After returning home, Xu Ping started practicing his sword techniques again.
Ever since he began cultivating the ’Taihang Nourishing God Skill’, and his proficiency with the Flowing Cloud Sword started increasing, he became addicted to practicing swords.
As the sword moves were executed, the sword light shot forth like a rainbow, slicing through the air, producing a crisp sword ringing sound.
The entire basement flickered with sword light, and an unknown small insect was hit by the sword light, making a "pop" sound, instantly being torn to pieces.
After half an hour, Xu Ping stopped, panting heavily.
As he drank water, he inspected his proficiency board.
[Flowing Cloud Sword Mastery: 1423/1600]
"Almost there, not far from perfection." Xu Ping thought to himself, feeling a surge of anticipation, "I wonder what changes the Flowing Cloud Sword will undergo after achieving perfection."
After resting for a while, Xu Ping continued to immerse himself in sword practice.
More than half a month later.
Snowflakes floated lightly like feathers, covering the earth and dressing everything in a white garment.
The air was filled with a refreshing chill, and with each breath, the bone-chilling cold could be felt, making one shiver involuntarily.
The surroundings were silent, with only the occasional faint sound of falling snow.
A low rumble of thunder came from deep within the forest.
If anyone were here, they would be immensely surprised, as this place was obviously inhabited by only one person practicing swordsmanship, so why would thunder be heard?
Xu Ping held his sword in one hand, and as the Sword Qi surged, it surprisingly generated faint thunder sounds.
However, this thunder seemed to be repressing something, far from reaching its limit.
Xu Ping’s face was solemn as he followed the movements of the sword.
Countless Sword Qi accompanied by thunder left deep sword marks, several meters long, in the white snow.
Xu Ping was completely immersed, with only the thought of sword practice remaining in his mind.
Uncertain of how much time had passed.
Xu Ping slashed with his sword, and a strand of Sword Qi instantly exploded with an astonishing thunder sound, rumbling and shaking the eight directions, as if the entire world trembled in response.
Snowflakes were swept up by the strong Sword Qi, scattering and dancing in the air like countless white butterflies.
Xu Ping broke free from a state akin to enlightenment, barely enduring the pain of his spirit and Mana being drained, with joy appearing on his face.
"What was that sword just now? Sword Qi Thunder Sound?"
"Yes! It was Sword Qi Thunder Sound!!"
"Hahaha..." Xu Ping was almost losing control from excitement, his laughter echoing through the dense forest.
This is part of the four realms of Sword Dao, and it was comprehended by someone at just the fifth layer of Qi Cultivation?
If others knew this, not only the Longevity Sect and its Golden Core sect, even Nascent Soul sects would be utterly shocked.
As his crazed laughter subsided, Xu Ping took a deep breath, trying to suppress his overwhelming excitement: "Now that my Mana is almost drained, I need to hurry back to recover my Mana."
He picked a direction and swiftly left.
Xu Ping swallowed a Qi Recovery Pill to restore his Mana.
Uncertain of how much time had passed.
Xu Ping suddenly opened his eyes.
Instantly, in the dim cave, it was as if a thunderclap burst forth.
Xu Ping slowly exhaled, ending his cultivation.
"Did I really comprehend Sword Qi Thunder Sound?" he found it hard to believe even now.
Yet what happened in the forest earlier clearly confirmed it.
He really had comprehended Sword Qi Thunder Sound!! ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ɴovᴇl_Firᴇ.ɴet
Xu Ping felt delighted as he checked his proficiency board.
[Flowing Cloud Sword Perfection: ∞]
"Perfect!" He sighed within.
This was his second skill to reach perfection.
The enhancement to his power was much greater than that brought by Geng Metal Finger.
Xu Ping reached for his storage pouch, and with a flash of spiritual light, Qinghe Sword landed in his hand.
He gripped the sword hilt tightly, feeling a sudden urge to unleash his full power with one sword strike.
Luckily, he managed to restrain himself.
If he unleashed it entirely, the cave would become unmanageable.
Xu Ping controlled the power as much as possible, slashed out with one sword.
A loud crash, like thunder!
Pebbles flew everywhere, and a nearly half a meter deep sword scar was left on the rough ground.
Xu Ping inhaled sharply, overwhelmed with shock.
Despite controlling the power to roughly a tenth of his energy, the power was already formidable.
If he had unleashed it fully, it would have definitely surpassed the limits of power a Qi Refining Realm cultivator could exert.
"Does it have the power of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator?" Xu Ping murmured to himself.
In truth, he hadn’t really seen a Foundation Establishment Cultivator fight properly.
So he couldn’t be sure.
But even if it wasn’t, it wouldn’t be too far off.
Xu Ping instinctively gripped the sword hilt tighter.
He felt he could slay his former self from a day ago with just one sword strike now.
"Though powerful, this can only serve as a trump card; otherwise, if my Mana is drained completely, I’ll be in danger."
"With my Body Refining and speed, although I won’t be as helpless as being unable to truss a chicken, my strength will diminish significantly," Xu Ping thought to himself.
He wasn’t so overwhelmed by the joy of comprehending Sword Qi Thunder Sound that he lost his reason.
He clearly understood his weaknesses.
"To turn Sword Qi Thunder Sound into a regular weapon, I still need to elevate my realm."
"If I reach late-stage Qi Cultivation, with the current density of my Mana combined with Sword Qi Thunder Sound, I should be able to contend with a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, right?"
The surroundings were eerily silent, with only the occasional sound of wind rustling through the trees.
Moonlight filtered through thick clouds, casting a faint and chilling glow on the snow-covered ground.
At this moment, rustling sounds arose.
More than thirty cultivators quietly surrounded an old, shabby house.
In the group, each of the thirty-some cultivators looked tense, each wearing a solemn expression, holding their Magical Artifacts, ready to respond to any sudden occurrences.
"After searching for so long, we’ve finally found the demon spawn’s trail; this time he won’t escape death." Jiang Wei, a disciple of the Longevity Sect, snarled with a fierce expression.
His beloved senior sister died at the hands of the Demon Cultivator, having her internal organs excavated.
He swore to avenge his senior sister.
"Everyone be careful, the Demon Cultivator is strong, don’t underestimate him," another gang member warned, his eyes shining with caution.
As everyone approached the old shabby house, a chilling aura pervaded the air, as if the surrounding Spiritual Qi was being suppressed to a weak state.
Just then, a deep laughter emanated from the house, as if mocking their arrival.
"Your dog’s nose is really True Spirit."
A cold voice sounded, accompanied by a gust of chilling wind, revealing a figure shrouded in a black cloak at the entrance of the room.
"Take action!" the leading cultivator commanded, and everyone struck simultaneously, their Magical Artifacts flashing and charging at the Demon Cultivator.
"Hmm? Something’s not right!"
"What’s happening? I feel so dizzy..."
At this moment, several lower cultivation level cultivators staggered, brown spots appearing on their faces.