Secret Sword: Wind Cutter

This could also be considered a small change in history brought about by his influence.

Though it could not compare to the far-reaching impact of the battle at the Yuanshan City Lord's Manor.

Seeing things develop in a better direction through his own involvement.

Put Lu Qingshan in a much better mood as well.

As a steward of the Pacification Department, Cai Heng had lived a life of iron and blood, upright and incorruptible.

His duties made him different from ordinary cultivators.

Most cultivators placed profit above all else.

But cultivators like Cai Heng would often choose righteousness over life itself for the convictions in their hearts.

Such people could least bear to owe others a favor.

Cai Heng now believed he owed Lu Qingshan a great debt, and for a moment, he fell into thought.

He was considering how to repay Lu Qingshan's kindness.

"Before my end comes, I was still able to find my daughter-in-law and grandson. That settles one of this old man's worries. Very well..."

At last, Cai Heng made up his mind. He took a Jade Slip from his Storage Ring, placed it on the paulownia desk, and gently pushed it toward Lu Qingshan.

Steward Cai said in a deep voice, "This thing is of no use to this old man, but it is the most valuable thing I possess."

Lu Qingshan knew that the quest reward had arrived.

"This is a Secret Sword Technique, the kind of art that Sword Cultivators yearn for most."

"My ancestor was once an exceptionally powerful Sword Cultivator, and this was the art he passed down.

"Unfortunately, with each generation, our Cai household gradually declined. By my generation, I am the only one left.

"And I have no talent for the arts of a Sword Cultivator. I studied the methods of a Beast Cultivator instead, so this Secret Sword Technique has remained buried in dust with me."

"Secret Sword Techniques are exceedingly difficult to cultivate, but once mastered, their power is beyond compare.

"Thus, all Sword Cultivators treasure them as jewels. Whether you keep it or sell it, that is up to you. Consider it the reward for helping me find Xiao Chao and his mother."

A trace of reluctance and regret showed in Cai Heng's eyes.

Sadly, he would have no chance to witness this inherited Secret Sword Technique shine once more with his own eyes.

Secret swords were divine abilities belonging to Sword Cultivators.

Put simply, they were ultimate moves.

The Heaven and Earth as One Sword Lu Qingshan had mastered in his previous life was a Secret Sword Technique.

Lu Qingshan reached out and accepted the Jade Slip, sending his divine sense into it.

A row of data soon appeared before his eyes:

Secret Sword: Wind Cutter

Learning Requirements: Agility greater than 20; master one faint Sword Intent.

Casting Requirements: This skill can only be cast through a Sword Weapon.

Skill Effect: Consumes 10% of maximum Spirit Power. The next attack deals two additional strikes. The second strike deals damage equal to 60% of the original damage, while the third strike deals damage equal to 30% of the original damage.

Additional Effect: Both additional strikes carry attack special effects.

Cooldown: 3 minutes.

Additional Note: Learning this Secret Sword requires 1,000 experience points.

"Secret Sword: Wind Cutter detected. Spend 1,000 experience points to learn it?"

"Learn!"

"You do not meet the learning requirements for Secret Sword: Wind Cutter. Unable to learn this skill!"

"Innate Sword Seed talent detected. Learning Secret Sword: Wind Cutter. Learning progress: 15%... 50%... 99%..."

Lu Qingshan's head suddenly swelled with pain as countless fragments of knowledge flooded into it in that instant.

One breath later, the casting techniques for Secret Sword: Wind Cutter had already been branded deep into his mind.

"600 experience points spent. You have mastered Secret Sword: Wind Cutter lv1 (0/2000)!"

The powerful burst damage of Secret Sword: Wind Cutter brought Lu Qingshan the most immediate benefit: his damage per second now exceeded the maximum life value of Qi Refining cultivators.

In other words, with Secret Sword: Wind Cutter, Lu Qingshan could now instantly kill most cultivators of the same rank.

Moreover, its skill effect could form combinations with many other skills.

For instance, under the effect of Secret Sword: Wind Cutter, Lu Qingshan could instantly stack three layers of the dark erosion power from the Falling Bright Sword Art onto an enemy, thereby triggering the Falling Bright Sword Art's binding effect.

This was a Sword Skill that could carry Lu Qingshan from the Qi Refining realm all the way to high levels.

"It worked!"

Lu Qingshan felt much more at ease.

His first objective in coming to Zhenjiang City could be said to have proceeded exceptionally smoothly.

Lu Qingshan put away the Jade Slip recording the Secret Sword Technique. "This junior is a Sword Cultivator. This Secret Sword Technique is incomparably precious to me, so naturally I will not sell it.

"This junior promises Steward Cai that I will diligently cultivate this Secret Sword Technique and will not let Steward Cai's trust be misplaced!"

Lu Qingshan gave his promise with words that struck the ground like nails.

Cai Heng was stunned for a moment, then smiled in gratification. "You lad are mysterious, and I do not know where you come from. Yet at such a young age, you already possess Qi Refining Level Eight cultivation. You must be a person of extraordinary talent.

"Perhaps you truly can master this Secret Sword Technique and let my Cai household's Wind Cutter art regain its former brilliance.

"Unfortunately, I do not have much time left. I fear I will not have the chance to see that day."

Cai Heng was very open-minded, showing no taboo at all in speaking of his own life and death.

After leaving the study, Lu Qingshan prepared to depart from the Cai residence.

"Young Master Lu, wait!"

Just as he was about to reach the entrance, an urgent shout came from behind him.

Lu Qingshan stopped and turned around.

Cai Xingchao hurried toward him.

"My mother asked me to give this to you." Cai Xingchao handed Lu Qingshan a crystalline, lustrous jade bracelet.

It was precisely the jade bracelet Spirit Artifact left behind by Steward Cai's Cultivation Partner, Si Jun!

Lu Qingshan frowned and pushed the jade bracelet Spirit Artifact back, refusing it. "Steward Cai has already given me payment as thanks.

"Besides, this is a Spirit Artifact left behind by your grandmother. Even in your most difficult days, you and your mother did not sell it.

"How could I possibly have the nerve to seize someone else's beloved possession now?"

Cai Xingchao scratched his head, his face full of anxiety. "My mother said that although Grandpa will definitely reward you to show his thanks, that is from Grandpa and has nothing to do with us.

"You are my mother's lifesaving benefactor. We cannot offer nothing in return.

"We possess nothing of value. This jade bracelet Spirit Artifact is the only thing we can present, so we hope you will not refuse it." (Quest Completion: Excellent. Extra reward obtained.)

He had merely provided a piece of information, allowing them to recognize one another. Beyond that, he had done nothing else.

Yet whether it was Cai Heng, a steward of the Pacification Department, or the mother and son Shi Youling and Cai Xingchao, whose cultivation was weak, all of them had offered their most precious possessions in thanks.

For a moment, Lu Qingshan was speechless. He could only silently accept the jade bracelet Spirit Artifact Cai Xingchao held out to him.

Azure Water Bracelet

Grade: Supreme Mortal Artifact

Description: Grains enter the stomach and are passed on to the lungs.

Spirit Artifact Active Effect: Azure Water Tide

You may store a certain amount of Spirit Power within the Azure Water Bracelet. When needed, release the stored Spirit Power to rapidly restore your own Spirit Power.

Stored Spirit Power: 100/100

It was an extremely practical Spirit Artifact for sustained combat. Its 100 Spirit Power restoration amount already exceeded Lu Qingshan's current maximum Spirit Power.

Before Cai Xingchao, Lu Qingshan solemnly put the Azure Water Bracelet onto his left wrist. Only then did he bid farewell and leave.