45, 46, Muscle and Bone Strengthening, One-Inch Sword Radiance

Early the next morning, Lu Chen, Huang Rong, and Li Mochou left Xiangyang and headed toward Wuguan Pass, planning to enter Guanzhong through the pass and make for Mount Zhongnan.

There was no urgency to their journey. The three traveled by day and rested at night, leisurely taking in the landscapes while never forgetting to hone their Martial Arts along the way.

Lu Chen still focused solely on swordsmanship, practicing that move, "Divine Dragon Swings Tail," only in his spare time.

Besides swordsmanship, Li Mochou had also learned two fierce striking arts to make up for the Ancient Tomb Sect's hand and leg techniques, which were swift enough but lacked killing force.

Huang Rong learned the most. Carefree Roaming, Primordial Chaos Skill, Copper Hammer Hand, Lotus Palm, Iron Broom Leg Technique... she picked up a whole heap of miscellaneous skills. She learned every one of them the moment she studied them, yet hardly practiced any of them in earnest.

When Seventh Master taught her, he had sighed that Rong'er was astonishingly perceptive, but sadly far too lazy and playful by nature. Her father, though greedy for breadth as well, would at least pour his heart into studying every Martial Art, striving to train each one to its utmost limit. Rong'er, however, was content once she had learned something, muddling through as the days came.

Even Seventh Master had been helpless before such indolence. Yet he loved how clever and adorable she was and could not bear to be too harsh with her, so he could only let her have her way.

Lu Chen was not in a hurry either.

Li Mochou was two years older than Rong'er, yet she still could not shake off her playful nature and had even sneaked down the mountain. How could Rong'er be any different?

Now that Li Mochou had awakened to the need to return and cultivate diligently on the Cold Jade Bed, Rong'er would naturally rein in her temperament in another couple of years, once she had grown a little older.

Besides, the Muscle and Bone Strengthening Chapter would soon be within reach.

With this skill—something that could be called a "minor divine art" in a low-martial world—Rong'er's Martial Arts would also make a leap forward.

While traveling, Lu Chen sparred with Li Mochou twice each day, gradually breaking down and reverse-engineering the Ancient Tomb Swordplay while carefully studying the White Rainbow Swordplay as well.

The method within White Rainbow Swordplay for unleashing sword radiance truly possessed considerable profundity and finesse, especially in its extremely demanding requirements for precise control of True Qi.

But with Lu Chen's comprehension of the Sword Dao, fully grasping that method posed no obstacle.

Moreover, his True Qi came from his unceasing cultivation of Half-Move Sword One. It could be said that all the True Qi in his body was Sword Dao True Qi, born solely for swordsmanship. With the sword principles he touched upon every day through comprehending the Sword Intent Imprint, his control over that Sword Dao True Qi had long since become exquisitely precise.

Yet although he had already mastered the swordplay and had no problem controlling his True Qi—and although his True Qi was even naturally suited to sword radiance and sword qi—perhaps because his cultivation was still lacking somewhat in depth, he had still been unable to produce sword radiance.

Once I obtain the Muscle and Bone Strengthening Chapter and raise my cultivation another step, I should be able to unleash sword radiance. After all, my True Qi was cultivated through Half-Move Sword One. It is naturally suited to any sword art, so bringing forth sword radiance ought to yield twice the result with half the effort...

Lu Chen pondered this inwardly, holding no small expectations for sword radiance.

Before they knew it, they had passed through Wuguan Pass. After traveling for several more days, the three finally arrived at Mount Zhongnan.

Li Mochou led Lu Chen and Huang Rong along a small path around the Quanzhen Sect's mountain gate and into the woods before the ancient tomb. Gazing from afar at the entrance to the Tomb of the Living Dead, a faint trace of fear surfaced in her eyes, only to be swiftly replaced by resolve—she had sneaked down the mountain this time, and returning to the ancient tomb would surely earn her punishment from her master.

But for the sake of cultivation, she was willing to accept even a severe beating from her master.

"Rong'er, Brother Lu, the rules of my Ancient Tomb Sect are strict. Outsiders are not permitted to enter, so please forgive me for not being able to invite you inside to visit my sect."

Li Mochou looked at Lu Chen and Huang Rong, her eyes full of reluctance to part.

"Thank you for accompanying me all the way back. When I have achieved success in Martial Arts someday, I will surely come down the mountain and meet you again."

Huang Rong took Li Mochou's slender hand and said with a smile, "Then I'll wait for Sister Mochou to come down the mountain and play with us someday!"

"Mm, certainly." Li Mochou nodded heavily. "Then... I'll be going back now."

"Until we meet again in the jianghu." Huang Rong said with a grin.

"Until we meet again, Miss Mochou." With a smile at the corner of his lips, Lu Chen nodded farewell.

Li Mochou was steeped in the sorrow of parting. After saying goodbye, she walked toward the ancient tomb, turning back every few steps.

When she reached the great doors of the tomb and looked back toward the woods, she could still see Huang Rong and Lu Chen standing there, waving to her from afar.

Li Mochou broke into a radiant smile and waved back at them. Taking a deep breath, she strode into the dark and deep tomb entrance.

In the woods.

Watching Li Mochou enter the tomb, Lu Chen suddenly said with a smile, "Perhaps we'll be seeing Miss Mochou again very soon."

"Hm?" Huang Rong blinked twice. "Why?"

"Because I intend to sneak into the Tomb of the Living Dead."

Stroking his chin, Lu Chen said slowly, "Beneath the Tomb of the Living Dead lies a secret passage that even the Ancient Tomb Sect does not know about. That passage leads to a hidden chamber that the Ancient Tomb Sect likewise knows nothing of, and there are good things concealed inside. Once we obtain those things, we can inform Mochou. That would count as helping the Ancient Tomb Sect gain a great opportunity, enough to offset the offense of our intrusion into the ancient tomb..."

Huang Rong looked utterly astonished. She very much wanted to ask how he knew, but upon second thought, Lu Chen was an otherworldly person with "superpowers." He could even travel beyond the heavens, so was it really strange that he knew secrets unknown to others?

So she did not press him further. She merely looked at him with sparkling eyes and asked with a touch of excitement, "Where is the secret passage?"

"We'll need to search carefully."

Lu Chen looked toward the ancient tomb's entrance and smiled with complete confidence. "But now that we know where the ancient tomb is, finding the secret passage should not be difficult."

"Then what are we waiting for?"

Huang Rong rubbed her hands together, eager to give it a try. "Let's get moving!"

Playful by nature, she found nothing more interesting than exploring hidden places and seeking out secrets.

Lu Chen nodded.

"Mm, we'll act now."

The two immediately circled around the ancient tomb and began searching the valleys surrounding it.

Lu Chen had originally thought that even knowing the secret passage existed, finding its entrance would require painstaking effort—perhaps several days of patient searching.

Yet after Huang Rong asked about the features of the passage entrance, she studied the mountains and terrain around the ancient tomb, examined the course of the water veins, then made calculations using a geomantic art Lu Chen could not understand. To his surprise, she actually worked out the likely location of the passage entrance.

She then led Lu Chen straight to the spot she had calculated, where they found a secluded valley. A stream ran along its floor, and at the source of that stream stood a cave.

The two set down their packs and entered the cave. After walking for a while, the water accumulated within grew deeper and deeper, until a subterranean river gradually appeared.

At the sight of that underground river, Lu Chen was certain this was the secret passage leading directly beneath the ancient tomb. He immediately burst into laughter.

"Rong'er, you really are my lucky star! We found the secret passage so quickly!"

Huang Rong giggled, lifting her chin with a touch of smug pride.

"Of course. With me around, you can roam the martial world without a care in the world."

As she spoke, she took out a luminous pearl to illuminate the shadowy riverway, then grabbed Lu Chen's hand and said eagerly, "Come on. Let's see what treasures are hidden beneath the ancient tomb."

Hand in hand, the two waded into the underground river. Before long, the water gradually rose over their heads.

Huang Rong was an excellent swimmer. Drawing a deep breath, she held it and dove beneath the surface. Even swimming against the current, she moved as lightly as a fish, like a nimble, lively mermaid.

Lu Chen had learned underwater techniques from Huang Rong and was already well versed in swimming as well. However, with the Profound Iron Heavy Sword on his back, he could not swim upstream as freely as she could. Still, he could use the sword's weight to steady himself, planting his feet on the riverbed and advancing step by step.

Huang Rong swam ahead for a while before finding an air pocket in the river channel. She surfaced to take a breath, then dove back down and pulled Lu Chen up to breathe before continuing onward.

A short while later, they stopped to breathe once more. The river channel gradually sloped upward, and Huang Rong too set her feet upon solid ground. Hand in hand with Lu Chen, she walked upward, and they soon arrived in a dark passageway.

Neither had time to wring out their clothes. Soaking wet, they continued onward until the passage came to an end and a stone chamber appeared ahead.

The two entered the chamber. Huang Rong held the luminous pearl high, lighting up the room. She looked around, then raised her head toward the ceiling. It was densely carved with tiny writing, beneath which were four large characters—Nine Yin Manual.

Huang Rong was startled at the sight of those four words.

"The Nine Yin Manual? How could the Nine Yin Manual be here?"

Lu Chen smiled faintly.

"The treasure I mentioned is this Nine Yin Manual. Unfortunately, it isn't complete—only a small portion of it."

Huang Rong's little face flushed red with excitement.

"The Nine Yin Manual is the greatest martial arts canon under heaven today. Even just a small portion of it is incredibly extraordinary! The thing my father wanted you to take back from the Black Wind Double Fiends was the lower volume of the Nine Yin Manual. With this portion of the Nine Yin Manual, even if we can't find the Black Wind Double Fiends, Father's task can at least barely be considered complete."

Lu Chen said with a smile, "We still have to capture the Black Wind Double Fiends. I can find them. But for now, we should study the Nine Yin Manual first and improve our cultivation. Then capturing the Black Wind Double Fiends will be as sure as ten fingers grasping ten things."

At that moment, Huang Rong had completely forgotten the discomfort of being drenched. Holding the luminous pearl aloft, she read the stone carvings with bright, sparkling eyes.

Unlike Chen Xuanfeng and Mei Chaofeng, those two poor students, she was different.

She had been intelligent since childhood, possessed a photographic memory, and read widely. She had dabbled in all three schools of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism, so she could understand the Daoist terminology in the Nine Yin Manual. After quickly reading through it, she had a general grasp of its contents. Her face was rosy, and she said excitedly to Lu Chen, "There's a 'Muscle and Bone Strengthening Chapter' here. It can improve one's innate physique and potential, and rapidly increase one's inner power! Looking over this portion of the Nine Yin Manual as a whole, this Muscle and Bone Strengthening Chapter is the most precious!"

Lu Chen smiled.

"If that's the case, then I'll have to trouble Master Rong to teach me."

Though Huang Rong had taught him about the meridians and acupoints, he could not understand Daoist terminology.

Without Huang Rong to teach him, if he practiced blindly on his own, he might end up half-paralyzed like Mei Chaofeng.

Huang Rong patted her chest with a giggle.

"Don't worry. Master Rong guarantees that if I teach it, you'll learn it!"

She carefully read through it once more, committing the entire text to memory with her photographic recall. After pondering it carefully, she was about to begin teaching when Lu Chen suddenly said, "It's far too damp and cold here. Our clothes are soaked through. How about we go back out first, change into dry clothes, and then practice?"

He followed the path from without to within. His physique was powerful, and he possessed extraordinary recovery, so staying drenched in this cold, damp underground chamber would not make him ill.

But Huang Rong was delicate and tender. Though she had inner power to protect her body, that did not guarantee she would not catch a chill.

Huang Rong knew he was worried she would catch cold, and warmth filled her heart. Still, she had to put up a tiny show of stubbornness.

"My cultivation is pretty good now too. I won't catch cold so easily. Oh, right—there's a 'Breath-Holding Secret Art' in here. It seems much more profound than my underwater breath-holding technique. Let's learn it first. It'll make traveling through that underground river much more convenient in the future."

She then explained the Breath-Holding Secret Art to Lu Chen. After the two contemplated it for a while and learned the art, they finally returned the way they had come, hand in hand.

After exiting the cave of the secret passage, they picked up their packs and each changed into fresh clothes. Huang Rong then impatiently began explaining the Muscle and Bone Strengthening Chapter to Lu Chen.

Rong'er explained it with great care.

Even though Lu Chen's comprehension in other areas was not as exceptional as it was in the sword dao, under her word-by-word, sentence-by-sentence explanations, he could understand it as soon as he heard it.

After clearing up a few minor doubts, Lu Chen spread his stance and began practicing the moving exercises of the Muscle and Bone Strengthening Chapter.

Since he followed the path of "from without to within," he naturally chose to cultivate the moving exercises.

Huang Rong guided him from the side for a time, correcting several movements in his forms as well as the rhythm of his breathing and exhalation. Once she saw that he was no longer making any mistakes, she began practicing beside him as well.

She had no patience for quiet meditation, but practicing moving techniques suited her temperament perfectly.

After training for a while, both of them felt a wondrous current of energy springing forth from every limb and bone, little by little transforming their meridians and skeletal foundations. They could also clearly feel their inner power improving.

With such obvious positive feedback—and without needing to sit in meditation—even Huang Rong, with her habit of being distracted when practicing martial arts, found her interest greatly piqued. She actually trained earnestly alongside Lu Chen for nearly half the day, only stopping as dusk approached to begin preparing dinner.

Lu Chen also stopped training and used the Azure Adamantine Sword to fell bamboo and chop wood, intending to build a temporary little shelter for the night. Tomorrow, he would put together a proper wooden house.

As martial artists, they were far more efficient than ordinary people at all manner of menial work.

For an ordinary person, even with all the proper tools, turning a tree as thick as a bowl into usable lumber would take quite a bit of effort. Yet from felling the tree with his sword, to stripping away its branches and bark and trimming it into timber, Lu Chen took less than a quarter of an hour from start to finish.

If he were not pressed for time, he could even carve flowers into the tree with his sword.

After each of them busied themselves for a while, Huang Rong finished dinner and called Lu Chen over to eat. Afterwards, she lent a hand with building the shelter.

The two of them worked together for over an hour, and a bamboo-and-wood shelter barely fit to get them through one night was completed. With a little more work expanding it tomorrow, it would be suitable for long-term living.

Once the shelter was built, Lu Chen had intended to practice martial arts, but Huang Rong asked him to tell her a story. Thinking of how, during these past days traveling with Li Mochou, he had indeed not properly spent time playing with Rong'er, Lu Chen sat with her on a blue stone by the stream. As they soaked their feet and admired the moon, he began telling stories.

That night, Lu Chen relaxed for once. Rather than thinking only of training, he devoted himself to keeping Rong'er company.

Huang Rong, too, seemed determined to make up for all the regrets of the previous days in one go. Even at midnight, she was still tugging Lu Chen along in conversation and asking for stories. Though she yawned again and again, she refused to go to sleep.

In the end, however, she could not withstand her drowsiness. Before she knew it, she had nestled against Lu Chen and fallen fast asleep.

Lu Chen's storytelling voice gradually lowered until it finally fell silent.

He lowered his head and gazed for a while at Rong'er's peerlessly beautiful, radiant face. Then he rose, lifted her in his arms, and carried her into the shelter, laying her on the simple bamboo-and-wood bedframe covered with a felt blanket.

Afterward, he gently dried her soft, snow-white little feet with a cotton towel, placed those delicate, exquisitely shaped feet—small enough to fit in one hand—upon the bed, and covered her with a thin blanket.

Then he lay down on the other bed opposite hers. After contemplating the Sword Intent Imprint for a while with his eyes closed, he too drifted into a deep sleep.

The next day.

Lu Chen, who routinely slept only four hours, rose early. After finishing his morning sword practice, he began cutting bamboo and wood, preparing materials to expand the shelter.

Huang Rong, meanwhile, slept until broad daylight. Stretching lazily as she stepped out of the shelter, she gave the busy Lu Chen a sweet smile. After washing up, she began preparing breakfast.

That day, the two expanded the shelter into a small bamboo-and-wood house, and built a clay stove outside that could be used for a long time.

For the time that followed, the two cultivated the "Muscle and Bone Strengthening Chapter" there.

Huang Rong was unusually diligent, and her inner power improved rapidly. As for Lu Chen, there was even less need to mention him—within only a few days, his inner power had risen by twenty to thirty percent.

That day.

After completing one round of the Muscle and Bone Strengthening Chapter, Lu Chen took up the Azure Adamantine Sword and began practicing the White Rainbow Swordplay.

At the height of his practice, he suddenly felt as though his true qi had accumulated to some critical threshold. A wondrous intuition also surged within him. Following that intuition, he used the method in the White Rainbow Swordplay for generating "sword radiance," manipulating his true qi with extreme precision as he poured it into the Azure Adamantine Sword.

Then the Azure Adamantine Sword gave a buzzing shudder, and from its tip, a green gleam more than an inch long suddenly burst forth.

Seeing that flickering green radiance, Huang Rong first widened her eyes in astonishment. Then she clapped her hands and cheered:

"Sword radiance! Brother Lu Chen, you've cultivated sword radiance!"

That was right—Lu Chen had cultivated sword radiance.

Though it was only a little over an inch long, it was genuine sword radiance.

Lu Chen forcefully suppressed the joy in his heart, maintaining the flow and precise control of his true qi. He swung his sword in a slicing cut at a round log. The sword tip was still over an inch away from the wood, yet the sword radiance swept across it.

Crack!

Amid a soft sound, wood chips scattered everywhere, and a long, thin, perfectly straight fissure appeared in the log.

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