Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 174: Chapter 172: Comprehending the Sword

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The sword was crystalline and smooth, with faint and mysterious patterns.

Chu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow.

He was extremely sensitive to patterns, often thinking of phoenix patterns and other exotic designs, each imbued with formidable power.

This pattern was peculiar yet showed no anomalies—just ordinary cloud patterns.

Under the Super Sensing Illumination, the center of this sword embedded a palm-sized copper mirror.

Behind the copper mirror was a strange pattern, while the front was murky and unclear.

The copper mirror, only palm-thick, was deeply embedded in the center of the Jade Sword, concealed by the White Jade. Outsiders would need to shatter the Jade Stele to see it.

He gazed far into the distance.

White clouds floated in the sky, distant peaks like islands in a sea.

Not far from the Sword Stele, there was a palace.

The palace was constructed entirely of White Jade, spotless and pristine, like a celestial palace.

In the center of the hall, an old man, a Great Grandmaster, sat on a lounger.

He was an elderly man with white hair and beard, kind-eyed and benevolent, his silver-white whiskers draping over his shoulders. His eyes were downcast in deep meditation, motionless as if asleep.

The visualization above his head was a sword, that very White Jade Great Sword before them, yet even more magnificent, and faintly electric with a mystical purple current.

The visualization was an actual scene, something Chu Zhiyuan had never encountered before.

He found himself momentarily distracted, quickly regaining focus, avoiding the Great Grandmaster.

He continued observing the White Jade Great Sword.

He turned to look at Huang Shiron.

Huang Shiron’s expression was solemn, as if transformed into another person.

Chu Zhiyuan whispered, "Is this the Sword Stele?"

"Yes, this is the White Cloud Sword Stele, the foundation of our Sect. The founding Grandmaster discovered this Sword Stele and thus gained swordsmanship and established our Sect."

"Where does this Sword Stele come from?"

"It’s said to be naturally formed."

"Naturally formed..." Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded. "Such a heavy sword could hardly have been lifted here and inserted by human hands."

Even a Great Grandmaster could not move this hundred-meter-high, thirty-meter-long, thirty-meter-thick White Jade Sword.

Much less lifting it atop this mighty peak; it could only be said to be naturally formed.

He felt it was more like something that had fallen from the sky.

"Can I touch it?" Chu Zhiyuan said.

Huang Shiron nodded gently.

Chu Zhiyuan extended his hand and lightly placed it on the Sword Stele.

The touch was soft and smooth, very much like the feel of Mutton Fat Jade.

His hand reached upward but couldn’t reach the copper mirror’s position, which was far beyond reach.

He attempted to channel a strand of Gang Qi, but it elicited no response.

The White Jade Sword Stele seemed to reject True Qi, blocking it entirely.

"Your Highness, by this time tomorrow, we should return."

"There’s no rush. When will the anomaly appear?"

"Focus intently, and after a while, the swordsmanship will naturally appear on the Sword Stele."

"Does the same set of swordsmanship appear before everyone?"

"It’s different for everyone."

"So, by viewing it several times, one could potentially acquire multiple sets of swordsmanship?"

"The swordsmanship obtained the first time is the strongest. It will become weaker each time after that, so it’s sufficient to comprehend it just once."

"Does the quality of swordsmanship vary for each person?"

"For those equally talented, the quality of the swordsmanship seen is roughly the same."

"Thus, the more gifted one is, the stronger the swordsmanship they will see?"

Huang Shiron nodded gently. "The stronger the swordsmanship, the higher the insight needed. Without enough perception, seeing such swordsmanship is useless—they cannot memorize it. The Sword Stele is exceedingly miraculous, as if it can discern the observer’s comprehension."

Chu Zhiyuan pondered over this insightfully.

Huang Shiron said, "With your unrivaled perceptiveness, Your Highness, you are bound to gain the world’s supreme swordsmanship; I shall not disturb you."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded, "Then I shall rely on your auspicious words."

A lounger was carried up by two young men and placed behind Chu Zhiyuan.

Huang Shiron slightly bowed in thanks to the two young men, "Thank you, Brother Hu and Brother Zhou."

The two clasped their fists and bowed. As they departed, they glanced at Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan returned their looks with a smile and a nod.

He knew why they were surprised.

Perhaps it was the first time a stranger had appeared on White Cloud Peak, one who was not a disciple of the White Cloud Sword Palace.

"I will come to fetch you at this time tomorrow, Your Highness." Huang Shiron clasped her fists.

Chu Zhiyuan clasped his fists with a smile, "Thank you for your trouble."

Huang Shiron glanced at him.

Chu Zhiyuan noticed her mild reproach and smiled, "Even with the closest friends, one should express gratitude."

Huang Shiron gave him a sidelong glance and departed gracefully.

In the vast plaza, he was left alone.

A biting wind howled through.

Chu Zhiyuan protected himself with Gang Qi, unfazed by the cold wind.

He was somewhat unaccustomed without Zou Fang by his side.

Unfortunately, he could only ponder the Sword Stele alone, as Zou Fang could not accompany him.

Time was precious, and he did not want to waste any more. He was eager to see what swordsmanship would appear on the sword.

He studied the Great Grandmaster again, who remained as if in deep meditation, utterly motionless, as if without visible breathing, he might have been presumed dead.

Chu Zhiyuan sat on the lounger, crossed his legs, and focused his gaze on the White Jade Stele, fixated.

As he stared, the patterns on the White Jade Stele seemed to absorb the power within his gaze, gradually emerging.

The patterns first appeared, then slowly brightened, transforming into shimmering rays of light, gathering on the White Jade Stele.

Within this cluster of light, a shadowy figure could faintly be seen.

Chu Zhiyuan did not blink and continued utilizing his Super Sensory abilities.

In the Super Sense Illumination, the scene appeared somewhat differently.

A pillar of light descended from the Void, striking the copper mirror, causing a tiny figure to appear on the mirror surface, followed by two people, then three.

On the Sword Stele, the light reflected on the White Jade surface was also the person in the copper mirror, only magnified several times to life-size proportions.

Chu Zhiyuan was greatly astonished.

That pillar of light surprisingly wasn’t visible to the naked eye.

Where did it come from?

The figures before his eyes were six young men and women practicing swordsmanship, starting with a young girl.

The swordsmanship was graceful and light, like a dance in motion, each move exquisitely beautiful.

Then another man trained with the sword.

The style of the swordsmanship changed abruptly, like a resurrected Asura, severe and intense, not daring to look directly.

Then another young girl, graceful and gentle, like a startled swan skimming over a lake reflection.

Then another man, like the emergence of countless ghosts, eerie and terrifying.

The third girl was ethereal and serene, her Qing Qi cold and detached, as if untouched by mortal smoke.

The third man was refined and graceful, like a gentleman strolling in a turbulent world.

Chu Zhiyuan watched these sword techniques, his mind deep in thought.

Their attire was peculiar.

Despite the different customs of Da Jing, Da Zhen, and Da Meng, their clothing was similar; however, the style of attire worn by the figures in the mirror was vastly different.

Moreover, the behavior and aura of these young men and women were more severe, even though the three girls appeared gentle, their bright eyes flickering with intensity.

Chu Zhiyuan, with his Super Sense, had an observation power far beyond ordinary, extremely attuned to these details.

These six individuals likely did not belong to Da Jing, Da Zhen, or Da Meng.

As the six sets of sword techniques were completed, they began to duel; the elegant and nimble swordsmanship opposed the eerie and fearful technique, somehow suppressing the latter with each move.

Unconsciously, Chu Zhiyuan was absorbed in watching.

In his initial assumptions, the man’s swordsmanship was sharper and more ruthless, while the woman’s seemed more like a display, akin to dancing.

But when they sparred, the woman surprisingly subdued the man with every move.

The same techniques displayed fully depend on how and when they are executed, which offered Chu Zhiyuan a new perspective and broadened his understanding.

"Slash!" Suddenly, with a single stroke, the woman pierced through the man’s wrist, his longsword flew, and they both retreated.

The next pair was another man and woman, the man’s technique fierce, the woman’s graceful, ethereal, yet stifling the man’s breath. After thirty-two moves, he also lost.

Then it was the third pair.

As expected by Chu Zhiyuan, once again, the man was defeated.

Chu Zhiyuan watched their figures gradually fade, vanishing into a lush green forest, thoughtful.

His mind replayed the sword techniques of the six.

Six different sword techniques, at first glance, the three men’s appeared more formidable, but ultimately, the three women’s were more exquisite.

Yet, if he replaced the three men, he might not necessarily lose to the three women.

The swordsmanship was sharp, yet it failed to be showcased.

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