Chapter 329 - 211: Taking the Field in Turns (2)

Chapter 329: Chapter 211: Taking the Field in Turns (2)

The two of them thought back to how they had tried to console him, and they felt both exasperated and amused.

If he had only improved a little with his Cloud Mountain Sword Form, then he would have indeed needed consoling. But since he had perfected it outright, they were the ones who needed to be consoled.

’And Junior Brother Zhang... Is he really this powerful now?’

A complex look filled Lin Zhen’s eyes. She wasn’t confident she could beat either of the two men Xie Yuan had just so easily defeated.

She was definitely no match for Hou Zhen. Against Liu Tong, she was at best evenly matched. She might manage a draw, but a loss was more likely. After all, she had only just entered the Inner Sect, whereas these senior brothers had been training for a long time.

The thought that this junior brother, who had needed their protection back in the West Desert, had grown so strong so quickly, made Lin Zhen’s expression turn complicated. She stared at Xie Yuan, lost in thought.

Lv Liangdong nodded and first addressed the other disciples, particularly Liu Tong and Hou Zhen.

"Zhang Mountain’s situation is different from yours. He is blessed with both opportunity and talent, which is why his swordsmanship has reached this level. While you may not have had his opportunities, we have always said that daily hard work outweighs one chance trip up the Sword Peak. Continue to train diligently and don’t be discouraged. Your swordsmanship will catch up soon enough. This loss is not your fault."

Seeing that the two had recovered some of their spirits—though Hou Zhen still seemed lost in a daze—Lv Liangdong shook his head slightly.

For a disciple who has only ever focused on cultivating and practicing the sword, a defeat like this must be a massive blow. But he had said all he could; there wasn’t much more to be done.

Lv Liangdong then turned to Xie Yuan, his expression softening.

"Since your Cloud Mountain Sword Form has reached such a level, there’s nothing more to be said. Aside from daily practice to maintain your proficiency and prevent it from declining, you don’t need to spend any more time on it. Mmm, you should start practicing other forms of swordsmanship. However, with your talent, perhaps you should become an elder’s disciple as soon as possible. You would receive much better guidance. I’ll ask around for you."

His negative view of Xie Yuan’s "arrogance" had lessened considerably. His attempt to put the young man in his place had failed, and now he agreed that Xie Yuan didn’t need to train with the other ordinary Inner Sect Disciples. It would be better for him to study directly under an elder.

’Actually, I don’t even need to practice to avoid regressing... It’s just a little cheat, that’s all.’

’With the panel on hand, my progress isn’t a spiral like most people’s. It’s a straight, vertical climb, as fast as a rocket. The so-called ’reversal is the movement of the Dao’ or the ’negation of the negation’—none of that applies to me.’

However, the second part of Lv Liangdong’s offer left Xie Yuan feeling conflicted.

Li Xingtuo’s cryptic warning to be careful of the other elders had planted a seed of worry in his heart.

Although he felt that since Li Xingtuo seemed to have tacitly approved of his presence, the other elders probably wouldn’t dare to act against his wishes, he couldn’t help but worry about other factions within the sect—an old guard, perhaps—who might be determined to take him down, seeing him as someone with ulterior motives.

In the end, he couldn’t be sure of Li Xingtuo’s true attitude toward him. He hadn’t been pursued, but as Situ Qin had said, being allowed to leave the mountain didn’t mean he was truly free.

Whether on the mountain or off, as long as he was within the borders of Yunzhou, Li Xingtuo could give him a nine-hundred-and-ninety-nine-step head start and still catch him with a snap of his fingers. Letting him leave the mountain probably just meant Li Xingtuo wasn’t worried in the slightest about him escaping his grasp.

Regardless, since the other elders might harbor ill intentions toward him, Xie Yuan preferred to avoid them.

Just as he was trying to think of an excuse to stop Lv Liangdong from seeking recommendations from the elders—and as he could practically feel the jealousy radiating from the disciples around him—a voice drifted down from the upper floor of a nearby building.

"Not bad. For an External Training disciple to reach such a level is rare indeed."

Everyone immediately turned toward the voice. Standing by the second-floor railing of the adjacent building was a middle-aged Swordsman with a lean, distinguished face and a long, three-stranded beard. It was none other than Lu Pei, the master of Bamboo Sword Peak.

"Greetings, Elder Lu!"

The disciples bowed one after another. Seeing Lu Pei appear so suddenly, Xie Yuan felt a wave of unease.

’Speak of the devil... What a coincidence.’

He waited to see what Lu Pei would do next, but the elder merely glanced at him, offered his single comment, and then continued.

"I have some free time today, so I came to give you a lecture on swordsmanship."

The Inner Sect Disciples were instantly thrilled. While it wasn’t unheard of for a Grandmaster to give a lecture in the Inner Sect, it certainly wasn’t a daily occurrence. The elders came on a rotating basis, so it could be a long wait to hear from one you particularly admired. Lu Pei’s visit especially electrified the disciples who were interested in the Flying Sword Skill.

Of course, Lu Pei wasn’t about to lecture on the Flying Sword Skill; even if he did, very few would be able to learn it. For these Inner Sect Disciples, he started with the fundamentals, slowly introducing the essence of the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect’s swordsmanship.

The swordsmanship of the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect had always been characterized by its myriad variations and exquisitely refined techniques. Such a style demanded a high degree of comprehension and talent for the Sword Dao from its disciples, making it extremely difficult to master. But since everyone present had been able to enter the Sword Sect, and even advance to the Inner Sect, their talent was certainly up to par.

Therefore, Lu Pei’s lecture was more advanced than Lv Liangdong’s, which focused on the absolute basics. After all, when it came to teaching fundamentals, Lv Liangdong was arguably better than any of the Grandmasters.

A Grandmaster’s lecture contained profound truths in simple words. A single sentence could trigger an epiphany, allowing a disciple to overcome a long-standing obstacle. Thus, everyone listened with rapt attention. Now and then, someone would nod repeatedly with an excited look, eager to put the new insights to the test.

The lecture ended in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. When a Grandmaster spoke of the sword, every word was a pearl of wisdom; nothing was superfluous. Everyone wore thoughtful expressions, pondering in silence. Even Xie Yuan felt inspired, nodding repeatedly as he thought to himself: