Chapter 1927: Elder Lu Yun

"Not bad!"

Zhang Xuan nodded in satisfaction.

This disciple, like Lu Chong back then, possessed an extremely resolute mind.

Not to mention anything else, if it were someone else, having suffered such a tragic变故, they would have long given up on themselves and completely abandoned hope. Yet he, knowing full well that he couldn't cultivate, still absorbed spiritual energy every day without interruption.

It was this perseverance that led to such an achievement!

Only through effort can one gain; there is no free lunch in the world.

"Master!"

Feeling the power coursing through his entire body, his left leg, which had been as hard as rock before, was restored to its original state, free from its shackles. Shan Xiaotian could no longer hold back; tears streamed down his face as he knelt to the ground.

After all, he was still a teenager of just over ten years old.

He had thought that after his fiancée broke off the engagement, he would surely suffer humiliation and then die. Unexpectedly, this master before him had completely changed his life.

"Good deeds bring good rewards. You saved me, and this is what you deserve..." Zhang Xuan smiled and looked at him again: "Your strength has reached the realm of Seeing the Spirit Without Injury. Let me teach you some martial techniques for self-defense!"

Having cultivation alone, without martial techniques, is equivalent to having no combat power.

It's like the story of Xuzhu, who had two hundred years of inner strength but didn't know how to use it, so he wasn't considered a master. Even a mere Wu Laoda could throw him into disarray.

"I see you've been practicing the sword all along. Coincidentally, I've just created a set of sword techniques. Try to see if you can learn them..."

Since the age of ten, Shan Xiaotian had done nothing but cultivate and practice the sword. Although his swordsmanship was not particularly impressive, this weapon had long been ingrained in his bones. There was no need to change it. Besides, it would be good to pass on the sword techniques he had just created from the Divine Revelation Jade Talisman to him.

Soon, he had learned the essence of the sword techniques.

The master taught only one move: after throwing the longsword, through precise control of force, pierce the opponent's flaw and slay them.

It seemed simple, but after hearing it, he understood that mastering it would be extremely difficult.

First, one must have a certain understanding of the opponent's sword moves, strength, and sword intent to anticipate their actions. Second, there is also a high demand for speed.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Although it was difficult, Shan Xiaotian was inherently a determined person. He executed each move meticulously, afraid of making any mistake that might displease his master.

"Hmm."

Seeing that this newly accepted disciple, though lacking the talent of Zhao Ya, Yuan Tao, or Wei Ruyan, made up for it with hard work, Zhang Xuan nodded in satisfaction.

After practicing for over an hour, seeing that he had gained some understanding of the sword technique, the two left the meditation room.

"Continue pretending to be lame..." Zhang Xuan transmitted his voice.

Shan Xiaotian quickly resumed his previous appearance, limping forward.

With his breakthrough in cultivation, not only had his leg healed, but his height had also increased. Although not as tall as Zhang Xuan, he was now no different from a normal person. Knowing his master's intention, he deliberately limped and hunched his back. Unless someone was very familiar with him, they wouldn't notice that in less than half a day, from entering to leaving the trading company, he had undergone a qualitative transformation and leap.

By now, it was completely dark outside. Old Yi drove the carriage over and, seeing the young master's appearance, couldn't help but freeze.

Just as he was about to speak, he saw the young master shake his head.

Understanding his meaning, Old Yi said nothing more. He knelt down and kowtowed to Zhang Xuan a few times before standing up and inviting the two to board the carriage.

Originally, he had thought it would be troublesome for the young master to save this person, but unexpectedly, it had brought about a earth-shattering change in the young master's life.

"Master, the young master is healed..."

His eyes reddened, Old Yi muttered to himself, then said no more. He drove the carriage swiftly toward the Shan residence.

As soon as they left, several figures flashed from the street corner, like wisps of smoke, and followed closely behind.

...

Xingyao City.

"Have you heard? Today, a super strong expert came to the Divine Revelation Hall! He won eight consecutive matches in the open challenge, and only left because there were no more opponents."

"Eight consecutive matches? Xingyao City hasn't seen such a powerful expert in hundreds of years! Could it be that the experts from the Lingyun Sword Pavilion, who are here to recruit outer disciples, participated in the matches?"

"They did participate... but they were all easily killed by this person! And each one was killed with a single blow..."

"Really? How do you know the Sword Pavilion experts participated?"

"Among the four experts from the Sword Pavilion, wasn't there one called Yun Feiyang? He didn't change his appearance or use an alias, and even displayed the Sword Pavilion's sword techniques. As a result... that mysterious expert pierced his head with a single sword strike, killing him on the spot..."

"So strong? What's the expert's name?"

"It's... Tianya."

"What a good name! It sounds vast and profound, unfathomable!"

"Isn't it just 'Yama'?"

"..."

...

News spread quickly. Within less than an hour of Zhang Xuan leaving the Divine Revelation Hall, almost all the experts in Xingyao City knew about it.

In an instant, the Divine Revelation Hall was packed. Countless sword experts waited in front of the arena, hoping that the super strong expert named "Tianya" would appear again, so they could witness true swordsmanship.

Xingyao City, City Lord's Mansion.

The people from the Lingyun Sword Pavilion were all arranged to stay here.

In a spacious courtyard, an old man was slowly wielding a longsword.

His movements were very slow and seemed harmless, but with each downward press of the sword, it gave a feeling of tearing heaven and earth apart. The airflow in the courtyard was stirred up by the longsword, spinning continuously to form a whirlwind.

The courtyard was planted with many flowers and plants. After the whirlwind passed, the flowers and leaves were unharmed, but the dewdrops on them seemed to have evaporated.

Removing the dewdrops without harming the flowers—such control was truly astonishing.

Whoosh!

He stopped, sheathed the longsword, and exhaled a turbid breath that stretched like a white ribbon for over ten zhang before disappearing into the night sky.

"Come in."

After washing his hands, the old man spoke.

He had noticed while practicing that the several juniors he brought this time had all gathered outside, but he ignored them because he was cultivating.

Creak!

Yun Feiyang, Huang Tao, the Bamboo Pole, and the Square Face walked in, bowing simultaneously: "Greetings, Elder Lu!"

This old man was none other than Elder Lu Yun, who was responsible for this recruitment by the Lingyun Sword Pavilion!

"Hmm."

Walking to the stone table in the courtyard, Elder Lu Yun sat down: "What brings you all here to see me?"

When they left the sect, these fellows were like birds freed from their cages. Usually, they would avoid him whenever possible. For them to gather outside the courtyard, if there was nothing important, he wouldn't believe it.

"Reporting to Elder, just now, Junior Brother Yun Feiyang and Junior Brother Huang Tao went to... the Divine Revelation Hall in Xingyao City to engage in an open challenge..."

Pausing, the Square Face stepped forward and spoke.

"I can understand your intentions. After studying martial arts for many years, you want to show off a bit. But... as disciples of the Sword Pavilion, the purpose of learning swordsmanship is to enhance strength, promote the mysteries of swordsmanship, win honor for the sect, and enter the inner sect as soon as possible. It is not for you to attract attention and gain admiration..."

Elder Lu Yun's face darkened.

When a professional expert goes to an ordinary club, they naturally want to show off a few moves to attract attention... but doing so is too childish.

Yun Feiyang and Huang Tao's faces reddened.

"Let it slide this time. We'll let it go."

Elder Lu Yun waved his hand, then suddenly realized: "In the past, when leading disciples out, there have been similar situations. It doesn't violate sect rules. What's wrong? Did you cause some trouble?"

Yun Feiyang said awkwardly: "Reporting to Elder, when I entered the Divine Revelation Hall to compete... I used the Flowing Water Without Trace sword technique."

"Flowing Water Without Trace? Against cultivators in Xingyao City, you needed to use that move? It seems you encountered an expert!"

Startled, Elder Lu Yun picked up a teapot and filled the teacup in front of him: "This technique was created by me years ago while observing flowing water. Although simple, it contains the Dao within and is very difficult to master. Being able to execute it is not bad... Of course, forcing you to use this move means the opponent has some skill! Once this move is executed, the opponent should have no way to counter and would concede, right?"

Bringing the teacup to his lips, he took a sip, a smile full of confidence on his face.

He had absolute confidence in the technique he created. Against mere cultivators from Xingyao City, using this move would surely frighten them into submission, and they wouldn't dare say another word.

Seeing the elder so self-absorbed, Yun Feiyang became even more embarrassed and said: "When I executed that move, he... pierced my head with a single sword strike..."

"Pfft!"

A mouthful of tea sprayed all over the Square Face's face, making his face look even larger. Elder Lu Yun's eyes widened: "What did you say?"

"I... as soon as we clashed, I used that move, and then... I was pierced through the head on the spot and died!"

Yun Feiyang explained.

"This, this... how is that possible?"

Elder Lu Yun was about to go crazy.

Such a powerful defensive ultimate technique, broken with a single move, and his head pierced? Really?

"Is that person good at offense?" Seeing that the other didn't seem to be lying, Elder Lu Yun quickly asked.

"Yes, his offensive ability is extremely strong!" Huang Tao nodded, still feeling a lingering fear.

"Since his offensive ability is extremely strong, you probably used the wrong sword technique. Flowing Water Without Trace is good for defense, but when facing absolute offense, only defending can also create loopholes. It's like cutting water with a knife—the water splashes on the blade, but the blade is still cut through..."

Hearing that the opponent's offense was extremely strong, Elder Lu Yun slowly recovered: "To deal with this kind of person, you should take the initiative to attack. Using my Meteor Step combined with the Splitting Bamboo Sword Technique should easily counter him and break the passive situation!"

"Well... Reporting to Elder, I also fought him. From the start, I used the Meteor Step and Splitting Bamboo Sword Technique..."

The Bamboo Pole's face flushed.

When he fought that Tianya, he attacked from the start, using exactly these two techniques.

Also created by this elder before him.

"How was it? Did you break through like splitting bamboo and defeat him in one go?" Elder Lu Yun took another sip of water.

The Bamboo Pole scratched his head: "Before I even got close... I was also killed with a headshot..."

Pfft!

The Square Face's clothes were also wet, his face full of resentment, and his face looked even larger.

"Both offense and defense were killed by the opponent with a single sword strike?"

The teacup fell to the ground. Unable to contain himself any longer, Elder Lu Yun suddenly stood up.