Chapter 369 - 217: Peerless Prodigy Xie Yuan, the Path to Grandmaster Opens

Chapter 369: Chapter 217: Peerless Prodigy Xie Yuan, the Path to Grandmaster Opens

Xie Yuan fell silent.

He knew that a stable and prosperous imperial court, one free from famine and ruled by an emperor who wasn’t a fool, was already a blessing for the common people. But from what he had seen with his own eyes, he felt there was still immense room for improvement.

"The Yao family of Jinling, the Qian family of Yongyang, and the Autumn Wind Building... You said you killed the Assassin from the Autumn Wind Building?"

Li Xingtuo tapped his index finger rhythmically on the desk, seemingly lost in thought, before suddenly asking the question.

"He was killed by my companion. I just provided support."

Xie Yuan said with a serious expression.

Li Xingtuo was half-convinced. While that explanation was more logical, he knew he had to take whatever this kid said with a grain of salt.

’To escape a Celestial Tier Assassin unscathed and even kill him in return...’

But he didn’t dwell on it, merely saying in a low, somber voice:

"To think they would extend their reach all the way to Yunzhou, committing such a heinous crime at the foot of Cloud Mountain... It was a moment of oversight on our part."

A cold glint flashed in Li Xingtuo’s eyes.

"Zhang Mountain, you did very well. If you hadn’t discovered this, who knows how long it would have taken the Sect to notice a human trafficking case of this scale!"

He let out a breath and looked at Xie Yuan, his gaze filled with approval.

"Honestly, I didn’t expect you to get to the bottom of this, let alone so quickly! But you did an excellent job. You didn’t just punish the wicked; you restored justice and peace to the common folk. This is the responsibility a disciple of our Sword Sect should bear."

Xie Yuan cleared his throat and hinted:

"During my investigation, I operated in secret and did not reveal my identity as a Sect disciple, so I couldn’t bring glory to the Sect’s name."

Li Xingtuo heard this and dismissed it with a wave of his hand.

"As long as you are performing heroic deeds and upholding justice, what does it matter if you announce the Sect’s name? It’s all the same!

"I told you before that there would be a reward if you completed the mission. You’ve exceeded my expectations, so I’ll save you the trouble. I will choose an Inner Power technique for you."

He pondered for a moment, then took out a note, wrote a few words, and handed it to Xie Yuan.

"Go to the Library Pavilion and get the ’Cloud Mountain Sword Intent Scripture.’ This Heart Method is suitable for you. It’s a bit difficult, but if you don’t understand something, you can ask Instructor Lv, or you can come ask me directly. Both are fine."

’I can consult Li Xingtuo directly?’

Xie Yuan respectfully took the note, which bore the seal of Sect Leader Li Xingtuo. He glanced at the mountain of documents on Li Xingtuo’s desk and said earnestly:

"Thank you for your guidance, Sect Leader!"

Li Xingtuo waved his hand.

"There’s no need for thanks. Just remember that you are a man of the Sword Sect and act like one in the future, just as you did this time."

Xie Yuan was moved. He cupped his fist again, took his leave, and departed.

Li Xingtuo watched Xie Yuan’s departing figure, a hint of admiration showing in his deep eyes. He thought to himself:

’What a fine young man. I’ll have to trick him more... no, I mean, educate him more, so he truly identifies with the Sect.’

’Then, no matter what his name is, he will be a disciple of the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect.’

He looked down again at the mountain of scrolls, and his face fell.

Li Xingtuo let out a long sigh. Looking as if he had lost all will to live, he ran a hand through his silver hair and continued reviewing the documents.

...

Holding the note, Xie Yuan went to the Library Pavilion.

The moment the manager saw the Sect Leader’s seal, he became extremely polite to Xie Yuan and immediately retrieved a copy of the "Cloud Mountain Sword Intent Scripture" for him.

"This Heart Method is incredibly sharp and incisive. You must cultivate it according to the instructions and the guidance of your teachers. If practiced improperly, it can easily backfire and harm you. Hehe, but if it’s Nephew Zhang, then there shouldn’t be any problem."

Xie Yuan politely thanked the manager and rushed back to his own small courtyard. He shut the door, hung up a sign that read, "In serious cultivation, no visitors allowed," and immediately began to read the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect’s Middle Tier Internal Cultivation Method.

It was called Middle Tier, but that was only in relative terms. This Heart Method could be practiced all the way to the Grandmaster breakthrough, covering the entire realm of Qi and Blood transformation and even including the method to break through to the "Two Bridges of Heaven and Earth." It was equivalent to the Golden Bell Shield in his possession. In the outside world, such a Cultivation Technique would be considered at the Divine Power level.

Breaking through to the Grandmaster realm required a combination of both Inner Power and External Training. With two fundamental techniques, the Golden Bell Shield and the Cloud Mountain Sword Intent Scripture, Xie Yuan’s path to becoming a Grandmaster was now completely clear.

Coupled with a little bit of talent, it was only a matter of time.

Li Xingtuo had chosen this Inner Power technique for him without even asking.

’It really is suitable, but it seems he couldn’t even be bothered to pretend...’

However, the fact that a Grandmaster Level Inner Power technique like this came with warnings from both Li Xingtuo and the Library Pavilion manager indicated that the Cultivation Technique was indeed somewhat difficult.

’Let’s see what this is all about.’

Full of enthusiasm, Xie Yuan meticulously read the "Cloud Mountain Sword Intent Scripture" from beginning to end, then closed the book.

The world before his eyes flickered.

[Cloud Mountain Sword Intent Scripture · 1st Layer: (1/1000)]

’Well, I’ve read it. Not a big deal.’

He grinned. In truth, even without his panel, cultivating this Inner Power wouldn’t be too difficult given his current understanding of Swordsmanship.

Of course, with the panel, it was like adding wings to a tiger—making him twice as effective with half the effort.

Then, Xie Yuan seemed to be lost in thought.

’It has some things in common with the Cloud Mountain Sword Qi Skill... Hmm, the Sword Sect’s techniques really are built step-by-step, passed down in a continuous lineage. As expected of an organization backed by the Black Celestial Book, their heritage is well-ordered.’

’However, the circulation pathways of the Cloud Mountain Sword Intent Scripture are ingenious. The internal breath it cultivates is sharper and more incisive, and one’s attacks naturally carry a hint of Sword Intent! The internal breath cultivated this way is far more powerful than that from the Sword Qi Skill, so naturally, the difficulty is also greater. These meridians are not easy to traverse... The description and the breakthrough progress bar both show where the difficulty lies.’

Just as Xie Yuan was about to start practicing, he noticed he had no more advanced Body-Nourishing Art and raised an eyebrow.

’Don’t I still have the Body-Nourishing Art? If I can’t learn the Sword Intent Scripture, do you think I can’t even practice the Body-Nourishing Art?’

Xie Yuan suddenly remembered that he could use the Body-Nourishing Art to "charge" the Sword Intent Scripture, instantly raising it to a very high level. Afterward, he could re-cultivate the Body-Nourishing Art, which would be so easy he could do it backward or with his eyes closed.

With this method, his progress would be unbelievably fast.

A smile appeared on Xie Yuan’s face, but he decided to take it steady and not rush things.

’First, I’ll familiarize myself with the Sword Intent Scripture, practice from the beginning, and solidify my foundation. In a couple of days, I’ll give myself a ’power-infusion.’ Hehe, when the Sect Leader sees my progress, he probably won’t be able to make heads or tails of it.’

Without the process of cultivating it himself, even though the technique powered up by the Body-Nourishing Art wouldn’t be unstable, he was afraid his own mindset and understanding of the technique would be. Xie Yuan wouldn’t leave such a hidden danger for himself. In any case, there was no rush.

Once he had familiarized himself with it in a few days, it would be time for Zhang Mountain of Ruyun Peak to have his day of enlightenment with the Sword Scripture.