Chapter 752: The Highest Sword Path

The battle was not as intense as everyone had imagined. The outcome was decided after just a few rounds.

The energy swords that resembled lotus leaves shot past Zhang Shaoqing’s body. If they had been half an inch closer, he would have been injured. He could hardly accept this outcome. He was annoyed that he, a Nine-leaf cultivator, lost to an Eight-leaf cultivator. Apart from that, he did not understand why his opponent lacked a golden lotus. Regardless, this was a great insult to him. If anyone else were in his shoes, they would not be able to accept this outcome as well. Therefore, he said gruffly in a booming voice, “Again!”

The Longevity Sword returned to its scabbard.

Yu Shangrong smiled faintly. “I’m not used to sparring. If this were an actual battle, you would’ve lost your life to my blade. Why is there a need for a rematch?”

“You! I don’t care! I want a rematch!” Zhang Shaoqing’s sword buzzed.

Yu Shangrong ignored Zhang Shaoqing and returned to the others. Since the outcome was obvious, it would be boring and meaningless to continue sparring.

Yu Shangrong’s indifferent attitude naturally angered Zhang Shao Qing. In just a blink of an eye, thousands upon thousands of energy swords appeared around him, and he launched them at Yu Shangrong’s back.

“Impudent!” Sikong Beichen waved his arm. A gust of wind blew out, dispersing the energy swords and sending Zhang Shaoqing flying.

Zhang Shaoqing flipped in the air a few times before he finally managed to stabilize his footing. At this moment, a frightened expression could be seen on his face. This move from his temple master was akin to being drenched by a bucket of cold water. He finally regained his senses. As a Nine-leaf cultivator, how could he have made such a stupid mistake? He hastily said, “Forgive me, Temple Master! I... I... I...” His face flushed as he struggled to find the words to explain his actions.

The five First Seats were not young. It was unbecoming that one of them would act like a child upon losing. It would not have been a big deal if Zhang Shaoqing had just gracefully admitted defeat. With his action, not only did he lose the battle, but he had lost his dignity as well.

Saying that, regardless of their age, in front of Lu Zhou and Sikong Beichen, they were not different from youths.

“You’re grounded for one month. Face the wall and reflect on your mistake.” Although Sikong Beichen had spoken calmly, it was not any less stern.

Lu Zhou said, “It’s part of a soldier’s life to win and lose. It’s good that the young are competitive since this will help them improve. However, you shouldn’t be blinded by your desire to win”

Sikong Beichen nodded. “Well? Aren’t you going to thank Brother Lu?”

“Thank you, old senior, for your magnanimity. I... I’m ashamed of myself...” Zhang Shaoqing felt thoroughly embarrassed. He trembled slightly from the overwhelming emotion as he descended.

Yu Shangrong’s gaze remained indifferent. He looked at the sky as he said, “There are four levels of the sword path. The commoner’s sword can be used by anyone. The lord’s sword is branded by bravery. The son of heaven’s sword rectifies the vassals and makes the lands submit. The final level, the sword of creation, is a swordless path. Although your sword strike was powerful, you underestimated your opponent. If I’m not mistaken, you must not have experienced many life-or-death situations.” Without waiting for Zhang Shaoqing’s reply, he continued to say, “Your sword strikes lack the understanding of life and death. It lacks killing intent.”

Only the elites who lived on the sword’s edge would understand the gravity of each sword strike.

Upon hearing these words, realization dawned on Zhang Shaoqing. He cupped his fists together at Yu Shangrong and said, “I’m enlightened.” Indeed, he did not have much experience with life-or-death situations. As the current First Seat of the Ninth Temple, he was only in charge of the Mystery Hall after all. He rarely went out.

Yu Shangrong said no more.

Meanwhile, Sikong Beichen found the explanation interesting. He said, “This is my first time hearing that the sword is divided into four levels. Young man, what level is your sword path?”

Yu Shangrong replied, “My sword path is only at the second level. I like competitions and bravery. I’m shackled by myself. I’m afraid I won’t be able to have a breakthrough...”

Lu Zhou looked at Yu Shangrong with no changes in his expression. He was as steady as an old dog as he thought to himself, ‘I came up with that spontaneously... It seems like I have no choice but to go along with it...’

Sikong Beichen nodded as he asked, “Your sword path is superior to Zhang Shaoqing’s, but it’s only at the second level?”

Yu Shangrong nodded. “There’s no end to the path of the sword.”

At this moment, the sun was setting, and the night breeze began to stir.

The Peace Hall’s First Seat, Yao Qingquan, bowed and said, “Temple Master, I’ll prepare the Daoist veins and tidy up.”

“No.” Sikong Beichen raised a hand.

“Temple Master?”

Sikong Beichen pushed away from the ground and rose into the air as though he was light as a willow. Then, a lotus with ten leaves bloomed as an avatar appeared before disappearing again.

The beasts in the sky were in a frenzy as though they had just seen a delicious meal. All of them charged forward.

The members of Ninth Temple were not worried about Sikong Beichen’s safety at all. After all, their temple master had intentionally attracted the beasts’ attention.

Nevertheless, the beasts’ number had exceeded their expectations. There were so many of them that it seemed like they had covered the sky.

To the beasts, a Ten-leaf cultivator was even more delicious than a Nine-leaf cultivator. Sikong Beichen was undoubtedly an attractive and mouth-watering prey.

When the beasts were almost upon Sikong Beichen, he raised two fingers. An energy sword materialized between his fingers as he swung his arm. In just a blink of an eye, countless energy swords descended like snow and pierced the beasts’ bodies.

The speed at which they fell was neither fast nor slow.

Lu Zhou suddenly felt that Sikong Beichen’s energy swords had been intentionally slowed down. The speed at which the beasts flew and the timing of the swords’ descent seemed rehearsed due to the precision of the swords.

The others were shocked by this sight.

Even Yu Shangrong could not help but exclaim, “Is this the sword path of a Ten-leaf cultivator?”

Sikong Beichen asked, “In your opinion, what level is my sword path?”

Yu Shangrong was not stingy with his praise as he said, “The son of heaven’s sword.”

There were not many in the world who could earn Yu Shangrong’s praise.

Sikong Beichen condensed the Primal Qi in his surroundings into energy without any weapons, but with his two fingers. This feat alone was enough to make the world submit. He raised his right and said in confusion, “Shouldn’t it be the sword of creation?”

Sikong Beichen was the Temple Master of the Ninth Temple, after all. He had always been praised as peerless. It was only natural that he expected his sword path to be at the highest level. How could he not be confused when Yu Shangrong said his sword path was only at the third level?

The wind blew harder now, and its roar grew louder as well. Nevertheless, it did not impede their conversation.

Yu Shangrong smiled faintly. “Everything can be used as a sword in the swordless path. Even one’s finger can be used.”

It was difficult enough to form energy swords without a weapon. If one was not allowed to use anything at all, it would be even more difficult.

Sikong Beichen nodded. He found this reasonable. “The path of cultivation begins by channeling Primal Qi into one’s body and condensing energy from it. Primal Qi is also a thing. In that case, nobody in the world can reach the swordless path. Brother Lu...”

When Sikong Beichen shifted his eyes to Lu Zhou, he saw Lu Zhou staring ahead at an empty space with a sparkle in his eyes.

The five First Seats, Xia Changqiu, and Tian Buji followed Sikong Beichen’s gaze and looked at Lu Zhou.

Lu Zhou was no longer stroking his beard. One of his hands was on his back while the other hand was before himself. He seemed to have frozen over.

“Master?” Little Yuan’er noticed that something was amiss so she approached her master and tugged at his robe lightly.

However, Lu Zhou did not respond to Little Yuan’er.

It had to be said that Little Yuan’er was the only one who was bold enough to tug on Lu Zhou’s robe. She stood in front of him and jumped a little since she was shorter as she called out, “Master?”

The beasts in the skies were cawing.

Yao Qingquan said again, “I’ll go and activate the Daoist veins.”

Sikong Beichen looked at the beasts in the air with a fierce gaze as he nodded. After that, he slowly descended.

“Brother Lu?” Sikong Beichen nodded slightly.

“Ding! You’ve comprehended a new sword path, Calm Disturbance.”