Chapter 16: A Pure Fire Spiritual Root and an Unconventional Choice

Jiang Shengming’s initial encounter with Su Yun had left him momentarily stunned. He had, for a fleeting moment, believed that Su Muxue herself had come to Spirit Sword Mountain as a guest.

Yet, upon closer inspection of the young woman before him, he realized his mistake. This was not Su Muxue, but merely a maiden who bore an uncanny resemblance to her. The striking similarity, coupled with their shared surname, naturally piqued Jiang Shengming’s curiosity about Su Yun’s origins.

“To answer Senior’s question, this junior does not know anyone named Su Muxue. Why do you ask such a thing?” Su Yun retorted, a bewildered expression on her face.

Su Yun was no ordinary child. With a mother who was a peak Golden Core cultivator, she had long grown accustomed to maintaining her composure when conversing with formidable experts.

Had it been anyone else, such tranquility would have been impossible to achieve. They would likely have faltered and exposed themselves under Jiang Shengming’s potent aura.

Jiang Shengming’s eyes remained as placid as still water, constantly observing Su Yun, searching for any hint of deceit.

Alas, even he, with all his experience, could not detect the slightest falsehood in Su Yun’s demeanor.

“Very well. Step forward, and allow this venerable one to assess your aptitude,” Jiang Shengming said, choosing not to dwell on the matter.

The world was vast, and it was hardly unusual for two individuals to share such a striking resemblance. Furthermore, with both sharing the surname Su, the young woman before him might well be a distant descendant of Su Muxue from the mortal realm.

While he knew Su Muxue had no direct blood relatives left in the world, the Su family she hailed from was once a prominent clan within the Chu Kingdom. It was certain that various branch lineages still existed.

If a blood connection truly existed, it would effortlessly explain the striking resemblance.

The Southern Wilderness was a border region, situated at the confluence of three kingdoms: Chu, Wu, and Yue.

Most cultivators within the Southern Wilderness resided within these three kingdoms. To the immortal sects of the Southern Wilderness, these kingdoms served as a continuous source of fresh blood.

Periodically, these cultivation sects would open their gates to mortals within the three kingdoms, allowing those with the aptitude for cultivation to become cultivators. They would also, at regular intervals, distribute entry tokens to various families across the three kingdoms.

A cooperative relationship existed between these cultivation sects and the mortal dynasties.

Therefore, Jiang Shengming harbored no significant suspicions. After all, Spirit Sword Mountain itself had many disciples surnamed Su; it would be absurd to assume a connection to Su Muxue simply based on a shared surname.

Su Yun understood that Jiang Shengming intended to examine her cultivation aptitude. With a graceful stride, she quickly moved to stand before him.

“Extend your hand,” Jiang Shengming said with a gentle smile.

Su Yun promptly stretched out her slender, fair hand. Jiang Shengming then raised two fingers and gently pressed them onto Su Yun’s wrist, using his divine sense to perceive the condition of her inner body.

Upon this perception, he immediately discerned a spiritual root within Su Yun, suffused with scorching flames.

“This… a pure fire spiritual root! Excellent, truly excellent! Young lady, from today forward, you shall be a disciple of my Spirit Sword Mountain,” Jiang Shengming declared, his eyes opening wide with delight.

A look of pleasant surprise instantly bloomed on Su Yun’s face. She then stepped back and performed another respectful bow to Jiang Shengming.

“Disciple Su Yun greets the Sect Master.”

Su Yun’s joy was genuine. Though this was not Moonfall Sect, she had, from this day forward, truly embarked upon the path of cultivation.

“Hmm, Su Yun. With your aptitude, I should personally take you as my disciple. However, I have already accepted two very talented disciples, and furthermore, my spiritual root attribute does not align with yours. Thus, I will not personally take you as a disciple. Tell me, what do you wish to learn? I can arrange for a suitable elder to guide you,” Jiang Shengming said with a smile.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Su Yun immediately stated her purpose.

“Sect Master, I wish to learn artifact refining. Is that possible?” Su Yun asked, her voice brimming with excitement.

Upon hearing her words, Jiang Shengming’s reaction mirrored that of Su Muxue and Sun Biyue before him; he was utterly dumbfounded for a moment.

“Ah? Artifact refining?”

Jiang Shengming’s mind seemed to freeze, but he quickly regained his composure.

“Ahem, little girl, are you certain you aren’t jesting? Do you truly understand what artifact refining entails? You must have seen blacksmiths in the mortal world, yes? An artifact master is essentially the cultivator’s equivalent of a blacksmith,” Jiang Shengming reminded her, a hint of bewilderment in his tone.

He was subtly reminding Su Yun that artifact refining was both meticulous and incredibly rough work. She must have seen those blacksmiths in the mortal world—all burly, robust men, not a single woman among them.

Su Yun undoubtedly understood the unspoken meaning behind Jiang Shengming’s words.

Yet, she posed a counter-question.

“I understand the Sect Master’s meaning, but are there truly no female artifact masters in the cultivation world? If not, then this disciple is willing to become the first.”

This question truly left Jiang Shengming at a loss for how to respond. At the very least, there were no female artifact masters among the cultivation sects of the Southern Wilderness, but that did not mean women were incapable of learning the craft.

Su Yun possessed an exceptionally pure fire spiritual root, which was ideal for both artifact refining and alchemy.

“Are you certain? Artifact refining is incredibly arduous work. You are so delicate and fair-skinned; I fear that if you pursue artifact refining, you will soon become covered in grime and dust. I worry you will regret it then,” Jiang Shengming stated.

“No, this disciple will never regret it. I implore the Sect Master to grant my wish; this disciple desires only to learn artifact refining,” Su Yun replied, her resolve even firmer.

With such an adamant declaration, Jiang Shengming found it difficult to argue further. Conveniently, Spirit Sword Mountain’s artifact refining techniques also required inheritors. If the young woman before him could propagate and elevate their sect’s artifact refining, it would be nothing short of a blessing.

“I understand your aspirations. Please wait a moment; I shall summon Elder Lei Yan, who oversees the sect’s artifact refining,” Jiang Shengming ultimately respected Su Yun’s wishes.

Having spoken, Jiang Shengming produced a communication token. After activating it, he called into the token.

“Junior Brother Lei Yan, come to the main hall of the sect.”

After uttering these words, Jiang Shengming’s gaze returned to Su Yun, his eyes filled with profound satisfaction.

After all, not long ago, their Spirit Sword Mountain’s new generation of disciples had triumphed over Moonfall Sect, and now, another new disciple of such exceptional aptitude had arrived. Was this not the heavens themselves blessing Spirit Sword Mountain?

****

Approximately five minutes later, a booming, unrestrained voice echoed from outside the main hall.

“Senior Brother Sect Master, why have you suddenly called for me? I am incredibly busy and have no time for idle chatter with you.” A burly, rugged man, shirtless with tanned skin and nearly two meters tall, strode into the hall with heavy footsteps.

Upon seeing this muscular middle-aged man, Su Yun gained a clear understanding of the typical image of an artifact master. No wonder her mother and Jiang Shengming had worn such peculiar expressions.

Comparing Su Yun to the formidable man before her was like contrasting a fierce beast with a tiny lamb.

This man was Lei Yan, the Consecrated Elder of Spirit Sword Mountain.

A Consecrated Elder, in general, was not part of Spirit Sword Mountain’s regular elder hierarchy and was not responsible for managing disciples. However, they enjoyed the sect’s finest treatment, even surpassing that of Jiang Shengming himself.

To put it simply, Spirit Sword Mountain could exist without Jiang Shengming, but it could not exist without Lei Yan, for Lei Yan’s value far exceeded that of the Sect Master.

His artifact refining skills generated immense wealth for Spirit Sword Mountain. Currently, at least thirty percent of the weapons and magic treasures used by cultivators in the Southern Wilderness originated from Lei Yan’s hand.

Artifact masters, like ordinary cultivators, also possessed cultivation realms.

The ranks of artifact masters, from lowest to highest, were divided into nine tiers, corresponding to the nine realms of cultivators. Lei Yan was currently a third-tier peak artifact master.

Advancement for an artifact master was even more challenging than a cultivator breaking through a realm.

Currently, there were only three third-tier peak artifact masters in the entire Southern Wilderness, a number far smaller than the twenty-odd peak Golden Core cultivators.

Lei Yan strode forward, his gaze falling upon Su Yun in the main hall. However, he merely regarded her with a curious glance.

“Good news, Junior Brother Lei Yan. Haven’t you always said you couldn’t find a suitable prodigy to take as your disciple? Today, one has arrived,” Jiang Shengming said with a smile.

Lei Yan paused, a clear expression of pleasant surprise appearing in his eyes.

Lei Yan was a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, no longer young. He had no hope of breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm in this lifetime. His only desire now was to find a suitable disciple, one who could surpass him and inherit his legacy.

Otherwise, after his demise, the next generation’s artifact refining elder of Spirit Sword Mountain might not even be able to forge a third-tier high-grade magic treasure.

“Is that so? Where is this person? Quick, let me see!” Lei Yan exclaimed, looking around excitedly.

From his demeanor, it was clear he had no idea that the person in question was the small figure standing right before him.

Jiang Shengming smiled faintly.

“Far away in the sky, yet close at hand.”

Hearing this, Lei Yan was momentarily taken aback, then abruptly turned to look at the red-clad maiden standing beside him.

Seeing Lei Yan’s gaze upon her, Su Yun promptly bowed and greeted him.

“Su Yun greets Elder Lei Yan. The person the Sect Master spoke of is me.”

Upon hearing this, Lei Yan’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

“What? Senior Brother Jiang, the promising talent you spoke of is this little one? You’re not joking, are you?” Lei Yan exclaimed, pointing a finger at Su Yun.

Jiang Shengming understood Lei Yan’s current feelings, but in terms of aptitude, Su Yun was truly beyond suitable.

He therefore gave Lei Yan a solemn nod, confirming that this person was indeed Su Yun.