After clearing the level, the fairies were reborn!

However, if he were to recommend him to the forces in Beiju Luzhou, it would seem like he was benefiting from his family's influence, and he might end up getting involved with those lunatics.

Let him be.

"Om-"

The Azure Cloud Sword glowed faintly and swayed twice in the air.

It was unwilling.

Ding Wan was very surprised by this. Weren't you two so close that you practically shared the same pants?

Little did she know, Qingyun Sword was afraid that the boy would do something impulsive again and exhaust his life essence once more.

"Fine, even you're hiding things from me." Ding Wanzhen was angry.

Without even thinking, that kid must have a huge secret.

Even the spirit of the artifact was willing to keep it a secret for him?

"I don't want to deal with him anymore, let him do whatever he wants."

She crossed her arms, her face showing dissatisfaction.

"He has already achieved perfect foundation building. If he can learn the third move of the sword technique, even ordinary Golden Core cultivators would have to think twice before facing him."

Ding Wan is cold on the outside but warm on the inside. She says she doesn't care anymore, but she is still thinking about the other person.

Fine, let's wait until this kid learns it before we leave.

After saying that, she quietly went downstairs.

……

Xu Ze was immersed in that wonderful feeling for a full half hour.

The bandages wrapped around his body broke inch by inch, and his originally deep red skin faded, with new flesh and blood growing wildly.

That perfect foundation of the Great Dao now stands majestically in the dantian, its golden splendor gleaming.

"This is the difference between great realms..."

He gently clenched his fist, feeling the seemingly endless true energy surging within his body. Compared to the Qi Refining stage, it was like heaven and earth, not just a simple quantitative change, but a qualitative leap.

Ding Wan had appeared beside him at some point, her gaze seemingly carrying a hint of approval.

He has indeed suffered a lot these days, and it is truly remarkable that he has been able to persevere.

"Congratulations on your perfect Foundation Establishment. I have nothing to give you, so please accept this cultivation manual as a gift."

She stretched out her slender finger and gently touched Xu Ze's brow, and a familiar feeling washed over her again.

In an instant, a massive flow of information, like a sudden awakening, directly imprinted itself into his consciousness.

【Mysterious Spirit Sword Technique】

[Rank: Second Grade]

[Status: Complete and intact]

[Description: An ancient sword technique. Those who master the 'Forging Meridians Technique' of the same lineage can achieve twice the results with half the effort in their cultivation. The technique is divided into two parts: the upper part, Foundation Building, refines the sword essence; the lower part, Golden Core, nurtures the sword heart. It is the orthodox sword cultivation method that directly leads to the Nascent Soul stage.]

"This technique is enough to support your cultivation until you break through the core and become an infant. At that time, you will be able to truly be called a 'sword cultivator'."

Ding Wan looked at the spirited young man in front of her and patiently explained.

Xu Ze's eyes were filled with surprise, and he was about to eagerly study it when he suddenly thought of something.

He returned to his room, took out a delicate little wooden box, and then jogged back.

"Teacher, I also have a gift for you!"

Under the woman's curious gaze, Xu Ze slowly opened the wooden box.

Inside the box, on a red velvet lining, lies a jade hairpin.

The hairpin is carved from a single piece of rare "Tianhe Dong" jadeite, and its entire body presents a clear color like the sky after rain, with hazy clouds flowing inside.

Ding Wan's beautiful eyes lit up at first, then she asked curiously, "How did you know I wanted this?"

The last time she went shopping at Yuya Zhai, she immediately took a liking to this hairpin. However, when she saw that it was the store's prized possession and cost a full million taels of silver, she could only grit her teeth and say, "Why don't you just rob it?"

As a result, this guy turned around and bought it for himself?

Could it be... that he sent someone to follow me?

That's impossible. In this Southern Continent, who could possibly escape her divine sense?

"Teacher, you really don't know my family's nickname in the prefectural city?"

"What nickname?" Ding Wan turned to look at him.

“Xu Bancheng, huh. Most of the shops in the prefecture belong to our family. The jade business is so profitable, I’ve already monopolized it.”

Xu Ze spoke casually, as if he were talking about a trivial matter, “The shopkeeper said he saw you holding it in your hand for a long time, but in the end you put it down. I guessed you were reluctant to buy it, so he just gave it to you as a gift.”

"Oh, how could I not want to buy it? Actually, I don't really like it that much..."

Ding Wan blushed slightly; she was incapable of lying.

"Alright, from now on, when the shop gets new jade materials, you can go and choose first. If you want to make bracelets or hairpins, just let the shopkeeper know," Xu Ze said with a smile.

Are you teaching me how to do things?

"No, this is just to show my respect to you."

The woman tried to argue, but in the end she reluctantly agreed.

This kid is not only cunning, but he's also really good at making people happy.

Even if you give me something...

After a long while, Ding Wan calmed down.

She adopted a cold and aloof demeanor again, looking intently at Xu Ze.

There's something I need to tell you in advance.

Chapter 35, Third Form

Xu Ze was about to put the hairpin on her, but seeing her serious expression, he stopped what he was doing.

"Teacher, what's wrong?"

He rarely saw Ding Wan with such an expression, serious yet conflicted, as if she was hesitating about something.

"...I will be leaving Nanzhou for a while in half a month."

Before him, the aloof woman hesitated for a moment, but still did not reveal the specific reason.

Her gaze returned to calm, her voice still clear and crisp, "Before that, you must master the third move of the Azure Cloud Sword Technique. That is my requirement for you."

After speaking, Ding Wan stepped forward and took the jade hairpin from Xu Ze's hand.

"Thank you, I can manage on my own."

The young man let go of her hand, neither insisting on tying her hair nor asking when she would return.

Having spent two lifetimes together, he now deeply respects the woman before him.

Without a doubt, Ding Wan's independence and resilience are ingrained in her very being.

She was far superior to those cultivators who relied on their families and touted their freedom; she was a true warrior who used her body as a sword and dared to fight against her predetermined fate.

But she was also lonely.

Although he was reluctant to admit it, Xu Ze truly did not believe that she alone could withstand these causes and effects, the cycle of fate.

This is the world of cultivation!

"Teacher, I will try my best."

After a long while, Xu Ze's expression returned to normal, and a confident smile reappeared on his face.

"I'm sure I'll be able to learn the third move very soon."

Since he stopped hiding his sword intent, his progress in practicing the Azure Cloud Sword Technique has been rapid.

Before even establishing the foundation, he had already mastered the second technique.

Now that the foundation has been perfectly established, it will probably only take a few days for him to fully master the third move.

"Yes." Ding Wan nodded gently; she believed it.

After observing him for several months, she secretly recognized the temperament, perseverance, and even the unique "opportunities" that led this sometimes unconventional and sometimes composed young man to become more composed.

Overall, taking on this student was probably one of the better decisions I made during my more than ten years of traveling.

How many things have I done right in my entire life?

Suddenly, she felt a pang of emotion and, unusually, stepped out of the house to gaze at the distant mountain peaks.

After their lunch break, the disciples of the Preparatory Sect went up the mountain again to begin carving. The nameless peak was already covered with all sorts of abstract sculptures.

From a distance, they look like a row of primitive people standing guard, which is quite comical.

"puff--"

Ding Wan seemed to have thought of something and couldn't help but laugh.

I remember when this kid first came, he carved himself to look like a monkey monster from a wild and desolate land, making it hard to tell if he was human or ghost.

“Teacher,” Xu Ze gazed at her smiling face, which was as radiant as melting snow, and was momentarily lost in thought, “You look much prettier when you smile than usual.”

"What do you mean? Am I not good-looking normally?" She raised her sword-like eyebrows and glanced at him.

"No, no, no! That's not what I meant. She looks good all the time..."

Xu Ze waved his hands repeatedly, scratched his head, and changed his explanation:

"But when she smiles, she looks even better than usual."

He was telling the truth.

A cold face wouldn't look as good as it does now.

"Stop being cheeky," Ding Wan snapped, turning away from him. "Once you've consolidated your cultivation, go practice your sword."