Chapter 50 : Chapter 50
Chapter 50: The Martial Artists of Qingjiang Prefecture Surely Understand What I Am About to Do
As an Elder of the Sword Bearers, Jian A’s pursuit of the peak of the Sword Dao was fanatical. The moment Cheng Yu mentioned that the Taiyi Mysterious Gate Sword Art could soothe sword qi, any hesitation was a sign of a lack of purity in his pursuit of the sword. To hear the Dao in the morning and die in the evening is enough! So what if he had to kowtow?
Jian A had wandered the Jianghu for thirty years and had even left the Great Qian to go overseas, yet he had never heard of a sword technique that could soothe sword qi. The Taiyi Mysterious Gate Sword Art was a monumental breakthrough in the Sword Dao, enough to establish a new sect! With the Wudang Sword Art already displayed as divine, this was surely not a fabrication. Cheng Yu’s ability to create such a technique meant his talent and insight in the Sword Dao had reached a terrifying level. Liu Xiong was right! Taking Cheng Yu as his Master was the only way to witness the supreme realm of the sword. No Sword Bearer could refuse!
Looking at Jian A kowtowing to him, Cheng Yu had no reason to refuse. A young man taking a white-haired elder as a disciple—only hypocritical "Great Heroes" of the martial world would gossip or be dissatisfied with such behavior. The one who has mastered it is the teacher; in Cheng Yu’s eyes, what was wrong with it?
He nodded and accepted Jian A’s request.
"Thank you, Master!" Jian A was overjoyed and kowtowed frantically. He then raised the wooden crutch in both hands and offered it up.
Offering the sword and taking a master! The highest etiquette of the Sword Bearers!
Sharp and terrifying sword qi, like a fierce wind, began to swirl and roar around the wooden crutch, encasing it. The gale of sword qi dissipated, and a cold, sharp sword appeared.
Earth Grade Low Rank, the Wind and Cloud Sword!
The Wind and Cloud Sword was of the Earth Grade and possessed a spirit of its own, giving off an extremely violent feeling. Ordinary people would feel a stinging pain just by looking at it. Thus, Jian A had disguised it as a wooden crutch to hide and suppress it.
Cheng Yu reached out to grab the Wind and Cloud Sword, feeling a very fierce gale resisting him. "How stubborn. But see clearly who I am."
He gave a cold snort and grabbed it firmly. The aura of the Sword of the Dao of Weapons from the True Martial Inheritance flowed out. Overwhelming sword qi erupted from his palm, surrounding the originally fierce Wind and Cloud Sword. The sword trembled and completely ceased its resistance, obediently entering Cheng Yu’s hand.
Cheng Yu drew the sword and gave it a slight wave. A gale suddenly howled and erupted, throwing the room into chaos. Even Liu Xiong became somewhat unsteady on his feet. The kneeling Jian A watched this scene with wide eyes, and old tears began to flow down his face. "Is this the grace of the true intent of the Sword Dao? To think that in my lifetime, I would be fortunate enough to see it! This disciple thanks Master!"
[Ding!]
[Host has taken a disciple and passed on the Sword Dao. Reward: Supreme True Insight into the Gale Sword Dao!]
[The consumption when using the Demon-Slaying Sword (Broken) is reduced! Can invoke the Supreme Gale Sword Dao!]
"Haha! A fine sword!" Cheng Yu laughed and handed the Wind and Cloud Sword back to Jian A, signaling for him to rise.
Jian A took back the sword and felt that the violence within it, which he had been unable to smooth out over decades of nurturing, had completely vanished. It had been thoroughly tamed. His gaze became increasingly excited. "Master’s attainments in the Sword Dao truly reach through the heavens and the earth, shaking the past and the present!" Entering Cheng Yu’s tutelage was his great fortune!
And so, Cheng Yu gained a very powerful second disciple, and Liu Xiong gained a respected Elder as a Junior Brother.
"I shall teach you the Taiyi Mysterious Gate Sword Art to soothe your sword qi. You can repay me slowly in the future!"
Hearing Cheng Yu unhesitatingly teach him that unique sword technique, Jian A’s entire body trembled. "Tao Dapao thanks Master!"
"Er, you should still call yourself 'Jian A.' I have no rule requiring the use of your real name." Cheng Yu managed to salvage the other man's image as a master swordsman. He gave a bit of guidance, passing the essence of the Taiyi Mysterious Gate Sword Art to Jian A.
"Slow is fast, softness can overcome hardness..." Jian A foolishly muttered Cheng Yu’s words, the light in his eyes growing brighter and brighter. He seemed to be in a state of madness. This was the solution to his stagnant breakthrough!
Right at that moment, two figures in dark red appeared coldly at the door. "Hundred-Household Commander Cheng, did something happen just now? Was there an enemy attack?"
Ai Peng looked at the disordered room with confusion. He then looked at the strange old man in the room, who looked like he was ascending to heaven, and was filled with questions. He had been reviewing the intelligence documents when he was drawn here by the sound of the fierce wind.
"I think someone is making trouble, bringing just anyone into a Jinyiwei stronghold." Fan Xiu looked at Cheng Yu and the others with a cold remark. Cheng Yu had been disrespectful to him before, and he had kept it in his heart.
Cheng Yu’s gaze turned slightly cold, but a hint of a smile suddenly appeared. He gave Ai Peng a faint look. Get back!
Ai Peng understood instantly. Although he didn't know why, he subconsciously obeyed. Hide from what? Amidst his confusion, he suddenly felt a terrifyingly sharp aura erupt frantically.
The slightly mad Jian A moved his feet and suddenly whistled toward the door like a fierce gale. That strange old man!
Ai Peng was horrified and dodged. Where did this old man come from? How terrifying! His gaze was sharp; this man’s fierce and terrifying sword qi was definitely stronger than his own, comparable to the Ninth Rank! He felt a lingering fear; if he had accidentally been touched by that sword qi, he would have been crippled if not wounded.
But Fan Xiu was not so lucky. When Jian A rushed over, he had no time to react. His eyes went wide, and before he could even dodge, streaks of sword qi swept past him like a gale. His body, nurtured by Eighth-Rank internal energy, was actually sliced with numerous wounds. He was sent flying, blood spraying everywhere!
"Ah! You dared to wound me!" Fan Xiu howled in pain. By now, Jian A had already passed him and reached the open area of the courtyard. Amidst his agonizing pain and gritted teeth, he saw an unbelievable sight. His anger and desire to erupt instantly withered away.
He saw Jian A being lifted up by a gale formed of sword qi. In the vicinity, fierce winds roared, and sand and stones flew. He looked like a god descended to the mortal realm. After a while, the fierce wind gradually became gentle and increasingly regular, supporting Jian A as he slowly landed.
Jian A looked up at the sky, his face filled with incomparable excitement. He had once almost given up his pursuit and completely resigned himself to his fate, yet now he had actually broken through that barrier! A breakthrough!
"Today I first glimpse the peak of the Sword Dao; from now on, my sword is governed by me, not heaven!"
The two Jinyiwei Assistant Commissioners stared with wide eyes. This old man's current strength was much stronger than it had been during his earlier outburst, far exceeding both of them! Where had Cheng Yu found such a supreme master of the Sword Dao? This strength was enough to reach the Earth Ranking of Tianji Tower and rank among the very top!
What they found even harder to believe was that this swordsman walked up to Cheng Yu and knelt down with incomparable excitement, kowtowing. "This disciple thanks Master for the great kindness of his guidance! I shall never forget it!"
The kindness of a teacher passing on the Dao! What excited him was not just the breakthrough after thirty years, but also the future he saw through Cheng Yu. A future of the Sword Dao that the Sword Bearers had dreamed of for a hundred years, for which they had sacrificed themselves generation after generation!
He made a firm decision in his heart. Master was the future of the Sword Bearers! Without Master, the Sword Dao sought by the Sword Bearers would be like an eternal night! Following Master was the most correct path for all Sword Bearers!
This kneeling left Ai Peng and Fan Xiu standing there, stunned and at a loss. "He calls Cheng Yu 'Master'?!"
A grand master comparable to the Ninth Rank, who exuded terrifying sword qi with every gesture, called a Jinyiwei Hundred-Household Commander "Master"? They could not believe it no matter how hard they tried. Yet they could not deny the fact before their eyes. This swordsman was extremely respectful toward Cheng Yu, and that burst of sword qi that hit Fan Xiu was clearly him venting anger on Cheng Yu's behalf.
A storm rose in both their hearts. With this, the situation had changed! Their supposed command and deployment under Cheng Yu had been a mere formality. Was an Eighth-Rank expert truly going to risk his life for a Hundred-Household Commander? The balance of power had been reversed!
Ai Peng was completely convinced of Lord Zhao’s foresight and hurriedly cupped his fists. "Congratulations, Hundred-Household Commander Cheng!"
Fan Xiu also gritted his teeth and reluctantly cupped his fists, lowering his head.
[Host has displayed the majesty of his forces, intimidating subordinates and superiors. Reward: Internal Energy!]
A stream of pure internal energy entered his body. Cheng Yu put his hands behind his back and gave a faint nod. "Now that everything is ready, summon all Jinyiwei of the Dragon Abyss Path and mobilize all soldiers that can be moved. Tomorrow, we set out for Dragon Abyss Prefecture."
"Why summon so many Jinyiwei and soldiers to Dragon Abyss Prefecture?" Fan Xiu frowned. Shouldn't a few of them take the evidence and go to negotiate first? The Imperial Court had always avoided being too aggressive when dealing with the great sects of the Jianghu, as it was easy to provoke an overreaction.
Cheng Yu raised an eyebrow, his gaze cold. "What for? You can ask the martial artists of Qingjiang Prefecture; they surely understand what I am about to do."