Poor Taoist Qiu Chuji

Chapter 62: The Silent Sword of the Empty Mountain
Going to the valley where Dugu Qiubai lived in seclusion rather than challenging him to a duel with swords was just a goal Qiu Chuji set for himself.

There is no need to be so anxious on the way there.

If Dugu Qiubai really did not live long enough, then dying a few days earlier or later would not make much difference.

Therefore, Qiu Chuji, with the insights that were still lingering in his mind, made a big journey, from Longxing Prefecture to Anqing Prefecture, then to Jiangling Prefecture, and finally to Xiangyang.

Along the way, I feel that my sword skills, palm skills, light skills and internal strength have improved, and I am more flexible in using them than before, as if the martial arts that originally belonged to others were gradually leaving my own mark. The next step forward is to thoroughly digest these martial arts that I have already learned, and then create something unique to myself from them.

It was because of the opportunity in Mount Lushan that Wang Chongyang was able to transform what he had learned into the Quanzhen Sect's martial arts within just a few years, and called it the "Xuanmen Orthodoxy."

Today, Qiu Chuji, thanks to this opportunity, is able to follow Wang Chongyang's footsteps again.

Of course, Qiu Chuji's accumulated knowledge is much deeper, so theoretically, it would take longer to convert and digest it... Generally speaking, this is the case.

The Lantern Festival came in a blink of an eye, and the New Year atmosphere in the relatively prosperous south began to fade away.

The further north we go, the more the raging north wind blows away the New Year atmosphere.

By the time we arrived near Xiangyang, the dry and cold air could no longer smell the aroma of meat from the New Year festivals.

There are many mountains outside Xiangyang City. Qiu Chuji certainly did not act recklessly. Instead, he gave some silver and asked local hunters if anyone had seen the "Bosuqu Snake" with fleshy horns on its head and a golden body. After asking for several days, he finally entered the mountains under the guidance of an old hunter.

The two men searched the mountains for two days, and then the hunter pointed to a barren mountain and said, "The strange snake you are looking for is in this forest, but it is not spring yet, and the snakes are hiding in their dens and will not come out."

"There are often strange noises like thunder in that mountain, so I won't go in with you. I advise you not to go in, or you might get eaten by mountain ghosts."

Qiu Chuji used the Emperor's Qi-gazing Technique to observe the situation and saw that this plain-looking barren mountain was filled with dense golden flames, so he knew that the hunter was not lying.

After paying the promised silver, Qiu Chuji went into the barren mountains alone and began to look for the sword tomb where Dugu Qiubai lived in seclusion.

After searching in the barren mountains for only half a day, they saw a man in the distance. He was standing under an unfrozen waterfall, waving a wooden sword in his hand, fighting against the pouring water of the waterfall. The light wooden sword seemed to weigh hundreds of pounds when it was swung. When the sword energy swept through, it could even temporarily cut off the falling water of the waterfall, and once again carve a deep dent on the hard rock.

Qiu Chuji had used a wooden sword before, so he knew very well that it was difficult to exert too much force on a wooden sword given its ability to withstand impact.

A sword is a weapon and a tool, and it should be a helper, but using a wooden sword is like putting handcuffs and shackles on yourself.

Boom!

The water waves exploded one after another, and the wooden sword in the man's hand went upstream, almost pushing the falling water to gather on the cliff, and then waiting for more turbulent waves to fall wildly from the sky.

A majestic eagle with a wingspan of at least three or four meters soared across the sky and let out a long cry towards the location where Qiu Chuji appeared.

Rumble!
Violent water splashed on the deep pool, but the place where the man in gray stood seemed to have frozen the waves, as quiet as a mirror.

Qiu Chuji was a little surprised. He originally thought that Dugu Qiubai should be an old man. After all, according to the rule that a new hero emerges in the martial arts world every ten to twenty years, Dugu Qiubai, who is now little known to people, should have disappeared from the martial arts world for at least twenty to thirty years.

If we count the words he left on the sword tomb, we can see that he was still active in the martial arts world before he was forty years old, and he lived in seclusion for twenty to thirty years. He should be at least sixty or seventy years old now.

But the man in front of him looked to be in his prime, tall and strong, with a dark complexion. His clothes were a bit ragged but neatly groomed. He also did not have the messy hair and beard that should be typical of a senior master living in seclusion.

Under the flying hair, there is a pair of captivating eyes, like sharp swords, which make people feel frightened at first sight, but when looking at them again, they seem just ordinary.

"Eye sword technique?" Qiu Chuji thought. It was not surprising after thinking about it. Huang Shang could even use the "Soul Transfer Technique". So what was so strange about Dugu Qiubai being able to use the eye sword technique?

"I am Qiu Chuji, a junior, nice to meet you, Senior Dugu." Qiu Chuji bowed to the person standing under the waterfall.

"Have you learned my sword?" Dugu Qiubai's voice was clear and did not sound oppressive. Just by listening to his voice, he felt more like a gentleman and tolerant person.

"No!" said Qiu Chuji.

"Then it must have taken you some effort to find me."

"Since you have come here with all the effort, what do you want?" Dugu Qiubai walked out of the pool step by step. His inner strength emanated naturally, drying up his clothes. Surrounded by water vapor, he seemed like a mountain god in the pool, appearing in the world.

"I would like to learn sword skills from you!" Qiu Chuji took off the long mace on his body and held it in his hand without any arrogance.

Dugu Qiubai glanced at the long mace in Qiu Chuji's hand and laughed loudly: "Not bad! Not bad! After waiting for so many years, there are finally people who remember me and are willing to come and challenge me."

"Your swordsmanship should be quite good. You have already reached the state of lifting heavy objects with ease and not being stuck in form."

"How many years have you practiced martial arts?"

Qiu Chuji thought for a moment and said truthfully, "More than half a year, but less than a year!"

Dugu Qiubai's smile faded and he looked at Qiu Chuji carefully again.

"Follow me!"

After saying this, his whole body flew up like a sharp sword and flew straight into the depths of the barren mountains.

This obviously requires testing Qiu Chuji's ability first.

If you can't keep up with him, then all the talk of learning from him is just empty talk.

Qiu Chuji's feet seemed to be producing smoke as he immediately followed. A strong thrust burst out from the tip of his feet. There was a sound of explosion. Qiu Chuji was clearly a latecomer but he caught up with Dugu Qiubai's pace. In just two breaths, he was walking side by side with Dugu Qiubai, stepping on the treetops and grass leaves in the mountains, and flying above the clouds.

At this moment, Qiu Chuji, who seemed to be walking on clouds, suddenly wanted to turn his head and say to Dugu Qiubai beside him: "Old sir, the wind is refreshing?"

Realizing that Qiu Chuji was catching up with him without showing any weakness, Dugu Qiubai began to speed up.

But no matter how fast he accelerated, Qiu Chuji flew side by side with him and did not fall behind at all.

About an incense stick later, Dugu Qiubai and Qiu Chuji landed on a relatively flat and open mountaintop.

"What a handsome Qinggong!"

Seeing Qiu Chuji not even breathing, Dugu Qiubai added: "His internal strength is not bad either."

"In that case, I have four swords in my hand. Which one do you want to see first?"

(End of this chapter)