I began to understand the myriad things by chopping wood

Chapter 178 The Mystery of the Sword Cave
At the critical moment, Xie Yuan paused, hugged Situ Qin and quickly jumped out.

Seeing that he had nowhere to gain support in the air and was about to fall into the abyss, he turned gracefully and moved sideways to the cliff next to him.

"Swiss, swish -"

Invisible sword energy shot out from the cracks in the rocks nearby. Xie Yuan and Situ Qin looked out and saw a bird several feet away suddenly being pierced and falling off the cliff with a wail.

The two looked at each other, their hearts pounding.

Situ Qin showed an excited smile:

"It's still a bit dangerous!"

She looked at Xie Yuan, and suddenly realized that she was still curled up in his arms, being held tightly by him.

Her pretty face flushed slightly, Situ Qin looked up at Xie Yuan and smiled:

"Thank you, Escort Captain. How long are you going to hold me like this? I know Qinggong..."

Xie Yuan then reluctantly let go. In his panic twice just now, he had forgotten that Situ Qin's kung fu, especially the Yunlong Step, was much better than his.

Situ Qin turned slightly, stood on a piece of broken rock, straightened his clothes, and glanced at Xie Yuan.

Although I am capable of handling it myself, this feeling... is pretty good.

Her face was slightly hot, and she looked at the crack in the rock curiously, opened her eyes wide and said:
"What's going on? Why is there a sword energy erupting?"

There was still a faint fragrance in Xie Yuan's arms. He calmed down, also looking at the crack in the rock, frowning and saying:

"It's a bit strange. This sword energy doesn't seem to be emitted by a human. Maybe... it has something to do with the sword peak?"

The previous sword wind, Xie Yuan clearly felt that it was exactly the same as the breeze with sword intent that he felt in the back hall of the main peak.

That breeze is no different from an ordinary wind. Only those with extraordinary talents can feel the difference and appreciate the sword intent in it. It is not harmful at all.

However, the sword energy and wind that followed, as well as the one that alarmed Situ Qin at the beginning, could already be called sword energy. It was invisible and intangible, but it could hurt people and pierce flying birds several feet away. It was quite dangerous.

"Jianfeng?"

Situ Qin's big eyes rolled around, showing some interest:

"I heard that the Sword Peak is very strange, with sword energy running rampant and sword intentions floating. Those with low cultivation will die if they enter, but swordsmen with high cultivation can enter to gain insights, which is of great benefit to their sword cultivation and can even help them comprehend advanced sword techniques. Generally, one must be at least at the Qi and Blood Transformation Stage to be allowed to enter, and there is a strict time limit."

Xie Yuan nodded:
"I did hear that, but... why do I feel like I don't know more details than you do? Are you from the Yunshan Sword Sect or am I?"

Situ Qin laughed and said:
"Haven't you always had short hair and little knowledge?"

"..."

Xie Yuan was speechless. In terms of martial arts knowledge, he really couldn't be compared with Situ Qin. Even some things about Yunshan Sword Sect, as a chores disciple, he was not qualified to understand.

Seeing that the crevice had become quiet, the two men slowly moved closer and looked at it with interest.

Situ Qin's eyes lit up:
"Thank you, Chief Escort. What do you think is in this? A master's cultivation? A peerless famous sword?"

Xie Yuan hesitated and said:
"It doesn't look like there are any sword masters practicing here. If it's a precious sword... it doesn't look like it either."

This place is located on a cliff, and it looks like no one has ever set foot here since ancient times. But if a senior from the Sword Sect comes here for retreat, he should also make a mark and have disciples guard it to avoid being disturbed.

As for the sword...

Xie Yuan blinked his eyes. He had never heard of any sword that could emit sword energy intermittently.

According to his guess, the source of the sword energy was more likely to be something else.

Situ Qin nodded and said with great interest:

"I don't think so either. I guess there might be a winding crack in the mountain, and a passage leading directly to Jianfeng Peak? That's why it attracted the strange sword energy from Jianfeng Peak."

Her idea coincided with Xie Yuan's. Xie Yuan also felt that this crack in the rock might be connected to the black book on the sword peak.

He glanced at Situ Qin and saw her leaning over the crack in the rock, looking around, eager to try. He suddenly said with caution:
"Miss Qin, you don't want to go in and take a look, do you?"

"Don't you want to? Jianfeng, the secret of Yunshan Sword Sect might be here."

Situ Qin smiled.

Xie Yuan was silent for a moment. If he said he didn't miss it, that would be a lie. He was acting every day in the Sword Sect, wasn't it just for this little jealousy?

However, the sword wind just now was quite powerful, and this rock crevice looked to be only large enough for one person to pass through. If one went in, there would be no escape and one could only take it head-on.

At this moment, the two of them felt a faint whistling sound coming from inside and immediately retracted their heads.

"Susu-"

Several sword energies shot out, bringing out some pieces of gravel. The momentum should not be underestimated.

Xie Yuan looked at the rubble flying down the cliff, thought for a moment, and said:

"If the power is this strong, I can handle it, but I don't know if there will be more powerful sword energy behind..."

"It should be gone."

Situ Qin said with inexplicable certainty.

She pointed to the scratches on the cracks in the rock:

"Look, the marks here are of varying depths, all caused by the sword energy. This new mark is caused by the sword wind just now, and it is already one of the deepest marks, which means that the greatest power is only this much."

Situ Qin turned her head excitedly:
"How about it, Chief Xie, do you want to go in and find out what's going on?"

Xie Yuan's heart beat fast when he heard this. Even with a sword wind like the one just now, at most he would suffer some injuries. Although there was some danger, it was limited.

If so, give it a try.

Seeing his expression, Situ Qin knew what he was thinking and smiled slightly:
"I have a high level of cultivation. Before I leave... Hey!"

She just stuck her head in, and Xie Yuan pulled her back, and went into the crevice first:
"How can I let the young lady go in front? I can't afford it if something happens."

Situ Qin watched Xie Yuan walk in and said anxiously:

"Hey, come back! Naturally, the person with higher cultivation should lead the expedition!"

"But even if you walk in front, you can't stop me..."

When Situ Qin heard this, he was speechless.

Her height was neither too tall nor too short among women, which was perfect, but she looked petite compared to the tall Xie Yuan.

"Besides, I've practiced hard skills, so I'm more suitable to walk in front than you. I'll go in first, and you can follow me."

Without even turning his head, Xie Yuan waved his hand and walked forward with his head down in the narrow crevice.

Situ Qin looked at the broad back, her beautiful eyes sparkling and sparkling. She pursed her lips slightly, lifted her foot, and followed.

Xie Yuan walked forward in the narrow crack of the rock. He secretly used the Golden Bell Cover, supported the rock wall with one hand, and walked slowly forward. At this time, they were not deep yet. The sky outside the cave was shining, and they could still see clearly, but it was getting darker and darker as they walked.

Xie Yuan brushed his hand across the rock wall and felt that it was smooth and solid. It was obvious that it had been polished by sword energy for who knows how long, and was very different from ordinary rocks.

"It's smooth and dry in here, unlike the usual caves that are damp and difficult to walk through."

In the dim environment, Xie Yuan whispered subconsciously, and suddenly felt a breeze blowing in front of him.

He immediately activated the Golden Bell Cover, and a barely detectable golden light emanated from his body.

The sword wind blew, like many small swords piercing his skin. Xie Yuan frowned. Although he was not injured, he still felt some pain.

"How are you?"

Situ Qin's concerned voice came from behind.

Xie Yuan's brows relaxed and he said as if nothing had happened:

"I don't feel anything, just a little bit of wind and frost."

"What lines are you reciting?"

Situ Qin smiled.

The two continued to move forward. From time to time, there was a sword wind blowing, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, sometimes strong, sometimes weak. Sometimes it blew continuously, and sometimes there was no movement for a long time, making people think that there was nothing abnormal in the cave.

By this time, there was only a dim light in the cave. Xie Yuan took out a fire starter and blew it to illuminate the surroundings.

The surroundings suddenly became bright, and the rock walls were very smooth, even slightly reflecting light. The cave became wider as we went deeper, and now it was almost enough for two people to stand side by side.

The two looked at the surrounding rock walls, their expressions slightly solemn:

"The traces here are deeper. It seems that most of the sword energy was absorbed by the rock wall here, and its power was reduced when it reached the outside."

The two looked at each other, nodded slightly, and decided to continue exploring.

Now it seems that this sword wind is still within the range of coping. This place is so strange, it must be related to the foundation of Yunshan Sword Sect and the sword peak where many legends were born. It is worth exploring. Anyway, there is no other danger here except sword energy, and from this passage, the scale of sword energy can be predicted. If it doesn't work, just retreat.

The two continued forward, gradually feeling the sword wind blowing more frequently.

"Whether it's the breeze or the sword wind, the sword intent here is already stronger than that in the back hall. If I gain enlightenment here from time to time, shouldn't I get some reward..."

Xie Yuan was thinking silently when he suddenly heard the faint whistling of wind and the sound of stones colliding in front of him, and he immediately became alert.

After walking for so long, the two have summed up the rules and roughly divided the sword winds into three types.

One is the breeze of sword intent, like a gentle breeze on your face, with only sword intent but no power;

The second is the whistling of the sword wind, like when outside the cave, which can be powerful or weak;

The third type is sword energy mixed with gravel. The cave here has been polished by sword energy for countless years, and the rock wall has long been smooth and solid. If it can still scrape out gravel, the power of this sword wind must be considerable. Coupled with sharp stones, the danger increases greatly!
The sound of the wind was louder than before, and there were also gravels. Xie Yuan frowned and pulled Situ Qin behind him. Then the two of them tried their best to stick to the rock wall - the rock wall here was not so narrow, so they didn't have to stand in the middle.

"call out--"

A gust of wind blew in his face, and Xie Yuan felt a stinging pain all over his body, as if he was stabbed by a sword; occasionally there were pieces of stone hitting him, which bounced off with golden light, but were still intact, proving that the stone was no different from a weapon.

Xie Yuan was holding up the golden bell to resist, when suddenly a white jade-like hand stretched out from the side, and slapped several palms in front of him, slapping out clear light. The palm wind and sword wind collided and offset each other, reducing his pressure.

The sword wind blew for several breaths before it stopped.

Xie Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. With the power of this sword wind, if an ordinary martial artist came here, he would probably have several holes in his body.

"Thank you."

Xie Yuan whispered.

"What are you thanking me for? It's you who's fighting all the battles. I have to do something too."

Situ Qin curled her lips.

"Well, this sword wind..."

Xie Yuan was just about to say that the power was quite strong, probably the same as the one he felt outside the cave before, the most violent sword wind here, when he suddenly stopped.

He found that the progress of the Black Book had actually increased a little.

"What happened to this sword wind?"

Seeing that he didn't say anything else, Situ Qin asked.

“…It feels good.”

Xie Yuan's eyes lit up and he grinned.

This sword cave is a great place!

"What nonsense."

Situ Qin muttered, then tilted her ear slightly, listened for a moment, and her eyes widened:
"The passage ahead seems to have changed. Let's go and take a look."

She patted Xie Yuan and quietly walked to his side. As the cave got bigger, she walked side by side with him.

The two walked a few steps, turned a corner, and went up diagonally, and suddenly found that the view in front of them was open.

The passage suddenly ended here, and in front of it was a vertical passage from top to bottom, as if connecting heaven and earth. There was no telling how high the top was and how low the bottom was, and the entrance to the cave was right on the cliff.

Xie Yuan raised the fire stick and the passage suddenly became bright.

Although this vertical passage is not very large, the walls are smooth like glass, and they shine brightly when illuminated by fire.

The two were shocked by this strange and magnificent scene and remained silent for a long time.

"The wall of this cave is so smooth, is it polished by sword energy? What kind of sword energy is this, and how long did it take to polish it..."

Situ Qin murmured.

Xie Yuan looked at the passage, frowned and thought for a moment, then suddenly opened his eyes wide:

"How could there be such a passage in the mountain? It looks like someone used a sword to pierce through the entire Yunshan Mountain from the top of the mountain."

The two looked at each other and saw the shock in each other's eyes.

Suddenly, a strange whistling sounded, as if the sword wind was blowing again. The two looked up and felt a slight stinging pain on their faces.

"No, run away!"

The sword wind was still on the top of the mountain, and the extremely sharp sword intent came towards him, and Xie Yuan's face suddenly changed.

This is the real sword wind. The one blowing towards the side passage is just the aftermath that has been weakened countless times!

As soon as Xie Yuan played the Situ Qin, he was about to get back into the passage.

However, the sword wind was so fast that it blew in front of the two of them from the top of the mountain, almost in an instant!
(End of this chapter)