A man stands before the heavens, his sword emerges from the Emei Mountains.

The Sword Washing Plain is surrounded by waterfalls on one side and mountains on the other, but the air is still hot and humid, and Yang An's palms are sweaty.

Having spent nearly a hundred days with Chen Yu, I now have a deep understanding of him. In terms of talent, no one except the leader of the Emei Sect can match him.

He possesses exceptional physical talent, is a natural martial arts prodigy, and has outstanding comprehension. He can grasp the essence of ordinary moves and simple martial arts after just one glance, and can even apply what he has learned to other situations.

It's true that the sect leader values ​​female disciples, but with such a gem before us, who would dare to waste such a talent?

Now is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Chen Yu to showcase himself.

Whether one rises to the top or remains unknown, this test will determine their fate.

Actually, when Yang An said that Chen Yu could draw inferences from one instance, it wasn't because he was truly wise beyond his years, but because he had lived two lives and served as a stunt double.

Taking swordsmanship as an example, he knew even a few moves of Wudang swordsmanship and Qingping swordsmanship from later generations. He had an advanced way of thinking, but he was just using similar swordsmanship as an example. In Yang An's eyes, this was learning by analogy.

The atmosphere was tense. Ji Xiaofu, Bei Jinyi, Su Mengqing and others hoped that Chen Yu could perform well and win the praise or guidance of Abbess Miejue.

Ding Minjun secretly hoped that Chen Yu would be defeated and humiliated, so as to prove that she had keen insight and could see things clearly.

Many inner disciples also hoped that Li Mingxia could teach Chen Yu a lesson. If the outer disciples were to surpass the inner disciples, what kind of behavior would that be? Wouldn't it be a joke?

Most of the outer disciples hoped that Chen Yu could win and bring them glory, especially those older outer disciples who had lofty ambitions but were not valued. It was not that we lacked diligence and talent, but rather that sectarian prejudice prevailed.

Of course, there were also a few lazy people who hoped Chen Yu would be defeated. These people joined Emei only for a status, so that their families could easily make connections in the martial arts world, and they couldn't stand anyone standing out.

Before everyone's eyes, Li Mingxia stood with her back to the cascading waterfall, her white dress seemingly blending into the ribbon of color. Chen Yu, holding a wooden sword, stood tall against the backdrop of the mountains, exuding an extraordinary air.

The two did not make a move, but they faced each other from a distance, creating a profound and evocative atmosphere.

Chen Yu raised her arm, flicked her elbow, and twisted her wrist, performing a beautiful sword flourish. With the wooden sword resting against her elbow, she clasped her hands in a gesture of respect, saying, "Please enlighten me, Senior Sister."

"Of course, please, junior brother." As soon as Li Mingxia finished speaking, she took a step forward and held her sword. Suddenly, she rotated her right forearm inward and pressed her thumb to the side. The long sword seemed to have a spirit and turned into a living thing. The light and agile sword light became a yellow oriole and danced lightly.

It was a move from the "Wind and Willow Sword" technique called "Grass Grows and Orioles Fly".

"Quite gifted, with impressive skill," Ding Minjun commented.

Yang An's mind raced. Li Shijie's next move should be "Sparse Shadows Slanting Across the Field," her longsword tracing a semi-circle from left to right. Chen Shidi could use the "Walking Sleeves in the Wind" move from the "Walking Willow Sword in the Returning Wind" to counter it.

Chen Yu took a deep breath, and his body suddenly turned from stillness to movement, like an arrow released from a bow, thrusting straight out of the sturdy, durable, and unbreakable ironwood longsword.

The thrust was as fast as lightning.

This is precisely the move of "picking lotus flowers by boat".

Even the outer disciples all knew the "Yue Maiden Sword Technique," but even Yang An never expected that Chen Yu would use the most ordinary and unremarkable move to break the exquisite sword technique of "Willow Dance in the Wind Sword."

Extinction's eyes lit up, and his momentum was like a silver screen shattering. "In the world of martial arts, speed is the only thing that cannot be broken. What a good idea!"

"Junior brother, you want to spar with me using the 'Yue Maiden Sword Technique'? You should know that this sword technique is easy to learn but difficult to master. You..." Li Mingxia originally wanted to put on a show of senior sister status and give some comments, but Chen Yu's sword thrust out as swift as lightning. She had just started her "Sparse Shadows Slanting" sword stance when Chen Yu's sword entered through the middle gate. She had no time to say anything and was greatly surprised. She immediately changed her sword move and used the "Xi Shi Holding Her Heart" move, holding her long sword upright in front of her chest.

With a clang, the two swords clashed, and a ripple of energy exploded on the surface of the swords. Li Mingxia's wrist went numb, and she thought to herself that not only was Chen Yu's internal strength already at a high level, but his arms were also incredibly strong.

Li Mingxia's slender figure suddenly slid backward to the ground, her back not touching the dust. Her right foot touched the ground and her body swept backward, while her left foot kicked.

Chen Yu remained calm and unhurried, using the "Nine Palaces Soaring Dragon Steps" to step on the four symbols and move in the six directions. With a sway of his body, he appeared beside Li Mingxia, his right knee bent in a half-squat, and his left foot took a step forward with his sword, the sword light blooming in the sunlight.

This is precisely the "Searching for Plum Blossoms in the Snow" scene from "The Wind and the Willow Sword".

As soon as Li Mingxia leaped up, the ironwood sword stabbed towards her waist and ribs at the "Jingmen" acupoint. In a moment of quick thinking, she used a move called "Hundred Twists and Thousand Turns" to deflect the attack with her long sword.

With a flick of his wrist, Chen Yu transformed the wooden sword's blade into a fan shape, connecting in mid-air as a lure before unleashing a real wrist-attacking "Transplanting Flowers and Grafting Trees" technique towards Li Mingxia.

Snapped……

Li Mingxia's wrist went numb and weak, and the wooden sword fell to the ground.

A commotion arose in the arena, and Chen Yu stepped back and sheathed his sword.

Li Mingxia felt a buzzing in her head, and all sorts of chaotic thoughts rushed in. How could this be? He had only been in the sect for a hundred days, while she had been practicing swordsmanship for several years.

Ding Minjun's face turned pale, red, and then pale again, finding it unbelievable.

"Excellent!" Abbess Miejue was overjoyed and praised her, but her expression suddenly turned cold as she asked Li Mingxia, "Do you know why we fell?"

"Please give me some guidance, Master." Li Mingxia snapped out of her daze.

"Bound by circumstances, one must know that one's moves may lead to death while one's sword may bring life. The metaphysical is called the Way, while the physical is called the tool. The same sword technique, when executed by different body types, strength, and comprehension, will result in vastly different outcomes."

Li Mingxia had no idea what this was about, and hurriedly nodded, "Thank you for your guidance, Master."

Chen Yu, however, gained a lot from this. He realized that Miejue's words applied to swordsmanship: one should not use tangible tools to be bound by intangible forms.

"Your martial arts have improved considerably, not bad."

Abbess Miejue praised him, and Chen Yu said, "It is thanks to Senior Brother Yang's teachings and strict supervision."

Yang An immediately replied, "Junior Brother Chen understands everything he hears and is proficient in all the basic techniques of our sect. I have no more skills to pass on to him."

"Yes." Miejue nodded and said to Chen Yu, "Come with me."

"Yes, ma'am."

Extinction was ahead, Chen Yu lagged behind by half a step, and the two went far away.

The intermission continued, but only for this one moment. Ding Minjun's words were less sharp, and she no longer used hurtful language.

……

A thousand acres of green shade cover the mountains and fields, where pairs of orioles sing to each other.

Abbess Miejue's voice rang out, "How are you feeling in the outer sect?"

"Reporting to the Sect Leader, thanks to Senior Brother Yang's guidance, I have not only made great progress in practicing martial arts, but also in dealing with people and getting along with my fellow disciples. Senior Brother Yang also said that learning martial arts is a slow and steady process, and it is by no means something that can be achieved overnight. During this period of time, I started with the basic Emei martial arts and after becoming proficient in them, I feel that I have a better understanding of the 'Willow Sword Dance in the Wind'."

"The way of learning martial arts is just like this: one cannot reach a thousand miles without accumulating small steps."

"Disciple understands."

"What other feelings do you have?"

Chen Yu respectfully said, "The first rule of our sect is to expel the barbarians. Senior Brother Yang often says that he hopes to one day feast on the flesh of the barbarians. I should also study hard and practice diligently to avenge my family and country."

"Well said." After saying this, Miejue took out a thin book from her sleeve. "This is the 'Snowflake Piercing Cloud Palm.' You practice the Emei Small Capturing Hand, but you are still far from reaching the pinnacle. It is not easy for you to practice the 'Nine Intercepting Hands.' However, the palm technique has no restrictions. Moreover, when this technique is used, the palm force is sometimes swallowed and sometimes released, flickering and uncertain. It can draw away the opponent's internal force and then attack. It can make up for your weakness of weak internal force. However, you must remember the principle of 'the moon wanes when it is full and water overflows when it is full.' The effective compensation I mentioned is only against opponents who are equal to or slightly better than you."

"Disciple understands."

"Having practiced martial arts for a hundred days, do you have any doubts?"

Chen Yu hurriedly said, "Since I started practicing the Nine Palaces Dragon Steps, my movements have become much smoother, but my leaping ability has not improved, which has limited my swordsmanship."

"The Nine Palaces Dragon Soaring Steps is a basic lightness skill. To cultivate more advanced lightness skills, one must temper the meridians with internal energy. Famous martial arts sects each have their own unique lightness skills, such as Shaolin Temple's Crossing the River on a Reed, Wudang Sect's Cloud Ladder Leap, Kunlun Sect's Treading Snow Without a Trace and Fleeting Shadow, and Quanzhen Sect's Golden Goose Skill. These skills each have specific methods for circulating qi through the meridians. Among the eight extraordinary meridians, the Yin Qiao Meridian and Yang Qiao Meridian run through the lower limbs and have the effect of lightness, agility, and swiftness. To make the body movements smooth and swift like lightning, one must temper and open up these meridians and the acupoints and hidden meridians they contain."

"So that's how it is. Then, techniques like 'Ladder to the Clouds' are obviously suitable for vertical ascents, and must be related to the chest cavity, internal organs, and meridians?" Chen Yu drew inferences from one instance to another.

Miejue was immersed in the pleasure of taking on a disciple with outstanding talent. "That's right. Just like tempering and clearing the three Yin meridians of the hand, liver and gallbladder, it can help open the heart and lungs, chest cavity, upper back and rib joints, which is beneficial for vertical movement. I don't know much about Wudang's 'Ladder Cloud Leap,' but Quanzhen Sect's 'Golden Goose Skill' is just like that."

"What about Emei's lightness skill?"

"Do you want to learn?"