Chapter 660

Chapter 660: Regulating Breath and Nurturing Spirit

"Since Senior is willing to instruct this junior, it’s my great fortune." Jin An nodded excitedly, adjusting his animal hide. A weathered wooden sword materialized in his hand as he bowed respectfully. "Will Senior use your Immortal Sword or face me empty-handed?"

"Using my blade would be bullying you. This will suffice." Ye Yun plucked a burning branch from the fire. Flames danced across his cold expression as he launched the first strike.

Caught off guard, Jin An hastily raised his wooden sword to block. Yet Ye Yun’s relentless swordplay surged like an unceasing river, denying any chance of counterattack. The numbing impact nearly forced Jin An’s hands apart until he stabilized them with true qi. "Senior’s swordsmanship remains unfathomable," he gasped in admiration.

"Merely extra years of practice. Don’t dwell on it." Ye Yun waved off the praise with modest ease.

"Merely extra years of practice, don’t dwell on it…" The Ancestor of the Sword Path parroted in mocking tones. "How pretentious!"

"Seeking trouble, Ancestor?" Ye Yun shot back. A razor-sharp soul sword energy shot toward the Ancestor’s spirit, only to be flicked away casually.

"Pathetic effort," the Ancestor sneered, launching his own sword energy at Ye Yun’s alchemy pill. The golden core trembled violently as Ye Yun suppressed its agitation through gritted teeth. "Cease attacking my core! What if it shatters?"

"My aim was flawless," the Ancestor retorted, watching Ye Yun’s discomfort with amusement. "Can’t move, can you?"

"Just minor interference." Ye Yun circulated true qi to calm his core, resolving to postpone further spiritual sparring until matching the Ancestor’s cultivation level. Battling while fire poison lingered proved too taxing.

"In my prime, warriors dueled me fearlessly with life-or-death stakes," the Ancestor grumbled. "Not like your timid generation."

"Challenge me after equal millennia of cultivation, then we’ll see bravery," Ye Yun countered dryly.

"Cheeky brat!" Sword energy coalesced at the Ancestor’s fingertips. "Shall I teach you respect?"

"You win, venerable elder." Ye Yun raised hands in mock surrender. "We youngsters must humor our ancestors."

Turning to Jin An, Ye Yun demonstrated new stances. "Master this, and your Sword Path foundations will solidify."

"Gratitude, Senior." Jin An absorbed every movement like scripture, eyes unblinking. To him, Ye Yun’s guidance rivaled a master’s teachings.

"Born as a Sword merges heavenly truths into blade work," the Ancestor mused suddenly. "Yet when you fused true qi with Thunder Spirit Qi, your meridians nearly collapsed. Is your flesh too weak for higher realms?"

"Perhaps." Ye Yun shrugged. "I’ll heed your advice – no blending spiritual power with true qi or spatial laws until Nascent Soul stage."

"Wise choice." The Ancestor’s laughter boomed. "Forge me a proper body someday, and I’ll show true sword dominance!"

"Then you’ll teach me Two Extremes Sword Technique when I win," Ye Yun bargained.

"Victory earns you any knowledge," the Ancestor conceded, knowing true masters forge their own paths.

Ye Yun’s hand drifted across the Purple Shadow Divine Sword’s luminous surface. Though mysterious in origin, it rivaled top-quality Immortal artifacts. "If you ever falter," he whispered, "I’ll scour heaven and earth to keep you at my side."

The blade’s lingering glow made him smile. "Do you comprehend me, old friend?"

Outside the snow house, endless peaks glittered with primal beauty. Through spirit perception, the vista surpassed expectations.

"Superior to Extreme Southern Fire Domain’s crude wilderness," the Ancestor remarked after scanning distant slopes. "Like fine porcelain beside clay pots."

"Yet so… lonely," Ye Yun murmured.

"Solitude crowns the strong," the Ancestor retorted. "Did you expect companions when overlooking mortal realms?"

"Knowing this doesn’t ease the heart." Ye Yun’s gaze fell on the Ancestor’s fading silhouette. "Even legends like you eventually fall."

"My path continues while I endure," the Ancestor declared. "One day, I’ll reclaim it."

"Then we’ll share three hundred victory cups," Ye Yun grinned. "Repay your debt properly."

The Ancestor’s chuckle carried melancholy notes. Separated from Ye Yun’s body, his soul would dissipate swiftly – a truth neither mentioned.

"Senior! Time to go!" Golden Ling’er bounded over, clinging to Ye Yun’s arm. "Stop pretending to meditate or I’ll snow-wash your face!"

"Ling’er!" Jin An chided. "Disturbing closed-door cultivation brings grave consequences!"

"Ancestor, why is my body still numb?" Ye Yun protested internally as Ling’er playfully throttled him.

"Your own recklessness with Two Extremes Sword Intent," the Ancestor snorted. "Send the little girl away and heal properly."

"Ling’er, wait outside," Ye Yun urged. "I need to… adjust my energies."

Tears welled in her eyes. "Did I harm Senior’s cultivation?"

"Merely minor qi deviation. Begone."

As she scampered off, Ye Yun unleashed true qi to shatter the paralysis spell. The snow house collapsed around him as roaring flames engulfed his form – a crimson beacon against endless white.

"Next jest like this," he warned the Ancestor while dusting snow from his robes, "and I’ll feed your soul to demons."

"Youth today lack humor," the Ancestor grumbled.

"Save jests for when I reclaim my full power." Ye Yun flexed restored muscles, smiling at the horizon. "None shall bar my path then."