66: Chapter 66 This is the Way

'Clearly, they are compared to the Sword in Heart lineage, yet they insist that the Sword in Heart lineage is stronger than the Sword in the Hand.'

'If you won't let me learn from you, I will learn from you anyway.' Ruan Tang thought.

In reality, it was the Sword in Heart lineage that did not want her.

Along the way, Yu Xiu continued to perceive the various subtle aspects of the mountain, his cultivation rising with every passing moment.

Before long, they arrived at Jinglong Hall.

"Grand Elder, Senior Brother Yu has arrived." Ruan Tang reported with a bow.

In an instant, three people in the main hall turned their gazes, all falling simultaneously upon Yu Xiu, who stood beside Ruan Tang.

'Hmm?' A flash of doubt crossed the Grand Elder's eyes. 'What kind of technique is this?'

Observing Yu Xiu, he seemed vastly different from before—very strange, very unique!

He seemed to be at one with heaven and earth, yet there was no detectable aura of an opened Divine Treasury.

Moreover, the Divine Treasury was a Realm only accessible to those in the King Realm; how could Yu Xiu, someone who had only just touched upon the Five Elements Realm, possibly have opened his Divine Treasury!

He probably hadn't even heard of what a Divine Treasury was.

Protector Cao's eyes lit up. 'What a Yu Xiu, what a candidate for True Disciple!'

He saw an extraordinary aura about Yu Xiu.

It was as if he possessed the radiance of the great sun, and was connected to the mountain ranges of Zhanlong Peak—this was a sign of a very high Realm.

If nothing went wrong, Yu Xiu's Sword Intent would certainly be extremely formidable.

'What is his Realm? What is his cultivation?' The young man standing behind Protector Cao with a sword in his arms, 'Zhao Xun', felt a trace of doubt.

Before coming to Zhanlong Peak, he had already heard that Yu Xiu had been in contact with the Five Elements Realm Cultivation Technique for less than half a month.

Therefore, logically speaking, Yu Xiu's Realm should be at the early stage of the Five Elements Realm.

With his strength in the Five Gods Realm, he should have been able to see through Yu Xiu at a glance.

However, he could not.

When he looked at Yu Xiu, it was like looking at flowers through the mist—he could not see clearly, could not see through him, as if there was always an illusory layer separating them, making it feel unreal.

'I can't see clearly, how can I not see clearly?' Zhao Xun looked carefully, staring intently, but the more he looked, the less he could see. Even more, the longer he looked, the more he had the illusion of falling at high speed.

It was as if he were falling into an abyss!

It was not until the Grand Elder spoke that Zhao Xun was startled back to his senses.

"Yu Xiu has arrived." The Grand Elder swept an unnoticeable glance at Zhao Xun, then naturally let his gaze fall upon Yu Xiu: "This is Protector Cao from Jiuxiao Peak; he has come for you."

Yu Xiu clasped his fists and saluted Protector Cao.

"My Named Disciple Guan Che was possessed by inner demons, and I heard it was you who brought him back safe and sound. I, Cao, would like to thank you." Protector Cao's words were kind: "Furthermore, Jiuxiao Peak intends to recruit you into the Sword in Heart lineage."

Before Yu Xiu could speak, Protector Cao already smiled and said: "Do not be in a hurry to make a decision; let me explain the implications to you first.

"First, your transfer from the Sword in the Hand lineage to the Sword in Heart lineage is in accordance with sect rules; you need not feel any pressure about changing peaks.

"Second, while the Sword in the Hand and the Sword in Heart each have their advantages, it is generally acknowledged by the Sword Sect that the Sword in Heart lineage is stronger.

"Past True Disciples, as well as some Disciples with the potential to become True Disciples, all cultivate the Sword in the Hand first, and then the Sword in Heart, combining the strengths of both lineages to become true Sword Cultivators.

"Finally, if you join the Sword in Heart lineage, switching your Cultivation Technique is actually not troublesome; the sect has its own methods for switching, so it will not waste your current cultivation achievements.

"Now, you may state your thoughts."

Yu Xiu smiled and said: "Thank you for your kindness, Protector Cao, but I believe that whether it is the Sword in the Hand or the Sword in Heart, there is essentially no difference; both cultivate the Sword Heart and Sword Intent.

"The Sword in the Hand suits me quite well, so there is no need to be fixated on switching to the Sword in Heart lineage."

'He refused?' Even the Grand Elder at the head of the hall was surprised.

Yu Xiu had not been at Zhanlong Peak for long; to say he had deep feelings for it would certainly be untrue.

And cultivators, since ancient times, have always sought higher techniques and stronger arts; there was simply no reason to refuse to cultivate a more profound method.

Therefore, Yu Xiu's refusal of the invitation from the Sword in Heart lineage must have some other purpose.

As for what Yu Xiu said himself about 'the Sword in the Hand suiting him', the Grand Elder did not believe a single word of it.

'What could it be?' The Grand Elder was also a bit curious.

"Hmm?" Protector Cao clearly had not expected Yu Xiu to refuse, and he swept an unnoticeable glance at the Grand Elder.

'This old codger must have promised something to Yu Xiu!'

'It does not matter. In the face of better cultivation prospects and better techniques, any promise is of no consequence.'

Protector Cao had this confidence.

There was no Sword Sect Disciple who could refuse an invitation from the Sword in Heart lineage, and Yu Xiu would be no exception.

He smiled and stepped back half a step: "Junior Nephew Yu perhaps does not yet know enough about my Sword in Heart lineage; why not learn more about the methods of the Sword in Heart lineage before making your decision."

As long as Yu Xiu witnessed the might and incredibility of the Sword in Heart lineage, he would change his mind.

As Protector Cao stepped back, Zhao Xun, who had been silent all this time, stepped forward: "Jiuxiao Peak, Zhao Xun."

Yu Xiu smiled inwardly: "Zhanlong Peak, Yu Xiu."

"Junior Brother Yu likely does not know the wonders of the Sword in Heart lineage, which is why you refused." Zhao Xun still held his sword to his chest: "No matter, I will naturally let you see the strengths of the Sword in Heart.

"The Sword in the Hand is far too inferior to the Sword in Heart."

As his words fell, Sword Qi surged from his body, his sharp edge exposed. In an instant, his hair seemed to turn into thousands upon thousands of swords, and his arms, fingers, feet, and even his shoulders, chest, and back all seemed to have turned into swords.

The astonishing Sword Qi was contained but not released, yet it made one feel as if they were being pointed at by ten thousand swords.

Ruan Tang, who had led Yu Xiu here, felt as if her whole body was being pricked by needles, and she could not help but retreat again and again. 'This Senior Brother from the Sword in Heart lineage could probably defeat me just by plucking a single strand of hair!'

Her heart was shaken violently.

Although she had long known the Sword in Heart lineage was strong, she did not know it was strong to such an incredible extent.

"Junior Brother Yu, come." Zhao Xun took a step forward, closing in on Yu Xiu.

'Not bad Sword Qi.' Yu Xiu commented inwardly, while simultaneously raising his hand.

This was not him bullying people with 'Primordial', it was Zhao Xun himself who let him make the first move.

Without a ripple or wave, Yu Xiu raised his hand from a distance and pointed at Zhao Xun, whose body was surging with Sword Qi.

There was no True Qi, no Sword Intent, yet an invisible sword emanated from Yu Xiu's fingertip—without a ripple or wave, quiet as idle clouds, light as floating things.

The Grand Elder vaguely seemed to perceive something, but he could not grasp exactly what had happened, so he furrowed his brows.

'Hmm?' Protector Cao watched without understanding; he did not discover any sword technique or sword momentum in that finger of Yu Xiu's.

They could not see this sword.

'What kind of sword is this?' Zhao Xun felt doubt arise in his heart.

But in that very instant of doubt, he had already entered into Yu Xiu's sword.

It was as if that invisible sword had been on him all along.

It was also as if that invisible sword had originated from within his own body.

Unstoppable, unable to be blocked.

Just like the great sun rising in the east and setting in the west; when it sets, it is the alternation of day and night, the coming of night.

This is the principle of the operation of the heaven, earth, and Universe; it is the Dao of nature. No matter what, it will happen, and it cannot be blocked by human power.

Just like the invisible sword pointed out by Yu Xiu, it was destined to fall upon Zhao Xun.

Even if Zhao Xun had the ability to foresee the future and hid behind his Master, Protector Cao, he still would not be able to dodge it, much less block it.

Because he was destined to receive this sword; this was fated.

Protector Cao was not in the 'fate' of this sword, so for Protector Cao, this sword did not exist in the world, so it could not be blocked, nor could it be received.

In Yu Xiu's words, this is 'Dao Practice'!

If one were to use common words from his previous life, it would be... a mechanic!