Mahayana 149
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Chapter 149: Imprints of the Inheritance Techniques, Returning the Obsidian Snow Sword
TL : Cnine
ED/PF :
Part 1
Compared to the inherited divine artefacts and resources, the imprints of the original inheritance techniques were of utmost importance.
The reason why the inheritance of the Boundless Horizon Palace had been lost was mainly because this cultivation method could only be passed down through the original imprints, using the sect’s inheritance treasure.
Having lost the inheritance treasure, it could be replaced with other items. For example, the inheritance treasure of the Boundless Horizon Palace was now substituted with Su Qianyi’s Red Jade Sword.
However, inheritance techniques could only be replicated through the original treasure art imprint. There was no other method.
Thus, even if one had mastered a particular treasure art, they could not privately pass it down to their disciples, greatly reducing the risk of the technique being leaked.
The awkward part was that there was only a single original treasure art. Once lost outside, the inheritance would be severed.
After the incident with Qingxu, the other palaces had already changed their methods of inheritance.
“The inheritance treasure art is imprinted on me! Master, please come and retrieve it using the Obsidian Snow Sword.” Xiao Yifeng decisively opened his Sea of Consciousness, revealing hundreds of dazzling, multicoloured imprints within.
Xiao Yifeng had not secretly kept these imprints for himself; after all, it belonged to the Boundless Horizon Palace. However, he had already made a copy.
Su Qianyi nodded, flew down, and arrived before Xiao Yifeng. The Obsidian Snow Sword lay horizontally between them.
Xiao Yifeng grasped the hilt, while Su Qianyi held the tip of the sword. One by one, the magnificent imprints flowed from Xiao Yifeng, along Obsidian Snow Sword, into Su Qianyi.
Su Qianyi’s expression remained unchanged, yet inwardly he felt something strange. Outsiders all believed he was controlling the Obsidian Snow Sword, but only he knew that the sword had already acknowledged a master. At present, it was this young disciple of his who was truly controlling Obsidian Snow.
Before long, all the inheritance imprints had transferred to Su Qianyi. He examined them once, comparing them with what he already knew, and nodded in satisfaction to the elders.
He then used a jade slip to copy down the names of all the techniques, over a hundred high-grade arts, and several hundred minor techniques as well.
Su Qianyi handed the jade slip to the elders. They each took it and examined it, comparing it with the descriptions in their memories. Finding no discrepancies and nothing missing, they could not help but shed tears.
“Heaven bless our Boundless Horizon Palace! Our inheritance has been restored!” the elders said excitedly.
Hearing this, everyone was overjoyed, their faces filled with happy smiles. With the inheritance restored, their strength would surge forward rapidly.
“Good. Yifeng and Qing’er, the two of you have rendered a tremendous service to our Boundless Horizon Palace. We reward merit and punish crime clearly. In a few days, after I discuss with the elders, your rewards will be decided,” Su Qianyi said.
The elders nodded slightly without speaking. After all, the items had been brought back by them, so giving some rewards was only fair.
Besides, if they refused, Su Qianyi would find ways to take things anyway. It was better to grant the favour willingly.
“Thank you, Master (Father),” Xiao Yifeng and Su Miaoqing said, as they bow in unison.
“Everyone present here is a core member of our Boundless Horizon Palace. This matter must not be leaked in the slightest. At the very least, until the True Martial Art Ranking, it must remain strictly confidential,” Su Qianyi said in a deep voice.
Everyone understood that although the inheritance had been restored and the supreme treasure had returned, there was no guarantee that others would not target the Boundless Horizon Palace and use underhanded methods against them.
“It is a pity the inheritance returned too late. The True Martial Art Ranking is already close at hand. Even if the disciples train diligently, the time is too short. This time, the results will likely still be unsatisfactory,” Elder Wu sighed.
Hearing this, the others could not help but feel disheartened. For the Boundless Horizon Palace to completely escape its current predicament, it would take at least another decade.
“It does not matter. As long as we do not come last this time, it will suffice. I will intensify your training. We have endured for so many years; at worst, we will lie low for a while longer,” Su Qianyi said.
“Indeed!” the elders nodded in agreement.
Su Qianyi gave further instructions, mainly that the matter of the inheritance must not be exposed, in order to prevent the other palaces from making preparations. As for the grand reception this time, it could only be explained to outsiders as him doting on his daughter and his young disciple.
“Alright, that's all. You may all leave,” Su Qianyi said.
“This disciple takes his leave!” The disciples saluted and withdrew one after another.
“Xiao Feng, come with me. I haven’t seen you in a long time. Come chat with your master and me,” Lin Ziyun said, keeping Xiao Yifeng behind.
Everyone was immersed in the joy of the moment. Knowing that Xiao Yifeng had always been close with their family, they thought nothing of it. After saluting, they all withdrew.
Xiao Yifeng followed their family into Enlightenment Courtyard and entered Su Qianyi’s residence, where Su Qianyi dismissed the servants.
After everyone withdrew, only Su Qianyi’s family and Xiao Yifeng remained in the main hall of Wudao Garden.
With no outsiders present, Su Miaoqing removed her disguise. Looking at her parents whom she had not seen for a long time, she called out “Mother” to Lin Ziyun, then threw herself into Lin Ziyun’s embrace.
“Mother, I missed you so much!” she cried, tears streaming down her face, startling Lin Ziyun, who thought she must have suffered greatly outside.
Lin Ziyun held her just like when she was little, gently soothing her. It took quite some time before she finally calmed the girl down.
“Qing’er, you’re already grown up, yet you still cry all the time. Careful, or Xiaofeng will laugh at you!”
Holding Su Miaoqing in her arms, Lin Ziyun could feel more clearly than ever how much her daughter had grown. She let out a quiet sigh, marvelling inwardly that the little girl had truly come of age, and could not resist teasing her.
“He wouldn’t dare! If he does, I’ll expose every single thing he’s done!” Su Miaoqing huffed, puffing her cheeks in indignation.
“Senior Sister, spare my life!” Xiao Yifeng hurriedly begged for mercy, afraid she would reveal what happened in Elegant Courtyard.
“Enough, stop messing about. I have something important to say.” Su Qianyi cleared his throat, cutting through the chaos as it spiralled off course.
Then he looked at Xiao Yifeng and said, “Xiaofeng, now that there are no outsiders, you can tell the truth, can’t you? Why did the Obsidian Snow Sword acknowledge you as its master?”
Xiao Yifeng had long been prepared for Su Qianyi’s suspicion. After all, which Palace Master was not a cunning old fox?
The fact that Grandmaster Qingxu had left his inheritance to Xiao Yifeng instead of Su Miaoqing was already a glaring point of suspicion.
“Your disciple knew he could not deceive Master. Earlier, there were too many people around, so it was inconvenient for me to speak the truth. I ask Master to forgive me,” Xiao Yifeng said.
“You mean to say that I suspect there is a spy within the hall? Do you not trust your fellow senior brothers?” Su Qianyi said in a deep voice.
“Your disciple would not dare,” Xiao Yifeng replied calmly. “It is only that this matter concerns Martial Granduncle… and the reputation of Boundless Horizon Palace. I had no choice but to conceal the truth.”
Lin Ziyun frowned faintly. “And how does this concern the reputation of Boundless Horizon Palace?” she asked.
Without hesitation, Xiao Yifeng began recounting everything regarding Grandmaster Qingxu in meticulous detail, while at the side, Su Miaoqing could not resist adding her own dramatic flourishes.
As the two listened, their expressions grew increasingly grim. When they heard that Qingxu had actually intended to possess Su Miaoqing, Lin Ziyun’s face turned livid, and Su Qianyi clenched his fists.
Su Miaoqing further said that when Qingxu failed to possess her, he had tried to erase her memories and take her as a Daoist Companion. This touched her bottom line and made her uncontrollably furious.
Xiao Yifeng naturally avoided mentioning that he possessed multiple cultivation techniques. He only said that he had moved Grandmaster Qingxu, who then believed possessing him would serve two purposes.
As for the existence of an Azure Lotus within his Sea of Consciousness, he reported it truthfully. Otherwise, there would be no way to explain how a Mahayana Realm expert like Qingxu had fallen at his hands.
He even deliberately opened his Sea of Consciousness for Su Qianyi to enter and examine what the Azure Lotus was. He had already prepared in advance, hiding the contract of Immortal Slayer.
This action served two purposes: first, to prove that what he said was true; second, to prove that he had not been possessed and was still himself.
Unfortunately, Su Qianyi did not recognise what the Azure Lotus was either, and could only assume that Xiao Yifeng was exceptionally gifted.