Qingyun Sect.
The back mountain of Heaven-Piercing Peak.
Clouds and mist curled around the mountain.
Unlike the immortal grandeur of the front mountain,
this place was far more secluded, even carrying a hint of desolation.
There was only a bamboo grove, lush and dripping with green. When the wind passed through, it rustled like lovers whispering to each other.
Deep in the bamboo grove, a figure was practicing swordsmanship.
The sword in his hand was no divine weapon. It was merely an utterly ordinary length of bamboo, its tip sharpened.
The youth's figure flashed like lightning, yet the bamboo sword moved with astonishing slowness.
A thrust, a lift, a chop, a sweep.
Every movement was crystal clear, as though carving invisible paths through the air.
He used not the slightest bit of spiritual power, relying solely on his physical strength and a mysterious "intent."
This youth was none other than Ye Xuan.
More than half a year had passed since he first began learning the Method of Severing Thoughts.
Throughout that time,
Wan Jianyi had never taught him the formula for Slay Ghosts and Gods. Instead, he had taught him an utterly baffling method of cultivation—the Woodcutting Scripture.
Yes, woodcutting.
Ten thousand swings every day.
He could not use spiritual power, only the pure strength of his physical body.
From being utterly exhausted at the beginning, to later wielding the sword with ease, and finally to having intent precede the sword,
Ye Xuan could clearly feel that his control over his strength had reached an entirely new level.
He even had an illusion.
Now, even without using Tai Chi Xuan Qing Dao,
with only the swordsmanship honed through this woodcutting practice, he could easily defeat his half-year-younger self.
"Strange."
"What exactly is this man trying to do?"
This thought had