Heaven-Blessed Genius

Yu Canghai pushed his way to the front of the crowd, eager to get a glimpse of the sword manual. Other Jianghu figures were also stirring, but none as overtly as he.

Wang Jingyuan, seeing this, couldn't stand it and spoke up loudly, "You from Qingcheng Mountain, yes, I'm talking to you. My Master has already made it clear, your Qingcheng Mountain isn't one of the Five Great Sword Sects, so what? Are you trying to elevate your status? Even if you wanted to, the Emei Mountain next to you has more qualifications than you!"

Upon seeing Wang Jingyuan again, Yu Canghai was instantly furious. He raised his hand, intending to strike him with the Heartbreak Palm. But Wang Jingyuan quickly dodged behind Yue Buqun and pointed at Yu Canghai, saying, "Master, that shorty is bullying me."

Yue Buqun clasped his hands in greeting and said, "My disciple is unruly, please forgive me, Abbot Yu."

Seeing Yue Buqun acting this way again, Yu Canghai was helpless. However, a plan formed in his mind, and he declared loudly, "Hmph! You said you'd show the sword manual to everyone, but in the end, it still fell into the hands of you few major sects. What? Do we have to obey you from now on to receive your rewards?!"

The rank-and-file Jianghu members heard this and felt it made sense. Although Yue Buqun spoke nicely, if they refused to act as dogs for these major sects, and their enemies were fawning over them, wouldn't that put people of integrity like themselves at a disadvantage?

For a moment, everyone present began to whisper amongst themselves. Yue Buqun, having anticipated this scene, smiled calmly, "Abbot Yu, you may have misunderstood. I have no such intentions. Furthermore, the Qingcheng Sect is considered a reputable righteous sect. I can let Abbot Yu take a look at this copy I have, but..."

Yu Canghai sneered coldly, "Of course, there are conditions. What is it?"

"But as I said before, those with insufficient aptitude cannot practice it forcefully. Therefore, I will only let Abbot Yu see the first page. If Abbot Yu's aptitude is not enough, then that will be the end of it."

Yu Canghai didn't believe a word about aptitude, but now that he had a chance to see the sword manual, he couldn't afford to be picky. He immediately agreed.

Yue Buqun kept his promise and flipped open the first page of the sword manual, holding it towards Yu Canghai. The Jianghu members behind Yu Canghai cranched their necks to look, but Yue Buqun paid them no mind.

As expected, those who "lacked the conditions" and couldn't resist practicing according to the first page of the manual immediately felt their bodies heat up and their internal energy surge chaotically. Those with higher cultivation levels spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

Yue Buqun dodged the blood spat out by Yu Canghai, closed the manual, and said, "It seems Abbot Yu's talent is insufficient."

Yu Canghai immediately projected his own feelings onto Yue Buqun and cursed, "You hypocrite, you gave us a fake sword manual!"

Wang Jingyuan stepped forward, "You shorty, how dare you slander us! So you can spit blood, big deal?! You blame the sword manual for being fake because your own talent is low. Then if your son is ugly, do you blame him for being your own child?!"

"You! You!" Yu Canghai was furious, but Wang Jingyuan again hid behind Yue Buqun.

Yue Buqun looked at Yu Canghai's impotent rage and smiled slightly, "Jingyuan, words are not proof. Currently, only you have the aptitude to practice the Bixie Swordplay. Why don't you demonstrate it for everyone?"

Wang Jingyuan feigned difficulty, scratching his head and saying with a troubled expression, "Alright, but I'm just starting out. I'm only proficient in the first twelve moves, so I'll just demonstrate the first twelve stances."

After speaking, Wang Jingyuan drew the long sword at his waist. The people around them wisely retreated, leaving the center of the hall for Wang Jingyuan to perform.

As soon as the swordplay was unleashed, it was like lightning and thunder, elusive and swift. Twelve sword lights flashed and vanished in an instant, like a flock of crows sweeping through a palace, suddenly tearing through the silk paintings and screens and the pine and crane longevity diagrams in the hall. Wang Jingyuan sheathed his sword, and the tassels hanging from the curtain behind him also snapped in response.

Everyone present was stunned. This was indeed a peerless sword technique. Those holding the sword manual couldn't help but open it and look at the first twelve moves, comparing them one by one with what Wang Jingyuan had just displayed.

After a short while, everyone looked at Wang Jingyuan with complex expressions. What he performed was indeed the sword technique recorded in the manual. And the scorching internal energy emanating from the sword's edge was completely consistent with this powerful internal energy cultivation method.

Abbess Dingyi sighed, "Indeed, the younger generation is formidable."

If others didn't understand the Bixie Swordplay, how could Yu Canghai not? He had long known the seventy-two moves of the Bixie Swordplay by heart and had practiced them for many years.

He had also wondered many times why this seemingly unremarkable sword technique had been able to defeat his Master back then. Today, he finally understood. The moves of the Bixie Swordplay were indeed nothing special.

But its swift and strange speed, even a normal straight thrust could unleash immense power. Moreover, looking at the expressions of those sect leaders, not one of them showed any doubt. Could this sword manual Yue Buqun provided be real?

Yu Canghai suddenly glared at Yue Buqun, "Let me see it again, let me see it again!"

Yue Buqun sighed, "Abbot Yu, it's not that I'm stingy, it's just that this sword technique truly cannot be practiced forcefully."

"I don't believe it! He can practice it, so why can't I?! Let me see it again!"

Yue Buqun couldn't refuse and could only open the sword manual again. However, he was also kind and opened the second page this time. Yu Canghai's heart leaped with joy. He remembered the first page from before, and now that he could see the subsequent parts, he was sure to find the key to this sword manual.

But then, he vomited blood again, this time more and further. What was even more unacceptable was that his "little Canghai" actually reacted at this moment. Fortunately, he was wearing a wide daoist robe, otherwise, he would have been greatly embarrassed.

Yu Canghai had one virtue: he never blamed himself, only seeking reasons for his failures in others. He roared at Yue Buqun, "It's you! It must be you! You gave them the real sword manual, and the one you have is fake!"

Wang Jingyuan angrily rebuked, "What are you talking about, you shorty?! The sword manuals everyone has are the same!" Though they were all fake.

Yu Canghai wanted to say more, but was interrupted by the hot-tempered Daoist Tianmen, "Enough! This sword technique is indeed miraculous, but as Brother Yue said, only those with extraordinary talent can practice it."

"You Five Great Sword Sects are colluding!" Yu Canghai wanted to retort, but Daoist Tianmen couldn't be bothered to argue. He turned to the crowd, "In this world, the Bixie Swordplay is not the only sword technique that has extremely high requirements for talent. My Mount Tai Sect also has one!"

Everyone looked at Daoist Tianmen. Some of the older ones, perhaps knowing something, exclaimed in surprise, "Could it be that sword technique that is said to only require one move to defeat an enemy?"

Daoist Tianmen nodded, "That's right, it is my Mount Tai Sect's Dai Zong Ru He. Shamefully, this sword technique is so profound and mysterious, and difficult to comprehend, that no one in my Mount Tai Sect has been able to master it for decades.

But a few days ago, Nephew-disciple Wang rescued a disciple of my Mount Tai Sect from Tian Boguang. In return, I allowed Nephew-disciple Wang to choose one of my Mount Tai sect's ultimate techniques, which I would then teach him.

That Nephew-disciple Wang chose the Dai Zong Ru He!"

The crowd was astonished, "Could it be that Young Hero Wang has also learned this Dai Zong Ru He?"

Tianmen admitted, "That's right. Even I haven't been able to master it. I only told Nephew-disciple Wang the key to this stance, and he mastered it on the spot. It's laughable that the only person in the world who knows this sword technique now is not a disciple of my Mount Tai Sect."

Tianmen turned to look at Yue Buqun, "If only he were a disciple of my Mount Tai Sect. Brother Yue, you have taken in a good disciple."

Yue Buqun merely clasped his hands in greeting, while thinking with a hint of melancholy, If only he were truly a disciple of my Mount Hua Sect.