Cloudflow Sword

"I... although I couldn't spot anything, I thought it was excellent. Absolutely flawless! Miss Wu Xuan, did you notice any problems?" Tang Yan tossed the question back to Wu Xuan.

Wu Xuan rolled her eyes at Tang Yan before saying in a clear voice, "You really have put a lot of hard work into practicing lately. There are no flaws left; all you lack is seasoning. Given time, you'll certainly achieve full mastery. If you want to master the moves quickly, you need constant honing. Finding someone to spar with is a good way to improve."

Tang Yan quite agreed with the first half of Wu Xuan's remarks, but the more he heard, the stronger his bad feeling grew. Was she really going to make him her sparring partner?

"All right, all right. Since Miss Wu Xuan is starting to impart her teachings, I won't linger. Wouldn't want to be suspected of stealing your techniques. Farewell!"

"Stop!" Just as Tang Yan tried to slip away, Lin Dongxue immediately called him back. "What, Young Master Tang, still trying to run? Didn't I just say you were going to be my sparring partner?"

"Well... I'm only at origin tier eighth grade, while Miss Lin's strength is close to the profound tier. Why bother sparring with a small fry like me?" Tang Yan pulled a long face. "Besides, I'm not a masochist. Why should I be your sparring partner?"

At Tang Yan's words, both Lin Dongxue and Wu Xuan froze. Had this fellow had his head caught in a door? How many people in Cloud City would love to be Lin Dongxue's sparring partner? And he actually wanted to refuse?

Still, Tang Yan had a point, and neither woman could find an answer for a moment. After some consideration, Wu Xuan said, "How about this? Young Master Tang, you can be Dongxue's sparring partner for now, and we'll pay you for your time. What do you think?"

"How much?" Tang Yan immediately perked up.

"Money-grubber!" Seeing his reaction, Lin Dongxue snorted coldly. "How about this? I'll keep my strength below the yellow tier while we spar. If you last an hour, I'll give you a first-tier mid-grade pill. Deal?"

First-tier mid-grade? Naturally, the great pill master Tang had no interest in pills. He shook his head. "I have no interest in cultivation, but I'm very interested in silver. How about this? If I last an hour, or force you to use yellow-tier strength, you pay me ten thousand taels of silver. What do you say?"

Lin Dongxue's delicate brows shot up at his words. "You think you can make me use yellow-tier strength?" she scoffed. "Fine, I agree. Just don't run away when you start getting beaten. Come on!"

"Miss Wu Xuan, may I borrow your sword?" Tang Yan asked with a smile.

Wu Xuan's lovely face flushed slightly. She unfastened her scabbard and tossed it over. "Here. I'll take the opportunity to see how good your swordsmanship is, too."

Tang Yan took Wu Xuan's sword. Its blade was slightly broad, and it felt heavy in his hand, leaving him a little surprised. Just how strong was Wu Xuan, for her weapon to be even heavier than an ordinary sword?

"Thank you, Miss Wu Xuan." Tang Yan voiced his thanks, while an idea kept turning over in his mind. If I can be Lin Dongxue's sparring partner, why can't I make this girl mine?

The more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed, and delight stirred in his heart. After a little consideration, he decided to use Lin Dongxue to hone the Tang Family's martial art-the Cloudflow Sword.

After all, he was the Tang Family's sole descendant. Wouldn't it be embarrassing if word got out that he hadn't even mastered his own family's martial arts? Besides, Tang Yan remembered Old Master Tang saying that the Cloudflow Sword was a fine sword technique; its low grade was merely the result of missing portions of the cultivation method.

Tang Yan had a good memory. With a little recollection, he ran through all the Cloudflow Sword's moves in his mind.

"Watch out!" Lin Dongxue had wanted to beat Tang Yan up for some time. With a sharp cry, she flicked her slender sword and charged at him.

Judging from Lin Dongxue's aura, she was indeed using only origin tier eighth grade strength. Tang Yan smiled inwardly and raised his sword to meet her.

Tang Yan kept probing the Cloudflow Sword for flaws. With his attention divided, he looked flustered under Lin Dongxue's fierce attacks.

Yet there was no fear in Tang Yan's eyes. Instead, a hint of excitement shone in them. Sparring at such intensity was enormously helpful in restoring the sword technique's moves. The seemingly perilous attacks helped him uncover and mend its flaws from every angle.

Watching from the sidelines, Wu Xuan's eyes brimmed with amusement at Tang Yan's frantic scrambling. She was ready to enjoy the spectacle of him being put in his place.

As time passed, however, the teasing look in Wu Xuan's eyes gradually faded, replaced by growing puzzlement.

At first, Lin Dongxue had kept Tang Yan completely suppressed, leaving him barely able to defend himself. A quarter of an hour had now passed. By rights, he should have been showing clear signs of defeat, so why was he still in the same state as when they started?

Meanwhile, Tang Yan grew more and more excited. This Cloudflow Sword really is riddled with holes! Many parts have been altered, and several moves are even missing from the middle. Given a little time, I can restore this entire sword technique!

Soon, Wu Xuan's eyelids twitched, and disbelief filled her eyes.

She clearly saw Tang Yan, who had been scrambling helplessly at the start, gradually steady his footing!

An utterly absurd feeling arose in Wu Xuan's heart-was Lin Dongxue acting as Tang Yan's sparring partner?

In the sparring area, Lin Dongxue felt deeply humiliated that she still hadn't defeated Tang Yan after so long, and her anxiety mounted. Gritting her teeth, she instantly unleashed origin tier ninth grade strength. The pressure on Tang Yan abruptly changed, plunging him straight back into the perilous situation he had faced at the beginning.

A grade's divide was like a mountain between them; the gap between the eighth and ninth grades of the origin tier was far from small. Just as both Wu Xuan and Lin Dongxue decided Tang Yan would soon lose, the presence of the sword in his hand suddenly changed.

Although his strength remained at origin tier eighth grade, his formerly bland, awkward moves became incomparably fluid and practiced, and his Sword Qi grew stronger!

Another quarter of an hour passed. From being utterly unable to fight back, Tang Yan gradually turned the situation around and began attempting counterattacks.

Those caught in the game were lost in it, while spectators saw clearly. Watching from the sidelines, Wu Xuan looked exceedingly grave.

Having spent several years in Cloud City, she knew something of the various families' cultivation methods. The sword technique Tang Yan was using was precisely the Tang Family's signature martial art, the Cloudflow Sword. Yet in both finesse and power, it far surpassed anything she had seen before!

Could this fellow be not merely practicing his sword technique, but actually perfecting it? For a moment, Wu Xuan regarded Tang Yan with a complicated look.

There was admiration in it, but also a measure of wariness.

Before they knew it, an hour had passed, and Tang Yan still showed no sign of defeat.

Lin Dongxue's eyes blazed as she ground her teeth. This fellow really knows how to spoil the mood! No matter how strong you are, you should spare a thought for my feelings! I'm already using origin tier ninth grade strength, and I still can't beat you. Are you deliberately embarrassing me in front of Sister Wu Xuan?

This time, Tang Yan wasn't entirely to blame. Normally, he would certainly have let Lin Dongxue save some face.

But at that moment, he was completely immersed in the Cloudflow Sword!

This cultivation method was fluid and natural, like drifting clouds and flowing water. Like the Graceful Sword Technique, it was nimble and ethereal, but the Cloudflow Sword was even more natural-neither affected nor jarring. Like white clouds drifting leisurely across a blue sky, it carried not a trace of fierceness, yet could kill without leaving a sign.

The longer Tang Yan fought, the more absorbed he became, and the more complete his moves grew. After blocking another incoming strike, he gave a loud shout. The sword in his hand seemed to transform into a white cloud, seeping into every gap as it swept down on Lin Dongxue, blanketing heaven and earth.

Sensing the might of Tang Yan's sword, Lin Dongxue's lovely face hardened with fury, and her beautiful eyes widened.

Even though she had raised her strength to origin tier ninth grade, she felt as though there was no way to break through Tang Yan's sword technique.

Gritting her teeth, Lin Dongxue changed her sword's momentum once more, and an even stronger aura surged forth.

Yellow tier!

Wu Xuan's beautiful eyes settled on Tang Yan. Although Lin Dongxue's use of yellow-tier strength broke the rules, she was also filled with anticipation. Could Tang Yan, at origin tier eighth grade, hold his own against the yellow tier?