Chapter 20: An Old But Useful Method
What's so urgent this late at night?
Zhang Yunlu retracted her gaze and looked at the red jade in her hand. Her spiritual energy had completely recovered, but the warm current continued to flow endlessly, surging from her palm and circulating through her limbs and bones. She felt much of her body's fatigue alleviate.
She moved the hand holding the sword, and the soreness had completely faded.
'Practice a few more times!' she thought to herself.
There was also a red thread in the jade box. After threading the red jade through it, it could be worn around the neck.
Soon, the longsword was back in her hand, spiritual light covering the blade. Zhang Yunlu recalled the sword moves, and the longsword in her hand swung out accordingly.
Compared to the slightly clumsy sword moves from before, this time they were incredibly smooth and harmonious.
Threads of warm current circulated within her body. The longsword in her hand was like a breeze passing by, Fuyun dispersing. The blade actually disappeared silently, only to suddenly reappear in the next instant.
Swish!
A streak of white light whistled out, traveling three zhang before gradually dissipating.
This was sword light, capable of cutting stone like a mirror and penetrating cold iron by three fen!
The first stance of Flowing Cloud Swordplay, it's done!
It's actually done?
Even Zhang Yunlu herself was stunned. Just moments ago, she was still so far off.
Biting her lip, she gripped the red jade on her chest. Even through her clothes, she could still feel its warmth.
'So, did he deduce that I would obtain this red jade, and only then conclude that I could master Flowing Cloud Swordplay before the day after tomorrow?'
Does that also mean he knows the origin of this red jade?
Zhang Yunlu's thoughts fluttered about before finally settling down after a long time.
I'll go ask after school tomorrow!
As for the truth about her parents' demise, it would be false to say she didn't care at all. She believed her older brother felt the same.
And now there's a channel for investigation; only a fool wouldn't seize it.
As for the risk...
Heh, if a Great Cultivator of that level intended to seize something, could she and her older brother possibly resist?
She was just in the Qi Training stage, and her older brother was just a Golden Core!
Having made up her mind, Zhang Yunlu put away her sword, picked up the jade box and the Spirit Recovering Liquid beside it, turned around, left the rooftop, and returned home.
After washing up, she walked directly into her bedroom.
Lighting a stick of Calming Incense, as the wisping smoke rose, Zhang Yunlu got into bed, lay down, and closed her eyes, still tightly clutching the red jade in her hand.
Soon, she fell into a deep sleep, but she did not dream until dawn.
In a strange, gray, boundless space, Zhang Yunlu looked around with a bewildered expression.
Suddenly, a line of golden text appeared before her eyes.
【Alright, I admit this might be a bit cliché, but given your bone structure and comprehension, if you want to master Flowing Cloud Swordplay before the day after tomorrow, this method is the most suitable】
“???”
【Enemy: Qi Training Ninth Level Sword Cultivator, Flowing Cloud Swordplay Minor Accomplishment】
【Target: Kill!】
Huh?
What the heck?
I'm probably dreaming right now, aren't I?
Without giving her a chance to react, the surrounding mist churned and condensed into a longsword in her hand.
It was cold to the touch, and its heavy weight proved it was real!
Wait!
Could it be that what he said wasn't about the red jade, but this strange place?
A figure holding a sword walked out from the gray mist, clad in black tight-fitting clothes, their face unclear. The spiritual energy of the Qi Refining Ninth Layer was completely undisguised, on par with hers.
Gulp!
Are we really going to fight?
Without any hesitation, the Sword Cultivator phantom stepped forward, raised his sword, and was instantly before her, the cold, gleaming blade slashing towards her head.
His actions completely explained that this wasn't a fight, but a battle to the death!
Clang!
Zhang Yunlu swung her sword to parry, while quickly pulling back to create distance. But the longsword followed like a shadow, forcing her to retreat several steps before her somewhat numb right hand recovered.
By falling straight back, the sword in the Sword Cultivator phantom's hand only cut off a few strands of her hair, but continued rushing forward due to inertia.
Seizing the opportunity, Zhang Yunlu thrust her sword straight forward. The situation instantly reversed, and it looked like she was about to pierce him.
However, the Sword Cultivator phantom drew a short sword from his waist, its blade covered in a layer of spiritual light.
Clang!
He actually blocked this attack!
“That's cheating!”
After shouting, she did a clumsy roll to the side, quickly got up, and simultaneously swung a sword!
The sword blade disappeared for an instant and quickly reappeared, the intimidating sword light piercing straight towards the Sword Cultivator phantom's lower back. However, the Sword Cultivator phantom had already stabilized his stance and dodged the sword light with just a side step.
Then he returned a sword strike at her, like a gentle breeze and Fuyun, the sword blade also disappearing for an instant.
An alarm blared in Zhang Yunlu's heart. She quickly bent backward to avoid the incoming sword light, but felt a sharp pain in her waist and abdomen. Turning her head, she saw white light filling her vision.
Flowing Cloud Swordplay Minor Accomplishment, three streaks of sword light!
At the critical moment, Zhang Yunlu raised her right hand and... gave him the middle finger. The next moment, her head exploded like a watermelon, scattering into clumps of gray mist.
…………
“Quite cheeky.”
Inside the villa, Xu Xing watched Zhang Yunlu's headless figure fall. But her last action was quite interesting; even in defeat, she didn't lose face.
“Her grasp of timing and on-the-spot judgment are both excellent. She should indeed follow my Sword Cultivator path.”
“Moreover, she actually managed to get started with Flowing Cloud Swordplay. That is somewhat surprising.”
Zhang Yunlu's performance could be said to be outstanding.
In a sudden battle to the death, she could still make calm judgments, and even when at a disadvantage, she could quickly recover.
In this era, it is far more peaceful than before, and various conflicts have significantly decreased.
Therefore, Cultivators like Zhang Yunlu, who possess good combat talent, are easily overlooked.
Her bone structure is still a bit lacking. Otherwise, even within the Sword Sect, she would be an excellent Disciple capable of becoming a Disciple of an Elder Fanxu.
“Very well. Since you possess such talent, how about I help you achieve a Heavenly Dao Foundation?”
Once a Heavenly Dao Foundation is formed, coupled with her excellent combat talent, it might not be impossible for her to become a Disciple under one of the Four Grand Elders in the future!
In the next instant, the entire gray space seemed to have the fast-forward button pressed, and the scenes became blurred.
Xu Xing turned his head and looked outside.
“As expected, he was still worried and came looking.” Someone was cautiously approaching the area, “But doing this is a bit unwise.”
In the villa next door, someone was already close to noticing. A vast and powerful divine sense gradually spread out.
“Fine, since you want to see me so badly, I'll give you a hand.”
Xu Xing raised his hand and gently pointed forward.
Buzz~
Invisible ripples spread out. Just as he finished this, the vast divine sense had already enveloped the entire neighborhood.
After scanning around and finding nothing, the divine sense had to be withdrawn.
…………
Within the neighborhood, Zhang Xiu cautiously approached his target.
Upon arriving nearby, a layer of faint power attempted to distort his senses.
This was a Formation.
Before coming, Zhang Xiu had done some investigation. A Formation of this level couldn't even stop a Cultivator in the Qi Refining stage, let alone him.
Soon, he arrived at the wall and formed a hand seal.
Wall Penetration Technique.
Then he walked directly towards the wall. The wall, which had restrictive properties, seemed like mere decoration and was easily penetrated by him.
Upon entering, it looked dark and gloomy because the lights weren't on, giving it a somewhat eerie feel.
‘Continue, can't delay.’
To save time, he passed through several walls in succession and arrived at the living room.
The living room was empty, but the moonlight shining in made it much brighter.
“Trespassing should be illegal, but I still want to say something.”
The voice that suddenly reached his ears made Zhang Xiu's scalp tingle. A very young-looking man suddenly appeared on the previously empty sofa, smiling as he looked at him.
“Good evening.”
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