Jade Slip Space.
Su Mu sat by the lake, staring intently at the fish swimming in the water.
Li Shuang glanced at the empty wooden bucket beside him.
"You're here," Su Mu said calmly. "It's not that I can't fish, it's just that these fish are too slippery, far beyond what ordinary fish outside can compare to."
Li Shuang nodded, casually rigged a thin line to a wooden pole, dabbed some of Su Mu's bait on it, and cast it directly into the lake.
Su Mu chuckled, "How can you catch fish like that? You said earlier you were good at fishing, this is simply..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Li Shuang lifted her pole, and a silver fish shimmered.
Su Mu's mouth gaped slightly.
That worked?
"It is quite difficult," Li Shuang nodded.
Su Mu was silent for a moment.
He waved his hand.
The lake, the wooden house, all vanished. Only pure white remained in the Jade Slip Space.
As if what had just happened never existed, Su Mu said earnestly, "Interesting. In such a short time, you seem to have made progress in swordsmanship again."
Li Shuang nodded, "A slight gain."
"Try it," Su Mu raised an eyebrow, making space for her.
Li Shuang nodded, not declining. The Black Abyss Sword appeared in her hand, and Li Shuang began to practice, little by little.
Su Mu's gaze shifted.
This time, Li Shuang's swordsmanship was completely different from before.
The first stance of the Heartless Sword Dao.
It condensed a flower, the one that bloomed for her in desperation.
That stance, the Ice Lotus, was named Rebirth.
Having comprehended that sword, her life had also restarted.
That was already a very mature sword path. If she continued to delve into it, Su Mu believed it wouldn't be difficult for her to comprehend all the way to the fifth stance.
This path clearly showed its end easily. At the end, there was a visible abundance of flowers.
But now, after carving out such a path, Li Shuang had chosen another path completely shrouded in mist.
As she practiced each move, it seemed to lack any discernible pattern.
Li Shuang's expression remained as cold as ice.
But Su Mu knew.
Today's Li Shuang was happier than usual.
Otherwise, this girl wouldn't deliberately fish to annoy him!
What had changed Li Shuang?
Su Mu chuckled softly.
No matter what it was.
This was all very good.
If the sword path Li Shuang originally walked was one where all living beings were hateful, then this newly condensed path was one where all living beings were lovable.
He had encountered many cultivators of the Grand Pure Forgetfulness Art.
Some, after experiencing betrayal, became cold-hearted and truly embarked on a path of heartlessness. And such people were, in fact, the majority. This is why this path is called the Heartless Dao.
Others understood the difference between good and evil emotions and did not generalize all worldly emotions, but their experiences dictated that it was difficult for them to respond to the kindness of others with kindness again.
But someone like Li Shuang.
Though she had suffered betrayal and been imprisoned, she always maintained a sincere heart towards this world, which was even rarer.
There were also some who had simultaneously opened up both the emotional and emotionless paths. However, only Li Shuang had chosen both paths at the very first stance.
Grand Pure Forgetfulness was never just one choice.
Emotional and emotionless, seemingly two sides of the same coin. Perhaps only when both paths reach their end will true Grand Pure Forgetfulness be achieved.
However.
Even Su Mu had never seen such a cultivator.
Li Shuang naturally still had an incredibly long way to go to reach that endpoint, but in Su Mu's heart, he couldn't help but feel a hint of expectation for her.
Li Shuang's sword moves slowly perfected themselves.
Su Mu watched quietly, speaking very little, only occasionally letting a few words slip.
While Li Shuang was immersed in the world of swordsmanship, Ye Zhaozhao returned to her room, her expression incredibly grim.
"System! You said my affinity was extraordinary! Why! Why did none of those people from Heartless Peak show any inclination towards me!"
Ye Zhaozhao was going crazy.
Before Li Shuang cultivated the Grand Pure Forgetfulness Art, her schemes against Li Shuang had always gone smoothly, almost without any hitches.
This time.
She had also used the same tactics as before to frame Li Shuang, but those people on Heartless Peak... they were all crazy!
None of their reactions matched her script!
The system was silent for a moment.
After a long pause, it finally said, "Your affinity is indeed extraordinary. Didn't Sheng Yuan and Shen Yue immediately show trust in you? However, if this affinity encounters someone with a firm will, its effect will be greatly reduced. I don't know how Lin Qingling chose her disciples, but all of them have firm wills. Their perception of Li Shuang will not be easily shaken."
Ye Zhaozhao gritted her teeth, "Then what should I do!!!"
It was no longer a question of whether Li Shuang would generate negative emotions, but whether she herself would.
The system said slowly, "Their wills are firm, so it's difficult to shake them with simple words. But this doesn't mean they can't be shaken. It just might require other methods."
Ye Zhaozhao's face grew even uglier.
She was used to easily gaining rewards. Now that she had suddenly entered a difficult mode, her heart couldn't help but feel a little irritable.
"You don't need to be too anxious. Their wills are difficult to shake, but once shaken, the harm they can inflict on Li Shuang will also be greater, won't it?" the system soothed.
Ye Zhaozhao reluctantly nodded, "What about the method? This body of mine is just a common spiritual root. If I don't quickly acquire Li Shuang's talent, relying on myself, when will I ever make progress?"
Generally speaking, among common spiritual roots, those who can advance to the Golden Core stage are already one in a hundred.
Those who can advance to the Nascent Soul stage are one in ten thousand.
Spiritual root aptitude directly limits future development!
If she also had a supreme spiritual root like Li Shuang's, she wouldn't have to scheme so painstakingly.
"A method... there certainly is one," the system paused, then said slowly, "What you need to do, first of all, is to add fuel to the fire."
As the system slowly explained, Ye Zhaozhao's expression subtly changed.
The next day.
The Bronze Demon Guard was about to arrive. Wu Yong had called many cultivators to wait at the city gate early in the morning.
"Brother Huang. You are a Foundation Establishment expert, and you are also very adept at handling daily affairs. When Lord Tong arrives this time, he will surely commend you. When you go to headquarters, you will definitely be given important positions. At that time, please remember what we discussed yesterday and help out this useless person." Wu Yong said with a cheerful smile.
Sui Jin smiled brightly, "Brother Wu, don't worry. My joining the Heavenly Venerate Society is all thanks to your recommendation. In the future, we will be united and climb to the peak together."
Climb to the peak together, indeed.
A hint of mockery flashed in Wu Yong's eyes, but on his face, he smiled ingratiatingly and repeatedly agreed.
Li Shuang listened to Wu Yong and Sui Jin talking, observing the situation.