C46 Imperial Secret Conference

As Jiang Su wielded the Life Sword with the grace of a soft sword, a flicker of emotion passed through his eyes.

"How did you manage to wield this sword as if it were a soft sword?" Shangguan Yue inquired.

Jiang Su dabbed the sweat from his brow. Caught off guard by the question, he responded, "I simply thought it could be done, so I did it."

Lost in a faraway memory, Shangguan Yue murmured, "You've accomplished what even Pingsheng never could. Impressive! It won't be long before the Cultivation World witnesses the rise of a new Sword Immortal."

Hearing the praise, Jiang Su hastily dismissed it, "Please, Master Shangguan, don't flatter me. I'm just an ordinary person; becoming a Sword Immortal is beyond my reach."

Shangguan Yue, familiar with Jiang Su's humility, chose not to press the matter further.

Meanwhile, Wang Tian was doggedly scaling Dangerless Peak. His hands, frequently grazing against jagged rocks, were lacerated, with blood seeping from his palms. Yet, he paid little heed to the wounds, his resolve only strengthening with each fall. The dirt from the rocks mingling with his blood only intensified the pain.

"Wang Tian, we'll pick this up tomorrow," Jiang Su called out, arriving beside him through Sword-riding Flight. Upon seeing Jiang, Wang Tian adopted a woeful tone, "Jiang, I can't keep this up. You're not planning to have me climb this mountain all day in the future, are you?"

"Of course not. You just need to get through this phase," Jiang Su reassured him.

Wang Tian breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Jiang Su didn't expect him to climb daily, he was content. It was clear he'd need to double his efforts to advance past this stage quickly.

Together, they used Sword-riding Flight to return to Sword Wing Peak, where darkness enveloped the main room and adjacent chambers—a testament to Elder Chiu Yue's rigorous training methods.

Wang Tian, nursing his injuries, followed Jiang Su to his room on the right. Inside, Jiang Su summoned his spiritual energy to ignite the oil lamp and proceeded to examine Wang Tian's wounds. While not life-threatening, they appeared quite ghastly.

"Can you still move your hands?"

Wang Tian nodded. "My hands aren't useless yet."

His hands were caked with blood and dirt, looking as though they'd been mercilessly trampled into the ground.

Jiang Su retrieved a bottle of premium Gold Healing Medicine from his storage space and offered it to Wang Tian. Wang Tian quickly responded, "Jiang, I still have some of the medicine you gave me last time. I won't be needing this just yet."

"Even if you don't need it now, it might come in handy later. Hold onto it. Let me tend to your wounds," Jiang Su insisted.

He pulled out a specially prepared first aid kit from his storage space. Unfazed by Wang Tian's filthy hands, he meticulously treated the injuries.

This was a perfect opportunity for him to hone his medical skills.

Wang Tian was deeply moved. Jiang's pristine white clothing was now stained with his blood, yet Jiang showed no sign of disgust.

Jiang had ventured to Dangerless Peak today solely to aid him in advancing through the Divine Body Forging Spell. Wang Tian's gratitude was profound.

"Jiang, that should be enough. I'm a tough guy. My hands will heal in time."

Jiang Su nodded, packed up the first aid kit, and after bidding farewell to Wang Tian, he returned to his own bedroom.

Once he lit the oil lamp, he settled at his desk to continue studying the All-sensory Spirit Vein Acupoints Records, paying particular attention to Wen Shu's annotations.

Shangguan Yue was aware that Jiang Su had completed the book given to him by Elder Chiu Yue earlier that day. He had grown accustomed to Jiang Su's remarkably rapid pace of study. Yet, Jiang Su's grasp of the Ancient Sect Array puzzled him.

He hadn't even begun to teach Jiang Su about it.

Jiang Su's natural aptitude was exceptional.

Shangguan Yue had been meaning to inquire earlier, but with others around, he had refrained from interrupting. Now, with Jiang Su engrossed in his reading, Shangguan Yue exhaled a sigh, deciding to postpone his questions.

Jiang Su had even lent out his belongings without seeking permission. Shangguan Yue resolved to address this with him later.

Absorbed in the book, Jiang Su lost track of time, and before he knew it, over two hours had slipped by.

He closed the All-sensory Spirit Vein Acupoints Records. After mentally reviewing the content, he searched his desk for a stack of white paper and ink. However, he realized he didn't have a writing brush.

Jiang Su rose to his feet and resumed his search for a pen within the room.

Shangguan Yue stifled a yawn and remarked, "You lent out the pen I gave you, and now you're penless, aren't you? Serves you right for not having a pen!"

No sooner had he spoken than Jiang Su spotted a nondescript pen tucked away in the corner of the bookshelf, a far cry from the one Shangguan Yue had given him.

Responding to Shangguan Yue's grumbling inquiry, Jiang Su replied with a hint of resignation, "You're right; it was my mistake. But you did give your consent, didn't you?"

"Hmph," snorted Shangguan Yue, "I was asleep at the time! Anyway, since you only need to borrow a pen for a day, what's your plan now? Taking notes? With your abilities, do you really need to jot things down?"

Jiang Su shook his head. "No, that's not it."

He picked up the pen and settled down to write earnestly on the blank paper. Before he knew it, another hour had slipped by.

Shangguan Yue emerged from the Life Sword as a wraithlike figure, peering over Jiang Su's shoulder with curiosity.

Upon seeing the contents of Jiang Su's writing, he expressed his astonishment, his voice rising, "Don't tell me you've exhausted yourself all day learning so much, and now you're up late crafting a training regimen for that Body Cultivator!"

Their talents and methods of cultivation were worlds apart. Yet, Jiang Su had gone to the lengths of tailoring a regimen specifically for Wang Tian's constitution to expedite his mastery of the Divine Body Forging Spell.

Jiang Su was taken aback by his reaction and countered, "Isn't it the same with you and Chen Pingsheng? You're prepared to be trapped in the Thousand Feet Illusion forever for his sake. All I'm doing is devising a plan for a brother."

At those words, Shangguan Yue retreated back into his sword.

Midnight had crept in. Exhausted from the day's toils, Jiang Su lay down on his bed and quickly succumbed to sleep.

Meanwhile, a restless night was unfolding for the Royal Family of Tianqi, far across the Tianqi Continent in the Immortal Domain. Their clandestine council convened in an opulent chamber, adorned with lavish decorations. A night pearl as large as a human head was suspended high above, casting a brilliant glow over the assembly engaged in earnest discussion.

At the head of the long table sat an old man exuding an air of profound calmness, who had remained silent throughout the gathering.

Flanking him on both sides were other elderly men, chattering away incessantly.

Their speech was rapid and lengthy, to the point where it was nearly impossible to discern the specifics of their conversation, even with focused listening.

The overlapping voices created a cacophony, reminiscent of the clamor one would expect at a bustling marketplace.

Suddenly, an old man clad in black slammed his hand on the table and declared loudly, "The Empress of the Devil Sect has gone too far in her audacity. She's not only bewitched the young male cultivators of the Cultivation World, but she's also brazenly abducted our Prince Jiang Su to force a marriage! Even though they were betrothed, such actions are utterly against the proper customs!"