Chapter 15: Perhaps I Shall Be Invincible
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
The morning sun painted the sky in hues of gold on the first day after entering the academy. The weather was serene, the breeze gentle, and the sunlight warm. From the mountainside, one could see the capital of Great Xia cloaked in the quiet beauty of autumn. Golden leaves drifted through the air, and the first rays of dawn sparkled on the glazed tiles of the imperial palace, casting a radiant glow.
Within the Heavenly Script Academy, the disciples rose early, their footsteps carrying them towards the Field of Enlightenment by the shores of Azure Lake. Legends told of the Heavenly Tome, bestowed by the Heavenly Dao during a time of darkness and ignorance, granting wisdom to the human race’s first sages. These sages had established the academy, with one of them becoming its first headmaster.
It was said that those with exceptional insight could form a connection with the Heavenly Tome while cultivating in the Field of Enlightenment. Establishing such a connection meant aligning oneself with the Heavenly Dao, achieving results with half the effort.
Rumor also had it that even disciples who hadn’t achieved perfection in their current realm could occasionally sense the Heavenly Tome. Such a feat allowed them a glimpse of profound truths, bringing boundless benefits.
Though no one had ever seen the Heavenly Tome, nor could confirm whether it truly took the form of a book, accounts of disciples awakening with celestial auras, declaring joyfully that they had glimpsed it, lent credence to the stories.
From dawn until midday, disciples led by Chu He and Lu Qing Qiu diligently meditated, striving to attune themselves to the Heavenly Tome. However, one person was conspicuously absent: Ji You, one of the three students who had reached perfection in the Lower Three Stages this year.
Outer court disciples often dismissed Ji You as a mere rural wandering rogue cultivator, one without the advantage of spirit herbs or mystical pills to hasten his progress. Many believed he would struggle to break into the Upper Five Stages within a year. Yet, as someone who had reached the pinnacle of the Lower Three Stages on his own, Ji You’s movements were naturally of interest to others.
An uneasy thought pervaded the minds of his peers: “If I can’t see you, I have every reason to suspect you’re secretly mastering some extraordinary method.”
“Where is that Ji You?”
“No idea. I just speculated he might have gone to the White Jade Terrace to learn the principles of the Grand Source Sutra.”
“He has already achieved perfection in the Lower Three Stages, with a solid foundation. Such teachings would be of no value to him. Why would he go there?”
“Ah, but I heard someone saw him leave the academy gates early this morning and head to the Sword Testing Forest after breakfast.”
The first to inquire was Chu He, who was resolute about securing a spot in the inner court next year. Listening alongside him were Lu Qing Qiu, the renowned lady of Yunzhou, Bai Ru Long, who had already entered the Essence Refinement Stage, and their peers Du Zhu and Qian Yun Xiao. Among them was also Fang Ruo Yao, who had been attempting to attune herself to her True Spirit without success.
When the group heard that Ji You had skipped the Field of Enlightenment entirely and gone to the Sword Testing Forest, they were collectively stunned.
“Does he intend to cultivate both martial and Daoist arts?”
“It seems he does,” someone affirmed.
Chu He frowned slightly. “Time feels scarce even when one focuses solely on cultivation. How could he squander it on martial practice?”
Lu Qing Qiu turned her gaze towards Fang Ruo Yao. “Ruo Yao, has your fiancé always been so unorthodox in his actions?”
Startled by the question, Fang Ruo Yao hesitated before nodding with visible discomfort. Yes, she had openly admitted that Ji You was her betrothed.
Back in Yuyang County, Miss Fang was the daughter of the county prefect, a disciple handpicked by the academy, admired as a celestial crane beyond reach. But upon entering the academy, she realized her family lineage and personal status were nothing compared to those of her peers. She had fallen to being one of the most ordinary disciples, a bitter adjustment.
The prior evening, after returning to the maiden quarters, she had watched as her dorm-mates laughed and conversed cheerfully. Yet, she lacked the courage to join their conversation until she declared that she was Ji You’s fiancée.
A rural wandering rogue cultivator who had reached perfection in the Lower Three Stages before turning twenty was the hottest topic of discussion among first-year disciples. When she mentioned her connection to him, all eyes turned to her.
In that moment, she realized that the identity she had once despised was now her sole source of pride.
“Dual cultivation of martial and Daoist arts…”
“Every student in the academy strives for breakthroughs in cultivation. Why bother with martial practice? Does he expect to battle to the death with someone in the future?”
Meanwhile, in the Sword Testing Forest behind the mountain.
The sea of bamboo stood undisturbed by autumn’s arrival, remaining lush and verdant as its leaves swayed in the wind, producing a symphony of rustling.
At this moment, Ji You gripped a wooden practice sword, practicing basic sword techniques with Wang Xin An, the academy’s Sect Instructor specializing in dual cultivation of martial and daoist arts.
Slash, thrust, point, draw, collapse, intercept, wipe, pierce, lift, twist, and sweep.
Wang Xin An tirelessly drilled Ji You in these foundational forms, repeating the same sixteen-character sequence.
With his cultivation at the Lower Three Stages at its peak, Ji You had achieved the ability to use Spiritual Qi External Defense and wield objects with qi. Thus, many of the sword techniques practiced within the Azure Clouds Dominion relied on simplicity over flourish.
The simplest sword strike was the purest killing blow.
Moving through the forest, Ji You relentlessly repeated the techniques: one sword thrust, then another, and another, striving for unshakable stability and speed in his strikes.
As Wang Xin An often reminded him, “To meet an enemy with your sword, you must first break their qi. If your sword is unsteady, the force of your strike will dissipate the moment it clashes with theirs.”
Thus, Ji You persisted, seeking the right feel for his moves and ingraining the motion into his muscles, bypassing conscious thought so that wielding his sword would become second nature.
“Huff… it’s quite tiring,” Ji You admitted, noticing the repetitive drills left his muscles sore. Yet, pushing through the fatigue brought a newfound fluidity to his movements, akin to water flowing effortlessly.
Wang Xin An approached, glancing briefly at Ji You’s hands. “Open your hands.”
Ji You complied, revealing neither redness nor excessive sweat.
“Good. You didn’t overexert yourself. Remember to focus on explosive bursts of strength. Keep going!” Wang instructed.
“Also, mind your breath control while striking. Don’t let it hinder your rhythm. If your breathing falters, the whole sequence collapses!”
Wang continued, “Once you master these foundational sword techniques, you’ll develop your unique sword habits. For cultivators, habits in Qi Mastery and sword use vary greatly from person to person.”
“When sword techniques and qi habits align, they evolve into endless variations. A sword strike can then flow naturally, like an extension of your will!”
Hearing “flow naturally,” Ji You’s brow furrowed as he seamlessly chained several movements into a swirling sword flower. Releasing his grip, he hurled the sword, which spun in a triple arc of lightning around him before catching it and launching into a rapid series of techniques. Spiritual qi surged under his feet as he spun fiercely, sending bamboo leaves scattering through the forest.
When the sequence ended, Ji You leaned on the wooden sword, wiping the sweat from his brow. Looking up, he found Wang Xin An standing frozen in shock, unable to process what he had just witnessed.
“Have you seen an expert wield a sword before?” Wang finally asked.
Wiping his sweat, Ji You replied, “Indeed. I was fortunate to witness it in my youth.”
Wang squinted. “Which expert?”
“Meng Xing Hun.”
“…?”
As a cultivator capable of Spiritual Qi External Defense, Ji You knew techniques that defied normal comprehension could be achieved. Even sword flying arts, which could link various techniques together, allowed for the recreation of legendary styles like those in Meteor Butterfly Sword. Ji You found this realization exhilarating.
Then his gaze shifted to another wooden practice sword in Wang Xin An’s hand, sparking a whimsical thought.
“Instructor, is a cultivator limited to controlling only one sword?”
“Not necessarily. With your qi reserves at the Lower Three Stages, handling ten swords is feasible, though it serves no practical purpose,” Wang explained.
“And a thousand?”
Wang Xin An chuckled. “Theoretically, yes, but again, it’s impractical. Remember, qi mastery emphasizes condensed Spiritual Qi for maximum strength. Dispersing it across many swords weakens the force unless your spiritual essence replenishes infinitely, ensuring each blade remains imbued with potent qi. Otherwise, it’s just for show.”
After pondering for a moment, Ji You remarked, “Perhaps, then, I will be invincible.”
“Ji You,” Wang asked suddenly, “where can I find this Meng Xing Hun?”
“Flame Sulfur Island, the Stalactite Cavern, the One-Line Sky Gorge, Jin Hua City…”
“…?” Wang Xin An could only stare, dumbfounded, as Ji You casually rattled off locations as if listing his grocery errands.