Naked Sword Art

Chapter 491: Soul Stones

The Inscription Manual was divided into 3 sections:

Beginner formations used 2 to 5 inscriptions.

Intermediate formations ranged anywhere from 6 to 9.

Advanced formations required no fewer than 10.

’Hmm... even the simplest advanced formation would take me more than a month to master,’ he mused, ’and that’s assuming I don’t fail repeatedly.’

He closed that section and searched instead for a formation with only five or six inscriptions—one that used symbols he was already comfortable with.

’A basic sealing formation...’ His finger paused over a page.

An intermediate-level formation composed of six inscriptions—three of which he could already create almost flawlessly.

’I’ll practice this one next.’

Just as he settled on that decision, soft footsteps approached.

Yu Qiuyan gracefully sat beside him, her white and gold robes rustling like falling snow.

"Are you two interested in making formations?" she asked.

"Mn. I find it interesting," Xiao Fang replied honestly.

"I’m a little curious," Xun Wei added—though in truth, she was extremely curious. If she wished to craft higher-grade pills someday, she needed to master the formations that purified, stabilized, or enhanced them.

Yu Qiuyan smiled knowingly.

"Since the Heavenly Fate Sect specializes in formation creation, perhaps I can help. How much have you learned so far?"

Xiao Fang explained, and to his mild surprise, Xun Wei was actually further along in inscription study than he was.

"I see... So you’re both still relatively new. In that case, let’s start with the basics."

...

Yu Qiuyan continued teaching them the history and purpose behind every inscription—their structure, their uses, and the effects they could produce when combined.

"Most people know there are sixty-nine fundamental inscriptions," she began, "but fewer realize they are all derived from just twelve unique strokes."

With a graceful sweep of her fingers, she drew each stroke in the air, shaping them with Qi as she spoke. Each one glowed faintly as she named it after a Zodiac animal.

"...This is the Ox stroke," she said as a thick, steady line formed in the air, "and this—" she drew a flowing crest shaped like rising smoke "—is the Dragon stroke."

She paused.

"There are other strokes recorded in ancient manuals, but their meanings and applications have been lost to time."

After demonstrating the strokes, Yu Qiuyan shifted to hand-symbol inscription techniques—methods known only to skilled formation masters.

"There are four essential hand symbols," she explained, showing each one with slow, deliberate precision.

"The first corresponds to the first layer of inscriptions—used for beginner formations.

The second governs the second layer

The third represents the third layer—advanced formations.

And the fourth..." her fingers formed a final complex seal, "is the directive seal. It allows you to target or guide a completed formation toward an object, person, or location."

Xun Wei blinked, visibly puzzled.

"But how can you create inscriptions and perform hand gestures at the same time?"

Yu Qiuyan smiled, almost pleased the question was asked.

"Once you reach a certain mastery in inscription creation, you won’t have to draw them with your physical hands anymore," she said, touching a finger to her forehead. "You create them within your soul sea. These hand gestures merely guide and activate the inscriptions you form internally."

Her answer caused both Xiao Fang and Xun Wei to straighten slightly.

Yu Qiuyan continued, seamlessly transitioning into the next layer of understanding.

"Here," she said, placing a smooth, translucent stone into each of their hands. "A simple test. These are Soul Stones. Try absorbing the Soul Qi within them."

"How do we do that?" Xun Wei asked, brow furrowing.

"Watch closely," Yu Qiuyan replied.

She crossed her legs gracefully and set another Soul Stone between her palms. Slowly, she began circulating her Qi. The air around her shifted; her Qi condensed into a thin barrier of force. A moment later, the stone rose from her palm, suspended perfectly between them

"Soul Qi and ordinary Qi reject one another," she explained, her voice calm and instructive. "So before you can extract it, you must isolate the Soul Stone—create a sealed pocket of Qi around it so the Soul Qi can’t escape."

The barrier between her hands tightened till there were no gaps.

"Next."

Suddenly, the stone fell apart, dropping into her lap as the shimmering cluster of Soul Qi hovered weightlessly between her palms like a pale-blue flame. Then she looked at them to explain:

"Once the barrier is stable," she continued, "you have to force your Qi through the stone to drive the Soul Qi out. If done correctly, the stone will break, leaving behind pure Soul Qi."

Xiao Fang and Xun Wei watched intently.

"And the final step," Yu Qiuyan added, her eyes lifting to meet theirs, "might seem simplest, but it will take some time to get the hang of."

She brought her palms closer. The floating Soul Qi pulsed like a heartbeat.

"The final step is to draw the Soul Qi into your own soul. Not with your Qi—not with your body—but by making a connection with it using your own soul. Only once you form that connection will the Soul Qi be absorbed by you."

The Soul Qi obeyed her call, flowing gently into her fingertips before vanishing entirely.

Strangely, neither Xiao Fang nor Xun Wei seemed impressed. Since Xiao Fang practiced the Soul Devourer Method, absorbing Soul Qi seemed as easy as breathing. Xun Wei on the other hand didn’t have any experience practicing with her own soul, but she felt a deep connection to it the moment Yu Qiuyan placed a Soul Stone in her hands.

Whether she knew it or not, ever since Xiao Fang began incorporating the [ Soul Heal ] technique into his Dual Cultivated sessions with her, she gained a much stronger connection to her own soul than most people.

Still, they both followed Yu Qiuyan’s instructions.

In the next moment, a cool, silvery Qi seeped gently into their bodies—thin, yet impossibly pure. Both Xiao Fang and Xun Wei shuddered faintly as their souls resonated with the foreign energy.

But Xiao Fang felt something deeper.

The instant the Soul Qi entered him, his consciousness stirred, and he sensed a profound transformation taking place within his soul sea. Not only could the Soul Qi be used to cultivate his Soul Devouring Method, but it was also nourishing his very soul body.

The lower half of his soul body—previously blurred and faded from the backlash—began to regain definition. Silvery lines wove themselves through the damaged portions like threads stitching torn fabric. Bit by bit, he could feel his soul becoming denser... fuller... whole.

And as his soul body strengthened, that restoration flowed into his physical body as well.

A subtle warmth spread through his legs as if new vitality were being poured directly into them. The sensation was faint, but undeniable. However, the amount was too small to make any significant change to his current state.

’It’s regenerating me...’ he thought.

Xiao Fang couldn’t hide the faint flicker of shock that rippled through his heart as he realized something crucial—his soul body and physical body were far more intertwined than he had ever imagined. Restoring his soul body directly strengthened his physical form, regenerating even his damaged legs... yet healing his physical body alone did nothing for his soul body.

Meanwhile, Yu Qiuyan gasped in shock as she watched both Xiao Fang and Xun Wei effortlessly absorb their soul stones.

Typically, disciples of the Heavenly Fate sect would take days if not weeks to absorb their first Soul Stone. Some prodigies like herself however only needed a couple hours. But to successfully absorb it on their first attempt...

’What kind of level of genius is this?’