Chapter Sixteen: The Sword Has Died

  Facing the expectant gaze of the Sword Saint, Gu Qing's expression remained calm as he nodded slightly and made a inviting gesture.

  Although they hadn't interacted much, Nian Wusheng could already tell that Gu Qing was not someone who liked to beat around the bush. Without hesitation, he spoke directly: "Gu Qing's single finger that broke off Qingping Junzhu's sword yesterday evening was absolutely a divine move. I've been racking my brains for an entire night, trying to figure out the various subtleties contained within it, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't sleep peacefully. So early this morning, I took the liberty of visiting you, hoping that Gu Qing would be willing to enlighten me."

  "My finger may be a bit different, but I believe that with the power of the Unborn Pavilion, it's not impossible to achieve."

  Su Fangyu beside him nodded in agreement with Gu Qing's words, as Nian Wuseng's junior sister, she had the most say in Nian Wuseng's true strength.

  "Heh heh, Gu Qing is being humble. If I'm not mistaken, you used one finger to pin down the Qingying County Princess's sword and broke it off, tossing it out without using any true energy, completely relying on your physical strength to accomplish it easily... Such a divine ability, even ten of me wouldn't be able to match."

  As soon as these words came out, Su Fangyu and Xu Bingying, among the three women present who were not bad in their cultivation, simultaneously showed a look of surprise.

  "What's the point of using true energy?!"

  "Easily accomplished solely through one's own inner strength..."

  "Impossible! Is Seventh Young Master really this formidable?!"

  "It's only natural." As soon as the words were spoken, Nian Wusheng's gaze fell on Gu Qing once again, his eyes filled with a searching color for the pursuit of cultivation.

  "This is not a difficult thing to achieve! When your physical body is adjusted to the best, hearing, smell, vision, touch, and taste will all become extremely sensitive. In that case, even without using true energy, the ability to grasp the outside world is actually not much worse than when using true energy."

  "Is your physical body in top condition?"

  Nian Wusheng hadn't grasped the meaning of the sentence yet, but Xu Xiaolin immediately reacted: "Young Master Qi, are you saying that this is due to practicing that set of fist techniques?"

  Gu Qing nodded slightly.

  "Fist method?"

  Xu Xiaolin saw her idol asking herself a question, just wanting to explain, but considering the extraordinary nature of this divine art, it might have been labeled as absolutely confidential, so she had no choice but to stop and ask for Gu Qing's opinion.

  "This isn't considered a high-level cultivation method, but it's nothing to worry about."

  After getting Gu Qing's permission, Xu Xiaolin eagerly explained the subtleties of that set of fist techniques. Among them, Gu Qing's explanations and analogies for this set of fist techniques were not spared either. Before long, he had clearly explained the disadvantages and advantages of this strange and unusual fist technique!

  Xu Xiaolin finished speaking, and Wu Sheng immediately fell into deep thought.

  He was far superior to Xu Bingning and Xu Xiaolin. Having cultivated to the peak of the ninth layer of Qi Refining, he had already set foot in the door of Dan Dao. His comprehension and perception were far beyond any of the three women. As soon as Xu Xiaolin explained it, he immediately realized a cultivation direction that had been overlooked by people all along. In just a few words, a new and vast gate had opened up before his eyes...

  Seeing Nian Wusheng deep in thought, Xu Xiaolin couldn't help but feel a little strange, and muttered to herself: "Is it really that powerful? Even Master Nian Wusheng seems to have gained some insight from what I just said, but why can't I feel where the power of this technique lies? After practicing for a whole morning, not only did I not feel any effect, but my waist and back ache even more, it's unbearable..."

  "Xiao Lin, what kind of fist technique did you use this morning? It's so amazing that it instantly fooled Brother Wu Sheng. Can you teach me?" Su Fangyu quietly and soundlessly crept over from the side.

  After last night's thrilling game with Gu Qing as the background, their relationship seemed to have drawn closer unconsciously.

  "It's very simple, come on, I'll take you to practice." Xǔ Xiǎolín said, directly pulling Sū Fāngyǔ to the side to start practicing, occasionally pointing out a few sentences from time to time, looking like a real teacher.

  Although Su Fangyu studied very hard, the method that Gu Qing said was too important for her mental state. She had such a purposeful and conscious cultivation, so naturally she couldn't cultivate any effect.

  "Hand over the whole heart, let the body's instincts control oneself... Under the ancient Qing Pavilion, is this a realm called 'Kong Ming'?" After a moment of contemplation, Nian Wusheng suddenly spoke up.

  "Really?"

  Gu Qing snapped back to reality, apparently he had also fallen into some kind of contemplation.

  "No, no, it's not emptiness, emptiness is to release one's spirit and will into the void and wander in the spiritual space, and this cultivation method, the spirit and will have not left the body." Muttering to himself, Nian Wusheng couldn't help but stand up and came to the empty land in the center of the courtyard, just closing his eyes, constantly adjusting his thoughts, as if wanting to enter that wonderful state of consciousness.

  It's just that, to cultivate such a state, it is absolutely not something that can be accomplished overnight. Even if he has an extraordinary talent and exceptional wisdom, after receiving Gu Qing's guidance, he still cannot achieve immediate results!

  "In the depths of the ancient Qing pavilion, another extraordinary path was opened up, creating such a unique cultivation method, tapping into the infinite potential within the human body, and even being considered as a master of a generation is not an exaggeration!"

  Gu Qing shook his head and didn't say anything.

  It was Gu Xiao Lin who explained in a general way: "Young Master also had an unusual encounter, that's how he obtained this divine technique!"

  "So it was."

  Nian Wusheng nodded and seemed to be about to say something else.

  At this time, Xue Bingjing beside him suddenly said: "I have long heard that Nian Wusheng's swordsmanship has reached the pinnacle of perfection, unparalleled in the world, and is known as the Sword Saint of the current generation. I have been fascinated by this divine sword technique for a long time, may I invite you to teach me one or two things?"

  Nian Wusheng and Gu Qing are of the same "level" as top-notch experts, she said this naturally wanting Gu Qing to also learn a thing or two from Nian Wusheng's swordsmanship, in order to reach an even higher realm sooner, and even have hopes for the alchemy path.

  Nian Wusheng had just received Gu Qing's benefits and obtained a brand new skill. Without hesitation, he said: "Practicing one way requires constant refinement and verification at all times to promote mutual progress. If Gu Qing has the intention, I will demonstrate a move of my newly created sword technique that is not yet mature for Gu Qing!"

  Before Gu Qing could speak, Xu Xiaolin couldn't help but respond: "Great, great! Ordinary people would think it's hard to get a chance to see the Sword Saint Nian Wusheng draw his sword, let alone have him personally instruct us in our swordsmanship. This is really too good an opportunity."

  Gu Qing saw Xu Xiaolin's enthusiasm and couldn't help but smile slightly, nodding her head and making a welcoming gesture.

  Nian Wusheng smiled and walked a few steps forward, coming to a relatively empty area in the courtyard.

  When he stood in the middle of the courtyard and grasped his sword with one hand, his entire demeanor changed suddenly.

  The previous thought gave people a warm and elegant feeling of a swordsman, who was indulging in the practice of a single stroke with great passion. However, now his entire being's aura has completely disappeared. To be precise, when he grasped the hilt with one hand, all his aura had been infused into the sword. When he drew the sword out the next moment, what burst forth would certainly be a vastly different and powerful attack...

  "Hmm..."

  Just as Gu Qing was about to sink into contemplation again, his expression slightly stunned, and his gaze fell on Nian Wusheng once more!

  "Clang!"

  The sword is out of its scabbard!

  In an instant, an indescribable aura burst forth from the sword and its wielder, perfectly merging their energies into a state of oneness. Even before the sword had fully left its scabbard, this extraordinary fusion of man and blade already dealt a profound impact that was difficult to put into words.

  "Sword aura!?"

  This was the first time Gu Qing had spoken up on her own initiative without being asked by others.

  He seemed to be unaware, but when the power of his swordsmanship reached a certain height, he suddenly swung it and slashed at a boulder as tall as a person in the courtyard!

  "Boom!"

  A burst of energy shot in, and a shower of gravel splashed out.

  This sword move didn't use any true energy at all, it purely relied on the power of this sword's direction!

  It was just a sword that carried the momentum of unity with man, but it unleashed an unimaginable massive destructive power, instantly shooting out a deep one-foot-deep sword mark hole in the boulder as high as a person in the courtyard!

  If he really used his true energy to slash out, the entire boulder would probably turn into dust under his sword.

  After this sword was drawn, the momentum of the sword that had been nurtured and condensed by Nian Wusheng also disappeared without a trace. The cold light flashing treasure sword returned to its scabbard before the momentum completely dissipated!

  Without moving a muscle, at a distance of nearly five meters, he left a one-inch deep sword mark on a rock, this kind of skill has already exceeded the limits that Xue Bing Cong, Su Fang Yu and Xue Xiao Lin could understand. For a moment, the three people couldn't help but applaud simultaneously.

  Nian Wusheng nodded slightly towards the three of them and then solemnly bowed his head to Gu Qing: "Gu Qing, sir, please enlighten me."

  "Gusu Qing smiled lightly: 'The name of Sword Saint is indeed well-deserved.'"

  "Master Qing is being too kind!" If someone else had said this, Ning Wushuang would have thought it was just a polite remark. But coming from Master Qing, it was undoubtedly a confirmation of his swordsmanship.

  After a moment, Nian Wusheng asked again: "Gu Qingge, just now when I drew my sword, you said the two words 'sword momentum'. It seems that you are also an expert in this field!"

  "Have some superficial knowledge."

  As soon as this was said, Nian Wusheng seemed to have discovered a new continent, and his eyes suddenly lit up: "Under the ancient Qing Pavilion, let's compare our swordsmanship."

  "Let's have a sword fight..."

  Gu Qing murmured these four words in his mouth and slightly shook his head: "This one request, I'm afraid it will disappoint you."

  "Oh? I wonder if Mr. Gu Qing can tell me the reason?" As soon as he spoke, Nian Wusheng realized that his question was a bit presumptuous and hastily added: "If Mr. Gu Qing has something difficult to say, I naturally won't force it."

  "The heavens are above." Gu Qing said in a light tone: "The sword is already dead. There's no need to compare naturally!"