Days slowly passed by while Bai Shuying made rapid strides. When learning about formations, Bai Shuying understood two things.
The first thing was that her education in her past life gave her a massive advantage in the disciplines of Alchemy, Refining, Talisman, and Formations.
The second thing was that she was reminded about how awesome her great comprehension trait truly was.
Bai Shuying spent her time in the Yin-Yang Sutra Pavilion, reading the introductory books for each discipline, but she did not limit herself to just those books. She read as much as she could. Even Elder Qin admired her; after all, most disciples don't bother to study.
They take what they need at the moment and leave. Elder Qin always shook his head at that mentality. He believed that if you have the time, you should learn more since knowledge can always be used in different situations.
Whatever Bai Shuying could not understand from books, she asked her instructors.
In the alchemy course, Bai Shuying focused on perfecting the basics while the other disciples only tried to increase their alchemist rank by refining higher-level pills. Seeing this, Bai Shuying shook her head and sighed, thinking, Youth. She remembered when she was a hot-blooded young person chasing fame, status, and wealth, only to understand how pointless it was as she joined society. Bai Shuying instead learned more pill formulas. Elder Lan could not help but invest more into Bai Shuying's learning, after all, for an alchemist, a calm mentality is important. Bai Shuying was able to reach the apprentice alchemist rank, certified by local master alchemist Lan Wumian.
While in the sword course, Bai Shuying, having reached the first stage of intent: seed of understanding, focused on studying different types of martial arts, starting with sword arts. She asked Elder Su to teach and demonstrate all the sword arts she knew. Hearing this, Elder Su, the sword fanatic, was excited. After all, most of the disciples showed a lack of interest in the sword. From this, Bai Shuying truly understood the word obsession.
As for the Beast Taming course, Elder Qi was slightly disappointed. Bai Shuying showed little interest in the course; the only reason she attended at this point was to learn to take better care of Bai Yuying. So far, the little egg was having the time of her life. Bai Shuying showered it with attention and love. After all, with the emotional connection between the two, Bai Shuying felt it resonate with her feelings in the past when she was alone.
In the gardening course taught by the professional Hua Qingyan, Bai Shuying was able to make it to the fifth volume of the plant encyclopedia. Honestly, Bai Shuying thought of quitting, but seeing the smile on Hua Qingyan's face, she could only bite the bullet. As for the cooking course, Bai Shuying just made different products such as seasonings and sauces.
Other than the progress in her courses, Bai Shuying and Hua Qingyan have also practiced energy exchanges often. Bai Shuying did not benefit as much, but Hua Qingyan gained immensely. Hua Qingyan felt that a paper-thin barrier is what separated her and the soul transformation realm.
Bai Shuying was ecstatic with her growth, but it was not all sunshine and rainbows. The more she improved, the more Hua Xiran beat her up; Sometimes, Su Meilin would join in. If not for her regeneration trait, Bai Shuying may have sprawled out on the training ground for weeks.
Hua Xiran was shocked.
How durable is this fox?!
Hua Xiran did not expect Bai Shuying to last this long. After all, who was Hua Xiran? The Extreme Yang Sovereign, her punches strike fear into many cultivators. Hua Xiran sometimes felt guilty, seeing Bai Shuying getting up again and again, which excited her a lot. Not in the weird way, but in a battle manic way, high on the thrill of battle.
When Hua Xiran left the Yin-Yang Sect to travel, she fought, fought a lot, and many cultivators were extremely confused, wondering if she was from the Yin-Yang Sect and not from the Martial Dragon Sect.
…
Bai Shuying lazily lay on Su Meilin's bed while reading a book. Su Meilin sat on her cushion and continued to work on her formation plate on the low table. In the room, only the sound of paper turning and tools moving was heard.
Bai Shuying and Su Meilin did not find this uncomfortable, but enjoyed the presence of another person in the room.
Minutes slowly went by.
Su Meilin placed her tools down and rubbed her sore eyes. She glanced curiously at Bai Shuying.
"Shuying, what are you reading?"
"I'm reading about spiritual weapons."
Bai Shuying responded while continuing to read her book.
"Oh, why the sudden interest in spiritual weapons?"
Bai Shuying thought of something and suddenly sat up. Looking at Su Meilin.
"Wait, Meilin, do you have a spiritual weapon?"
Su Meilin tilted her head at Bai Shuying's interest in those types of weapons.
"I do."
Su Meilin nodded.
Bai Shuying's eye sparkled.
"Can I see it?"
Su Meilin did not think it was a big deal and extended her hand out, showing her palm. Soon, qi gathered, and a blade of pale, moonwashed steel, thin as a willow leaf and just as graceful. Its edge glows faintly like mist under starlight, while the fuller runs with veins of liquid silver that pulse when Qi is channeled. The hilt is wrapped in snow-heron feathers bound by a single thread of frozen silk, and the guard is a crescent moon carved from a single piece of spirit jade manifested.
"What a beautiful sword."
Bai Shuying exclaimed with admiration.
Hearing her compliment, Su Meilin showed a smile on her face and showed off her spiritual sword.
"This is my sword, Silvershade."
Spiritual weapons are a rare type of object that grows alongside their wielders. Only the truly wealthy and those with status would possess one.
Of course, Su Meilin had a spiritual weapon; she was the Yin-Yang Sect Master's disciple! Walking around without one would be like showing up to a banquet in rags. The other sect's disciples would talk, and not in a good way. "Did you see that? Even the Yin-Yang Sect Master's disciple doesn't have a spiritual weapon. How pathetic is that?" Hua Xiran could already hear the snickering. No way was she giving them that kind of ammo. A cultivator's weapon was like their second core. If yours wasn't at least a little bit alive, were you even trying?
"How did you get a spiritual weapon? In the book, it said they were rare to obtain."
Bai Shuying curiously asked, intending to get one herself.
Su Meilin giggled.
"Well, it's not that the weapon itself is rare, but the material used to forge it is unique."
"Unique material?"
"Master asked the Martial Dragon Sect to forge my spiritual weapon, and gave them Quicksilver Pyresteel."
Quicksilver Pyresteel is a metallic fluid; when forged into a weapon, it allows it to become intangible and join the host. It is much rarer than Lingsteel and Duskiron, but each of the top 8 great sects has a Quicksilver Pyresteel mine. This metallic fluid is usually found encased in a rock, making it look plain and ordinary. Currently, no method is available to identify it, and miners rely on luck to find it.
"Is there any way to obtain it from the sect?"
Bai Shuying was not shameless enough to go and beg Hua Xiran for some Quicksilver Pyresteel.
"Well, the sect keeps a certain amount in stock, but to get it, you would need a lot of sect contribution points."
Su Meilin explained. Bai Shuying gulped.
"H-how many contribution points is it?"
Su Meilin smiled, wanting to tease Bai Shuying.
"Not much, just 500,000 points."
Bai Shuying's eye twitched.
Not much?!
Bai Shuying stared wide-eyed at Su Meilin, who grinned.
"Hehehe."
"Seriously? Is it 500,000?"
"Yup."
Bai Shuying sighed and flopped down on the bed.
When I went to the Task Hall, most of the requests only provided three digits worth of points, some extremely hard to find ones have four digits. How long would I have to slave just to save that much?!
Su Meilin watched the depressed Bai Shuying.
"Well, no one said you could only find it in the sect."
Su Meilin slyly suggested.
Hearing this, Bai Shuying stood up again and clenched her fist.
That's right! I can get it from the source!
"Thanks, Meilin."
Bai Shuying turned her gaze to Su Meilin and said with gratitude.
Su Meilin smiled and asked.
"What kind of spiritual weapon do you want anyway, Shuying? A sword, perhaps?"
Bai Shuying thought for a moment.
A sword, hmm?
"Does it need to be a sword?"
"Not really, master's spiritual weapon is gauntlets."
Bai Shuying was stunned.
She imagined her master with her usual red robes that exposed her shoulders, wearing gauntlets, doing punches.
Honestly, it suits her.
In the Martial Heaven Continent, Hua Xiran's unique choice of gauntlets as her spiritual weapon was odd. Most use common weapons such as swords, spears, or bows. Now, there are some rare ones like cauldrons used by the Purple Cauldron Sect, or needles used by the Five Poison Sect.
Bai Shuying contemplated what her spiritual weapon could be. She imagined a sword, but shook her head. She liked swords, but wanted something that suited her more. She did not want to choose a weapon since it would only limit her to using it during combat; she wanted something versatile that could be used in any situation.
Soon, an image of the blue lotus flashed through her mind.
A Lotus? Why not? The Buddha used the lotus as his throne!
The more Bai Shuying thought about it, the more she liked the idea.
"Hehehehe, I got it, Meilin."
"Oh, what did you choose?"
Su Meilin asked curiously, now it was Bai Shuying's turn to grin.
"It's a secret I'll show you when I have it."
Bai Shuying tucked the book under her arm, jumped off the bed, and ran back to her room.
"See you later, Meilin."
Su Meilin shook her head with a smile and returned to working on her formation plate.