As time passed, the Academy's disciples grew increasingly adept at controlling Literary Qi through their daily cultivation and lectures, and their understanding of the profound essence of the Confucian Dao deepened as well.
The Tongue-and-Sword technique Sage Wanhua had explained in the Hall of Understanding Principles that day took root and sprouted in the hearts of many disciples, leaving them eager to try it.
That day, with the Sage's Clone's tacit approval, Xuanjizi gathered several disciples whose Literary Hearts had stabilized and whose Literary Qi was abundant, bringing them to the specially designated Literary Practice Field in the Outer Academy for their first practical trial of divine abilities.
The Literary Practice Field stood in a corner of the Academy. Its ground was paved with massive blue-green stones harder than refined iron, inscribed with reinforcement and protective formation patterns.
A faint curtain of Literary Qi light covered the surroundings, preventing the aftershocks of techniques from harming innocent bystanders.
Several Sword-Testing Stones of varying shapes stood along the edge of the field. Their material was peculiar, capable of clearly reflecting an attack's strength and characteristics.
Xuanjizi stood in the center of the field. As the First Disciple, he felt responsible for guiding the others.
His gaze swept across the gathered disciples. Besides familiar faces such as Elder Teng, Yun Xi, and Yun Su, there were also Jin Li, the Spirit of Metal and Stone, and Mingxin, the Spirit of Radiant Wisdom.
There were several Registered Disciples who had recently performed well, and even Qing Yu, the Qingyu Luan Bird Maiden, stood quietly to one side, observing.
"Fellow disciples," Xuanjizi said in a clear voice, "the Sage imparted the Tongue-and-Sword technique to us not so that we might show off or fight fiercely, but so that we may protect the Dao, rectify our hearts, and sever evil and delusion.
"Today's gathering is not a contest for victory, but a chance to verify what we have learned and understand our own shortcomings."
He was the first to step before a Sword-Testing Stone. He held his breath and focused his spirit, recalling the mental method taught by the Sage.
He did not act immediately. Instead, he first mobilized the Literary Qi within him, guiding it along specific pathways. At the same time, he visualized the swiftness of "wind," the persistence of "seeking," and merged them with his Seeking Literary Heart in his Sea of Consciousness.
A moment later, a sharp gleam flashed in his eyes. He held two fingers together like a brush and made a sweeping gesture toward the Sword-Testing Stone!
"Hiss—!"
A blade of intent, formless and intangible yet carrying a piercing whistle through the air, burst from his fingertips!
Though this blade of intent had no physical form, it seemed woven from highly condensed Literary Qi and the conceptual essence of "sharpness" and "uprightness." It moved so quickly that it left only an extremely faint golden line in the air.
"Clang!"
A crisp sound like metal striking stone rang out! A smooth cut, nearly an inch deep, had appeared on the hard Sword-Testing Stone!
Fine wind patterns flowed along the edge of the cut, faintly carrying the intent to continue eroding it. Only after several breaths did they fade away.
"Good!" Several low cries rose from the edge of the field. The disciples could sense the pure Literary Qi and fierce intent contained in that strike.
Xuanjizi panted slightly, sweat beading at his temples. Though this first formal use had succeeded, it had consumed nearly a tenth of his Literary Qi and demanded immense concentration.
He carefully savored the sensation from moments ago, gaining a deeper understanding of the finer details of Literary Qi condensation and intent guidance.
"The key to this technique lies in the complete unity of intent and Literary Qi. Where the intent goes, the Qi follows; where the Qi arrives, the edge takes form," he shared his insight.
With Xuanjizi's demonstration, the other disciples stepped forward one after another to try.
Elder Teng walked before another Sword-Testing Stone. It did not pursue speed or sharpness, instead blending its Benevolent Resilience Literary Heart into the technique. It extended a verdant vine-like finger and slowly pointed forward.
A stream of blue-gold light shot forth, seemingly gentle yet possessing enduring force. When it struck the Sword-Testing Stone, it did not leave a deep slash. Instead, it was like dripping water piercing stone.
A dense web of cracks spread across the stone's surface, while an unyielding, entangling intent diffused outward, as though it could bind an opponent.
"My Tongue-and-Sword emphasizes 'trapping' and 'resilience,'" Elder Teng said slowly.
When it was Yun Xi, the Antlered Maiden's turn, she seemed somewhat nervous.
She gathered her Literary Qi and tried her best to visualize the meaning of Guardian. A somewhat scattered shield of intent, carrying a pure white radiance, formed before her, but it was difficult for her to condense it into an effective offensive shape.
It left only a shallow dent when it struck the Sword-Testing Stone. "I... I seem to be better at protecting..." she said, somewhat dejected.
Xuanjizi comforted her gently. "Junior Sister Yun Xi, there is no need to force it. The Sage also said that divine abilities differ from person to person. What accords with one's nature is the finest.
"Your Guardian Literary Heart may be better suited to defensive methods such as Impregnable Fortress and Splendid Tapestry."
Jin Li, the Spirit of Metal and Stone, wielded a Tongue-and-Sword that carried an overwhelmingly heavy yet peerlessly sharp intent.
It was like an invisible sledgehammer smashing into the Sword-Testing Stone, leaving a clear dent as fragments of stone scattered in all directions. Its momentum was astonishing.
Mingxin's scene was entirely different. His blade of intent was nimble and elusive, its trajectory difficult to predict. When it struck the Sword-Testing Stone, light flickered as though it could disrupt the locking of divine consciousness.
The most peculiar of all was Yun Su, the Cloud Spirit.
Her figure drifted unpredictably. With a light tap of her fingertip, a barely perceptible thread of intent shot out, constantly gathering and dispersing. It left no obvious mark after striking the Sword-Testing Stone.
Yet the light around the Sword-Testing Stone twisted slightly, as though shrouded in a layer of invisible mist that interfered with perception.
"Gathering and dispersing at the heart's command, confusing the enemy's eyes and ears," Yun Su explained softly, having found a method suited to her own traits.
Some disciples failed as well. One Registered Disciple with a somewhat impetuous temperament was too eager for quick success. His Literary Qi was insufficiently condensed, his intent scattered, and the attack he released was weak and limp.
It did not even scrape the surface of the Sword-Testing Stone. His Literary Qi immediately fell into disorder, turning his face pale, and Xuanjizi promptly shouted for him to stop and regulate his breathing.
Qing Yu, the Qing Yu Maiden, also stepped forward to try. The trace of wandering deep within her soul affected her concentration, and though the blade of intent she released was sharp as well,
it lacked a measure of purity. The mark it left on the Sword-Testing Stone was shallow and scattered, unable to penetrate deeply. She frowned slightly, then silently stepped aside, seeming to realize something.
Within the Literary Practice Field, Literary Qi surged in every direction and intents flew about. In this first attempt at Tongue-and-Sword, all manner of beings revealed their different natures.
Those who succeeded rejoiced at finding an extension of their own paths; those who failed understood their own shortcomings;
and the varied forms of the technique showed that Confucian Dao divine abilities were not rigid, fixed forms, but could closely merge with one's own Literary Heart and nature to produce endless transformations.
Xuanjizi looked upon the scene before him and felt deeply moved.
This was not merely the first trial of a divine ability. It was also a test of the results of their cultivation over the past period, another tempering of their hearts and principles.
He seemed to see the Academy's disciples in the future, wielding this intangible Tongue-and-Sword, upholding the principles in their hearts, and carving out a path unlike any other in the Primordial Era.
"Today's first trial ends here," Xuanjizi announced brightly. "After returning, you must practice diligently. More importantly, remember the Sage's teachings: this technique must serve to protect the Dao, not become a tool for competing in strength.
"If the heart is righteous, the technique is righteous. If the heart is wicked, the technique is crooked."
The disciples responded in unison. Carrying different gains and thoughts, they each departed from the Literary Practice Field.
The air still seemed to hold the sharp aura of those invisible clashes of intent, foreshadowing that Tongue-and-Sword would surely become one of the defining marks of Myriad Dao Academy's disciples as they traveled the Primordial Era.
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