As Qin Chu continued to advance, the supplies in his Storage Ring grew, and his swordplay became increasingly refined!
Qin Chu felt that Bai Yu was right; after countless years, the basic sword techniques had not been eliminated, which meant they had a profound use. What he didn't know was that basic sword techniques were the Foundation of all sword techniques.
One day, as Qin Chu traveled, he became excited. He smelled a medicinal fragrance, along with a faint fishy odor.
Following the direction of the scent, Qin Chu arrived at his destination. He saw a Snow Dragon Flower, a fully bloomed one.
Although the Snow Dragon Flower was not a medicinal herb he needed, Qin Chu knew it was extremely rare. When he lived in the mountains, the old man had mentioned the Snow Dragon Flower, saying it was the main ingredient for refining some kind of Clear Heart Pill.
Just as Qin Chu was about to collect the Snow Dragon Flower, the ground began to shake, and the fishy smell intensified.
Qin Chu stomped his foot, and his body flickered backward. He had almost forgotten that where there was a Heaven and Earth Treasure, there was bound to be a guardian. It would be strange if such a rare medicinal herb like the Snow Dragon Flower wasn't occupied by a Yao Beast.
As Qin Chu retreated, a giant appeared. It was a four-legged snake with a blue line on its back and a snow-white body everywhere else.
Snow Azure Dragon Snake! An incredibly venomous and relatively rare Yao Beast!
At this moment, Qin Chu and the Snow Azure Dragon Snake stared at each other. The Snow Azure Dragon Snake was displeased with Qin Chu entering its Domain and intended to hunt him; Qin Chu, on the other hand, wanted the Snow Dragon Flower. Although the Snow Azure Dragon Snake was guarding the Snow Dragon Flower first, the Snow Dragon Flower was formed by absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, and whoever had the Opportunity owned it, regardless of who arrived first.
During the standoff, the Snow Azure Dragon Snake's body shook. Its four claws pushed off, and its body leaped, pouncing towards Qin Chu.
Qin Chu pushed off with his feet, retreating to avoid the most forceful landing point of the Snow Azure Dragon Snake's attack. Then, his longsword unsheathed, he stabbed towards the Snow Azure Dragon Snake's forehead.
Clang!
Qin Chu's sword strike hit the Snow Azure Dragon Snake's forehead, emitting a crisp sound. The Snow Azure Dragon Snake's attack was blocked, and similarly, Qin Chu was knocked back by the Snow Azure Dragon Snake's impact.
Qin Chu's body was strong, and his strength was immense. The Snow Azure Dragon Snake was the same; big in body, it suffered no loss in strength. Thus, a single collision sent Qin Chu retreating.
Observing the four blue halos on the Snow Azure Dragon Snake's neck, Qin Chu confirmed that the Snow Azure Dragon Snake before him was a Fourth-Tier Yao Beast, with combat power far exceeding his own.
Retreat? After exhaling, Qin Chu gave up on retreating. He lunged forward, choosing to continue fighting!
With the Snow Azure Dragon Snake's second pounce, Qin Chu was once again repelled. However, Qin Chu's longsword swung, and he began to counterattack, engaging in a struggle with the Snow Azure Dragon Snake.
The Snow Azure Dragon Snake's body was massive but very agile. Its four claws, when swung, could always block Qin Chu's longsword attacks. Of course, its attacks were also neutralized by Qin Chu's longsword swings.
The battle was intense. Trees were knocked down, and rocks were shattered. Qin Chu's body showed traces of blood, not from direct attacks by the Snow Azure Dragon Snake, but from the energy carried by its four-claw attacks.
Third-Tier Cultivators and Yao Beasts could release Qi externally, and the Snow Azure Dragon Snake possessed this ability.
After another hard clash, Qin Chu was knocked back, and he and the Snow Azure Dragon Snake faced each other again.
Retreat? The same question resurfaced in Qin Chu's mind. The Snow Azure Dragon Snake was too powerful; he found it difficult to defeat. But to retreat now would be to show fear, and one should never be afraid when facing a Yao Beast. One should draw the sword when needed, no matter how strong the opponent!
With a flourish of his longsword, Qin Chu's Aura changed. It wasn't a change in cultivation but a change in mindset and Aura. The longsword in his hand shimmered, vibrating gently.
Qin Chu and the Snow Azure Dragon Snake fought again, but this time Qin Chu's longsword inflicted greater damage on the Snow Azure Dragon Snake. Its claws were severed by Qin Chu, and the Snow Azure Dragon Snake no longer dared to clash head-on with Qin Chu!
After gaining the upper hand, Qin Chu felt he had unconsciously comprehended something. His longsword felt like an extension of his own body.
After severing the Snow Azure Dragon Snake's left claw with a single sword strike, Qin Chu's body flashed to the blind spot of the Snow Azure Dragon Snake's attack. Then, with another flash, he landed on the Snow Azure Dragon Snake's back. He then gripped his sword with both hands and plunged it into the area connecting the Snow Azure Dragon Snake's head and body. Next, he used his right hand to stabilize his body and delivered a punch to the back of the Snow Azure Dragon Snake's head with his left hand. Then, with a downward press of his right hand, the longsword, which had pierced the Snow Azure Dragon Snake's body, slid along its neck region and into its head.
The Snow Azure Dragon Snake began to struggle, but Qin Chu retreated after pulling out his sword. He knew that with its head destroyed, it was merely struggling.
Wielding his longsword, Qin Chu began to Cultivate the basic sword techniques, searching for that feeling he had just experienced.
As he performed the basic sword techniques, Qin Chu entered a state of self-forgetfulness. As time passed, the Qi on his body and the essence of his sword techniques changed, becoming incredibly sharp.
Two hours later, with a sword hum, Qin Chu opened his eyes and burst into laughter. His Sword Dao cultivation had advanced, reaching the Sword Spirit Realm.
The so-called Sword Spirit Realm meant the Soul and the longsword became one, and the Sword Dao formed its own style. With the Sword Spirit Realm as a Foundation, no matter what sword technique was used, its power would increase significantly.
While Qin Chu's basic sword technique manual was simple, it contained many descriptions of sword technique stages. Among those who Cultivated sword techniques, very few, one in ten thousand, comprehended the Sword Spirit Realm. This was a Realm of the Soul, far more difficult to comprehend than Sword Intent or Sword Soul, requiring talent and many Opportunities. It could not be forced through Cultivation.
At the same time, a sword hum also echoed from Qingyun Peak in the Azure Cloud Sect. Subsequently, countless Disciples of Qingyun Peak rushed to the training ground where Inner Sect Disciples Cultivated. A woman was dancing with a sword in the training ground, Sword Qi flowing, and her Aura soaring!
Lu Yuan arrived, and the Qingyun Peak Master also came. "Sword Intent! I didn't expect that after several hundred years, our Azure Cloud Sect would once again produce a Genius under twenty who has grasped the true meaning of the Sword Dao."
"Senior Brother, I must say Shang Shuyu's Sword Dao talent is indeed the strongest in the Azure Cloud Sect for several hundred years," Lu Yuan said.
As he spoke, Lu Yuan thought of Qin Chu. He felt Qin Chu was excellent, but compared to Shang Shuyu, who had comprehended the true meaning of the Sword Dao, he was still a long way off.
In Miyun Mountain, Qin Chu Cultivated in place for a day to stabilize his Sword Spirit Realm.
After thoroughly understanding the Sword Spirit Realm, Qin Chu collected the Snow Dragon Flower. Carrying the Snow Azure Dragon's head and dragging the Snow Azure Dragon Snake's body, he hurried towards the Azure Cloud Sect. The Snow Azure Dragon Snake was too large; not to mention a Storage Bracelet, even his Storage Ring couldn't hold it. He could only carry and drag it back.
In the Miscellaneous Affairs Courtyard of Green Bamboo Peak, Bai Yu was facing a challenge from an Outer Sect Disciple of Green Bamboo Peak. He was in a very bad mood because Outer Sect Disciples from Qingyun Peak had also come to watch. They even said that the Genius Disciple Shang Shuyu of Qingyun Peak had comprehended the true meaning of the Sword Dao, and if Qin Chu were to challenge an Inner Sect Disciple of Qingyun Peak, he would be beaten like a dog.
Could Bai Yu be happy with such words? No matter who the opponent was, he believed Qin Chu was the most outstanding.