Chapter 15: Jade Pendant Shadow Spirit
Taoist Xuantian appeared beside him like a ghost, with a barely perceptible smile on his face, "You are really stubborn, kid. But that's how the process of cultivation works, constantly challenging yourself and breaking through your limits."
"Master, you are always so calm." Shangguan Jiannan raised his head, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, "I am almost exhausted, but you don't look tired at all."
The old Taoist smiled faintly, with a relaxed tone: "Although my soul body is not as tired as the physical body, I can still feel your hard work. However, as a cultivator, the most important thing is to keep a peaceful state of mind. No matter how tired you are, you must learn to adjust your mentality."
"Peace of mind." Shangguan Jiannan repeated, as if pondering the meaning of this sentence, "I will remember it."
As time passed, the Nine-Storey Tower gradually became quiet. Shangguan Jiannan's cultivation entered a stable stage. He gradually mastered the power of the Nether Jade Pendant, and his shadow skills also made significant progress. However, the lonely life and lonely environment often made him feel heavy-hearted.
"Master, have you ever thought about going out for a walk? This tower prison is too depressing." One day, Shangguan Jiannan sat on the stone platform and muttered to himself, "If I could go out and see the outside world, maybe I would feel much better."
A bitter smile appeared on the face of Taoist Xuantian. He stood aside, his eyes revealing deep sorrow: "I can no longer leave this nine-story tower prison. Although the outside world is beautiful, I will never see it again."
Shangguan Jiannan felt a surge of sympathy and pity in his heart. He slowly stepped forward and patted the old Taoist priest on the shoulder. "Master, don't worry. I will work hard to cultivate. One day in the future, I will bring you back a brighter world."
The old Taoist's expression softened a little. He turned around slowly, with a look of relief and gratitude in his eyes: "Thank you, child. I understand your intentions. Remember, cultivation is not only for becoming stronger, but also for achieving your true self."
The broken soul of Taoist Xuantian became more and more ethereal, "Jiannan."
"Master, what's wrong?" Shangguan Jiannan stopped practicing and asked inexplicably. He felt that the aura of Taoist Xuantian was getting weaker and weaker.
"Jiannan, my Shadow Pavilion has many techniques. The ones I taught you are the ones I am good at. When you get out, start as a disciple of the Shadow Pavilion. Don't expose yourself and wait for the right time. When the time is right, take over the Shadow Pavilion and become the Pavilion Master. I found an empty jade slip in the jade pendant and left my soul mark in it."
"When the time comes, those old guys from the Green Blade Peak, the Flame Melting Peak, and the Black Array Peak will know what to do. Your Nether Jade Pendant must have a great connection with our Shadow Pavilion."
In the seventh year, Taoist Xuantian completely disappeared in the world, and finally told Shangguan Jiannan, "Jiannan, you can't leave the tower yet. Wait until the shadow spirit of the Nether Jade Pendant recognizes you as its master, and then practice for a while, and then go out when you feel the sword's will."
"Hanying Peak, the peak master Ye Han, will eventually die if he does too much evil. When he dies, you will be free."
In the nine-story tower prison, it was freezing cold, and the surroundings were filled with the aura of the dark shadows. This environment was extremely difficult for ordinary cultivators, but for Shangguan Jiannan, who practiced the shadow technique, it was a rare holy place for cultivation. He sat cross-legged on the ground, his brows furrowed, his forehead covered with sweat, his eyes staring at the void in front of him, trying to comprehend his sword intent.
"Sword Intention...what exactly is it?" Shangguan Jiannan muttered to himself, a trace of confusion flashing in his eyes. Although he had practiced in this dark spiritual energy for several years, he still could not really touch the core of the sword intention.
"Sword intent is the essence of kendo. It is the state of integrating one's spirit, soul and sword into one..." Shangguan Jiannan recalled the teachings of Taoist Xuantian, but was unable to truly understand the deep meaning behind them.
He held the sword tightly in his hand, trying to break through his bottleneck through constant practice and meditation. However, no matter how hard he tried, he could not find the trace of his own sword intent in this dark place.
"What went wrong?" Shangguan Jiannan's heart was filled with confusion and anxiety, and his eyes became increasingly gloomy.
At this moment, a young girl's voice suddenly sounded in his ears, breaking through his thoughts like a breeze: "Stupid pig!"
Shangguan Jiannan was shocked, his face changed drastically, and he looked around, looking for the source of the voice. This voice was full of childishness and playfulness, which was incompatible with the cold atmosphere of the nine-story tower prison.
"Who?" Shangguan Jiannan asked vigilantly, with a hint of nervousness and surprise in his voice.
"You idiot, you have practiced for so long, but you can't even comprehend the sword intent. You really disappoint me." The childish voice sounded again. This time Shangguan Jiannan was finally sure that the voice came from the shadow spirit in the Netherworld Jade Pendant.
"Are you... Shadow Spirit?" Shangguan Jiannan looked at the Netherworld Jade Pendant on his chest in shock, his eyes full of confusion and surprise.
"Of course it's me, who else could it be?" Ying Ling's voice was filled with pride and mischief, "I've noticed that you've been practicing for a long time without making any progress, so I couldn't help but come out and teach you a lesson."
Shangguan Jiannan felt mixed emotions. He had never thought that this jade pendant that had accompanied him for many years actually contained a shadow spirit, and it was a young girl's soul. He took a deep breath, tried to calm himself down, and asked, "Shadow Spirit, do you know why I can't comprehend the sword intent?"
Ying Ling chuckled, with a hint of teasing in his voice: "Of course I know. You idiot, the problem is that you don't really understand what sword intent is."
"Then tell me, what exactly is the sword intent?" Shangguan Jiannan's tone was a little anxious, he was eager to know the answer.
"Stupid, what I told you is my understanding, you need to understand your own needs yourself."
"Stop talking nonsense. How can I gain enlightenment? Can I gain enlightenment by just sitting and daydreaming?" Shangguan Jiannan shouted loudly with a frown on his face.
"You...you...good enough! Come here! I will prove it to you right now! Come here and drop a drop of blood on the Netherworld Jade Pendant, right now!" Seeing that Shangguan Jiannan still didn't believe her, the little girl laughed in anger and said with a trembling voice.
After hearing what the little girl said, Shangguan Jiannan thought for a moment, then took out the Netherworld Jade Pendant with a gloomy face. He bit his finger and let a drop of blood fall on the Netherworld Jade Pendant, which then emitted a strange dark light.
The dark light wrapped on the Netherworld Jade Pendant began to change gradually. Not long after, in Shangguan Jiannan's horrified eyes, the dark light gradually turned into a little girl about twelve or thirteen years old, wearing strange clothes.