Deep in the bamboo forest of Youyue Valley in Zhongzhou City, the early morning light penetrated the thin mist, scattering onto the emerald bamboo leaves. Yuyi sat cross-legged on a blue stone, a longsword laid across his knees. The blade reflected the morning light, radiating a faint cold gleam. Xueying and Bingxin sat on either side. Before the three, a stone table held several cups of spirit tea, the tea fragrance curling upward, interweaving with the spiritual energy in the forest.
"What is the difference between sword dao and blade dao?" Yuyi spoke, his clear voice breaking the forest's tranquility.
Xueying frowned slightly. She cultivated the Heavy Sword Art, her sword momentum powerful, always using force to overcome skill. Bingxin pondered thoughtfully. The Asking Heaven Sword Art she cultivated was intricate and complex, with continuous sword moves.
Yuyi slowly stood up, his longsword leaving its sheath, sword light like a rainbow. "Blade dao lies in chopping and slashing, emphasizing force, pressing forward indomitably. Sword dao is different." His wrist lightly trembled, the sword tip drawing an arc, light and graceful. "Sword dao should be light and agile, avoiding the solid and striking the empty. The sword's trajectory aims for the most time-efficient and effective purpose, avoiding any head-on collisions."
Before his words fell, Yuyi's figure was already moving. He stepped with the Cloud-Soaring Step, his movement like a shadow following its form. The longsword drew several sword shadows in the air, each sword avoiding the blocking routes Xueying and Bingxin had imagined, pointing straight at vital points. Amidst the flashing sword light, the three had already exchanged dozens of moves.
Xueying's heavy sword swept across, the sword wind whistling, bamboo leaves flying. Yuyi was like willow catkins in the wind, lightly avoiding, the sword tip lightly tapping Xueying's wrist. Bingxin deployed the Asking Heaven Sword Art, sword moves continuous, trying to use sword intent to guide Yuyi. But Yuyi suddenly changed moves, his sword momentum shifting, breaking through Bingxin's sword net, turning defense to offense.
The three sparred, unaware of time passing. Early morning became noon, then dusk, then deep night. In the bamboo forest, sword light were like rainbows, spiritual energy surging, the sound of sword qi breaking through the air ceaseless. The three tacitly turned off their sound transmission jade talismans, fully investing themselves in sword dao sparring.
Yuyi's Nirvana Sword Art gradually revealed its unique qualities during the sparring. Each sword seemed scattered, but actually contained hidden killing intent, the sword intent following like a shadow, impossible to grasp. Xueying's Heavy Sword Art was as steady as a mountain, each sword carrying the weight of a thousand jun, the sword wind passing through, bamboo and trees all breaking. Bingxin's Asking Heaven Sword Art was the most intricate, sword moves continuous like a river flowing, sword intent guiding, difficult to break free from.
Only when the next morning came did the three withdraw their swords and stand. Yuyi had slight sweat on his forehead, Xueying's breath was slightly rapid, and Bingxin was lost in thought.
"Brother Yuyi's Nirvana Sword Art has scattered forms, not sharp enough." Bingxin spoke directly. "But each sword contains hidden killing intent, startling."
Yuyi nodded, his expression grave. "Miss Bingxin is right. I cultivate the Nirvana Sword Art, but always feel something is lacking. Now I think of it, it's that the killing intent state of mind isn't deep enough."
Xueying pondered for a moment and said: "I cultivate the Heavy Sword Art, the sword momentum is powerful, but it needs strong mental method support. Without the mental method chapter of the Netherworld True Scripture, the Heavy Sword Art's power is difficult to bring to its peak."
Yuyi heard this and frowned slightly. "Netherworld True Scripture? That requires defeating Chunyang Ancestor to obtain?"
Xueying nodded, her expression dimming. "Chunyang Ancestor's strength is extremely formidable. I alone cannot complete it. Cangqiong Alliance will also fully help people learn the Netherworld True Scripture. If I cannot obtain it, my position as Youming Sect's sect master may be hard to keep."
Bingxin suddenly spoke: "I cultivate the Asking Heaven Sword Art, always feeling something was off. Today sparring with Brother Yuyi, I finally discovered the sword art's true essence." She paused, shock flashing in her eyes. "The Asking Heaven Sword Art belongs to the sword intent guidance type technique. The moves must be deployed continuously. Using them disruptively will lose their power."
Yuyi heard this and pondered. "Sword intent guidance type?"
Bingxin nodded. Her longsword left its sheath, the Asking Heaven Sword Art deployed. Sword moves were continuous like a river flowing, sword intent guiding, difficult to break free from. Yuyi and Xueying joined hands to break it, but found the sword moves growing sharper and harder to resist. Each move contained the previous move's sword intent, layering upon each other, power multiplying.
Until the fourteenth move, sword light like a celestial flight, sword intent like asking heaven, pointing straight at the heart. The three joining hands could not break it. The sword light dissipated, the three with grave expressions.
"The fourteenth move has infinite power. We cannot break it." Yuyi said solemnly. "Miss Bingxin, does the Asking Heaven Sword Art have a fifteenth move?"
Bingxin's expression was complex. She said softly: "My master once said, one must comprehend the fifteenth move. But I've cultivated until now, never seeing the shadow of the fifteenth move."
Yuyi pondered for a moment and said: "Sect-guarding techniques each have their merits. The Heavy Sword Art belongs to the spiritual power condensation type, directly improving spiritual power condensation and destructive power. The Heaven Sword Nine Forms belongs to the divine consciousness detection type, seeing through enemy weaknesses, concise and effective attacks. The Asking Heaven Sword Art and Cloud-Breaking Sword Art belong to the sword intent guidance type, intricate continuous moves forcing opponents to follow."
Xueying's eyes flashed with hope. "Brother Yuyi, would you be willing to help me complete the Netherworld True Scripture mission?"
Before Yuyi could answer, Bingxin already said: "I'm also willing to help. If Miss Xueying can obtain the Netherworld True Scripture, the Heavy Sword Art's power will greatly increase, which will also benefit us greatly."
Yuyi nodded. "Miss Xueying, what resources does the mission need?"
Xueying said: "Need enough protective talismans to ensure safety. Chunyang Ancestor's strength is extremely formidable. Without protective talismans, the slightest mistake means falling."
Yuyi turned to Bingxin. "How many protective talismans does Silver Moon Alliance have stored?"
Bingxin said: "Nine. But the Netherworld True Scripture concerns Youming Sect's status. Need to prevent Cangqiong Alliance from getting there first. Nitian Alliance can guarantee to replenish the consumption later."
Xueying said gratefully: "Thank you Brother Yuyi, Miss Bingxin."
Yuyi waved his hand. "No need for thanks. Since we are friends, naturally we should help."
Just as they were speaking, footsteps came from outside the bamboo forest. Shaying and Lingxiao walked side by side, with Youying behind them. Shaying's expression was somewhat unnatural, while Lingxiao deliberately kept his distance. A subtle awkwardness permeated between the two.
Yuyi noticed that Lingxiao subconsciously reached out wanting to hold Shaying, but Shaying lowered her head pretending not to see. Their gazes collided, and like people doing something wrong, quickly looked away.
"Brother Yuyi, we accidentally discovered people besieging Chunyang Ancestor deep in the Youming mountain range." Shaying spoke, her voice somewhat rushed. "Duan Changjian, Shuangtong, Shuanghua Xianzi, Xuantie, mingjing, Qingfeng, Hanmei are all there. They've been besieging for several days."
Lingxiao added: "Chunyang Ancestor's strength is formidable. Nine people besieging still can't win. If Shaying joins, she can complete the mission together."
Xueying's eyes flashed with surprise. "Really?"
Shaying nodded. "I saw it with my own eyes. Brother Yuyi, should we go help?"
Yuyi pondered for a moment and said: "Chunyang Ancestor's strength is extremely formidable. Besieging for several days without victory shows his power. But since we've promised to help Miss Xueying, we cannot go back on our word."
Bingxin said: "I'll go too. The fourteenth move of the Asking Heaven Sword Art has infinite power. Perhaps it can pose a threat to Chunyang Ancestor."
Yuyi nodded. "Good. We'll set out immediately."
Everyone packed their belongings and left Youyue Valley, heading toward the Youming mountain range. The flying boat pierced through clouds and mist, extremely fast. Yuyi stood at the bow, gazing at the clouds in the distance, countless thoughts in his mind.
The Nirvana Sword Art needed killing intent state of mind, the Asking Heaven Sword Art's fifteenth move was not yet comprehended, the Heavy Sword Art needed the Netherworld True Scripture's mental method chapter. Everyone's techniques had their predicaments, needing to find solutions.
Shaying walked to Yuyi's side and said softly: "Yuyi, Lingxiao he..."
Yuyi interrupted her. "Shaying, regarding matters of emotion, it's not appropriate for me to say much. But Lingxiao has feelings for you, and you're not unmoved either. The two of you deliberately keeping distance only makes the relationship more awkward."
Shaying lowered her head, her voice trembling slightly. "I know. But I don't want to implicate him."
Yuyi sighed and said no more.
The flying boat arrived deep in the Youming mountain range. Peak after peak towered, clouds and mist swirling. Atop the mountain peaks, sword lights flashed, spiritual energy surging. Nine figures formed a circle, and in the center was a white-haired, white-bearded man in daoist robes—it was Chunyang Ancestor.
Duan Changjian held the Longyuan Sword, sword light like a dragon, sword momentum sharp. Shuangtong's green clothes fluttered, frost-cold energy permeating. Shuanghua Xianzi deployed the Bingmei Valley technique, cold plums blooming. Xuantie's heavy sword swept across, sword wind whistling. mingjing, Qingfeng, and Hanmei's three sword techniques were different, their coordination seamless.
Yet Chunyang Ancestor walked as if in a leisurely garden, deploying the Chunyang Finger, finger energy like golden light arrows, breaking through everyone's attacks. His expression was calm, as if he didn't take everyone seriously at all. Each finger energy contained the profound cultivation base of a Deity Transformation Grandmaster, easily dissolving everyone's sharp attacks.
Yuyi and the others laned the flying boat and joined the battle. Yuyi deployed the Nirvana Sword Art, sword light following like a shadow, avoiding the solid and striking the empty. Xueying deployed the Heavy Sword Art, sword momentum powerful. Bingxin deployed the Asking Heaven Sword Art, sword moves continuous.
Twelve people besieged, and Chunyang Ancestor's expression finally changed slightly. He brought his palms together, pure yang true qi erupting, like a scorching sun in the sky, forcing everyone back. The powerful true qi fluctuations made the surrounding mountain rocks begin to tremble, clouds and mist dispersed, revealing the azure sky.
"What a group of juniors." Chunyang Ancestor spoke, his voice like a great bell. "But wanting to take my Netherworld True Scripture, you're still far from it."
Yuyi pointed his longsword, sword light like a rainbow. "Senior, forgive me."
Sword lights flashed, the battle began again. The sword dao sparring in the bamboo forest turned into a life-and-death struggle. Killing intent surged in Yuyi's heart, the Nirvana Sword Art's power gradually increasing. Xueying's heavy sword swept across, sword momentum growing more powerful. Bingxin's Asking Heaven Sword Art was continuous, sword intent guiding.
Shaying and Lingxiao fought side by side, their sword techniques coordinating seamlessly, yet always maintaining a subtle distance. Youying stood by on the side, looking for weaknesses.
Early morning light appeared, thin mist swirling. Deep in the Youming mountain range, sword light like rainbows, spiritual energy surging. Twelve people besieged Chunyang Ancestor, victory undecided, life and death uncertain.