Chapter 22: The Flaming Sword

When Ji Chuxue returned on her motorcycle, blazing with energy, Lin Qi had already left.

“Junior brother, you did a great job with this motorcycle. Can I buy it?” Ji Chuxue parked the vehicle in front of Jiang Yan, took off her helmet, and shook her glossy black hair, asking.

Jiang Yan replied with a cheerful grin, “Hehe, of course, senior sister. Do you want this one? Just a thousand high-grade spirit stones, and it’s yours.”

“Yes, this one.” Ji Chuxue readily handed over a thousand high-grade spirit stones to Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan accepted them excitedly—he’d just made a profit of two thousand high-grade spirit stones in an instant. Hehe, earning spirit stones is really not that hard…

Seeing her junior brother lost in gleeful laughter, Ji Chuxue reminded him, “Junior brother, don’t forget to return those two thousand high-grade spirit stones.”

“Senior sister, how could I forget? Here, take them, exactly two thousand high-grade spirit stones.”

Jiang Yan barely had a chance to warm the spirit stones in his hands before he handed them, along with those given by their master, back to Ji Chuxue. He was poor once again, but at least the debt of two thousand high-grade spirit stones was finally cleared.

As for the spirit stones owed to Mo Shiyu, Jiang Yan figured there really weren’t many left. He felt invigorated—if he could make more novel inventions, wouldn’t he achieve financial freedom sooner rather than later? Hehehe…

Ji Chuxue watched as Jiang Yan, having settled his debt, seemed to be giggling about something else, so she tapped his forehead with her delicate hand.

“Junior brother, have you practiced swordsmanship?” Ji Chuxue had noticed that Jiang Yan didn’t seem to be practicing swordplay.

He hadn’t yet gone to the Sword Vault to choose his spirit sword, but regular practice was still necessary.

Jiang Yan had seen a manual for the Stellar Sword Technique and had rehearsed its moves countless times in his mind. However, he hadn’t actually practiced in reality.

He spoke hesitantly, “Senior sister, I only read through the Stellar Sword Technique. I’ve practiced the moves in my mind countless times…”

He felt as if he were being subjected to a surprise homework inspection; the senior sister before him was as intimidating as a dean! Although he was a top student among top students, he hated doing homework, since it wasted his gaming time…

“Let’s spar a few moves, then.”

Ji Chuxue instantly understood that Jiang Yan hadn’t actually practiced; she didn’t say much more—whether he was capable or not would become clear after a bout.

“Senior sister, give me a moment, I’ll fetch my sword.” With that, Jiang Yan turned back inside to retrieve his weapon.

When he emerged, he saw Ji Chuxue holding what appeared to be a massive curved blade, about two meters long.

He nearly coughed up blood—did senior sister really have to be so terrifying? Was she seriously telling him this was a sword? This was even scarier than the massive broadsword he’d seen in the hands of the demon emissary last time!

Seeing her junior brother’s stunned expression, Ji Chuxue laughed and introduced, “Junior brother, this spirit sword in my hand is called Min Yue. It loves the taste of blood, so be careful. Oh, and once you reach a certain level, you can go to the Sword Vault to select your own sword.”

As soon as she finished, she noticed Jiang Yan’s hand tremble slightly as he held his sword. She thought to herself: Did I just frighten him?

At that moment, Jiang Yan’s palms were sweating. He kept telling himself he was Dragon Ao Tian—he wasn’t afraid! Enough talk, let’s fight!

Just as Jiang Yan was about to speak, Ji Chuxue added, “Since you’re a beginner, I’ll let you attack first and grant you three moves.”

Jiang Yan felt a bit embarrassed. The sword he held was the “Imperial Treasure Sword” gifted to him by Yufei, but even though he’d reached the Foundation Establishment stage, he still couldn’t draw it! It was decent for defense, but if he had to attack? He might just collapse!

“Senior sister, I can’t draw this sword,” Jiang Yan admitted, scratching the back of his head.

“Oh? Let me see.” Ji Chuxue was intrigued by Jiang Yan’s sword.

After taking it and examining it closely, Ji Chuxue was shocked. Could it be? This junior brother’s sword looked remarkably like the Flame Sword—crafted personally by Elder Mo.

“Junior brother, where did you get this sword?” Ji Chuxue asked.

“Oh, this sword? My mother gave it to me.”

“Your mother knows Elder Mo?”

“More than knows—Elder Mo is my great-great-great-grandfather.”

Jiang Yan hadn’t expected his ancestor to be so renowned in the cultivation world. Hehe, truly a powerhouse!

“So that’s it. Not bad, kid, to have received a spirit sword personally crafted by Elder Mo.” Ji Chuxue hadn’t expected her junior brother to have such a connection.

Hearing Ji Chuxue’s words, Jiang Yan was again stunned. Elder Mo seemed to enjoy doing things himself. Thinking of the manual on spiritual energy conversion he’d written... amazing, truly unimaginable.

“Senior sister, how can I draw the sword?”

“Have you tried binding it with blood?”

“Huh? This seemingly ordinary spirit sword requires a blood bond?”

“Exactly. It’s a fine blade, and it’s likely developed a sword spirit by now. Try dripping your blood on it.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yan bit his finger and let his blood drip onto the scabbard, which quickly absorbed it.

He infused the sword with spiritual energy and tried again—this time, the sword slid free. To his surprise, the blade was fiery red.

Seeing his confusion, Ji Chuxue explained, “This spirit sword is called the Flame Sword. It possesses powerful fire attributes and can unleash devastating fire attacks. Among your five elemental roots, you have fire, so this sword suits you well.”

After Ji Chuxue’s explanation, Jiang Yan was enamored with the Flame Sword. Following the sword techniques he’d memorized, he began to wield the blade with swift, precise movements.

He remembered a move in the Stellar Sword Technique called Wind Blade. Perhaps he could modify it using fire attributes…

With that thought, he actually tried it, swinging his sword and unleashing a fire-infused Wind Blade.

With a series of swift motions and a thunderous crash, his thatched hut collapsed.

Ji Chuxue rubbed her forehead—she knew it, every one of her junior brothers and sisters was a destroyer. Luckily, it was only a thatched hut!

Jiang Yan was initially thrilled by his spectacular sword technique, but in his excitement, he failed to control the direction, and, by some misfortune, ended up slicing through his own hut.

Not only did the hut collapse, but it was also engulfed in roaring flames. Ji Chuxue summoned water spirit energy to extinguish the fire.

“Ahem, junior brother, that move was impressive. Let’s begin our sparring.”

“Senior sister, prepare yourself!” Jiang Yan didn’t waste any more words and immediately launched his attack.

Ji Chuxue kept her promise, allowing Jiang Yan three moves. However, how could a mid-stage Foundation Establishment novice hope to defeat someone at the Divine Transformation stage?

In the end, Jiang Yan was defeated by Ji Chuxue’s two-meter-long curved blade.

“Senior sister, did you choose your sword from the Sword Vault?” he asked.

He was certain he hadn’t mistaken it—senior sister’s sword possessed astonishingly strong defense and attack power, especially considering she’d been holding back.