PDLP Chapter 23 Pursuit Sword Technique
Chapter 23 Pursuit Sword Technique
Daling Village.
Two years have passed in the blink of an eye.
It was early morning, and the thin mist had not yet dissipated.
Shen Gui stood with his hands behind his back at the gate of the courtyard, his gaze fixed on the boy in the courtyard who was sweating profusely.
Ten-year-old Lu Yunluo was wearing a short brown shirt, barefoot, and holding an iron sword in her hand, practicing swordsmanship meticulously.
His sword is different from Shen Gui's.
Shen Gui's sword-wielding posture was ethereal, his movements unpredictable.
In a battle of wits, the enemy often finds themselves struck by multiple swords before they can even see what he's doing.
Lu Yunlu wielded her sword swiftly, each strike ruthless, her swordplay as swift as the wind, single-mindedly plotting to take her enemy's life.
He just still doesn't like to talk.
For two years, Shen Gui taught him to read, to speak, to cultivate himself, and to follow the rules.
Ahe taught him to recognize herbs, to identify spirits, and to eat with chopsticks instead of his hands.
The boy learned very quickly and was so smart that even Shen Gui was a little surprised.
But he just doesn't like to speak.
If you can say one word, never say two.
They'd rather nod or shake their head than speak.
Shen Gui was worried that he might have a problem with his throat. After a thorough examination, he found that his vocal cords were intact, but he just didn't like to talk.
So I let him be.
"Before you draw your sword, you should always think about the opponent's attack, step before the sword, and prioritize your own safety," Shen Gui said calmly.
Lu Yunluo did not respond, but slightly adjusted her sword stance, making the trajectory of her strike even faster.
"Just kill the enemy first."
The boy said in a cold voice.
Shen Gui smiled gently.
The way of the sword is to follow one's heart; it cannot be forced.
He recalled the scene two years ago when he rang the bell to register Lu Yunluo's household registration.
On that ancient, giant bell, the third line of text slowly emerged.
Lu Yunluo.
Under the names of Shen Gui and A He, they were officially included in the sect's register.
There are two empty seats.
He was filled with emotion at that moment. Of the five spots available for the sect's membership, three had already been used, and he wondered when the remaining two would be filled.
In the past two years, Shen Gui has not neglected his own cultivation.
He diligently practiced the "Nourish the Origin and Cultivate the Wheel" day and night, and the fourth Azure Origin Wheel was already stable, only one step away from the Jade Capital Wheel of the fifth level of fetal breathing.
After Lu Yunlu finished practicing a set of sword techniques, she stopped her swordplay, walked up to Shen Gui, looked up at him, and said nothing.
But his eyes spoke volumes.
Master, how am I doing in my practice?
Shen Gui looked at those eyes, which still held some wildness but had gained a touch more humanity, and said calmly, "Not bad, keep practicing."
Lu Yunlu nodded expressionlessly, then turned and continued wielding his sword.
Just then, Ah He came out of the house.
The eighteen-year-old girl had an increasingly slender figure. She wore a light blue dress with a white ribbon tied around her waist. Her long, black hair was tied up with a jade hairpin, revealing her long, fair neck.
The girlish naiveté of her youth has faded, replaced by a more radiant womanhood, yet she still retains that innocent and carefree spirit.
"Yunluo!" Ahe waved to Lu Yunluo with a grin, "Come and have breakfast!"
Lu Yunluo glanced at her, sheathed her sword, and obediently walked over.
Ahe reached out to touch his head, but Lu Yunluo turned his head away, expressionlessly walked around her, and went straight to the stone table in the courtyard.
Ahe wasn't annoyed at all, and chased after him with a grin: "Hey, it's been two years, and you still won't let your senior sister pat your head? You're so stingy!"
Lu Yunluo sat on the stone bench, picked up the bowl, and remained silent.
Ahe sat down opposite him, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at his increasingly handsome face and exclaimed, "Yunluo, you've grown so fast! You're only ten years old and you're already so tall. In a few more years, you'll probably be even taller than your master."
Lu Yunlu paused in her eating, looked up at Ahe, her lips moved, and she uttered a single word: "Mm."
Ahe paused for a moment, then smiled broadly, her eyes crinkling: "You can respond now! Say one more! Say one more!"
Lu Yunluo lowered her head and continued eating, ignoring her.
Shen Gui walked over and sat down, watching the interaction between the two senior and junior siblings, a subtle smile curving his lips.
Two years have passed, and Lu Yunluo has transformed from a wild child who would bite and howl at anyone he saw into a quiet but at least taciturn young man who doesn't attack people indiscriminately.
Significant progress has been made.
"Yunluo," Shen Gui said calmly, putting down his bowl. "Today I'll teach you something new."
Lu Yunluo raised her head and looked at Shen Gui with a hint of curiosity in her eyes.
Ah He put down her bowl, her eyes sparkling: "Master, what will you teach me?"
Shen Gui did not answer, but looked at Lu Yunluo with a calm and solemn gaze: "Yunluo, I told you from the very beginning of my teaching that I have a unique secret method that can help you choose the most suitable path for cultivation. Today, the time has come."
Lu Yunlu blinked, said nothing, but put down her bowl and straightened her back.
Ahe smiled with satisfaction.
Of course she knew what her master was going to do; that's how she had gotten through it all.
Shen Gui ignored her, looked into Lu Yunluo's eyes, and said, word by word:
"Lu Yunluo, a disciple from a later generation."
Lu Yunluo took a deep breath, her voice hoarse but clear as she repeated:
"Lu Yunluo, a disciple from a later generation."
"I wish to become a disciple of Shen Gui and inherit his teachings."
"I wish to become a disciple of Shen Gui and inherit his teachings."
"Follow the Tao wholeheartedly and never succumb to your original intention."
"Follow the Tao wholeheartedly and never succumb to your original intention."
"By praying for the heavenly bell to ring, a name will be bestowed upon them, and they will be registered and incorporated into the clan."
"By praying for the heavenly bell to ring, a name will be bestowed upon them, and they will be registered and incorporated into the clan."
Although Lu Yunluo's voice was not loud, every word was clear and distinct.
His name was already on the Heavenly Bell, but this was the first time the boy had formally uttered the words "request for Dharma."
Shen Gui closed his eyes and concentrated, secretly activating the Heavenly Bell in his sea of consciousness. He formed the incantation seal with his fingertips and began the incantation in a deep voice:
"Disciple Lu Yunluo of later generations respectfully offers his Daoist merits and sincerely prays to the Heavenly Bell to bestow upon him the Dharma!"
Lu Yunlu followed suit, reciting the mantra.
The next moment, a stream of scalding information rushed directly into Lu Yunluo's sea of consciousness.
As the owner of the treasure, Shen Gui simultaneously comprehended all the mysteries of the method.
Two illusory images of cultivation techniques appeared.
First Method: The Following Step Sword Technique
The Second Method: The Wonderful Method for Living Beings
Shen Gui's pupils contracted slightly.
He had seen the "Wonderful Method of Living Beings" before. This method had appeared when he requested the method back then. It could use one's own various spiritual objects and incense as a guide to nurture magical artifacts and treasures, helping them to give birth to artifact spirits.
It is extremely mysterious, but it is also the ancestor of money-burning.
With his current financial situation, he simply cannot afford to support them.
As for the "Chasing Steps Sword Technique"... Shen Gui concentrated on comprehending it, and his heart trembled slightly.
This is a complete swordsmanship manual, recording the complete cultivation path, with moves, mental techniques, and key points for defeating enemies. It is far more systematic and complete than his book "Swordsmanship Insights of a Disciple of Fengtian Palace".
Shen Gui recalled that when he requested the teachings, the sword manual bestowed upon him by Mingtian Zhong was "The Sword Dao Insights of a Disciple of Fengtian Palace".
It was a book of swordsmanship insights without fixed moves, relying entirely on personal understanding, and was mysterious and unpredictable.
Now, when Lu Yunluo requested the teachings, what he received was a complete sword manual.
Shen Gui understood that the teachings imparted by the Mingtian Bell were perfectly suited to his disciple's innate talents and characteristics.
This "Chasing Step Sword Technique" is probably extremely well-suited to Lu Yunluo's innate swordsmanship.
And I do indeed need a real sword technique as a reference.
While "The Sword Dao Insights of a Disciple of Fengtian Palace" is indeed profound, it lacks any reference to the moves and relies entirely on self-comprehension, ultimately lacking a ladder to follow.
Perhaps by comprehending this "Chasing Steps Sword Technique," he can gain insights and overcome the hurdle of sword energy.
Moreover, although the "Wonderful Method of Living Beings" is good, it requires too many resources, including spiritual objects, incense, and ritual implements.
I don't even have a magic sword at the embryonic breathing level right now, so how am I supposed to nurture a weapon spirit?
Shen Gui hesitated for only a moment before making a decision:
"Choose 'The Step-Chasing Sword Technique'."
As the Daoist power dissipated, a massive amount of sword Dao information flooded into Lu Yunluo's sea of consciousness, and at the same time, Shen Guiyi also got a full view of it.
The Pursuit of Sword Techniques.
The sword manual contains complete techniques for channeling energy and thirty-six basic sword moves.
Shen Gui was deeply shaken by what he saw.
The book he obtained back then, "The Sword Dao Insights of a Disciple of Fengtian Palace," was full of precious words, but it did not have such a systematic inheritance of techniques; everything depended on his own understanding.
This book, "The Sword Art of Chasing Steps," is like laying out the bricks for the path of swordsmanship, waiting for people to walk step by step.
"What ruthless swordsmanship..." Shen Gui thought to himself, "Every move is deadly, fast and swift, like the wind."
Lu Yunluo closed her eyes, her small face full of seriousness, as she digested the information flooding into her mind.
His brows were slightly furrowed, as if he was trying to understand the profound words, and his lips moved slightly, as if he was silently reciting something.
Ahe, watching from the side, whispered to Shen Gui, "Master, is Yunluo... alright?"
"It's alright," Shen Gui said calmly. "He's comprehending the cultivation technique; don't disturb him."
Ahe nodded obediently, sat down to the side, rested her chin on her hand, and looked at Lu Yunluo with her eyes full of curiosity.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Lu Yunluo slowly opened her eyes.
In those eyes, where the turbidity had faded and they were gradually becoming clearer, there was something indescribable, like confusion or shock.
He looked up at Shen Gui, his lips moved, and he uttered two words:
"……secret."
Shen Gui's lips curled up slightly: "Yes, no one else can tell except the three of us."
Lu Yunluo nodded, lowered her head, and looked at her hands, as if she was thinking about something.
Shen Gui looked at him, feeling a mix of emotions.
This child, ten years old, has already perfected the first level of fetal breathing and may break through to the second level at any time. His cultivation speed is even faster than Ahe's back then.
Moreover, he has an amazing talent for swordsmanship.
Given time, this child's potential is likely limitless.
"Yunluo." Shen Gui stood up and said calmly, "From today onwards, you will practice swordsmanship for an extra hour every day, following the moves from the first volume of the 'Chasing Step Sword Technique'."
Lu Yunluo raised her head, looked at Shen Gui, and nodded.
"Go ahead," Shen Gui waved his hand. "Go practice the moves you learned today. I'll watch from the side."
Lu Yunluo stood up, picked up the iron sword, and walked to the center of the courtyard.
He took a deep breath, closed his eyes for a moment, as if recalling the sword moves that flooded his mind.
Then, he moved.
His swordplay was sharp and his footwork agile. Although his moves were somewhat clumsy, there was a discernible pattern to follow.
Shen Gui stood to the side with his hands behind his back, his eyes fixed on the boy's every move, nodding inwardly.
Although it's still rough, the skeleton is already there.
The rest is just a matter of patience and perseverance.
Ahe also came over to watch, and after a few glances, she muttered softly, "Yunluo's sword practice is so beautiful, much better than mine back then..."
Shen Gui glanced at her: "You didn't practice swordsmanship at all back then."
Ahe blushed, pouted, and remained silent.
Lu Yunlu practiced each move meticulously, beads of sweat gradually forming on her forehead, but she showed no sign of stopping.
Shen Gui looked at him, her gaze gradually softening.
Two years have passed, and this wild child who used to bite anyone he saw and couldn't even speak human language can now stand quietly in the yard practicing swordsmanship.
……
Canglan Immortal Sect, Qingxuan Peak
The palace is majestic and surrounded by an ethereal atmosphere.
In front of the meditation room of the Peak Master, Daoist Miaoyin, a young disciple knelt upright.
Li Zhirui.
He was dressed in the standard Daoist robes of an inner disciple of Qingxuan Peak, with a handsome face and a somewhat aloof air between his brows.
He has been kneeling here for two hours.
The passing Qingxuan Peak disciples all turned to look, whispering among themselves and discussing the matter.
"Is Senior Brother Li kneeling outside Master's Hall again?"
"Of course! How many days has it been?"
"I heard he wanted to ask his master to promote him to the head disciple position. The eldest brother has been gone for more than five years, and the position of head disciple has been vacant. It's no wonder he's anxious."
"That's true, he was like that even when the eldest brother was around..."
"Shh! Keep your voice down, don't let anyone hear you!"
Li Zhirui ignored him, kneeling there with his back straight and his gaze calmly fixed on the closed door of the quiet room.
He's kneeling here, not for this reason.
Five years ago, Senior Brother Shen Gui was exiled to the northern frontier, and then news came that he had fallen off a spirit ship and his fate was unknown.
Everyone in the sect thought Shen Gui was dead.
But Li Zhirui didn't believe it.
He personally gave Shen Gui a bag of talismans, including a Qi Refining level water shield talisman that he had hand-drawn himself.
Those talismans were drawn by him with great care, stroke by stroke.
Those talismans should have been enough to allow Shen Gui to fall from a certain height and survive.
He didn't believe Shen Gui was dead.
But no one in the sect believed him.
Li Zhirui was too lazy to explain or argue.
He simply knelt there, begging his master for an answer.
What exactly is the situation in northern Xinjiang?
Is my senior brother dead or alive?
Master Miaoyin has been unseen these past few days; the door to her meditation room is tightly shut, and she doesn't see anyone.
Li Zhirui has been kneeling for several years now.
Just when he thought he was going to return empty-handed again today.
A streak of light flashed across the sky.
The light flowed extremely fast, carrying a fresh and delicate fragrance.
Li Zhirui looked up.
A stream of light fell before the door of the quiet room, transforming into a figure.
Master Miaoyin.
She wore a blue Taoist robe, its surface shimmering with magical light, her long, jet-black hair cascading down to her waist like a waterfall. Her face was stunningly beautiful, and her demeanor was aloof and serene.
She glanced at Li Zhirui, her gaze indifferent, and her voice clear and pleasant: "Come in."
After saying that, he pushed open the door and went into the quiet room.
Li Zhirui paused for a moment, then stood up and followed him inside.
Miaoyin Daoist sat upright on the couch, her demeanor cool and aloof. Her delicate hands were folded on her knees, and she looked calmly at Li Zhirui.
Li Zhirui knelt down at the door and respectfully kowtowed: "Disciple Li Zhirui greets Master."
Master Miaoyin nodded slightly: "Stand up and speak."
Li Zhirui stood up, his hands hanging down, not daring to look directly at her.
In his memory, his master was always a perfect and ethereal fairy, renowned throughout the peaks, never smiling, and never showing any disrespect to any disciple.
He took a deep breath and mustered his courage to speak: "Master, I would like to ask about the Northern Frontier."
He paused, but still couldn't bring himself to say "Senior Brother".
After Shen Gui left the sect, Li Zhirui never mentioned "Senior Brother" in front of outsiders.
He didn't want others to think that he had any special relationship with him.
But now, in front of his master, he could no longer pretend.
"...Is Shen Gui still alive?"
Miaoyin Daoist glanced at him, her gaze deep, as if she could see through his thoughts.
Li Zhirui lowered his head, not daring to meet his gaze.
After a moment, Miaoyin said calmly, "There is nothing to worry about in the Northern Frontier."
Li Zhirui's heart tightened, and he looked up, his face full of confusion.
Nothing happened? How could nothing happen?
Miaoyin continued, "Of the disciples sent to the Northern Frontier by the Five Sects and Nine Schools, three have already perished."
Li Zhirui's heart sank.
"But your senior brother's soul lamp is still burning."
Soul Lamp.
Li Zhirui's pupils suddenly contracted.
It was an extremely precious magical artifact. The brightness of the lamp could determine whether the person who had been bled was alive or dead. The value of a single Soul Lamp was equivalent to that of a Qi-refining artifact.
Master... actually gave Senior Brother a soul lamp?
Li Zhirui was filled with indescribable emotions.
He remained silent for a moment before suppressing the turmoil in his heart and speaking calmly, "He's lucky to be alive."
Miaoyin merely glanced at him without saying a word.
Li Zhirui hesitated for a moment, then finally asked the question that had been weighing on his mind for more than two years:
"Master, why did the sect specifically name Shen Gui to go to the Northern Frontier?"
This whole thing is suspicious from beginning to end.
Miaoyin Daoist's gaze suddenly froze for a moment, staring intently into Li Zhirui's eyes.
Li Zhirui felt a chill run down his spine from those cold, clear eyes, but he stubbornly refused to look away.
A few breaths later, Miaoyin spoke softly, her voice so low that only the two of them could hear:
"It may involve the Grand Preceptor's schemes regarding the Daoist path; there's no need to ask."
Li Zhirui froze, his face turning deathly pale.
Imperial Advisor.
The Great Yan Dynasty, the powerful Imperial Advisor.
Emperor Tianyan is currently young, and all political power has fallen into the hands of the Imperial Advisor.
That imperial advisor...
Li Zhirui dared not think any further.
He quickly lowered his head, his voice trembling slightly: "Disciple...disciple understands. Disciple takes his leave."
Miaoyin didn't speak, but simply gave a faint "hmm".
Li Zhirui turned around and strode out of the quiet room.
In the quiet room, the Taoist Master Miaoyin sat alone on the couch.
She reached out her hand, her fingertips gently touching the front of her, her gaze softening.
"Gui'er..." she murmured softly, "Are you alright?"