The first method required a cultivator’s assistance and was called enlightenment.
When a cultivator’s realm surpassed a beast’s by at least two stages, the cultivator could give it a Transformation Pill and then perform an enlightenment technique, causing the beast to assume human form.
The second method required the aid of heavenly lightning and was called undergoing tribulation and transformation.
Once a bird or beast reached the sixth rank, it could temper its body with heavenly lightning, shed its fur, scales, feathers, or horns, and transform into a human.
The third method was natural transformation upon reaching the twelfth rank.
In that third case, however, the creature’s true body remained that of a beast. Its so-called human form was merely a transformation technique, not a genuine change into a beast cultivator, and so would not be discussed further. The first two methods truly allowed beasts to become beast cultivators. Yet a beast becoming human defied the order of heaven, and there were inevitably gains and losses.
A beast enlightened by a cultivator owed that cultivator a debt of gratitude that had to be repaid. Otherwise, even after gaining a human body, it would suffer tribulations at every step. Consequently, beasts who were enlightened generally acknowledged their benefactor as master and served them to repay that debt. Yan Shuang was one such example.
Transformation through enlightenment caused the beast relatively little suffering. Upon obtaining a human body, it developed spiritual roots and could no longer absorb the essence of sun and moon. Nor could it use its innate divine abilities while in human form. Only in life-threatening circumstances could it return to its beast body and use those powers to save itself, after which it would remain weak for several days. Its lifespan would also be equivalent to a human’s.
Beasts transformed by heavenly lightning underwent changes to their flesh, meridians, and bloodlines during the tribulation. The process was agonizing and carried a serious risk of death if anything went wrong. But those who succeeded could use certain minor divine abilities while human and freely transform between human and beast forms. Compared with those transformed through enlightenment, they enjoyed far greater freedom.
Even so, these beast cultivators also developed spiritual roots and lost the ability to absorb the essence of heaven and earth in the manner of beasts. They therefore could no longer cultivate while in beast form. After reaching Foundation Establishment, their internal energy was no longer demonic essence but true essence, just like that of human immortal cultivators.
Beyond all these drawbacks, no matter whether the beast transformed through enlightenment or tribulation, every bit of its existing cultivation would be lost. It had to begin again from nothing. Clearly, every choice brought consequences. Shortcuts existed, but their paths contained more thorns, and achieving anything required accepting considerable risks.
All these difficulties discouraged many beasts that wished to become human. For that reason, beast cultivators were far less numerous than ordinary demon beasts and spirit beasts.
Xu Ziqing was deeply troubled and did not know what to do.
Although Chonghua was his demon pet, Xu Ziqing regarded it more as a family member or beloved junior. However much he wished Chonghua could take human form, he could not make such an important decision lightly on its behalf.
The jade slip further explained that beasts with greater potential found it harder to refine the transverse bone in their throats and consequently harder to take human form. Chonghua carried Dapeng blood. Though only a trace, its bloodline was far stronger than an ordinary bird’s.
Xu Ziqing could certainly enlighten Chonghua, but afterward… would its Dapeng bloodline not be wasted? If he left the choice to Chonghua itself, the eagle was still young and inexperienced. How could he allow such a momentous decision to be made so casually?
He sighed and swept his spiritual sense through the final section of the jade slip, which contained an enlightenment technique.
Now he understood why Master had warned him so earnestly. Qiu He must have noticed Chonghua’s unusual qualities and wanted him to proceed with care.
After pondering for a long time without reaching a decision, Xu Ziqing shook his head.
Very well. I’ll wait until Chonghua is older. For now he would learn the enlightenment method. Whatever choice Chonghua eventually made, he would then be prepared to help it achieve that choice.
He quickly scanned the technique with his spiritual sense and imprinted its incantations upon his sea of consciousness.
Then he closed his eyes and began contemplating its principles.
At the summit, Xu Ziqing finished his usual thirty thousand sword strokes and paused to wipe the sweat from his forehead.
Yun Lie was sitting nearby, absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. An immense, invisible sword appeared and disappeared behind him, its presence awe-inspiring.
Xu Ziqing glanced at him without disturbing him, then moved a little farther away and sat down.
He took out the Yellow-rank jade slip containing the Spring Rain and Summer Thunder sword arts, sent his spiritual sense into it, and began quietly contemplating the techniques.
Given his temperament, the Spring Rain Sword Art was the one he wanted to practice first.
He calmed his mind and closed his eyes. A scene at once real and illusory appeared before him.
In the vision, spring rain fell like threads of silk, fine, dense, and unending.
That boundless softness filled heaven and earth, drifting and lingering like a gentle lament. The extraordinary sensation inspired a delicate, persistent sorrow.
Yet after the rain came new grass and trees, the earth returned to spring, and fresh green filled his sight. Everything was vigorous with life, clear and bright.
Suddenly a figure appeared on the grass. Holding a slender sword, it twisted and began to dance.
Its swordsmanship resembled spring rain: gentle, soft, apparently without the cutting edge of a sword, yet composed of countless delicate strokes that wound and entangled without end. But in the next instant, the technique changed sharply!
The lingering softness of spring suddenly became resilience, erupting with immense force.
It was as though an unyielding strength were extending outward, meeting some obstacle and struggling with everything it had to break through.
That determination to rise and escape confinement resembled seeds bursting through the earth in early spring or new buds emerging from withered trees. It was fierce and impossible to stop.
Supreme softness wove a vast, continuous net, and when that softness reached its furthest extreme, explosive strength suddenly appeared.
This was the Spring Rain Sword Art. Gentle and lingering like spring rain, it also held a contrary force: wood nourished by rain, breaking free of its bonds and striving for new life.
As Xu Ziqing contemplated the sword art, he imprinted every image upon his mind.
He sensed its profound meaning and felt the essence of each sword movement. As the vision continued, he began circulating the Great Art of Myriad Woods Heart-Planting. Astonishingly, he felt as though he had truly become a seed buried deep in the earth, nourished by spring rain until it burst into new life.
This was the power of life. It filled him with longing and resonated deeply within him.
At that moment, Xu Ziqing seemed finally to grasp a trace of the power of the Dao of Wood. He suddenly understood that commanding the countless trees beneath heaven was not simply a matter of absorbing seeds into himself.
What mattered even more was comprehension.
The Dao of Wood changed with all things in nature. To understand it, he would have to become wood himself, take his own body as part of the natural world, and communicate and unite with the other things within it.
The Four Seasons Sword Art expressed precisely this principle.
Wood grew when nourished by spring rain, was tempered by summer thunder to produce fire, withered and scattered in autumn winds, and lay hidden beneath winter snow.
Wood changed with the four seasons, and the seasons profoundly affected every tree.
This entire sword art truly seemed made for him!
A long time passed before Xu Ziqing slowly emerged from his contemplation.
The images reflected in his sea of consciousness had vanished. He sat in a daze for a while, then rose.
This time, the sword that appeared in his hand was his Steelwood sword.
Steelwood was itself a form of wood. Using it as his weapon should make practicing this sword art easier and deepen his comprehension.
Xu Ziqing gave a slight flick of his wrist and unleashed a move called “Unending Spring Rain.”
The moment his sword tip began to move, it split into countless afterimages. A faint, lingering softness flowed into the blade and instantly became sword force, making it seem as though innumerable strands of fine rain were falling around him, dense and endless as a curtain.
This was the gentlest of sword moves. As the young man in green danced, he seemed to become a spring breeze, intimate and inseparable from the spring rain. Then the rain drifted sideways, becoming misty and indistinct, blurring the eye. His own figure appeared to melt into the rain, impossible to discern, until even the faintest shadow of him seemed to dissolve into heaven and earth, leaving no trace.
Xu Ziqing grew absorbed in his sword dance. It was the first time he had encountered a technique of such exquisite refinement, and he was utterly entranced.
He forgot everything else, aware only that his sword was steady and his body light.
A soft sensation seemed to connect his arm with the Steelwood sword, merging them into one and giving rise to an indescribably wonderful feeling.
He did not know how much time passed or how many times he performed the same move. At last, just as the softness reached its utmost limit and seemed about to transform, his movements suddenly faltered.
Xu Ziqing was instantly jolted awake!
After taking a deep breath, he realized his body was somewhat sore, but his spirit felt immensely satisfied.
The Great Art of Myriad Woods Heart-Planting was still circulating through his dantian, and his true essence remained full. Far from being depleted by his absorption in the sword dance, it seemed even more abundant.
Only then did Xu Ziqing notice that Wood qi had overflowed from his body while he practiced, spreading a faint feeling of spring across the entire summit.
No. That isn’t right.
He suddenly thought, The summit of Little Slaughter Peak is filled with Senior Martial Brother Yun’s sword intent and pressure. How could it be covered in the feeling of spring? And where is Senior Martial Brother Yun?
He immediately looked around and saw the white-robed man sitting steadily a short distance away. Yun Lie had drawn in nearly all his aura. Only within a half-zhang radius around him did cold killing intent remain; nothing else escaped.
Xu Ziqing looked over, and their eyes met.
Feeling embarrassed, he asked, “Senior Martial Brother Yun… have you been watching for long?”
Yun Lie nodded. “From your first stroke. I missed nothing.”
Xu Ziqing’s face reddened faintly. “Could you give me some guidance, Senior Martial Brother?”
Yun Lie replied, “Your sword technique is smooth, and its force is well balanced. It accords well with the intent of spring rain. Quite good.”
Xu Ziqing was delighted. Although he felt the sword art suited him, he had still wanted his senior martial brother’s judgment. “I intend to cultivate this entire sword art. What do you think?”
Yun Lie considered briefly. “It is suitable.”
Xu Ziqing beamed. “Then I’ll practice it once more. Please correct my mistakes.”
Yun Lie nodded and did not refuse.
Xu Ziqing raised his arm and began dancing with the sword again.
Having already comprehended the true meaning of “Unending Spring Rain,” he quickly entered that same state once more, wielding his sword freely and naturally.
What Xu Ziqing did not realize was that achieving such unity of mind and comprehension during his very first contemplation was an extraordinary opportunity. The longer he remained in that state, the more completely he would harmonize with this sword art. It was vital that no one interrupt him. Earlier, his fascination with the new technique had caused Wood qi to overflow, attracting Yun Lie’s attention. As a Golden Core Perfected One, Yun Lie’s ordinary aura, sword intent, and killing intent would have disrupted Xu Ziqing’s comprehension if allowed to spread, wasting this precious opportunity.
That was why Yun Lie had restrained his entire aura, allowing Xu Ziqing to contemplate undisturbed. He had then watched him practice the sword from beginning to end.
Now, just as before, Yun Lie observed with a solemn expression, searching for flaws in the technique.
After a long while, Xu Ziqing lowered his sword and stood still. He had again been forced to stop at the moment when softness reached its utmost extreme, unable to advance further.
Yun Lie then offered his guidance, identifying each deviation in Xu Ziqing’s sword form and having him correct it. Gradually the shortcomings were remedied, and the sword intent of spring rain became even finer and more continuous.
Throughout the day, one practiced while the other corrected him. The demands of the teacher were strict, but the swordsman was diligent. Their unending practice upon the summit had an unexpectedly harmonious rhythm.
Only in the evening, when another golden silk document came flying from the horizon, were they interrupted. Once again, the sect master had issued a command.