Chapter 162 - 111: A Sword Nurtured for 30 Years, It’s Time to See Blood

The Martial Artist hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath and turned toward Zhang Su.

"Young Hero Zhang... please."

He offered the booklet with both hands.

Zhang Su didn’t stand on ceremony and reached out to take the Secret Manual.

He didn’t rush to read it. Instead, he first examined the booklet in his hands.

Blue cover with silver thread, yellowed paper, and curled corners.

"Young Hero Zhang."

Ouyang Yin’s voice rang out again.

"The Sword Nurturing Skill is a secret of my Hidden Sword Manor that is never taught to outsiders. As for our three-move agreement, since I have already given my word to Young Hero Zhang, the Secret Manual is naturally yours to read. However, I must ask that you do not pass it on to others."

Zhang Su nodded.

"Rest assured, Clan Elder. I will not spread it."

Ouyang Yin gave a slight nod and said no more.

Ignoring the stares of those around him, Zhang Su immediately sat cross-legged on the ground, placed the Secret Manual on his lap, and began to read it page by page.

On the Martial Arts Arena, everyone was watching him.

The disciples of Hidden Sword Manor watched with complicated expressions.

This was the first time they had ever seen an outsider read the Sword Nurturing Skill.

Most of them had never even touched this Secret Manual.

Only the most talented disciples in the manor were qualified to practice it.

But now, an outsider—the very outsider who had just killed Ouyang Pu—was sitting there brazenly reading it.

The feeling was incredibly stifling.

But with the Clan Elders present, no one dared to act out.

Zhang Su paid no mind to the surrounding gazes.

His attention was completely focused on the Secret Manual in his hands.

The Secret Manual’s contents weren’t actually very extensive.

It was only a few pages long.

Zhang Su flipped through it gently, reading every word with great care.

This Sword Nurturing Skill didn’t seem like a Martial Technique.

To be precise, it was a Secret Technique.

Only one who had achieved Sword Heart Clarity could use their own spirit to perform "Sword Nurturing."

And the purpose of this "Sword Nurturing" wasn’t actually for combat, but to comprehend Sword Intent.

Sword Intent was a form of Martial Dao True Intent!

Things like Saber Intent, Fist Intent, and so on, all belonged to the category of Martial Dao True Intent.

Zhang Su’s eyes lit up slightly.

He had long heard that the Sword Nurturing Skill was derived from Martial Dao True Intent.

The rumors were true.

Moreover, the Sword Nurturing Skill held an even more astonishing secret.

It wasn’t for fighting at all, but merely for comprehending Sword Intent.

It was a type of cultivation Secret Technique.

Of course, it was only for comprehension.

What one could comprehend depended on serendipity.

In reality, the Sword Nurturing Skill only scratched the surface of Martial Dao True Intent.

Even at the Perfection realm, it would be impossible to grasp Martial Dao True Intent.

But it could show one the path toward Martial Dao True Intent.

For Zhang Su, this Sword Nurturing Skill was indeed a great help.

Both his Nine Shadows Sword Technique and Wind and Thunder Sword Technique had given rise to Divine Intent, but that was only the most rudimentary level.

To advance further, he had to touch upon the true Martial Dao True Intent.

The Sword Nurturing Skill was a key.

A key to the gate of Martial Dao True Intent.

As for combat...

It was merely a side effect of the Sword Nurturing Skill.

The more Zhang Su read, the more satisfied he became.

’The longer one nurtures a sword, the purer their spirit is refined. If someone were to nurture a sword for a hundred years, even if they couldn’t comprehend Sword Intent, their spirit would probably be tempered to an absolutely terrifying degree...’

He mused internally.

The cultivation method for this Sword Nurturing Skill was very interesting.

It wasn’t based on arduous training, but on "nurturing."

By infusing one’s spirit into a sword, day after day, year after year, that spirit would be tempered within the blade.

The longer the time, the purer the spirit.

Ouyang Pu had nurtured his sword for three years, and his Spiritual Power had already become quite considerable.

He was just unlucky enough to run into Zhang Su, who had given rise to two types of Divine Intent.

The bit of Spiritual Power Ouyang Pu had nurtured was no match for Zhang Su’s Divine Intent at all.

Zhang Su continued reading.

The method of Sword Nurturing was written in extreme detail.

From how to focus the mind, to how to infuse one’s spirit into the sword, and then how to keep the spirit from dissipating within the blade—every step was clearly explained.

Zhang Su read and memorized it as he went.

He had already decided to properly study this Secret Technique after he returned.

However, the Sword Nurturing Skill also had its drawbacks.

In fact, to some extent, the drawbacks were significant.

When Zhang Su flipped to the final page, his brow furrowed slightly.

Once you began Sword Nurturing, you could no longer draw your sword.

If you drew your sword, all your previous efforts in Sword Nurturing, no matter how long, would be wasted.

Nurturing a sword again would be like starting all over.

Moreover, there were no shortcuts.

Things like substituting it with a Wooden Sword were all useless.

As long as you used any Swordsmanship, the nurtured Spiritual Power would vanish.

This drawback was actually quite severe.

Zhang Su pondered for a moment.

’Trying to comprehend Sword Intent just by relying on the Sword Nurturing Skill is nothing but a fool’s dream. It’s simply impossible.

Even if you never used a sword your entire life, you probably still wouldn’t be able to nurture Sword Intent.

At best, you’d only nurture an extremely pure stream of Spiritual Power.’

Ouyang Pu had nurtured his sword for three years previously, and that was exactly what he had produced: a stream of pure Spiritual Power.

Zhang Su let out a soft breath.

For him, the value of this Sword Nurturing Skill didn’t lie in "nurturing Spiritual Power."

It lay in the single word "comprehension."

Through this Secret Technique, he could more clearly perceive the path to Sword Intent.

This would be of great benefit for condensing his Martial Dao True Intent.

Zhang Su read through the Sword Nurturing Skill several times.

Only when he had firmly committed the contents of the Sword Nurturing Skill to memory did Zhang Su close the booklet.

He had memorized the entire Sword Nurturing Skill.

Even after returning the booklet, he wouldn’t forget it.

Zhang Su stood up and returned the Sword Nurturing Skill Secret Manual to Hidden Sword Manor.

"Manor Master Ouyang, with this, the enmity between us is settled. Farewell!"

His voice was not loud, but it was firm and resolute.

Ouyang Chuan looked like he wanted to say something, but in the end, he held his tongue.

Without waiting for a response, Zhang Su turned and left.

Gu Ying, who had been waiting at the side, saw Zhang Su leaving and quickly followed.