Chapter 392 - 389: Sky-Splitting Sword Technique
Chapter 392: Chapter 389: Sky-Splitting Sword Technique
’A fluke?’
Elder Mo fell silent.
Ordinary Martial Artists cultivating Body Hardening Martial Arts Training must start with a Low Grade Cultivation Technique, moving from the shallow to the deep, step by step.
Only after building a solid physical foundation would they switch to Middle Grade or Top Grade techniques, and only when their foundation was completely stable would they dare attempt a top-level or even Grandmaster-Level Body Hardening Martial Arts Training.
This was a long and arduous process, taking several years at a minimum, or even more than a decade.
But to directly cultivate a Grandmaster Level Body Hardening Technique was no different from asking a child who had never practiced martial arts to lift a thousand-jin cauldron.
The difficulty was beyond what the word "hard" could even begin to describe.
He remembered very clearly that several months ago, when Fang Han had first come to borrow the Xuanwu True Skill, he had warned him to proceed step by step and not to aim too high.
At the time, Fang Han had said he wanted to give it a try. Elder Mo had merely thought it was a case of a young calf not fearing the tiger—that he would naturally understand the difficulties after hitting a wall.
But who would have thought...
Several months later, the young man had not only successfully cultivated the Xuanwu True Skill, but had even reached the Entry Level.
Elder Mo looked at the young man in the green robe before him. He had thought he understood him well enough, but it turned out he didn’t understand him at all.
It was almost unimaginable. Without any foundation from a Low Grade Body Hardening Technique, this young man had actually managed to successfully cultivate a Grandmaster Level Body Hardening Technique from scratch.
And in just a few months, he had reached the Entry Level of this Grandmaster Level Body Hardening Technique.
"You..."
Elder Mo opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found himself at a loss for where to even begin.
In all his years, he had seen geniuses, he had seen prodigies, and he had seen those dazzling chosen ones who had shaken the world for a time.
But someone like Fang Han—who in two years since joining the sect went from an ordinary disciple to third on the general ranking, from having no Body Hardening foundation to reaching the Entry Level of a Grandmaster Level Body Hardening Technique...
He had never seen anything like it.
He had never even heard of such a thing.
After a long silence, Elder Mo finally spoke slowly, his voice laced with a complexity he himself hadn’t noticed.
"Good... Good..."
He said the word "good" twice.
Fang Han stood quietly, saying nothing.
He knew why Elder Mo was so surprised.
He knew better than anyone just how difficult it was to directly cultivate a Grandmaster Level Body Hardening Technique.
If it weren’t for the system panel and the 128-fold Body Hardening Talent Amplification, he probably wouldn’t have even been able to understand the first page, let alone reach the Entry Level of cultivation.
Elder Mo took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart. The peaceful expression gradually returned to his wrinkled face.
He looked at Fang Han, a new, indescribable light in his eyes—it was admiration, relief, and also a touch of wistfulness.
"Why have you come today?"
he asked, his voice having regained its usual composure.
Fang Han cupped his hands in a slight bow.
"Elder, this disciple has come today to redeem a Grandmaster-level Sword Technique that suits me."
"A Grandmaster-level Sword Technique?"
Elder Mo’s brow twitched slightly, but he quickly understood.
’With this boy’s talent, he’s probably already reached Perfection in the Nine Swords of Sky Splitting,’ he thought. ’It is indeed time to consider the next step for his Swordsmanship.’
He pondered for a moment, then said slowly,
"As for a Grandmaster-level Sword Technique, the Qingxuan Sect does have some in its collection. However, there is only one Wind Attribute Grandmaster-level Sword Technique in the entire Sect that would suit you."
"Elder, which one might that be?"
Fang Han felt a surge of joy and asked with cupped hands.
Grandmaster-Level Martial Arts were simply too precious. His biggest worry had been that the Sect might not have a Wind Attribute Grandmaster-level Sword Technique.
If that were the case, he would have had to switch to cultivating a Grandmaster-level Sword Technique of another attribute.
Doing so would be almost equivalent to starting over from scratch with a new attribute’s Swordsmanship, and the difficulty would increase dramatically.
Fortunately, that didn’t happen.
"Wait here."
Elder Mo didn’t answer. Instead, he stood up and walked toward the stairs leading to the upper floors.
His figure soon disappeared around the corner.
Fang Han stood his ground, watching Elder Mo leave.
The fourth floor was very quiet, with only the occasional birdsong from outside the window and the faint, distant sound of a bell.
He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze falling upon the verdant mountain forest outside the window, but his mind was already imagining what that Grandmaster-level Sword Technique would be like.
After a short while, the sound of footsteps came from the top of the stairs.
Elder Mo descended slowly, holding an extremely thick book in his hands.
The book’s cover was a pale cyan color, made of what seemed to be an incredibly tough beast hide. It was warm to the touch and seemed to shimmer with a faint light.
There were no words on the cover, only a few lines that seemed casually drawn yet held a profound mystery, like traces left by the wind.
"This is the Sky-Splitting Sword Technique."
Elder Mo handed the book to Fang Han, his voice solemn.
"It is the Qingxuan Sect’s only Wind Attribute Grandmaster-level Sword Technique. It was created three hundred years ago by a Grandmaster predecessor. Incidentally, the Nine Swords of Sky Splitting that you cultivate was also created by this same predecessor."
Fang Han accepted it with both hands. It felt slightly heavy, and the warm sensation that passed through his palms refreshed his spirit.
He didn’t rush to open it, instead looking up at Elder Mo.
Elder Mo understood his meaning and said slowly,
"A Grandmaster Level Cultivation Technique is a matter of great importance. According to the Sect’s rules, it can only be read in a designated area within this pavilion. It cannot be taken out, and private copying is strictly forbidden."
"Yes."
Fang Han nodded in acknowledgment. There were many seats on the fourth floor, and he found one to sit down in.
"A Grandmaster-level Sword Technique is profound and difficult to fathom."
Elder Mo began to speak, his voice calm.
"Even some disciples with considerable talent in the Sword Dao often find it like reading a celestial scripture on their first attempt, unable to make heads or tails of it. You must not be impatient."
"This disciple understands. Thank you for your guidance, Elder."
Fang Han looked up, met Elder Mo’s gaze, and gave a slight nod.
Elder Mo said no more, simply nodding gently in return.
The fourth floor returned to silence.
There was only the pale light of the sky filtering through the window and the occasional chirp of a bird.
Fang Han took a deep breath, cleared his mind of distracting thoughts, and focused his gaze on the pale cyan book resting on his lap.
He reached out with his right hand and gently turned to the first page.
What met his eyes were dense rows of fly-headed small script, supplemented by several extremely complex diagrams of human figures demonstrating Sword Techniques.
The text was archaic and profound, with every sentence containing incredibly deep Sword Principles.
The lines in the diagrams intertwined and spiraled, depicting the circulation routes of Inner Qi within the swordsman’s body, as well as the body movements and Step Techniques during the Transformations of the Sword Techniques.
As Fang Han’s gaze slowly swept across the first line of text, he couldn’t help but frown slightly.
’A Grandmaster-level Sword Technique truly is profound.’
These Sword Principles, these Transformations, these Force Manipulation Methods... they were countless times more profound than those of the top-level Sword Technique, the Nine Swords of Sky Splitting.
If an ordinary disciple, or even a common genius with only a bit of talent in the Sword Dao, were to face such profound content, they would probably be just as Elder Mo had described—like reading a celestial scripture, completely unable to find a way in.
However, he was no ordinary disciple.
His Swordsmanship Talent, improved by the Sword-shaped Grass, and his 128-fold Swordsmanship Talent Amplification, gave him a comprehension of the Sword Dao far beyond that of an ordinary person.
Furthermore, the complete Wind Momentum he had comprehended after reaching Perfection in the Nine Swords of Sky Splitting had laid an incomparably solid foundation for him.
The combination of these three factors meant that while he found this Grandmaster-level Sword Technique profound, it was not incomprehensible.
His gaze continued to move down the page, his mind gradually becoming immersed in the text.
In his eyes, the words were no longer mere characters, but transformed into streaks of sword light that flickered, collided, and merged within his mind.
In his eyes, the diagrams were no longer static lines, but transformed into figures holding swords, practicing, changing, and deducing the techniques within his consciousness.
Time passed unknowingly. Outside the window, the daylight faded from bright to a dim yellow.
Fang Han remained seated, motionless.
His eyes moved from one page to the next through the thick book.
He paused for a long time on each page.
Sometimes he would stare at a particular line of the Sword technique, his brow furrowed in thought.
Sometimes he would look at a diagram, his finger tracing patterns on his knee, simulating the Transformations of the Sword Techniques.
And sometimes he would close his eyes, as if deducing the flow of Inner Qi for the Swordsmanship in his mind.
On the fourth floor, the only sound was the faint rustle of pages turning.
Finally, Fang Han turned the last page.
He closed his eyes and mentally reviewed the entire Sky-Splitting Sword Technique from beginning to end.
The sword techniques, the diagrams, the Force Manipulation Methods—he remembered everything clearly, with no omissions.
He opened his eyes, an unconcealable flash of joy within them.
He had succeeded.
He had completely understood and memorized this Grandmaster-level Sword Technique.
The process had been far, far smoother than when he had first tried to comprehend the Xuanwu True Skill.
Back when he was comprehending the Xuanwu True Skill, he had never come into contact with any Body Hardening Technique and knew nothing about the way of Body Hardening.
Even with a 128-fold Body Hardening Talent Amplification, it had taken a great deal of effort to barely comprehend that Grandmaster Level Body Hardening Technique.
But now, in comprehending the Sky-Splitting Sword Technique—
he had the solid foundation laid by reaching Perfection in the Nine Swords of Sky Splitting, he had the Swordsmanship Talent improved by the Sword-shaped Grass, and he had the 128-fold Swordsmanship Talent Amplification.
The combination of these three factors made his speed in comprehending the Sky-Splitting Sword Technique far exceed his speed in comprehending the Xuanwu True Skill.
He looked up. Elder Mo was still sitting behind the sandalwood desk.
He was holding a scroll, his expression leisurely, as if he had been waiting all along.
"Thank you, Elder. This disciple has finished comprehending it."
Fang Han walked forward and returned the Sky-Splitting Sword Technique with both hands.
"Finished comprehending it already?"
Elder Mo took the book, his gaze lingering on Fang Han’s face.
’He finished comprehending a Grandmaster-level Sword Technique in a single day?’
’Even with the foundation from the Perfection-level, top-level Sword Technique Nine Swords of Sky Splitting, this speed of comprehension is just too fast.’
However, he didn’t ask any further questions. He simply nodded, put the book away, and said in his usual calm voice,
"Go on. If there is anything you haven’t fully understood, you can return to look at it again at any time."
"Thank you, Elder Mo. This disciple will take his leave."
Fang Han bowed, turned, and walked down the stairs.
「Courtyard Number 35.」
Fang Han pushed open the courtyard gate and walked in slowly.
The last rays of the setting sun filtered through the ancient trees in the courtyard, which were just beginning to sprout new buds, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
The occasional birdsong from the distance only added to the tranquility.
Fang Han crossed the courtyard. Instead of returning to his Quiet Chamber, he came to a stop in the center of the open area where he usually practiced.
The Cloud Splitting Sword hung at his waist. He didn’t draw it, but simply stood with his hands behind his back and closed his eyes.
In his mind, the contents of the Sky-Splitting Sword Technique slowly flowed past.