What is the way of the sword?

Back Cliff of the Qingyun Dao Sect.

Su Changyu had already struck a pose.

He stood atop a massive boulder, clad in yesterday's robe, exuding an air of immortal grace. His right hand gripped a sword held behind his back, and as a clear breeze swept through, his long sideburns fluttered, capturing the essence of a Sword Immortal to perfection.

He was deep in thought.

Not pondering the way of the sword, but rather how he would go about fooling his Little Junior Brother later.

Su Changyu understood that while it was deception, he absolutely could not deceive recklessly.

He needed a foundation of truth, but on that basis, he would exaggerate and embellish.

In other words, he had to boast with logic, not fabricate out of thin air.

It was a bit challenging, but Su Changyu felt he could manage it.

Just as Su Changyu was thinking this—

Suddenly, a voice rang out, startling him from his reverie.

"Junior Brother Ye Ping pays respects to Senior Disciple Brother."

Hearing Ye Ping's voice, Su Changyu snapped out of his thoughts.

His expression was calm, without a single ripple.

"Mm, have you eaten breakfast yet?"

Su Changyu asked calmly, but he did not look at Ye Ping. It wasn't out of disdain, but to project an air of aloof pride.

"In reply to Senior Disciple Brother, not yet."

Hearing this, Ye Ping only then remembered that he hadn't eaten breakfast.

"Good that you haven't eaten. We cultivators feast on morning mist and refine qi; eating less grain is better for the body."

Su Changyu said this.

Ye Ping nodded. He understood this—grains were full of toxins, and after eating them, impurities would remain in the body, hindering cultivation to some extent.

But just then—

Su Changyu's voice rang out again.

"Little Junior Brother, Master sent me to teach you the way of the sword, but this Senior Brother's sword path is not something just anyone can pass on. If you lack talent for the sword, even if I teach you, you'll struggle to comprehend it. So, this Senior Brother will ask you a question. If you can answer it, I will teach you the sword path. How about it?"

Su Changyu spoke with an air of profound mystery.

He had no intention of directly teaching Ye Ping the sword path. Instead, he would first ask a question to build up the atmosphere.

If he casually taught Ye Ping the sword path, wouldn't that make him seem cheap?

But atmosphere aside, Su Changyu still glanced sideways at Ye Ping. If Ye Ping showed any sign of displeasure, he would immediately say, "But I see that Junior Brother has a bit of talent for the sword, so let's forget the question."

It all depended on whether Ye Ping played along.

As for Ye Ping—

Upon hearing this, not only did he show no sign of displeasure, but he earnestly nodded and said.

"Junior Brother understands. The way of the sword may seem simple, but it contains the Great Dao. Please, Senior Disciple Brother, speak. If Junior Brother truly has no talent, I dare not trouble you."

Ye Ping's heart stirred with excitement.

He had seen this plot before.

Often, when a Peerless Expert was about to impart some secret technique, they wouldn't teach it directly but would instead ask a question.

And such questions were always the kind that seemed simple on the surface but carried profound meaning.

Thinking this, Ye Ping couldn't help but feel a bit nervous.

What if he couldn't answer?

After hearing Ye Ping's words, Su Changyu was slightly taken aback.

Oh, playing along so well?

You can even bring up the Great Dao?

Kid, you've got potential. Good, very good, excellent.

Since you're this cooperative, don't blame this Senior Brother.

Su Changyu was in a good mood, but on the surface, he maintained that aloof demeanor. He withdrew his gaze, fixed his eyes on the mountains and rivers, and then slowly spoke.

"Junior Brother, do you know—what is the way of the sword?"

The voice rang out.

Ye Ping fell silent.

His guess had been spot on.

It was indeed that kind of question—seemingly simple, yet containing boundless meaning.

Ye Ping took a deep breath.

He was deep in thought.

What was the Way of the Sword?

If it were an ordinary person, they would probably answer something like "the Way of the Sword is to slay enemies" or "the Way of the Sword is to be noble like a gentleman."

But this question was clearly not asking something so shallow.

He had to infuse his own intent into it.

What was the Way of the Sword?

Ye Ping pondered for a long time—a full hour—making Su Changyu, standing on the boulder, feel rather uncomfortable.

Big brother, I've been standing here for an hour. Can't you just give some random answer?

I'm so tired from standing, my arm is aching. Can you hurry up and answer?

Please!

Su Changyu somewhat regretted putting on such an act.

Ye Ping kept silent, and Su Changyu didn't dare change his posture, forced to keep his back to Ye Ping with his right hand holding the sword behind him. Though he was a cultivator, he couldn't withstand standing at attention for an hour either.

Finally, after an hour and a half, Ye Ping gave his answer.

But Ye Ping's voice was rather soft.

It was a tentative answer.

He didn't dare answer recklessly, so he racked his brains and picked a few lines from the novels he had read.

"Senior Disciple Brother, is the heart the Way of the Sword?"

After saying this, Ye Ping felt a bit nervous.

After all, this was his first time cultivating immortality and his first time practicing swordsmanship. The other party was a peerless sword dao expert. If his answer displeased him, wouldn't he be wasting this opportunity?

However, upon hearing this answer, Su Changyu was slightly taken aback.

Hey!

That answer is somewhat interesting.

Better than what I answered back then.

There's something to it.

But even though the answer was decent, Su Changyu turned around, subtly shifting his posture, then shook his head, his expression still aloof.

"Wrong."

That's right, wrong.

He didn't care at all what Ye Ping answered. No matter what Ye Ping said, his answer would be wrong.

If he agreed right away, wouldn't that seem too hasty?

"Then, is heaven and earth the Way of the Sword?"

Ye Ping asked tentatively again.

"Also wrong."

Su Changyu continued.

"Are the sun and moon the Way of the Sword?"

"Still wrong."

"Is all creation the Way of the Sword?"

Ye Ping probed once more.

He truly didn't know how to answer this question.

"Alas."

Su Changyu shook his head, looking at Ye Ping with a hint of helplessness.

"Indeed, your talent in the sword dao is lacking. Let's change the question, Junior Disciple Brother."

Su Changyu said this.

It dealt Ye Ping a bit of a blow.

Though he had prepared himself, he hadn't expected to truly be so dull-witted. But since Senior Disciple Brother was willing to give him another chance, Ye Ping didn't lose heart.

"Ye Ping, let me ask you this—how strong is the pinnacle of the sword dao?"

Su Changyu asked seriously.

How strong is the pinnacle of the sword dao?

Ye Ping frowned slightly.

He had never even seen anyone wield a sword technique.

This question hit a blind spot in his knowledge.

But after thinking it over carefully—even though he had never watched anyone practice swordsmanship, he had, at the very least, read plenty of novels, hadn't he?

With that thought, Ye Ping began to ponder once more.

And this time, it didn't take long before Ye Ping figured it out.

"Senior Brother, this junior brother believes that the ultimate pinnacle of the sword should be: a blade of grass can sever the sun, moon, and stars."

Ye Ping's voice wasn't particularly loud—mainly because he lacked confidence.

But the moment those words were spoken.

Su Changyu stood frozen in place.

Fortunately, on the surface, he still appeared aloof and indifferent, so no major change was noticeable.

But in truth, Su Changyu's heart was already churning like a stormy sea.