Daoist Competition
Chapter 129 - 29: Ying Luo’s Sword Contest, Zhang Yan’s Struggle for the Sword

Chapter 129: Chapter 29: Ying Luo’s Sword Contest, Zhang Yan’s Struggle for the Sword

The chime of bells resounded, Elder Chen’s lips moved, and a cultivation technique for controlling the sword ball was transmitted into everyone’s ears.

Zhang Yan felt as if a mantra went straight to his heart with that rich voice, and then clearly manifested in his mind.

Carefully contemplating the sword forms, he discovered that the key to this Flying Sword Skill lay entirely in this spell.

It first explained how a cultivator could attach spiritual energy to the sword ball and control it to fly, and then detailed the various techniques for operating the sword ball to execute a flying slash.

The spiritual energy, refined from the clear and turbid forms of Qi, can naturally separate and combine, undergo Yin and Yang transformations, allowing the sword ball to roll up and down, move back and forth.

However, Zhang Yan felt that although this Sword Control Technique could be practiced by the ten thousand disciples present, the Dharma technique could only exert its basic power on cultivators at the Ming Qi Second Realm. As for Meridian Opening Cultivators, if they couldn’t even refine a single breath of Clear Qi, controlling the sword ball was out of the question, let alone using a Flying Sword to harm an enemy.

Therefore, those qualified to compete for that Star Sword Ball were most likely the cultivators seated in the front rows, while the others could only watch.

At this moment, beside Zhang Yan, Qin Nan exclaimed with joy as the sword ball in her hand actually rose, floating lightly in the air. Her face was filled with excitement and delight as she grabbed Zhang Yan’s sleeve and shook it vigorously, shouting, "Senior Brother, Senior Brother, look, look."

Zhang Yan only smiled silently. A moment later, Qin Nan realized her excitement, hurriedly letting go and blushing, saying, "Please, Senior Brother, don’t be angry. I lost myself for a moment."

Zhang Yan smiled, saying, "It’s alright. I was just as happy as you when I first condensed a breath of Clear Qi."

He nodded quietly to himself, wondering under which elder Qin Nan cultivated, as she could unexpectedly make the sword ball float with just one breath of Clear Qi. Even if she couldn’t advance further, it was only due to her cultivation level, as her aptitude was extremely high.

Observing the disciples around them, most were staring blankly at the sword ball with pained expressions, or still frowning while trying to comprehend the mantra, some downright bewildered, unlike her ease.

This female cultivator possessed an unpolished, childlike heart without the notion of gain or loss, which allowed her Divine Intent to harmonize and focus solely on the sword.

He glanced once more at the disciples in the Ming Qi Second and Third Realms ahead, noticing that the sword balls in their hands were also dancing up and down. Not hesitating any longer, he submerged his Heart and Spirit into the Broken Jade. The avatar sitting inside the jade suddenly opened its eyes and rode the sword, meticulously practicing the move he observed from the green stone wall, stroke by stroke.

Though only ten days passed in the outside world, he had over half a year within the jade to slowly comprehend.

Qin Nan saw Zhang Yan sitting there, neither speaking nor moving, assuming he was comprehending the mantra, so she refrained from disturbing him and joyfully played with the sword ball floating in the air alone.

In the True Origin Sword Scripture, the sword moves described were actually just methods of wielding the sword, with emphasis on adapting to opportunities during battle.

For a cultivator of Zhang Yan’s level, there weren’t many attack methods to choose from, so he focused on honing these three most important sword techniques called "One Qi Breath," "Rainbow Sky Radiance," and "Heavy Waves Stacked."

The entire Sword Scripture contained the essence of Qi Sword Control. He believed that if one wanted to evaluate a person’s understanding of this swordsmanship, it would suffice to see how well they mastered these three techniques.

Although he didn’t possess the comprehension of some extraordinary talents among the disciples, he prevailed in having a resolute character. He didn’t spend time exploring the mysteries within, only believing in practice making perfect. Thus, he repeatedly practiced these three sword forms in the Broken Jade, repeating them more than a thousand times daily.

However, although his body did not tire within the jade, the consumption of his Heart and Spirit was indeed real. After each day in the outside world, he would exit the Broken Jade, take a Nourishing Spirit Elixir, quietly rest for an hour, and then re-enter the jade.

Later on, he gradually grasped the changes in the patterns but felt that the sword technique seemed to have more to offer, as if it had a hidden aspect that was not passed down.

But this was also to be expected; biting off more than one can chew. With the cultivation level of the disciples present, if they couldn’t even master the sword technique in front of them, how could they contemplate more intricate sword skills? Therefore, he focused solely on consolidating his current achievements, not pondering further.

The ten days passed swiftly.

At the hour of Chen, some disciples who couldn’t even raise their sword balls had already given up, while those who had grasped some level of understanding were still contemplating the changes in swordsmanship. Suddenly, from the stone platform came the sound of the Jade Chime, accompanied by a Daoist boy’s voice: "The ten days are up, disciples, cease your practice."