Chapter Three: The Unreliable Fairy

“Where am I...?”

Mu Feng looked around, eyes filled with shock.

Such a grand and vast palace— even the Snow Moon Imperial Palace couldn’t compare.

The six towering stone pillars standing in the great hall stretched beyond sight.

After a long moment, Mu Feng’s gaze settled on the throne at the center.

There sat a woman clad in black silk, resting her face on one hand as she looked down on him.

“What the hell is that?”

Startled, Mu Feng jumped up and took several steps back.

“How rude! Swearing upon seeing this fairy is truly disheartening,” the woman said, shaking her head, her delicate, lively face flickering between tears and laughter.

Fairy?

Mu Feng scanned the surroundings, feeling skeptical.

What kind of fairy lives in such a dark palace named Sin Sea?

She looked less like a fairy and more like a female demon.

“What? Am I not a fairy just because I’m this beautiful?”

As if reading his thoughts, the fairy muttered with a hint of displeasure.

“Alright, alright, you’re definitely a fairy if you’re that beautiful,” Mu Feng said awkwardly, backing away.

This place didn’t seem fit for humans.

“You can’t escape. This place is a world contained within a jade pendant. If I don’t let you leave, you have no way out,” the fairy said lazily, stretching and grinning slyly.

Jade pendant?

“The one Xiao Yutong gave me?”

“Of course. She gave you the pendant and awakened me with an eternal vow. Since the pendant is on you, only then can you see me, got it?”

Mu Feng was a bit confused.

So it’s true what Xiao Yutong’s mother said—the pendant really does protect you!?

“Does the eternal vow really work?”

“Of course it does, otherwise how would I have awakened?”

“You should be very grateful to her,” the fairy said, hopping down from the throne and circling Mu Feng, as if studying him carefully.

“So, are you really a fairy?” Mu Feng asked, half doubtful.

“Of course. Though I’m just a fragment of a soul now. Otherwise, I’d just possess you, use your body to revive myself—hee hee hee.”

As she spoke, the fairy raised her hands, making grabbing motions and slowly advancing toward Mu Feng.

“Ah?!”

“I just got married! Would you really possess me?”

Mu Feng broke into a cold sweat.

He wasn’t afraid of people—he could die and be done with it.

But dealing with this ghost? He truly had no idea how.

“Just kidding, don’t take it seriously. You’re too small for me to possess,” she said.

“But if you don’t want me to possess you, you have to do me a favor and help me find the materials to rebuild my body,” the fairy smiled mischievously at Mu Feng.

Hearing this, Mu Feng nodded quickly.

As long as she didn’t possess him, he was willing to do anything.

“If I help you rebuild your body, you help me too. You’re a fairy, so give me supreme divine power.”

“I want to crush the Xiao family!”

Mu Feng rubbed his hands together cheerfully and stepped forward.

But the fairy slapped his forehead and pushed him back.

“No can do.”

“Aren’t you a fairy?”

“Just a lingering soul fragment.”

“Then maybe you should just possess me.”

Mu Feng spread his arms, looking as if he was offering himself up.

Seeing his pitiful state, the fairy rolled her eyes.

“Though I can’t give you divine power, I can let you start your cultivation anew.”

“Really?”

At those words, Mu Feng’s spirits soared, his eyes shining brightly.

“Of course! I’m a fairy after all.”

What kind of fairy was this, constantly saying “I’m a fairy” like a spoiled child?

She pointed with one hand, and a golden beam of light gathered at Mu Feng’s forehead.

Countless scriptures instantly flooded his mind.

“Sword technique?”

“Yes! Sword technique.”

“But isn’t it strange to call it just ‘Sword Technique’ without a proper name?”

Powerful cultivations always had grand names like Great Wilderness Heaven-Seizing Finger or Great Buddha Sutra.

No one simply called it “Sword Technique.”

“You know nothing. It’s called the Supreme Simplicity of the Dao.”

Fine, Supreme Simplicity of the Dao.

Mu Feng shook his head helplessly and carefully reviewed the sword technique in his mind.

Though called a sword technique, it wasn’t just about sword moves.

It also taught how to nurture the sword within oneself and transform into the sword itself.

According to the manual, mastering it fully would lead to man and sword becoming one, reaching the pinnacle of the sword path.

With a mere gesture, one could tear the sky with sword energy and cleave mountains and rivers.

Incredibly powerful!

But power alone wasn’t enough. Mu Feng’s meridians were completely shattered. Not only was practicing sword technique impossible, even ordinary methods were difficult for him.

“Um, fairy, I…”

“I understand.”

She touched his forehead again.

Another set of cultivation instructions flooded Mu Feng’s mind.

“Body Sutra.”

Another simple, ancient name.

“By practicing this, your meridians will heal. Master it, and you can forge a supreme immortal body,” the fairy said, smiling brightly.

“Really?”

Mu Feng asked excitedly.

“Try it and see for yourself.”

With that, the fairy waved her hand and threw Mu Feng out of Sin Sea.

Inside the room.

Mu Feng suddenly opened his eyes, feeling the surge of countless new memories and knowledge.

He confirmed it wasn’t a dream.

While Xiao Yutong was still asleep, Mu Feng quietly slipped out and sat cross-legged in the courtyard.

The two cultivation methods represented different aspects but were interconnected.

Using the Body Sutra to forge the body, and nurturing the sword technique through the body.

No wonder the fairy’s teachings were so formidable.

Without hesitation, Mu Feng silently recited the Body Sutra, focusing intently.

A hum—

A white light radiated from his lower abdomen.

Having long lost the sensation of spiritual energy, Mu Feng was overjoyed to feel this familiar presence again.

“Stay calm! Martial artists must avoid arrogance and impatience.”

The fairy’s voice suddenly echoed.

Mu Feng hurriedly calmed his mind and concentrated on circulating the Body Sutra.

Soon, faint crackling sounds emerged within him.

The sounds of shattered meridians reforming.

As his body gradually healed, Mu Feng instinctively practiced the sword technique.

Strands of sword intent began to swirl around him.

The fairy watched, surprised.

“To integrate both methods so quickly—what a genius.”

Time passed swiftly; dawn’s first light appeared.

Boom—

A sharp aura swept the surroundings.

The faint but piercing sword energy surged around Mu Feng, continuously enveloping him.

“This is... sword energy!”

According to the sword technique, transforming the body into a sword and refining ten sword energies marks the entrance to the first realm.

After one night of cultivation, Mu Feng had refined one sword energy.

Not only that, his broken meridians had fully recovered, and his cultivation had reached the first stage of Qi Condensation.

Though starting anew, Mu Feng couldn’t help but smile with joy.

“Don’t be proud. Each sword energy you refine will be exponentially harder. The tough parts are still ahead.”

The ethereal figure appeared again and gently tapped Mu Feng’s head.

“I understand. Thank you, fairy!”

Mu Feng cupped his hands respectfully, grateful beyond words for this rebirth.

“No need to thank me~”

“Oh! Someone’s coming.”

In the next moment, the fairy vanished.

Suddenly, loud knocks sounded at the courtyard gate.

Bang bang bang—

“Blind witch, get out here now!”