Roots and Leaves

"What is a sword?"

Lin Xuan murmured to himself after hearing that.

To him, a sword was merely a weapon. His preference for using one was purely influenced by the culture of his previous life. He simply liked that carefree feeling of "Riding the wind on a sword, vanquishing demons between heaven and earth."

As for how to cultivate the sword, he knew absolutely nothing. He had started out as a self-taught nobody and had never received any relevant guidance, only improving his Basic Sword Technique bit by bit with the system's help.

Yet the system had not told him how to cultivate the sword either. All it gave him were insights and flashes of inspiration for taking his Basic Sword Technique a step further.

But it did not matter if he did not understand. Didn't he still have a transmigrator's greatest skill?

"In my view, sword cultivation can be divided into five steps. The first is Sharp Sword. At this stage, one uses the sword's own sharpness to wound enemies, relying on the sword's edge. The second is Flexible Sword... The final step is No Sword—no sword in hand, yet a sword in one's heart."

Lin Xuan said it without blushing or skipping a beat.

He just did not know whether theories from a scientific world in his previous life were reliable here. Still, this philosophy had been so widely circulated that there had to be some logic to it.

As Wu Changkong listened to Lin Xuan's theory of the sword, he initially frowned, but then his expression gradually relaxed.

"Did you really come up with this yourself?"

Wu Changkong glanced at Lin Xuan with an amused smile.

If this brat had truly comprehended all of that himself, he would not have come looking for him today.

"Cough, cough! I heard it from an old man who raised birds when I used to collect garbage. I thought it made a lot of sense."

Lin Xuan scratched his head, speaking with some guilt.

My skin is still too thin. I need to learn from those shameless transmigrator seniors.

Lin Xuan conducted a deep self-reflection in his heart.

"This theory of sword cultivation does not align with the mainstream path on the continent today."

Wu Changkong said to Lin Xuan.

"Is this theory wrong?"

Lin Xuan frowned. Novels really did kill people.

"No! Quite the opposite! The person who proposed this theory must have been a sword dao grandmaster who forged his own path."

Wu Changkong shook his head.

Lin Xuan's eyes lit up. He knew it—novels could still be useful sometimes. Whoever dared say novels were nothing but nonsense meant to fool people—

"It is simply that this path and the mainstream sword dao of the continent today are two different roads."

"The sword dao theory you mentioned emphasizes technique. It follows the path of approaching the Dao through technique and can be called the Way of Sword Technique. The mainstream sword dao on the continent, however, lies in combining soul power with one's own will. It is the Way of Sword Intent."

"The mainstream Sword Dao realms on the continent today are Sword Technique, Man-Sword Unity, Sword Intent, Sword Soul, and Sword God!"

Wu Changkong patiently explained to Lin Xuan. He paused before continuing.

"Speaking only of the Way of Sword Intent, your current realm is Man-Sword Unity, the second stage. This is almost the highest realm you can reach through cultivating Basic Sword Technique."

"Sword Intent! Intent refers to a swordsman's will, while sword techniques are the vessels that carry that will!"

"These Legendary Sword Techniques have another name: Self-Created Soul Skills. So, if you possess a sword Martial Soul, you can also reach the realm of Sword Intent through your own soul skills."

"This is also why I inferred that you do not have a sword Martial Soul."

Wu Changkong looked at Lin Xuan. Only the soul skills of a sword Martial Soul could merge with Sword Intent.

Compared to the Way of Sword Technique, what the continent now advocated was combining one's soul power, soul skills, and Spiritual Power, advancing step by step.

"To put it simply, Basic Sword Technique is only a paving stone, while these soul skills are houses built from those paving stones. People can live in houses, but they cannot live on paving stones. Do you understand?"

Wu Changkong explained it to Lin Xuan in another way.

"So Basic Sword Technique cannot be cultivated to the realm of Sword Intent?"

Lin Xuan asked doubtfully.

"Not absolutely. It is simply extremely difficult by comparison. As far as I know, there was once a genius sword cultivator on Star Luo Continent who cultivated pure Sword Intent, but it took him over a hundred years. He only succeeded shortly before his death."

Wu Changkong shook his head again.

This path was not impossible, merely difficult. The polarization was too severe. It was like someone jumping into the Abyss—either they learned to fly and soared into the heavens, or they sank into the Abyss and were doomed beyond redemption.

The senior who had proposed this theory probably did not possess a high Soul Power Level. Though the Way of Sword Technique was extreme, it had its advantages: it placed almost no demands on one's cultivation.

Unlike the Way of Sword Intent today, which had corresponding requirements for both soul power and Spiritual Power.

"Alright!"

Lin Xuan nodded, understanding now.

Although paving stones cannot be used as houses, if my paving stones are as big as houses, that might be another matter.

"Then which of these two sword daos is stronger?"

Lin Xuan looked curiously at Wu Changkong again. Wu Changkong pondered for a moment before slowly speaking.

"In the earlier stages, Sword Intent should surpass sword technique. In the later stages, each has its own merits."

The Way of Sword Technique Lin Xuan had described remained at the level of technique in its earlier stages. It was easy to begin but difficult to master. Only the final two stages transcended sword techniques.

"I understand! But to learn these Legendary Sword Techniques, do I need to join one of those factions?"

Lin Xuan nodded, but then shifted the conversation, his eyes turning toward Wu Changkong.

With the Tang Sect's history of more than twenty thousand years, it certainly would not lack such things.

"That is indeed the case."

Wu Changkong nodded, but said nothing further, merely standing there with a composed expression.

"Thank you for your guidance, Teacher!"

Lin Xuan gave a Disciple's Salute and did not press the matter further.

He had expected this outcome. He had merely been testing the waters. They were neither family nor friends, so Wu Changkong could not possibly rashly bring him into the Tang Sect.

If the Tang Sect would not take him, then the Spirit Pagoda would work too.

"If you encounter any difficulties in sword cultivation in the future, you can come find me in Class Five."

After saying that to Lin Xuan, Wu Changkong turned and left. Tang Wulin and the other two were still at the Playground.

In truth, he had a favorable impression of this student. Upon seeing Lin Xuan's talent in the sword dao, he had even briefly entertained the thought of directly recommending Lin Xuan to join the Tang Sect.

But he quickly dismissed the idea. The Tang Sect's assessments could not be approached rashly. They had known each other for too short a time, and he would need to observe him longer in the future.

"Thank you, Teacher Wu!"

Lin Xuan cupped his fists toward Wu Changkong's departing back.

"Sword technique and Sword Intent..."

Lin Xuan looked at the longsword in his hand and murmured.

In fact, he had a somewhat different view from Wu Changkong's. In his eyes, the relationship between sword technique and Sword Intent was more like the roots and leaves of a great tree.

Only when the roots beneath the ground burrowed deeper could the branches and leaves above grow more luxuriantly, bloom, and bear fruit. The reverse was true as well: only when the branches and leaves above flourished could the tree spread its roots farther and deeper.

The two complemented each other.

Only children made choices. Lin Xuan decided to cultivate both. With the system in hand, it would only cost him a little more time each day.

"It's just that these Self-Created Soul Skills are a little troublesome!"

Lin Xuan scratched his head in frustration. Going from zero to one was the hardest part.

The system would not conjure one up for him. Lin Xuan had to create a basic template himself.

For example, he had spent half a year figuring out the Qi Yu Body Tempering Method before producing a set that was useful to him. He had modified countless details within it.

Damn it, why isn't there some rich older woman for me to cling to at a time like this?

My teeth are good—I can eat both black and white.

"Beep, beep! Grandpa, your son is calling! Grandpa, your son is calling!"

Just as Lin Xuan was feeling troubled, the Soul Guiding Phone in his pocket suddenly rang.

"Hello, Teacher!"

Lin Xuan answered the call, and Mang Tian's voice came through.

"Xiao Xuan, have you finished dealing with your school's opening matters? If you have time, bring Wulin to the Forging Room at noon."