Wan Jian returns to his clan!

Chapter 127, pp. 132, 133, 134. The Four Realms of the Innate Path: Observing Ten Thousand Swords to Forge One Sword

"Come inside, don't just stand in the yard."

Hearing sounds coming from all directions, Ouyang Zheng said in a deep voice.

"It was my rudeness, Master. Please come in for tea, Master and Mistress. Please come in as well, Senior Sisters."

Lu Wubing quickly invited the group into the house.

I was outside just now, and on a whim, I made quite a commotion. It must have alerted a lot of people…

Judging from the sect leader's expression, it can be inferred that the old man actually knew that there were spies sent by some unknown force on Tianxing Peak.

They might even have a vague idea of ​​who these people are.

Knowing is one thing, but it's not something to be done casually... If their identity is discovered and exposed, there's still some defense to be taken. Some important information can be hidden, and some false information can be released to mislead the people behind them.

If a major purge were to take place, I wonder if the disciples would be filled with fear and anxiety.

The situation will become even worse.

Unless Tianxing Peak stops recruiting, there will definitely be even more covert spies infiltrating the ranks.

We are inferior in strength and influence.

I can only swallow my anger.

That's it.

The once mighty Tianxing Peak has fallen into such a pathetic state. Even Lu Wubing couldn't help but feel sorry for the old man.

Thinking this way, Lu Wubing didn't ask any more questions. He brewed several cups of tea and, before his master and mistress could ask, said with a smile, "Tonight's breakthrough in swordsmanship is actually due to the Ancestral Master's Cave Method. I followed my master and mistress's instructions and have been diligently practicing the Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone Fist ever since."

This skill was recently mastered, achieving the unification of the twenty-four meridians into a single dragon tendon. The bones also became stronger and more flexible… Feeling the foundation was sufficient, I proceeded with the transmission of the true essence.”

Ouyang Lan asked with great interest, "Can the true meaning of the Subduing Dragon Sword truly inherit all its divine intent?"

“It is impossible to inherit the entire divine will. After all, others are others, not oneself. Even the founder of our sect, his spiritual will is very personal and cannot perfectly match his own spirit.”

Lu Wubing originally intended to use the True Meaning Bead of the Subduing Dragon Sword to conceal his progress in swordsmanship, but upon closer examination, he realized it was completely unnecessary.

If things go wrong, it wouldn't be good if Senior Sister Xiaolan developed unrealistic fantasies.

In case she's single-mindedly focused on exploring the Ancestral Master's Cave, determined to inherit the true essence of swordsmanship.

As a result, they learned nothing and were furious.

"Are you saying that inheriting the true meaning can only serve as a guide, and cannot fully comprehend the true sword intent? To truly break through, one needs to comprehend it on one's own and verify what one has learned?"

Ouyang Zheng was shocked and immediately pressed for more information.

He's stuck at this hurdle.

They made no progress whatsoever, and couldn't even find a direction to move forward.

In terms of internal strength, lightness skill, and physical strength alone, he is far superior to his newly accepted disciple.

But at this moment, he felt that he had been outdone by his little apprentice in terms of swordsmanship comprehension.

Not only his swordsmanship, but also his understanding of sword techniques, is somewhat inferior.

Fortunately, Ouyang Zheng only cares about his image in front of outsiders; when it comes to closing the door, he is quite practical.

"That's right. When Master taught me that internal energy cultivation and swordsmanship should be innovative, and that one should refine one sword from ten thousand swords, I was deeply moved by what I heard, which is why I have achieved what I have today."

Have I ever taught it this way?

I don't remember.

Ouyang picked up his teacup, using the rising steam to conceal the embarrassment on his face.

He knew what his so-called teaching was all about; calling it simply reciting from a book would be an exaggeration, but he couldn't really offer anything insightful.

The key point is that I don't remember saying that.

I'm sure it's not my disciple trying to make himself look good.

Didn't you see your junior sister and daughter looking at you with admiration?
Seeing Lu Wubing speaking so earnestly and confidently, as if he were truly his student, Ouyang Zheng chuckled and said, "That's because my disciple Wubing has exceptional comprehension; he can understand and create on his own. For most people, innovating is not so easy. Besides, observing ten thousand swords and comprehending one sword..."

At this point, Ouyang Zheng's voice suddenly stopped, as if countless wonderful ideas were surging in his mind.

My mind was churning, as if I had just thought of something.

He tugged hard at his beard, feeling an itch on his scalp, but his thoughts were still hazy.

If Lu Wubing knew about his condition, he would definitely say, "He's trying to grow a brain, but it hasn't grown one yet."

Ouyang Lan, however, did not notice her father's strange behavior and asked curiously, "Junior Brother, do you mean to forget what you have learned, find your own strengths, and then break through the barrier in one fell swoop?"

I would call you the best class representative, Senior Sister Xiaolan.

Upon hearing this, Lu Wubing realized that this was indeed the case.

Then he saw that the sect leader's eyes were shining brightly, as if he had grasped some kind of breakthrough.

At the same time, Ouyang Zheng's aura changed. What was originally vast, mighty, and powerful became slightly ethereal, and his whole body exuded a sense of elegance from top to bottom.

"Senior brother, you succeeded?"

Qin Huaiying's face lit up with joy, and she asked in a trembling voice.

Having spent every day together, she had an extremely thorough understanding of her husband's cultivation level, and she knew that he was stuck at the "Sword Opens the Heavenly Gate" stage, his divine will not be concentrated, and he could not break through the innate barrier.

At this moment, his aura changed, and he felt the sunlight shining on his head, which was very different from before. It was clear that his cultivation had made a major breakthrough.

"My success and my downfall both stem from the vast ocean. I am second to none among those below the Innate Realm in terms of internal strength, and I have always been proud of it."

Unexpectedly, once he truly immersed himself in the vast ocean of internal energy, he forgot the fundamentals. He forgot the principle that energy is the foundation of the body and that spirit and will come first.

Now, the clouds have parted, and we can see the true nature of things.

Ouyang Zheng sighed deeply. Since his youth, he had been unanimously praised by his elders as a promising talent for Qi cultivation.

This proved to be true.

Among his fellow disciples, his internal energy cultivation speed was always much faster.

Finally, he cultivated his internal energy to the point that it was as vast as the sea.

How powerful is it? Powerful enough that acquired internal energy can contend with innate true energy without being at a disadvantage.

This tremendous achievement made him completely lose himself in his own power, and he relied more and more on the Vast Ocean Divine Skill.

In ordinary times, when facing an enemy, a wave of his hand unleashes an overwhelming surge of internal energy.

While others attack for three zhang, he attacks for ten zhang...

With effortless skill, victory over enemies is assured.

On the contrary, his own swordsmanship was merely an aid to his internal energy.

The real victory comes from spirit, not swords.

How can one comprehend the spirit within the sword, and the meaning within that spirit?

At this moment, he was awakened by Lu Wubing's words, "Push out the old and bring forth the new, observe ten thousand swords and comprehend one sword," and then by his daughter's summary, he immediately understood the key point, his Ren and Du meridians flowed together, and he opened the Heavenly Gate.

A breakthrough from innate potential, transforming the body's internal energy into true energy, is just around the corner.

Most importantly, he discovered that his sword spirit and sword intent had never been so vibrant and lively.

Like a withered tree that has sprouted new buds.

"Okay, okay, you're very good."

Ouyang Zheng patted Lu Wubing's shoulder heavily, and the look in his eyes made it clear that he loved this disciple to the extreme.

Thinking back to that time in Jiangzhou, if it weren't for a twist of fate that I was taken in as a disciple.

He might regret it for the rest of his life if he misses out on such a disciple.

"Now, I'm beginning to believe that your sword intent, Wubing, is a true understanding of the essence of the Subduing Dragon Sword, haha..."

The master and apprentice exchanged a smile.

Ouyang Zheng: I know what you mean, but I can't say it outright, so I can only say it this way.

Lu Wubing: I know you know what I mean, just understand.

Others might not understand, but Ouyang Zheng understood it very well. When he first obtained the [Myriad Manifestations Heavenly Net], the true meaning inheritance taught him a harsh lesson.

The most foolish are not worthy of hearing the Way, while the average person can grasp a little bit of it...

Yes, he's the one who only knows the basics.

Even if you wanted to teach, you couldn't.

I can only use [Myriad Forms Heavenly Net] once, and even then, I don't use it very well.

Saying this out loud might make people laugh their heads off, so it's better to keep it to yourself.

After thinking for a moment, Ouyang Zheng unsheathed his sword and handed it, scabbard and all, to Lu Wubing.

"Take it."

"Master?"

Lu Wubing carefully accepted the gift with both hands, and felt a slight weight in his palms.

"This sword is three feet seven inches long and three fingers wide. It is made of celestial star as its bone and cold iron as its spine. It weighs thirty-three catties and three ounces. It is the most proud work of Xie Canyang, the first master of Shenjian Villa."

This sword isn't particularly easy for an ordinary swordsman to wield. However, it's extremely suitable for those who practice the Vast Ocean Divine Art or the Subduing Dragon Sword Technique.

Lu Wubing drew his sword from its sheath, and a pool of autumn water rippled, reflecting a cold, gleaming light throughout the room.

The blade was indeed wider and longer than that of an ordinary sword, and at the end of the spine were engraved four dark red characters: "Han Hai Fu Long".

"This is……"

"That's right, this sword is the personal sword of our Tianxing Sect's second-generation patriarch, Master Hanhai."

In his later years, the patriarch's cultivation had reached an unfathomable level, and he could turn everything into a sword.

With a casual slash, it could tear through the void... So he abandoned the sword and returned it to his sect.

"After I inherited this sword, I fought countless battles, yet its blade remains undamaged, its sharpness surpassing even its former glory. Calling it a 'divine sword' is no exaggeration. Now I bestow it upon you, hoping that one day you can recreate the divine might of your ancestor."

"Thank you, Master."

Upon hearing this, Lu Wubing immediately understood that his master wanted to break free from his inner attachments and the sword in his hand...

First, cut off all external forces that rely on you, and then rebuild from the ashes.

Only in this way can one comprehend one's own sword intent in one step when breaking through to the innate level.

Fortunately, the [Long Wind Sword] that he had been holding was just an ordinary steel-fired green-edged sword, and now it had been cut with more than ten nicks the size of rice grains.

Although I do have a spare sword, I've been using this one ever since I started learning swordsmanship, and it's very handy, so I haven't replaced it.

Anyway, he rarely clashed swords with others; he killed enemies by simply stabbing them, so it didn't cause him any serious harm.

But now, both the Golden Thread Robe and the Dragon Tendon Tiger Bone Fist have reached their peak, and the physical strength they can absorb has reached two to three thousand catties.

Placed in a military formation, he could certainly be called an "unparalleled fierce general," but wielding the "Long Wind Sword" wouldn't necessarily be that convenient.

On the contrary, this meteorite cold iron sword, weighing thirty-three pounds and three ounces, feels very good to wield.

Weight is secondary; the greatest strength of this [Vast Ocean Sword] lies in the unifying power of internal energy.

From hilt to blade, the energy flows continuously, penetrating each joint. Power is transmitted with minimal loss.

I wonder how the craftsmen created it back then?

It seems as if there are energy channels inside the blade of this sword.

Ouyang Lan said sourly, "Junior brother, you're not allowed to use the Hanhai Sword to fight me in the future. That's too unfair."

Senior Sister Xiaolan, you overestimate yourself.

Lu Wubing nodded and smiled, "Next time we'll have a sword duel, and you can use this sword."

"I can't use it, it's too heavy."

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Lan was delighted, but also somewhat disliked that the sword was too heavy and too wide.

She still prefers narrow, light swords, which make fighting easier and more comfortable.

"Master, I wonder what level Bi Fenkong of Ziyang Peak is at in terms of swordsmanship?"

Lu Wubing remembered something and immediately asked about it.

There are some things that masters and mistresses don't say, because they care about their disciples and don't want them to worry about things beyond their control, which could affect their cultivation state of mind.

However, with his swordsmanship greatly improved, he believes he has the ability to share the burden for the Tianxing Sect.

It's still necessary to learn about it in advance.

Knowing yourself and the enemy is the only way to survive a hundred battles.

Don't wait until disaster strikes before you're still in the dark.

Not even knowing the enemy's cultivation level would seriously affect his judgment. He suspected that the three experts he encountered in the small courtyard of the Zhao family steward's carriage in Mingyang City that day were probably disciples of Ziyang Peak, but he didn't know exactly who they were.
Considering the situation from all sides, excluding the Northern Zhou Demonic Sect and the imperial court, they will use covert methods to target the Heavenly Star Sect, dismantle the alliance of the three sects, and then defeat them one by one...

Apart from that ambitious Master Bi, no one else would act in this way.

Because if the opposing forces want to target the Tianxing Sect, they should kill them.

Only those who are closely allied and want to annex their brother units, which are also among the Three Divine Peaks, will resort to coercive measures.

Using underhanded tactics and kidnapping people are all ways to create immense pressure and force the Tianxing Sect to make a choice.

"Senior Brother Bi broke through to the Innate Realm ten years ago, and his current cultivation level should have reached the Second Innate Realm."

This person is exceptionally talented and insightful, possesses strategic acumen, and is cunning and domineering.

By the way, the cultivation of true qi beyond the innate level is not just about the strength and power of the innate qi. At this point, it has already involved refining qi and cultivating spirit, and the strengthening of the spirit is the core.

The true level of one's innate true energy and divine will cannot be discerned from outward appearance.

It manifests in various martial intents and is divided into four levels.

The first realm is Yin Deficiency, the second realm is Yang Excess, the third realm is Ultimate Intent, and the fourth realm is Return to Truth. These are the four innate realms.

During the battle at Tiger Ridge Pass, when Senior Brother Bi drew his sword, he used the Six Yangs to ignite the sky, transforming illusory fire into real fire...

With a single sword strike, he forced both the Yellow Springs Path Ghost Mother and the Blood Lotus Path Faceless, two veteran Innate Realm experts, to entangle and restrain them, preventing them from engaging in a direct confrontation.

It can be said that his Purple Sun Sword is extremely powerful.

Perhaps because he regarded his young disciple as a truly trustworthy and reliable strongman, Ouyang Zheng appeared extremely patient, revealing some of the secrets of the upper echelons of the martial arts world one by one.

'So, this nascent sword intent I've just grasped... is the [Yin Void Realm]. That name doesn't sound very appealing. Is it really that ethereal?'

Lu Wubing thought to himself, "It may not sound nice, but it's actually quite apt."

The so-called "yin deficiency" actually refers to the fact that one's sword intent is ultimately illusory, and that one's spiritual will is added to swordsmanship, which has the flavor of being a mere idealist.

When attacking, one can imbue their will into their moves, influencing the enemy's mind and creating endless illusions.

It's just an influence, not a real psychological attack.

To solidify one's will into a tangible form, possessing true offensive power and directly attacking the soul, one would likely need to reach the [Yang Shi] realm.

"Master, what level is the [Ultimate Mastery] realm?"

"According to the ancient records of our sect, the ultimate skill is the ultimate skill in swordsmanship, emotion, intention, and heart. It is so profound that even my master doesn't quite understand it now."

After some rough speculation, it seems that the spirit and will were concentrated to the extreme, transforming into swords, clubs, and spears, which may also be able to draw upon some of the primordial energy of heaven and earth, possessing immense destructive power over real things.

By the way, a common description of the ultimate state is, "It leaves a trace when it breaks through the air, and it stops the flow of water when it is cut off."

"I understand now. The Han Hai Ancestor I saw in the True Meaning Inheritance Bead earlier casually pierced a sword hole in the air with a single sword strike, which lingered for a long time. This must be a manifestation of the Ultimate Sword Realm."

"Can you really see it?"

Ouyang Zheng started pulling his beard again.

Lu Wubing was worried that if this continued, the sect leader would eventually be mistaken for someone who had cut off his penis.

"Yes, there is another sword strike that I still can't figure out."

The final move of the Eight Swords of Subduing Dragon, "When Dragons Have No Leader, the World is Blessed," is executed silently, with only the sound of a dragon's roar heard, but no sword shadow seen...

"It should be the [Return to Truth] Sword Realm! Legend has it that after a sword technique breaks through to its ultimate level, the next step is to return to simplicity and truth. It looks extremely ordinary, but when the mind is focused, it can kill without leaving a trace."

Heart Sword?

Well, these four innate realms are made so mysterious, it's like listening to a book written in heaven.

We're not suited to studying such profound questions.

Let's keep practicing step by step.

Once you practice that many times, you'll naturally grasp the concept.

With this in mind, Lu Wubing stopped asking questions.

On the one hand, it was because Master Ouyang Zheng obviously didn't know either, and asking too much might make him feel embarrassed and angry;
On the other hand, spiritual practice emphasizes climbing mountains and crossing rivers.

There's a towering peak ahead. Instead of thinking about climbing it, you want to know how high the sky is, dreaming of reaching the sky in one step. That's not a good idea.

It will dampen one's resolve and cause one to lose one's ambition.

Anyway, all he knows now is that he just needs to keep working hard and persevering...

There is no obstacle that cannot be overcome, no mountain that cannot be climbed.

……

"One hundred and seven swords, one hundred and eight swords..."

After seeing off Master, Mistress, and Senior Sister.

Lu Wubing suppressed his joy at his breakthrough in swordsmanship and the acquisition of a new sword, and threw himself back into his daily sword practice.

The days of sword practice were monotonous and tedious, yet incredibly fulfilling. He could see that he gained insights and made progress with every strike. In Lu Wubing's view, this positive feedback in training was more captivating than any form of entertainment.

After practicing 110 sword strikes, he stopped and sat cross-legged to regulate his breathing, his eyes slightly closed, seemingly asleep but not quite.

This is a break.

"Once you infuse your divine will into your sword and forge sword intent, the consumption of energy increases significantly when you try to improve your swordsmanship... This is indeed a problem."

Lu Wubing discovered that after activating the [Flowing Light Sword Intent] and unleashing his full sword power, he had consumed too much of his spirit and internal energy.

After thrusting out more than a hundred swords, he felt his internal energy was waning and his spirit was weary.

As a result, even the circulation of qi and blood is slightly sluggish.

If he insists on enduring it, he will be stabbed dozens more times.

After being stabbed, he would faint on the spot and need to sleep for one or two hours to recover a small part of his energy and internal strength.

"This is such a waste of time. The software has been upgraded again, and my hardware is starting to fall behind. It's like an old ox pulling a broken cart..."

"The most efficient way to practice nowadays is to practice once in the morning, once at noon, and once in the evening, one hundred swords each time."

In this way, one-third of one-third of one's mental and internal energy can be used to deal with enemies.

If you relentlessly push yourself to the limit, leaving nothing behind, and then encounter a powerful enemy when you're exhausted and drained, wouldn't it be easy for someone else to snatch your victory?

I practiced three hundred sword techniques, stopping and starting, which took two hours.

Six hours of sleep for recovery, six hours of meditation, six hours of light-body training, four hours of external martial arts training...

A day passed like this.

"That makes it a bit slow. Three hundred swords a day, three thousand swords in ten days, thirty thousand swords in a hundred days, three hundred thousand swords in a thousand days..."

"The next level requires practicing 600,000 sword strikes, and a total of one million sword strikes are needed to break through. The missing 600,000 sword strikes would take 2,000 days, which means nearly six years."

Lu Wubing did a rough calculation and couldn't help but let out a sigh.

How long would it take to practice like this?

The information emanating from his "Heaven rewards diligence" destiny made him feel utterly overwhelmed.

However, there was some good news as well.

The name for breaking through to the next level of swordsmanship is called "Returning to Simplicity".

This means that by imbuing one with sword intent and practicing 600,000 sword strikes with full force, one can directly reach the fourth realm of the Innate Realm, the "Return to Truth Realm." 200,000 sword strikes will allow one to reach the "Yang Realm" of swordsmanship.

The sword intent takes form and solidifies, capable of truly attacking the enemy's spirit and soul.

"It's alright... my ass, it still takes a year to break through a small level."

The major level requires three years.

"In this way, we have to improve other aspects."

Focusing solely on practicing one sword technique has already slowed down progress.

The first method is to observe various martial arts styles, especially swordsmanship, to build a solid foundation and reduce the frequency of sword practice.

What he had previously told his master and mistress, "to comprehend one sword by observing ten thousand swords," actually meant learning and understanding other martial arts from various schools and sects.

The deeper one's understanding of martial arts, the faster one's swordsmanship will improve...

Lu Wubing thought about it carefully for a while and felt that this was feasible.

With my current level of swordsmanship, I can secretly learn from anyone I see using their swordsmanship and applying their power.

There is absolutely no need for other people's secret recipes.

In this way, the theft can be carried out silently.

Even if they're discovered, they'll deny it to the death...

Of course, with his current abilities, even without the intervention of the various clan elders, very few people could kill him.

Another way to speed up spiritual practice is to start with the foundation.

Since the problem stems from a weak spirit, a frail physique, and insufficient internal strength, then one should strengthen physical training, open up more meridians, increase internal strength, and nurture the soul to boost the spirit.

If all three aspects become strong, it will not be so easy to deplete one's strength.

Instead of practicing three hundred swords a day, one can now practice three thousand or even ten thousand swords.

A mere 600,000 swords are nothing special.

Body refinement and Qi refinement are easy to manage. If you follow the steps and make progress every day, it won't be long before you can support the cultivation of the "Eight Swords of Subduing Dragon" sword intent.

In particular, once the Three Meridians Grand Competition is over and you obtain the [Vast Ocean Divine Skill], you will cultivate your internal energy to be as vast as the ocean, and you will no longer need to stab for a short while before exhausting your internal energy.

The only thing that is difficult to cultivate is the power of the spirit and soul.

The main direction of practice in the "Pine and Crane Guide" is the harmony and unity of body and mind, and the subtlety of concealing one's breath and form.

He truly wanted to nourish his soul and refine his spirit, but he didn't know where to begin.

The character seal, which is for refining form, not spirit, cannot help much with vitality.

The name of a cultivation technique suddenly flashed through Lu Wubing's mind, but he quickly suppressed it.

The Yuanling Sword Manual can indeed be used to refine the spirit.

Not only is it possible, but progress is rapid...

However, this technique was too wicked and had too many drawbacks. He really didn't dare to practice it recklessly until he found a way to cure it.

It's not because of moral constraints.

……

Practice intermittently.

When Lu Wubing mastered both the "Square Inch Step" and the "Golden Carp Leaping Waves," his movements became as fast as the wind.

Senior Sister Xiaolan came to our door.

She wore a pale yellow dress and floated into the Orchid Fragrance Courtyard as lightly as a fairy.

A lake-blue jade hairpin adorned the ponytail at the back of her head, reflecting the shimmering light.

Standing gracefully in the small garden, she outshone all the other flowers in the garden.

"The sun's already high in the sky, junior brother, you haven't set off yet? You're so lazy."

The Three Veins Grand Competition is scheduled for the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, an auspicious day and time.

Senior figures and rising stars who come to witness the ceremony will also be coming up the mountain one after another.

As the organizer, the disciples of the Wangtian Cliff branch of the Tianxing Sect naturally need to greet the guests to avoid being impolite and being criticized.

Being in the martial arts world is not just about fighting and killing, but also about human relationships and social interactions.

Various gatherings are the time to showcase the prestige of the sect and the integrity of its disciples.

Ouyang Lan counted on her fingers and laughed, "The eldest brother welcomed the second master of the Cui family of Qingyuan and his entourage; the second brother welcomed the old master of the Zhu family of Yuyang, Zhu Jiuquan; the third brother... the seventh sister welcomed the Murong family, including Murong Tiangang and his entourage. I heard that the little prince of the Tuyun tribe of the Golden Horde will also come to observe the Three Lineages Competition this time."

"And us? Which family should we greet?"

“Mother said that I’m going to pick up Senior Sister Xinzhu, and I’ll also be in charge of [Jinyutang] here… As for you, it’s not easy to deal with Uncle Li, so be careful.”

Oh, by the way, Sister Xiao from the Huanhua Sword Sect also wants me to go. It wouldn't be appropriate for a male disciple like you to go.

As for Divine Sword Manor, Junior Brother, please greet them later and arrange for them to stay in a guest room at the Seven Star Hall.

"Okay, wait a moment."

Lu Wubing slung the [Hanhai Sword] over his shoulder, put on his azure sword robe, his clothes fluttering, looking every bit the elegant young master of the mortal world.

The two walked side by side toward the Yingxian Pavilion halfway up the mountain.

……

【Ask for monthly ticket】

(End of this chapter)