Chapter 568 - 48: Master and Disciple

Seeing Wang Ping retrieve the ’Iron Bamboo Swords,’ Yu Lian asked, "So, this is a new array? What are you going to name it?"

Wang Ping took out an ’Iron Bamboo Sword’ and toyed with it. The craftsmanship was rather poor—just a bare blade. A Gathering Spirit Array, refined with Wood Spirit Qi, was engraved on its surface.

"I’ll stick with calling it the Seven-Star Killing Array."

As Wang Ping spoke, he extended a hand and summoned the Purgatory Banner. Nether Water’s illusory figure materialized from it.

Nether Water’s presence felt detached as she asked, "Why have you summoned me?"

As she spoke, her awareness swept over Liu Shuang and the Spiritual Dog, who were watching curiously from the courtyard entrance. Perhaps in an effort to appear more human, she turned and offered Liu Shuang a greeting.

"Help me imbue these longswords with Spiritual Poison."

As he spoke, Wang Ping produced ten ’Iron Bamboo Swords’ from his storage pouch.

’The Seven-Star Killing Array can only stall a Mystic Sect Cultivator of the same realm. But if two of the swords are secretly imbued with potent Spiritual Poison, I could catch an opponent by surprise and achieve an unexpected result. Then again, in a real fight, few Cultivators besides Gold Cultivators would willingly engage a Taiyan Cultivator head-on... and it’s precisely against Gold Cultivators that the Spiritual Poison is most needed. In any case, it’s a good precaution.’

Nether Water agreed and constructed an independent Purgatory Space before her. She absorbed all ten ’Iron Bamboo Swords’ into it, then vanished without a sound.

Yu Lian drifted down, landing on Wang Ping’s shoulder. "That Nether Water is getting more and more quiet," she said.

"Is there a problem?"

"No. Nether Water is an Artifact Spirit. She has her own consciousness, so she can learn and imitate anything. But she can never have true emotions or desires. It’s truly one of the rules of the Celestial Dao."

While gesturing for Liu Shuang to come in and sit, Wang Ping said, "If Artifact Spirits had desires, this world would see some truly terrifying things."

"Then what about Demon Soldiers?" Liu Shuang asked as she walked in. "From the moment they’re created, they have frenzied desires, without a single exception."

"Demon Soldiers are aberrations, born from the flawed fusion of an otherworldly consciousness with our own. They may have once been a single, complex consciousness that was simply driven mad over eons. That’s why their madness can be guided and controlled."

Wang Ping offered this explanation based on his own understanding, then added, "This is just my own speculation, of course. As for the truth of it, there’s no definite conclusion at this stage."

Liu Shuang nodded thoughtfully, then sat on the stone stool at Wang Ping’s gesture. She wasn’t as reserved here as others might be; she had grown up here, and this courtyard was like a home to her.

A single glance was all Wang Ping needed to ascertain Liu Shuang’s cultivation level. After years of practice, she had fused ninety percent of the Spiritual Power Consciousness within her. The final ten percent remained only because he had suppressed it with a Spirit Stabilizing Talisman.

"Have you noticed anything unusual in your cultivation lately?"

Wang Ping was asking a question to which he already knew the answer. With this child, he could only express himself indirectly. Yu Lian patted his back with her tail while glaring at the nearby Spiritual Dog, warning it not to cause any trouble.

Liu Shuang mulled it over for a few moments before answering. "Ever since the start of the year before last, I feel like my cultivation has hit a bottleneck. I used to be able to clearly feel my Spirit Veins strengthening every day when I fused with the Spirit Body consciousness in my soul. But since then... I haven’t felt that at all."

"Hmm..."

Wang Ping nodded, feigning a look of realization. "You must have already fused all the other Spirit Body consciousness in your soul. All that’s left is that small portion I trapped with the Spirit Stabilizing Talisman. That part is the most difficult to integrate. Once you’ve properly adjusted your mental state, I’ll find a time to act as your Guardian and help you fuse it completely in one session."

Liu Shuang first nodded in understanding, then a look of joy blossomed on her face. "I can be ready anytime," she said.

Yu Lian tapped Wang Ping’s back with her tail and spoke for him, "I can sense the decisiveness in your soul, but integrating this final piece of consciousness requires a certain degree of humanity. That will be the direction of your cultivation from now on. Take half a year. Adjust your mindset. Then, come find your master, and he will act as your Guardian."

Liu Shuang had a naturally restless personality. During her years of cultivation at the Mountain Peak Dojo, she had countless times entertained the thought of going down the mountain for a look, but since Wang Ping wasn’t around, she never acted on it.

"Then it’s settled!"

Wang Ping smiled, giving Liu Shuang a graceful way to concede.

Liu Shuang could only nod lightly with a quiet "Mmm."

"Remember to go see Ling’Er. She should be close to advancing to the Second Realm. It hasn’t been easy for her these past few years," Wang Ping said, speaking of his first grand-disciple.

Hearing Wang Ping mention Liu Ling, a look of obvious concern crossed Liu Shuang’s face. She had poured as much of herself into raising Liu Ling as Wang Ping had poured into raising her.

"Ling’Er has been through a lot; she’ll most likely be able to advance to the Second Realm. And with Qianmu Temple’s resources now, mastering the Second Realm of the Essence Wood Technique isn’t the hard part. The hard part is the endless, solitary meditation that comes after!"

Liu Shuang hid her worry and turned to look in the direction of Yongshan County. "To sit in meditation for hundreds of years as if it were a single day—that is the real torment. Ling’er used to be such a proud person."

An image of a vibrant, active Liu Ling flashed through Wang Ping’s mind, followed by the image of her haggard and white-haired, desperately seeking Foundation Establishment, and now, her current listless state. He quickly pushed the memories away.

"Teach Rong’Er well. It’s rare for someone to have such good fortune. And what about Yu’Er? Has there been any news from her recently?" Yu Lian’s voice broke the silence between the master and disciple.

Liu Shuang snapped out of her silence and replied, "Rong’Er said she will come back in two years for secluded cultivation to break into the next realm. Yu’Er had a message brought back half a year ago; she’s currently exploring underwater ruins in the Southeast Islands with some other Cultivators."

Wang Ping sighed silently. He knew that Zhao Yu’Er would never return in this lifetime, and he also knew that Liu Shuang had intentionally let her go. Deep down, Liu Shuang had always felt guilty about Zhao Yu’Er.

The master and disciple fell silent again.

Even after cultivating for hundreds of years, they sometimes still had emotions like mortals, which is why the Emotionless Dao came into being. Its practitioners advocated for severing all karma, all for the sake of ultimate longevity.

"Qianqian has been managing Baisui Lake very well these past few years. You can go take a look when you have time. Upper Yang Mountain is nearby, too. The scenery there is beautiful, a good place to lift your spirits."

It was Yu Lian who broke the silence again, bringing up a more lighthearted topic.

Before long, the atmosphere in the small courtyard became pleasant. After the master and disciple chatted happily for Half an Hour, Liu Shuang took the initiative to leave. Wang Ping stood up and walked her to the courtyard gate.

Watching Liu Shuang’s departing figure, the human emotions emanating from Wang Ping were complex: there was heartfelt joy, a thread of worry, and a sense of familial affection that was hard to put into words.