Eternal Swordmaster
Chapter 254 - 247 Testing - Part 1

Chapter 254: Chapter 247 Testing - Part 1

"Extra practice yields results only with sufficient rest as its foundation," Lin Xin mentioned again, but seeing the little fellow was not taking it in, he held his peace.

Under the moonlit night, Ma Jingxuan’s sweat poured like rain as she repeated a set of Sword Technique over and over again. Despite extreme proficiency, she was meticulous with no trace of laxness.

Another hour passed by.

Ma Jingxuan paused briefly to rest, then the servants prepared a strong acidic recovery solution for her to soak in for the duration of an incense stick, soon after she returned, ready to resume.

"How is the Realm divided within the Kunlin Sword Sect?" Lin Xin suddenly asked. "Come, come, sit with me and let’s chat for a while."

Ma Jingxuan originally didn’t want to go over, but she felt compelled by Lin Xin’s voice, which seemed to have a magical power that bizarrely made her body want to relax.

Gently setting down her sword, she unconsciously walked over to the side, and by the time she came to her senses, she was already sitting opposite Lin Xin.

The servants also served some small dishes on the side.

"The moonlight is cold, wouldn’t it be better for us to have a good chat together, and take it as a rest?" Lin Xin said with a smile.

Ma Jingxuan was somewhat puzzled as to how she had come over.

"You’re just too tired and you instinctively want to rest, with my persistent persuasion you came over unconsciously to sit for a while," Lin Xin said with a laugh. "All right, now let’s talk about it, how exactly is the cultivation practice in the Kunlin Sword Sect? You know I’m from the South Manor, there’s a lot here I don’t know."

Thinking it over, Ma Jingxuan also figured she was too exhausted, so she sat down to rest with relief. Hearing Lin Xin’s question, she organized her thoughts.

"In our Sword Sect’s Cultivation Practice, there is the barrier of ’Fish Leaping the Dragon Gate.’ We are currently only at the Swordsmanship Realm, restricted to the level of technique. If one’s Swordsmanship reaches the Lingxin Layer, one can enter the Sword Heart Realm, where they can go to the Hall of Hundred Weapons to choose a Divine Weapon that resonates with them. When the Divine Weapon becomes spirited, one can control others with the sword, achieving the Man-Sword Unity Level. Only then does one’s strength greatly increase."

"Sword Heart... So, you mean there’s a big gap between Swordsmanship and Sword Heart?" Lin Xin pondered and asked.

"Yes," Ma Jingxuan replied, nodding. "The gap is huge, a person at the level of Sword Heart can sweep through the Swordsmanship Realm, it’s like the difference between an adult and a child."

"Then how many people are at the Sword Heart level within the Sword Sect?" Lin Xin asked again.

"Not many, around seventy to eighty people. Those at the Sword Heart level can utilize the Divine Skills inherent in their Divine Weapons, thereby evolving various Divine Ability Sword Techniques," Ma Jingxuan said, her eyes shining with a touch of longing.

"What level are you at in the Swordsmanship Realm now?"

"About the top thirty, why do you ask?" Ma Jingxuan candidly responded. "I estimate it will take another two years before I am eligible to choose a Divine Weapon."

"How about a try with me?" Lin Xin suggested casually, "I also want to experience the Sword Techniques of your Kunlin Sword Sect."

After a brief hesitation, Ma Jingxuan nodded in agreement. She too wanted to gauge the strength of this teacher.

The two rose to their feet and went into the courtyard, standing opposite each other, about ten meters apart.

Ma Jingxuan held an ordinary sharp sword used for practice.

Lin Xin also held a Longsword brought by the servants, holding it horizontally with one hand in front of him.

"You go first."

He said aloud.

Ma Jingxuan gave a slight nod.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, her quick thrust caused the Sword Light to reflect a White Light that dazzled onto Lin Xin’s eyelids, suddenly making everything a blinding white.

The sword blade pointed directly at the wrist of Lin Xin’s sword-hand.

Midway through, it suddenly switched, turning from a thrust into a slash, lifting upwards toward the front of Lin Xin’s chest.

Hu...

Ma Jingxuan’s vision blurred momentarily, and she felt as if Lin Xin had nimbly flashed backwards, just narrowly avoiding her thrust.

"Hua Yun Bo Yue!" With a slight start, she continued the attack with a light cry, instinctively and fluidly executing the well-rehearsed Sword Technique. Oddly enough, the brilliance at the tip of her sword still precisely dazzled Lin Xin’s eyes.

The Longsword vibrated, splitting into Dual Swords aiming towards Lin Xin.

This move was one Ma Jingxuan had practiced countless times; once the opponent dodged the initial strike, it gave her the space to perform this technique, following through with a strike that was indistinguishable as to which side was real. In sparring with others, no disciple was more adept at employing this move than she was.

"Chasing the Clouds and the Moon!"

At the same time, she pressed forward, her legs and knees striking repeatedly towards Lin Xin’s abdomen.

The sword blade and knees attacked simultaneously at three points, which was key to Chasing the Clouds and the Moon—the attacks seemed scattered, but they were unified in purpose, and the focal point could be switched at any time to any one of them as the main offensive direction.

With a slight smile, Lin Xin once again shifted to the left, somehow evading the triple attack for the second time.

Ma Jingxuan felt a bit indignant and continued to pursue him, the two of them circling around the courtyard, one striking and the other dodging, looping several times in a short while.

Sword Light flashed fiercely but failed to touch even the edge of Lin Xin’s clothing.

Suddenly ceasing her attack, Ma Jingxuan caught her breath.

"Why don’t you attack?! Isn’t sparring supposed to be about mutual combat to show respect for your opponent?"

"Respect?" Lin Xin was slightly startled, "Who told you that?"

"If sir continues to deliberately hold back, then this so-called sparring has no meaning," Ma Jingxuan said seriously, gasping for breath.

Lin Xin had not expected her to think so deeply. After pondering briefly, he said.

"Very well."

He held the longsword erect and placed it in front of him.

"Considering the significant difference in age and cultivation level between us, to be fair, if you can dodge this one attack of mine, then you win."

Seeing him become serious, Ma Jingxuan also became solemn and said earnestly.

"Please proceed, sir."

She had been eager to discern just what level Lin Xin’s cultivation was. Now, hearing his words, her expression instantly became somber and focused. After all, if the Ma Family were a significant clan, they could naturally afford to hire a long-renowned expert as their steward.

Unfortunately, while her family might be formidable in the secular world, in the Cultivation World, they were merely ordinary. That was why her mother had been searching for a master among the less expensive and unidentified people. Although it carried greater risk, it was far cheaper.

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

She remembered, if others hired a steward, their cultivation was usually at the level of Sword Heart. Such a level would usually have a Divine Weapon that fitted them perfectly, as could be seen by the red longsword hanging from Master Hong Hua’s waist. A Sword Heart expert’s entire cultivation would be invested in their Magic Sword. Without forcing out the opponent’s sword, everything prior would just be for play.

Seeing Lin Xin standing with sword in hand, yet still not using his Magic Sword, fueled a sense of discontent within her.

A Sword Heart expert wielding their Magic Sword would undoubtedly win with ease, but to think of defeating her with mere sword techniques without even using a Magic Sword, wasn’t that a bit presumptuous? After all, she wasn’t just some nobody; she practiced orthodox Sword Sect cultivation. Her methods for dealing with attacks were far more comprehensive and formidable than those of rogue swordsmen.

Feeling indignant, she concentrated intently, closely observing every subtle movement Lin Xin made.

"Are you ready?" Lin Xin asked with a slight smile.

"Sir, anytime...!"

Hisss!

Suddenly, a streak of light shot through the loose strands of her hair, flashing like a silvery white line for an instant, then disappearing, leaving only a lingering trail.

Her vision blurred as it became filled with white light, leaving her unable to see anything.

When her vision returned, Ma Jingxuan found herself stiff all over, with cold sweat trickling down her forehead.

In front of her, Lin Xin was now holding his sword with one hand, pinching her white hairband with the other, and looking at her with a quiet smile.

"Did you see it clearly?"

Ma Jingxuan gulped, unable to utter a word after some time.

Gently tossing her hairband back to her, Lin Xin threw his sword, which landed straight and precisely in the sheath held by a maid standing at a distance. The maid was startled, turning pale, almost kneeling down from fright.

"Are all Sword Heart... masters this strong?" Ma Jingxuan’s voice was hoarse, as she struggled to speak.

"I’m not familiar with what ’Sword Heart’ concept that you’re talking about. In our place, there isn’t such a term, only Magic Artifact Sect and Formation Talisman Sect. As for the Sword Heart that wields swords with their mind, I haven’t crossed swords with them. But I think they should also reach the Qi Cultivator’s realm using a Magic Sword or a Magic Artifact as the main realm. The Qi Cultivator’s realm has a significant gap from the prior Innate internal sect, and let alone your Sword Technique realm which is lesser than the internal sect. So the difference indeed cannot be overstated," Lin Xin said, smiling after a pause.

"In fact, the sword strike I just performed was executed with your own speed and power."

"Impossible!"

Ma Jingxuan exclaimed in a low voice.

"Why not?" Lin Xin said, appreciating the resilience of this youngster. As he was in a good mood today, he decided to elaborate further.

"It’s just that I struck at a moment when you were unprepared, using the same speed and strength that you would, looking for an opening, nothing more."

Ma Jingxuan was stunned, reflecting on the fact that the opponent’s sword strike wasn’t particularly fast, but it caught her off guard. Under normal conditions, she would have been fully capable of defending against it. But in that moment, perhaps due to her surprise and her not having calmed down from speaking, she was struck unexpectedly.

"That’s enough for now, think about it. The outcome is often as simple as that," Lin Xin said, not elaborating further and turning back to the pavilion, leaving Ma Jingxuan alone in the courtyard with her revelations.

Even after having a late-night snack, when Lin Xin finished washing up and was about to rest, he still saw Ma Jingxuan standing alone in the courtyard, absent-mindedly practicing with her sword.

He shook his head slightly and closed his eyes to begin his own Nine Morning Song Cultivation Practice.

The Nine Morning Song had brought him a sensation of clarity throughout his body, inside and out, as if it were made of jade, ever since he’d entered the Jade Resonance Realm. When he flexed his muscles and they collided, it sounded like the striking of jade.

However, reaching the Fire Life Layer was more troublesome. Just that last time, by entering the Foundation Establishment Realm through the channel of the secluded path and blending with the essence of the Dragon King, he had nearly been overwhelmed by the backlash. He had made contact with the Life Fire once, but ever since, he had been unable to find any clue. Moreover, this was the first time he couldn’t perfectly replicate something with his supernatural abilities.

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Lin Xin waved a red piece of Talisman Paper into the air and affixed it to the room door. Instantly, the paper emitted a red glow, subtly brightening the door.

This was an alert Talisman Paper, made with a sprinkle of Spirit Stone dust, a disposable item that could preemptively isolate the fluctuations of Spiritual Energy, sounds, and smells from escaping the room. It was based on an in-depth miniature refinement of the original Concealment Array Plate. The talisman may seem simple, but it was actually inscribed with all kinds of intricate interconnected formation patterns. These were minute formation inscriptions personally carved by Lin Xin, something no other Formation Talisman Master could achieve.

After all, even if there were those with the ability, they wouldn’t waste such intricate miniature formations on something so trivial. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)