Choosing the Saber Technique

Light and shadow drifted, misty clouds wafted, and a beam of light like a finger tapped Meng Qi's brow.

The monk with the bitter expression appeared once more in Meng Qi's mind, his steps heavy, his back slightly hunched, as if bound by countless chains, yet around him lay only peace and tranquility.

A saber flash flickered, and all manner of changes unfolded vividly. Greed, anger, ignorance, love, hate, the unattainable—all manifested and descended, turning that pure land into the mundane world of ten feet of red dust.

Crack. The invisible chains snapped, layers of obstacles shattered, and the boundless Sea of Suffering surged in. The whole person sank and floated, enduring torment, bearing the burn, yet amidst the suffering there was also joy. The heart became lively and agile once more, knowing the joy of family, the bliss of love, the righteousness of friends, the delight of fame. Though the hardship did not lessen, one could not easily extricate oneself.

The illusion vanished. The saber move "Severing Purity" was fully etched into Meng Qi's mind. But remembering the changes of the technique was one thing; to truly use it, to unite body and mind, to wield it anytime and anywhere—that would require arduous, bitter practice.

After all, within the realm of martial arts grandmasters, the techniques in secret manuals were meticulously detailed. Disciples studied them carefully, and instructors demonstrated them, only slightly inferior to a True Intent Inheritance. Yet even so, few disciples truly grasped the essence of a technique. Knowledge and action were often hard to unite.

Meng Qi felt that, although he had gleaned a bit of the surface of "Severing Purity" through comprehending the True Intent Inheritance, it would take at least a year or two before he could initially execute this saber move. And that was already with heaven rewarding the diligent!

Replaying the saber technique in his mind, memorizing it repeatedly, Meng Qi opened his eyes. As expected, he found the Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle floating before him, fully reloaded, along with a page of "instructions" on how to open the mechanism and load the poison needles after firing, and a much thicker manual for Eight Steps of Divine Travel—now the Hundred Changes of Divine Travel manual.

"First move of the Ananda Breaking Precepts Saber Art, 'Severing Purity,' completed. Consumed 110 Merit Points."

"Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle poison needles replenished. Consumed 50 Merit Points. Special reminder: This Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle has been used once and can be used at most two more times. To repair it, 400 Merit Points are required. Current exchange value: 300 Merit Points. After repair, exchange value: 500 Merit Points."

"'Eight Steps of Divine Travel' elevated to 'Hundred Changes of Divine Travel.' Consumed 40 Merit Points."

The Lord of Six Paths Samsara's emotionless voice rang out. Meng Qi couldn't help but curse inwardly. Repairing the Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle was way too expensive! He might as well exchange for a new one! The Lord of Six Paths Samsara was a total profiteer!

A single-use Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle cost 400 Merit Points, a three-use one cost 800, and a multi-use one exceeded 2,000. But against Outer Scenery-level experts, its effect was limited. Even if it could be used repeatedly, it wouldn't be worth much. So the most cost-effective option was to exchange for blueprints and materials and make it himself—for example, the blueprints for a 2,000-level Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle only cost 500 Merit Points.

Cursing aside, Meng Qi quickly stowed away the items before him. Though the Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle could be exchanged for a decent amount of Merit Points to get other divine arts, it was currently his most important means of survival!

After the exchange, Meng Qi had 50 Merit Points left. He had to step out and browse the jade scrolls, looking for a suitable saber technique.

Unfortunately, even the "Five Tigers Severing Gate Saber Technique" cost 30 Merit Points. The saber techniques within a 50-Merit-Point range were, predictably, not a fundamental improvement. Exchanging for them was no better than settling down to thoroughly study the "Five Tigers Severing Gate Saber Technique."

"Actually, the 'Five Tigers Severing Gate Saber Technique' isn't bad. The moves are simple but effective, with a bold and heroic spirit in its wide, sweeping style. If you master it, it's not much worse than some exquisite saber techniques."

Zhang Yuanshan said this, then joked, "If Junior Brother Zhending has talent in the saber, and can grasp the true intent of the saber from basic techniques, then who's to say you can't dominate the world with just this 'Five Tigers Severing Gate Saber'? Like Master Lu of Huamei Villa—he trained only in the 'Six Harmonies Sword Technique' his whole life, yet he earned the title of 'Number One Sword Under Heaven.'"

"Maybe I have talent, but grasping the true intent of the saber requires years of honing. And I have to prioritize dealing with the reincarnation missions. Alas, time waits for no one, heaven's will toys with men, and heroes are short of breath!" Meng Qi replied in the same joking tone, gazing "melancholically" into the distance, striking the pose of a down-and-out ultimate master. Then he snapped back, "Number One Sword Under Heaven?"

That was no light title to bear!

Although Xuan Xin had been telling tales of the martial world, he was still at the stage of introducing sects and boasting about his "personal experiences," so Meng Qi didn't know much about various famous figures. He only vaguely remembered hearing the names "Huamei Villa" and "Master Lu."

At the mention of "Number One Sword Under Heaven," Jiang Zhiwei grew talkative: "Master Lu was the son of an unknown escort in Northern Zhou. His family passed down the ordinary 'Six Harmonies Sword Technique' and 'Gengjin Heart Method.' But for decades, he never diverted his attention to other martial arts. After countless dangers and encounters, he eventually comprehended the ultimate truth of the sword, elevated these two techniques into peerless divine arts, attained the 'Gengjin Indestructible Body,' and founded the Huamei Villa lineage. Because of this, he earned the widely recognized nickname 'One Heart Sword.'"

"My master never admires anyone, but he often praises Master Lu, saying he is single-minded and has grasped the true essence of the sword. He only wishes to attain the Dharma Body soon and duel him openly in swordsmanship."

Freak! Monster! Listening to Jiang Zhiwei's description, only these two words flashed through Meng Qi's mind. Nothing else could express his inner shock. Master Lu's journey was probably impossible for anyone to imitate. He himself absolutely lacked the resolve to walk that path.

This had nothing to do with the pressure of reincarnation missions. Meng Qi knew clearly that he couldn't do it—at least not now. His mind wasn't at that level yet. Perhaps after years of tempering, he might touch it.

"Where does Master Lu rank on the Heaven Ranking?" Having just been "educated" about the Heaven, Earth, and Human Rankings, Meng Qi asked instinctively.

Jiang Zhiwei's eyes sparkled with longing: "Fourth. It's not that he's inferior to Master Kong Wen and the others, but he hasn't set foot in the martial world for thirteen years and has few recent achievements."

"Thirteen years without stepping into the martial world?" Meng Qi asked, puzzled.

Zhang Yuanshan nodded slightly, his face full of respect: "Master Lu and his wife were deeply devoted. After Madam Ye's unexpected death, he built a hut by her grave, immersed himself in painting and calligraphy, and withdrew from worldly affairs."

"So the rumor is that Master Lu's strength has greatly declined, and his ranking might drop further. Alas." Qi Zhengyan, also from a sword sect, held some admiration for such a sword path leader.

Meng Qi grinned: "But how can I compare to Master Lu? I'd better pick a decent saber technique."

Zhang Yuanshan nodded: "The Five Tigers Severing Gate Saber is bold and grand, a proper orthodox style. If you want to exchange for something, pick a saber technique with bizarre moves, to win through surprise."

"Senior Brother Zhang is right." Jiang Zhiwei agreed.

Hearing about bizarre saber techniques, Meng Qi's heart moved. He flipped through the jade scrolls and found a technique he "recognized."

Blood Saber Technique!

This was the saber technique of the Blood Saber Sect from The Legend of the Condor Heroes. The Blood Saber Patriarch had dominated with it, known for its strangeness—every slash came from an impossible angle.

"Eighty Merit Points..." Meng Qi read out the cost and began considering what he could exchange for Merit Points.

Jiang Zhiwei peeked at the description on Meng Qi's jade scroll and chuckled: "This technique suits you, Little Monk. Need to borrow Merit Points? I'm a good person—no usurious interest. Just remember to spar with me using the Ananda Breaking Precepts Saber Art next time."

"Of course." Meng Qi agreed without hesitation. He realized that unless he exchanged the Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle, he had no way to gather the Merit Points. And borrowing and repaying could also strengthen the team's cohesion—as long as he didn't default.

"Junior Brother Zhending, your advice earlier was priceless to me. I won't charge usurious interest either. I'll lend you 20 Merit Points—just enough. Return it after the next mission." Zhang Yuanshan said with a smile.

Qi Zhengyan said expressionlessly: "Ten out, twelve back. I can lend you 30 directly."

Since Jiang Zhiwei and Zhang Yuanshan together were enough, he said this.

Meng Qi was deeply moved by their goodwill, but he exaggerated: "Senior Brother Qi, since when did you become so generous?"

"Next mission, if you die because your saber technique is lacking, the Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle might fall into enemy hands. That's dangerous." Qi Zhengyan said "seriously."

"Can you break through the 'Orifice Opening' barrier this time?" Zhang Yuanshan suddenly asked.

Qi Zhengyan nodded: "After exchanging for a bottle of Lingzhi Qi Replenishing Pill, I should be able to attempt a breakthrough with the 'Heavenly Wisdom Pill' in half a month. I'll find an opportunity to go out on business with a senior from the sect and claim I had an encounter on the road."

He had thought it through carefully. As an extremely ordinary disciple of the Flower Washing Sword Sect, never outstanding in any way, suddenly breaking through to Orifice Opening without "relying on external aids" would easily arouse suspicion (e.g., being secretly bribed by an enemy and given breakthrough pills). So he planned to fabricate an "encounter" excuse. After all, in such a large sect, an encounter with a single Heavenly Wisdom Pill was hardly noteworthy.

"If you succeed in opening the orifices, you should be taught the 'Sunset and Autumn Water Sword,' right? Then you won't need to exchange for another sword technique." Zhang Yuanshan nodded slightly.

"Yes, but after I master the Sunset Art and Autumn Water Sword, I'll exchange them with the Lord of Six Paths Samsara." Qi Zhengyan didn't hide it this time.

As a major sword sect, the Flower Washing Sword Sect's sword techniques often included cultivation methods. For example, the "Sunset and Autumn Water Sword" contained both the Sunset Art and the Autumn Water Sword Technique, and the "Long River Sword Technique" included the Setting Sun Heart Method.

Jiang Zhiwei and Zhang Yuanshan had their own principles but didn't try to control others. Besides, the Flower Washing Sword Sect wasn't their sect. As long as Qi Zhengyan didn't betray his companions, it was fine.

At this point, Meng Qi had already used the Merit Points borrowed from Zhang Yuanshan and Jiang Zhiwei to exchange for the Blood Saber Technique. Hearing this, he asked in surprise: "Senior Brother Qi, what divine art or secret technique are you planning to exchange for?"

Even the "Sunset and Autumn Water Sword" was to be traded to the Lord of Six Paths Samsara. Qi Zhengyan's ambitions were no small matter!