The Cerulean Cloud Sword Sect, located at the northwestern side of the Eastern Abyssal Domain, was nestled atop a chain of tall peaks that seemingly hovered amidst drifting clouds. To its west lies the Abyssal Forest, Home for many demonic beasts, and serves as a border of the region.
The sect grounds were filled with towering spires and elegantly carved pavilions and courtyards radiating an air of untouchable grace and sharpness. Waterfalls cascaded from the cliffs into a seemingly bottomless mist as their gentle roars blended with the whispers of swords slicing through the air.
Jiang Jianxin, standing at the edge of one of the mountain peaks, was gazing upon the boundless night sky dotted with stars and a shimmering moon. In her hand was the [Silent Moon Swordplay] manual that she bought from the Divine Convenience Store earlier in the day.
It has been several hours since she returned from the peculiar store and the events of the day remained in her head.
As the wind swept past her, rustling the fabric of her robes, Jiang Jianxin thumbed through the pages of the paperback manual once more. The moonlight bathed the parchment in a soft glow, illuminating the carefully printed strokes of each character.
Even now, she couldn't shake off the surreal feeling of her purchase. How many times had she reached for a manual in that store, only to be met with failure? She had no idea as she lacked the recollection of ever doing so. And yet after the duel, something had changed. Perhaps it was fate, or perhaps her own understanding had shifted. She managed to pick up and purchase one.
She inwardly chuckled. 'A book. Just a book, yet it feels as though I've carried back a great treasure.'
Jiang Jianxin traced her fingers over the title again. [Silent Moon Swordplay].
The name alone evoked imagery that resonated with her heart. A sword style that embodied the stillness of the night, yet carried an unfathomable sharpness hidden beneath its serene surface.
She had already read through it twice since her return and the techniques described within were deceptively simple. Yet, the more she contemplated them, the deeper the complexities seemed to grow.
A slight furrow formed between her brows. She understood. Like many other sword manuals, the [Silent Moon Swordplay] isn't a sword technique that can be mastered with brute force or talent alone. It requires comprehension.
A shift in mindset and a synchronization with the nature of the moon itself.
She had been called Sword Fairy ever since she'd shown her talent with the sword by displaying Sword Intent at a young age. And now, she grasped the Sword Will and managed to comprehend the [Flying Sword Technique] allowing her to control her swords through a precise control of her spiritual energy.
At the peak of the Foundation Establishment Stage, she was faced with a bottleneck of controlling only five swords at once. But she could feel it…
The [Silent Moon Swordplay] might be her key to break through that bottleneck and eventually… form her Golden Core.
As a sword cultivator of the Cerulean Cloud Sword Sect. She also prided herself on swift, precise strikes that cleaved through enemies like a silent storm. Her sword techniques were quick but deadly. Like a gust of night breeze in one cold night.
Yet the manual before her spoke of a different kind of power.
A blade that moved like flowing water, as ephemeral as moonlight gliding across a still lake. Strikes that seemed gentle but carried an inevitability that could not be escaped.
Jiang Jianxin inhaled deeply, closing her eyes.
With a flick of her wrist, her sword left its sheath in a silent whisper, catching the pale light of the moon.
She stepped forward, her movements slow yet concise. She's replicating the first form described in the manual.
Her blade traced a curved path through the air, mimicking the arc of a crescent moon hanging in the sky.
Stillness before the tide. A single stroke, inevitable as time.
A sudden gust of wind roared across the peak, disrupting the serene silence. But Jiang Jianxin did not resist. Instead, she flowed with it, allowing the momentum to guide her into the second stance.
Her sword swept horizontally, gliding as if drawing a full moon against the canvas of the night.
She could feel it. A shift in the flow of energy around her. It wasn't merely about slashes and strikes, but about harmony. About existing as a part of something greater.
Jiang Jianxin paused, lowering her blade.
Her heartbeat was steady, yet there was a flicker of exhilaration within her chest. The more she explored this technique, the more she realized how profound it truly was.
Not just in form, but in philosophy.
And perhaps, it was exactly what the Cerulean Cloud Sword Sect needed.
She turned her gaze downward, peering at the sprawling sect grounds below. Her fellow disciples were scattered throughout the training halls and courtyards, practicing their swordplay in accordance with the sect's age-old teachings.
A thought surfaced in her mind.
'With this manual, a new path will open up for everyone.'
Upon lifting her gaze, she suddenly tensed up as she sensed the arrival of someone.
Walking in without trying to hide the sound of their footsteps, Jiang Jianxin found her master, the current Sect Master of the Cerulean Cloud Sword Sect, approaching her with a calm yet imposing demeanor. A small smile hanging on his lips.
The Sect Master's robes, the same sky-blue color embroidered with silver threads resembling flowing clouds, rustled faintly in the wind. His long hair, tied with a simple jade clasp, swayed slightly as he walked.
"Jianxin," His voice was steady and carried both warmth and authority. "I see that you've already comprehended the manual you brought back with you."
Jiang Jianxin turned fully to face her master and cupped her hands in a respectful salute.
"Sect Master, You're watching me…" She glanced down at the [Silent Moon Swordplay] in her grasp.
"I did. I apologize for not announcing my presence soon. But the technique you performed is indeed remarkable.
The Sect Master, Li Changqing, observed the manual with an unreadable expression. His sharp eyes, which had seen countless sword arts and techniques in his lifetime, seemed to pierce through the pages before he even opened the book.
"Our decision to pay the rumored store a visit seems to be fruitful… I heard you've also engaged in a duel with an Elder-level figure of another sect."
Jiang Jianxin's lips quirked slightly. "I merely performed my duty of standing up to an unreasonable situation."
The Sect Master nodded approvingly before extending his hand. "May I?"
She hesitated for a moment but ultimately handed the manual over. If there was anyone in the sect who could quickly gauge its value, it was him.
Li Changqing flipped through the pages with practiced ease, scanning the text with an expression of deep contemplation. The longer he read, the quieter he became.
Jiang Jianxin remained silent, watching as her master studied the techniques. His fingers traced the edges of the pages, his eyes narrowing slightly at certain passages. Then, after a long pause, he finally spoke.
"We'll have the scribes make copies of this sword technique and order the instructors to master it. The sooner our disciples adopt the technique in their style, the quicker the elevation of our sect's sword techniques."
His words took Jiang Jianxin by surprise. As a sword cultivator who had reached the peak of Nascent Soul Stage, her master had already attained an unfathomable level of sword comprehension. For him to openly acknowledge the profundity of a sword manual - especially one from an unknown source - was nothing short of astonishing.
"The philosophy behind this sword art is… elusive, yet profound," Li Changqing continued, flipping to another page. "It does not simply teach swordsmanship in the traditional sense. It cultivates a state of mind. A rhythm in tune with the world, much like the silent passage of the moon in the night sky."
He closed the book and handed it back to Jiang Jianxin, his gaze carrying newfound weight. "This is no ordinary sword technique, Jianxin. If fully comprehended, it has the potential to reshape our sect's approach to the way of the sword."
Moments later, he spoke again.
"By the way, I've received a strange report from a Deacon we sent to investigate a part of the Abyssal Forest with a high concentration of demonic energy. He and his team found an underground ruin which leads to some kind of hidden realm where they were ambushed by an unknown race. There wasn't an exit until they cleared out the whole place. There are strange things to note. With each kill, a sliver of spiritual energy will fuse with their bodies, pushing their cultivation forward. And the corpses dissipated into a strange mist after taking out the small black stone suspected as a core within them. He barely escaped with his life and only a fraction of his team returned."
Jiang Jianxin's eyes narrowed. "An unknown race? Are they not demonic cultivators? Or demonic beasts in humanoid form?"
"It is unclear." Li Changqing nodded. "I've already assigned Elder Shi to lead an expedition to that location in three days. Apparently, only Foundation Establishment Stage and below can enter it. If what the Deacon reported is true, then we need to determine whether this unknown force is a threat to our sect or the realm."
The Sword Fairy grasped her sword tightly as she declared, "Then I shall go as well."