Half a month later, Xilutaiya trained the Dew Prayer Method to Stage 3 once more, then advanced to Emerald Honey.
With her prior experience, relearning it went remarkably fast, and she even gained deeper insights.
After restoring herself to First-Order Emerald Honey, she spent another half a month relearning the Branch Trimming Method and integrating it with the Dew Prayer Method to crystallize the Gardening Apprentice class.
As for studying Bloom Art, she consulted Madame Falan once again.
"This is indeed difficult to learn. Back then, it took me nearly three months to master it, and I was already considered a genius among my peers," Madame Falan said, reassuring her that this was not Xilutaiya's fault. "Originally, I thought that if you began studying in December under my guidance, you might catch up by January or February to achieve Stage 1 of Bloom Art. Paired with the Fire Cloud Orchid, that would have been enough to deal with Iona."
"Yet unexpected events are always hard to foresee," Madame Falan added with a touch of regret.
"With your current strength, paired with the Tree Jade Spirit Sword, you can easily handle Suolin and Mick.
"However, facing 'Blazing Sun' Iona is still a bit of a stretch; there is no guarantee you will win.
"I inquired with Haide, and he told me that a month ago, Iona began drinking a concocted Blazing Sun secret elixir to accelerate her cultivation. She likely wants to learn a new Blazing Sun attribute ability, though outsiders have no way of knowing what it is exactly."
*Three months?* Xilutaiya tilted her head, puzzled.
She had thought that taking an entire week to gain an initial grasp was already painfully slow. She had never imagined Madame Falan would tell her it took three months just to achieve a basic mastery. How, then, had she learned it so quickly back then?
Could it be that in gardening, she truly had inherited her mother's fine talent, learning faster than everyone else?
"I'll give it another try," the young girl replied, feeling awkward about telling Madame outright that she had actually learned it far faster than Madame had back in her day.
"Mm, no need to be discouraged. Here is the Tree Jade Spirit Sword you wanted earlier. I commissioned a craftsman to prepare it for you." Madame Falan had Lining carry out an oblong wooden box, revealing a longsword as translucent as jade inside.
[Tree Jade Spirit Sword] (First-Order, Excellent): Readily contains the attribute power of Emerald Honey. When infused with Emerald Honey, the blade becomes exceptionally sharp and sturdy, capable of repairing nicks and bends. Possesses excellent offensive capability and superb impact resistance, greatly preventing fractures or snapping.
"For now, use this sword to practice your Garden Swordsmanship. If you can withstand Lining's rapid attacks for three minutes, you'll be able to parry Iona with ease." Madame Falan lightly waved her folding fan.
"Understood," Xilutaiya answered eagerly.
*It's finally going to come in handy—the swordsmanship I've practiced ceaselessly over these past few months.* She glanced at her skill column:
[Basic Swordsmanship Lv. 5], [Military Swordsmanship Lv. 5], [Garden Swordsmanship Lv. 4]...
Those few days of fighting in the World in Shadows had successfully allowed her Basic Swordsmanship to undergo a qualitative leap into Lv. 5, and the same was true for her Military Swordsmanship.
Taking out the jade-like longsword, she held it in one hand.
Xilutaiya closed her eyes and sensed its internal structure. Much like using the Branch Trimming Method to tend flowers and herbs, she smoothed the resin grain and fine particles within. This straightened the blade, sharpening its edge even further.
She then gave the sword a few experimental swings, her body moving in harmony with the blade as she gradually adapted to its weight and balance.
...
Half an hour later, sword in hand, she faced a tree stump log before her and slashed downward. A crescent arc of emerald light flashed into existence, turning with the rotation of her slender waist.
A faint sound rose from where the edge bit into the log. A soft shimmer enveloped the blade as it cleaved effortlessly through the wood, splitting it clean in two.
Withdrawing her sword, Xilutaiya lowered her gaze, carefully inspecting the cut and cross section as she replayed her movement in her mind.
It seemed her posture and angle could still be improved for a smoother strike.
...
Three days later, Xilutaiya and Lining were sparring in an open clearing amidst the fields.
The jade-bright sword slashed through the air, colliding with the black sword in Lining's hands. Clear, ringing chimes sounded alongside faint showers of sparks as the two repeatedly turned and crossed blades in rapid exchanges.
Because both used Garden Swordsmanship and Lining suppressed a portion of her strength rather than relying on overwhelming force, the bout settled into a temporary equilibrium.
With Swift Shadow Footwork and the circulation of Breathing Method forbidden, Lining's greatest speed advantage was stripped away. Relying solely on Agile Body Lv. 4, she could not crush Xilutaiya outright. Furthermore, even though Xilutaiya had dispelled the Blood Law attribute from her Destiny Card after that previous advancement, part of the physical enhancement had been permanently retained.
Their duel grew increasingly intense. Stray flowers and grass were sheared away by passing blades, sending leaves fluttering through the air as pale-green sap was exposed to the breeze, releasing bursts of fresh herbal fragrance.
Twelve minutes later, Lining lowered her sword, and Xilutaiya came to a steady halt opposite her.
"Do you feel tired?" Lining asked, looking at the young girl, who had only a light sheen of sweat on her forehead.
"A little." Xilutaiya carefully dabbed her brow with her sleeve, her grip on the sword remaining firm. "Shall we keep going?"
"That will be enough for today." Lining shook her head slightly. "Miss Tiya, truthfully, an ordinary First-Order Blood Law wouldn't be able to endure the intensity of your current combat."
She had noticed the girl consistently employing Breathing Method to match her pace. Even with brief pauses to catch her breath, she had circulated it for at least six full minutes.
Most practitioners of First-Order Blood Law were incapable of that.
Sheathing her sword, Lining helped Xilutaiya wipe away the remaining sweat and asked with rare curiosity, "Miss Tiya, you must know what kind of place the World in Shadows is, and you understand some of the rules of the Hidden Woodland. Why do you still yearn for it?" She knew that many scions of prominent families were unwilling to set foot in such a perilous realm.
"Well..." For a moment, Xilutaiya could not quite explain the anticipation and flutter in her heart.
"If I had to speak from the bottom of my heart, perhaps it's out of fear?" Standing in the shade of the trees and feeling the breeze, she felt much more refreshed.
"Fear?" Lining was even more puzzled.
"Yes. Have you ever experienced that, Lining? Where you could have gone to a far larger place, met more people, witnessed more things, and enjoyed a much more wondrous life.
"Yet because of your own timidity and surrender, you ultimately let that opportunity slip away.
"I used to think the future held limitless possibilities, and that past mistakes could always be mended. But I've come to realize that isn't true." Xilutaiya turned her head, gently smoothing her tousled hair. "Childhood companions slowly grow up and go their separate ways, and the family we know grows older by the day.
"Even if I were to return to where I lived as a child, the people from back then wouldn't remain there anymore.
"If I want to hold on to the things I cherish and love, I have to seize the time right before me, along with the few opportunities I have.
"It's true that opportunities come more than once, but when the next one arrives, will I still possess the ease and lightness I have today?
"I'm terribly afraid of missing out on precious people and things once again. That's why I want to push myself a little harder during this time." Having tied back her tidy hair, the young girl gave her lustrous silver locks a gentle shake, her clear, crisp voice lingering in the gentle breeze.
Chapter 85