The blood stains on the snow had not yet congealed when Zixiao's figure slowly condensed from the Rebirth Formation. Flipping through the air, he laned steadily before the three, his white clothes like snow, his expression calm. The Rebirth Formation's light gradually dissipated, the surrounding spiritual energy returning to tranquility.
"I lost." Zixiao spoke, his voice calm as water, without a trace of unwillingness.
Yuyi sheathed his sword, his gaze meeting Zixiao's directly, speaking sincerely: "I won the duel, but under normal circumstances, I truly could not defeat you."
Zixiao smiled slightly, shaking his head: "A win is a win. If you continued pursuing me, how many protective talismans would I have? Taking an Antidote Pill is also because you had the strength to buy one. It's the same principle as dharma treasures—dharma treasures and pills are also part of strength. In the cultivation world, strength is everything."
Yuyi was silent for a moment, then nodded.
Zixiao's gaze fell on Yuyi, carrying a trace of appreciation: "Your Quick Sword Art cultivated to this level is truly rare. However, I suggest you learn sect ultimate techniques—your talent shouldn't be limited to one sword art."
"Brother Zixiao, what are your plan?" Yuyi asked.
"I've already collected the cultivation world's ultimate technique trials, now I'm much more relaxed." Zixiao paused, his expression becoming serious, "But be careful—after news of your victory over me spreads today, there will definitely be cultivators taking advantage to kick someone when they're down, wanting to make a name through you. The cultivation world never lacks opportunists."
Yuyi's expression was calm: "Let them come."
Zixiao looked deeply at him, suddenly saying: "Yanqing's technique is above minge."
Yuyi and mingjing simultaneously turned to look at Yanqing.
Zixiao continued: "If Yanqing had acted, she could defeat you. In the Cangqiong Alliance, only Feiyue can fight her. Yanqing's technique has reached perfection—each move carries profound artistic conception."
Yanqing stood to the side, her expression calm, seemingly unsurprised by Zixiao's evaluation.
Zixiao turned to Yuyi, asking: "Your footwork and speed, where do they come from?"
Yuyi answered frankly: "I once took spirit medicine that increased three speed attributes."
Zixiao nodded, pondering for a moment before speaking: "In that case, I'll point out a few deficiencies."
Yuyi cupped his hands: "Please, Brother Zixiao, instruct me."
Zixiao said seriously: "First, I feel your confidence is insufficient. When fighting Feiyue, my attacks often reach within half an inch of her body before she dodges or blocks. That composure, that confidence, is the demeanor of a true expert. But you, you understand how to do this, yet didn't dare to truly implement it in our fight. Your hesitation exposed your inner lack of confidence."
Yuyi frowned slightly, falling into thought. He had indeed felt hesitation in battle, not daring to truly let go.
"Second, your Quick Sword Art also has some problems." Zixiao continued, "Sometimes in haste, you seem about to use a technique other than Quick Sword Art, then forcibly change moves at the last moment. This hesitation is fatal in expert duels. Your sword technique carries too many traces that don't belong to Quick Sword Art, which shows your heart isn't completely in Quick Sword Art."
Yuyi nodded silently—he had indeed sensed this. His Quick Sword Art always felt somewhat incompatible with himself in some places.
"The most important point is speed." Zixiao's gaze became sharp, "Feiyue rarely uses flashy moves. When her body technique strikes, she treats the light as heavy. Each of her moves carries profound technique, seemingly effortless, but actually hiding killing intent. But you, in speed you treat the heavy as heavy, not utilizing your advantage. Your heart has difficulties, wanting to step in another direction but hesitating. Your speed advantage is bound by your hesitation."
Yuyi was silent for a long time, slowly saying: "Brother Zixiao is right. I am indeed hesitating, wavering."
Yanqing then spoke, her voice cold and clear: "If you feel wavering and indecisive about your choices, the result will only lead to neither path going far. Hesitation is a cultivator's greatest enemy."
Yuyi looked up at Yanqing.
Yanqing looked directly into his eyes, saying: "I'm confident I can defeat you within fifty moves. Quick Sword Art doesn't suit you at all."
Yuyi was slightly startled.
Yanqing continued: "Quick Sword Art has too many move variations, and you obviously don't like investing your mind into deeper comprehension of variations. Your heart pursues something more direct, more pure. These variations seriously affect your speed advantage. Your talent shouldn't be bound by Quick Sword Art."
Yuyi fell into thought—he had indeed always felt Quick Sword Art was incompatible with him in some ways. Those complex variations, those flashy moves, always made him uncomfortable.
Yanqing's voice sounded again, carrying some gravity: "Formless is only one kind of artistic conception in moves, it cannot represent overall cultivation base. Please remember this! Formless is only one realm of sword technique, not the pinnacle of cultivation."
mingjing softly added from the side: "Formless is only one kind of artistic conception in moves, not equal to the formless sword of overall cultivation base. Whether formless or swordless, neither is the only high point and pinnacle. The path of cultivation has thousands of paths, each can lead to the peak."
Yuyi's heart shook, as if lightning flashed through. The formless realm he had been pursuing was actually only one artistic conception in moves, not the pinnacle of cultivation. His heart had been bound by this realm, ignoring more important things.
"Thank you for the guidance." Yuyi bowed deeply.
Zixiao waved his hand, turning to look at Yanqing, their gazes meeting, seeming to hold thousands of words. Years of husband and wife, their minds already connected. In their eyes was understanding, support, and deep attachment.
"We should go." Zixiao said.
Yanqing nodded, leaving together with Zixiao shoulder to shoulder. Their figures gradually disappeared at the end of the snow field, leaving only a string of shallow footprints.
mingjing walked to Yuyi's side, softly saying: "Let me dance the sword for you."
Yuyi turned, seeing mingjing undo her hair ribbon, her black long hair immediately fluttering in the wind, cascading down like a waterfall. That long hair fluttered in the wind like black silk, shimmering with faint luster.
Snowflakes drifted down, mingjing's white clothes like snow, dancing the sword in the flying snow. Sword shadows danced, long hair fluttered, her figure like a fairy walking on waves, sword intent like flowing water and drifting clouds. Her sword had no flashy variations, no complex moves, yet had an indescribable beauty.
That was a realm of treating the light as heavy, an artistic conception of sword in heart, no sword in hand. Each of her strikes carried profound technique, seemingly effortless, but actually hiding killing intent. Her body technique was like a swimming dragon playing in water, relaxed and free, yet containing powerful force.
Yuyi watched in a daze.
The blood-colored world unfolded before his eyes, but that snow-white bright figure was like a bright lamp in darkness, illumingating everything. mingjing's sword had no flashy variations, no complex moves, yet had an indescribable beauty. That was a pure beauty, a beauty that pointed straight to the heart.
Snowflakes laned on mingjing's long hair, on her white clothes, but couldn't conceal her radiance. Her sword, like her heart, was clear and transparent. Each of her strikes carried her emotions, her understanding, her pursuit.
Yuyi suddenly understood something.
Quick Sword Art didn't suit him, not because Quick Sword Art was bad, but because his heart wasn't in variations. What he pursued was something more pure. A power that pointed straight to the heart, a realm of treating the light as heavy.
mingjing sheathed her sword, her long hair still fluttering, white clothes like snow. She looked at Yuyi, her eyes carrying a trace of tenderness.
"What did you see?" she asked softly.
Yuyi was silent for a moment, slowly saying: "I saw... myself. I saw what I truly want."
mingjing smiled slightly, asking no more.
The sunset's afterglow sprinkled on the snow, dyeing everything golden. The blood-colored world gradually faded, leaving only the beautiful scenery of snow white and golden interweaving. That beautiful scenery was like a scroll, unfolding before Yuyi's eyes.
Yuyi's heart had already made a decision.
He wanted to change, to find the path that truly belonged to him. Set up an arena, challenge experts, find answers in actual combat. He wanted to find the technique that truly suited him, find the sword path that truly belonged to him.
The wind and snow continued, but Yuyi's heart was already as clear as a bright mirror.
mingjing re-tied her hair ribbon, walking to Yuyi's side, standing shoulder to shoulder with him.
"Let's go." she said.
Yuyi nodded, and the two walked down the mountain together.
Behind them, the blood stains on the snow had been covered by new snow, as if nothing had ever happened. But that duel, those pointers, that sword dance, had all been deeply branded in Yuyi's heart.
Formless is only one kind of artistic conception in moves, not equal to the formless sword of overall cultivation base.
These words, he would never forget.
Snow fell silently, the road ahead was long. Yuyi knew his cultivation path had only just begun. He wanted to find the path that truly belonged to him, find the technique that truly suited him. This was his mission, and also his pursuit.