Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover
Chapter 439 - 439 438 Liuyang Follows Privately

439: Chapter 438: Liuyang Follows Privately 439: Chapter 438: Liuyang Follows Privately It took Hou Niao two months to reach the initial mastery of the Qian Character Mantra.

It was hard to say whether this state meant complete mastery of the skill, but he knew he had a long way to go in terms of battle application, facing enemies, perfecting through practice, and crossing the realm gap.

The reason he could grasp the basics of the Qian Character Mantra so quickly was due to the years he spent studying the technique, accumulating knowledge for a sudden breakthrough; in the next phase of his cultivation, he would gradually come in contact with other secrets, but from his overview of all nine Jade Scrolls, he realized the techniques he could learn in the Tongtian Realm were limited.

Based on the complexity of the hand seal changes required, the thickness of mana support needed, and the involvement of the Sea of Consciousness in the Upper Dantian, only three Body Sword Skills were learnable in the Tongtian Realm under these conditions.

The Qian Character Mantra, where both hands’ thumbs and index fingers form a circle.

The Lie Character Mantra, where the left index finger stands up and is held with the right hand, the thumb tucked inside.

The Zhen Character Mantra, where all fingers are bent inward to form a combination.

These three sets of Body Sword Skills are within the scope of the Tongtian Realm.

Once reaching the Golden Core Stage, one can learn the Jie Character Mantra, Bing Character Mantra, and Dou Character Mantra.

Only after Nascent Transformation can the last three sets of Body Sword Skills, the Zhe Character Mantra, Lin Character Mantra, and Xing Character Mantra, be learned.

These represent the three phases of sword control: the Qian, Lie, and Zhen of the Tongtian Realm, the Jie, Bing, and Dou of the Golden Core, and the Lin, Xing, and Zhe of the Nascent Transformation!

He was truly looking forward to what changes would occur when the set of Body Sword Skills was perfected, but unfortunately, it wasn’t something that could be seen in a short period; it required a long time.

In those two months, he had become thoroughly familiar with the basic changes of the Qian Character Mantra, and what remained was how to improve in battle, something that could not be practiced but needed to be honed in life and death fights.

After reporting to the Sikong Mansion, he floated away from Yujing City, intending to handle some personal matters before fully integrating into the Sikong Mansion’s secret intelligence organization.

Racing through the skies, his mood was different from the past, with newly found confidence, something ordinary Flying Sword Skills couldn’t give him.

After over a decade of refinement, his Sword Control Technique had transformed completely, now boasting top speed worthy of a qualified Sword Cultivator.

Distances that once took him many days to cross, he could now compress into just a few.

Crossing the border, a familiar city came into view.

Liuyang City held a special significance for him.

In the Daoist Palace, a Daoist courteously received him.

Between Anhe Daoist Sect and Shan Sect Quanzhen, their current mutual stance was to maintain polite distance from each other amidst their complex relationship.

Internally, Anhe Daoist Sect was split into two factions, and their tug-of-war was intensifying; similarly, Shan Sect Quanzhen was not united, with opposing sides and undercurrents flowing.

Against the backdrop of a chaotic world order on the Jinxiu Continent, each power was facing such choices, either more or less, re-organizing the old order out of the chaos to establish the new.

This process would be lengthy, maybe decades, maybe centuries, but one day, it would be settled through some intense method.

The Daoist was very cautious, “Cheng Zhan left Liuyang seven years ago.

Back then, she was called back to Divine City, and as for her current whereabouts, I’m not too clear.”

He might not be clueless, but belonging to different sects, there was no reason for him to tell him the exact movements of another sect member.

What if he were harboring ulterior motives?

Hou Niao understood this reasoning and didn’t insist further, “Then, the two fairies, Lan Re and Lan Ting…”

The Daoist expressed apologies, “They left with Senior Sister Cheng Zhan.

In fact, the current Liuyang Daoist Palace is almost completely different from ten years ago, with eight or nine out of ten having changed.

I believe you can understand.

If you have any messages, I can pass them on, but I cannot guarantee when they’ll be delivered.”

Hou Niao expressed his thanks, “It’s nothing urgent.

I used to hang around in Jin City, owing a favor to Daoist Cheng Zhan from those days.

I later went elsewhere…

Now that I’ve finally returned, and it seems I must travel far again, I just wanted to see old acquaintances, but who knew…”

The Daoist gave a wry smile, “We are helpless in the face of fate, victims of misfortune and serendipity…

That’s probably the norm for us cultivators.

Daoist Cheng Zhan has quite the reputation in the Anhe Daoist Sect, not for her realm or power, but for her unmatched beauty; thus, many who are overconfident and delusional come seeking her, including both those who truly know her and those who are mere loafers—yet their real purposes often diverge from their pretenses.”

This Shan Sect Sword Cultivator didn’t seem to fit that scenario.

After all, the geographical locations of Jin City and Liuyang City meant there had to be inevitable connections between the cultivators of both cities.

Moreover, this Sword Cultivator even knew Lan Re and Lan Ting?

Feeling no animosity, the Daoist said an extra word, “The current situation of Anhe Daoist Sect is precarious, like a candle in the wind.

Even we cultivators from Anhe are full of uncertainty about the future, unsure of where the path of Anhe lies.

Therefore, if you are seeking someone, it would be better to keep a low profile and remain discreet; after all, given the relations between Shan Sect and Wu Sect, your well-meaning efforts could affect Daoist Cheng Zhan and cause her unnecessary trouble.”

Hou Niao nodded in agreement, took his leave from the Daoist, and walked out of the Daoist Palace, feeling his mood sink considerably.

The Anhe Daoist had guessed wrong.

He was one of the countless toads lusting after a swan, and quite a close one at that.

Yearning yet out of reach was his attitude towards Daoist Cheng Zhan, his heart filled with desire but lacking the power to fulfill it.

Everyone drifts in this world, swept along by the current, unable to provide anyone with a stable environment.

It was still a matter of being too low in realm and power, so low that he didn’t have his own say, even though he could take the spotlight in certain occasions, but that was only in the eyes of the dispirited.

In the real grand scenes, among the top figures of the Continent, he had not yet had the chance to participate.

This woman was the only one he had actively pursued, but such is life, what you desire is often fraught with difficulties and obstacles; whereas the things that come easily, are often within easy reach.

Life is full of such helplessness.

Wandering the streets of Liuyang City, he suddenly felt there was nowhere to go, yet he couldn’t decide to just leave like that, as if there was still something he had yet to resolve?

Daoist Cheng Zhan?

The old Daoist Chong Ling?

Lan Re and Lan Ting?

It seemed none of them…

Then he finally remembered.

Using the vague memories from twenty years ago, and thankfully Liuyang City hadn’t undergone many changes in urban development, he quickly found that courtyard which, despite being located in a bustling area, still maintained a quiet solitude.

After hesitating briefly at the door, he still knocked; there would come this day eventually, so why always cling to this thought that occasionally refused to fade away?

He knocked three times, then stopped to wait; this was the protocol among cultivators.

If one did not wish to intrude forcefully, this was the only option.

Seeing the person or not depended entirely on the homeowner’s mood, and he did not even bother to extend his Divine Sense into the yard, for that was not the attitude to show towards someone who had helped him in the past.

After a dozen breaths, the courtyard door gently opened, and a middle-aged nun with a dignified appearance and a calm demeanor appeared before him, just as she was twenty years ago, clean, profound, like a serene pool.

Upon seeing him, the nun showed no surprise, only bowing slightly,

“Daoist Hou, we meet again.”