Although Shen Miaoling was somewhat puzzled as to why her master refused to accept it, she was sensible enough not to ask any more questions.
She squatted down happily and checked the boar lying on the ground.
Wang Shanzhu grunted and tactfully did not reject her.
Shen Miaoling liked the newly acquired Wangshan pig very much and even gave it a name.
"Master, Xiaoshan is exhausted, why don't we rest here for a while?"
Xu Chunniang naturally did not refuse this proposal.
After listening to what Shen Miaoling just said, she just had some new ideas and planned to give them a try.
"Okay, I'll practice my sword skills, you and Xiaoshan stay here, don't go too far."
"Yes, Master."
Shen Miaoling nodded obediently, and soon she heard the faint sound of wind. It was her master starting to practice swordplay.
It’s just that Master’s sword seems to be a little slower than usual.
Shen Miaoling had not heard wrongly, Xu Chunniang's sword-drawing speed was indeed much slower than before.
She sealed her spiritual consciousness and visual consciousness, and there was only darkness around her.
The sounds of wind and grass, which she had never noticed in the past, now entered her ears one after another.
After losing sight, even the slightest sound becomes unusually clear.
Xu Chunniang slowly drew and drew the sword, and the speed became slower and slower, but she seemed to have entered some kind of wonderful realm, round and rhythmic.
Shen Miaoling, who had been paying attention to the movements, also heard the changes in the sword.
She couldn't describe how she felt, but she vaguely felt that her master's swordsmanship seemed to have become even more powerful.
She lowered her head and pulled a handful of Xiaoshan's hair, "Master is so powerful, when can I be as strong as you?"
Xiao Shan snorted twice, glanced at the hair that was pulled out with dissatisfaction, and glared at Shen Miaoling.
Feeling a strong gaze, Shen Miaoling smiled awkwardly and quickly tidied its fur as if to comfort it.
Xiaoshan hummed comfortably and then stopped.
The sound of the wind around became fainter and fainter, and suddenly stopped without me noticing.
Then, the master's voice sounded, "Let's go."
Shen Miaoling stood up and asked curiously, “Master, have you mastered your swordsmanship?”
“You may gain something, but the longer you experience it, the farther you will go.”
Xu Chunniang shook her head slightly. She could feel that her understanding of the human sword was becoming more profound.
Yet the further you go and the more you see, the less you realize you know.
This is true for swordsmanship and Taoism.
Shen Miaoling was a little puzzled, “If this continues, will we be further and further away from the avenue?”
“The road ahead may be long and difficult, but if you keep going you will reach your destination.”
After silently reciting it twice, Shen Miaoling firmly memorized this sentence in her heart and followed her master's footsteps with Xiaoshan.
The two people and the pig walked forward slowly, and the setting sun lengthened their shadows.
Even the chubby mountain boar's shadow looks well-proportioned and slim.
From that day on, Xu Chunniang took Shen Miaoling all the way south.
They passed dozens of mortal cities and five or six markets along the way, and finally arrived at the foot of Xiaoyao Sect Mountain three years later.
Feeling the spiritual energy that was richer than usual, Shen Miaoling showed some excitement on her face.
"Master, is the Xiaoyao Sect, one of the three major sects, on the mountain?"
"Yes, the Xiaoyao Jue that you learned, including the Five Elements Techniques that I taught you, all came from the Xiaoyao Sect."
Shen Miaoling showed a trace of nervousness on her face, "These big sects are very strict in accepting disciples and teaching. Master, will he be held accountable for teaching me these things in private?"
Xu Chunniang smiled and shook her head, "Don't worry, you won't be held accountable."
Hearing this, Shen Miaoling finally felt relieved, she didn’t want to implicate her master.
"Although you have reached the fourth level of Qi training now, after entering Xiaoyao Sect, you still have to start as an outer disciple."
Xu Chunniang explained, "When the mountain gate was reopened before, the sect had set new rules. Only those who have built their foundation can be promoted to inner disciples."
Shen Miaoling nodded. Although she didn't understand what inner disciples and outer disciples were, she just did what her master said.
"After returning to the sect, I will be in seclusion for a while. I am afraid I won't have much time to teach you in the future. Don't slack off in your practice."
Shen Miaoling panicked, “Master doesn’t want me anymore?”
"No, it's just that cultivation is your own business. Others can only accompany you for a short distance. Once you have completed this journey, you still have to walk the rest of the way by yourself."
Over the years, as Xu Chunniang's understanding of swordsmanship continued to deepen, her understanding of Taoism also deepened.
She could feel that her cultivation was becoming more and more perfect.
Next, we need to prepare for the fifty-nine thunder tribulations that will occur after we break through to the Spiritual Transformation stage.
Shen Miaoling was reluctant, “What if I miss Master, how can I find you?”
"There is a small Wushan Mountain in the inner gate of Xiaoyao Sect. If I come out of seclusion, I will come to see you."
The sadness of parting made Shen Miaoling a little depressed, and her yearning and expectation for Xiaoyao Sect was also greatly reduced.
But what the master said made sense, and the master also had to practice, so it was impossible for him to always be with her.
Xu Chunniang led Shen Miaoling to the outer gate, and the one who received her was still the Foundation Establishment Stage manager from last time.
He looked surprised and bowed.
"Master Xu is back from his travels? If the Sect Master and Master Sheng knew this news, they would definitely be very happy!"
Xu Chunniang waved her hand to indicate that she didn't need to be polite. "This is my new disciple, named Shen Miaoling. She is only at the fourth level of Qi training. I'll trouble you to place her in the outer sect."
"this… "
The manager was in a bit of a dilemma, but since Master Xu was willing to give him the task, he was totally willing to do it.
However, he was troubled as to how to arrange for Master Xu's disciples.
Seeing this, Xu Chunniang shook her head slightly.
"There is no need to announce to the public that this is my disciple. A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind. Just treat her as an ordinary disciple."
The steward breathed a sigh of relief, and glanced at Shen Miaoling. Seeing that her eyes were lifeless, his heart skipped a beat again.
The steward asked tentatively, "Master Xu, is there something wrong with her eyes?"
"I am suffering from an acquired disease. I cannot see anything with my eyes."
"this… "
The manager hesitated, looking as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.
"If you have something to say, just say it."
"Outer disciples have a small competition every three years and a big competition every ten years. There are also various assessments. If you fail the assessment, you may even be expelled from the sect..."
The steward said cryptically, “If Shen Miaoling’s identity is not made public, if she fails to pass the assessment repeatedly and still forces herself to stay in the sect, I’m afraid it will be difficult to convince the public.”
Xu Chunniang understood clearly in her heart that ordinary people would often have a preconceived notion and regard Shen Miaoling as a weak person when they saw that she had eye problems.
But in fact, the little disciple she accepted was definitely not a weakling.
Shen Miaoling said at the right time, "It's very simple. If I fail the assessment, you can punish me in any way you want. Even if you expel me from the sect, I will have no complaints!"
"At such a young age, he has quite a bit of backbone. He is worthy of being chosen by Grandmaster Xu."
The steward was somewhat impressed by her, but her bone age was already nineteen and her cultivation level was only at the fourth level of Qi training.
Looking at the entire outer sect, his cultivation level is at the bottom.