55: Fourth Senior Sister's Swordsmanship Instruction

As the first rays of morning sunlight filtered through the window lattice of the Miaoyin Pavilion, Lu Yu felt an emptiness in his arms.

Looking down, the Little White Kitten that had been curled up sleeping sprawled on his chest last night was gone. In its place was Fifth Senior Sister Li Miao'er, with her robes half-undone, eyes bleary with sleep, and radiating a grumpy, just-woken-up Aura.

She lay draped over him like a boneless cat, her head buried in the crook of his neck, nuzzling against him. Her pink cat ears brushed against his chin, tickling him.

"Mmm... Good morning, Junior Martial Brother..."

Her voice was muffled, husky from sleep, and dripping with a thick, cloying sweetness.

"Sleeping while holding you is so comfortable, much better than a Warm Jade Bed... I haven't slept well on the days you weren't here."

She lifted her head, her glass-like cat eyes full of satisfaction and smugness. She stuck out her pink tongue to lick the corner of her mouth, her movements carrying an indescribable seductiveness.

Lu Yu felt somewhat uncomfortable from her nuzzling, especially since this Senior Sister was now in human form, and certain soft sensations were far too distinct. He was a grown young man now!

"Fifth Senior Sister, it's daylight, and I'm not a little kid anymore. If you keep this up, you're bound to take a big fall one day!"

Li Miao'er sat up reluctantly, stretching lazily. Her gauzy robe slipped down, revealing a glimpse of spring scenery, which she paid no mind to.

She leaned close to Lu Yu, her nose almost touching his, her breath fragrant like orchids: "Is Junior Martial Brother warning his Senior Sister? That makes Senior Sister very sad, you know. When you were little, I was the one who slept with you most of the time. Now that you've grown up, you're starting to dislike your Senior Sister? That makes Senior Sister very sad!"

Lu Yu was speechless. He had always possessed the knowledge and awareness of a twenty-year-old Soul since childhood. Back then, his body simply wasn't developed enough to do anything. Now he had grown up.

But seeing such a beautiful and alluring Fifth Senior Sister sleeping beside him, even if he didn't harbor those kinds of thoughts in his heart, his body would react honestly!

A mischievous smile playing on her lips, Li Miao'er leaned even closer to Lu Yu's face and continued, "Besides, even if you did 'eat' your Senior Sister, so what? It's not certain who would be the one taking the fall and suffering a loss!"

Black lines appeared on Lu Yu's forehead. Fifth Senior Sister was never serious for a single day.

"Senior Sister, stop messing around. I need to go practice my sword, otherwise Fourth Senior Sister..."

"Pfft, that ice block face, Fourth Senior Sister."

Li Miao'er pouted but didn't pester him further, though she continued tracing circles on his chest with her finger.

"Fine, fine. I know you're a hot commodity now, everyone wants a bite. But..."

She suddenly lowered her voice, a flash of cunning in her cat eyes.

"If that ice block works you to the bone tonight, you're always welcome to come to Senior Sister for some recovery~ Guaranteed to cure all ills~"

Lu Yu: "..."

He practically fled in panic from the Miaoyin Pavilion.

Returning to his residence on Dream Bamboo Peak, he had just landed in front of his Immortal Cave when he felt a familiar, sharp chill imbued with Sword Intent lock onto him.

Turning his head, he saw Fourth Senior Sister Yun Guying, holding her sword, standing under an ancient pine tree not far away. Morning mist swirled around her, accentuating her tall, straight posture and her face, cold and clear as frost.

Her eyes, like deep, icy pools, were quietly watching him. Though her expression was neutral, Lu Yu inexplicably felt... a chill running down his spine.

"Fourth Senior Sister, good morning."

Lu Yu took the initiative to greet her.

Lin Wanqiu was already doing her morning exercises in the courtyard, her little face serious.

Seeing Lu Yu return from outside, she blinked her eyes, obediently refraining from asking questions. It was clear to her that Revered Master seemed to be in danger right now!

"It's not early."

Yun Guying's voice was flat, her face still cold and aloof. In her hands, she held a profound ice Spiritual Artifact sword.

"You missed the sword Dao guidance session we agreed upon yesterday."

Lu Yu was taken aback, only then remembering that such a thing had been arranged... He had been busy with many matters upon returning to the sect yesterday, and then Fifth Senior Sister's interruption made him completely forget about it.

"Uh, Senior Sister, please forgive me. Yesterday I..."

Yun Guying cut him off, stepping forward.

"No need to explain. Since you have abundant energy with nowhere to spend it, we'll make up for it. Today's morning practice will be doubled."

Lu Yu: "..."

He knew it!

But, Senior Sister, you've really misunderstood! Nothing happened between me and Fifth Senior Sister!

Lu Yu changed into a set of neat training clothes, took a deep breath, picked up the newly issued Standard Longsword, and headed towards Fourth Senior Sister Yun Guying's exclusive training ground, the Hanyuan Sword Plaza.

What was coming, had to come.

The Hanyuan Sword Plaza was located in a deep, misty valley behind Dream Bamboo Peak. The ground was made of ten-thousand-year-old profound ice, so cold it pierced to the bone for ordinary Disciples. However, only Yun Guying came here; it was a sword practice ground she had created for herself.

Yun Guying was already waiting there, still wearing a plain white dress, her posture straight as a pine tree. She held her hanyuan sword in her arms, a sword that seemed capable of freezing even light itself. Within a three-foot radius around her, ice crystals silently drifted down.

Seeing Lu Yu, her icy gaze swept over him, devoid of emotion. Yet, Lu Yu could detect a faint trace of chilliness, feeling that he was in for a world of trouble this morning!

"Draw your sword."

Yun Guying was concise.

Lu Yu didn't dare delay, drawing his longsword.

It was a very good High Grade Spiritual Artifact spirit sword that Fifth Senior Sister had given him, but it was far from comparable to the hanyuan sword.

"Use your strongest Move. Attack me."

Yun Guying stood in place, not even drawing her own sword.

Knowing Fourth Senior Sister's temperament, Lu Yu didn't hold back. The Nine Yang Haori spiritual power within him surged forth, pouring into the longsword. The blade instantly glowed with a layer of scorching golden-red light.

Although he often preferred fighting barehanded in combat, his attainments in sword Dao and spear Dao were also quite good. After all, over the years, Fourth Senior Sister and Eldest Senior Sister would guide him whenever they had time.

With guidance from these two powerhouses, coupled with his own excellent innate talent, he had gained decent insights into both sword Dao and spear Dao.

However, this also resulted in him having good but not exceptionally deep mastery in sword Dao, spear Dao, and fist Dao.

One could only say he was a jack of all trades, Revered Master of none.

He tapped his foot, his figure moving like lightning. The sword light, carrying an overbearing Aura capable of splitting mountains and cracking stones, thrust straight towards Yun Guying's face. This Move was called Blazing Sun Pierce.

Yun Guying didn't even bat an eyelid. Only when the sword tip was three inches from her glabella did she Move.

It wasn't an evasion, nor a block.

She merely extended two fingers.

*Ding!*

An extremely crisp metallic clang rang out.

Lu Yu's ferocious thrust was actually clamped firmly between the tips of her two pale, slender fingers!

The golden-red sword radiance flickering on the blade met the faint chill swirling around her fingertips, emitting a sizzling sound as it rapidly melted away.

Lu Yu felt an irresistible icy force transmit through the sword, numbing his tiger's mouth and nearly making him lose his grip.

"Strength is passable. Spiritual power is impure. Sword Intent is nonexistent."

Yun Guying released her fingers, her tone as flat as if she were evaluating a radish.

"You possess supreme Yang spiritual power, yet you don't know how to restrain and condense it. It's scattered, not concentrated; flashy, not substantial. What do you think a sword is? A fire poker?"

Lu Yu's old face flushed red.

In his previous fights, he relied more on the Physical Body strength and spiritual power superiority of his Nine Yang Haori Body. He indeed didn't use sword techniques often in combat; punching and brawling was more satisfying. So, forget about any Sword Intent.

Every Dao path was divided into different Concepts. For example, sword Dao was divided into Sword Momentum, Sword Intent, Sword Heart, Sword Soul, and Sword Domain.

To comprehend Sword Intent at the Nascent Soul Stage meant one could practically walk sideways across the Nascent Soul Stage!

Their combat power could be considered top-tier among their peers.

Take the Current Sword Prodigy of the Heavenly Sword Divine Sect, for example. At the Perfection Realm of the Nascent Soul Stage, he had already comprehended Sword Heart. He was the most talented individual the Heavenly Sword Divine Sect had seen in ten thousand years, practically invincible among Nascent Soul Stage cultivators, with no peer in sword Dao among his generation.

Why could he only be called the most talented in sword Dao within the Heavenly Sword Divine Sect in ten thousand years, and not prefixed with 'in the Lower Realm'?

Because in the entire Lower Realm, there were two insurmountable mountains standing before this Sword Prodigy!

Those were his own Third Senior Sister Ye Hanshuang and Fourth Senior Sister Yun Guying!

These two were the most talented individuals in sword Dao the Lower Realm had seen in ten thousand years!

Both of them had, many years ago during the Heavenly Sword Divine Sect's Heavenly Sword Trial, reached the pinnacle with peerless grace. Moreover, they were existences who had inscribed their names at the very top of the Heavenly Sword Divine Sect's sword stele!

"Watch closely."

Yun Guying finally drew her hanyuan sword.

The moment the sword left its sheath, the temperature of the entire sword plaza plummeted. Fine ice crystals condensed in the air.

She didn't use any fancy Moves, merely thrusting the sword forward in a simple, straightforward motion.

But in Lu Yu's eyes, this single thrust seemed to transform into a stream of cold, condensed to its extreme, capable of freezing all things!

It lacked earth-shattering momentum, yet carried a chilling will capable of severing everything and extinguishing all vitality!

That wasn't spiritual power, nor was it a Move. It was a kind of *Intent*!

"This is a mere glimpse of the Chill Extinction Sword Intent."

Yun Guying sheathed her sword. The surrounding ice crystals rustled as they fell.

"Sword Intent is the condensation of a Sword Cultivator's essence, energy, spirit, and comprehension of the sword Dao. It is what gives a sword its Soul. No matter how strong your spiritual power is, if it lacks Sword Intent to command it, it remains inferior. Your Physique is of supreme Yang. You can attempt to comprehend an Intent that aligns with yourself—something Yang, vigorous, blazing, or destructive."

She walked up to Lu Yu and raised her hand, using the scabbard to tap his shoulder, not too lightly, not too heavily.

"Starting today, come here every day at the hour of Chen. Practice ten thousand sword swings. Do not use spiritual power. Use only your heart to feel the sword itself. When you can stir a resonance with the characteristics of your own spiritual power during your swings, then we will discuss the next step."

Ten thousand sword swings?

Without using spiritual power?

[Collecting Resentment Emotion Value from the Son of Destiny Lu Yu +3000!]

[Collecting Resentment Emotion Value from the Son of Destiny Lu Yu +3000!]