Chapter 1326: Classification of True Interpretations (Part 1)

"I was out of line..."

After laughing, Jian Qinsheng returned to his previous demeanor, looking at Zhang Xuan with increasing satisfaction. "The sword technique you just performed was the [Flowing Water Sword Art], right?"

Startled, Zhang Xuan shook his head. "What is that? Never heard of it."

"Never heard of it?"

Jian Qinsheng frowned. "This sword art is exactly the one I was practicing just now. It was created by the third master of the Holy Son Hall's ancestral hall, Jian Liushui. It has been passed down to me through countless generations and is also circulated within the hall... The sword technique you just performed is extremely similar in both sword intent and moves. How could it not be?"

Although this sword art was created by his ancestor, it was not passed down through his lineage; many disciples in the Sword Hall of the Holy Son Hall also practiced it.

He had thought that even if this person was not from the Zhang family, he must have obtained the cultivation essentials of the Flowing Water Sword Art through some fortuitous opportunity, enabling him to reach such strength in a short time. He never expected that the man had never even heard of this sword art!

"What I just performed is my own original sword technique. It has nothing to do with the sword art you mentioned."

Realizing that the other party might be referring to the completely erroneous moves he had been practicing, Zhang Xuan smiled and shook his head.

Such a garbage sword art, so absurdly wrong—if he ever encountered it, he wouldn't even glance at it, let alone learn it. How could that be possible?

"Original?" Jian Qinsheng was stunned, his eyes wide. "You created that sword technique?"

Zhang Xuan nodded.

This was the Holy Son Hall, the most prestigious institution on the continent. If he mentioned Yang Xuan again, and someone checked the Master Teacher Hall headquarters and found no such person, it would cause even more trouble. It was better to claim he created it himself.

Having comprehended the True Interpretation of the Sword, he could already be considered a grandmaster of the sword. Creating a few sword techniques was nothing.

"This..." Jian Qinsheng still found it hard to believe. "Could you perform the sword technique you created once more for me to see?"

"Of course!"

Nodding, Zhang Xuan pinched his fingers, and a sword qi shot straight from his fingertip. With a flick of his wrist, streaks of cold light flashed in the air, as if about to pierce through the air itself.

His sword moves were simple, with no apparent flourish, yet they carried a sharpness that was hard to evade, as if any encounter would result in a hit.

The speed of the sword moves was as slow as before, but they were imbued with an irresistible momentum.

Resisting the sword technique felt like resisting the Heavenly Dao.

"It really isn't the Flowing Water Sword Art..."

Murmuring to himself, Jian Qinsheng seemed somewhat dejected.

He had thought the other party had cultivated his ancestor's sword art, but now it was clear that the artistic conceptions of the two sword techniques were completely different, belonging to different lineages.

Moreover, although the other's sword technique consisted of only one move, it encompassed countless variations, making it more exquisite than his ancestor's Flowing Water Sword Art.

However, its power was somewhat inferior, likely just a low-level sword technique, not exceeding the middle grade of the Saint Domain.

"Master Zhang, being able to create such a powerful sword move and having reached the level of True Interpretation, you probably didn't come here to learn, did you?"

Shifting his mindset and setting aside his disappointment, Jian Qinsheng looked at him again.

Being able to comprehend the True Interpretation of the Sword already made one a grandmaster. Creating such a sword technique, which was not inferior to his own, made it hard to believe that he had come to learn from him.

"I came here indeed to ask for a favor. I heard that you have collected many sword technique manuals. Could you lend them to me for a look?"

Zhang Xuan stated his purpose.

"Reading books? That's not impossible, but..."

Jian Qinsheng hesitated. "My [Sword Library] was built by our ancestor Liushui. It contains his sword intent, and only those who gain its approval can enter. Over the years, I have accepted disciples based on this criterion, hoping they could smoothly enter the library to study."

"Gain the approval of the sword intent?"

Zhang Xuan frowned. Shui Qianrou had mentioned this before.

He had thought it was a rule set by Jian Qinsheng himself, but it seemed otherwise.

"Yes! My ancestor's strength far exceeds mine, reaching the pinnacle of the continent. The sword intent he left behind is magnificent and powerful. Even I cannot break the rules!"

Jian Qinsheng smiled bitterly.

Everyone said he was rigid and selfish, hoarding advanced sword techniques instead of spreading them widely, which led to his current state. But only he knew that these rules were set by his ancestor, and as a descendant, he could not change them.

"To enter the [Sword Library] to read books, you either need the Hall Master's token or gain the approval of the sword intent. There is no third way. If you really want to read, you might as well take the test. Perhaps you can gain approval and enter easily."

"Test?" After a moment of thought, Zhang Xuan nodded. "Alright."

Although he had the Hall Master's token, his true strength was only at the initial stage of the Out-of-Body Realm, and his master teacher level was only seven stars... None of these met the conditions to break the seal.

If he took it out now and was discovered, it would be extremely troublesome.

It didn't suit his low-key nature.

It would be better to just take the test. Perhaps with the Heavenly Dao technique and the special nature of the Heavenly Dao Sword Art, he could easily pass.

"Follow me!"

Seeing his agreement, Jian Qinsheng nodded.

Since this young man was not from the Zhang family and had such talent, he was willing to help him read books, but unfortunately, the rules could not be broken, and there was no other way.

Zhang Xuan followed closely, with Shui Qianrou, Senior Brother Xie, and the others also following.

Since they were here, it meant they had passed the test, and they wanted to see if this sword expert could do the same as them.

Before long, they arrived at a spacious room. On the central wall was a huge character "Sword," with strokes like silver hooks and iron strokes, as if about to pierce the sky.

It was somewhat similar to the one in the Sword Pool, yet completely different, containing a different artistic conception.

The wall beneath the "Sword" character was also carved with various annotations, looking ancient and having existed for countless years. They were likely the insights and experiences left by previous generations.

"This character was left by our ancestor Liushui. If you can approach within five meters without being attacked, it means you have gained approval." Jian Qinsheng explained.

"Mm." Zhang Xuan nodded.

When sword intent is cultivated to a high level, it can automatically protect its master. The character on the wall contained the lifelong will of Jian Liushui, so its power was naturally extraordinary. If one's cultivation philosophy conflicted with it, they would be directly attacked.

It wasn't that other techniques were not allowed, but rather a form of self-protection of the sword intent.

"I'll give it a try."

Knowing that to read the books, he had to find a way to get close, he took a deep breath and, without further ado, stepped forward slowly.

The huge character before him was like a blazing sun, giving off an intense pressure, even causing a burning sensation in his primordial spirit.

"Could it be that the sword intent I cultivate really doesn't match?"

Earlier it was just speculation, but now, before even getting close, he felt heavy pressure, confirming his suspicion.

This was troublesome.

He didn't want to sneak into the other's library to steal books.

Not to mention whether he had the strength, even if he did, he couldn't act recklessly in the Holy Son Hall.

After all, if he did so, once his identity as Hall Master was revealed later, it would become very awkward.

Ah, fame kills!

Being Hall Master wasn't as enjoyable as imagined.

It was better when he was unknown, free and unrestrained, able to do whatever he wanted!

He wished he were just an ordinary disciple, able to do as he pleased!

Sighing inwardly, he didn't stop walking. The further he went, the greater the pressure, as if a long sword hung over his head, ready to strike at any moment.

The sword intent within him, sensing this threat, stirred restlessly, ready to meet it and contend.

"Can he pass?"

Seeing the young man advancing step by step, Shui Qianrou was full of worry.

"Probably very difficult..."

Jian Qinsheng shook his head.

From his observation, he could tell that the other party had his own path, completely different from his ancestor's Flowing Water Sword Art. The likelihood of gaining approval was slim.

Woo woo woo!

As he spoke, sure enough, the "Sword" character on the wall trembled slightly, and a magnificent sword qi shot straight down at Zhang Xuan.

"Alas!"

Knowing that approval had not been granted, Jian Qinsheng shook his head and reached out with his hand.

A tremendous force shot from his fingertips, blocking the sword qi from the "Sword" character.

"Step back!"

"Mm."

Knowing the outcome, Zhang Xuan shook his head and retreated to the group.

"It seems you haven't gained approval. The Sword Library probably cannot be opened for you..."

Jian Qinsheng said apologetically.

Zhang Xuan felt helpless.

He had thought the Heavenly Dao Sword Art could merge with it, but it seemed he had underestimated the difficulty.

"Is there any way to gain approval?" he couldn't help asking.

"Although there is only one path of the sword, there are many True Interpretations. My ancestor comprehended one, the Zhang family head another, and the old Sword Master yet another... Different True Interpretations repel each other! Unless you comprehend another True Interpretation, specifically my ancestor Liushui's, and also reach the level of True Interpretation, matching the sword intent within you, otherwise, it's absolutely impossible!"

Jian Qinsheng smiled bitterly.

All roads lead to Rome. If the sword path is compared to the destination, and True Interpretations to roads, with the direction set, there must be many roads.

It's like a problem with many solutions, all leading to the answer.

Different True Interpretations have different powers, some even completely opposite. How could they gain approval?

"You mean... if I cultivate the sword intent inscribed in this 'Sword' character and reach the level of True Interpretation, I can gain approval?" Zhang Xuan looked at him.

"Exactly!"

Jian Qinsheng nodded. "But don't even think about it. One True Interpretation of the sword already consumes a lifetime of effort, and it's hard to achieve. A second... is absolutely impossible! In the Holy Son Hall, countless sword geniuses have never succeeded. Don't dwell on it..."

"Is it really that difficult?" Zhang Xuan was puzzled, then looked at the various characters beneath the 'Sword' character and slowly closed his eyes.

"Yes, the difficulty is unimaginable! I've read some books about my ancestor. It is said that after comprehending this sword intent, he tried to learn others, but nearly went insane..."

With a sigh, Jian Qinsheng turned to look at the young man nearby, about to apologize and ask him to leave, when he heard a sudden rumble.

A sword intent shot straight from the other's brow. The 'Sword' character in front seemed to sense something, trembling violently with excitement, causing the room to creak.

"The True Interpretation of the Sword comprehended by my ancestor?" Jian Qinsheng's pupils contracted.