Chapter Eighteen: The Archery of the Greenwood

“Ding, congratulations on unlocking a plot mission. Do you wish to accept the task: eliminate the enemies from the Tianshan Sect who have come to attack?” Without hesitation, Jiang Yan chose to accept. The current relationship with Tianshan was beyond reconciliation. Since the Sect Master System had issued a mission related to the Tianshan Sect, there was no reason to refuse.

“Ding, you have accepted the mission to eliminate the enemies from the Tianshan Sect. You have received the mission item: High-Grade First-Tier Spell—Greenwood Archery.”

“Greenwood Archery!” Jiang Yan exclaimed with delight. The Sect Master System had actually granted him a High-Grade First-Tier spell, Greenwood Archery! Greenwood Archery was an offensive spell specifically designed to work in tandem with the Greenwood Technique. It transformed the wood-attribute spiritual power of the Greenwood Technique into arrows of green wood. These could be used for both long-range and close combat, making it a peerless technique for both offense and defense.

Among the five elements, Greenwood Archery stood alongside Metalflow Swordsmanship, Yellow Earth Sand Art, and two other spells, all as High-Grade First-Tier techniques excelling in both offense and defense. There was another reason why Jiang Yan was so elated to obtain Greenwood Archery: like the Greenwood Technique itself, Greenwood Archery could be upgraded. From High-Grade First-Tier to Low-Grade Second-Tier, then to Mid-Grade Second-Tier, and so on. As the Greenwood Technique advanced, so would Greenwood Archery. Acquiring a spell that could grow with him brought Jiang Yan immense joy. With his mind connected to the Sect Master’s Ring, Jiang Yan prepared to immediately begin learning Greenwood Archery.

Within the Sect Master’s Ring, a rustic scroll lay quietly. As Jiang Yan’s consciousness brushed over it, the four characters for Greenwood Archery appeared slowly before his eyes.

“Wood—the source of life for all things. The nature of wood is sturdy. With power from the Greenwood Technique, transform spiritual energy into wooden arrows…”

Jiang Yan read through the incantation for Greenwood Archery, committing every detail to memory. Retracting his spiritual sense from the Sect Master’s Ring, he began his cultivation of Greenwood Archery.

The first requirement for cultivating Greenwood Archery was the ability to release spiritual energy from the body. This required reaching the fourth stage of Qi Training—a level Jiang Yan had just achieved.

Forming the arrow was the foundational step of Greenwood Archery. Only by channeling enough spiritual energy outside the body to condense it into a wooden arrow could one proceed to the next stage of cultivation.

Following the instructions in the incantation, Jiang Yan began with the initial step: searching for the acupoints through which large amounts of spiritual energy could flow outside the body.

At the fourth stage of Qi Training, a cultivator could already control spiritual energy outside the body and manipulate objects with it. However, there was a limitation—the amount of energy released could not be excessive. If too much energy was released in a short period, it might damage the body’s meridians, potentially hindering future cultivation. Greenwood Archery required the practitioner to release a large amount of energy rapidly. Thus, the first step was to identify and open the acupoints that allowed substantial energy to exit the body.

Spiritual energy flowed gently along the four newly opened meridians within Jiang Yan’s body. Following the path of the Greenwood Technique, after two cycles, he began searching for the points where energy could be released. Slowing the flow of spiritual energy as instructed, he carefully sensed the locations of acupoints that allowed energy to escape…

“One, two, three…” Under Jiang Yan’s perception, acupoint after acupoint revealed itself to him. Spiritual energy had already circulated through four cycles within his body, yet he continued to discover more points capable of releasing energy.

With a long exhale, Jiang Yan opened his eyes. He had found a total of eighteen such acupoints. According to the Greenwood Archery incantation, finding eighteen acupoints was considered above average talent—a result that justified the Bone-Refining Pill he had taken. Now, the next step was to break through these eighteen acupoints. Once he succeeded, he could control spiritual energy outside the body and condense it into Greenwood Arrows.

Jiang Yan glanced at the distant inn’s courtyard. The lights were still bright, and the raucous shouts of gambling echoed from the main house. He looked back—there was still no sign of the Howling Celestial Hound, while the Golden-Eyed Eagle stood quietly in place. On its back, Yun Ying was still sound asleep.

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Yan closed his eyes again. The next step was to open the acupoints.

Mist-like white vapor began to rise from around Jiang Yan, swirling about him in thick clouds. From a distance, he resembled a human-shaped steamer basket, constantly emitting billows of vapor.

After about an hour, the mist began to thin, then gradually dissipated. At last, Jiang Yan opened his eyes and let out a long breath.

He had succeeded—after an hour, he had managed to open seven of the eighteen acupoints within his body, granting him the ability to perform the first form of Greenwood Archery.

With the acupoints opened, the next step was to condense spiritual energy outside the body into Greenwood Arrows. Only by forming seven Greenwood Arrows simultaneously would he be considered to have mastered the first form.

Jiang Yan guided his inner spiritual energy to flow out through the newly opened shoulder acupoint—the Jianjing point. The moment the energy left his body, Jiang Yan felt a wave of relief; the first step of arrow formation was complete.

He focused on the released spiritual energy, slowly gathering it together—first shaping the shaft, then the arrowhead, and finally refining the entire arrow according to the instructions in the incantation. He meticulously smoothed out rough edges, reduced excess energy at the arrowhead, and sharpened it bit by bit. In the end, a long arrow with a triangular head and a rounded shaft took shape.

Guiding the Greenwood Arrow before him, Jiang Yan opened his eyes. To his surprise, he could not see the arrow at all. Yet, with his eyes closed, he could sense it hovering right in front of him.

Reaching out, he could feel the sharp arrowhead, the smooth shaft—yet, even with his eyes wide open, the Greenwood Arrow remained invisible.

“The Greenwood Arrows can actually turn invisible!” Jiang Yan rejoiced. The Greenwood Technique’s spiritual power could form invisible arrows. With this unique ability, he could perform assassinations, ambushes, or even long-range sniping…

With the experience from his first attempt, Jiang Yan repeated the process, condensing all seven Greenwood Arrows outside his body. He then practiced coordinating two arrows, then three, honing his control each time…

…

In the distant woods, Sun Yang said impatiently to Ning Qian, “Ah Qian, what’s wrong with the Sect Master? He was just smoking all over, and now he’s standing there in a daze. Do immortals always do such boring things? This isn’t what I imagined an immortal’s life to be like.”

Perched on a branch, Ning Qian replied calmly, “I think the Sect Master is cultivating some kind of immortal art. That’s why there was that mist, and now he’s standing still—he’s probably succeeded in his training.”

Sun Yang rolled his eyes at Ning Qian. “Nonsense, Ah Qian. You’re not a worm in the Sect Master’s belly—how would you know?”

Ning Qian suddenly turned, a sly grin flashing across his face. “Let’s make a bet. If I’m right, and we both become disciples under the Sect Master, you’ll have to call me Senior Brother.”

“Pfft…” Sun Yang punched Ning Qian playfully. “You’re just talking nonsense, Ah Qian. Who says we’ll even be accepted as disciples? There might not even be a chance to call you Senior Brother.”

Ning Qian turned back, continuing to watch Jiang Yan from his perch. “So you’re afraid to bet? Just because I’m younger, you’re unwilling to call me Senior Brother. If you’re scared, just say so,” he teased in a mocking tone.

Sun Yang’s handsome face flushed red as he retorted, “Who says I’m afraid? I just think neither of us is guaranteed to become the Sect Master’s disciple. But since you insist, I’ll take your bet. If you win, I’ll call you Senior Brother.”

As if expecting this response, Ning Qian didn’t turn around, keeping his eyes on Jiang Yan beneath the tree. He muttered softly, “Even if there’s no guarantee, as long as we try, there’s still hope…”

…