Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus

Martial techniques were divided into four tiers: Heaven, Earth, Mystic, and Yellow. The first and second floors housed mostly Yellow Tier techniques, with a few Mystic Tier ones. From the third floor upward, the lowest were Mystic Tier. As for Earth Tier and Heaven Tier techniques, the Myriad Phenomena Hall handbook said nothing about them.

Such profound techniques were surely precious even in the Myriad Phenomena Hall. Ordinary disciples had no chance to learn them.

The first floor already held many new disciples, along with quite a few veterans.

Every one of them held a book and read with relish.

"The techniques in their hands are at least mid-grade Yellow Tier, and most are high-grade Yellow Tier!"

Qin Hao's breathing quickened. The highest-grade techniques in Tianshui City were only high-grade Yellow Tier, yet here they were everywhere. At a glance, most of the techniques were high-grade Yellow Tier. Even the lowest were mid-grade Yellow Tier, and those were few.

"Black Tortoise Wind Blade," "Shadow Flow Sword Art," "Thirteen Life-Reaping Swords"...

Qin Hao could hardly wait to start choosing.

He read quickly. Every book left him itching to try it and utterly amazed.

Every sword art was extraordinarily profound. More importantly, each technique contained training notes left by the great talents who had practiced it.

They had left all their hard-won experience on those pages, sparing later practitioners many wrong turns.

Tianshui City could never have done that!

"There are so many. I wish I could learn them all, but my reward only covers two high-grade Yellow Tier techniques."

Qin Hao sighed inwardly.

If he wanted more, he would have to exchange Contribution Points for them.

Of course, mastery of martial techniques came from specialization, not quantity. Becoming proficient in one was far better than practicing many at random.

"Hm? This technique requires the Subtlety Realm before it can be practiced?"

"The Subtlety Realm is Sword Force?"

Qin Hao had opened a technique called "Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus." Surprise flickered in his eyes.

"Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus" was a high-grade Yellow Tier technique!

According to the book, every martial technique had distinct realms of mastery.

There were six realms in all.

The first two were the Subtlety Realm and Unity of Heaven and Man!

The Subtlety Realm was Sword Force!

Unity of Heaven and Man was Sword Intent!

Qin Hao was stunned. Before this, he had known only of minor and major mastery of martial techniques.

This was the first time he had heard of such a division into realms.

And the very first realm, the Subtlety Realm, was Sword Force!

The Myriad Phenomena Hall Outer Palace had a vast number of disciples, but precious few had grasped any kind of Force.

"Six realms. The first two are the Subtlety Realm and Unity of Heaven and Man."

"Why doesn't it say what the later realms are?"

He kept turning the pages, but found no description of the realms that followed.

Qin Hao was even more baffled.

What surprised him more was that "Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus" consisted of nine swords and was exceedingly difficult to practice. At major mastery, it could give rise to an ultimate move.

Lotus Blossoms with Every Step!

Once he mastered Lotus Blossoms with Every Step, he would have a slim chance of comprehending Sword Intent!

"Sword Force? Sword Intent?" Qin Hao was shaken.

Grasping Sword Force had taken Qin Hao some effort. As for comprehending Sword Intent, he did not even know what it was yet. How could he hope to comprehend it?

Yet if he achieved major mastery of this technique, he might have a chance!

Qin Hao did not rush to a decision. Holding the "Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus" manual, he flipped through it feverishly.

More than half an hour later, he stopped reading and frowned.

Not one book on the Martial Arts Hall's first floor explained the realms of martial techniques.

"The first floor only has high-grade Yellow Tier cultivation methods and techniques. Maybe the second floor has an explanation of the realms of martial techniques."

Qin Hao glanced toward the stairs, where several veteran disciples were coming down. "Too bad I can't go up there."

The Martial Arts Hall had strict rules.

Outer Palace disciples could enter the first four floors, but each floor had its own requirements.

First floor: any Outer Palace disciple could browse the techniques.

Second floor: a disciple had to rank among the top hundred on the Bronze Ranking and have at least ten thousand Contribution Points!

Third floor: a disciple had to rank among the top fifty on the Bronze Ranking and have at least thirty thousand Contribution Points!

Fourth floor: a disciple had to rank among the top ten on the Bronze Ranking and have at least fifty thousand Contribution Points!

"Forget the realms of martial techniques for now. Of the two high-grade Yellow Tier techniques I'm allowed to choose, the first will be 'Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus'!"

Qin Hao shook his head. For now, he could not reach the second floor, much less any floor above it.

What mattered most was choosing the sword art that suited him best.

After comparing all the techniques he had seen, Qin Hao felt that "Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus" stood above the rest.

Of course, several others had caught his eye as well.

"Sword-Sweeping Slash," for example, could be used for both offense and defense. It was tremendously powerful. On defense, it offered protection from every direction. At major mastery, its user could even hold their own against a first-stage Meridian Opening Realm expert.

On offense, it could strike across a wide area!

A sweeping blow that plowed straight through!

Qin Hao leaned against a wall and began reading "Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus" carefully.

"'Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus': from the sword springs the azure lotus!"

"The azure lotus bears seeds—nine lotus seeds in all. Each seed is a sword of the azure lotus!"

"At major mastery, they form the ultimate killing move: Lotus Blossoms with Every Step!"

Qin Hao lost himself in the text.

"Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus" differed from "Firmament Phantom Sword." The latter focused on transitions between sword moves, while the former centered on a deeper artistic conception.

"Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus" contained nine swords. Through them, a practitioner could develop an artistic conception of their own.

That was why major mastery of "Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus" offered a slim hope of comprehending Sword Intent!

"Vast! Profound!"

The more Qin Hao read, the more excited he became, his heart surging.

Without thinking, he swept out his right hand, imitating the sword art on the spot.

At that moment, a young woman slowly descended from the second floor.

She wore a purple dress, and her long black hair drifted behind her. Her graceful figure drew the eye, while her delicate, porcelain-fine features were elegant and captivating.

Yet aloofness filled her expression. She seemed a block of ice, keeping everyone a thousand miles away.

"Senior Sister Mu!"

An Inner Palace disciple passing the stairs found himself beside the young woman in purple.

He immediately lowered his head, his cheeks flushing, and greeted her respectfully.

"Senior Sister Mu!"

"Senior Sister Mu!"

Many disciples called out, each of them deeply respectful.

Mu Ziqing gave a faint nod. Then, as though sensing something, she looked to the left of the staircase below.

Those stairs led to the first floor.

To the left of the first-floor stairs, Qin Hao stood with the "Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus" book in hand, tracing out its moves with his right hand.

He was utterly absorbed.

"Hm?"

"He's practicing 'Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus' too?"

Surprise flickered in Mu Ziqing's eyes. "Peak seventh-stage Body Tempering Realm? Is he a new disciple?"

"Doesn't he know he must reach the Subtlety Realm before he can practice 'Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus'?"

Mu Ziqing grew curious.

A new disciple had chosen "Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus"?

He was either a fool or a supreme genius!

Qin Hao noticed nothing.

With his back against the wall, he held the "Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus" manual in his left hand and swept out his right again and again.

With every sweep, his presence grew stronger.

A mysterious, unfathomable artistic conception rippled around him.

Qin Hao was completely immersed.

"Is he trying to practice 'Nine Swords of the Azure Lotus' right here in the Martial Arts Hall?"

Starlight flickered in Mu Ziqing's eyes, and surprise stirred in her heart.

Her steps halted almost without her realizing it.