Meridian-Severing Sword Qi

"Feng'er, are you resting?"

Madam Ao's voice suddenly came from outside the door. Li Chenfeng and Liu'er were both startled, and Liu'er quickly rose from the bed and hurried to the door.

"Madam!"

Seeing Liu'er open the door, Madam Ao nodded slightly. She did not think much of it; as Li Chenfeng's personal maid, it was perfectly normal for Liu'er to be here.

"Mother, you're here." Li Chenfeng stood and walked over to support Madam Ao by the arm.

"Feng'er, Mother has something to tell you."

Li Chenfeng nodded and helped Madam Ao sit in a chair. "Please speak, Mother. Your son is listening."

"Young Master, Madam, this servant will go make you some tea." Liu'er tactfully withdrew.

No one knew what Madam Ao and Li Chenfeng discussed. Liu'er merely stood guard outside for a quarter of an hour before finally carrying the tea into the room.

After taking a sip of tea, Madam Ao looked at Li Chenfeng and said, "All right. My son has had a tiring journey, so I will not disturb your rest any longer. But do not forget to go to the training grounds tomorrow. Sword Demon has already promised Mother that he will teach you the Meridian-Severing Sword Qi tomorrow. Feng'er, you must learn it well."

"Yes, your son understands. Mother, take care on your way."

After seeing Madam Ao out through the courtyard gate, Li Chenfeng turned and returned to his room.

Liu'er could sense that her young master was not in a good mood, so she carefully followed behind him, silently keeping him company.

"Phew..."

Letting out a long breath, Li Chenfeng looked at the timid Liu'er, reached out to pat her little head, and smiled softly. "All right, no need to be so cautious. Are you afraid this young master will eat you?"

Feeling the large hand on her head, Liu'er's pretty face flushed slightly. She rolled her eyes charmingly and huffed, "N-No, I'm not! I'm not afraid at all!"

"Oh? You're not afraid? Then let this young master have a taste of this little beauty!" As he spoke, Li Chenfeng pretended to pounce.

Liu'er immediately let out a shriek and darted to the door like a startled rabbit.

Seeing that Li Chenfeng had not moved from his spot, she instantly realized she had been tricked. She made a face at him, then ran off with a charming laugh.

Watching her slender figure disappear into the distance, Li Chenfeng felt much more at ease. The gloom in his heart gradually faded along with the laughter in the courtyard.

Early the next morning, Li Chenfeng arrived at the training grounds ahead of time.

Sword Demon was already standing in the center of the grounds. Like an unsheathed sword, sharp Sword Intent spread around him, making him seem like a god or demon.

"Master!" Li Chenfeng bowed to Sword Demon.

"Mhm. Feng'er, you've come." Sword Demon looked at Li Chenfeng, his eyes full of satisfaction.

If he had initially accepted Li Chenfeng as a disciple merely to make Madam Ao happy, then Li Chenfeng's monstrous performance had now made Sword Demon exceedingly satisfied with such an heir.

But in the next instant, Sword Demon's expression turned solemn again. "Feng'er, your master once said that as long as you advanced into the Xiantian Realm, I would pass my Meridian-Severing Sword Qi on to you. Now is the time for your master to fulfill that promise."

"Thank you, Master!" Li Chenfeng said respectfully.

"Mhm." Sword Demon nodded, withdrew his Sword Intent, and said calmly, "The reason I waited until you reached the Xiantian Realm before teaching you this Cultivation Method is that the Meridian-Severing Sword Qi requires you to first nurture Sword Qi within your body.

"Sword Qi is razor-sharp. Though it possesses the power to pierce anything, it can also damage the meridians and overdraw the body. One moment of carelessness could leave your meridians utterly ruined, so you must be cautious!"

Li Chenfeng nodded. Sword Demon had mentioned this to him before. Houtian Realm martial artists had no true qi within their bodies, and their meridians lacked sufficient resilience, so nurturing Sword Qi would be extremely dangerous.

"This Cultivation Method must be practiced step by step; do not be impatient. You must slowly temper your Sword Qi. This will both strengthen the resilience of your meridians and make the Sword Qi purer, achieving several benefits at once. So even though you, Feng'er, are exceptionally intelligent and gifted, you must still proceed carefully. Only after confirming that your meridians can withstand it without harming yourself may you proceed to the next stage of cultivation. Remember this well!"

"This disciple will remember Master's teachings!"

Seeing Li Chenfeng's attitude, Sword Demon nodded again.

"The Meridian-Severing Sword Qi is supremely hard and supremely yang. It can slice through gold and sever jade, its sharpness no less than that of any divine weapon under heaven. First, nurture Sword Qi within your body. Then direct it through the Hand Taiyang and Hand Shaoyang meridians, firing it from the tips of your index and middle fingers with immense power. Watch as your master demonstrates it for you."

As he spoke, Sword Intent surged from Sword Demon's entire body, and the cloak behind him fluttered despite the absence of wind.

"Meridian-Severing Sword Qi!"

With a loud shout, he raised his index and middle fingers. A stream of finger force shot forth with a piercing screech, tearing through the air as it sped toward an artificial rock fifty meters away on the training grounds.

Screech!

A massive slab of bluish stone in the artificial rock was pierced straight through by Sword Demon's Sword Qi. It then struck the courtyard wall dozens of meters farther away, leaving behind a deep mark.

Li Chenfeng's eyes immediately lit up. He had not expected the Meridian-Severing Sword Qi to possess such terrifying penetrating power. Most importantly, it was fast, intangible, and formless. In the blink of an eye, the Sword Qi had already traveled over a hundred meters.

Seeing the performance of his move, Sword Demon nodded in satisfaction and looked at Li Chenfeng. "A mere demonstration cannot fully reveal the power of the Meridian-Severing Sword Qi. If this finger of Sword Qi strikes an enemy, the Sword Qi will enter their body and directly destroy their meridians. Even someone whose cultivation exceeds yours will suffer grave injuries. That is the true strength of the Meridian-Severing Sword Qi!"

Li Chenfeng nodded and listened carefully to Sword Demon's explanation.

Thus, one taught meticulously while the other learned earnestly, and before they knew it, noon had arrived.

Throughout the entire morning, no one else entered the training grounds besides Sword Demon and Li Chenfeng. Madam Ao had given orders the previous day that no one was permitted to approach the training grounds today. Outside, Tie Yong led the manor guards in keeping watch.

"All that needs to be said has been said. Next, Feng'er, you must practice diligently. Remember your master's words: proceed step by step, and success will come naturally!" Sword Demon reminded Li Chenfeng once more.

"Yes, this disciple remembers!"

Seeing that the two had finished their training, Tie Yong, who had been waiting outside the courtyard for some time, strode in. He clasped his hands toward Li Chenfeng and Sword Demon and said, "Young Master, Lord Sword Demon, Madam has prepared a banquet and invites Lord Sword Demon to attend."

At Tie Yong's words, Sword Demon's eyes immediately gleamed. He grinned widely, his old face blooming like a chrysanthemum, and hastily said to Li Chenfeng, "Feng'er, let us go at once. We must not keep Madam Ao waiting!"

Li Chenfeng nodded without changing expression. "Very well. This disciple will also offer Master a cup of wine to thank you for passing down your art."

"Hahaha, good! Then this master and disciple will drink until we drop!"

Watching Sword Demon walk ahead with hearty laughter, Li Chenfeng gave Tie Yong an expressionless nod before stepping forward to follow.