"Reporting to Seventh Master Uncle."
"Elder Wang Ji from Tongzheng Hall accepted a disciple eight years ago. He practiced martial arts for six years and advanced to Transforming Strength. Then, he began dual cultivation with the ’Taixu Sword Manual,’ mastering the first thirty-two sword techniques to the Divine Realm within a year and a half."
Yangg Xiong’s words were concise, summarizing Chen Jichuan’s cultivation path in a single sentence.
Seeing the Master Uncle pause and glance over.
He presented the dossier on ’Wang Shan’ while briefly explaining Chen Jichuan’s actions, temperament, and other aspects over the years.
After he finished speaking,
The elder completed reading the dossier. After a moment of pondering, he said, "Give him another ten sword techniques. Notify me once he heads out."
"Seventh Master Uncle suspects him—"
Yangg Xiong hesitated slightly.
"It’s not suspicion."
"Geniuses are common, and monstrous talents do exist. Nevertheless, it requires seeing with one’s own eyes to determine if they are trustworthy."
The elder walked toward a bookshelf, retrieved ten scrolls of manuals, handed them to Yangg Xiong, and gestured with the dossier still in hand, saying, "Leave this here for now. You may go."
Yangg Xiong acknowledged briefly, took the ten sword manuals, and left the Ten Thousand Scroll Cave.
Chen Jichuan had roughly mastered the newly acquired ten sword techniques. Then, riding on horseback, he departed Pengshan City, Pengshan County, and arrived at a secluded mountain deep within the Qinling range.
Bamboo staff and straw sandals.
Roaming the mountain paths.
At dawn, he stood atop the summit, quietly observing the rising sun.
At night, he lay in the valley, gazing at the moonlit sky filled with stars.
Occasionally practicing swordsmanship.
Each day, his swordsmanship progressed visibly. It seemed as if the vitality of the sunrise and the vastness of the starry sky fused into his techniques.
Not only were the ten newly acquired sword techniques advancing rapidly, but even the thirty-two techniques he had already mastered in the Divine Realm continued to improve gradually.
Occasionally, when engrossed in practicing swordsmanship,
he could go a whole day and night without sleep or rest, fully immersed in his craft.
He observed the sun and moon.
He studied the stars.
He explored mountains, rivers, plants, animals, and birds.
Chen Jichuan’s swordsmanship advanced at an extraordinary pace.
In merely two months, two of the ten sword techniques reached the Divine Realm, achieving total mastery.
Chen Jichuan frequently frowned. At critical moments of sword comprehension, he would be interrupted and fall out of the Mysterious Realm, casting nervous glances around. He seemed puzzled, even troubled, always feeling as though someone were watching him.
This made it difficult for him to immerse himself in the pure Enlightenment Realm.
This left him somewhat unsatisfied.
Despite changing locations multiple times, he still couldn’t rid himself of this frustration.
Chen Jichuan decided to conclude this round of training and return to Pengshan City.
"The Fourth Division of the Blood Clothes Army is in preparation, and here you are—vanished for two months as its Commander!"
Yangg Xiong glared at Chen Jichuan, delivering a mock scolding.
"Sect Master, please calm your anger."
"This disciple received ingenious sword techniques and, in delight, went to remote wilderness to train. I lost track of time while practicing."
Chen Jichuan replied.
"Training sword techniques—can’t it be done here? We have mountains and rivers within Pengshan City too, don’t we?"
Yangg Xiong pressed further.
"Sect Master may not understand."
"When practicing swordsmanship in the city or densely populated areas, it always feels like scratching an itch through a boot—a hindered experience. Only by delving into the wilderness, away from human interference, can I truly unleash my skills. My comprehension of swordsmanship progresses faster in such places."
Chen Jichuan explained to Yangg Xiong.
Yangg Xiong seemed to accept this explanation but casually asked, "So, how did your sword practice go over the past two months?"
"The ’Flowing Light Swordsmanship’ and ’Moon Drawing Sword Skill’ have been completely mastered, but the other eight techniques still need some work." Chen Jichuan furrowed his brow, seemingly dissatisfied with his progress.
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Yangg Xiong was taken aback.
Chen Jichuan shook his head, frustrated, saying, "I could have mastered three—even four sword techniques at this level before returning, but for some reason, I couldn’t find the proper rhythm. My comprehension was repeatedly interrupted, as if practicing swordsmanship amidst a crowd with people watching, leaving me agitated and uneasy."
Chen Jichuan said this while seeming to muse to himself, "Perhaps my mindset isn’t steady enough, and I am rushing my training."
Yangg Xiong listened quietly, choosing not to test Chen Jichuan’s swordsmanship progress this time. He offered a few words of encouragement before sending him away.
After Chen Jichuan left,
Yangg Xiong suddenly stood up in respect. Moments later, a gray-robed elder emerged from behind the curtain.
"Seventh Master Uncle."
Yangg Xiong called out, his voice tinged with uncertainty, "Based on Wang Shan’s report, it seems he may have sensed Seventh Master Uncle observing him over the past two months."
Two months earlier, following the gray-robed elder’s instructions,
As soon as Chen Jichuan left Pengshan City, Yangg Xiong notified the elder, who then shadowed and observed Chen Jichuan in secret for two months.
What happened during those two months, Yangg Xiong did not know.
But from Chen Jichuan’s description, it was clear he had faintly sensed someone watching him. Yet, given the elder’s immense capabilities, Chen Jichuan couldn’t pinpoint his whereabouts and thus attributed it to his own failings.
For someone merely Innate, how could that be—
"This boy possesses a natural Sword Seed. When immersed in sword practice, his senses are exceptionally keen. Even with my flawless concealment, simply directing my focus onto him causes an indirect impact, pulling him out of his sword enlightenment and cultivation state."
The gray-robed elder marveled, both surprised and pleased, remarking to Yangg Xiong, "This child learns from nature and hones his sword through the world itself. It likely stems from his early savage experiences."
The gray-robed elder had reviewed the dossier on ’Wang Shan.’
He knew the youth had lived as a ’savage’ and had acquired the essence of a tiger, thus excelling in Tiger Form Fist.
Not only did he excel in Tiger Form Fist, but his innate talent for swordsmanship surpassed all expectations.
"Given time, he might achieve—"
The elder seemed to think of something, his murky eyes suddenly alight with clarity. He then declared, "From now on, do not restrain him. If he wishes to practice swordsmanship in the wilderness, let him. I will no longer observe him. Any sword techniques he desires to learn, grant him full access to the sect’s sword manuals."
Having personally witnessed ’Wang Shan’s talent, the elder resolved to nurture him wholeheartedly.
"Learning from nature."
Yangg Xiong was equally awe-struck and pleased, astonished at how highly the elder regarded ’Wang Shan.’ Inspired by the instructions, he promptly pledged, "Rest assured, Seventh Master Uncle. This disciple will remove all obstacles for Wang Shan and avoid interfering unnecessarily!"
Chen Jichuan knew nothing of the conversations within the hall.
Returning to the Fourth Division’s camp from the Sword Sect, his face remained troubled as if burdened, though inwardly he was laughing gleefully: "Now, the risks of crafting pills and artifacts or disappearing for personal matters in the outside world have greatly diminished!"
Deliberately acting like a wilderness-loving swordsmanship prodigy under the elder’s watchful eyes.
Purposely pretending to be hindered in comprehending sword techniques due to disturbances.
In such circumstances, continuing to spy on him would seem unjustifiable.
"Let’s test things again another day."
"Yet by conventional wisdom, they should cease. I am wholly devoted to the Taixu Sword Sect; there’s no reason to sabotage my cultivation."
Chen Jichuan felt confident.
Having spent two months carefully staging his performance, he believed his actions had laid a solid foundation. Now, he waited to see what fate had in store.