Lu Mingxuan stood there stunned for a long time.
He glanced at the ice pit on the distant mountain, then at the frozen corpse in the forest, and watched as Chen Shuangbai swiftly delivered a final sword strike, shattering the frozen corpse into pieces. She then carefully plowed it with her Sword Qi. He opened his mouth, as if to say something.
But he still couldn't say anything.
After finishing off the attack, Chen Shuangbai turned around and looked at Lu Mingxuan, who seemed hesitant to speak, and asked, " Senior Brother Lu, is there something you want to say to me?"
Lu Mingxuan actually had a lot to say, but now was not the time to ask. So he went with Chen Shuangbai to find the two Kongjian fellow Kong Jian who had been captured by the demon beasts, and returned to the main camp territory together.
Not long after they left.
Suddenly, the soil in the forest turned over, and a giant, worm-like creature emerged from it.
The insect-like beast opened its mouth and spat out a glob of sticky liquid.
As the viscous liquid gradually dissipated, a hand tore it open, revealing a pale-faced, short-statured Devil Cultivator. The Devil Cultivator stared at the ice pit not far away, a hint of fear still on his face.
"... Yin Thunder Method?"
"Where did this Jade Spring disciple come from?"
The Devil Cultivator's name was Xiao Boqing, and he was a disciple of the Resentful Blood of the Heart-Eroding Stronghold.
Just a few years ago, he was a rogue cultivator who had just joined the Resentful Blood Resentment Rogue Cultivator, but in just a few years, he rose through the ranks by burning, killing, looting, and committing all sorts of evil deeds, eventually reaching the Late Qi Refining Stage.
He even managed to devour many of his fellow disciples, ultimately securing the position of Junior Envoy of the Resentful Blood Clan and becoming a core disciple of the Resentful Blood Clan.
His success today is due not only to his ruthless and selfish nature, but also to a fortuitous fortuitous opportunity he encountered.
This fortuitous opportunity involves the inheritance of a powerful demonic cultivator.
He was fortunate enough to obtain one of the Devil Cultivation Method, which is why he has such strength now.
Seeing that Chen Shuangbai had so decisively dealt with Xue Pan using the Yin Thunder Method, Xiao Boqing knew that this person was his nemesis. He then promptly released the insect beast and staged the scene just now.
Looking at the shattered ice and chunks of flesh scattered on the ground not far away, Xiao Boqing's eyes flashed with both savage killing intent and heartache.
He then looked at the insect-beast behind him and saw that it was already sickly and obviously wouldn't live much longer.
"Damn it, I never thought to waste my trump card here!"
Despite his cursing, Xiao Boqing didn't dare to directly retaliate against Chen Shuangbai.
" The Cultivation Method says that Thunder Method is divided into yin and yang, but both are extremely effective against my current state... No, I can't rush things now. I need to go back and find a method to counter this person!"
He gazed into the distance, watching Chen Shuangbai disappear into the distance, and couldn't help but sigh softly before decisively turning away.
Inside White Creek Camp.
After Chen Shuangbai and Lu Mingxuan returned, Xu Yingying immediately went to greet them, looking them over to see if her senior brother had any injuries.
Lu Mingxuan recounted the events of the battle, looking at Chen Shuangbai with disbelief and... extreme relief on his face.
When he heard that Chen Shuangbai had also cultivated Sword Qi...
Xu Yingying was also somewhat surprised.
" Senior Brother Chen's talent in swordsmanship... is actually this good?"
Hearing that Chen Shuangbai had just used Thunder Method, he was even more astonished.
"Senior brother is truly awe-inspiring!"
Chen Shuangbai waved his hand, indicating that he would first send the two injured Kong Jian fellow practitioners back to recuperate, and that other matters could be discussed later.
That evening.
The news that inner disciple of the Jade Spring Sect had cultivated Sword Qi had spread among the Empty Sword Sect disciples in the White Creek Camp.
Outside Chen Shuangbai's residence, disciples of the Empty Sword Sect frequently came and went, seemingly wanting to see what this fellow Jade Spring Sect who had mastered Sword Qi looked like.
However, many of the Kong Jian disciples who had received Chen Shuangbai's help in removing the poison during the day were sharing it with their fellow disciples.
This was normal at first.
But as the saying goes, "three men can make a tiger," and in the end, Chen Shuangbai was rumored to be "a secret Dao Child of the Jade Spring Sect with a naturally gifted thunder physique and a clear sword mind, who went down the mountain to gain experience"?
Even more outrageous claims include that he was born with three heads and six arms, a god-like being who could spew lightning!
Chen Shuangbai was also stunned as she listened to Fan Caiwei's description, thinking to herself, "What does all this have to do with anything?!"
Lu Mingxuan, feeling rather uncomfortable, saw Chen Shuangbai looking over and had no choice but to say, "I... I'll go out and have a good talk with them, so those good-for-nothings won't spread rumors!"
But then again...
Chen Shuangbai still asked with some curiosity, " Senior Brother Lu, cultivating Sword Qi... is that considered rare in your sect?"
Lu Mingxuan also became serious.
"I guess so."
The Empty Sword Sect is composed of sword cultivators, and they adhere to the rule of selecting disciples from among the best.
Therefore, in each batch of disciples, there are at least three or four who have cultivated Sword Qi, and in better cases, there are seven or eight.
Most of the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Empty Sword Sect are born from these disciples who have cultivated Sword Qi.
There are exactly five disciples in Lu Mingxuan's generation.
This is the current [ Five Edges of the Empty Sword Sect ].
Lu Mingxuan said, " The Four Realms of the Sword Dao — Sword Qi, Sword Essence, Sword Intent, and Sword Primordial Qi —all require the cultivator to have aptitude for swordsmanship. Otherwise, relying solely on passion will only result in setbacks and failure."
" The Four Realms of the Sword Dao..."
Chen Shuangbai repeated it.
Seeing Chen Shuangbai's interest, Lu Mingxuan explained in detail, " The Jade Spring Sect excels in water magic, and Junior Brother's swordsmanship is outstanding. You are one of us on the same path. Would you like me to explain the Four Realms of the Sword Dao to you?"
"Then thank you very much, Senior Brother."
Lu Mingxuan nodded and said, "The so-called Sword Qi does not simply refer to the sharp energy generated by Law Power."
"Instead, it is the energy with unique attributes and artistic conception that sword cultivators cultivate from their own Law Sword, using their Law Power to forge the flying swords."
"This can be considered the foundation of swordsmanship, the prototype of Sword Essence."
"I see..."
Chen Shuangbai seemed lost in thought.
Lu Mingxuan used Chen Shuangbai's Sword Qi as an example, saying, "For example, Junior Brother, your Sword Qi is a deep blue color, extremely sharp, and also carries a frost-like quality. If an enemy is injured by your Sword Qi, they will definitely be chilled to the bone."
"For example, my Sword Qi is golden and crystalline, because I am primarily an earth and secondary wood elemental Spirit Root, with the remaining minor attributes not to be discussed. Hence, it is called the [ Horizontal Mountain Sword ]."
"What about Sword Essence, Sword Intent, and Sword Primordial Qi?"
Chen Shuangbai continued to ask.
" Sword Essence, as the name suggests, is the essence of Sword Qi; in a sense, it can be described as a more condensed and purer form of Sword Qi."
"However, these Sword Qi have developed a unique spirituality."
"It is strongly related to one's own Cultivation Method or the foundation of one's cultivation."