The Infant's Firm Grip

"You all are..." Liu Yunshen looked somewhat alarmed. Not only were the four great sect masters smiling at him, but the hundreds of disciples behind him also wore expressions of reverence.

"Disperse, brothers! Everyone, disperse!" Lei Zhaoye and Gong Liefeng laughingly drove the crowd away.

Senior Brother Huang, who had been forced to advance his realm in the latrine, was clutching a thick club as he chased the youth named Wei Gui. "You little bastard, stop right there! Don't run! My dantian is full of the stench of yellow and white now! Stop!!!"

Liu Yunshen smiled at everyone and respectfully bowed to the four sect masters. "May I ask, Sect Masters, what is this about?"

"We had planned to discuss this with you in detail tomorrow, Brother Liu, but better to strike while the iron is hot than choose another day. Tonight, we shall hold a welcoming feast to wash the dust from your journey. What do you say?" Cai Tingyue was ultimately the first to step forward with his old face.

The other three sect masters flushed.

That night, within the main hall of the Four Swords Sect, the four sect masters invited Liu Yunshen to sit in the seat of honor. Liu Yunshen absolutely refused. In the end, Ouyang Zhenyue and Lei Zhouyue still took the principal seats, while Cai Tingyue and Gong Haoyue sat in the secondary seats. Liu Yunshen, Cao Wuji, Sun Yunji, and the other senior members of the sect sat at one table.

Hu Lieshan, Zhao Dingjiang, Lei Zhaoye, Gong Liefeng, Cai Yuelin, Cao Langao, Ouyang Qingcang, as well as Senior Brother Huang, Wei Gui, and several other core indoor disciples sat at another table. The remaining indoor disciples sat together at a third table.

No one urged anyone to drink during the feast. Even someone with Gong Haoyue's immense capacity for liquor stopped after sharing only three small cups with Liu Yunshen.

After the meal, the four sect masters sat together, with a seat arranged below them beside Cai Tingyue.

"Yuelin, take the younger ones and leave. Your uncles and I have serious matters to discuss with Brother Liu." Cai Tingyue smiled and waved to his son. Cai Yuelin asked in confusion, "Father, what could not be said before us? Why send us all away?"

Cai Tingyue's old face reddened as he sternly said, "You will not even listen to your father now?"

Gong Liefeng stepped forward. "Father! You cannot bully Brother Liu while we are gone! A few days ago, at General Ying Hua's military camp, General Ying said something—I do not know what—and Brother Liu left for an entire night. He only returned the next morning. We were so worried that we nearly went out to look for him!"

Gong Haoyue burst into laughter. "You little brat, do you not know what kind of man your father is? Have I ever done a single bad thing in my life?"

Lei Zhaoye, Ouyang Qingcang, and Cao Langao still wished to speak, but Liu Yunshen smiled and advised them, "Do not worry, everyone. They are most likely discussing the matter of my two brothers entering the sect."

The three nodded. Lei Zhaoye especially gave Lei Zhouyue a meaningful look.

"Do not worry! With me here, even if those old fellows get some crooked ideas, your father can handle them alone!"

Before Lei Zhouyue had finished speaking, Hu Lieshan and Zhao Dingjiang laughed loudly. The two bade Liu Yunshen farewell first, then withdrew with the others.

The four sect masters looked at one another. At last, Ouyang Zhenyue sighed. "Little brother, we truly should not be asking about this, but if it can genuinely revive our sect, what does it matter if we cast aside these old faces?"

"Sect Master Ouyang, please speak plainly. So long as it does not violate righteousness or my master's teachings, Yunshen will certainly answer truthfully!"

They looked at Liu Yunshen's fair face and slightly youthful eyes. Finally, they gritted their teeth and asked, "Brother Liu, the Demon Sect spread word a day ago that you have learned the Ancient Immortal Sword Art, lost since ancient times, as well as the Heavenly Pivot Sword Formation. Is this true?"

"The Heavenly Pivot Sword Formation? Why are all of you saying that as well?" Liu Yunshen was deeply puzzled. Looking into his eyes, they all shook their heads.

"Young Hero Liu truly does not know!"

"Moreover, it is against the sect's principles for us to press him like this. The first rule of the sect is never to use strength to bully the weak or flaunt ferocity and fight ruthlessly. Even entertaining such thoughts is forbidden."

"Precisely. It is because of the sect's ironclad rules that our Four Swords Gate possesses the supreme method of tempering sword intent. It can refine sword intent to utmost purity, with absolutely no risk of qi deviation!"

"But..."

Their eyes were full of pleading. Cai Tingyue slightly opened his mouth, only to force himself to close it again.

Liu Yunshen felt bitter inside. From the looks of it, these sect masters may have mistaken the Seven Stars Sword Formation that strange Daoist master taught me—whose name I do not even know—for the Heavenly Pivot Sword Technique! But I promised Master that I would not reveal this art.

As Liu Yunshen struggled bitterly, a ray of light appeared over his lips!

The four sect masters all cried out, "The Heavenly Dao Forbidden Art!"

"It seems the art you learned truly shakes heaven and earth, Young Hero. Otherwise, how could it carry such an Earth Immortal-level sealing art?"

"Once this art is activated, even if the other person speaks aloud, it automatically dissolves every cause and effect within three feet! Outsiders cannot possibly learn anything!"

"I said long ago that we should not have done this!"

"Forget it. If I gain it, it is my fortune; if I lose it, it is my fate!"

The four sect masters smiled in relief and asked no further questions.

The shock in Liu Yunshen's eyes deepened. He continuously called out, "Master! Master—" Seeing that there was no response at all, an idea suddenly struck him. Master will not let me pass on that sword art involving seven stars, but there is no such taboo on the sword art Brother Huang taught me. Why not ask...

"Second Brother, you are far too fussy! Whether the Four Swords Sect rises or falls depends on whether its younger disciples amount to anything. What does that have to do with you?" The Yellow River Swordsman was seated at Yellow River Hukou, watching the rolling tides surge onward!

"Brother Huang, I truly should not think this way, but the four sect masters are upright men. They could have killed me and seized my treasure, yet they asked me instead. Since they have reached this point, I wish to lend them a hand!"

"Heh, Second Brother, how do you know they are upright? You wish to teach others the sword intent I taught you without my permission?"

"Brother Huang, from what I have seen, the Four Swords Sect possesses three marvels. The first is that although the sect has clearly declined, it resolutely draws a line between itself and a great sect like the Myriad Swords Sect. Its strength of character and integrity are plain to see."

"The second marvel is that though the sect has declined, its disciples still uphold righteousness. They do not indiscriminately accept every task in the martial world, such as assassination or poisoning. They only take ordinary work like escorting goods."

"The third marvel is that sects generally distinguish strictly between high and low, elder and junior, yet the Four Swords Sect is harmonious as one. Even the outer disciples bear not the slightest resentment on their faces. Nor is there the Demon Sect's brutality, where core disciples regard outer disciples as human-shaped pills and seize their inner cores whenever they suffer injury or pain!"

"With these three marvels, I am certain that the Four Swords Sect is no place that harbors filth and evil!"

After hearing Liu Yunshen's words, the Yellow River Swordsman fell silent for a long while, though the smile on his face only grew broader. "You cannot pass on the sword intent I taught you to others!"

"I would not dare pass on the sword intent and sword techniques you taught me, Brother, but I have gained some insights from them myself. I will demonstrate sword moves that I created on the spot. I hope you will permit it!"

The Yellow River Swordsman laughed heartily. "Second Brother, you are exploiting a loophole! Very well! Teach it boldly. I would like to see whether those four useless fellows can comprehend the ultimate sword intent that the Four Swords Gate lost long ago from the moves you give them!!!"

"Thank you, Brother!" Joy appeared on Liu Yunshen's face.

That martial consciousness withdrew from dozens of miles away. The Yellow River Swordsman threw back his head and laughed. "Interesting, interesting!"

"Four Sect Masters, although I cannot demonstrate my master's sword art, I can show you some moves that I have comprehended myself. I hope you four seniors will not refuse!"

The four sect masters could not conceal their disappointment. Still, they rose with smiles and gave thanks.

Cai Tingyue stepped forward and said softly, "Brother, if it truly puts you in a difficult position, then forget it! A master's command cannot be disobeyed!"

"Brother Cai, these moves are no issue!"

Liu Yunshen retreated several steps. For the moment, he gathered together his various insights from the Yin-Yang Fist and Palm and Seven Stars Sword Art taught by the strange Daoist, along with the profound sword art taught by the Yellow River Swordsman that was almost formless and without fixed moves. Though he had not fully fused them into one, they had begun to show the bearing of a school unto themselves. As that rusty iron sword slowly slid from its sheath, the transformations of yin and yang, the four images, and the principles of heaven and earth unfolded before the four sect masters!

"This is..."

The four sect masters rose almost at once, stunned and delighted, carefully contemplating his sword art rather than his footwork.

"This move resembles Clear Sky, No Trace from our Mount Dai Sword Pavilion!" Gong Haoyue stared intently at Liu Yunshen's sword-dancing figure.

"This move of yours carries the momentum of Startling Rainbow Sweeping the Wilds from our Celestial Pivot Sword Hall!" Cai Tingyue clapped his hands in praise.

"This stance is already approaching the realm of no moves and no forms. It is like..." Lei Zhouyue recalled Six States Converging, the upper portion of the ultimate sword intent recorded in the sect's secret manuals, and Pillar Amid the Current, its lower portion. He immediately sat cross-legged and entered a state of enlightenment!

"Well now, that old fellow entered meditation so quickly!" Gong Haoyue and Cai Tingyue chuckled. They absolutely dared not disturb him and rose to move below.

Then Ouyang Zhenyue closed his eyes. Without speaking a word, he too entered the realm of enlightenment!

Gong Haoyue and Cai Tingyue smiled bitterly. "Only the two of us are wine sacks and rice bags!"

As Liu Yunshen continued dancing the sword, he too gained many insights. In his delight, he danced faster and faster, yet then slower and slower. His sword moves became ever more powerful, fierce, and unrestrained, yet also increasingly supple, like a spring breeze brushing willow branches. Sword Qi surged forth in countless intricate variations. Gradually, he lost himself, and chaos sprang up throughout the Yellow Court of his dantian!

"Not good!" Liu Yunshen drew a deep breath, slowly withdrew his stance, and sat cross-legged. The Five Qi rose again in his dantian, and only after a long while did he suppress the myriad chaotic phenomena!

Cai Tingyue and Gong Haoyue continued practicing without pause. Seeing that the three men on the ground had all entered a state of realization, they stood to one side with smiles.

Before long, Liu Yunshen was the first to awaken, followed by Ouyang Zhenyue, and finally Lei Zhouyue.

Four colors condensed in Ouyang's eyes. A strand of Sword Qi shot from his finger, striking straight toward a point five feet away!

"You..."

Liu Yunshen, Cai Tingyue, and Gong Haoyue were all astonished.

"That is right. Just now, I suppressed my dantian power to the first tier of the first realm, and I did not use either realm of Martial Dao—Life or Overcoming!" Ouyang Zhenyue was ecstatic.

"Finger force at the first realm reaches only one foot, yet you achieved five times that power through the move alone?" Cai Tingyue and Gong Haoyue were utterly shocked!

"Ouyang old man makes it sound as though he understands everything!" Lei Zhouyue mocked from the side. "I comprehended one layer of the Overcoming Realm, while you comprehended one layer of the Life Realm. It is that simple."

Liu Yunshen covered his mouth and laughed.

Cai Tingyue chuckled softly beside him. "Brother, you will understand later. Old Zhou simply loves exposing people's old secrets!"

"This brother needs to stabilize his sword intent realm. My apologies!" Ouyang Zhenyue did not mind. He laughed it off, then quickly ran to the upper end of the hall and sat cross-legged, continuously practicing and perfecting what he had just comprehended within his sea of consciousness.

Lei Zhouyue, however, was brimming with delight. He continuously gestured with his hands, then leapt down. "Little brother, let us have a match!"