029. Teaching in Name, Learning in Secret

During the past half day, Lu Wu hadn’t ventured out to feed. As the saying goes, sharpening the axe does not delay the chopping of wood. To do a good job, one must first prepare the tools. To prosper, first build the road. In short, strengthen the spleen and stomach before seeking blood.

Yi Ya’s words had awakened Lu Wu. During the first three hundred times of mimicking, the blood a mosquito could draw was enough for evolution. At the Qi Gathering stage, one must simultaneously activate the leech’s greedy skill to advance. But what about the third stage? Wouldn’t it require even more blood? Thus, fortifying the spleen and stomach was essential. If he could gain the legendary ability of the Lion of the Clear Sky, said to swallow mountains whole, it would be a delight. But for now, that seemed out of reach.

After Yi Ya left, Lu Wu remained in Yi Ya’s tent, studying the Sumeru Ring that Li Daoyun had gifted him. Once the ring was in hand, Lu Wu refined it immediately, but he hadn’t yet explored its practical uses. Now transformed into a soul artifact, Lu Wu wore it at his waist.

“Let’s stop calling it the Sumeru Ring. From now on, it’ll be the Sumeru Belt,” he decided.

At first, Lu Wu had considered placing the ring on his front leg, but after thinking it through, he realized he’d eventually need to forge or find offensive soul artifacts for all six legs. Thus, he affixed the ring to the first pattern along his waist.

As a flower mosquito, Lu Wu bore five black and four white stripes—nine in total. The first black stripe suited the Sumeru Belt perfectly.

Opening the Sumeru Belt, a pocket dimension unfolded before Lu Wu. Curiously, though there was no visible light, the space was well-lit and entirely clear. Compared to himself, this space was vast—millions of times his own size. By its dimensions, it measured just over two meters in length, width, and height, likely calculated according to the local measure of six feet. In other words, the Sumeru Belt was roughly three feet square from the center to the edges.

“What comfort!” he exclaimed. A spatial device! The perfect companion for travel or home.

Lu Wu experimented, moving a chair from the tent into the space and then retrieving it. The soul energy required was negligible.

“This is surely more advanced than Ziyu’s spatial pouch.”

Thinking of Ziyu, Lu Wu remembered he had several items stored with her. Now that he had his own Sumeru space, it was time to reclaim them. For instance, the golden source used to refine demon pills was in Ziyu’s possession. The demons he’d encountered previously weren’t wealthy, but they had some valuables; once in the outside world, these could serve as currency.

Lu Wu slowly flew toward Ziyu’s camp. Ziyu and several mid-stage Qi Gathering female disciples were practicing swordsmanship and exchanging insights. Watching for a while, Lu Wu noted Ziyu’s remarkable talent: after a month of cultivation, her realm was high—partly due to resources—but her swordsmanship surpassed her peers, attesting to her innate gifts.

Ziyu’s main practice was Phoenix Technique, to support her spirit sword embryo, the Phoenix Dragon. She had also studied several sets of sword techniques. Yet presently, her most potent skills were three life-saving secret arts taught to her personally by Lu Wu.

After observing for a bit, Lu Wu lost interest. Ziyu’s realm was still too low, and her sword techniques quite basic. The Book of Knowledge confirmed these were all fundamental techniques.

“Ziyu,” he called.

Ziyu lifted her head. “Elder Lu.”

Everyone now knew Lu Wu was a guest elder, but Ziyu “knew” he was one of the most powerful hidden figures in the Taixu Palace, his current role merely an external incarnation.

“Come here,” Lu Wu transmitted.

The other disciples, seeing the Mosquito Elder, withdrew.

Lu Wu said, “Return the items I left with you. In the coming days, I’ll be stirring up trouble in the demon army camps—creating chaos. Make sure you cultivate diligently.”

“Yes, Elder, I understand!” Ziyu replied, handing over his stored items.

Lu Wu took them. “I’ll be off.”

Back in the main tent, Lu Wu found Yi Ya searching every corner.

“Uncle Master? Uncle Master, are you here?” Yi Ya called. “Have you fallen asleep?”

Yi Ya assumed Lu Wu was napping somewhere, his small size making it plausible.

Lu Wu remarked, “You’re looking for me under the chair? Do you think I enjoy squeezing into furniture cracks?”

Yi Ya turned and saw Lu Wu, scratching his head in embarrassment. “I thought you were meditating.”

“Uncle Master, this is the Spleen-Stomach Powder.” He handed over the ingredients. “And these are untreated Earth Dragon branches.”

Lu Wu nodded in satisfaction. “Excellent! Well done. I’ve decided to teach you something.”

“How’s your swordsmanship?”

Yi Ya was puzzled. Though his master had said Lu Wu was powerful, could a beast like him wield a sword?

Lu Wu replied, “I used to live in the library. What secret manual haven’t I read? Show me your skills and I’ll guide you.”

Yi Ya was thrilled. “I knew it! Uncle Master is the greatest hidden trump card among the younger generation of Taixu Palace!”

“Uncle Master, I practice the Swimming Dragon Sword and Taixu Sword Art. Please have a look.”

As Yi Ya demonstrated, Lu Wu was amazed. Yi Ya’s talent was formidable. The Book of Knowledge rated his swordsmanship as proficient. Its grading system ran from unfamiliar, beginner, intermediate, advanced, then proficient, followed by perfect and transcendent. Yi Ya was just a step away from perfection.

“Not bad, very good,” Lu Wu praised. “Only one step from mastery.”

Yi Ya scratched his head. “It’s thanks to my master’s teaching. Uncle Master, you know the Swimming Dragon Sword and Taixu Sword Art too?”

Lu Wu declared, “The Swimming Dragon Sword captures a hint of true dragon’s essence, commands the sword’s soul, and brings the blade to life as if a dragon appeared—that’s mastery. The Taixu Sword Art is one of Taixu Palace’s strongest legacies, combining true essence and martial skill. At the peak of Qi Gathering, it can unleash a nine-zhang sword aura, detached from the body. Ultimately, it can split the world with a single stroke.”

Ordinary Qi Gathering sword cultivators couldn’t project sword aura from the body; for example, Ziyu’s aura always clung to the Phoenix Dragon sword. The Taixu Sword Art was fierce, centered on breaking through all obstacles.

Yi Ya was overjoyed. “Uncle Master truly understands! I’m so dull—after seven years, I still haven’t mastered it. The previous senior brother took nine years to reach mastery with the Swimming Dragon Sword.”

“The previous senior brother?” Lu Wu asked.

Yi Ya replied, “Yes, he succeeded in the last Taixu operation, passing through the Ten Thousand Demon Mountains to reach the Holy Capital. After he left, I became the senior brother.”

Lu Wu wasn’t clear on Taixu Palace’s disciple training methods, nor did he care to investigate.

“Yi Ya, I can transmit my insights on these two sword arts to you via soul sense—but it consumes a great deal of primordial spirit energy. Do you understand?”

Yi Ya sighed. “What a shame. Uncle Master, you’ll soon be busy in the demon army, with important tasks. We’ll have to wait.”

Lu Wu was speechless.

“Silly! If you gather more soul-type medicinal herbs, I can replenish my energy in time!”

Yi Ya was delighted. “Ah! Right! Uncle Master, will this work?”

Lu Wu glanced at the item and consulted the Book of Knowledge.

“Dragon Soul Grass, a spiritual herb grown where dragon-blood creatures have fallen, infused with dragon soul energy. Its potency equals Soul-Strengthening Leaf, but ninety-nine times stronger.”

A fine item!

Lu Wu said, “It’ll do. But, nephew, don’t you need this yourself?”

Yi Ya replied, “I saved it for future expenses in the Holy Capital, but to strengthen myself now, it’s worth using. Attacking the Ten Thousand Demon Mountains will bring a great harvest anyway.”

Lu Wu approved. “Your thinking is correct. I have high hopes for you. Keep it safe.”

A soul message landed on Yi Ya’s forehead.

Yi Ya’s eyes widened. “Uncle Master, you’ve cultivated both sword arts to perfection at the Qi Gathering stage? You’re truly powerful—unbeatable in your realm!”

The youth’s imagination was truly boundless.

Lu Wu chuckled. “Then I’ll return to the demon army to intensify the chaos.”

With the Book of Knowledge’s replication, Lu Wu had already begun cultivating these two formidable sword arts. Teaching, in name, but in truth, he was secretly learning Taixu Palace’s strongest sword techniques.

Lu Wu’s heart soared: The day I split a true dragon’s tendons with my sword-like mandibles is not far away!