Chapter 95: Divine Thunder Crossing the Void, the Art of Nurturing a Blade

Chapter 95: Divine Thunder Crossing the Void, the Art of Nurturing a Blade (Monthly Ticket Request)

Once again, Xu Yan had a breakthrough, integrating the art of displacement and the Qinghong body technique to create a new movement skill.

Meng Chong was gazing into the distance when suddenly a figure appeared beside him, it was Xu Yan.

"Senior brother, what kind of movement skill is this?" Meng Chong asked, astonished.

It was too fast, silent, and stealthy.

Xu Yan smiled and said, "Junior brother, I call this movement skill 'Heavenly Thunder Flash'. Like a flash of heavenly thunder, it leaves no trace and cannot be captured."

"Heavenly Thunder Flash?!" Meng Chong murmured.

"Yes, Heavenly Thunder Flash!" Xu Yan replied, and in an instant, he disappeared without a trace, his figure unmoving.

Even though they were so close to each other, Meng Chong didn't sense any signs or omens before Xu Yan performed the Heavenly Thunder Flash.

It was as if he had vanished in a single thought.

"This movement skill is too powerful!" Meng Chong exclaimed.

Senior brother's comprehension ability was truly terrifying!

Xu Yan's figure reappeared, and he said, "Junior brother, do you want me to teach you the Heavenly Thunder Flash?"

Meng Chong hesitated and shook his head, "Senior brother, I cultivate the physical martial arts. Although the Heavenly Thunder Flash is extremely fast, I don't think it suits me."

He scratched his bald head and smiled sheepishly, "I prefer a more aggressive movement skill, something fast and fierce. And even if I cultivated the Heavenly Thunder Flash, I wouldn't be able to match your level of mastery."

Xu Yan thought about it and remembered their master's words—everyone's insights are different, and only what suits you is the best.

"Then, junior brother, you can refer to it and gain insight into your own movement skill."

"Okay!" Meng Chong nodded.

Xu Yan stood on the Zhen trigram and said, "Junior brother, if you want a powerful and aggressive movement skill, you should continue to meditate on this thunderbolt."

Meng Chong found his reasoning convincing.

...

Li Xuan took out the ancient leather book as usual and read it. Perhaps one day, he would suddenly have a breakthrough. Just like Xu Yan, who often had sudden realizations.

Suddenly, a golden light appeared.

He was delighted as the golden finger feedback arrived. Was it Meng Chong breaking through the Qi and Blood Realm, or Xu Yan reaching the minor achievement of the Innate Realm?

"Your disciple Xu Yan has comprehended the movement skill Heavenly Thunder Flash from the Eight Trigrams you created. You have achieved major success in Heavenly Thunder Flash!"

Xu Yan had comprehended a new movement skill—Heavenly Thunder Flash!

In an instant, he had mastered the Heavenly Thunder Flash, and it was a major achievement.

It was as if he had been born with this skill.

"What a powerful movement skill!" Li Xuan exclaimed. With just this skill, one could easily escape even if they couldn't win a fight.

He disappeared from the chair, and Stone II, who was meditating beside him, didn't notice a thing.

Outside Yunshan County.

Li Xuan appeared and watched his two disciples below. Xu Yan was guiding Meng Chong on how to gain insight into their own movement skills through the Eight Trigrams.

Meng Chong seemed to have a realization.

In an instant, Li Xuan was back on his chair. Stone II remained unaware of his departure and return.

"My second disciple is about to have a breakthrough too. I wonder what powerful movement skill he will comprehend!" Li Xuan eagerly anticipated.

"Xu Yan is truly worthy of being the senior disciple. He is the pioneer of my martial arts, and from now on, he can guide the new disciples to enhance their comprehension and thinking abilities." Li Xuan thought to himself. Undoubtedly, when it came to comprehension and imagination, Xu Yan was the strongest.

Three days later.

Outside Yunshan County, a figure radiated a lustrous golden light, exuding an overwhelming aura. With a thunderous roar, a lightning-like golden light flashed through the mountains and vanished in an instant.

Meng Chong had not broken through to the Innate Realm. Even though he had comprehended a movement skill, he couldn't fly and vanish like Xu Yan.

However, when he soared through the air, his speed was astonishing.

His entire being resembled a thunderbolt sweeping across the land, overwhelmingly aggressive.

It was indeed fast and fierce!

"I've comprehended it!" Meng Chong exclaimed as the movement skill path appeared in his mind.

As long as he broke through to the Innate Realm, he would truly be able to cross the sky like a thunderbolt, dominating and disappearing in an instant.

Although his speed was slightly inferior to the Heavenly Thunder Flash, this movement skill suited his style and was sufficiently fierce and aggressive!

Thunder rumbled!

Meng Chong's figure paused, and he returned to his original position.

"Senior brother, I've thought of a name for the movement skill. It's called 'Angry Thunder Across the Sky', like a bolt of angry thunder crossing the sky!"

Angry Thunder Across the Sky!

"Our realm is still low, and our understanding of the Eight Trigrams has reached its limit. We cannot progress further. From now on, let's focus on cultivating and improving our realm!" Xu Yan nodded and said.

"I will break through to the Innate Realm as soon as possible," Meng Chong said solemnly.

Only by breaking through to the Innate Realm could he display such an aggressive movement skill! He was full of anticipation.

...

Li Xuan was reading the ancient leather book when a golden light appeared.

He was delighted, knowing that Meng Chong must have comprehended a movement skill.

"Your disciple Meng Chong has comprehended the movement skill Angry Thunder Across the Sky from the Eight Trigrams you created. You have achieved major success in Angry Thunder Across the Sky!"

Angry Thunder Across the Sky movement skill!

"This movement skill suits Meng Chong perfectly. With his bald head and robust build, he resembles a Vajra Arhat. This movement skill adds a touch of aggressiveness, which complements him well!" Li Xuan thought to himself.

Suddenly, the golden light reappeared.

Li Xuan was overjoyed.

"I finally have my own unique martial art, something my disciples can call their own!"

It hadn't been easy!

Divine Thunder Crossing the Void was an incredibly powerful martial art.

Like a divine bolt of thunder, it could traverse the void and nothingness, allowing one to shuttle through space.

In an instant, one could cross the void.

Of course, this was something only achievable at an extremely high realm.

With Li Xuan's current strength, it was far from possible for him to cross the void and traverse space.

However, when executed, it was faster than Xu Yan's Heavenly Thunder Flash and more domineering than Meng Chong's Angry Thunder Across the Sky, exuding the might of divine thunder.

"Good disciples! My invincibility relies on you!"

Li Xuan was thrilled.

Feeling ecstatic, he raised his hand and sent a strand of true qi, transformed into a tiny bolt of thunder, into Stone II's body to help him speed up his organ refinement.

As for whether this would have the negative effect of forcing Stone II's cultivation, that wasn't a concern at all. Stone II's talent was what it was, and there was no issue of it affecting his foundation.

Stone II suddenly felt as if his organs were surrounded by strands of thunder, and while he felt pain, his organ refinement speed actually increased.

He was overjoyed!

"I'm about to finish refining my organs. I'll strive to enter the Qi and Blood Realm within a month!"

The Qi and Blood Realm seemed to be within reach!

Li Xuan instantly vanished from his chair, appearing like a bolt of thunder before Xu Yan and Meng Chong.

Xu Yan and Meng Chong were startled. When had their master arrived? Just now, they had felt a majestic and awe-inspiring aura!

"With your current realms, your understanding of the Eight Trigrams has reached its limit. Don't be too obsessed with it; just follow your heart. When your realm improves and your horizons broaden, you will naturally gain new insights."

Li Xuan's gaze swept across, and he noticed that the Eight Trigrams diagram had been erased.

He realized that Xu Yan and Meng Chong's comprehension of the Eight Trigrams had come to an end.

Thus, he spoke with the stern tone of a strict teacher.

"Yes, Master!"

Xu Yan and Meng Chong replied respectfully.

"Master, when I was sparring with Hu Shan, I realized that my knife techniques seemed to rely on brute force and couldn't showcase my full strength. So, I want to learn the way of the blade!"

Meng Chong respectfully spoke up.

Li Xuan had long been prepared for this and was just waiting for an opportune time to teach Meng Chong the blade techniques he had fabricated.

"What do you think is the way of the blade?" he asked.

Meng Chong was taken aback and fell into deep thought.

"Master teaches the Dao, not the techniques. He must be teaching me the Dao of the Blade... but what is the Dao of the Blade?"

He drew out the large broadsword he carried and said, "Master, is the Dao of the Blade about killing enemies, being fierce and violent?"

Li Xuan stood with his hands behind his back, exuding the aura of a strict and lofty master. "Disciple, what you speak of is only the viciousness of the blade, not the Dao of the Blade.

"The Dao of the Blade is not constrained by mere ferocity and violence.

"The blade opens up the heavens and earth with a single strike, cleaving through the universe. With it, I am invincible!

"Standing alone in the heavens and earth, I dominate the world. Even with countless enemies before me, I charge forward without hesitation!"

Meng Chong's heart burned with passion as he listened, his face reddening slightly.

"A single strike opens up the heavens and earth, cleaving through the universe. With it, I am invincible?"

He muttered to himself, and the more he did, the more domineering it sounded. This was the true strength that the Dao of the Blade should possess.

"Please teach me, Master!"

Meng Chong pleaded excitedly.

"The Dao can only be comprehended. I can open this door for you, but whether you can comprehend it and step through the door depends entirely on you."

Li Xuan looked at him with profound eyes.

Meng Chong took a deep breath and said respectfully, "Disciple understands. I will definitely not let Master down!"

"Good, very good!"

Li Xuan nodded.

"To enter the Dao of the Blade, you must also have a foundation. Just like the Sword Dao, only those with a clear sword heart can truly step into the Sword Dao.

"And for the Dao of the Blade, to enter its door, you must awaken your blade soul!"

Li Xuan's voice deepened as he finished.

Awaken the blade soul?!

Meng Chong was stunned. He had thought that to enter the Dao of the Blade, one needed to have a clear blade heart, but it turned out that one needed to awaken the blade soul?

Xu Yan, standing beside him, was also taken aback.

Li Xuan saw the looks on their faces and realized that his disciples thought that the Dao of the Blade required a clear blade heart, similar to a clear sword heart.

He chuckled to himself. "How could my fabricated cultivation method be so easy to guess?"

"Master, what is a blade soul?"

Meng Chong was confused.

If entering the Dao of the Blade required a clear blade heart, he could try to imitate his senior brother's method and perhaps succeed.

"Blade soul, simply put, is giving the blade a soul." Li Xuan spoke in a soft tone, "This is a state of mind. When the blade is in your hand, it becomes an extension of yourself. Though the blade is sharp, it will not harm you.

"All the blades in the world sing to my command, and submit to my will...

"It shares similarities with the clarity of a sword heart, yet differs in its own unique way."

Meng Chong fell into deep thought, feeling that what his master spoke of was too profound. He looked at the broadsword in his hand; although it was a precious blade, he did not feel the connection of "it being a part of himself" as described.

Li Xuan continued, "The awakening of the blade soul is the foundation of the blade's path. Whether it be a large blade, a small blade, a long blade, or a short blade, all can be wielded as you desire, dominating the world with unmatched might."

Meng Chong was stunned. He favored the large chopping blade for its domineering and fierce nature, but how could a short blade exhibit such overwhelming might?

Was this the difference between blade techniques and the blade's path?

In his mind's eye, he envisioned that domineering might—a single slash that could split the heavens and shatter the universe.

His heart raced with excitement, and his eyes shone with admiration.

"I must awaken my blade soul and step into the blade's path!"

His breathing quickened as he exclaimed, "Master, how can I awaken my blade soul?"

"Aside from self-realization and seeking the profound and abstruse to find your own blade soul, there is another method to awaken it."

Li Xuan had already fabricated a way to awaken the blade soul.

Whether it would succeed or not, it was all up to Meng Chong now.

"Master, what method is it?" Meng Chong asked eagerly.

It was better to have a method to follow than to blindly search for enlightenment.

"The method is to nurture the blade!" Li Xuan said in a solemn voice.

Meng Chong was taken aback, "Nurture the blade? How do I do that?"

In the martial arts world, there were indeed mentions of nurturing blades, but that usually referred to maintaining and refining precious blades. Clearly, his master was referring to something else entirely.

"Nurture it with your body, your heart, and your intentions... with your very self," Li Xuan said, his expression solemn. "Keep the blade close to your body at all times. Nurture it with your qi and blood, with your emotions, and with your insights...

"Until one day, your heart resonates with the blade, and your mind becomes one with it. When you draw your blade, your heart and soul will be as one with the blade, and its soul will awaken."

Meng Chong's heart trembled at the concept of nurturing the blade.

"Resonate with the blade, become one with it in heart and mind, my heart is the blade's heart, my soul is the blade's soul..." Meng Chong muttered to himself.

The more he repeated these words, the more his heart trembled, realizing the profound and formidable nature of the blade's path.

Just the awakening of the blade soul alone was so abstruse and incomprehensible.

The more he muttered, the more excited he became, his entire body buzzing with anticipation.

"Master, I will definitely nurture my blade and awaken its soul!" He declared with determination.

"Then, start nurturing your blade from today onwards." Li Xuan nodded.

"Yes, Master!" Meng Chong took a deep breath, sheathed his broadsword, and hung it by his waist, keeping his hand on the hilt.

But how exactly does one nurture a blade?

Meng Chong felt a bit lost and could only look to his master for guidance.

"Firstly, nurture the blade with your qi and blood. Infuse your qi and blood into the precious blade, nurture it with your body, your heart, and your intentions... All of this depends on you. Nurturing with qi and blood is easy, but nurturing with your heart and intentions is entirely up to you."

Li Xuan instructed him.

"Master, I understand!" Meng Chong took a deep breath.

He channeled his qi and blood into the broadsword, carefully infusing it while also sensing the changes in the blade, searching for a way to nurture it with his heart.

Li Xuan added, "Do not forget to cultivate as well. True blade nurturing does not interfere with cultivation; only then can it be considered true blade nurturing. Do not neglect your cultivation by focusing solely on nurturing the blade.

"Otherwise, even if the blade is nurtured, the person will be ruined.

"And such a blade would only be temporary."

Li Xuan had to prevent Meng Chong from becoming too obsessed with nurturing the blade and neglecting his cultivation, which would be putting the cart before the horse.

Awakening the blade soul and nurturing it were secondary; cultivation was the primary goal.

"Nurturing a blade is a long journey that depends entirely on your heart. If you cannot reach the Qi and Blood Realm, then nurture it until you reach the Innate Realm. Persistence will always yield results. If you neglect your cultivation, all your efforts will be for naught."

Li Xuan's voice resonated like a large bell, causing Meng Chong's heart to tremble.

He suddenly snapped out of his trance, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead.

"Thankfully, Master reminded me, or I would have become obsessed and neglected my own cultivation."

He said respectfully, "Thank you, Master, for the reminder. I understand now and will definitely not neglect my cultivation!"

"Mhm, cultivate well and focus on improving your strength and realm. That is the most important thing."

Li Xuan nodded.

In an instant, he vanished from his original spot, leaving no trace even for Xu Yan, who was also at the Innate Realm.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end