon. But he did not expect that such a piece of spirit iron would make her so happy, and he could not help but smile. "This small piece was not easy to obtain. I don't know if it will be enough."
Yao Sisi: "It should be about right. It'll be fine if we don't use it as the main ingredient for now." Then, her gaze filled with curiosity, she looked at his storage ring, "What other good stuff is there!"
Qi Mu curled his lips into a smile. Sure enough, no weapon refiner could refuse good materials. He took out spiritual items from his storage ring as if feeding her, and he was very satisfied to see her eyes light up again and again.
Yao Sisi: "Wow, immaculate iron ore, it has such good ductility!"
She selected two materials from dozens of options and handed him the one that was easier to refine: "You should refine it. You should participate more in refining your own magical artifact. This way you will understand your natal magical artifact better and be able to use it more skillfully."
Yao Sisi handed him a piece of iron ore. It wasn't as rare as spirit iron, but it was still rare. It was about the size of a football, and after being refined, it would probably only yield a small handful.
The two were simultaneously tempering themselves with a different kind of fire, but at this moment the fire became unruly. Yao Sisi actually saw her own fire stirring with desire, trying to devour the other's flame...
She awkwardly twitched the corner of her mouth.
Qi Mu also sensed that something was wrong with her flames. At that moment, he had just finished refining the iron ore when he saw his spiritual fire scattering a few sparks as if tempting her...
The two exchanged a glance, and Yao Sisi said, "I'll go over there to refine myself; you stay here."
Qi Mu didn't want to stray too far from her, so he quickly said, "Don't go. I'll just suppress the strange fire. They're just curious because they don't see each other often."
Yao Sisi paused, seemingly surprised by his words, "Wouldn't that delay your tempering?"
Qi Mu's lips curved into a smile, her eyes sparkling like scattered stars: "It's just a matter of getting used to it at first, you'll get used to it gradually."
Yao Sisi scooted closer to him, then poked out a tiny flame and circled around his strange fire. "My strange fire is a gluttonous creature; I always feel like it wants to devour your flame."
Qi Mu: "When you helped me subdue the strange fire, it devoured it, so it probably still remembers the taste!"
Yao Sisi raised an eyebrow: "It's not impossible."
The two gradually became immersed in the tempering process, occasionally the sound of their clothes rubbing together could be heard...
By the time they had finished refining and purifying all the materials, many days had passed, and then they would be put into the forging furnace for forging.
Yao Sisi asked him, "What is the purpose of this sword? It would be best if it were aligned with your Daoist beliefs, so that it would better suit your future path."
Qi Mu's eyes seemed to be recalling something. His eyelashes blinked very slowly. He didn't look at her; his expression was distant and downward, as if he were looking at his own heart.
"My sword is for protection."
Yao Sisi smiled and said, "Good, it's close to my Dao heart. I will definitely forge you an excellent sword!"
Qi Mu smiled, his gaze unwavering as he looked at her, "I believe you!"
I only trust you.
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