Be a proper Taoist priest in The Condor Heroes

Ma Yu's gaze fell on Su Yan, with a hint of inquiry and appreciation. Yin Zhiping quickly stepped forward and bowed in response.

"Master Master, this is Junior Brother Su Yan, a disciple brought back by Grandmaster Qiu. He has only been a disciple for twenty days."

He paused, then added.

"Junior Brother Su has exceptional comprehension. He has already defeated all the fourth-generation disciples of the sect by learning only the first move of the Quanzhen Sword Technique taught by Grandmaster Qiu. Even the best disciples among the third-generation disciples have to go all out to deal with him."

Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Ma Yu's eyes, then his smile deepened. He glanced at Su Yan's aura and nodded.

"I observe that your breathing is steady and orderly, indicating that you have mastered the Quanzhen Basic Breathing Technique to a high level. Your temperament and aptitude are both of superior quality."

He turned to Yin Zhiping and said.

"Since Junior Brother Qiu has already taught him one move, he must intend to train him. You can teach him the remaining six moves of the Quanzhen Swordplay. As for other martial arts, we can decide on them when Junior Brother Qiu returns."

Su Yan was overjoyed, but remained calm on the surface and bowed respectfully.

"Thank you for your kindness, Master!"

The words "Complete Authentic Basic Breathing Technique (Proficient, 5/300)" are clearly visible on the panel.

Ma Yu nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd in the training ground, his tone calm.

"Disciples within the sect should learn from each other and improve together. Su Yan was able to grasp the essence of a single sword technique, and you should all take this as a lesson and diligently cultivate yourselves."

After saying that, he turned and left, his steps steady, exuding the dignified aura of Taoist cultivation.

As soon as Ma Yu left, the surrounding disciples immediately surrounded him, all bowing and congratulating Su Yan.

"Junior Brother Su, congratulations on receiving the Sect Leader's permission to learn the complete Quanzhen Sword Technique!"

"You'll have to teach us a few tricks up your sleeve in the future!"

Su Yan nodded in response to each one, her tone indifferent.

"It was just a fluke. I hope my fellow disciples will be generous in their guidance in future exchanges."

He turned to look at Li Zhiming and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Senior Brother Li, let's have a proper battle another day."

Li Zhiming smiled and agreed.

"That is indeed my wish, but I dare not ask."

After seeing everyone off, Su Yan could no longer contain his eagerness and pulled Yin Zhiping aside.

"Senior Brother Yin, would you be willing to find a secluded place to teach me the remaining sword techniques?"

The light in his eyes was undeniable; after all, the complete Quanzhen Swordplay meant a higher proficiency ceiling, which was crucial for improving his strength.

Seeing this, Yin Zhiping smiled and nodded.

"Come with me."

He was led to a secluded bamboo grove behind the martial arts hall, a place rarely visited, perfect for teaching martial arts.

Meanwhile, in the courtyard, Su Ye was holding a wooden sword, practicing the "White Clouds Emerging from the Mountain" technique that Su Yan had taught her. The wooden sword trembled slightly in her slender hand, but she gripped it tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force.

This was a lightweight wooden sword that Su Yan had specially found for her, and he had even personally polished the blade, saying, "Beginners don't need anything too heavy; first, practice your stance."

She deliberately imitated Su Yan's posture of falling off his horse. Although she was thin, she had a tenacious spirit that refused to admit defeat. Every time she thrust out her sword, she tried to be precise. Fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead and slid down her temples, dripping onto the bluestone and spreading a small wet patch. She didn't even bother to wipe them away, but just repeated the movements of starting, drawing the sword and finishing the move.

Between her sword strikes, a chilling aura, incongruous with her age, was subtly revealed—a mark etched into her bones by the chaos of war. She suddenly recalled the greedy eyes of the starving refugees outside Taiyuan, rushing towards them; she remembered the deep, bone-revealing wound Su Yan had suffered on his back from the Jin army's longswords while protecting her, his coarse clothes soaked in blood, yet he still smiled and said, "It's alright."

She recalled how, on the way across the river, Su Yan carried her on his back, his profile showing a forced silence as the arrow wound on his shoulder was aggravated. At that time, she could only hide behind him, too weak even to grip her dagger. That helpless panic was more unbearable than hunger and cold.

Su Ye, this is her new name, the name given to her by Brother Yan'er.

She silently recited her new name in her heart, then suddenly tightened her wrist, and the wooden sword drew a sharp arc, accompanied by the sound of wind.

The day Su Yan named her, the oil lamp in the courtyard was dim. He touched her head, his tone calm yet solemn. It was the first time she had a name that truly belonged to her, no longer "Little Wimpy Girl," no longer a helpless orphan.

This sense of belonging made her feel more at ease than the whole grain biscuits, and it also made her more determined that she could not hide behind Su Yan forever, and could not always be the one who needed to be protected.

Su Yan said this when he taught her swordsmanship.

"A sword is for self-defense, not for showing off."

But she knew in her heart that in this chaotic world where people devour each other, only by being strong enough could she protect the people she wanted to protect.

Su Yan gave her hope to live, taught her swordsmanship, and protected her. She also wanted to become stronger quickly, even if she could only learn this one move, "White Clouds Emerging from the Mountain," so that she could block for him at crucial moments, even if it was just to delay the danger for a moment.

She didn't want to be a burden anymore. She wanted to stand proudly beside Su Yan under the name "Su Ye," instead of forever hiding behind him and watching him face the danger alone.

Sweat blurred her vision, her arms ached and went numb, and even her fingertips began to tingle, but she bit her lip and stubbornly persevered. Su Yan's encouraging smile seemed to reappear before her eyes, and she remembered his gentle tone when he called "Su Ye," which warmed her heart and supported her to continue wielding her sword.

She didn't know if she was talented or not; she just kept practicing swordsmanship. What was supposed to be a balanced and peaceful sword technique was turned into a killing weapon by her.

She was not afraid of hardship. She had already tasted enough of the suffering in the chaotic world. Compared to hunger and hiding from war, what was the fatigue of practicing swordsmanship?

As instructed by Su Yan, she usually practiced swordsmanship at her residence, only going to the training ground to wait for Su Yan when it was close to mealtime. She was afraid that she would disappoint Su Yan if she didn't practice well, and even more afraid that if she progressed too slowly, she would be able to watch Su Yan get injured again if they encountered danger one day.

Although the Quanzhen Sect had female disciples, most of them followed Master Sun Bu'er to cultivate in seclusion on another mountain. In the early years, after the sect opened up the rule of joining by donation, many wealthy young men of different personalities flocked in. To avoid trouble, Sun Bu'er moved there with his female disciples and rarely had contact with his male disciples.

Most of these female disciples devoted themselves to cultivating literature and Taoism and did not pursue martial arts much. Therefore, although Zhongnan Mountain is a general term for a mountain range, the several peaks occupied by the Quanzhen Sect were clearly distinct.

Deep in the bamboo forest, Yin Zhiping, holding a long sword, began to disassemble the remaining six forms of the Quanzhen Sword Technique.

"The second move, 'White Rainbow Piercing the Sun,' combines strength and gentleness, requiring the power of qi and blood to activate it. The sword's momentum is like a rainbow piercing the sun, striking directly at the vital point; the third move, 'Three Rings Encircling the Moon,' involves three swords linked together, with illusion and reality complementing each other..."

He demonstrated each move clearly and concisely, explaining every detail from the initial strike and the application of force to the finishing move, and occasionally correcting Su Yan's posture.

"The 'Colorful Boat Amidst Clouds' technique requires a circuitous sword path, avoiding excessive force. With your solid foundation in external martial arts, remember not to use brute force. The 'Going with the Flow' technique emphasizes using the opponent's force against them, requiring you to sense their sword momentum and follow their lead."

Su Yan focused intently, his fingers mimicking the sword moves, his mind rapidly memorizing the essentials. Simultaneously, the Quanzhen Basic Breathing Technique circulated within his dantian, gradually merging his qi and blood with the sword techniques. The foundation he had previously built by practicing only one move now proved invaluable; the remaining six moves, though complex, were learned extremely quickly, each one revealing its key points in a swift motion.

As Yin Zhiping finished demonstrating the final move, "Setting Off the Moon with Clouds," Su Yan felt a sudden flash of inspiration. The previously scattered sword techniques instantly connected, as if forming a complete closed loop. He raised his hand, drew his sword, and followed the order taught by Yin Zhiping, executing the seven sword techniques in a continuous flow, from "White Clouds Emerging from the Mountain" to "Setting Off the Moon with Clouds." His swordplay was sometimes as light and agile as a flowing breeze, and sometimes as fierce and powerful as thunder. The moves were seamlessly connected, without the slightest hesitation.

The information on the panel updated rapidly. The original text, "[Grade C (Incomplete) - Quanzhen Swordplay (Minor Success, 32/500)]", changed subtly as the complete sword moves were mastered.

Host: Su Yan

Age: 16

Internal strength:

Grade C - Authentic Basic Breathing Technique (Proficient, 5/300).

Martial arts:

Rank E - Su Family Sword Technique (Perfect, 345/500) [Consumable -30%, Armor Penetration +30%, Pressure +40%]

Rank E - Leap Technique (Perfect, 500/500) [Consumer Cost -30%, Agility +40%, Evasion +40%]

Rank E - Monument Slayer (Perfect, 35/500) [Consumable -30%, Critical Hit +40%, Fist Power +40%]

Rank C - Quanzhen Swordplay (Proficient, 12/300).

Realm: Third-rate martial artist (68%).

Su Yan sheathed his sword and stood there, his breathing somewhat heavy, but his eyes were full of joy.

The complete Quanzhen Swordplay not only makes the moves more powerful, but also makes them interconnected, truly deserving of its C-level martial arts status.

Yin Zhiping watched his smooth and fluid swordplay and nodded approvingly.

"To have mastered all seven techniques in such a short time, your comprehension truly lives up to Master Qiu's expectations. With diligent practice, your power will only increase once you are proficient."

Su Yan bowed and expressed his gratitude.

"Thank you for your careful guidance, Senior Brother Yin. I have taken it to heart."

He had already made plans in his mind. Next, he would seize the time to max out his proficiency and make full preparations for the assessment in a month.

Just then, Xiao Nianba's clear voice came from outside the bamboo forest.

"Yan-ge'er, it's time for dinner."

Upon hearing this, Su Yan sheathed his sword, thanked Yin Zhiping again, and quickly walked out of the bamboo forest. He saw Xiao Nianba standing at the crossroads, holding a cloth bag containing a lunchbox, his eyes sparkling.

"Yan-ge'er, have you mastered the complete sword technique?"

Su Yan patted her head, a hint of warmth flashing in his eyes.

"You've learned it. Once you've mastered it and have your teacher's permission, I'll teach you the remaining moves."

Holding her hand, he walked towards the dining hall. The setting sun shone through the bamboo forest, lengthening their shadows and illuminating Su Yan's increasingly determined path ahead.