73: Swords

Deep within the back mountains of Chess Sword Pavilion, in an unnamed Immortal Cave.

"Senior, is this still the back mountains of Chess Sword Pavilion?"

"What else? With your meager cultivation, where else could you go?"

Su Mengyao was a little speechless. She had thought that Shen Lian forcefully taking her away would lead them to an unfamiliar environment far from Chess Sword Pavilion.

Unexpectedly, they were still wandering within the back mountain range.

"Then can you tell me now what you want me to do?"

"Perform that Mistaken Sword Art again."

Shen Lian's words were beyond doubt, so Su Mengyao could only comply as instructed.

One move was executed, leaving behind sword marks.

Su Mengyao used a bamboo stick as a sword, and in the blink of an eye, the sword move was completed.

"Senior, what do you think?"

A glimmer of hope flickered in her eyes, hoping for Shen Lian's guidance.

"Not too bad."

Shen Lian gave a evaluate with an expressionless face.

"Since you already have some comprehension of this sword art, I will teach you another set, the Songyue Sword Canon. You must learn it diligently."

Su Mengyao hurriedly said, "To receive even one sword technique from Senior is already a blessing for three lifetimes for this Junior. How could I be greedy and learn a higher sword art? Please, Senior, reconsider."

"Shut up!"

A low shout interrupted Su Mengyao.

"If I tell you to learn, then you learn. When do the weak have the right to refuse?"

"Watch carefully. I will only teach you once. This set of Songyue Sword Canon originally had seventy-two forms,

but after my improvements, it has been simplified, removing the dross and retaining the essence.

All the sword moves have been integrated into twelve forms. If you master this sword art, you will benefit from it for life."

Without giving Su Mengyao any chance to retort, Shen Lian directly manifested a Spiritual Sword and began to demonstrate in front of her.

Su Mengyao, who was initially resistant to being forced to practice swordsmanship, was immediately deeply captivated the moment she saw Shen Lian's first starting stance.

One move, one form, pure sword moves, pure Sword Intent.

Within seemingly simple sword moves, an Aura capable of changing heaven and earth could evolve.

Unconsciously, Su Mengyao's attention was completely focused on the Concept of the Songyue Sword Art.

"The Twelve Songyue Forms emphasize simplicity to complexity, transcending the ordinary to reach excellence. It requires calmness, the ability to infer from one instance to many, and returning to simplicity to reach profound levels.

This is a progressive Cultivation Technique. Even without any foundation, as long as one persists in practicing, one can reach the Minor Achievement Realm at the starting point, like me.

But if you want to go a step further and comprehend your own Concept from this sword art, then it depends on the depth of your understanding of the Dao of the Sword."

After demonstrating a set of sword moves, Shen Lian told Su Mengyao some related characteristics, then directly kicked a wooden stick towards her feet.

"One night. If you cannot get started with this Songyue Sword Canon by dawn, then tomorrow, in this desolate wilderness, there will be one more nameless female corpse. After all, I allow ants to follow me, but I don't take trash!"

Leaving behind a cold remark, Shen Lian directly sat down in the inner part of the Immortal Cave and began to meditate with his eyes closed.

Su Mengyao held the wooden stick in her hand, initially wanting to say something.

But seeing Shen Lian's distant attitude, she swallowed her words back down.

"The Twelve Songyue Forms..."

Su Mengyao took a deep breath, gripped the wooden stick in her hand, closed her eyes, and her mind was filled with the sword moves Shen Lian had just demonstrated.

When Shen Lian opened his eyes again, it was already dawn. He immediately saw Su Mengyao also sitting cross-legged opposite him with her eyes closed, the wooden stick lying horizontally in front of her.

"How is your sword art practice?"

"Senior, please enlighten me."

After a night of comprehension, Su Mengyao was very confident at this moment.

With a thought, the wooden stick was already in Su Mengyao's hand. At the same time, her graceful figure had already risen and merged with the flowing Sword Qi.

"Not bad."

Su Mengyao's talent was indeed good. After only one night of comprehension, her Twelve Songyue Forms had already achieved getting Started, and sword glints faintly flickered as her sword momentum swept through the air.

After a set of sword techniques was executed and retracted, Shen Lian, who was usually boastful, rarely gave such a fair evaluation to others.

"Thank you, Senior, for imparting the technique."

"Don't rush to thank me. My sword techniques are not given for free. Freeloading is impossible with me."

"Please speak, Senior. This Junior will definitely obey."

"I want you to guard here for three days. No one is allowed to approach the Immortal Cave within these three days. If you can't do it, you can either commit suicide directly or I will personally act."

Su Mengyao was startled, she looked up at Shen Lian, thinking, "Why is Senior's temperament so unfathomable?"

"Can you do it?!"

"Please rest assured, Senior, this Junior will definitely do it."

Seeing Su Mengyao agree, Shen Lian waved his hand, and a vast Dao charm instantly poured into her dantian sea.

In an instant, Su Mengyao only felt as if a monstrous wave had risen in her dantian sea, and Spiritual Qi rapidly circulated throughout her meridians.

Initially, the pain of the surging Spiritual Qi was indescribable for Su Mengyao.

But after gradually adapting, she suddenly realized that her cultivation was rapidly increasing at an incredible speed.

About an hour later, Su Mengyao slowly exhaled a mouthful of turbid Qi.

At this moment, her cultivation had risen to the Peak of Qi Gathering, only half a step away from entering the Su Yuan Realm.

"Su Mengyao, for the next three days, you must ensure that no one can step half a pace into the Immortal Cave.

If I don't speak, you must not move an inch from three miles outside the Immortal Cave. This is what you must do, do you understand?!"

Su Mengyao, having received such a great Opportunity, naturally had no reason to refuse and immediately knelt before Shen Lian: "Please rest assured, Senior, this Junior will definitely keep her promise and not let anyone approach the Immortal Cave."

"Good, you can start now."

"Yes!"

After Su Mengyao left, Shen Lian immediately set up an isolation barrier around the Immortal Cave.

Then he took out the heaven and earth root, and without hesitation, directly activated the great dao human sovereign cauldron, beginning to concentrate on refining it... Outside the Immortal Cave, Su Mengyao was still immersed in the unexpected surge in her strength.

Everything she had experienced in the past few days felt like a dream.

"The Twelve Songyue Forms that Senior taught me contain infinite potential, far more powerful than all the sword arts of Chess Sword Pavilion I have ever seen.

With this sword canon, establishing a sect would be more than enough. Such Sword Intent, Senior imparted it to me without reservation. Why?"

Su Mengyao racked her brain but couldn't understand Shen Lian's intention in teaching her sword art and helping her improve her strength.

However, since she had already inherited Shen Lian's legacy, she had an obligation to do anything for him.

"Senior, please rest assured, this Junior will definitely not let anyone disturb you."

Su Mengyao looked back at the Immortal Cave and secretly swore that she would complete the task Shen Lian had assigned, even if it meant risking her life.

At the same time, in the main hall of Chess Sword Pavilion, Vice Sect Master Lord Youyang gathered the Inner Sect Disciples to announce something.

"Recently, evil cultivators have been appearing outside the mountain gate, harming many common people. As the number one sword sect in the Southern Region, Chess Sword Pavilion, upholding the will of the Sword Emperor, should eliminate demons and defend the Dao, protecting the peace of this land."

"These evil cultivators daring to openly cause trouble within the domain of our Chess Sword Pavilion is considered the greatest provocation and cannot be tolerated.

Therefore, this Venerable One will dispatch you Disciples down the mountain to wipe out these evil cultivators and restore peace to Yunluo City."

As his voice fell, the Inner Sect Disciples responded in unison, "Eliminating demons and defending the Dao is our duty!"

Lord Youyang nodded with satisfaction, gently stroking his beard.

"It's a pity that your Senior Brother Chu Cangfeng has not yet emerged from seclusion, and your Second Senior Brother White Sword Life met a tragic end at the hands of Demonic Beasts in the Monster Beast Mountain Range.

Third Senior Brother Li Mubai went to the Heavenly Pond Holy Land and has not returned, and Fourth Senior Brother Xie Pingan must remain in the Hidden Sword Pavilion to guard the sword scriptures.

Therefore, the leadership of this mission to eradicate evil cultivators falls upon you, Lu Qingyi."

Upon hearing this, Lu Qingyi could not hide her excitement. She immediately knelt on one knee, cupped her hands, and replied, "Please rest assured, Vice Sect Master, this Disciple will not fail in her mission and will definitely wipe out all the evil cultivators."

"Mm, remember not to be careless."

Lord Youyang instructed, then casually tossed a command token that landed in Lu Qingyi's hand.

"Whoever holds this token is as if they have seen the Sect Master himself. Qingyi, do not disappoint us."

"Please rest assured, Vice Sect Master!"

"Mm."

Lord Youyang nodded, then vanished into thin air.

Lu Qingyi looked at the command token in her hand, unable to suppress a smile.

This was an excellent Opportunity for her to make a name for herself, and she must seize it well.