Chapter 6: Senior Sister Teaches Me Swordsmanship
Editor: Henyee Translations
Shushan, Ziyun Peak, Canxia Observatory.
“A tenth-rank Flying Sword?” The Peak Master of Ziyun Peak, the Ming Hua True Person, furrowed his brows in deep contemplation.
He was a Nascent Soul Stage high-ranking elder of Shushan, a man who appeared to be in his forties, dignified and stern, with a simple robe and a tall crown. He sat up straight on a lotus pedestal, listening to the male and female disciples below relate the day’s occurrences at the Sword Pond.
“That Flying Sword was three feet and six inches long, completely black throughout, and it seemed to have a black lotus at the base of the blade,” the male disciple described, “but because the Weed-Cutting Sword Immortal was there, we did not dare to approach and observe. We waited for them to leave before coming here immediately to report to Master.”
“Completely black, with a blue lotus…” Ming Hua True Person mused, “Could it be the Qing Ping Sword?”
“That is incorrect; the Qing Ping Sword was smashed to pieces in the Ancient Times’ great war of Chan and Jie, losing all its spirituality.”
“Perhaps it’s a replica of the Qing Ping Sword, recast in its image, or perhaps another Flying Sword of similar appearance. Since it could provoke the phenomenon of the Astonished Pond, causing a multitude of swords to circle and guard, it must undoubtedly be a tenth-rank Immortal Sword.”
“Had Qi Sha True Person Su Jian still been present, naturally, I would not dare to stir up the slightest trouble. But Su Jian has long been in closed-door cultivation, presumed to have met with more mishaps than fortunes. An Zhisu already has Frostfall as her Life-bound Sword Artifact, so that sword is surely intended for her junior brother.”
“However, Ling Yunpo is only in the Qi Refinement Realm. Not yet having undergone Marrow Cleansing, he cannot employ the method of carrying a sword within his body, and of course, he cannot immediately make that Immortal Sword his Life-bound Sword Artifact.”
Coming to this conclusion, Ming Hua True Person considered the situation thoroughly, then lifted his gaze once more towards the disciples.
Seeing their master looking over them, the disciples atop the halls became excited.
Could this be about seizing the sword?
That was a tenth-rank Immortal Sword! A method of forging such swords had already been lost, and the only way to find such a tenth-rank Immortal Sword now was to seek it from ancient times!
No matter if it was Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, or Nascent Soul, even if one became immortal, a tenth-rank Immortal Sword would still be able to fully unleash its power!
“Lou Zhizheng.” Ming Hua True Person suddenly called out.
Among the disciples, a short, chubby junior who had recently started his journey quickly stepped forward, his face flushed with excitement:
“Did you have something to say when I was observing you just now?” Ming Hua True Person asked leisurely.
Lou Zhizheng’s mind raced, and he promptly responded:
“True Person Qi Sha is in seclusion, and Qingluo Peak is left with but two people—who are they to possess a tenth-rank Immortal Sword? Since ancient times, treasures have always gone to those of virtue…”
“Nonsense.” Ming Hua True Person said flatly, “We are all from the Various Peaks of Shushan; how can we covet the swords of others? Think again!”
Lou Zhizheng broke into a sweat, and after a long moment finally said:
“Disciple… Disciple wants to challenge Qingluo Peak in a sword duel! Yes, to exchange swordsmanship insights!”
“With whom?” Ming Hua True Person lifted his eyes, “An Zhisu?”
“No, no, it’s with that Ling Yunpo!” Lou Zhizheng said confidently, his inspiration suddenly bubbling forth. He chuckled, “I am in the Qi Refinement Realm, and so is Ling Yunpo, which complies with Shushan’s rules for sword dueling.”
“If I initiate the challenge and Ling Yunpo refuses, according to the sect rules, he must pay with Spirit Stones. If, for some reason, hehe, Qingluo Peak cannot afford the Spirit Stones, then they could compensate with the Immortal Sword. Ziyun Peak would be willing to purchase it at a fair price, with adjustments made for any difference in value.”
“What if Ling Yunpo agrees to the duel?” Ming Hua True Person continued to inquire.
“Please, Master, lend a hand!” Lou Zhizheng said with a sly smile, “Once the request for a duel is approved, I would ask master to bestow Elixirs on me to help me ascend the ladder and enter the Marrow Cleansing Rank!”
“With Marrow Cleansing against Qi Refinement, Ling Yunpo will undoubtedly be no match. Qingluo Peak only has these two people—how could An Zhisu bear to let her only junior brother walk to his death? Hehe, she will have no choice but to offer up that Immortal Sword willingly!”
The surrounding disciples showed complex expressions.
On one hand, they thought that the plan seemed feasible because Shushan encouraged its Sword Immortals to engage in combat and compete; Lou Zhizheng’s idea was completely within the rules.
On the other hand, the fact that this fellow could come up with such a bullying scheme, relying on strength to oppress the weak, seemed excessively treacherous.
Designing a shortage of Spirit Stones for Qingluo Peak and then deliberately proposing a contest was an act of oppressing the weak.
They could have had a fair sword duel, yet he insisted on his master helping him forcibly ascend to Marrow Cleansing Rank, which was an act of relying on strength.
With such a malicious mind, everyone must be wary of this junior brother in the future.
Completely unaware of the wariness his senior brothers and sisters had against him, Lou Zhizheng continued to prostrate and said:
“This matter requires further planning and careful consideration. Please, master, allow me to take full charge. Once I obtain the Immortal Sword, I will return and present it to you.”
Ming Hua True Person sat on the lotus dais, silent for a long time.
Finally, he waved his hand casually, signaling his assent.
Ling Yunpo and An Zhisu, studying the ancient tomes left by their master Su Jian for half a day, still couldn’t find out the origin of the completely black Flying Sword.
Only one ancient text mentioned the “Green Duckweed Sword,” and its description seemed somewhat similar to that of the Flying Sword.
However, the Green Duckweed Sword was shattered by the MysteriousTreasures Tree at the end of the great Ancient Times battle.
Meaning, this Flying Sword might be a recast of the shattered Green Duckweed Sword, or a replica made in its image, and its specific attributes were impossible to ascertain.
For now, the only option was to wait until Ling Yunpo entered the Marrow Cleansing Rank, “nourish the sword with his body,” turning it into his Life-bound Sword Artifact, and then confirm its properties internally with his Divine Sense.
Back to the matter at hand, now that they had the Flying Sword, An Zhisu began to teach him Shushan Swordsmanship.
Ling Yunpo discovered that Kunlun Sword Technique and Shushan Swordsmanship, were like the “Qi Sect” and “Sword Sect” of the Huashan School.
The Kunlun Sword Technique favored bold and resolute moves, because the Kunlun Sect held Qi Refining Technique in the highest esteem, believing the key to Sword Control Technique lay in one’s Cultivation Realm.
If your cultivation level crushes your opponent, it’s like “one force breaks ten meetings”; everything you fight against is like cutting grass.
Conversely, the overarching style of Shushan Swordsmanship is intricate and diverse, embodying the endless world, striving to use the weak to overcome the strong.
Based on this overarching philosophy, each of the Various Peaks developed their own school of swordsmanship.
For Qingluo Peak, it inherited the legacy of the Seven Kills Sword Immortal, and Su Jian’s Shushan Seven Kills Swordsmanship.
“Seven Kills Swordsmanship, the priority lies in assaulting the body,” An Zhisu formed a sword incantation, summoned her Frostfall Flying Sword, recited the mental incantation, and said, “A governed aspect is the biased official, ungoverned is Seven Kills; dual yang counters each other, dual yin counters each other, the seventh position is where they battle and counter; if there’s killing, discuss killing first, if there’s no killing, only then discuss usage.”
Ling Yunpo couldn’t help but nod, indicating that he didn’t understand at all.
An Zhisu gave a slight smile and then explained:
“Seven Kills Swordsmanship focuses on seizing the advantage to suppress the enemy, you must never let the opponent suppress you.”
“The swordsmanship style is like encountering an enemy in a narrow path, drawing the sword must be followed by bloodshed, not giving the enemy any chance to breathe.”
“The swordsmanship mindset also prioritizes offense. If you can overpower, you never just restrain; if you can restrain, you never just defend.”
So Sister’s penchant for bloodshed, always ready to break limbs and pierce bellies, is all because she has been practicing this Seven Kills Swordsmanship!
Given that, my cheap master, who secluded himself in deathly meditation, the Peak Master of Qingluo Peak, the Seven Kills True Person Su Jian, is also not someone to be trifled with!