Flowing Cloud Sword Art

For the next half month, Su Yu devoted himself entirely to practicing the Flowing Cloud Sword Art.

As he delved deeper into its study, he became even more convinced that the Flowing Cloud Sword Style was a simplified version of the Flowing Cloud Sword Art. While they shared the same fundamental principles, their power was worlds apart.

The opening stance, Cloud Rise Startles the Phoenix, immediately made Su Yu's eyes light up.

Unlike the purely defensive moves in the Flowing Cloud Sword Style, this stance secretly harbored a sharp gust of wind within its sword tip while forming a wind pressure barrier, making it a killing move right from the start.

As Su Yu practiced his sword in the courtyard, his purple sword qi surged, actually shaving off a corner of the bluestone rockery three yards away.

What an ingenious hidden killing move!

Su Yu sheathed his sword and stood still, marveling at the exquisite design of this move.

It completely overturned his understanding of opening stances.

Defense and offense could be integrated so perfectly.

The subsequent three stances further allowed Su Yu to witness the profound mysteries of Yellow-tier martial skills:

Flowing Clouds and Water emphasized continuous sword intent, as unpredictable as the clouds in the sky and as ceaseless as a flowing stream.

As Su Yu performed the moves, where his sword edge passed, streaks of purple cloud-like afterimages lingered in the air, refusing to dissipate for a long time.

Wind Sweeps Clouds was a technique for large-scale annihilation.

The purple sword qi surged like a sudden gale, sweeping all the fallen leaves in the courtyard into its sword intent, shredding them to pieces.

The power of this move in a group battle was easy to imagine.

The most astonishing to Su Yu was Cloud Conceals, Star Sinks.

The instant his body vanished like mist and clouds, his sword light descended like a falling star, launching a fatal blow from an unbelievable angle.

He practiced this move hundreds of times repeatedly, yet he always felt something was missing, unable to fully unleash its essence.

As for the final move, Nine Clouds Transform into Dragon, Su Yu dared not try it lightly for the time being.

According to the description in the sword art, it required condensing nine streams of cloud qi and sword qi into the shape of a dragon, accompanied by a heaven-shaking dragon's roar, unleashing earth-shattering power.

With his current cultivation, attempting it forcefully might injure his meridians.

Relying on his previous foundation from practicing the Wind Sweeps Clouds, Su Yu mastered the first three stances to Initial Accomplishment in just five days.

But even so, he couldn't help but sigh at the difficulty of cultivating a Mid-grade Yellow-tier martial skill.

Without those two instances of increased comprehension, he probably wouldn't have even managed to get started in half a month, Su Yu mused inwardly.

Over the next ten days of arduous training, Su Yu pushed the Flowing Cloud Sword Art to the peak of Initial Accomplishment, just a single step away from Lesser Accomplishment.

However, Cloud Conceals, Star Sinks still lacked a certain spiritual essence, as if it needed some kind of catalyst to break through.

During breaks in his training, Su Yu began to organize his martial arts system:

The Lone Peak Sword Art remained his strongest killing move, and it still had room for improvement.

Even when it reached the Perfected Realm, its power would continue to grow as his cultivation increased.

Although the Thunderclap Fist was not weak, it was ultimately inferior to his sword art.

However, without a better fist technique to replace it for now, it could only serve as an auxiliary method.

As for the Wind Sweeps Clouds, after achieving Initial Accomplishment in the Flowing Cloud Sword Art, it had already become vastly inferior.

The potential of a Mid-grade Yellow-tier martial skill was far beyond that of a Human-tier martial skill.

After careful consideration, Su Yu decided to abandon practicing the Wind Sweeps Clouds and focus on advancing the Flowing Cloud Sword Art.

The path of martial arts cultivation valued depth over breadth.

Gazing at the sword marks he had left in the courtyard, Su Yu fell into thought.

He knew the road ahead was still long, but every step had to be taken firmly.

As the morning mist had yet to dissipate, Su Yu was practicing the Flowing Cloud Sword Art in the courtyard when he suddenly heard a fierce shout from outside:

Su Yu, come out! Let's fight again!

The voice was full of vigor, making the ancient plum tree in the courtyard rustle.

Su Yu frowned slightly. He didn't know anyone in the Inner Sect; who would come to provoke him?

He pushed open the courtyard gate, and in the morning light stood a burly figure – it was Yuwen Jie.

He was dressed in a dark Xuan-colored training outfit, his arms bulging with muscle, looking even more formidable than during the Outer Sect competition.

Seeing Su Yu emerge, Yuwen Jie's eyes blazed with fighting spirit, his spiritual power surging around him, clearly indicating his cultivation had stabilized at the first level of the Spirit Condensation Realm.

"Alright, shall we go to the martial arts arena?" Su Yu asked calmly.

"Here!" Yuwen Jie said in a deep voice.

The rules of the Inner Sect were different from the Outer Sect. As long as disciple sparring did not cause widespread destruction, the Deacon Hall usually wouldn't interfere.

Su Yu understood Yuwen Jie's intention after a moment's thought – by not going to the martial arts arena, this match wouldn't be recorded in the rankings.

It seemed the other party was afraid of losing to him again and affecting his Inner Sect ranking.

"Make your move."

Su Yu placed his right hand on the hilt of the Lone Swan Sword, deciding to use this opportunity to test out the Flowing Cloud Sword Art he had recently practiced.

Yuwen Jie let out a fierce roar, his fists taking on a metallic sheen as his Spiritual Power from the Vajra Art was pushed to its limit.

Over the past month, he had not only brought the Mad Demon Fist to near perfection but had also begun cultivating the low-grade Yellow-tier Martial Skill, the Mad Demon Shakes Heaven Fist.

Although it hadn't reached Initial Accomplishment yet, his strength was now incomparable to what it was before.

However, as soon as he took half a step forward, he saw Su Yu's sword tip gently rotate.

Cloud Rise Startles the Mist!

Instantly, a terrifying wind pressure swept over like a raging tide.

Yuwen Jie hurriedly changed his move to defend, but saw a wisp of sharp wind hidden within the purple Sword Qi, striking directly at his throat from an unbelievable angle.

What! Yuwen Jie's pupils contracted sharply. This sword move had perfectly integrated both defense and a killing blow.

He hastily managed to dodge sideways, only to see the tip of the Lone Swan Sword stop three inches from his throat. Purple energy coiled around the blade, exuding a chilling aura.

You lose. Su Yu sheathed his sword and turned back towards the courtyard.

This match was uninspired; Yuwen Jie's strength was even weaker than he had anticipated.

Outside the courtyard gate, Yuwen Jie stood frozen, his fists clenched so tightly they turned white.

He couldn't believe that after over a month of arduous training, he couldn't even withstand a single sword strike from Su Yu.

The oppressive pressure contained within that purple Sword Qi reminded him of a rising, unbearable sense of powerlessness.

How could this be... Yuwen Jie muttered to himself, his eyes filled with unwillingness and confusion.

He had initially thought his previous defeat was an accident, but now he realized with a shock that Su Yu's strength had long since left him far behind.

In the courtyard, Su Yu had already resumed practicing his sword.

For him, this match was merely a minor interlude.

The goal of being in the top hundred of the Inner Sect was the true challenge that required his full effort.

As the morning sun rose, casting his shadow long, the Lone Swan Sword drew streaks of purple across the dawn light, resembling the unfurling of flowing clouds.