Martial Arts Pavilion

No matter how he thought about it, Ye Chen could not figure out what had changed about him.

Then the only explanation was that the fusion of souls had given him extraordinary comprehension, allowing him to master the eighth form of the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique with ease.

As for why his Internal Energy had improved as well, the explanation was simple. As everyone knew, internal cultivation methods were still arts, while Martial Arts were moving arts. Though they took different forms, both could temper Internal Energy. Comparatively speaking, however, internal cultivation methods existed solely to cultivate Internal Energy, whereas Martial Arts focused primarily on striking opponents, with Internal Energy training as a secondary benefit.

Once he understood the reason behind it all, Ye Chen's heartbeat quickened.

The two most important talents for a martial artist were, first, exceptional natural gifts and outstanding physical aptitude; second, strong comprehension and the ability to learn quickly.

The former far surpassed ordinary people in Internal Energy cultivation, like Ye Tang and Ye Xuan. The latter allowed one to easily master Martial Arts and defeat the strong while weak. As for which was superior, that depended on the martial artist's own performance.

"Heaven is truly helping me. At this pace, reaching the Qi Cultivation Realm Eighth Layer within a year is no longer a dream." The path of cultivation was unimaginably arduous. Those with exceptional gifts might advance to the fifth layer in two years, but that did not mean they could reach the eighth layer in the next two. The ninth and tenth layers required twice as much time, while breaking through the Qi Cultivation Realm into the True Condensation Realm was harder still. In the Ye Family's history, only the third Patriarch had become a True Condensation Realm martial artist at the age of fifteen.

Feeling that it would not take him long to comprehend the ninth form of the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique, Ye Chen decided to visit the Martial Arts Pavilion and pick out a few more suitable Martial Arts.

After lunch, Ye Chen hurried to the Martial Arts Pavilion.

The manuals in the Martial Arts Pavilion were generally commonplace goods. True supreme arts were never placed here. Besides, with Ye Chen's status as an Outer Sect Disciple, he could only browse Martial Arts manuals below Human-grade Mid-tier.

Looking up, the dazzling array of Martial Arts manuals nearly made Ye Chen's eyes blur.

"Soaring Sky Sword Technique, Clear Wind Sword Technique, Vertical and Horizontal Sword Technique, Thirteen Peaks Sword Style... Cloud-Parting Palm, Cloud-Crushing Palm, Wuji Loose Hand... Void-Breaking Fist, Vajra Fist, Seven Star Mantis Fist..."

There were thirty or forty sword techniques alone, more than fifty palm techniques and fist techniques each, twenty-eight leg techniques, and only eight finger techniques, the fewest of all.

The Soaring Sky Sword Technique demanded great Lightness Skill, its every move nimble and splendid. The Clear Wind Sword Technique was somewhat more profound and required a certain degree of comprehension. The Vertical and Horizontal Sword Technique brimmed with killing intent, fierce and tyrannical, suited to disciples with cold dispositions. The Thirteen Peaks Sword Style stood above the dozens of sword techniques before it; each sword strike was fiercer than the last, leaving opponents unable to resist.

Fine, I'll choose the Thirteen Peaks Sword Style.

After quietly considering it, Ye Chen finally decided to cultivate the Thirteen Peaks Sword Style. His comprehension was extraordinary, and cultivating ordinary sword techniques would be neither meaningful nor worth the time. If he was going to choose, he would choose the best.

As for fist techniques, palm techniques, and finger techniques, Ye Chen had his own requirements.

He liked fist techniques, so he chose a Vajra Fist manual. Finger techniques were rather intricate and difficult to practice, and would likely delay his sword technique cultivation, so he temporarily gave them up. As for palm techniques, he ignored them altogether.

Holding the two manuals, Ye Chen went to register with the Guardian Elder.

"Eh? Thirteen Peaks Sword Style?" The Guardian Elder frowned and advised, "I know everyone wants to cultivate better Martial Arts, but do not aim too high. You must proceed one step at a time. Though this Thirteen Peaks Sword Style appears to be a Human-grade Mid-tier manual, its difficulty rivals that of Human-grade High-tier techniques. Many Outer Sect Disciples refused to heed my advice, only to accomplish nothing in the end and waste a great deal of time for nothing."

Ye Chen knew the other man meant well. "Elder, I know the Thirteen Peaks Sword Style is difficult to cultivate, but I have confidence."

The Guardian Elder shook his head. Those Outer Sect Disciples from before had all been brimming with confidence too, but what use was confidence alone? Forget it. He had no authority to prevent the other party from choosing it. He could only hope Ye Chen would retreat in the face of difficulty and not stubbornly drill into a dead end.

With that thought, the Guardian Elder reminded him, "You know the rules of our Flowing Cloud Sect. Without the sect's permission, you may not privately pass Martial Arts on to others. Otherwise, having your cultivation crippled would be the lesser punishment; in serious cases, you will be beheaded. Also, you must return the copied manuals within three months."

"Rest assured, Elder. I will not make a joke of my own life."

Putting away the manuals, Ye Chen strode out of the Martial Arts Pavilion.

Apart from the morning and evening assemblies, Flowing Cloud Sect Outer Sect Disciples also had Martial Arts lessons once every three days. The rest of their time was theirs to arrange freely.

Early the next morning, Ye Chen took his Fine Steel Sword and headed deep into the mountains.

Clear Wind Mountain rose three thousand eight hundred meters high. From the mountainside upward, it was shrouded in mist year-round, carrying an otherworldly immortal air amid its hazy veil. Aside from the forbidden grounds where certain elders and Core Disciples cultivated, vast clearings within the forest could be used to practice one's own unique Martial Arts.

After spending more than two hours, Ye Chen found a secluded cliff.

The cliff spanned more than ten zhang. White mist surrounded it on three sides, sometimes transforming into an army of thousands upon thousands, sometimes into rolling tidal waves, sometimes contracting and expanding again, ever-changing and unpredictable.

"Though the famous mountains and scenic lands of the twenty-first century were not bad, they still lacked a touch of immortal air. Only here can one forget everything and devote oneself wholeheartedly to cultivating Martial Arts." Ye Chen felt deeply moved. In his view, true experts were never made so simply. One had to endure loneliness and solitude. Those who shouted all day that they could succeed if only someone gave them a supreme art were merely fools dreaming in broad daylight.

Drawing a deep breath, Ye Chen began his tedious, monotonous training.

Circulating his energy, stepping, swinging his sword, flicking his wrist...

In just one day, Ye Chen could initially execute the ninth form of the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique, Night Light Movement. Once this sword was unleashed, its Sword Light was dark as water, dazzling the eye and leaving one unable to adapt. In terms of power, it had basically reached the Human-grade Mid-tier level, and was undoubtedly Ye Chen's strongest killing move at present.

Morning came, evening returned, and before he knew it, another three days had passed.

On the steep cliff, a figure pointed his sword at a massive boulder opposite him. Sword Light like Flowers in the Mirror, Moon in the Water spread outward, casting everything into dim darkness.

Ssssh, ssssh, ssssh, ssssh...

The boulder was like tofu, carved with sword marks one after another, each one an inch deep.

"I've finally mastered it." His Internal Energy was exhausted, and Ye Chen was drenched in sweat, but he did not care in the slightest. He looked contentedly at the sword marks on the boulder, a faint smile appearing on his face.

The ninth form of the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique was several times more difficult than the previous eight forms, and several times more powerful as well. It had taken Ye Chen four days to achieve complete mastery. Furthermore, the grueling training of those four days had made the Internal Energy within him purer, faster, and more nimble to mobilize.

The next day, Ye Chen came to the cliff as usual to train. Unlike before, however, he would now begin formally cultivating the exceptionally difficult Thirteen Peaks Sword Style.

The Thirteen Peaks Sword Style had thirteen forms in total. Its sword Momentum was immensely perilous, like a lone peak standing apart from the world, making one shudder with cold dread, as though every hidden flaw across one's body had been seen through.

After following the sword paths in the manual and performing them once, Ye Chen had a rough impression of them in his mind. Vaguely, he could sense that indescribable state of mind.

Ye Chen believed that once he cultivated the Thirteen Peaks Sword Style to great mastery, opponents weaker than himself would basically be killed in an instant. Even against opponents stronger than himself, he could find flaws to exploit—unless they possessed immensely rich experience and had gradually explored the state of returning to simplicity.