After all, having only recently entered the Sword Radiance Realm, Zhao Chun struggled to hold on for over a hundred moves before she was finally defeated. Jiang Yun twirled her longsword in a flourish before sheathing it, praising, "I had thought that since you just entered the Second Realm, you would certainly have some flaws.
I didn't expect your swordsmanship to be so fluid and your techniques so coherent. It's clear that your foundation in the Way of the Sword is extremely solid."
"Senior, you flatter me."
Zhao Chun put away her sword and replied with a smile, "From this spar, this Junior was also able to identify and address my shortcomings. I've gained a great deal. Many thanks for your guidance, Senior!"
In the True Spirit Sect, there were not many Sword Cultivators, let alone Realm-Entering Sword Cultivators. Jiang Yun, her passion ignited by the discovery of a fellow enthusiast, quickly said, "You and I are both in the Sword Radiance Realm. There's no need for this 'senior' and 'junior' talk; let's just call each other Fellow Daoist.
When I watch you use your sword, the wind follows it, yet without any explosive sound. In terms of speed, you surpass many others in this realm. Every Sword Cultivator has their own strengths.
Sparring is for exploring the path forward and improving ourselves. We can both be good teachers to each other, offering mutual guidance. Your sword arts have been beneficial to me as well.
It's simply a matter of us both gaining something." Jiang Yun's Sword Heart was pure and clear, and she was infatuated with martial arts. This was precisely the reason she had been able to break through to the Second Realm of the Sword Dao.
Zhao Chun's sword style was sharp and aggressive, focused on the single concept of 'Slaying', and showed the early form of 'One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Techniques'. Although it was different from Jiang Yun's Path of the Heavy Sword, there were points of compatibility, so Jiang Yun could also gain something from their exchanges.
The two of them had become acquainted through the sword, and their relationship was one of both teacher and friend. After this battle, Jiang Yun became a frequent visitor at Zhao Chun's residence. Each time she came with her sword to spar, Zhao Chun's foundation in the Second Realm grew more consolidated and firm.
After the Dueling Assembly concluded, Zhao Chun received many visiting cards, but she rejected them all. Having gained much from the combat, it was the right time to quietly cultivate for a while. Her sword technique was already closely integrated with her movement technique, and after two months of Dao comprehension, her "Snake-Form Step" finally reached Major Achievement!
After coming out of seclusion, she heard Cui Cui report that Li Su had summoned her. Without any delay, Zhao Chun quickly got up and headed for Suhong Hall. This time, Li Su was not in the bamboo forest, but was sitting upright on the high platform in the main hall.
After she bowed, he said, "At the Inner Sect's Dueling Assembly, you could be said to have made a stunning debut. However, fame and reputation are the things that most easily disturb one's Dao Heart. You must not slack off in the future."
Zhao Chun listened to a few more of his admonitions, her heart remaining calm and untroubled.
"In the Drifting Clouds World, there are many Sword Cultivators, but few who attain the Dao. It is truly not easy for you to enter the Second Realm at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining. As your Master, I will take you as my formal disciple. After you reach Foundation Establishment, you can become my Personal Disciple."
Among Li Su's disciples, although personal feelings were cold, cultivation resources were never in short supply. Zhao Chun was all alone and had no background, so she naturally needed to use his power to advance. She understood this principle clearly and immediately knelt to bow, saying, "I am endlessly grateful for Master's favor!"
Zhao Chun had received a benefit, and Li Su in turn considered her to be part of his own camp. He nodded slightly and bestowed upon her a small, brownish-black token, saying, "As your Master, I have observed that you are still lacking in magical arts.
With this token, you may go to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion and select one top-grade magical art. Go on your own." Having accepted a fine apprentice, it was natural to reward her to make her feel a greater sense of belonging.
Zhao Chun understood this perfectly, but she showed no sign of it on her face. She accepted the small token with a slight expression of joy, and when Li Su waved his hand, she tactfully took her leave. Her "Swift-Walk Sword Technique" was originally Mortal Grade, low-tier.
After cultivating it to Major Achievement, the realm of perfection was still far away. Even without the token Li Su gave her today, Zhao Chun would have had to go to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion to purchase a new technique. Now, that was no longer necessary, saving her a considerable expense.
She had body refining techniques and was not lacking in movement techniques. After entering the realm, the sweep of her sword light meant her power was no longer limited to close quarters, so the "Single-Line Flying Dagger" she had previously selected was no longer very useful.
Since she had chosen the Way of the Sword, she had to continue down this path, and the right thing to do was to choose a top-grade, Mortal Rank sword technique. Inside the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, the levels above the top floor housed Yellow Grade magical arts for Foundation Establishment and Core Formation cultivators.
After Zhao Chun reached Foundation Establishment, her basic cultivation method, the "Sympathetic Resonance True Perception Dharma Scripture," would have to be replaced with a personalized cultivation method that fit her own attributes. At that time, the power gap between cultivators would widen even further.
She could not access the highest levels today, but the area where top-grade Mortal Rank magical arts were stored was already on the upper floors of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.
Zhao Chun presented the small token, and the disciple on duty, seeing that it was a special approval from an Elder, was filled with envy and hurriedly welcomed her inside. The various magical arts were arranged by category. Upon entering the floor, Zhao Chun went straight to the section for sword techniques.
Compared to the mid-grade and low-grade magical arts, there were far fewer high-grade ones, to say nothing of top-grade techniques. Scattered on the shelves, there were only three. Zhao Chun looked through them all and had already made up her mind.
There was one called "Cloud-Cleaving Thunder Sword Technique." The first part's sword moves were like flowing clouds, a balance of hard and soft. In the latter part, the sword's edge would break through the clouds, channeling the roar of thunder.
She was well aware of the principle that what is too rigid is easily broken; she could use the Flowing Cloud Chapter to balance her sword art, while the latter part's immense power, all unleashed from a single slash, also perfectly matched her Way of the Sword.
As such, this sword technique seemed tailor-made for her and was destined to be hers. It was just that the more profound a magical art was, the harder it was to cultivate.
After obtaining the "Cloud-Cleaving Thunder Sword Technique," Zhao Chun cultivated arduously every day in her residence, rain or shine, yet even after more than ten days, she struggled to achieve the entry level.
During a routine spar with Jiang Yun, she suddenly had a flash of insight and realized, "To blindly pursue lightness and agility in my sword technique to make it resemble flowing clouds... a light sword can only pass through the clouds, but it cannot cleave them apart!" She immediately channeled power into her sword.
The blade trembled, and the mist of clouds surrounding her body drifted away and scattered. Zhao Chun had finally succeeded in reaching the entry level for this top-grade sword technique!
"Congratulations!"
Jiang Yun said, then her brow furrowed slightly.
"For a rather long time to come, I won't be able to visit and discuss the sword with you, Fellow Daoist."
"Is something the matter?"
Jiang Yun nodded and replied, "Recently, many disciples have been perishing outside the sect. It's suspected that cultivators from an enemy sect are causing trouble. After Elder Qiu came out of seclusion, she intends to lead us Foundation Establishment disciples on a patrol of the area within a hundred li of the sect.
Therefore, I won't have much free time. If you have nothing to attend to, Fellow Daoist, it would be best for you to remain within the sect." It was common for sect disciples to unfortunately die while gaining experience outside, so it shouldn't have warranted such a large mobilization.
But Jiang Yun went on to inform her that in the past year, the number of Outer Sect disciples who had died was several times higher than before. Last month, even a few disciples under the Elders had gone missing, which finally alarmed the sect's upper echelons and prompted them to investigate the surrounding areas.
Back when the True Spirit Sect was at Pine Mountain, it had engaged in many conquests and made no small number of enemy sects. However, the one that held the deepest hatred for them had to be the Yang Water Sect.
After coming out of seclusion, Qiu Jianying, who had just broken through to the late Core Formation Stage, volunteered to lead disciples to patrol the surrounding area and guard the sect. This was likely also a precaution against that very sect.
(End of this chapter)