Chapter 92 - Arc 7: Dragon Ascension Gate | Chapter 92: Sword Practice
Translator: Lynn
Sponsored chapter (10/10)
Once a cultivator reached the tenth level of Qi Refining, all the meridians in their body would be unblocked. Refining their true essence would now be a matter of grinding water, a relatively straightforward process.
True essence was formed by compressing spiritual energy. When the dantian was full, the spiritual energy would continue to be compressed until a critical point was reached. At that moment, all the spiritual energy would be drained from the dantian, condensing into a single drop of true essence.
Xu Ziqing found himself facing this exact situation. There was a hint of sweat on his forehead, and his face appeared pale.
The first drop of true essence was the most difficult to refine, and the sudden draining of spiritual energy was rather uncomfortable. Spiritual power served as the foundation for a Qi refining cultivator, but with a drop of true essence as support, it was still possible to move.
Next, Xu Ziqing would absorb the aura of heaven and earth once again, convert it into spiritual power within the dantian, refill the dantian, compress all the spiritual power within, form another drop of true essence, and merge it with the previously condensed true essence. This process would be repeated until no more spiritual power could be squeezed into the dantian, having been transformed entirely into true essence.
At this stage, Xu Ziqing was at the peak of the tenth level of Qi Refining, almost touching the thin barrier leading to the Foundation Establishment Stage.
After successfully completing the first step of refining true essence, Xu Ziqing heaved a sigh of relief. He checked the inner world once again and found no damage or abnormalities. With this reassurance, he relaxed and began absorbing the boundless aura emanating from the third-grade spirit vein once more.
Thus, the night passed by.
In the morning, as Xu Ziqing opened his eyes, he was surprised to find the person within the ring standing before him once again.
Could it be that Brother Yun kept watch over him yesterday?
He glanced to the side and saw two demon vines clinging to the cave’s ceiling, appearing somewhat hesitant yet pointing their leaf buds at Yun Lie as if exhibiting a mix of fear and vigilance.
Xu Ziqing felt a touch of warmth and amusement. He was moved by the demon vines’ instinctual desire to protect him, even from those who feared them and sought to harm him. It was also amusing because of Yun Lie.
From Xu Ziqing’s perspective, his good friend Yun Lie appeared stern on the surface but had a warm heart. However, everyone, including Yaoteng and Chonghua, seemed afraid of him, and Xu Ziqing couldn’t understand why. Perhaps the truth was more complicated than it seemed. Shaking his head, Xu Ziqing realized that dwelling on it wouldn’t be of any use. Instead, he should first greet Brother Yun. With that in mind, Xu Ziqing stretched out his hand, and the demon vine eagerly rushed back, as if a wanderer returning home, immediately entering his palm and returning to his dantian.
Xu Ziqing turned his head and looked at Yun Lie.
Before he could speak, Yun Lie said, “Starting today, you will practice swordsmanship with me.”
Xu Ziqing was taken aback by the unexpected instruction. He asked, “Brother Yun, do you want to teach me?” For a moment, he wondered if he had misheard.
Yun Lie nodded and affirmed, “Practice swordsmanship during the day and cultivate at night.”
Only then did Xu Ziqing realize the gravity of the situation. His heart brimmed with joy, and he stood up, ready to offer his respects. “I am truly grateful for Brother Yun’s guidance!”
Yun Lie flicked his sleeves to stop him. “You and I have known each other for many years. There’s no need to be so formal.”
Xu Ziqing smiled and replied, “If I have the opportunity to enter the Wuling Immortal Sect in the future, I will consider myself Brother Yun’s disciple. Brother Yun deserves this gift.” Despite his gratitude, he didn’t insist on the formalities. Having been friends with Yun Lie for so long, there was no need for unnecessary pretense. After expressing his sentiments, Xu Ziqing turned serious and said, “Brother Yun, please teach me.”
Learning from a master swordsman like Yun Lie would be far better than stumbling around on his own.
Yun Lie never wasted words and simply instructed, “Stand to the side.”
Xu Ziqing didn’t hesitate and immediately stood by the cave wall, his gaze fixed on Yun Lie in white, unwavering.
Raising his right hand and pointing with his left, Yun Lie conjured a long sword. It appeared simple and unadorned, seemingly ethereal, perfectly matching his own figure. With a slight movement of his wrist, the sword’s tip bloomed with a flurry of sword flowers, transforming into multiple sword shadows that merged back into one in an instant, as if it had never moved.
Xu Ziqing’s pupils contracted. He couldn’t clearly see the beginning or end of the sword’s motion. With just one strike, he knew that among all the swordsmen he had encountered, none could match Yun Lie’s skill!
Yun Lie didn’t intend to teach him this sword technique; he had merely executed it casually. Even so, that casual movement contained thousands of sword principles—unchanging and unified in their expression.
“Now, take out the steel wood,” Yun Lie ordered.
Xu Ziqing didn’t dare to delay and promptly turned his wrist, retrieving the steel wood.
Yun Lie continued, “Follow me.”
Xu Ziqing paused briefly before walking over and standing to Yun Lie’s right. He responded, “Yes, Brother Yun.”
Yun Lie stood with his feet slightly apart, shoulder-width apart. His right arm held the sword, the tip of which was slightly tilted.
In perfect sync, Xu Ziqing mirrored his actions, assuming an identical posture without any deviation.
Yun Lie observed that Xu Ziqing had a good understanding, so he didn’t provide much explanation. He raised his arm and executed a downward slash.
“Swipe!” The sword descended, seemingly splitting the air itself.
The sword movement was straightforward, clean, and devoid of any excess. Though it appeared ordinary and lacked flashy techniques, it possessed a captivating charm that held one’s gaze.
Xu Ziqing watched the sword’s movement and attempted to replicate it by swinging his right arm down. However, his swing produced a dull, muddy sound.
Frowning slightly, Xu Ziqing intended to try again. But suddenly, his arm became heavy, rendering him unable to lift it. It felt as if he was stuck in the mud and couldn’t move at all. Realizing that Yun Lie was behind this, he couldn’t help but say, “Brother Yun?”
Yun Lie’s voice was cold as he instructed, “Don’t move.”
Since Brother Yun had instructed him not to move, Xu Ziqing refrained from doing so. He stood there without making any further attempts.
At that moment, Yun Lie approached Xu Ziqing.
The two were now in close proximity. Yun Lie leaned forward slightly and pointed toward the steel wood. Though his fingertips appeared ethereal and as if they hadn’t truly made contact, a faint golden light permeated through the steel wood.
Looking down, Xu Ziqing noticed that the cylindrical steel wood had transformed into a flat shape. Its front end remained sharp, but it no longer looked peculiar. Instead, it resembled a simple wooden sword. At that instant, he felt his arms relax once more, realizing that his friend had released the restraint. He understood the implication and immediately swung his sword again, just as before. “Swipe!” This time, it produced a sharper sound compared to the earlier muffled one.
Xu Ziqing’s eyes brightened, and he turned his head to look at the figure in white. “Brother Yun, how was that?”
Yun Lie glanced at him lightly and said, “Your sword stance is correct, but the execution of the sword movement is still inaccurate. You need more practice.”
Upon hearing those words, Xu Ziqing felt a momentary disappointment. However, he quickly regained his determination, and his eyes grew resolute. “I will do my best to grasp the essence of swordsmanship. Please guide me, Brother Yun.” Though Yun Lie didn’t say much, Xu Ziqing understood that he had received approval. Without further ado, Xu Ziqing focused his heart and executed the second and third strikes.
Xu Ziqing had always been diligent in his cultivation, ensuring that each sword strike was more accurate than the previous one. With every attempt, Yun Lie never stopped him.
Finally, after executing twenty-eight strikes, Yun Lie spoke, “Your sword stance is upright.”
Xu Ziqing paused for a moment and smiled happily. “Yes, Brother Yun.” At that moment, he recalled something. He vividly remembered how he had watched Master Zifeng unleash three sword auras, slaying two individuals consecutively. He was greatly inspired and shared the experience with his friends. But during that time, he heard a few words he hadn’t heard before.
“A swordsman must work hard to lay the foundation.”
“Without using spiritual power, practice swinging the sword 30,000 times a day until the movements are precise. Only then can you talk about other aspects of swordsmanship.”
Those words were spoken by Mr. Zifeng, whose sword energy was still relatively unrefined. They might not fully align with what swordsmen truly need to pursue. Now that Brother Yun was willing to teach him swordsmanship, Xu Ziqing believed he should adhere to this advice.
With that in mind, Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but ask, “Brother Yun, which sword move from ‘Split, Stab, Cut, Wipe’ am I currently learning?” Yun Lie nodded slightly. “You remember well. What you have learned is the ‘Split’ technique.”
Xu Ziqing wryly smiled and said, “Currently, I can swing the sword 30,000 times a day without using spiritual power, but…”
Yun Lie nodded once more. “Yes.”
Xu Ziqing took a deep breath. The thought of swinging the sword 30,000 times in a single day seemed incredibly daunting. However, since Yun Lie could say it, it meant he had accomplished it himself. If that was the case, Xu Ziqing believed he could persevere as well. With determination in his heart, he focused on the blade of the sword. “Swipe!” Another strike!
One strike, two strikes, three strikes!
Ever since he started directing the sword’s momentum, Xu Ziqing hadn’t missed a single step. Every strike mirrored Yun Lie’s previous movements precisely, without any deviation.
Yun Lie noticed that Xu Ziqing’s mind was fully immersed in the sword. He sat upright, opposite Xu Ziqing, his eyes fixed on Xu Ziqing’s sword movements, remaining motionless.
Xu Ziqing drew the sword, retracted it, and with every move, he seemed to visualize its trajectory clearly, ensuring precision. His mind was completely focused, devoid of any distractions, unable to even notice what was happening around him. Gradually, fatigue crept into his mind, and his arms began to grow heavy. As a monk, it wasn’t difficult to achieve precision in every move at the beginning. With the correct mindset and understanding, it could be accomplished without much difficulty. The real challenge lay in perseverance.
Though the sword move was familiar, it still had to be executed continuously, without any signs of slacking or wavering. Even with the smooth flow of a monk’s meridians, constantly replenished by spiritual energy, the numbness would gradually set in. His arms would grow sore and heavy, making it increasingly challenging to continue.
Cold sweat started to bead on Xu Ziqing’s back. It was difficult…
The repetitive movements had already caused dizziness, and even his mental clarity had started to blur. Nevertheless, Xu Ziqing sought to keep his consciousness as clear as possible and keep track of the number of sword strikes.
Just now, it was the 3,600th strike. This time, it should be the 3,601st strike…
As time passed, not only did his mind grow confused, but his breathing also became labored.
Xu Ziqing’s face turned pale, but he instinctively continued swinging the sword and silently reciting the sword moves. Each moment became increasingly challenging as if he couldn’t hold on any longer. However, each time he thought he had reached his limit, he gritted his teeth and persevered.
He couldn’t determine how much time had passed. Half of his body had gone numb, and it seemed as though he could only perceive the movement of his arm. He was completely unaware of the rest of his body…
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