The Way of the Sword

The rain pattered softly, and water droplets fell from the eaves like a silver curtain.

The atmosphere inside the main hall was exquisitely subtle.

Xu Yuan didn't understand why it had suddenly become quiet, and he couldn't understand why the three people next to him were staring at him without saying a word.

They stared at each other, wide-eyed.

Xu Yuan glanced at Xu Yinhe on the main seat, then at Feng Jiuxuan standing at the door, before turning his gaze to Xu Changge opposite him.

"."

Xu Changge completely ignored Xu Yuan's gaze.

When Feng Jiuxuan's sword emitted a barely perceptible tremor, he could sense some faint fluctuations, but they were not very clear.

Although he also cultivates the sword, he is no longer a pure swordsman.

Moreover, in terms of cultivation level, he was slightly inferior to his father and maternal uncle, so it was impossible to make a judgment.

"Bass--"

With a soft metallic clang, Feng Jiuxuan calmly drew his sword from his waist.

Xu Yinhe watched Feng Jiuxuan's actions but remained silent.

It's considered a default assumption.

Xu Yuan's eye twitched.

The way his uncle walked towards him step by step with his sword in hand was far more intimidating than the Big Ice Block he had appeared before.

"Clatter"

"Clatter"

"Clatter"

The man in white, his boots clicking softly on the stone slabs, created a serene and poetic atmosphere, accompanied by the falling rain outside.

In the silence of the rain curtain,

Feng Jiuxuan walked up to Xu Yuan and stopped, while Clear Abyss, which exuded a sharp light, was held in his hand.

They were probably worried that the spirit sword was too sharp and might hurt Xu Yuan, this sixth-rank trash.

Xu Yuan's eyes flickered for a moment, then he slowly stood up:

"Uncle."

Feng Jiuxuan looked at Xu Yuan, without any pretense, and directly raised the hand that was holding Clear Abyss's:

"Take it."

"."

Silence.

Xu Yuan looked at the hilt of the Clear Abyss sword that Feng Jiuxuan offered, but didn't take it. Instead, he raised his hand to touch the back of his neck and smiled:

"Uncle, didn't you never let us touch the Clear Abyss Sword?"

Clear Abyss is a sword forged a hundred years ago by the renowned craftsman Qian Sheng to celebrate the 100th birthday of the Feng Family patriarch.

Later, at the beginning of his maternal uncle's cultivation, his maternal grandfather bestowed upon him this spiritual essence, which was nurtured over the decades.

The Spirit Sword will recognize its master.

In layman's terms,

If anyone other than Feng Jiuxuan dares to touch it, this sword will cut you down.

Feng Jiuxuan wasn't one for riddles; he was quite straightforward:

"It seems happy to see you, so you can try it."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan glanced sideways at Xu Yinhe was seated in the main seat.

Xu Yinhe nodded to him.

"."

Seeing this, Xu Yuan steeled his resolve and reached out to catch it.

With two sages guarding him, they couldn't very well let him get cut down by that spiritual sword, could they?

While thinking, Xu Yuan casually took the Clear Abyss that Feng Jiuxuan handed him.

But the instant he touched the hilt, he felt the sword seem to be trembling.

However, once he fully grasped the hilt, the glass-like blade suddenly emitted a fluorescent glow and then settled down, showing no sign of trying to move or cut him.

Upon seeing this, Xu Yuan's eyes held a thoughtful expression.

In silence,

Xu Yinhe asked:

"How?"

Feng Jiuxuan glanced back at Xu Yinhe:

"Changtian possesses the essence of sword energy, Clear Abyss does not reject him."

"Harmless?"

"Harmless."

As she spoke, Feng Jiuxuan looked at Xu Yuan, who was holding Clear Abyss, again. "Changtian, swing it with all your might."

Xu Yuan already understood what the two elders were discussing, and hesitantly said:

"Shall we use sword techniques?"

"Hmm." Feng Jiuxuan nodded. "Your strongest sword technique."

Xu Yuan glanced at Xu Changge without changing his expression, and asked again:

Which way should you wave it?

Because outsiders are not allowed to enter the inner court, and if anything is broken, one has to fix it oneself, so the only option is to kill someone.

"Don't worry," Feng Jiuxuan reassured him, "It'll be alright."

"."

Xu Yuan stopped speaking, took a deep breath, and silently began to circulate the Blood Origin Heart-Fall Technique.

As his Source Qi circulated, a crimson light gradually appeared on the crystal-like blade of the Clear Abyss Sword.

Blood Ink Jade - Waltz

Blood and ink flashed, and a splashed ink ring appeared in the air.

Without warning, Xu Yuan slashed at Xu Changge, who was standing to the side.

"." Xu Changge.

"Buzz--"

His swordsmanship and the sharpness of Clear Abyss made it seem as if he could cut through everything.

A hurricane suddenly arose, long hair fluttered, and the blood and ink instantly vanished.

With two fingers wedging the sword, Xu Yuan's Clear Abyss Sword could not advance an inch.

They gazed at each other for a moment.

Xu Changge gave Xu Yuan a deep look:

"Changtian, you've grown up."

"."

Xu Yuan frowned and quietly retreated behind Feng Jiuxuan.

"Alright, let go now."

Xu Yinhe interrupted their conversation and looked at Feng Jiuxuan:

"It seems that Changtian being taken away by that girl surnamed Ran was a blessing in disguise. Is it Heaven Gate Mountain?"

After Xu Changge, Feng Jiuxuan casually recalled Clear Abyss from Xu Yuan's hand and sheathed it.

"It is indeed the one from Heaven Gate Mountain."

Heaven Gate Mountain?

Upon hearing this term in their conversation, Xu Yuan was taken aback.

After a moment's hesitation, he asked:

"Father, was the Heaven Gate on Heaven Gate Mountain really carved out by someone?"

By now, Xu Yuan had witnessed battles between top-tier experts.

That time in the Qionghua Secret Realm.

Although Tianyan and Yuchu are only at the Origin Beginning and Mortal Shedding, they are still considered top-tier combatants in this world.

The damage caused by the two was not even in the same league as the hundreds of feet of Heaven Gate on Heaven Gate Mountain.

Xu Yinhe turned his head upon hearing this:

Why are you asking this?

Xu Yuan's approach was simple and direct:

"I'm very curious about just how strong a person can be in this world."

Xu Yinhe uttered a sentence:

"Military formations cannot retain anything like sword essence."

Although the words were only mentioned briefly, the meaning was clear: the military formation could achieve this, but it could not leave behind the essence of the sword.

That Heaven Gate was indeed cleaved open by a single sword strike.

Xu Yuan found his breathing becoming rapid, looking at the two sage elders before him:

"Father, can you and Uncle do it?"

Xu Yinhe remained silent.

Feng Jiuxuan gently shook his head:

"It's highly unlikely. That unknown swordsman must have risked his life to unleash that sword strike, which is why the sword essence remained on the Heaven Gate."

It's practically impossible, meaning there's still a tiny, albeit slight, possibility.

However, his uncle's words made Xu Yuan think of a problem.

Since these two elders knew that Heaven Gate on Heaven Gate Mountain could comprehend sword essence, why did they let it go unchecked?

Although it's not clear what sword essence is yet, it should be related to Dao essence.

So, this Heaven Gate is a treasure on par with the Charm God Cherry Tree, and even though it's located deep within the Wanxing Mountain Range, no one has dared to touch it.

Xu Yinhe seemed to have seen through Xu Yuan's thoughts and chuckled softly:

"The Heaven Gate has existed for about ten thousand years. Apart from those with naturally occurring sword bones, only your uncle can sense the sword essence on the Heaven Gate."

As he spoke, Xu Yinhe made his assessment of the Heaven Gate Sword Essence:

"Useless against the strong, fatal to the weak."

"."

Xu Yuan instantly understood.

People like Feng Jiuxuan and Xu Changge would never abandon their chosen path for the sake of that sword essence.

As for those with sword-wielding physiques who are just beginning their cultivation, many of them have probably already died on Heaven Gate Mountain.

With the cultivation system now well-established, who would be willing to let their own genius gamble on a possibility?

Just as I was thinking,

Feng Jiuxuan, dressed in pristine white robes, suddenly spoke up:

"Now that Changtian has grasped the essence of swordsmanship, he will follow me to cultivate swordsmanship after I return from this trip."

This question wasn't directed at Xu Yuan, but at Xu Yinhe.

Xu Yinhe replied without hesitation:

"Ask Changtian himself about this matter."

Feng Jiuxuan glanced at Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan did not answer immediately.

Compared to his father, the Prime Minister, this maternal uncle was idle all day long.

The Sword Saint's personal instruction, without reservation, is a very tempting offer.

However, Xu Yuan still honestly said:

"But I already Cultivation Method."

"Cultivating swordsmanship doesn't mean you should switch to other Cultivation Method."

Feng Jiuxuan smiled slightly and explained softly, "Cultivation Method are merely a means to cultivate; that's not what I want to teach you."

Xu Yuan frowned and asked, "What is that?"

Feng Jiuxuan glanced at Xu Changge and asked Xu Yuan:

"Changtian, do you know why Changge can easily kill opponents of the same level?"

Xu Yuan thought for a moment and replied:

"Because of talent?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Changge, who was standing to the side, gave a cryptic chuckle.

Feng Jiuxuan smiled slightly:

"Talent and quick thinking are indeed important, but they are not the most important."

"The techniques and secret arts have now reached their peak, but most so-called geniuses are just following the rules."

"Take the sword technique you just used, Changtian, for example. It was indeed very powerful, but do you know why?"

As he spoke,

Clear Abyss was drawn from its sheath, Feng Jiuxuan casually waved it in the air.

immediately,

A white, ink-splashed waltz appeared out of thin air!

"?"

Looking at the scene before him, Xu Yuan opened his mouth.

This... this uncle actually copied the Blood Ink Jade Dance technique with just one glance?

Looking at Xu Yuan's astonished expression, Feng Jiuxuan spoke with a smile:

"When I return, I will teach you kendo."

Having said that,

Sheathed his sword, and dressed in white, he turned and left, stepping out of the main hall and disappearing into the rain.

I'm having some writer's block today, so this will be a single update.