The Art of Killing?
Ye Qiu suddenly understood.
“Simplify the complex, gather all sword intents into one, then deliver a fatal strike.”
“So this is Tsukahara Sword Saint’s insight into the way of the sword.”
“It seems that not only did Tsukahara Sword Saint rely on this move to be invincible, but he also left this sword technique on the cliff, passing it down to future generations, and I’ve benefited from it.”
Ye Qiu closed his eyes, recalling in his mind the entire process of the three thousand six hundred sword intents merging into a single giant sword intent.
Time passed quietly.
Ye Qiu sat there for another day.
A day later.
At the moment the morning glow rose, Ye Qiu abruptly opened his eyes.
“Zheng, zheng, zheng!”
Suddenly, thirty-six sword intents appeared around Ye Qiu, each only a metre long, but their aura was terrifying.
“Condense!”
Ye Qiu let out a low shout, and the thirty-six sword intents surrounding him merged into a three-metre-long sword intent.
In an instant, a murderous aura erupted.
“Slash!”
Ye Qiu pointed his right hand at the cliff.
“Boom!”
The sword intent struck the cliff, instantly shattering it, along with the sword techniques left by Tsukahara Sword Saint.
“With my current cultivation, I can only manifest thirty-six sword intents, with a power only one percent of Tsukahara Sword Saint’s.”
“That means Tsukahara Sword Saint’s cultivation back then must have been extraordinarily high, at least having cultivated nine strands of true qi.”
“Perhaps he had even stepped into the realm of immortal cultivation.”
Ye Qiu couldn’t help but feel a sense of longing.
“If I could manifest three thousand six hundred sword intents, I should be able to slay a dragon, right?”
Ye Qiu smiled.
He was very satisfied with the power of the Art of Killing.
This sword technique, purely in terms of power, was not inferior to the Six Meridians Divine Sword.
“I wonder how much inner strength it takes to execute such a sword intent?”
Ye Qiu closed his eyes again, checking the inner strength in his meridians.
He was shocked by what he found.
Ye Qiu discovered that his inner strength hadn’t been depleted much, estimating roughly that with his current cultivation, he could use the Art of Killing fifty times.
“Fantastic!”
“This way, when I face enemies in the future, I can try not to use the Grass Sword Technique or the Six Meridians Divine Sword.”
Ye Qiu was overjoyed.
He hadn’t expected the Art of Killing to be so powerful yet consume so little inner strength.
“No wonder Tsukahara Sword Saint never lost in countless battles and duels, with his cultivation, he could probably use the Art of Killing thousands of times, even masters of equal cultivation couldn’t outlast him.”
Ye Qiu closed his eyes again, wanting to further comprehend the Art of Killing.
“Hm?”
Ye Qiu suddenly let out a surprised sound.
He noticed that, at some point, an additional strand of innate true qi had appeared in his meridians.
“I’ve cultivated a second strand of innate true qi?”
Ye Qiu was stunned.
He found that the second strand of innate true qi, like the first, circulated from his dantian, flowing endlessly within his body.
Ye Qiu spread his hands, releasing both strands of true qi.
In no time.
Golden true qi surged from the palms of both hands, accompanied by a low dragon’s roar.
“Roar!”
Ye Qiu noticed that the two strands of true qi seemed to have changed slightly, they no longer resembled true qi but more like two golden dragons.
“When did the second strand of true qi appear?”
“How did I not feel it at all?”
The two strands of true qi lingered in Ye Qiu’s palms for a while before suddenly moving up his arms, darting around his body, occasionally emitting low dragon roars.
“They’re like two children.”
Just as Ye Qiu thought this, a sudden palpitation hit him, and he looked up sharply.
“Boom!”
A bolt of lightning descended from the sky, striking towards him.
Heavenly tribulation?
Ye Qiu’s face froze.
At that moment, the two strands of innate true qi, as if startled, quickly retreated into Ye Qiu’s body.
Ye Qiu leapt off the enlightenment platform, trying to dodge the tribulation, but the lightning from the sky seemed to have eyes, chasing after him.
“Damn!”
Seeing he couldn’t escape, Ye Qiu stopped, using the Art of Killing, sending a three-metre-long sword intent slashing out.
“Might as well test the Art of Killing’s power on you.”
Boom!
The sword intent shattered the lightning.
“Boom!”
Just as the first bolt was destroyed, a second bolt of lightning fell from the sky.
With the experience of the first, Ye Qiu faced the second without fear, even charging towards the lightning.
This time, the lightning’s power was greater.
The Art of Killing didn’t shatter it.
In the end, Ye Qiu unleashed multiple techniques to completely destroy the lightning.
“Boom!”
A third bolt of lightning descended.
…
Five minutes before the heavenly tribulation.
Shui Yue Sect.
In a pavilion.
Qian Shan Xue and Qiu Shan Nan Ge sat facing each other, a stone table between them.
On the table were a chessboard and tea utensils.
After Qiu Shan Nan Ge placed a piece, she saw Qian Shan Xue staring at the board, lost in thought, not making a move for a long time, looking preoccupied, and asked, “Xiao Xue, what are you thinking about?”
Qian Shan Xue said, “Ye Qiu has been at the back mountain for days and hasn’t returned, I wonder if he’s comprehended anything?”
Qiu Shan Nan Ge smiled, “Xiao Xue, this isn’t like you.”
“Before, your heart was only for the sword, thinking of nothing but the sword.”
“Now, how come you’re so worried about a man?”
Qian Shan Xue countered, “Don’t you worry about Ye Qiu, Master?”
At this, Qiu Shan Nan Ge’s cheeks flushed slightly, feigning indifference, “Ye Qiu has nothing to do with me, why would I worry about him?”
“You may not worry about him, Master, but I do,” Qian Shan Xue said, “After all, I’m carrying his child now.”
Qiu Shan Nan Ge smiled reassuringly, “No need to worry, I believe Ye Qiu will come down the mountain soon.”
“Mm,” Qian Shan Xue nodded, preparing to place a piece.
Suddenly, both Qian Shan Xue and Qiu Shan Nan Ge sensed something, quickly turning their heads to look aside subjectivity.
Twenty metres away stood an old monk in a white robe.
The monk, with a kind and benevolent appearance, smiled warmly at Qiu Shan Nan Ge and Qian Shan Xue.
Master Yan Ci!
Qiu Shan Nan Ge and Qian Shan Xue exchanged a glance, both rising and stepping out of the pavilion.
“Greetings, Master.”
Qiu Shan Nan Ge and Qian Shan Xue bowed to the old monk, then Qiu Shan Nan Ge politely asked, “Master, what brings you here today?”
Qian Shan Xue said, “Master Yan Ci hasn’t visited our Shui Yue Sect in decades, so your presence today must be for something important!”
Master Yan Ci replied, “Indeed, this monk has come today for an important matter.”
“Oh? What matter brings you here, Master?” Qiu Shan Nan Ge asked.
Master Yan Ci smiled faintly, saying, “This monk has come to kill you, master and disciple, to avenge my dear friend Miyamoto Musashi!”
