Chapter 146

Chapter 146: The Modified Luan Feather Fan

On the disciples’ training field, five pairs of human eyes and two pairs of beast eyes were all fixed on Shen Sang Ruo.

She closed the Luan Feather Fan in her hand; with a light motion the fan opened, still the gleaming blue-green feathers shining softly.

In the next instant she swung her arm and hurled the Luan Feather Fan. The fan spun flat in the air, then the feathers separated, turning into many single feathers.

The soft plumes became unusually hard and sharp, throwing off a cold light.

Where they swept past, they split the very air into twin streams, their force no weaker than swords or knives.

Even more, the feathers were nimble and light. They followed the movements of Shen Sang Ruo’s fingers and stayed completely under her control, as if they were a part of her.

The Luan Feather Fan she had rebuilt with her own hands now matched her perfectly.

In front of her, the feathers gathered to form a shield for defense, or flashed out like drawn blades. A single drifting feather could easily cut through a giant tree. It could attack or defend as needed.

At last, every feather flew back to her hand and reassembled into the Luan Feather Fan. The blue fan rested quietly before her chest, its feathers stirring on their own without wind.

It was as if everything just now had been a dream.

Shen Sang Ruo smiled as she asked: “Sect Master Wu Wei, what do you think?”

This was the Luan Feather Fan remade from her own idea, using the ten-thousand-year Heart Core of Myriad-Change Wood to the fullest so it would suit her best.

Su Xi Yu and the others stared in surprise, all shocked by her skill.

Daoist Wu Wei stroked his beard with clear praise and said: “Good, good. This kind of redesign is truly ingenious.”

He added: “Now the Luan Feather Fan can cast Sunset Glassfire Art for long-range attacks, and if an enemy rushes you, the fan can turn into sharp feathers to fight at close range.”

No matter the situation, she would not fall behind and would always have the power to fight.

Daoist Wu Wei, still stroking his beard, thought that if he were the one to rebuild it, he probably would not have made it this flexible.

That is the point of cultivation and seeking the Way: what you grasp yourself and what fits you is always the best.

Her senior brothers and senior sister came over and praised her one after another.

Song Wei Yan said excitedly: “Junior Sister, your strength has jumped up a whole level.”

This change filled in Shen Sang Ruo’s biggest weak spot. From now on, it would be hard for her opponents to find any flaw in battle.

As his words faded, a figure drifted down in front of them.

The powerful aura he brought made their robes whip about. They even had to raise both hands before them just to keep steady.

Immortal Lord Chang Li, fresh from Closed-Door Cultivation, stood with his hands behind his back, giving everyone a proud profile.

[He really looked the part.] [If they did not already know what Immortal Lord Chang Li was actually like, they might have been fooled.]

His disciples played along as they bowed and said: “Greetings, Master. Welcome back from seclusion.”

Satisfied, Immortal Lord Chang Li finally lifted his eyes to Shen Sang Ruo and asked calmly: “While I was in Closed-Door Cultivation, did you make another breakthrough, Sang Ruo?”

She nodded and said: “It counts as a small breakthrough. Master, what do you think of the Luan Feather Fan I rebuilt?”

A true big breakthrough would be in cultivation itself; reaching Nascent Soul would count as big.

Of course he had seen what she displayed just now.

He said: “Azure Luan will be very happy. Giving the Luan Feather Fan to you was the right choice.”

She answered: “I will show the rebuilt Luan Feather Fan to Immortal Maiden Azure Luan later.” She had not seen Immortal Maiden Azure Luan in a long time and felt a little homesick for her. [I wonder how that proud Immortal Maiden will react. Will she praise me with that awkward face?]

Immortal Lord Chang Li’s gaze slid to the Zhu Miao hanging from her. The soft, silly little bear cub looked at him, then lazily looked away. Between the person and the bear, a faint thread seemed to link the two.

[Is that…] Surprise flickered in his eyes, but he pressed it down at once.

He made a casual ask about the little one’s origin, then shifted the topic to himself.

Shen Sang Ruo studied her teacher and said: “Master, you seem much stronger than before this time out of seclusion.”

Before his last Closed-Door Cultivation, Immortal Lord Chang Li had already reached Nascent Soul Early Stage.

In the Cultivation World, once you break through from Golden Core to Nascent Soul, every step after requires Tribulation Crossing.

But the seal over the Ninghua Sect seemed to cut them off from the outside and dodge the eyes of the Heavenly Dao, so in these last breakthroughs he did not face any Heavenly Tribulation.

It did not really matter; before he was sealed, he had gone through every Heavenly Tribulation he was supposed to, and that was how he reached such strength.

Su Xi Yu stepped to Shen Sang Ruo’s side, eyeing him the same way, and said: “Looks like at least Nascent Soul Late Peak, right?”

Immortal Lord Chang Li curled his lip and said: “You are looking down on this Immortal Lord. In your eyes, is your teacher that weak?”

Displeased by their guesses, he sniffed and declared: “Your teacher is now Mid Divine Transformation in strength!”

His aura exploded, and his cool, showy style came out in full. [He is showing off again.]

He was not starting cultivation over from nothing. He was absorbing the cultivation stored in his original body.

So his rise was far faster than other people’s. At this point, he had absorbed half the cultivation of that body.

Yet aside from Shen Sang Ruo looking a little surprised, the others only went: “Oh.”

The biggest reaction came from Bai Ruo An, who wiped the grit off his face and said: “Master, the dust you kicked up splattered on my face.”

Immortal Lord Chang Li fell silent, then tugged the corner of his mouth and muttered: “Buzzkill.” [Why did I take in this group of disciples? They never give me any emotional payoff.]

He tipped his chin at Bai Ruo An and asked: “Are your eyes better now?”

Bai Ruo An cupped his hands and said: “Yes. Thanks to Junior Sister finding the Firefly Gu Worm for me.”

Ye Huai, the Chief Disciple, stepped forward to report: “Master, all disciples have recovered and can begin cultivating again.”

Immortal Lord Chang Li drew back his aura. Looking at the five disciples lined up before him, his eyes held a new seriousness and a trace of feeling.

His gaze stopped on Shen Sang Ruo. He patted her shoulder and said: “You worked hard. Thank you.”

These were all things a teacher should have handled himself. Even the artifact to remove his seal was something she had helped him find.

Shen Sang Ruo smiled and followed his words as she said: “Your seal is gone. Our senior brothers and senior sister have recovered. The return of Ninghua Sect’s fortune no longer affects Sect Master Wu Wei.”

“I am thinking we could leave this place and rebuild the Ninghua Sect in the outside world.”

Immortal Lord Chang Li said: “No need to make it that troublesome. Just see if the original site of the Ninghua Sect is still there.”

“If it is, this Immortal Lord will simply move the buildings of this Ninghua Sect there.”