Nantian Swordsmanship

Lu Chen and the other two continued deeper into the Fire Prison along the narrow path. Ever since they had encountered another Flame Demon two days ago and Lu Chen had destroyed it, they had not run into a single Flame Demon again.

Ever since obtaining the Primal Chaos Greatsword, Lu Chen's cultivation had risen to a new level. Relying on the greatsword's sharpness, he had begun challenging demonic beasts a major realm above him, those at the lower levels of the Breath Regulation Realm.

That day, Lu Chen used the Primal Chaos Greatsword to kill a Flame Monster at the third level of the Breath Regulation Realm before continuously swinging the blade to dismember the demonic beast's corpse.

Nantian Xiu stood behind Lu Chen, deeply puzzled. With talent as high as Lu Chen's, his Lineage should not have been unknown across the continent.

Nantian Xiu suddenly spoke. "Young man, I have yet to ask over these past few days—which Lineage do you belong to? Are your parents well?"

"Grandpa Xiu, I am merely a country boy. My family was slaughtered by a group of cultivators long ago. My grandfather..."

Memories of Qingfang Village surfaced in Lu Chen's mind, sorrow appearing on his face. He did not wish to continue.

"Alas... I never expected such a calamity to have befallen your family." Nantian Xiu apologized to Lu Chen, then quickly changed the subject.

"You have not joined a sect yet, have you? Though you possess powerful Martial Skills and magical treasures, you use them without any proper method. Why not follow me from now on? When I return to my sect someday, I can recommend you."

"That's right. With a sect's protection, you will also be able to avenge your family." Nantian Wan'er spoke with concern.

"Grandpa Xiu, I only entered cultivation not long ago. I obtained these Martial Skills by chance. But I have already decided to go to Fengtian Prefecture. Still, thank you, Grandpa Xiu."

"Since that is the case, I might as well teach you a sword technique. It will also make it easier for you to deal with these demonic beasts."

As he spoke, Nantian Xiu picked up a branch from the ground and began practicing a set of sword techniques.

A lift, a thrust, a cleave, a chop.

The branch in Nantian Xiu's hand was like a roaming dragon as it swept downward, stirring gust after gust of wind with the dragon's momentum.

"Young man, remember this: the sword moves with the person, the person moves with the heart, the heart moves with the spirit. Wherever the sword emerges, there must be a killing blow."

"Kill!"

Nantian Xiu pierced through the Giant Tree before him with one strike.

Just as Lu Chen was about to speak, he watched the sword technique as though possessed. His eyes could no longer tear themselves away.

Roar!

An imposing aura arose from Nantian Xiu's body. The branch in his hand gradually danced into the shape of a dragon's head, releasing wave after wave of roars.

Lu Chen watched Nantian Xiu. From the branch to his entire body, Nantian Xiu slowly transformed into a giant dragon.

"Nantian Dragon Slaying Sword, go!"

Nantian Xiu swung his sword, and a Golden Giant Dragon flew out with it, slashing into the ground. The earth split open at once, revealing a colossal fissure so deep that its bottom could not be seen.

"Young man, did you see it clearly? Today, I shall pass this move, the Nantian Dragon Slaying Sword, on to you." Nantian Xiu put away the branch and tapped Lu Chen between the brows, passing the sword art's mental formula to him.

"Grandfather, you obtained that sword strike only after untold hardship. How could you just pass it on like this? Didn't you say you would never teach it to outsiders?" Nantian Wan'er watched from behind as Nantian Xiu transmitted the mental formula to Lu Chen.

"So what? Looking at what is on your mind, what difference is there between passing it down now and passing it down later? Hahaha!"

"Grandfather, I am talking to you seriously. Stop teasing me."

Nantian Xiu looked at Nantian Wan'er's crimson cheeks and burst into laughter. Then he continued demonstrating the remaining sword techniques.

"Nantian Dragon Guard."

"Nantian Dragon Transformation."

"Th-this is the Dragon Slaying Sword?" Wind Dragon cried out in shock upon seeing the sword strike. "The Dragon Slaying Sword that shook heaven and earth ten thousand years ago."

Seeing Wind Dragon's astonishment, Lu Chen was puzzled. "Is this sword technique that powerful?"

"The sword art itself is not particularly powerful, but the Sword Intent contained within it is unparalleled beneath heaven."

Wind Dragon stared at Nantian Xiu as he practiced his sword. "Moreover, the person who created this sword art once entered the Dao through Sword Intent and single-handedly carried an entire generation's Golden Age."

"You can try learning it. This sword technique is naturally broad and forceful, making it perfect for the Primal Chaos Greatsword."

Listening to Wind Dragon, Lu Chen gripped the Primal Chaos Greatsword and began practicing along with Nantian Xiu.

Cleave, lift, thrust...

Cleave, lift, thrust...

Nantian Xiu turned around and used the branch to guide Lu Chen through repeated practice.

Gradually, a faint and indistinct aura began to gather around Lu Chen. Tiny sounds arose from the Primal Chaos Greatsword, while Wind Dragon seemed to receive a summons. His entire body turned ethereal and attached itself to the Primal Chaos Greatsword.

Roar!

Wind Dragon, covering the Primal Chaos Greatsword, let out a howl.

"Nantian Dragon Slaying Sword, go!"

Lu Chen controlled the dragon-shaped Sword Qi and slashed forward.

Accompanied by a savage hurricane, Wind Dragon ravaged the land ahead, directly blasting two mountain peaks into pieces.

"Huff... huff..."

The instant Lu Chen finished that strike, his strength gave out. "So powerful. The might of this strike rivals dozens of my previous Blazing Sun Heaven-Sundering Palms."

"Hehehe, not bad, not bad. Young man, your comprehension of the sword Dao truly is exceptional."

"He... he succeeded. He was even faster than my brother." Nantian Wan'er stared at the dragon aura and spoke in shock.

Lu Chen turned and gave Nantian Xiu a proper bow of respect as a junior.

"These moves are certainly not merely a few casual moves as Grandpa Xiu claimed. Lu Chen thanks Grandpa Xiu for teaching me these sword techniques."

Lu Chen understood in his heart that this set of sword arts was definitely above the Earth Tier. Within any sect, it would undoubtedly be a treasured art that suppressed the sect itself. Yet Nantian Xiu had simply taught it to him. Such kindness was truly immense.

"No matter, no matter. Once this old man dies, I cannot take it with me anyway. It is better to pass it down. As long as you treat Wan'er well in the future, that will be enough. Do not let Wan'er down," Nantian Xiu said with a chuckle.

Nantian Xiu knew he could not protect Nantian Wan'er forever. He had already decided to entrust the rest of her life to Lu Chen.

"Of course. From now on, anyone who bullies Wan'er will have to answer to me, Lu Chen."

Lu Chen waved his fist and declared it with the hot-blooded vigor of youth. Unfortunately, at this moment, he still did not understand the true meaning behind Nantian Xiu's words.

"That is good, that is good. Wan'er, you heard him. Someone will protect you for Grandfather in the future."

"Grandfather... I do not want that. You will definitely watch me grow up. We still have to be filial to you properly." Nantian Wan'er lowered her head shyly.

"Good, good, good. The two of you can be filial to me together. Hehehe."

"Ah... I mean, I will be filial to Grandfather." Nantian Wan'er accidentally revealed her true feelings, and her face immediately flushed red with embarrassment.

"That is fine. We can be filial together. Grandpa Xiu saved me and taught me swordsmanship, so he is practically my own grandfather too, right, Grandpa Xiu?" Lu Chen called out loudly to Nantian Xiu.

"He still did not understand something so obvious. What a blockhead." Wind Dragon was infuriated when he saw that Lu Chen still failed to grasp it.

"Yes, yes, we are family. But it is time for us to set off. You can continue practicing your swordsmanship on the road."

Lu Chen's group continued on their way. Along the road, Nantian Xiu constantly instructed Lu Chen in the three foundational sword moves—cleaving, chopping, and thrusting.

With a treasured sword in hand, guidance from a master, and exceptionally high comprehension, Lu Chen's attainments in swordsmanship had already entered the doorway within a few days.

"Cleave, chop, thrust... cleave, chop, thrust."

Whenever Lu Chen encountered a demonic beast, he stepped forward to practice his swordsmanship.

At Nantian Xiu's instruction, Lu Chen used only the most basic cleaves, chops, and thrusts against demonic beasts. With Nantian Wan'er's innate bloodline suppression over demonic beasts, Lu Chen could even handle beasts at the fifth level of the Breath Regulation Realm.

Pfft...

Nantian Wan'er suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Grandfather, the Cold Poison is about to flare up. I cannot hold on any longer."

Nantian Xiu hurriedly took out the Bright Sun Grass he had prepared earlier and fed it to Nantian Wan'er. One stalk, two stalks, three stalks...

Nantian Wan'er consumed more and more Bright Sun Grass, yet the cold energy within her body surged back with greater force. Cold vapor continuously emerged from her body, covering her surface.

"Grandfather, it hurts. My meridians are about to freeze."

"Grandfather... it hurts..." Nantian Wan'er's voice gradually weakened.

Nantian Xiu pressed both hands against Nantian Wan'er's Tianchi point on her abdomen. Sensing the condition within her body, his face filled with anxiety.

"There is no time. Wan'er has consumed too much Bright Sun Grass. Her meridians are blocked, and her body cannot absorb it. I must help her circulate her cultivation and refine it. Guard us from the side—under no circumstances can you let demonic beasts interrupt my cultivation."

"Spirit Gathering, Array Rises!"

Nantian Xiu formed seals with both hands, and the light of an array spread outward with him at its center.

Still uneasy after examining the surroundings, Nantian Xiu set up another array barrier around them and began supplying spiritual energy to Nantian Wan'er.

Lu Chen held his sword in both hands and carefully guarded the two of them. He covered the outside of the array barrier with a layer of the Azure Emperor Divine Tree.

The Spirit Gathering Array drew the surrounding spiritual energy toward Lu Chen's direction.

Nantian Wan'er's suppression over demonic beasts gradually weakened. The nearby beasts sensed the sharp increase in spiritual energy in Lu Chen's direction and charged over one after another.

The first wave consisted of demonic beasts that had only recently entered the Breath Regulation Realm, numbering around thirty or forty.

Lu Chen held his sword in his right hand, flourishing it into a sword flower. Watching the demonic beasts continuously charge at him, he shouted.

"Filthy beasts, you dare take advantage of others' peril? Take my sword!"

Lu Chen charged into the beast horde with the greatsword in hand and began cleaving and chopping.

Cleave, chop, thrust—Lu Chen used the swordsmanship he had just learned with remarkable proficiency.

Amid the horde of demonic beasts, Lu Chen continuously darted through them with his Movement Technique. Every flash of sword shadow took another demonic beast's head.

Lu Chen had reached such a level not only because of his comprehension, but more importantly because the training puppet within the Twin Fish Plate had accompanied him in day-and-night practice. One night inside was equivalent to dozens of days in the outside world.

"Wind Dragon, return!"

Lu Chen held the greatsword horizontally before his chest and controlled Wind Dragon to possess the blade.

Within Wind Dragon's translucent azure-green radiance were traces of black, berserk aura, giving the Primal Chaos Greatsword a violent presence.

Ten minutes later, Lu Chen's entire body had been dyed red with demonic beast blood. He flashed back before the barrier.

Not a single demonic beast capable of standing remained before the barrier. Lu Chen turned his head, flinging the beads of blood from his hair away, then put away the greatsword with his back to the beast corpses.

"Grandpa Xiu, how is Wan'er?" Lu Chen asked about the situation inside the barrier while controlling the Azure Emperor Divine Tree to absorb the Demonic Cores.

"It will still take some time. Young man, be careful. The Spirit Gathering Array draws in the surrounding spiritual energy, but it will also continuously attract nearby demonic beasts," Nantian Xiu reminded Lu Chen from within the barrier.

"Grandpa Xiu, I will be extra careful. You must also hurry. I fear I will not be able to hold out for much longer."

Roar... roar... The cries of demonic beasts continuously echoed from the distance.

Hearing the roars in the distance, Lu Chen sat cross-legged and began recovering his strength and spiritual energy.

"It would be wonderful if you could find the Yin Sea Pearl. Once yin and yang gather, you could open a passage between the outside world and the Yuan Yang Twin Fish Plate at any time. Others would also be able to enter and leave the Small World without restriction." Wind Dragon looked at the surrounding situation and spoke to Lu Chen.

"Yin and yang in balance... sigh, it is too difficult."

Lu Chen had now realized the problem as well. If he could open that passage, then among cultivators of the same realm, almost no one in this world could stop him from escaping.

As dusk approached, the sky above the Fire Prison was filled with an eerie blood-red glow. The sounds of demonic beasts dying in the distance drew closer.

"The demonic beasts are coming."

Hearing the demonic beasts' roars, Lu Chen rose to his feet. The second wave of demonic beasts had arrived.