Three days later, it was once again inner sect disciple Lin Qing who brought Shen Ruochu to the outside of the Gravekeeper Forbidden Ground.
By now, Shen Ruochu was already familiar with the route.
After everything she had experienced during this period, she was gradually shedding her childishness. Her behavior and movements were becoming increasingly composed, closer to that of an adult.
Yet when Gu Chengxing and Shen Ruochu met again, neither of their expressions changed.
Two emotionless faces confronted each other.
“Let’s go.”
“Today, I’ll take you somewhere else.”
Gu Chengxing turned around and spoke to himself as he walked forward without stopping.
This time, his pace was slower.
Shen Ruochu stared at his back, clenched her fist briefly, and then followed.
Gu Chengxing walked steadily.
Looking at the scene ahead, his mood was inexplicably stirred.
This felt familiar.
In the fragmented memories that remained, someone had once led him step by step through this very forbidden ground.
Unconsciously, he remembered that person teaching him about cultivation at this same time.
Master…
I am clearly just a transmigrator. Why do I feel so much sentiment?
A subtle stir rose in his heart, and he began speaking, just like the figure in his memory.
“Cultivation is difficult.”
“First comes Body Refinement, from 1st to 9th level. Each level is harder than the last.”
“Then comes Qi Condensation. There are 108 meridians in total. Each meridian requires a drop of heart’s blood.”
“After that comes Spirit Shaping. First integrate the three souls, then unite the seven spirits.”
“Body Refinement, Qi Condensation, and Spirit Shaping are the three foundational realms. They are the beginning of cultivation, also known as the Lower Three Realms.”
“After Spirit Shaping, one can expand the soul sea and store spiritual liquid. This is the Soul Sea Realm.”
“When the soul sea condenses into a bead and transforms into a pill, revolving like a star in endless cycles, that is the Core Formation Realm.”
“When the pill gives birth to primordial essence, revealing one’s true heart, establishing one’s path in harmony with heaven and earth, that is the Nascent Soul Realm.”
“Soul Sea, Core Formation, and Nascent Soul—these three realms form the Middle Three Realms.”
At this point, Gu Chengxing glanced slightly backward.
Seeing Shen Ruochu listening intently, he felt satisfied.
After a brief pause, he continued.
“My current realm is the Nascent Soul Realm. If you want to kill me, your realm must at least match mine.”
“After the Nascent Soul Realm comes the Void Shattering Realm. With a mere gesture, one can shatter space.”
“The Peak Masters of our Azure Cloud Sword Sect and a small number of elders are at that realm.”
“Beyond the Void Shattering Realm lies the Three Forbidden Realms. As the name suggests, it has three stages: First Forbidden—Forbidden Life Realm, Second Forbidden—Forbidden Ruins Realm, Third Forbidden—Forbidden Domain Realm.”
“The Three Forbidden Realms are complex. It would be difficult to explain clearly in a short time. And for you now, they are still far away, so we will set them aside.”
“Now, I will explain Body Refinement in detail.”
“The Body Refinement Realm is not what most people imagine. It is not merely tempering the body with medicinal baths. There is a fundamental difference.”
“Purely tempering the body is suitable only for martial arts. At great completion, one becomes what mortals call a grandmaster or martial artist.”
“In the cultivation world, Body Refinement requires coordination with cultivation techniques. By circulating spiritual power through the meridians, the technique tempers the body’s essence and opens the meridians…”
Gu Chengxing spoke calmly and steadily.
Step by step, sentence by sentence, as they walked.
He explained everything about the Body Refinement Realm as clearly as possible.
After some time, they arrived at their destination.
The ground gradually became open and flat. The uneven, rugged terrain disappeared, replaced by smooth black soil.
Across the vast land grew scattered patches of half-withered grass.
Even stranger, although the weather had been clear before, the sky here was dim and gloomy.
Within this graveyard forbidden ground filled with the dead, it appeared even more eerie.
The young man gazed at the scene, a faint smile at the corner of his lips.
The blurred fragments of memory in his mind gradually became clearer. Past scenes surfaced uncontrollably.
“This cultivation task should not be difficult for you.”
Gu Chengxing turned around. His tone and expression were unexpectedly gentle, causing Shen Ruochu to feel a momentary discomfort.
“Within seven days, cut down all the weeds within your sight.”
He paused slightly, glanced at Shen Ruochu, and continued.
“This time, I will monitor you completely.”
“And—”
“You are not allowed to use killing intent.”
“After completing this task, I will give you an extremely precious medicinal herb. It can repair the soul. Its effect is similar to a Soul Nourishing Stone, but once consumed, its effect is countless times stronger.”
When he said this, Gu Chengxing fixed his gaze tightly on Shen Ruochu, emphasizing the words “repair the soul.”
He wanted to see if she understood.
Yes, he was doing it deliberately.
At first, Shen Ruochu showed no obvious reaction. But after she raised her head and noticed the peculiar look in Gu Chengxing’s eyes, she suddenly paused.
“Soul… Soul Nourishing Stone?”
Ji Liang?
Her breathing stalled for a moment as realization dawned.
She looked at Gu Chengxing in disbelief.
Was there anything he did not know?
Seeing that she understood, Gu Chengxing smiled faintly and said no more.
Ignoring her probing gaze, he moved his thoughts. A pale green sword appeared in his hand.
Azure Spirit Sword.
A Top-Grade Spiritual Weapon.
It was also the sword Chen Wuxin had once given him at this very place.
Gu Chengxing extended the spiritual sword toward Shen Ruochu.
“Take good care of this sword. Its name is Azure Spirit.”
“It adjusts its weight according to its master’s condition. For an early-stage cultivator, there is nothing better.”
To be honest, as he watched the Azure Spirit Sword leave his hand, Gu Chengxing felt a slight reluctance.
But there was no need to cling to it.
For a Top-Grade Spiritual Weapon, it was adequate at the Core Formation Realm.
But at his current peak Nascent Soul Realm strength, a single strike would shatter it. He would need a higher-grade weapon soon. There was no reason to let Azure Spirit decay in his possession.
Giving it to the Chosen female lead Shen Ruochu was perfect. The sword would not be wasted.
Shen Ruochu grasped the Azure Spirit Sword. Feeling its feather-light weight, she lowered her head and stared at it, her expression frozen, lost in thought.
“The task officially begins!”
Hearing this, Shen Ruochu flicked a sword flourish lightly. A trace of seriousness crossed her small face as she slowly stepped into the nearest patch of grass.
She swung without technique, a simple slash.
Crack!
The half-withered grass did not collapse as expected. It was only severed halfway and swayed precariously.
It was tougher than she imagined.
Shen Ruochu withdrew the Azure Spirit Sword and slashed twice more.
Crack!
This time, the grass fell.
She moved toward another patch.
But as she walked, a faint sound came from behind.
The little girl froze and instinctively turned.
The grass she had just cut had returned to its original state.
This time, Gu Chengxing explained from behind her.
“These are Everlasting Grasses. As the name suggests, they never wither and never collapse.”
“This area is therefore called the Land That Never Withers.”
“Of course, they are not truly invincible. The name is more impressive than their actual ability. As long as you find their critical point and strike it precisely, they will not regenerate.”
“There are 387 Everlasting Grasses here in total. Take your time.”
“For the first three days, think carefully about how to completely cut down a single blade of grass.”