"Moo!" Black Bull stood up, tense, crouching behind Chen Xun, his hooves gripping Chen's shoulders tightly.
They stepped onto the immortal sword, foreheads beading with sweat, Chen Xun's veins bulging as he raised two fingers, and bellowed:
"Take off!"
"Moo!!"
Whoosh!
A fierce gust of wind kicked up, and the immortal sword shot out, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
Thud! Thud! Two figures slammed into the ground, mouths filled with dirt.
"Where's my sword?! My sword!"
Chen Xun screamed, his eyes bloodshot, spitting out a mouthful of dirt.
"Moo!" Black Bull, too, was a mess from the fall, but then his eyes caught sight of the distant immortal sword, sticking out of a stone wall.
It wasn't long before Chen Xun and Black Bull retrieved the sword.
"Bull, our spells are enhanced, a bit different," Chen Xun said, taking a deep breath.
"Moo~" Black Bull nodded; indeed, the sword's speed was too fast.
"No worries, we'll adapt slowly, practice gradually."
"Moo~"
Black Bull carried the sword in his mouth, heading straight for the waterfall, shaking his head at Chen Xun.
"Bull, smart move!" Chen Xun was startled; the water might add resistance, perfect for practice.
"Let's get to it, let's get to it."
...
A month passed, and Chen Xun had fully mastered the Sword Control Technique. Another morning, the same spot.
"Sword Flight with the wind, free between heaven and earth!"
Chen Xun murmured, a stream of mana released, the sword rising slowly as he stepped on, "Bull, no time to explain, hurry!"
"Moo moo~~" Black Bull leapt up, standing firmly on the sword, crouching behind Chen Xun, a hint of terror in his eyes.
"Take off for me!!"
"Moo~~~"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The fierce wind blew, and the sword finally soared, the wild wind blasting Chen Xun's face as they rose higher, his heart nearly leaping to his throat.
Black Bull slowly opened his eyes, the scenery completely changed, looking down, his pupils shrank: "Moo~~!!"
"Bull, Bull! My god."
Chen Xun was shocked; Bull had fainted. He quickly steadied Black Bull with one hand, stopping the sword mid-air, barely able to keep his eyes open.
He too looked down towards Medicine Valley, already tens of feet off the ground, his breathing rapid.
This Sword Flight was a whole different feeling from riding a flying boat; he felt an emptiness, as if he might fall at any moment.
Woo! Woo! Woo!
The howling wind continued, but Black Bull woke up, looking down at the ground with wobbly legs, "Moo!"
"It's okay, Bull, the sword is firmly stuck to our feet, last time was just an accident."
Chen Xun reassured, though Black Bull gripped even tighter, yet there was a leap of joy in his eyes; they were truly flying.
A small mana shield opened, silencing the howling wind.
"Bull, we'll adapt slowly, no rush."
Chen Xun smiled, resuming Sword Flight, but this time much slower, becoming more adept.
"Moo~" Black Bull too felt more comfortable, less tense.
But Chen Xun frowned slightly; the mana shield felt off, lacking the thrill of the wind. An idea began to form in his mind.
"Let's go!"
Chen Xun shouted again, circling the valley, "Woo-hoo!"
Chen Xun's shouts and Black Bull's cries filled the air, but the thrill was real, Black Bull in pain yet joyful.
After half an hour, Chen Xun felt something was missing; it was time to put his idea into action.
"Bull, I'm off to get busy, and look for some materials!" Chen Xun, holding the Mountain-axing axe, headed into the cave abode.
"Moo~!" Black Bull lay in the pool, not recovering for a long time.
...
Another month later, an orange sun lay quietly among the distant ink-colored mountains, clouds and mists glowing, lighting up the sky.
From inside the cave abode in Medicine Valley, a strange laugh echoed, "I've done it! I've done it!"
"Moo moo~~"
Black Bull looked at the sky; it was time for Chen Xun's 'wind-riding' again, calling out from the cave entrance.
"Bull!"
Chen Xun emerged from the darkness, Black Bull shocked at the sight; had Chen Xun crafted some magical artifact?
Chen Xun wore huge goggles, holding another pair that sparkled in the sunset.
"Moo? Moo?" Black Bull hurried over, asking what it was, Chen Xun's eyes looking huge.
"Bull, we're going to feel nature, the real thrill of wind-riding, what's the use of a mana shield!"
Chen Xun laughed, fitting Black Bull with the custom-made goggles.
"Moo?!" Black Bull shook his head, bouncing around, amazed by the feeling.
"With these, we won't fear sand in our eyes, haha!"
Chen Xun laughed proudly, shouting, "Bull, let's ride the wind!"
"Moo moo!!" Black Bull was excited; his favorite activity was wind-riding at sunset, the scenery was breathtaking.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
The sword soared, opening a restriction in Medicine Valley, Chen Xun immediately gaining altitude, countless peaks coming into view, he shouted to the sky: "Air Force One, Chen Xun, ready!!!"
"Moo moo moo!!!"
Black Bull also roared, goggles on, lying behind Chen Xun, feeling free.
The wind blasted their faces, but no longer reached their eyes, the feeling finally right; this was true wind-riding.
They headed towards the setting sun, ancient trees and peaks left behind, wild beasts seen chasing prey on the ground.
A huge sunset hung in the sky, disciples below Sword Flight, but their speed was no match for Chen Xun and Black Bull.
Perhaps this was the difference between a Ferrari and an electric car, Chen Xun mused.
Ahead, a Qi cultivation fifth-level junior sister was flying on her sword, on the same path as them.
Whoosh!
The junior sister, with two long braids, was startled; beside her was a man and a... cow standing on an immortal sword, their eyes covered with unknown objects.
"Senior brother..." the junior sister began timidly, but before she could finish, her mouth dropped open in shock.
The man and cow, fingers and hooves to their foreheads, gave her a salute with a crooked smile.
Their sword sped up towards the sunset, disappearing in an instant, the epitome of cool.
My god...
The junior sister was dumbfounded; even cows were this cool now? But that sword was so fast, she wondered what grade of magical artifact it was.
Many disciples were shocked at the speed and style of their Sword Flight.
The wind roared past, Black Bull grinning, looking back at the disciples left far behind, truly outclassed.
"Bull, see? This is cultivating immortality, this is life!"
"Moo moo!!" Black Bull nodded, enjoying the scenery below, the joy of wind-riding.
"Woo-hoo!!"
The sky echoed with exuberant shouts and cow bellows.