Thirteen Peaks Sword Style

Nearly three months passed in the blink of an eye.

The sea of clouds beyond the cliff still churned endlessly. On the cliff, a youth dressed in a standard martial outfit wielded a Fine Steel Sword, twisting, turning, and shifting as Sword Light flashed.

Perhaps it was an illusion, or perhaps it was the environment, but the youth's sword Momentum carried the solitary pride of standing atop the highest peak and looking down upon all mountains below. He clearly stood before one's eyes, yet seemed to be on a distant lone peak instead. That elusive distance was enough to make one cough blood.

After the twelve linked strikes, the youth's gaze flashed like lightning, piercing through the void. His body suddenly leaped up, pouncing down from the heights like a predator descending from a mountain peak. With a flash of Sword Light, a terrifying sword mark appeared on the boulder opposite him—three inches deep and three feet long, clean and decisive, ruthless and merciless.

Sheathing his sword, the youth muttered to himself, "No wonder the Guardian Elder told me to choose another sword technique. This Thirteen Peaks Sword Style is no simple Human-grade Mid-tier Martial Arts technique. It actually contains such profound artistic conception, long surpassing its original rank."

The youth was naturally Ye Chen. Over the past three months, he had completed his cultivation of the Thirteen Peaks Sword Style through his exceptional comprehension. Yet he had recently discovered that the Thirteen Peaks Sword Style was far from simple; it seemed to be missing something. In other words, the Thirteen Peaks Sword Style was an incomplete copy, and the true manual had likely been lost. That was why its rank had fallen to Human-grade Mid-tier.

Fortunately, its practitioner was Ye Chen. After painstaking study, he had not only comprehended an artistic conception absent from the original Thirteen Peaks Sword Style, but had also greatly improved its method of circulating energy. Before long, he believed he would be able to cultivate a Thirteen Peaks Sword Style of his own.

Moreover, because he had shut himself away from worldly matters and devoted himself to cultivation for three months, Ye Chen's Internal Energy had entered the early sixth level of the Qi Cultivation Realm. His progress had truly been astonishing.

"It's time to return the manual." Remembering the rules of the Flowing Cloud Sect, Ye Chen did not dare delay.

On his way back, Ye Chen's ears twitched slightly. He heard sharp feminine shouts drifting from afar. They came from at least a li away, yet remained crystal clear, as though all the sound had been condensed together before erupting in an instant.

"What powerful breath. What kind of formidable body does it take to produce such a voice? It sounds like a woman." Unable to suppress his curiosity, Ye Chen cautiously approached.

After crossing several patches of thorny grass, Ye Chen arrived behind a massive boulder.

Peering out, he saw a small grove. Beside it stood a wooden hut, with a small pool before it. Several lotus leaves floated upon the water, lending the place an air of tranquil elegance.

At the edge of the grove, a cold-looking girl of around sixteen, dressed in a snow-white martial outfit, was practicing her fist techniques, sharp cries bursting from her mouth with soul-stirring force.

Her figure was slender and seemed frail enough to be blown over by the wind, yet every punch and kick was domineering and unrestrained, carrying a piercing sharpness.

"It's Senior Sister Xu, Xu Jing. This is a forbidden area?"

Seeing her, Ye Chen finally understood.

Apart from the Sect Master and Inner Sect Elders, who had mountains of their own, everyone else in the Flowing Cloud Sect had to seek out suitable places to practice Martial Arts. Although Clear Wind Mountain was vast, excellent cultivation sites were limited. Under normal circumstances, Outer Sect Elders and Core Disciples would take possession of prime locations first and designate them forbidden grounds. If ordinary people insisted on barging in, they would be making enemies of them. At best, they would be scolded; at worst, they would be severely punished.

The Senior Sister Xu before Ye Chen was one of the Flowing Cloud Sect's Core Disciples. She ranked twenty-third, possessed cultivation at the Mid True Condensation Realm, and had outstanding talent.

Xu Jing moved with agile footwork. As her fists and legs came and went, she pressed her tongue against her teeth, circulated energy through her abdomen, and repeatedly let out shouts to increase the might of her fist technique.

After throwing several successive sets of punches, Xu Jing's Momentum accumulated to its peak. She leaped into the air, striking with lightning speed, pouncing like a tiger or leopard as she smashed a fist into a tree as thick as a bucket.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

An astonishing scene unfolded. Dazzling golden light burst from Xu Jing's fists and palms, then condensed into substance, smashing through three trees standing in a row like dry branches before a storm. The display was terrifying.

True Qi released beyond the body! Ye Chen narrowed his eyes.

When a Qi Cultivation Realm martial artist converted Internal Energy into True Qi, it meant they had officially entered the True Condensation Realm. Aside from their greatly increased combat strength, True Condensation Realm martial artists could also release True Qi from their bodies to wound enemies from afar.

"Come out." Xu Jing had long noticed Ye Chen's arrival. Her gaze was sharp as she stared fixedly at his hiding place.

Ye Chen swallowed and obediently revealed himself.

"You're an Outer Sect Disciple."

"Yes."

"Why were you secretly watching me practice?"

"Your shouts carried too far. I came over to take a look out of curiosity."

Xu Jing examined Ye Chen carefully. His neither servile nor overbearing manner piqued her curiosity. Other Outer Sect Disciples usually stammered and could barely speak in her presence, while he spoke clearly and logically, with proper composure. It was difficult to feel any dislike toward him.

Having no intention of making trouble for Ye Chen, Xu Jing said coolly, "Leave. Don't come again."

"Yes."

After leaving the place, Ye Chen let out a slight breath.

Although Xu Jing's attitude had been calm, the air about her carried a startling sense of an impending storm. He would wager that even Core Disciples ranked above her did not exert such pressure. It seemed the Core Disciple rankings would change this year.

Suddenly, Ye Chen smiled.

In the past, he probably would not have been able to utter a single word before Xu Jing. Yet now he had answered calmly. This must have been because his soul had grown stronger.

Still, what caught Ye Chen's attention most was Xu Jing's personality. She truly was cold and aloof, difficult for ordinary people to approach. Combined with that fierce, domineering martial art of hers, she was impossible to forget.

He arrived at the Martial Arts Pavilion.

The Guardian Elder looked up and recognized Ye Chen at once. Meaningfully, he said, "Well? You probably didn't manage to master the Thirteen Peaks Sword Style, did you? There's still time to choose another sword technique."

Ye Chen smiled faintly. "No need. I'm here to return the manual."

"Fine. Register here."

After signing his name, Ye Chen turned to leave.

Seeing this, the Guardian Elder asked curiously, "There are still two months before Wooden Man Alley opens. Aren't you going to work harder?"

Wooden Man Alley was a traditional trial of the Flowing Cloud Sect, opened once every half year. Its participants were generally Outer Sect Disciples. Passing through it demonstrated strong practical combat ability; failing meant one had to continue working hard. Half a year ago, Ye Chen had been beaten until he vomited blood in only three breaths, becoming everyone's laughingstock.

"I think the Thirteen Peaks Sword Style should be enough to handle the trial." Ye Chen believed that, in two months, he could raise his Internal Energy to the late sixth level of the Qi Cultivation Realm. By then, even if he could not make the top ten, his rank would not be too low. Of course, he had yet to undergo actual combat, so he was not entirely sure how strong he truly was.

The Guardian Elder nodded unconsciously, then froze in astonishment. "You mean you mastered the Thirteen Peaks Sword Style? How is that possible?"

"More or less."

If he knew that I had not only learned the Thirteen Peaks Sword Style, but also comprehended its artistic conception and an even deeper method of circulating energy, what would he think?

Not wishing to reveal too much, Ye Chen stepped out.

Even after Ye Chen had left, the Guardian Elder still could not believe it. He knew the Thirteen Peaks Sword Style was an incomplete copy. This sword technique had been created by the Flowing Cloud Sect's Third Sect Master and had once ranked as Human-grade Top-tier. Yet for some unknown reason, the authentic manual had vanished without a trace, leaving behind only a handwritten incomplete copy.

Even so, the Thirteen Peaks Sword Style remained extremely difficult to cultivate. Its foundation had once reached Human-grade Top-tier—how could an Outer Sect Disciple possibly comprehend it fully?

"Outer Sect Disciples these days are far too boastful." The Guardian Elder shook his head, clearly not believing Ye Chen's words.