Sword Sect Outer Sect

Chapter 306 Shu Feng (Three-in-One)

Earthly Branch 21 Cave Mansion.

The courtyard hadn't changed much, except for some fallen leaves on the ground. After two years away, seeing this scene again evoked a unique sense of emotion.

Stepping into the cave, the familiar furnishings were as usual.

Although it wasn't dirty or messy, he still used some spiritual energy to brush away some of the dust.

Since leaving the sect for Red Maple Plains, several years have passed and I haven't had a proper rest.

Before this, I didn't feel much, but as soon as I returned to this cave, I suddenly felt tired.

Song Yan first took a good bath in the Lingquan hot spring, then lay down on the bed, undressed and went to sleep.

After reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, unless intentionally, one does not actually need to sleep.

But perhaps because of this return to the clan and the end of many things, Song Yan slept for more than six hours.

I didn't wake up until the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), and immediately felt refreshed.

Only then did he step into the quiet room of the cave and begin to sort out the gains of this trip.

Among the Qiankun bags obtained from the cultivators killed within the Immortal Dynasty ruins, there was nothing of interest to Song Yan.

He transferred the spirit stones to his Qiankun bag, and then sorted out the magical artifacts, pills, talismans and other miscellaneous items inside, putting them into different bags according to their categories.

He kept some high-quality flying swords and a few jade slips with information recorded on them; the rest he planned to sell for spirit stones later.

Finally, he took the ring-pommel sword he had obtained from the Du You Pavilion courtyard out of his Qiankun bag.

This sword is about four feet and one inch long, with a straight blade and a ring pommel.

The sword is straight and slender, without a guard, simple and unadorned, with a clean structure and no decorative patterns. It feels cool and heavy to the touch.

The end has a flat, round copper ring with cloud patterns engraved inside.

Two characters in seal script are etched near the hilt of the sword.

"Shufeng..."

Song Yan pondered the name, remaining silent for a moment.

General Bai said that he had some connection with this sword, but in the end, he refused to go to the courtyard to look at it even once.

Song Yan then urged his sword energy to merge into it and slowly refine it.

The process of refining the sharp blade was not too long, and it was completed in about six or seven hours.

Song Yan pointed and controlled the Shu Feng, which flew through the air for a while before returning it to the Endless Treasury.

At the same time, with a thought, he also entered the Yin-Yang Realm.

The sharp blade was seen diagonally embedded beside the lotus flower of swordsmanship.

Sword energy surged around them, and a dreamlike color rose from the lotus phantom, hovering in the air.

But then, wisps of yin and yang energy slowly descended from the sky, converging above the constricted peak to form a human-shaped phantom.

He looked like a young boy, practicing martial arts with a sword.

Strike and pierce, the sword flies like the wind.

Suddenly, he looked at Song Yan, stepped forward, and thrust his sword forward.

At the same time, that wisp of dreamlike color merged into the tip of the boy's sword, piercing into Song Yan's brow together.

……

"What, now that things have come to this, you're reluctant to leave?"

A faint voice came from beside her, as if a man was speaking to her.

"Ha ha ha ha……"

A pair of large hands patted him on the shoulder.

"A good man should have ambitions beyond his hometown. Once you have made a name for yourself in this world, you can return home in glory."

"..."

Opening his eyes, he saw a middle-aged-looking cultivator in front of him.

He was wearing a straw hat and dressed in simple, ancient clothes.

The surroundings seemed to be fields in the village, and the ground beneath my feet was a country dirt road.

Looking back, the moon is bright and the stars are few, and a tranquil village stands under the night sky.

Could it be that he was momentarily distracted because he was about to leave his hometown?
This is my hometown, Baijia Village, Mei County.

"Alright, stop dawdling and let's get going."

This person is my master, an old martial arts master.

My name is Bai Qi.

……

The old martial arts master's surname was Sima. According to him, he was a man who had seen the world.

Deploying troops and generals to fight on the battlefield.

As he grew older, he laid down his armor and wandered the world.

When he passed through Baijia Village, he discovered Bai Qi, a rather special young man.

They used a combination of coaxing and deception to try and bring his talent out of this small county.

The old man was slovenly and casual, always carrying an old gourd at his waist. To others, his cultivation level was mediocre, with no earth-shattering abilities.

Yet he always manages to encounter familiar and talented people in unexpected places, as if half the world recognizes his unremarkable face.

Bai Qi often asked him questions.

"Old Martial Immortal, have you ever served in the army? What rank did you hold?"

The old martial arts master never gave him a proper response.

He had previously boasted about his ability to command troops and acted like a great general, but whenever the matter was brought up, he always became vague and couldn't explain it clearly.

He only said something like, "Guest."

What this old martial arts master usually taught Bai Qi were nothing more than some basic breathing techniques, the hard work of tempering the body, and some dubious "martial arts experience".

Only when he heard that Xianqin had fought another major battle somewhere would he point and discuss military tactics with Bai Qi.

The boy once asked the old martial arts master why he didn't teach him some real skills.

"You lad, you're exceptionally talented, a gem in the rough."

"If properly sculpted and refined, it will surely become an extraordinary talent."

The old martial arts master said, "My meager skills are not enough; we need to find a true master."

A true master...

How tall is he, and who is he?

The old martial arts master led him around, but they still couldn't find the so-called master.

At that time, the Qin dynasty was in power, and they launched an attack on the three Jin states in the east, plotting to conquer the world.

In dire need of elite troops and capable generals, the ambitious ruler of Xianqin thoroughly implemented a merit-based system of military ranks, regardless of background, and promoted talented individuals from commoner backgrounds.

The old martial arts master naturally saw Bai Qi's intention to join the army, and did not stop him, so he parted ways with him for the time being.

"Young man, I'll come back to find you after I've found that old friend."

The old martial immortal used some kind of magic, and a long sword flew out from the old gourd at his waist.

It lay across Bai Qi's body.

"This sword was bestowed upon me by that master many years ago."

The old martial arts master looked at the longsword, a look of reminiscence on his face.

"Now that you are going to the battlefield to fight, you are still lacking a suitable weapon, so I will lend it to you for the time being. But you must return it."

"When we meet again in the future, when you've been promoted to a high-ranking position, don't turn your back on me and kick this old man out of the camp!"

"Ha ha ha ha……"

……

This sword does indeed possess some extraordinary qualities.

With this sword, Bai Qi felt as if he had wings, and his already high talent made his cultivation speed even faster.

Even after enlisting in the army and being given more suitable weapons like spears and halberds, he always kept this sword by his side.

In just a few years, Bai Qi became famous in the army for his martial arts skills and military prowess.

Furthermore, due to the recommendation of Qin Cheng Wei Ran, he gradually gained the appointment of the Immortal Qin ruler.

That year, the Qin state attacked the Jin state.

Left Vice Minister Bai Qi accompanied the army on the expedition.

The states of Jin, Han and Wei, guarded the Xiaohan Pass, blocking Qin's eastward advance.

One day, Bai Qi was studying the situation of the Jin state in the army when he heard that someone had come to his door to request an audience.

Frustrated by the thwarted offensive, Xian Qin's first instinct was to refuse.

However, to avoid any mishaps, I still asked.

"Who wants to see you?"

"An old man."

The soldier who came to report thought for a moment and said, "He said his surname is Sima and asked me to tell you that the old martial immortal has come to retrieve the flying sword."

Bai Qi was taken aback, then quickly said, "Please come in."

"Yes."

The old martial immortal didn't look much different, except that he seemed to have aged even more.

His head had many more gray hairs.

"Ah, as expected of the young hero General Bai."

The old martial arts master joked, "I thought you'd forgotten about me."

"okay."

Bai Qi untied the longsword beside him and handed it to the old martial immortal without much hesitation.

This originally belonged to him.

"There are no outsiders here, so let's talk. Have you found that expert yet?"

He knew perfectly well that the old martial immortal couldn't possibly have come looking for him just to take away the flying sword.

It's probably because he found that so-called expert.

Now that he has established a solid foundation in martial arts and his true essence is abundant, he is at a crucial juncture in condensing his core.

If there were any expert who could help and guide me, that would be wonderful.

It is also helpful for one's martial arts journey.

"Hehe, you're really smart."

The old martial arts master chuckled and said, "Keep this sword for now, there's no rush to return it to me."

"I have already found that master. If you have some free time, please come with me."

"and……"

The old martial arts master pointed to the ground with an air of importance: "They live in the State of Jin."

Isn't that a coincidence?

After a moment's thought, Bai Qi agreed.

Just then, the war between the Immortal Qin and the State of Jin reached a stalemate. After informing the general and several colleagues, he temporarily left the military camp with the old martial immortal.

After traversing mountains and valleys, we ventured deep into the mountains to find an unremarkable bamboo hut.

"Senior Qianya!"

When the two arrived at the bamboo hut, they found the door wide open.

Step into it.

The owner of the bamboo hut was a middle-aged cultivator with a thin face, wearing a loose black robe. His aura was not visible at all, like an ancient sword sheathed, its sharpness concealed.

Like the old martial arts master, he had a wine gourd hanging from his waist.

Huh? Why didn't the old martial arts master bring his guy today?

Besides this person, there was another young man in the courtyard.

He sat cross-legged in the bamboo forest, his middle and index fingers joined together, controlling a black and white flying sword, which flowed through the bamboo forest as he performed sword techniques.

The senior seemed to be instructing the young man on sword techniques: "This move should avoid the strong and attack the weak, starting with the weak and then moving to the strong."

Bai Qi glanced at him a few times, thinking to himself, "A Qi Refiner..."

He was looking at the boy, and the boy was looking at him too. He lost his composure and cut down a lot of bamboo.

"Boom."

A ruler struck the boy squarely on the head.

"Your mind is not at peace."

"No, Master, I..."

"Me, me, me? What do you mean, me? Go, go cook for the two guests."

The young man hesitated several times before finally obediently preparing food for the old martial immortal and Bai Qi.

However, he didn't vent his anger on Bai Qi. As he passed by them, he greeted them warmly. "Senior Qianya, how have you been?"

The old martial arts master chuckled and said, "Your disciple's sword control technique is truly divine."

"I taught well."

"Hahaha, that's right, that's right."

The cultivator whom the old martial immortal called "Senior Qianya" did not have the airs of a reclusive master; on the contrary, he was very approachable.

This also relieved Bai Qi of the great weight hanging over his heart.

"Stay and have a meal. I have spirit rice, spirit wine, and spirit beast meat here."

Qianya suddenly looked at Bai Qi: "Eat it, it will enhance your qi and blood, and benefit your martial arts."

"Ziyin's cooking skills are quite good. You'll see once you eat it."

"Thank you, senior."

The old martial immortal chatted with Qianya and said about Bai Qi: "This child has excellent aptitude and outstanding talent, but his temperament is too sharp. I'm afraid I won't be able to teach him well and he will go astray."

"Hehe, Brother Sima, children and grandchildren have their own blessings."

Qianya glanced at Bai Qi: "He has his own path to walk. Why are you interfering? It's none of your business."

"This……"

Qianya Chong Bai Qi said, "You agree, right?"

Bai Qi suddenly found this Senior Qianya very interesting and couldn't help but laugh.

Suddenly, Qianya waved to Bai Qi.

Before he could react, the flying sword flew out on its own and stood in front of Qianya.

"However, Brother Sima's concerns are not without merit, and we cannot let you make a wasted trip."

"I will teach you a sword move. If you can comprehend the sword intent within it, you can use that intent as the foundation for condensing your inner core, thus avoiding the path of becoming a martial immortal."

"Even if you can't comprehend the sword intent, it's still a pretty good sword move. Consider it a gift from me."

"I will also reforge this sword. As for whether you use it or not, that's up to you."

"Thank you, senior."

Bai Qi pondered to himself that Senior Qianya must be at least equivalent to the Dao Infant Realm.

How could I possibly not use a flying sword forged by such a reclusive master?

……

In Bai Qi's mind, this Senior Qianya was a sword immortal among Qi cultivators.

He taught him this sword technique using a broken piece of thin bamboo as a sword.

The sword energy crisscrosses, sometimes like a gentle breeze caressing willows, stretching endlessly, sometimes like a proud pine tree standing tall on a precipice.

Sword intent is something mysterious and profound.

Some people are exceptionally gifted; they can grasp the essence of most things at a glance and quickly understand them.

Some people may be of average talent, but if their mindset is just right, they will eventually be able to understand.

However, some people have poor aptitude and understanding, the wrong mindset, and their efforts are mostly in the wrong direction. So they may spend their whole lives without gaining any understanding.

Clearly, Bai Qi belongs to the first category.

Senior Qianya only demonstrated it once.

Even after returning to the military camp, he would still constantly recall and practice that sword move in his mind.

One day, Bai Qi sat alone in the forest, the plants around him swaying without wind, and an indescribable cold and sharp aura emanated from his body.

However, the sword intent here was completely different from the artistic conception that Qianya had displayed that day.

It is ruthless and vicious, and its essence is extremely refined.

Its sharpness lies within, it remains as still as a mountain, yet when it moves, it can cleave the earth and expand its territory.

The sword intent has already begun to sprout; given time, it will be able to condense into a elixir.

However, Bai Qi sighed softly.

Compared to the Martial Immortal Path, this traditional True Martial Path is far too slow.

No wonder so many people want to take this shortcut.

I am already a person of exceptional talent, following the traditional Zhenwu lineage. If I want to truly become a Grandmaster of Hunyuan, I must condense the elixir, nurture the elixir, and embrace the elixir...

This process, even if it takes hundreds of years, would be considered short.

However, if one follows the path of a martial arts immortal, one can achieve something within a few years or even a few months.

A few years can be equivalent to hundreds of years...

Is being a Martial Immortal really that bad? They are subject to others, share life and death with the Immortal Dynasty, are inferior to the True Martial lineage in close combat, and are also inferior to Qi Refiners in long-range combat.

It's really not good.

But this road is just too fast.

Bai Qi was not someone who was overly ambitious or followed the crowd.

But what he was pursuing was not freedom or going it alone.

He knows exactly what he wants.

A man should be able to wield his sword and ride into battle, fight on the battlefield, be ennobled and appointed as a general, and achieve unparalleled feats.

Furthermore……

If Xian Qin could sweep across the six directions and unify the world, the path of martial immortals would naturally rise accordingly.

It arose with great ambition.

After that, Bai Qi temporarily assumed the position of general, led his army to defeat the Eastern Zhou clan, and later fought a joint battle with the allied forces of the Han and Wei clans at Yique.

By avoiding the enemy's strength and attacking their weakness, the Wei army was caught off guard and hastily engaged in battle, resulting in a swift and disastrous defeat.

The Han army was stunned, and its flanks were exposed, allowing the Qin army to attack from both sides. It collapsed without a fight.

They annihilated the combined forces of Han and Wei, numbering 240,000, and captured Yique.

Bai Qi rose to fame in one battle and was promoted to the rank of Grand Commandant.

The King of Qin bestowed upon him martial arts techniques, precious medicines, and divine weapons, intending to make good use of this warrior from a commoner background.

He was determined to walk the path of martial immortality, and he wanted to make Xianqin the number one country in the Eastern Wilderness.

Just, I don’t know why.

Ever since Senior Qianya reforged the longsword, Bai Qi felt that he no longer wielded it with the same ease.

I always feel constrained and unable to fully exert my abilities.

Even after cultivating to become a Martial Immortal and achieving the Core Formation stage, it remains the same.

Left with no other choice, they had to seal the sword away.

From then on, his path of conquest became unstoppable.

He led his army to capture the capital of Xianchao Chu. In order to demoralize the Chu army, he ordered the burning of the tombs of the former Chu kings in Xiling. Xianchu was routed.

The King of Qin then designated Ying as the Southern Commandery and enfeoffed Bai Qi as the Lord of Wu'an.

He was able to raise soldiers, win every battle, bring peace and prosperity to the people, govern the world with his military prowess, and secure the country with his prestige; hence, he was called Wu'an.

Bai Qi's name was renowned throughout the world.

He used battlefield carnage to condense pure killing intent into sword intent, and with his outstanding military achievements, he gathered the worship and faith of thousands of soldiers and the people of Xianqin, transforming it into a vast incense offering and prayer power.

Beneath the mountains of corpses and seas of blood, the oppressive aura emanating from him grew heavier day by day, and his temperament gradually began to become somewhat arrogant.

In the Battle of Changping, 400,000 Zhao soldiers surrendered.

He believed that the Zhao soldiers were fickle and might cause trouble in the future.

So they devised a plan to bury alive 400,000 surrendered Zhao soldiers, leaving only a few young soldiers to return home and report the news.

It shocked the world.

Its name became the most resounding on the battlefield of the Immortal Dynasty, striking fear into the hearts of all.

The Zhao Kingdom's dynasty suffered a severe blow and never recovered.

……

Bai Qi never saw the old martial immortal again; perhaps he was somewhat disappointed that he had still chosen this path.

Perhaps he died somewhere amidst the chaos of this immortal dynasty.

Or perhaps they continue to wander the world as if they had never seen themselves.

Bai Qi has no regrets. He has done what he wanted to do, fulfilled his grand ambition, and is still on this path, going further and further.

However, the path to becoming a martial immortal ultimately depends on the power and influence of the emperor.

Therefore, the corresponding path of cultivation is no longer simply about conquest and killing.

By the time he truly realized this, it seemed to be a little too late.

The Marquis of Ying in the court was jealous of talent and feared the great achievements of the king, which led the king to withdraw his troops and make peace.

He was then ordered to launch an attack on Zhao, citing his exceptional military skills.

However, the Qin army lacked all the advantages of favorable timing, location, and popular support, and was repeatedly rejected by him, which angered the King of Qin.

At that time, he began to have a vague feeling that his path was probably coming to an end.

Until he was ordered to fight the Yan Kingdom at Yangling, before the war was over, the three immortal dynasties sent people to seal the place.

An envoy from the Celestial Dynasty, having somehow found the flying sword, presented it to him.

Only then did he see the two words engraved on the flying sword.

Those Qi Refining predecessors were truly amazing.

How can it see that far?

"General Bai, let's leave this world with some dignity."

Inside the Duyou Pavilion, Bai Qi held the sword, and memories of the past flashed through his mind.

Although he felt a thousand grievances, he could only let out a long sigh.

Do I regret it? Not really.

People always tend to romanticize the path they didn't choose back then, thinking that if they had chosen that path, the outcome might have been different.

Of course it will be different.

However, whether things will get better or worse, no one can say for sure.

No matter which path you choose in your life, there will always be regrets.

The success or failure of a game of chess does not depend on a single move, but on every move.

No regrets for making a move.

"It's just a matter of accepting the consequences of a bet."

……

The scene before me was like a black illusion, and my chaotic thoughts gradually became clear.

The blade was held horizontally in front of Song Yan, making a buzzing sound.

Familiar wisps of yin and yang energy surged from the flying sword and disappeared into the sky within the endless realm of treasure.

In the present world, Song Yan's eyes were closed, and countless sword energies surged out from the Zhendao Sword Mansion.

His robes fluttered even without wind, and a cold, murderous aura emanated from him.

He suddenly opened his eyes, golden light swirling within them, his expression filled with astonishment.

Sword Intention? !
Not entirely; it can only be considered a seed of sword intent.

It should be a part of the sword intent that Bai Qi comprehended before abandoning the Shufeng technique.

To Song Yan's astonishment, he not only possessed his own Myriad Manifestations Sword Intent, but also the incomplete Mirror Flower Water Moon and the murderous sword intent before him.

Doesn't that mean that I can follow in the footsteps of my predecessors, retrace the path of ancient sword cultivators, and thereby obtain a variety of different sword intents?
In fact, this idea had already been planted in my mind when I was contemplating the illusion of a mirage.

Only now is he truly certain of this.

If that's the case, then it seems that the special effect of my sword intent is that it can encompass all aspects of swordsmanship.

Song Yan was overjoyed.

The power of sword intent needs no further explanation.

Moreover, the most important thing is not just that. The sword intent of every sword cultivator means that they may be able to achieve supernatural powers in the future.

Does that mean I can possess multiple supernatural powers?
"call……"

Song Yan took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, temporarily suppressing the overwhelming joy in his heart.

Their gaze returned to the flying sword's sharp edge.

In fact, there was already a guess about the identity of this General Bai when he was in the ruins of the Immortal Dynasty.

However, his focus was not on this god of death.

In this memory, Song Yan saw two familiar people and a familiar flying sword.

That Daoist Qianya's disciple seems to be Zhou Ziyin, Senior Zhou...

The flying sword he wielded was Zhen'e, which is now Song Yan's natal sword, Bu Xi Zhou.

(End of this chapter)