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Chapter 84: Xie Lingfeng: I've Been Practicing a Fake Martial Art?
Chapter 84: Xie Lingfeng: I've Been Practicing a Fake Martial Art?
"What do you mean?"
Xie Lingfeng took a deep breath, trying to calm his raging heart.
"A clear sword heart is the foundation of the Sword Dao. Only with a clear sword heart can one enter the Sword Dao. Don't you know that?"
Hu Yan asked, confused.
"???"
Xie Lingfeng was baffled. Clear sword heart? He had never even heard of it!
He turned his head to look at Hu Shan, who was observing the battle from a distance.
Hu Shan also looked perplexed and shook his head to indicate that he, too, was unfamiliar with the term.
"Are you just making up a name to deceive me? Do you think I, Xie Lingfeng, am that easily fooled?"
Xie Lingfeng inhaled sharply, glaring at Hu Yan with anger.
In his heart, he kept telling himself, "Don't fall for it. This is a lie. He's tricking me!"
Hu Yan wore an 'I knew it' expression and said, "You don't even know what a clear sword heart is, yet you dare to claim that you've entered the gate of Sword Dao?"
He became more convinced that Internal Martial Arts was the true martial art, and what his master had taught him was the genuine way.
"Hmph! Explain to me, then, what is a clear sword heart?"
Xie Lingfeng scoffed, determined not to be deceived.
"A clear sword heart refers to a state where the heart is clear and transparent, allowing one to instantly understand sword techniques and moves. Only with a clear sword heart can one enter the Sword Dao. This is the foundation of Sword Dao!"
Hu Yan felt sorry for Xie Lingfeng, who didn't even know about the concept of a clear sword heart. Here he was, thinking he had entered the gate of Sword Dao, when in fact he hadn't.
"Nonsense! How could there be such a thing as a clear sword heart in this world?"
Xie Lingfeng's mind was in turmoil, but he firmly believed that Hu Yan was trying to deceive him. If there were such a thing as a clear sword heart, then learning sword techniques would be as easy as snapping one's fingers. Where would the challenge lie?
"I possess a clear sword heart, so I can instantly understand your sword techniques and use them as I please."
Hu Yan spoke with arrogance.
"No! That's impossible!"
Xie Lingfeng gritted his teeth. "Don't try to deceive me. You must have learned the sword techniques of Sword Peak from somewhere else!"
"I only study Sword Dao, not sword techniques. I don't care for your Sword Peak techniques. If you don't believe me, we can continue our duel!"
Hu Yan lifted his sword, signaling for Xie Lingfeng to make his move.
Xie Lingfeng clenched his teeth but didn't attack.
At that moment, he realized that he didn't have the courage to draw his sword. How could he fight when his opponent could understand and use his sword techniques as soon as he made a move?
Hu Shan, who was watching from a distance, hurried over when he saw this. "Young Master, don't be fooled by him and lose your confidence!"
"But his sword techniques..." Xie Lingfeng said through gritted teeth.
"He must have stolen them somehow. Let me show him what I've got!"
Hu Shan's face was grim as he drew his sword. Facing Hu Yan, he said, "Let me see what you've got. Let's see if you can steal my sword techniques and use them for yourself!"
Hu Yan raised an eyebrow. "Go ahead."
"Come and see if you can steal my sword techniques!"
Hu Shan scoffed, and his sword swept out, turning into a whirlwind in an instant.
Xie Lingfeng took a few deep breaths, his gaze fixed on the battle before him. In his heart, he wondered, "Is Hu Shan's whirlwind sword technique also something he learned from Sword Peak? When were the secrets of Sword Peak leaked?
"No! It's impossible. Only the core disciples are allowed to practice the ultimate sword techniques, and even among them, not everyone is qualified to learn the three supreme sword techniques."
A ridiculous thought lingered in Xie Lingfeng's mind.
What if what Hu Yan said was true?
Perhaps he did have a clear sword heart, allowing him to understand sword techniques instantly and use them as he pleased.
Just thinking about this possibility made Xie Lingfeng feel lost.
He had always been known as the greatest sword genius of Sword Peak in a thousand years, yet he hadn't even entered the gate of Sword Dao?
It was hard for him to accept this.
Hu Shan sneered inwardly. How could there be a clear sword heart in this world? It was pure nonsense! The opponent must have obtained the sword techniques of Sword Peak through some unknown means.
Hu Shan unleashed his whirlwind sword technique, attacking relentlessly. Suddenly, Hu Yan's sword moved, and his sword became like the whirlwind itself.
Hu Shan's lips curved into a cold smile, but he didn't seem surprised.
Suddenly, Hu Yan changed his move!
Amidst the whirlwind of sword energy, a sword light flew close to the ground. Then a second, a third... these sword lights, hidden by the whirlwind sword energy, suddenly burst forth with deadly force.
This was Hu Shan's unique killing move, created by him and not part of the Sword Peak techniques.
It was a hidden trump card that had won him many battles over the years, always catching his opponents off guard.
"Be careful!"
Xie Lingfeng drew his sword and unleashed a rainbow-like sword light, blocking Hu Yan's sword lights that were flying close to the ground.
However, one sword light still managed to shoot up, cutting off a few strands of Hu Shan's hair and leaving a shallow scar on his cheek.
Hu Yan sheathed his sword, standing there with an arrogant expression.
Hu Shan's lips quivered, his face pale, and his eyes widened in disbelief.
This was his unique technique!
He had just performed it, and his opponent had already stolen and used it, and even improved upon it!
What kind of monster was this? Who in the world of sword cultivation could be his match?
Who would dare to draw their sword against him?
Only someone from a higher realm with absolute power could suppress him.
Otherwise, he was unbeatable among his peers.
No, he could even fight across realms!
At this moment, Hu Shan had no choice but to believe that Hu Yan had been telling the truth. He had indeed learned the sword techniques on the spot and used them as he pleased.
Xie Lingfeng felt like his soul had been shaken. This battle had dealt a heavy blow to his confidence, and he began to question his life choices.
He even started to doubt his innate talent for sword cultivation.
After a long while, he finally calmed down, sheathed his sword, took a deep breath, and bowed. "Brother Hu, I concede."
Although he hadn't actually lost, Xie Lingfeng knew that he couldn't win.
His sword techniques had been seen through, and he was only maintaining his undefeated status due to his slightly higher realm.
"You haven't lost because I haven't defeated you yet."
Hu Yan thought for a moment and spoke honestly.
Xie Lingfeng was indeed strong, proficient in sword techniques, but he lacked a clear sword heart.
Although Hu Yan could see the weaknesses in Xie Lingfeng's sword techniques, with his current strength, he wasn't confident that he could seize the fleeting opportunity to strike.
Xu Yan considered Xie Lingfeng's request. His attitude seemed sincere, and without the arrogance of one from the Inner Realm. Xu Yan also wanted to learn more about the Inner Realm from Xie Lingfeng, to prepare for his eventual journey there. Thus, he nodded and agreed. "Very well."
Xie Lingfeng's eyes narrowed as he studied Xu Yan intently. "Brother Xu, are you from the frontier?"
Xu Yan smiled. "I know what you wish to ask, and yes, I am indeed from the frontier lands as you suspect. You are wondering how I became a warrior, right? In the frontier, the heavens and earth lack spiritual energy, making it impossible to cultivate martial arts. Am I correct?"
Xie Lingfeng nodded. "Exactly."
He was truly astonished. A warrior from the frontier, and such a powerful one at that!
"True martial arts are not limited by the heavens and earth," Xu Yan said solemnly. "Even if the surroundings lack spiritual energy, one can use their own body as a bridge to connect with the heavens and earth, and thus become a warrior..."
"True martial arts?" Xie Lingfeng frowned, his brows knitting together. Could it be that what he had been practicing was false martial arts? The thought was absurd, yet it had taken root in his mind.
"Yes, true martial arts," Xu Yan affirmed with a nod. "What you practice in the Inner Realm is actually false martial arts!"
"Impossible!" Hu Shan exclaimed, leaping to his feet. "That's preposterous!"
False martial arts in the Inner Realm? True martial arts in the frontier? Such claims were outrageous!
"I know it's hard to accept," Xu Yan said, unfazed by their reactions. "But it's the truth."
Xu Yan expected as much. It was only natural that someone who had dedicated their life to a certain path would be resistant to the idea that it was false.
Xie Lingfeng's face grew solemn, his voice deep and serious. "Brother Xu, how can you say such things? How can my martial arts be false? Surely, there are just differences in our practices, not a matter of authenticity."
Xie Lingfeng couldn't accept the notion that his martial arts, passed down through the Sword Sect, could be false. If that were the case, wouldn't the entire Inner Realm's understanding of martial arts be flawed?
"Let's discuss this further," Xu Yan suggested, his eyes bright with enthusiasm. "Let's delve into the nature of martial arts, and you will understand why I call it false."
"Discuss martial arts?" Xie Lingfeng and Hu Shan straightened, their interest piqued.
"Very well," Xie Lingfeng agreed.
He sat cross-legged, his eyes focused on Xu Yan. "Shall I go first, or would you like to begin?"
Xu Yan's eyes sparkled with excitement. Finally, someone he could discuss martial arts with! He was eager to share his understanding of true martial arts with them. "I'll go first."
"Please, go ahead," Xu Yan urged.
"Martial arts," Xie Lingfeng began, "starts from the ninth grade. At the first grade, one becomes a powerful martial artist. By breaking through the constraints of the first grade, one can draw the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into the body, refining it into internal martial energy. This is the stage of the Qi Refinement Master. Above the Qi Refinement Master is the Great Qi Refinement Master..."
Xie Lingfeng went on to explain the path of martial arts, from the ninth grade up to the Great Qi Refinement Master.
This was the martial arts of the Inner Realm.
Xu Yan listened intently, finding Xie Lingfeng's explanation even more detailed and comprehensive than Blood Heartless' account. It gave him a true understanding of the Inner Realm's martial arts.
While the Inner Realm's martial arts had its merits, Xu Yan's belief that it was false remained unwavering.
"So, what do you think?" Xu Yan asked, his eyes shining with anticipation.
(End of Chapter)
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