As he continued learning from Senior Sister An, Ling Yunpo realized just how ferocious the Qisha Sword Art was.
Every move was an attack. It had no defense at all.
Take its opening move, "Green Pine Welcomes Guests," for example:
The Shushan Sword Control Art's general principles stated that "Green Pine Welcomes Guests" sent the flying sword curving toward the opponent, with the blade offset from its path by roughly one-sixth of a 3-4-5 triangle's angle—that is, fifteen degrees. This was meant to let the sword adapt flexibly to all sorts of situations.
If the opponent chose to defend, the flying sword could change its angle at any moment and launch a probing thrust.
If the opponent attacked as well, the flying sword could take advantage of the momentum, turn sideways, and deflect the enemy's flying sword.
Able to attack or defend, advance or retreat—that was the essence of this opening move.
But in the Qisha Sword Art, Su Jian had simply waved his brush and changed it to "the sword's path aligns with its point"—meaning the sword's tip and its trajectory were perfectly aligned.
If the opponent defended, you controlled the flying sword as it darted about, swiftly changing direction until it broke free of the opponent's entangling sword, then went straight for the enemy Sword Immortal's life!
If the opponent attacked, you drove the flying sword forward with all your might, racing at full speed to kill the enemy Sword Immortal before their flying sword could reach you!
Ling Yunpo could even imagine what Su Jian had been thinking when he created the Qisha Sword Art:
"What, a probing attack? Why bother probing when you can just kill the other guy?"
"Senior Sister." After hesitating for a long while, he finally asked, "Doesn't Green Pine Welcomes Guests need to account for defense?"
"That's called seizing the initiative." An Zhisu smiled as she explained. "When the two of you cross swords, you drive your flying sword forward at full force right from the start. Shocked by that, six out of ten opponents will choose to defend."
"Once he defends, you can keep pressing him. Most of the moves in the Qisha Sword Art teach you how to break through the other side's defenses."
"So breaking through defenses is one of our Qisha Sword Art's strengths."
"What if the opponent doesn't defend?" Ling Yunpo asked again.
"If he attacks instead of defending, you meet his attack with your own." An Zhisu was still smiling.
"Most of those people won't dare risk their lives in a head-on clash with you, either. Halfway through their attack, they'll turn their swords around and come back to defend. Then we're back to the first situation."
"What if the opponent keeps attacking?" Ling Yunpo asked, making sure one last time.
"Then it comes down to whose sword is faster." An Zhisu replied calmly. "Master once said, 'Among the world's sword arts, only speed is undefeatable.'"
"So the Qisha Sword Art's breathing method pushes the flying sword's speed to the limit."
"Regardless of cultivation level or flying sword grade, if you judge only by the sword art's qi circulation route, our Green Snail Peak's Qisha Sword Art is the fastest among the Shushan Sword Control Arts."
Ling Yunpo pondered for a while, then smiled and said:
"So the opponent can't beat us to the attack, and if he defends, he falls into our area of advantage. Doesn't that make the Qisha Sword Art invincible?"
"Foolish junior brother." An Zhisu shook her head. "Everyone throughout Shushan knows that our Green Snail Peak's sword arts excel in speed."
"So when you face them, they absolutely won't try to outpace you. They'll wait and strike after you."
"The Qisha Sword Art has to keep up the pressure. Once you've suppressed the other side's sword art, that's the 'seven kills.' Often, you can finish the fight cleanly in just a few breaths. But what if you can't suppress them?"
"If your skill with the sword is inferior to theirs, once your momentum runs out and your sword path grows stale, it'll be their turn to counterattack."
"That's why the second line of the mantra is 'without suppression, there are seven kills.' The key is never to let the other side suppress you."
"I'll demonstrate all the Qisha Sword Art's moves once. Watch closely."
An Zhisu brought both hands together in a sword sign and pointed forward. The Shuangjiang Sword shot through the air and pierced the rock wall opposite, cutting through it like tofu as stone chips pattered down.
"This is Green Pine Welcomes Guests."
She turned her sword sign, and the Shuangjiang Sword spun along with it, demonstrating the other moves one by one:
"This is Heart Follows Will."
"This is White Rainbow Pierces Sun."
"This is Drinking Alone Under the Moon."
Ling Yunpo watched in silence. Senior Sister An's clothes fluttered like a colorful butterfly as she moved, her sword flashing in a dazzling dance.
Sudden as Hou Yi shooting down nine suns, graceful as the dragon-drawn chariots of the gods.
It came like thunder, gathering up its fury; it ended like a river and sea, settling into clear light!
He watched, utterly entranced. He couldn't tell whether it was the brilliant radiance of the immortal sword or his senior sister's heroic, breathtaking figure that held him spellbound.
An Zhisu grew so caught up in her sword dance that she began to sing in a clear voice:
"Flying light, flying light, hear what I say!"
"Take the hot blood in my heart, the pride in my breast, and forge a three-foot flying sword."
"Its voice rings like a dragon's cry; its light flashes like violet lightning."
"It slaughters across the four wilds, its spirit soaring through the nine heavens."
"Souls fill the azure sky; blood floods the Yellow Springs."
"Immortals and demons offer their heads; gods and Buddhas are laid to rest!"
"I have heard of the Donghuang Demon Realm, but know not how far away it lies."
"Yet where is Suming? Where can True Ignorance be found?"
"I shall enter with sword in hand and cleave the heavenly chasm."
"Mengzhang and Jianbing shall not survive; Lingguang and Zhiming will not escape, either."
She finished the song slowly, and the sword's light returned to its sheath at just the right moment.
Ling Yunpo clapped his hands in praise.
"Beautifully sung! Your song is full of a hero's spirit, Senior Sister. Your junior brother is truly impressed."
An Zhisu's lovely face turned red.
"I didn't write it. Master sang it after drinking, tapping his chopsticks against a cup. I just thought it sounded good, so I remembered the words and tune."
"The words are good, the tune is good, and you sing it even better, Senior Sister!" Ling Yunpo laughed.
An Zhisu grew even more embarrassed, so she forced herself to put on a senior sister's air and cut him off:
"Enough of that. Did you get a good look at the sword moves I just demonstrated?"
"Oh no." Ling Yunpo said awkwardly. "I was too busy watching you, Senior Sister, and forgot to watch the flying sword. That was my fault."
"I'll show you again." An Zhisu gave him a helpless look, then summoned the Shuangjiang Sword once more.
......
While Ling Yunpo spent the next several days practicing, Qiu Changtian enjoyed a stretch of peace without his junior sister pestering him.
As a result, his Invincible Persona synchronization value kept plummeting, and the Kunlun Mirror had to warn him several times.
There was no helping it. He had to go show off again.
With the Kunlun Mirror's help, he loaded Qiu Changtian's appearance template, then loaded a save to teleport his body to Kunlun's Golden Ridge at dawn.
Qiu Changtian left his cave abode and went to find his junior sister, Xu Yinglian.
Xu Yinglian's cave abode lay somewhat below the summit, on the southern side of Golden Ridge Peak. There was an open patch of ground outside the entrance where many immortal cranes often wandered, waiting for Xu Yinglian to feed them.
After walking a few dozen steps along the path, he reached his junior sister's cave abode.
Xu Yinglian stood in white in the open space before it, practicing her sword. She held the Kunlun Sword Control Art's general principles in her left hand while forming a sword sign with her right and channeling her qi. Her red Yujia Sword swept through the air, leaving behind arcs of burning light.
"Junior Sister!" Qiu Changtian greeted her with a smile.
"Senior Brother." Xu Yinglian gave him a cool, formal greeting and managed a faint smile, but a deep gloom still lingered between her brows.
Qiu Changtian could tell that her obsession seemed to have grown even stronger.
According to the Ziwei Sect Master, if things continued like this, she might turn into a heart demon.
No! Even if I often needed to use my junior sister to boost my synchronization value and maintain my Invincible Persona, I couldn't let that harm her!
It looked like he'd have to find a way to encourage her and get her spirits up.
So Qiu Changtian put away his smile and watched her practice with complete concentration for several minutes. Then, with an incredulous tone, he exclaimed in astonishment:
"No way, Junior Sister? You've practiced for so many days, and this is all you can do?"
Before you continue