The River's Waters Descend from Heaven, Rushing to the Sea Never to Return

Within the Back Cliff.

Ye Ping was earnestly contemplating the Sword Mark on the ground, hoping to condense Sword Intent sooner.

Yet just as Ye Ping was deep in contemplation, he vaguely sensed someone approaching.

In an instant, Ye Ping opened his eyes and turned to look behind him.

It was Su Changyu.

"Senior Brother?"

Ye Ping had not expected Su Changyu to come. He immediately rose and cupped his hands in salute.

"No need for such formalities."

Su Changyu spoke, still carrying himself with the air of an expert.

Though that was how he appeared on the surface, inside, he felt terribly miserable.

No, to be precise, not merely miserable—exceptionally miserable.

Ever since learning that his little junior brother possessed extraordinary talent, Su Changyu had not felt happy even once.

Sure enough, one should never compare oneself too much to others.

"Senior Brother, what brings you here today?"

Ye Ping asked curiously.

Su Changyu had been visiting rather frequently these past few days, and Ye Ping was somewhat curious.

"Oh, it's nothing important. I've merely come to teach you a second sword technique."

Su Changyu said it lightly.

"A second sword technique?"

Ye Ping was somewhat surprised.

"Senior Brother, this junior brother's aptitude is dull. It has nearly been a month, yet I have not even fully condensed Sword Intent for the first sword technique. Isn't it a little too early to learn a second sword technique already?"

Ye Ping was a little worried that he would bite off more than he could chew.

Yet to Su Changyu's ears, those words were unbearably grating.

This counted as dull aptitude?

Then what was he?

Trash?

In less than a month, Ye Ping had condensed the Four Thunder Sword Intent. What more did he want?

After fifteen years of bitter cultivation, Su Changyu had only trained the Spring Thunder Sword Technique to Initial Comprehension, while Ye Ping had condensed the Four Thunder Sword Intent in one month.

What more did he want?

Su Changyu felt grief and indignation fill his heart.

For no reason at all, his mood became even worse.

"It is of no concern. When one technique is understood, ten thousand techniques are understood. Since you have already mastered the Four Thunder Sword Technique, learning a new sword technique will yield twice the result with half the effort."

Though he was miserable within, Su Changyu remained exceedingly composed on the surface.

"So that is how it is. Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother."

Ye Ping nodded. He had indeed overlooked that point.

"Little Junior Brother, I will now demonstrate a new sword technique for you. Watch carefully and see what you can comprehend from it."

Su Changyu spoke slowly, then drew his treasure sword and stepped back several paces.

Ye Ping held his breath and watched Su Changyu with utter concentration.

Not far away, Su Changyu held his longsword without immediately swinging it. Instead, he closed his eyes.

Is Senior Brother becoming one with heaven and earth, entering the state where man and sword become one?

Ye Ping was deeply shaken.

Time passed bit by bit.

After a while, Su Changyu opened his eyes. At last, he remembered the Sword Moves.

Clang.

The next moment, Su Changyu drew his treasure sword. His Sword Momentum immediately surged like a rainbow, like a rushing river, making Ye Ping marvel again and again.

But before long, Ye Ping could not help frowning.

He discovered that although his senior brother's Sword Moves appeared powerful, they seemed somewhat disjointed.

Ye Ping compared Su Changyu's sword technique against the Four Thunder Sword Technique and vaguely felt that something was wrong.

It looked rather awkward, giving off a sense of unfamiliarity.

Hiss!

In an instant, Ye Ping froze.

He had guessed a possibility.

Senior Brother was reminding him.

This set of sword techniques was powerful, no weaker than the Four Thunder Sword Technique—perhaps even stronger—but certain parts of it were especially prone to mistakes.

Senior Brother feared that Ye Ping might go down the wrong path, so he deliberately exposed flaws for Ye Ping to ponder carefully and avoid making errors.

At that thought, Ye Ping's heart filled with gratitude.

He could tell that Senior Brother was a man who never smiled lightly. He appeared hard-hearted as iron and stone, but in truth, he was a gentle person, merely poor at expressing emotion. Thus, he would not teach through words, but would convey his lessons in other ways.

For a moment, Ye Ping's favorable impression of Su Changyu grew enormously.

And Su Changyu was indeed exerting himself greatly as he performed this improved River Sword Technique.

After demonstrating the full set of sword techniques.

Su Changyu was somewhat out of breath.

Yet he still maintained his calm composure. After performing the final move, he deliberately flicked his sword into a flourish and looked at Ye Ping, putting on quite the impressive display.

Ye Ping had also been watching this sword technique closely the entire time.

When the sword technique ended, its grandeur and majesty made Ye Ping unable to resist murmuring.

"The river's waters descend from heaven, rushing to the sea never to return."

Ye Ping used a line of poetry to describe this sword technique, and it was deeply stirring.

Not far away, Su Changyu looked calm on the surface, but he had been watching Ye Ping all along. He was also afraid Ye Ping might notice something amiss. Yet when he saw Ye Ping's eyes filled with amazement, he could not help letting out a sigh of relief.

Then, upon hearing Ye Ping recite that poetic line, he was even more stunned.

"The river's waters descend from heaven, rushing to the sea never to return?"

This poem has such style. Very good—I, Su, shall gladly accept it.

Su Changyu memorized those words, then looked at Ye Ping and said.

"Little Junior Brother, what do you think of this sword technique?"

Su Changyu asked calmly.

"Reporting to Senior Brother, this junior brother believes this sword technique is vast and majestic. Its Sword Momentum is like ocean waves, layer upon layer without end, finally gathering all rivers into the sea. It is simply astonishing beyond compare."

Ye Ping praised it from the bottom of his heart.

Sure enough, a scholar was a scholar. Su Changyu nodded in satisfaction, then spoke.

"Little Junior Brother, this sword technique is called the Heavenly River Sword Technique. The introductory chapter contains only nine moves, yet it can be endlessly deduced and developed. You must comprehend it carefully and reflect deeply upon it as well. Your senior brother will say no more, or else it would lose its meaning. Do you understand?"

Su Changyu said seriously.

"Yes, please rest assured, Senior Brother. This junior brother will certainly practice it diligently and condense the Heavenly River Sword Momentum as soon as possible."

Ye Ping nodded earnestly.

Upon hearing this, Su Changyu could not help smiling faintly.

Heavenly River Sword Momentum?

He had made this entire sword technique up out of thin air. Aside from the opening first move and the final move, he had fabricated everything else himself.

This?

And Ye Ping could still condense Sword Momentum from it?

Little Junior Brother, you were still too young.

Su Changyu felt delighted inside.

However, he was not deliberately trying to trick Ye Ping.

It was mainly because he knew Grand Hua Daoist's intentions, and because he truly could not comprehend the River Sword Technique, that Su Changyu had come up with this idea.

"Little Junior Brother, I have already taught you the sword technique. Of course, if you cannot comprehend it, do not force yourself. The path of the sword contains endless sword arts. If one does not suit you, simply change to another. At worst, you can return to comprehending the Four Thunder Sword Technique. That would not be bad either. Do you understand?"

Su Changyu offered this reminder.

He was rather worried that Ye Ping would stubbornly cling to one sword technique. If Ye Ping developed an obsession later, Grand Hua Daoist would probably chop him to death.

"This junior brother shall respectfully heed Senior Brother's instruction."

Ye Ping nodded.

"Very well. Practice your sword diligently. In two days, Brother Luochen will come to find you and teach you the art of alchemy."

Su Changyu said.

"Brother Luochen?"

Ye Ping was truly surprised this time.

He had not expected to begin learning something else so soon.

With aptitude like his, could he learn it?

Ye Ping was filled with curiosity.

"Yes, do not worry. Brother Luochen has a gentle temperament, much better than mine. All right, practice your sword with peace of mind."

Su Changyu said no more.

He turned and left.

Yet not long afterward, Su Changyu returned.