Sword Technique Essays

"Come to the Welcome Pavilion."

Yang Chen had just arrived at the Training Ground halfway up the mountain and was wondering whether he should find someone to announce him when Lin Chuan's voice carried over.

Without hesitation, he headed straight for the Welcome Pavilion not far from the Judgment Hall.

By the time he approached the Welcome Pavilion, Lin Chuan was already waiting inside.

Yang Chen hurried forward and bowed. "Yang Chen greets Martial Uncle Lin!"

"Thirteen months after joining the sect, you have cultivated to the Blood Martial Fourth Level." Lin Chuan turned around. "Yang Chen, I was right about you after all."

"This disciple is ashamed. Compared with Martial Uncle, this disciple's meager accomplishments are not worth mentioning."

"Compared to me back then, you are indeed still a little lacking." Lin Chuan said it with a straight face.

Yang Chen was speechless. Can't you tell I was just being polite?

"Haha, I'm not teasing you anymore." Lin Chuan suddenly laughed. "Do you still remember what I told you back then? That you were to enter the top ten before the Cultivation Ranking ended?"

"This disciple has always kept Martial Uncle's words firmly in mind."

Yang Chen's attitude was exceedingly proper. Although Lin Chuan seemed to think highly of him, he did not dare grow arrogant. Instead, he became even more humble.

His attitude made Lin Chuan nod faintly. "I called you here today to issue your reward. I have three items here, and you may choose any one of them."

As he spoke, three items appeared in his hand.

One was a dark bluish-black sword. A hazy, ghostly gleam radiated from its blade, and merely looking at it sent chills crawling down Yang Chen's spine.

The other two were yellowed books. One of them was plainly titled Myriad Sword Technique!

The other likewise bore four casually written characters: Sword Technique Essays.

Lin Chuan introduced them. "This sword was the weapon I used during the True Martial Realm. It is called the Dark Melody Sword. It was originally a high-grade treasured sword, but after I tempered it day and night with True Essence, it entered the supreme-grade ranks five years ago."

"The Myriad Sword Technique is a supreme-grade sword technique. I spent a vast sum buying it back then so I could better comprehend sword techniques, and I have the right to pass it on to one person."

"As for these Sword Technique Essays, they contain my insights into the Sword Dao."

After introducing all three items, Lin Chuan smiled. "You have ten minutes to make your choice."

"This disciple chooses the Sword Technique Essays!"

Yang Chen made his decision without the slightest hesitation.

"Hmm?"

Lin Chuan was mildly surprised. "A supreme-grade treasured sword can at least double your strength, while the Myriad Sword Technique can save you a thousand spirit crystals in the future. Are you sure you want the Sword Technique Essays?"

"I am sure!"

Hearing Yang Chen's decisive tone, Lin Chuan gave him a thoughtful look before directly handing him the Sword Technique Essays.

"How much you can comprehend will depend on your own talent."

"Thank you for the treasure, Senior Brother!"

Yang Chen treated it as a priceless treasure and placed the Sword Technique Essays into his Storage Bag.

Lin Chuan was truly curious, so he asked, "Yang Chen, why did you choose the Sword Technique Essays without hesitation?"

"To be honest, Senior Brother, the moment I saw the Sword Technique Essays, I felt as if divine inspiration had descended upon me. It was like the gate to the Sword Dao had originally been shut, but after seeing these essays, that gate opened."

Yang Chen's expression was utterly serious, without the slightest tell. Lin Chuan was left dumbfounded, thinking, Since when did the insights I casually wrote down have such a marvelous use?

But that did not affect his appreciation of Yang Chen. This kid truly had an eye for things, picking the most valuable item with one grab.

Unlike Huang Tianyu, who had actually chosen a thousand spirit crystals. What short-sightedness.

"Looks like I still couldn't hide it from you." Lin Chuan smiled with his hands clasped behind his back, carrying himself like an eminent senior. "These Sword Technique Essays contain my insights into Sword Intent. If you can thoroughly absorb the insights within, you may be able to comprehend Sword Intent within two years."

"That's wonderful!"

Yang Chen excitedly jumped up. This rash action made Lin Chuan feel very pleased, and Yang Chen became even more pleasing to his eyes.

"Go back. Cultivate well, and do not let my Sword Technique Essays go to waste!"

"Yes! This disciple takes his leave!"

Yang Chen respectfully performed another bow before departing with light, cheerful steps.

Watching his retreating back, Lin Chuan shook his head regretfully. "What a pity. I will soon be leaving the sect to guard a province. Otherwise, I could have kept Yang Chen by my side and nurtured him."

He had not interacted with Yang Chen many times, but after those few encounters, his impression of Yang Chen had become exceptionally good.

Over the past five years, he had cultivated quite a few disciples whose names appeared on the Cultivation Ranking, but not a single one had suited his taste so well.

"If I remember correctly, newly promoted Inner Sect Disciples should have a three-year stabilization period."

He frowned and muttered to himself, "I never expected that after merely five years away from the sect, the world would have fallen into such chaos that even the lands of the seventy-two nations are gradually slipping out of control."

"A sect order cannot be disobeyed. Fortunately, the place I am going is still considered the heartland of our Sword Sect, so the risk is not too great."

While Lin Chuan was lost in thought, Yang Chen was already speeding down the mountain.

In truth, he had indeed been putting on an act just now. The so-called opening of the gate to the Sword Dao had merely been to make Lin Chuan happy.

However, the Sword Technique Essays truly were a treasure to him. The reason he chose them was simply that they were priceless.

It was not a matter of how many spirit crystals they were worth, but that they were basically impossible to buy.

As long as he had enough spirit crystals, he could buy either of the other two items whenever he wished. Comparing them from that angle, the choice became abundantly clear.

Since he had to choose one anyway, he might as well act decisively and leave Lin Chuan with the impression that he had good judgment.

Before long, Yang Chen returned home, opened the Sword Technique Essays, and began reading.

The moment he started, he became completely immersed in Lin Chuan's understanding of sword techniques.

If Yang Chen's understanding of sword techniques was one, then Lin Chuan's had reached a hundred.

As a result, the moment Yang Chen read the insights on the first page, he was swept away beyond retrieval.

At times he frowned, at times he was delighted. Many questions about sword techniques that had troubled him seemed to have found their solutions.

Who knew how much time had passed before Yang Chen finally snapped awake? Seeing that it was already faintly light outside, he exclaimed in shock, "I actually read for three shichen!"

He had never imagined that Lin Chuan's comprehension of sword techniques would be so profound, drawing him in until he could not stop.

In just one night, his understanding of sword techniques had risen by an entire level. He had a feeling that as long as he thoroughly absorbed the insights on the first page, comprehending Low-grade Sword Techniques would become extremely easy.

"I struck it rich!"

Yang Chen could not help wanting to clap his hands in celebration. Compared with the Myriad Sword Technique and the Dark Melody Sword, these Sword Technique Essays were the most valuable item.

They contained the confusion Lin Chuan had encountered while cultivating sword techniques, as well as his many insights when confronting that confusion.

Put simply, this was an arithmetic problem with the answers included. The process might be winding and rugged, but the answers had been given.

"With these Sword Technique Essays, the difficulty of comprehending sword techniques will drop by at least several times. This gift is far too precious!"

Yang Chen took a deep breath, solemnly placed the Sword Technique Essays into the system space, then clasped his fists and bowed from afar toward the mountainside.

"Martial Uncle Lin, Yang Chen will forever remember this kindness."