Young Master, Don't You Want Qiuyue Anymore?

Innate Sword Qi is an unspoken secret of the Sword Sect. Since the sect's founding, it has only been passed down to core disciples and never leaked outside.

Before him stood a youth who had not only mastered the Thirteen Swords of Heavenly Annihilation but had reached such a profound level. Jian Xuzi found it truly difficult to comprehend.

"Young friend Ye Jing, where did you learn this Innate Sword Qi? Could you satisfy this old man's curiosity?"

Jian Xuzi had no sectarian bias. His lifelong wish was for all Sword Cultivators under heaven to inherit the Sword Dao of the Sword Sect.

But within the sect, the concept of gatekeeping was deeply entrenched. Though he was one of the Seven Sons of the Sword Sect, he did not hold sole authority.

Asking Ye Jing how he came to know the Thirteen Swords of Heavenly Annihilation was merely a spark of curiosity.

Before arriving, Ye Jing had already planned to reveal the Thirteen Swords of Heavenly Annihilation. Now that Jian Xuzi asked, he had his answer ready.

"Senior Jian Xuzi, when I was young, I had a fortuitous encounter. A mad old Daoist said my bones were extraordinary and wanted to pass on to me a peerless sword art."

"The Thirteen Swords of Heavenly Annihilation was what he taught me back then."

A mad old Daoist! Jian Xuzi murmured the words, then his eyes lit up. He pressed further: "Young friend Ye Jing, where is that mad old Daoist now?"

"Senior Jian Xuzi, after teaching me those sword forms, the mad old Daoist drifted away, and I have no idea where he went."

"What's wrong, Senior? Do you know that mad old Daoist?"

Playing the part to the fullest, the more convincing the better. Seeing Jian Xuzi's keen interest in the mad old Daoist, Ye Jing put on a concerned expression, as if such a person truly existed.

A flicker of daze crossed Jian Xuzi's face. He sighed, "This old man suspects that mad old Daoist is my Second Senior Brother Jian Jue, who vanished a hundred years ago."

The mad old Daoist was merely a character Ye Jing had fabricated on a whim. He never expected Jian Xuzi to fit the description so neatly. Ye Jing didn't expose the lie but played along.

"The Thirteen Swords of Heavenly Annihilation is your sect's unspoken secret. It must have been Senior Jian Juezi. Who else could know such a supreme sword manual?"

"But Senior Jian Xuzi, don't worry. Senior Jian Juezi's sword art has reached the realm of profound mystery. In all of Dali, how many could be his match? I'm sure he's safe and sound."

Jian Xuzi paid little heed to Ye Jing's comforting words. No one knew Senior Brother Jian Jue's strength better than he did.

A hundred years ago, he had already reached the level of 'Entering the Dao.' In terms of pure sword technique, no one in the entire Sword Sect could rival him.

With such a figure, how many in all of Dali could truly stand against him?

A hundred years ago, when Jian Xuzi first joined the Sword Sect, he had witnessed Senior Brother Jian Juezi's peerless brilliance. His sword momentum was like the waters of the Heavenly River—endless, vast, unrestrained, and free.

Others said he was the most carefree Sword Cultivator under heaven, but who knew that his current temperament was entirely shaped by Senior Brother Jian Juezi's influence?

Alas, such a free-spirited, unrestrained, peerless swordsman was trapped by love. In the end, his heart changed, and he fled the Sword Sect, never to be heard from again.

After a moment of reminiscing about Senior Brother Jian Juezi, Jian Xuzi finally recalled what Ye Jing had said earlier.

Innate Dao Body! Jian Xuzi no longer thought Ye Jing was speaking arrogantly. Excited, he asked, "Young friend Ye Jing, you said your maidservant has an Innate Dao Body. Quick... take me to see her."

Jian Xuzi couldn't bear to wait any longer. He urged Ye Jing to hurry, eager to see this so-called Innate Dao Body with his own eyes.

Ye Jing did not lead Jian Xuzi directly to Ye Manor. Revealing the Thirteen Swords of Heavenly Annihilation today had been forced by circumstance; he was unwilling to expose anything more.

He took Jian Xuzi outside the city, then returned to Ye Manor.

Qiuyue had not yet woken from her slumber. Ye Jing roused her and, ignoring her dazed state, brought her before Jian Xuzi. He said, "Senior Jian Xuzi, this is Qiuyue, the Innate Dao Body I spoke of."

Jian Xuzi looked at Qiuyue as if she were a rare treasure. But the Innate Dao Body had always been a legendary constitution. Even after roaming Dali for a hundred years, he had only read about such a physique in Ancient Texts. He had never seen an Innate Dao Body with his own eyes.

Seeing the doubt in Jian Xuzi's eyes, Ye Jing said, "Senior Jian Xuzi, the Innate Dao Body is naturally close to the Dao, with monstrous comprehension and an inherently fast cultivation speed."

"If you don't believe me, demonstrate your unique sword technique before Qiuyue. With her Innate Dao Body, she only needs to watch once to master ninety percent of it."

That's right! The Ancient Texts recorded that the Innate Dao Body was the darling of the Great Dao. Realms that ordinary people struggled to break through, techniques that were difficult to cultivate—the Innate Dao Body could easily reach profound heights.

"Young lady, I have a sword technique called Heaven and Earth Longevity. Watch closely."

Following Ye Jing's suggestion, Jian Xuzi performed a sword art he had never shown the world before, right in front of Qiuyue.

"Qiuyue, perform Heaven and Earth Longevity again before Senior Jian Xuzi."

Once Jian Xuzi finished, Ye Jing had Qiuyue repeat the technique.

Qiuyue was still bewildered, unsure of what was happening, but since Ye Jing told her to perform it, she obeyed.

Jian Xuzi stared intently at the Long Sword in Qiuyue's hand, afraid to miss even a single change in form.

The more he watched, the more shocked he became. By the time Qiuyue finished, his mind was churning like a stormy sea.

Heaven and Earth Longevity was a supreme technique he had created after twenty years in seclusion. Though he had never shown it to anyone, he had never doubted its power.

This sword form contained his entire understanding of the Sword Dao—profound and abstruse. Even among the Sword Sect's prodigies, few could master it.

Yet this young woman, after watching it just once, could replicate ninety percent of its essence. If she studied it a few more times, she might surpass the original and forge her own Sword Dao.

Truly an Innate Dao Body. Such comprehension was astonishing, almost beyond belief.

Based on this alone, Jian Xuzi could assert that Ye Jing had not lied. This girl undoubtedly possessed an Innate Dao Body.

"Senior Jian Xuzi, do you still have any doubts now?"

"If Senior still has reservations, I can have Qiuyue cultivate in front of you so you can verify further."

"The Ancient Texts record that the Innate Dao Body naturally has all one hundred and eight acupoints open, allowing for extremely fast cultivation. Senior Jian Xuzi can check whether Qiuyue's acupoints are all open."

Hearing Ye Jing's teasing, Jian Xuzi quickly declined: "No need, no need. With such comprehension, Guang is not just unmatched across all of Dali—even in the vast Canglan Domain, few peerless prodigies could rival him."

"For my Sword Sect to take in a disciple of such talent, we will surely flourish in the future. Even if he is not an Innate Dao Body, it is still our good fortune."

"Senior Jian Xuzi, you flatter me. With the Sword Sect's dedicated training, Qiuyue will surely achieve great things in time."

Just as the two were exchanging pleasantries, a faint voice drifted over.

"The Sword Sect is taking disciples! Young Master, are you abandoning Qiuyue?"