Chapter 308 - 207: Became Famous

Chapter 308: Chapter 207: Became Famous

An ordinary disciple, regardless of whether they were doing External Training or had undergone a Qi and Blood Transformation, would have been riddled by Sword Qi like a sieve after nine days.

"He couldn’t have... you know... up there, could he?"

someone asked.

"Impossible! The Grandmaster Elders have been taking turns to check on him, and even the Sect Leader often keeps watch over there. Everyone’s saying this Zhang Mountain must be special, born with a sword physique or something..."

"The elders are taking turns to see him? Are they gawking at some rare, exotic beast?"

"That’s about the gist of it. You have no idea how many people are always hanging around the Back Hall of the main peak. That Zhang Mountain has practically become a tourist attraction on Sword Peak."

Meanwhile, many of those who had been watching Xie Yuan from the start—people like Lin Cheng, Lin Zhen, and Qin Zhenyang—had grown so numb to it all that they felt it wouldn’t be strange if he stayed for another nine days.

Xie Yuan had no idea he had become the focus of the entire sect’s attention. If he knew, he probably would have left long ago.

At this moment, he was immersed in a world of Sword Intent, as if he had entered the illusory mountain of swords from when the Black Celestial Book had its breakthrough in the sword cavern.

From Xie Yuan’s perspective, he was still sitting cross-legged on the stone platform of Sword Peak. However, what swirled around him was not wind, but an endless maelstrom of sharp swords.

Sharp swords floated and spun around the entire Sword Peak. The Sword Intent of each blade was unique, and every unique Sword Intent represented a different style of Swordsmanship.

Around Sword Peak, renowned swords rained down. Ten thousand? There were far, far more.

If it were only the swords, that would be one thing. But on the stone platforms of Sword Peak, countless phantoms seemed to dance, demonstrating profound and inscrutable forms of Swordsmanship and continuously carving new marks into the stone.

On the ninety-nine stone platforms, the slash marks were densely packed and the phantoms were layered one on top of another. It was more than Xie Yuan could possibly take in.

Yet, whenever he focused his intent, he could clearly see the corresponding Swordsmanship and its unique Sword Intent.

This illusory Sword Peak was the very world of the Sword Dao, a place where it seemed any style of Swordsmanship could find its counterpart. Xie Yuan even sensed that the two phantoms at the summit were dueling, using the "Floating Light and Shadow Sword" and the "Sea-Calming and Tide-Leveling Sword Technique," respectively. It was as if he were witnessing a reenactment of the duel between Li Xingtuo and Wei Dong.

If he could fully comprehend them, he would be able to master one of these two contemporary Divine Swords. It might not even be impossible for him to train in both simultaneously!

However, the summit was too high above him, and watching it was too strenuous. Xie Yuan wisely chose to observe the Swordsmanship around him instead, continuously absorbing the strengths of the various phantoms and Sword Intents. He transformed them into a ceaseless stream of nourishment that nurtured his own understanding of the Sword Dao.

Xie Yuan didn’t know when he had entered this state, but with every passing moment, his understanding of the Sword Dao grew and his Swordsmanship improved. Every breath was precious.

He was completely submerged in this true holy land of the Sword Dao—or perhaps, its very source. Forgetting all about the Black Celestial Book, the Sword Sect, and Sword Peak, he threw his entire being into this new world.

’That looks like the Cloud Dragon Nine Forms...’

On a platform much higher up, Xie Yuan chanced upon a phantom. The Swordsmanship it demonstrated was none other than the Cloud Dragon Nine Forms, a top-tier Sword Technique of the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect that he had practiced arduously for a long time.

The moment he saw it, his perspective automatically zoomed in.

The phantom before him wore flowing robes, its posture elegant and free. Its sword emerged like a dragon and vanished into the clouds, executing the Cloud Dragon Nine Forms with the effortless artistry of the technique’s original creator.

Xie Yuan watched for a long time before nodding to himself.

’So this is how you’re supposed to practice it.’

He wanted to practice it himself, but suddenly realized there was no sword in his hand.

’Where’s my Profound Weapon? Shouldn’t the treasure I just acquired be on me?’

A wave of confusion washed over Xie Yuan, followed by a sudden realization:

’I’m inside a world of Sword Intent...’

His mind suddenly cleared, and he saw a line of numbers before his eyes.

[Black Celestial Book: (500/500)]

As the last point of progress was added, a great roar echoed in Xie Yuan’s mind, as if ten thousand renowned swords were vibrating in unison.

He felt as if he had witnessed and studied countless forms of Swordsmanship. He now possessed his own insights into the Sword Dao; upon seeing an opponent wield a sword, a natural confidence would well up within him.

[Witness all forms of Swordsmanship; their variations now lie within your heart.]

[Sword Heart - Initial Tier: Anticipate the enemy’s opening; upon seeing a sword move, a counter will form in your mind.]

Xie Yuan hadn’t even processed what this new boon was when he saw another line of text.

[Cloud Dragon Nine Forms - Minor Success: (1/5000)]

Xie Yuan had already mastered the Cloud Dragon Nine Forms, a Grandmaster Level style of Swordsmanship, to the Minor Success realm.

He blinked, and boundless joy welled up within him.

’The Cloud Dragon Nine Forms at Minor Success!’

The Cloud Dragon Nine Forms was so profound that it was the first Cultivation Technique to make Xie Yuan truly feel that something was "difficult."

Even with the aid of his status panel and its progress indicators, he often practiced for ages with very little to show for it.

He had been practicing it for quite some time but had only just moved past the introductory level to the proficiency realm. There was no telling how much time and hard work it would take to break through to the next level.

But the investment in this Swordsmanship was worth it. Every move and form was incredibly powerful. Among all his Cultivation Techniques, its might was second only to his two axe techniques, "Sweeping Away a Thousand Soldiers" and "Three Axe Swings."

Just going from the introductory to the proficient realm had resulted in an increase in power that was not to be underestimated. It was entirely worthy of its difficulty and the sweat Xie Yuan had poured into it.

But now, the Cloud Dragon Nine Forms, which had only just reached the proficiency realm, had skipped two entire levels to reach Minor Success!

Xie Yuan couldn’t test the Cloud Dragon Nine Forms at the Minor Success realm right now, but he estimated that while its power might not yet match "Sweeping Away a Thousand Soldiers," it would surely surpass the "Three Axe Swings."

Besides, the Cloud Dragon Nine Forms wasn’t a simple killing move like his axe techniques; it was a complete system of Swordsmanship. Its moves integrated both offense and defense, making it applicable in a vast range of situations. An ordinary Martial Artist who learned this one system would have enough to look down upon their peers, needing no other techniques.

But ordinary Martial Artists could never learn the Cloud Dragon Nine Forms. One needed extreme talent in the Sword Dao just to learn a tiny fraction of it by the Qi Blood Third Transformation.