Bai Shuying quickly placed the book on her low table, took out a clean sheet of white paper, and a handmade pencil.
The handmade pencil was something she made when she saw Su Melin's crafting pen. Bai Shuying took a chunk of graphite she found discarded in the Refining Hall, slimmed it down into a rod, and stuck it in a piece of hollowed wood.
As she sat down on the cushion, she turned her gaze inward to view her dantian. Bai Shuying closely observed the blue lotus that silently floated on the surface of the ice-blue lake.
Hard to see it properly since most of it is closed.
Bai Shuying floated to the side, where three petals opened to get a view of the inside of the blue lotus.
So, a flat circular shape holding the petals together, the petals are like ovals with the ends pointed, and the petals seem to layer on top of each other.
Satisfied with her observations, Bai Shuying exited her dantian and started to sketch the complete lotus on the white paper. While separately on the side, she drew the middle oval and an individual petal.
Bai Shuying bit the end of her pencil, muttering.
"The lotus in Buddhism was a 108-petal lotus, coincidentally, that is how big the lotus in my dantian will be when it fully blooms. So, for the first inner layer, I'll start with four petals, then the next layer I'll add four, making eight, the third layer will be twelve, the fourth layer will be sixteen, the fifth layer will twenty, the sixth layer will be twenty-four, and the last layer will be twenty four again. In total, seven layers, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 24, totaling 108."
After finishing her mental calculation, Bai Shuying added it to her sketch. Soon, she started to scratch her head, realizing something important.
"The petals in each layer are not the same size. The innermost petals: Small, tightly packed, often more upright. The middle layers: Gradually increasing in size. The outermost petals: Largest, sometimes more curved or flared outward."
Bai Shuying added more and more to the design of the spiritual weapon.
"Phew, now this completes the main design, now it's time for the variations."
Bai Shuying intended to create a spiritual weapon that could disassemble and then reassemble into a different tool. She flipped the paper and jotted down three variations. As she looked at the complete rough design, she nodded with satisfaction.
"Hmm, Shuying, what are you working on?"
Bai Shuying froze and slowly turned her head to the side, seeing the side of her master's face peering down at her sketch, curiously scanning the paper.
"I'm working on my spiritual weapon."
"Oh."
Hua Xiran was surprised. She never mentioned such things to Bai Shuying, but seeing the spiritual weapon book on the table, she understood.
"So, what kind of weapon do you want?"
Hua Xiran was curious.
Could it be a sword? Or a cauldron?
Hua Xiran noticed Bai Shuying practicing the sword more, and her relationship with sword maniac Su is quite good. If it's not the sword, the next possibility would be a cauldron since she also dabbles in alchemy.
"Ehm, well, the spiritual weapon I want is a lotus."
Bai Shuying showed her sketches to her master. Hua Xiran was surprised, not at the unconventional choice since she herself uses guantlets, but Bai Shuying's spiritual weapon, the lotus, did not fit into any category or had any specific usage, but when she saw the drawings, she was stunned.
What the?!
Hua Xiran took the paper from Bai Shuying's hand and closely inspected it. She was impressed with the drawing, but what baffled her was what Bai Shuying wrote.
108 petals! Do you know how much in materials you would need for that?!
Bai Shuying's spiritual weapon is extremely expensive; the amount of Quicksilver Pyresteel, Lingsteel, and Duskiron needed is astronomical, and Hua Xiran did not count any additional things that the little fox would want or add later on. If Hua Xiran knew Bai Shuying planned to use a formation plate and talisman, she might have fainted. After all, cultivators have never done or considered adding formations or talismans to their weapons, let alone on a spiritual weapon.
Hua Xiran turned her gaze to Bai Shuying, who was innocently blinking her eyes at her.
"Sigh, if you need anything, just tell me, I'll try to help you."
"Thank you, master!"
Excited at receiving her master's help, Bai Shuying pounced on Hua Xiran, hugging her waist, while Hua Xiran, knowing what she was going to do, raised the drawing higher so as not to damage it.
Hua Xiran smiled. It was rare for Bai Shuying to show such intimacy. After a moment, Bai Shuying realized in the heat of her excitement that she had done something embarrassing and quickly distanced herself from her master, her face slightly red. Hua Xiran shook her head; she would not mind if Bai Shuying continued to hug her.
Hua Xiran returned the drawing to Bai Shuying and said.
"If you want to forge this lotus, the best place to get materials is the secret realm."
Bai Shuying was surprised.
"Is there a lot of material in the secret realm?"
"Of course, who knew how long it existed? It's practically filled with good stuff. I was able to find Quicksilver Pyresteel in there."
There is no record of how long the secret realm has existed, but after the Human Alliance created a formation gate and distributed tokens, every four years, disciples of the 8 great sects, whether it was the righteous or demonic sects, have come out with numerous kinds of treasures, some that have even gone extinct in the Martial Heaven Continent.
Bai Shuying nodded her head and made a mental note to take more spatial rings with her.
"But if you want permission to go to the secret realm, you have to defeat Xiao Wuji."
Hua Xiran said with a smile, trying to encourage Bai Shuying.
"Um, master, if I defeat him, will Elder Mo do anything?"
Bai Shuying was worried about Elder Mo; Since she is an inner elder, the leader of the Luxuria faction, and a cultivator in the nascent soul realm.
"Don't worry about her. Leave her to me, you just focus on winning!"
Hua Xiran said with a confident smile.
Wow, so this is what it feels like to have a backer!
Bai Shuying's eyes shone with admiration, making Hua Xiran's smile even brighter.
…
A decaying wooden room. Shattered vases litter the floor, their porcelain shards catching dim light. Paintings hang in tatters, slashed canvases revealing glimpses of forgotten scenery. The air smells of dust and old violence.
Mo Xingyu lazily leaned in her chair, her head resting on her hand. While Xiao Wuji and Ye Mingyue sat in front of her.
From Mo Xingyu's last outrage, she did not bother to clean the room, Xiao Wuji and Ye Mingyue would never do such a lowly task, and no labour disciple would ever want to step into Elder Mo's residence since it is a den of monsters. The poor girl who took the task to clean the room was already apprehended by Xiao Wuji the moment she entered the residence.
"Tomorrow's the day, how confident are you?"
Mo Xingyu asked her eyes looking at Xiao Wuji.
"Don't worry, master! I'll definitely win and humiliate that redhead thoroughly."
Xiao Wuji said with confidence, licking his lips, and his eyes flashing with undisguised dark intentions.
Mo Xingyu nodded with satisfaction.
"Well, be prepared tomorrow, something big is going to happen."
Mo Xingyu said with a mysterious smile.
Hmph, Hua Qingyan, Hua Xiran, and that damn Xiao Bai, tomorrow I'll deal with you.
Mo Xingyu had made her own plans as well. She was tired of waiting, but now was the perfect time to act; everything was ready!
Xiao Wuji did not pay attention to his master's words, but imagined beating Bai Shuying and having her beg for mercy in front of the entire sect, which made his blood boil with excitement. Ye Mingyue's face turned slightly pale.
Is the master going through with it?
Ye Mingyue was worried about tomorrow. She did not care about the consequences her master would face, but her own situation. As the disciple of an inner elder, Ye Mingyue enjoyed certain benefits, such as cultivation resources. If Mo Xingyu is stripped of her position, all of those benefits would be taken away by the sect.
"Okay, you're dismissed."
Mo Xingyu lazily waved her hand. Xiao Wuji and Ye Mingyue left the room.
Xiao Wuji did not pay attention to Ye Mingyue and walked back to his room with a smile on his face, while Ye Mingyue, who was heading back to her room, took out a old jade slip from her spatial ring, clutching it in her hand, contemplating, but soon her eyes turned resolute.
Since things have turned out this way, I have no choice!
Ye Mingyue was not as talented as her junior brother Xiao Wuji; she was mediocre, and just reaching the Apprentice Alchemist rank took her years.
…
Moonlight slants through the window, warming the oak-colored pine walls. A floral scent filled the room. A faint dust drifts, unhurried, in the light. Hua Qingyan sat cross-legged on her bed, slowly opening her eyes.
"To think I would reach such a level in my lifetime."
Hua Qingyan said in a low voice filled with emotion.
She, who abandoned her cultivation, was content with taking care of her garden, living each day in leisure, but hid extreme bitterness in her heart, finally had the chance to walk on this path again.
Tears started to gather in her eyes, which she wiped with her finger. She turned her gaze, looking out the window, seeing the full moon.
"Finally, tomorrow I can put my past behind me and look towards the future."
As Hua Qingyan said, her eyes filled with resolve, her heart determined.
In the Yin-Yang Sect, from the elders to the disciples, everyone was filled with excitement for the duel happening tomorrow, but unknown to most was the turbulent water beneath the calm surface.