Chapter 574 – Why Not Marry?

　　Edited by Ea and NZRose

　　Lin Xuanzhi said, “When your swordsmanship reaches Minor Attainment, I’ll take you to Concealed Sword Pavilion to find a sword that suits you.”

　　Yan Tianhen nodded. “That’s also what Elder Martial Brother Rong told me.”

　　Lin Xuanzhi paused. “Elder Martial Brother Rong?”

　　Yan Tianhen explained, “He’s the Elder Martial Brother who found 《Decline and Prosperity》 for me. His surname is Rong, and his name is Rong Zhaoxi. I wonder if Huarong Gege has ever heard of this name.”

　　Lin Xuanzhi, “…”

　　Although he knew that Sword Saint Tianshu was an orthodox Dao title, he didn’t know that Tianshu’s secular name was Rong Zhaoxi.

　　When Yan Tianhen said this, he exposed Tianshu’s identity.

　　If this name was placed outside, it was probably worth ten thousand spirit stones. Since Tianshu was willing to tell Yan Tianhen, he was probably feeling fearless or he didn’t want to let Yan Tianhen know his identity now.

　　However, Lin Xuanzhi still needed to remind him.

　　“As for Rong Zhaoxi’s identity, Ah Hen should try not to mention it to others.”

　　“Why?” Yan Tianhen asked, “What’s wrong with this person’s identity?”

　　Lin Xuanzhi pondered for a moment and said vaguely, “He has some problems with the Rong family. The Rong family outside has already added him to the list of Scarlet Kill Orders, offering a reward of ten thousand spirit stones. Since he was willing to tell you his real name, he probably trusts you.”

　　Yan Tianhen was shocked. At the same time, his mind sharply turned. To think that this Rong family disciple had such great abilities.

　　As the second heir to the Purple Emperor’s Heavenly Capital, Yan Tianhen naturally needed to know the basic local conditions and customs of the Nine Lands and the family forces of each clan, as well as their style, their behavior, and even the friends and enemies of those families.

　　But he had never heard of a man named Rong Zhaoxi.

　　Lin Xuanzhi said, “The name on the Scarlet Kill Order is Rong Ying.”

　　Yan Tianhen shivered as if he had been struck by lightning. He widened his eyes. “Rong Ying is Rong Zhaoxi, the Elder Martial Brother who is very kind to others?”

　　Speaking of Rong Ying, this wasn’t an unfamiliar name to anyone in the Nine Lands.

　　Not only had he been chased by the Scarlet Kill Order for many years, but he was also part of the top ten villains on the bounty list. Decades ago, the stupid abandoned son of the Rong family in the Northeast Land entered the road of Dao overnight. He broke through the Earth Realm and reforged his body. On the first day of his breakthrough, the first thing he did was kill dozens of the Rong family members. He then fled all the way to the Southeast.

　　Then, he crossed the endless sea and came to Ethereal City. He entered the gates of Myriad Dao Academy and was sheltered by the sect.

　　The Rong family came to Myriad Dao Academy many times, but they were denied at the sect’s gate. In the end, they were turned away by the Hall Master of Sword God Hall at that time, who was the master of the six current Sword Saints. They only said that if they entered the sect, they were the people of the sect, and even Divine Clans could not interfere anymore.

　　Since then, the Rong family had broken away with Myriad Dao Academy. They sealed their boundaries for the next 50 years, and not a single one of the Rong family disciples ever stepped foot into the Tenth Land again. In the same year, all the Rong family’s disciples in Myriad Dao Academy had stopped their study career and returned to the Northeast Land. They were not allowed to have any more relations with Myriad Dao Academy.

　　Yan Tianhen had heard of Rong Ying being brought to Myriad Dao Academy. He naturally knew that the Rong family and Myriad Dao Academy split apart.

　　Lin Xuanzhi glanced at him. “It’s not too late for you to tell the Rong family the news. The Rong family don’t know now whether Rong Ying is still in Myriad Dao Academy today and what his identity is.”

　　Yan Tianhen asked, “How did Huarong Gege know?”

　　Lin Xuanzhi said, “Rong Ying; his courtesy name is ‘Zhaoxi’. Everyone knows this.”

　　Yan Tianhen, “…”

　　Lin Xuanzhi said with profound meaning, “It seems that Ah Hen is not very qualified as a Prince.”

　　Yan Tianhen laughed. “It doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter. In any case, I wasn’t planning to get those spiritual stones. After all, Elder Martial Brother has done me such a big favor. If I bite the hand that feeds me, iI would be very scummy.”

　　Lin Xuanzhi said, “En, I was also just joking.”

　　Yan Tianhen, “…”

　　Lin Xuanzhi said, “When you went to closed-door cultivation for three months, your master came and left.”

　　Yan Tianhen, “Ah…”

　　His voice was full of emotion, surprise, and loss.

　　“My master left without waiting for me to leave secluded cultivation.” Yan Tianhen was extremely angry and complained, “He doesn’t care about me anymore.”

　　Lin Xuanzhi watched him pretend to complain and said, “Esteemed Lan Yue is currently divining the Dao of Heaven on Wutong Mountain in the West Land. The one that visited here was nothing more than a sliver of his soul. It couldn’t last for long.”

　　Yan Tianhen asked, “What did my master say, that he had to travel so far to say it?”

　　“He told me to take care of you.” Lin Xuanzhi smiled. “I’ve taken care of these spiritual fields for you for the time being, but since you planted them with your own hands, you have to raise them.”

　　Yan Tianhen, “…”

　　He’s using this “entrusted by an old friend” as an excuse again.

　　Yan Tianhen rolled his eyes at Lin Xuanzhi. “My master would never say only this one thing.”

　　Lin Xuanzhi nodded. “But this is the most important thing. When discussing matters, there should be a sequence of things ordered by importance.”

　　Yan Tianhen, “…”

　　I just want to ask you, why not marry?

　　Lin Xuanzhi then said, “Esteemed Lan Yue did say something about Fiends. He said that the tortoise shell divination and the astrolabe prying into the Dao of Heaven showed that the disaster of Ethereal City this time is for good fortune.”

　　Yan Tianhen said, “Since it’s a great fortune, does it mean that those Fiends will not appear in Ethereal City, or will they be completely destroyed?”

　　Lin Xuanzhi said, “It should be so. However, Esteemed Lan Yue also said that in the next 30 years, a great calamity will happen.”

　　Yan Tianhen asked gravely, “What is this great calamity?”

　　Lin Xuanzhi replied, “It’s hard to prevent.”

　　Yan Tianhen asked, “How to neutralize it?”

　　Lin Xuanzhi firmly made a final decision and told him, “By focusing on cultivation.”

　　Yan Tianhen, “…” It turned out this was waiting for him.

　　Therefore, in the following days in the soul plate space, Yan Tianhen was watched by Lin Xuanzhi to practice his sword. Yan Tianhen had not yet practiced 《Decline and Prosperity》 and Lin Xuanzhi was not in a hurry to let him practice. Instead, he had to check the two secret manuals he had practiced before and how well he had practiced them.

　　Although Yan Tianhen thought that his own cultivation was good and stable, when he saw Lin Xuanzhi’s slightly furrowed brows, he felt a thump in his heart. He knew that his cultivation level probably couldn’t enter Lin Xuanzhi’s eyes.

　　Lin Xuanzhi also had Yan Tianhen spar against him using 《Yin Flame Secrets》, and Lin Xuanzhi almost always had the advantage, fight from beginning to end. As for showing mercy, it didn’t exist.

　　At the end of the fight, Yan Tianhen just sat on the ground and refused to get up.

　　Seeing this, Lin Xuanzhi slowly stopped and put the sword, which had never been drawn throughout the fight, on his waist. Before he opened his mouth, Yan Tianhen beat him to it.

　　“I know that I must be prepared for danger in times of peace, guard against arrogance and impatience, and concentrate on cultivation, but I just can’t take it anymore!” Yan Tianhen raised his hand and surrendered, speaking quickly, “I will practice every day in the future and never be lazy. I know shame, I am ashamed, I was wrong!”

　　Lin Xuanzhi, “…”

　　This set of rhetoric was said very smoothly. He didn’t know how many times Yan TIanhen had already said this in front of You Ming.

　　However, he didn’t intend to force Yan Tianhen to cultivate. He just sighed and thought, Ah Hen is still so lazy. How can he protect himself in the future?

　　That almost imperceptible sigh fell into Yan Tianhen’s ears, but it was like a deafening bell, which knocked into his mind. Why did Lin Xuanzhi sigh?

　　Was it because he was too disappointed in me, or because of something else?

　　Yan Tianhen suddenly felt a sense of urgency and crisis, and even some guilt.

　　It wasn’t that he didn’t have time to practice his swordsmanship, but he always looked down on practicing because it was too miserable and exhausting. Merely the act of swinging his sword needed to be done hundreds and thousands of times every day, and he couldn’t bear the pain. However, this sigh of Lin Xuanzhi’s was more useful than You Ming and Yan Zhonghua’s well-meaning persuasion or coercion. Yan Tianhen inexplicably felt a little ashamed and embarrassed.

　　He didn’t want Lin Xuanzhi to look down on himself, and he didn’t want Lin Xuanzhi to sigh.

　　So Yan Tianhen jumped up from the ground and said to Lin Xuanzhi, “Huarong Gege, I want to borrow your soul plate for a few more days.”

　　Lin Xuanzhi felt that Yan Tianhen suddenly looked radiant as if something was different.

　　“As I said before, Little Penglai welcomes you at any time,” said Lin Xuanzhi.

　　Yan Tianhen nodded and hooked his lips. “Huarong Gege, just you watch. Within six months, I will definitely go to Concealed Sword Pavilion and choose my own sword!”

　　With that, Yan Tianhen pointed his foot and flew to the cliff where Lin Xuanzhi used to practice his sword. As the sun rose and the moon fell, Lin Xuanzhi stood by the lake and watched the figure diligently practicing his sword.

　　————

　　Ten days in the soul plate was one day in the outside world.

　　Yan Tianhen was still a little uncomfortable with the soul plate, so he only stayed for five days.

　　Before leaving, Yan Tianhen raised his eyebrows at Lin Xuanzhi and said, “Huarong Gege, I’ll come here when I’m free. When I’m away, you can let these two cubs accompany you. If you miss me, you can pass notes to me. Do you have Voice Transmission Talismans here?”

　　As he spoke, Yan Tianhen took out a handful of notes from his storage bag and handed them to Lin Xuanzhi. “I will definitely reply in time.”

　　Lin Xuanzhi did not refuse but smiled. “Listen to your classes well.”

　　Yan Tianhen nodded. “Yes.”

　　After Yan Tianhen went back, he first went to find Shi Yi near the East Courtyard’s demonic beast park. However, Shi Yi happened to be absent, so he went to Gu Ruyu and asked for the schedule of the sword cultivators. Yan Tianhen decided that in the future, whenever there was a conflict between sword Dao classes and alchemy classes, he would choose the sword Dao class. If there was no conflict, he would go back to earnestly studying alchemy.

　　Gu Ruyu looked suspiciously at Yan Tianhen. “What stimulated you?”

　　Yan Tianhen said in a serious tone, “I found out today that only the Sword Dao is the right path for us cultivators.”

　　Gu Ruyu, “Bullshit.”

　　The Sword Division was quite different from that of the Alchemy Division in that the Sword Division’s management was much stricter. At least every day, when the rooster crows, the Sword Dao disciples must stand on the martial arts training ground and first practice a set of Myriad Dao Academy’s 《Introductory Sword Style》 and then use 108 basic movements, each of which was performed ten times and eight times in a row.

　　With such exercises, two hours passed.

　　However, these morning classes were not uniform. Disciples had different cultivations and different speeds. Naturally, the fast ones finished first, and the slow ones finished last.

　　Yan Tianhen belonged somewhere in the middle, neither too fast nor too slow, and was not very noticeable.

　　He came here during the day to practice his sword and listen to lectures. After going back at night, he found a place to practice 《Decline and Prosperity》 by himself. Even though he had seen many secret swordsmanship manuals already, he had never seen one like this before, which made him feel turbulent and emotional.

　　Some sword techniques were specially made for some people.

　　In the book 《Decline and Prosperity》, the name was wanton. Decline and Prosperity were just like the harvest of all things in autumn and winter, and the cycle of life and death. Yan Tianhen saw plants floating in the water, declining and prospering all night, and he also saw plants declining from prosperity, then blooming again in the coming year, like an endless field that manages to stand tall in the spring breeze after having survived a wildfire.

　　He also saw the joys and sorrows in the mundane world — old age and sickness — and then those souls swaying leisurely, stepping into the reincarnation cycle that the Dao of Heaven had already set long ago, being reincarnated and prospering again.

　　Gain and loss, joy and sorrow, victory and defeat are all called Decline and Prosperity.