Chapter 374 - 218: Hidden Dragon List 72

Chapter 374: Chapter 218: Hidden Dragon List 72

After giving Lin Cheng a few subtle pointers that left him deep in thought, Xie Yuan pretended to be contemplating a difficult problem of the Sword Dao, but was actually looking at something else.

Cloud Mountain Sword Intent Scripture, 4th Layer: (1991/4000)

Body-Nurturing Art, 1st Layer: (36/1000)

Lv Liangdong’s perception wasn’t wrong. Xie Yuan had indeed improved recently.

However, it wasn’t his Swordsmanship, but his Cloud Mountain Sword Intent Scripture.

After familiarizing himself with the fundamental cultivation path for the Cloud Mountain Sword Intent Scripture, he had directly taken his Body-Nurturing Art and used it to empower himself, instantly regressing the Body-Nurturing Art to the 1st Layer while elevating the Sword Intent Scripture to the 4th Layer.

The two techniques didn’t have a one-to-one correspondence, of course, but their tiers were roughly equivalent. The 4th Layer of the Sword Intent Scripture was a basic match for the power of the Qi and Blood Second Transformation Realm.

In the early stages of the Martial Dao, the path of Qi and Blood was dominant. The idea of supplementing it with internal breath to progress further was an improvement explored and developed by later generations.

Therefore, most of these nurturing methods didn’t correspond one-to-one with the realms of the Martial Dao. Inner Power techniques also lacked distinct realm divisions, only becoming fully integrated at the Grandmaster realm, where everything merged in perfect harmony.

However, with the Martial Dao’s development to the present day, the tiers of most extant Cultivation Techniques now roughly correspond to the realms of the Martial Dao.

As for the Cloud Mountain Sword Intent Scripture, its first two layers corresponded to the four stages of External Training, while its latter three layers corresponded to the three transformations of Qi and Blood.

So now, after being charged by the Body-Nurturing Art, Xie Yuan’s internal breath had completely supplanted his old Cloud Mountain Sword Qi Art. His cultivation was now dominated by the Cloud Mountain Sword Intent Scripture, which matched his Qi and Blood Second Transformation Realm.

At the 4th Layer, the Cloud Mountain Sword Intent Scripture imbued all of his internal breath with an exceedingly sharp quality. Even his Fist Skills could carry wisps of Sword Intent capable of piercing an enemy’s defense, to say nothing of his sword techniques—his Sword Qi now extended an extra three inches.

This Inner Strength was difficult to cultivate, to be sure, but once achieved, its offensive power far surpassed that of the Body-Nurturing Art!

Especially now that he was primarily cultivating an Internal Cultivation Method perfectly suited to the Cloud Mountain lineage, Xie Yuan’s swordsmanship was on another level. When he used techniques like the Cloud Dragon Nine Forms, both his stamina and power were a good thirty percent stronger than before. He could even sustain a Sword Aura for much longer.

His abilities in the Sword Dao had improved across the board; it was a complete transformation.

Without his great-axe, Xie Yuan now had the bearing of a top-tier Sword Cultivator at the Qi and Blood Second Transformation Realm.

If he were to use the great-axe, his elegant Sword Immortal image would surely be shattered, but his enemies would most likely never get the chance to speak of it.

The only issue was that this internal breath was too sharp. Even though he did his best to suppress it, Lv Liangdong still sensed something, mistaking it for a breakthrough in his Swordsmanship. Of course, that wasn’t it. It was simply that now, with every gesture, whether practicing his sword or his techniques, he emanated faint, formless traces of Sword Intent.

One couldn’t really blame Lv Liangdong’s poor judgment. He knew Xie Yuan was practicing the Cloud Mountain Sword Intent Scripture. But from the time Xie Yuan had last descended the mountain, returned with new merits, and received the scripture to begin cultivating... all told, it hadn’t even been a month, had it?

In that short a time, just managing to get started on a fairly difficult Middle Tier Heart Method would be considered quite good.

Even with Xie Yuan’s incredible talent, the most one could expect was that he would get on the right track. With a few months of hard work, he might, just might, break through the 1st Layer.

And reaching the middle-to-high tiers, where one could no longer fully contain their Sword Intent? That was unthinkable without several years of painstaking, focused cultivation.

Lv Liangdong, at least, had never even considered that possibility.

There were some disciples in the Inner Sect cultivating this Internal Cultivation Method, but most of them, even after several years, were still stuck hovering around the 2nd and 3rd Layers. They hadn’t even finished converting from their old Sword Qi arts.

If Lv Liangdong knew that Xie Yuan had already reached the 4th Layer of the Sword Intent Scripture, the old instructor would probably question all the common sense he’d accumulated over a lifetime of teaching. Then, upon fully grasping the extent of Xie Yuan’s genius, he would likely charge up to the main peak, adopt the seniority of a martial uncle, and find Li Xingtuo.

"Sect Leader, get on your knees. This martial uncle is begging you to take a disciple."

Xie Yuan had already tested the power of the Sword Intent Scripture in his own small courtyard.

His attacks were now far more lethal than before, but he was still a long way from being able to match someone at the Third Transformation Realm.

’When I think of that Celestial Tier Assassin, with their perfect technique and peak speed and strength... even now, I’d only be able to hold out a little longer.’

’I have to keep training.’

Xie Yuan shook his head. Morning practice was about over, so he decided to head to the dining hall for a huge meal before returning to his cultivation.

’I don’t think of myself as some kind of tryhard,’ he thought, ’but the tangible progress is right there in front of me, and the joy of each breakthrough keeps bubbling up inside. I just can’t bring myself to stop.’

’Right now, my goal is to break through to the Qi Blood Third Transformation Realm as soon as possible. Then I’ll be able to defeat experts of the Third Transformation Realm—like that Celestial Tier Assassin. I’ve had Autumn Wind Building on my shit list for a while now.’

’But once I reach that level of strength, I’ll definitely start wondering what it feels like to be a Grandmaster.’

’And if I can reach Grandmaster and cross the Bridge of Heaven and the Bridge of Earth, there’s an even deeper, more distant, more profound path. Beyond Grandmaster, are there still greater heights to reach?’

’Cultivation can never stop.’

Xie Yuan was, in this respect, a little insatiable.

But that wasn’t a bad thing.

Without a heart that never ceases its striving, how could one ever seek the supreme Great Dao?

Just as Xie Yuan was about to head back to his cliffside courtyard, the idle chatter of a few nearby disciples caught his ear.

"I heard things have gotten pretty chaotic down the mountain. The officials are running around like headless chickens."

"I heard that too. Apparently, some big shot who usually keeps a low profile got provoked. Now he’s raising hell, and all the high officials in Yun and Yan prefectures can’t sit still."

"What kind of big shot is that powerful?"

"Prince Cloud Mountain, I think?"

"Tch, that fat guy? He comes to have tea with the Sect Leader all the time. He doesn’t look that imposing."

"Come on, he’s a Martial Arts Grandmaster, you know? Besides, the Princes of Cloud Mountain have always been powerful martial artists. The details... well, they aren’t very pleasant to talk about. Good thing our Sect has always kept a low profile and our relationship with the officials is alright."