Divine Wilderness Dragon Emperor

Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Sword Enlightenment

Celestial River Sword Technique!

The ancient manual was exquisite, as if forged from refined iron. Ling Fei carefully turned to the first page.

An illustration accompanied by text appeared before him.

First, his gaze fell upon the illustration.

It was a sword.

Faintly, Ling Fei could feel a sharp and imposing aura from within the drawing of the sword.

Then, he shifted his gaze to the text beside it.

The sword is a sharp weapon!

The sword is a cutting edge!

The sword has softness!

The sword has hardness!

The sword can take ten thousand forms!

The sword can contain ten thousand daos!

All things can be a sword!

...

Only by comprehending the meaning of the sword can one enter the Sword Dao!

This was the general principle of the Celestial River Sword Technique.

Reading this general principle, Ling Fei’s heart stirred, as if he had glimpsed a world of the Sword Dao.

’All things can be a sword?’ Ling Fei’s eyes showed deep thought as he carefully pondered the logic contained within the general principle.

The sword represents a cutting edge!

Its Sword Qi is sharp, striking fear into the hearts of men!

The Sword Momentum...

Ling Fei mused, feeling as if he were about to be immersed in a world of the Sword Dao.

He thought back to the Sword Momentum Shangguan Qingmu had displayed during the test.

At that time, the Sword Qi had burst forth, and its aura was so chilling it made one’s hair stand on end, inspiring involuntary fear.

’The sword’s cutting edge strikes fear, and the Sword Momentum...!’ Ling Fei seemed to have grasped something.

Then, Ling Fei continued to flip through the Sword Manual.

However, as he turned the pages, there was nothing else in the Sword Manual!

’This is the first part of the Celestial River Sword Technique?’ Ling Fei’s eyes showed his astonishment.

He quickly calmed himself.

The Celestial River Sword Technique was divided into three parts: upper, middle, and lower.

Clearly, this upper part was the introductory Sword Technique.

To comprehend the deeper Mystical Principles of the Sword Dao, one must first master the Mystical Principles contained within the upper part.

Ling Fei refocused his mind and once again concentrated on that page of the Sword Technique.

’Only by comprehending the meaning of the sword can one comprehend the Sword Dao?’ Ling Fei’s heart stirred, and he fell into deep thought.

It seemed this was the key to stepping onto the Sword Dao.

’Sword Intent, the meaning of the sword, what is it?’ Ling Fei mused, looking back at the general principle above.

’The sword has hardness and softness. All things can be a sword!’

Gradually, Ling Fei’s Heart Spirit became completely immersed in the Sword Technique.

Inexplicably, his Heart Spirit seemed to sink into the small sword on the page.

A sharp Sword Intent soared to the heavens, piercing straight into his soul.

Before Ling Fei’s eyes, it was as if someone were dancing with a sword, stirring the winds and clouds. The sharp Sword Intent shook him to the core, and he felt as if he had perceived something.

But the feeling was fleeting, and the image quickly dissipated.

Immediately, Ling Fei closed the Sword Technique manual.

This was because the number of times one could comprehend the Sword Technique was limited; it could only be studied three times.

If studied for too long, the Sword Intent within would dissipate.

Then, it would be impossible to ever again perceive that Sword Momentum.

Thus, Ling Fei sat cross-legged on the ground, his eyes tightly shut, searching for the feeling that the Sword Intent had stirred within him just moments ago.

He wanted to grasp something.

He sat like this for a whole day.

After a long time, the sword’s image in Ling Fei’s mind dissipated.

The soaring Sword Intent, the sharp Sword Techniques—all of it faded into nothingness.

Everything returned to zero!

His mind seemed to be a complete blank.

Yet, his heart was incomparably tranquil.

’Only by comprehending the True Meaning of the Sword can one step onto the Sword Dao,’ Ling Fei murmured to himself.

His Heart Spirit was now calm. He was no longer deliberately chasing after that Sword Intent; instead, he was searching for the path of the Sword Dao.

Because Sword Intent was ethereal and could not be pursued.

But a path could be sought.

’For Sword Enlightenment, one must first understand the sword. But how does one understand the sword?’ Ling Fei’s thoughts raced.

’I once comprehended the True Dragon Visualization Image, making my body like a dragon to grasp the True Dragon Momentum. In that case, for Sword Enlightenment, I must also first make my Body Like a Sword. At the very least, I must understand the sword.’

Ling Fei suddenly had an epiphany.

At this thought, his eyes lit up.

’That’s right. If I don’t understand the sword, how can I attain Sword Enlightenment?’ Then, Ling Fei stood up and walked over to the nearby weapons.

He took a sharp sword into his hand.

The sword was very sharp and glinted with a cold light. One look was enough to tell it was a Treasure Sword.

Holding the sharp sword, Ling Fei began to move with it involuntarily.

Although he had never specialized in the Sword Dao, he had practiced various forms of Basic Swordsmanship before.

Techniques like splitting, lifting, hacking, stabbing, and so on.

’The sword is a sharp weapon. It can injure people, but it can also repel enemies. The sword’s cutting edge inspires fear, yet it allows one to stand in an invincible position.’

As Ling Fei practiced with the sword, he fell into deep contemplation.

His Long Sword moved without any set pattern, yet every technique was natural, executed and retracted with perfect ease.

Time quietly passed. ’For a sword to be a sword, it must first possess Sword Momentum, and the Sword Momentum is its cutting edge!’ As his Long Sword danced, Ling Fei gradually came to a new understanding.

’Sword Momentum!’ Suddenly, his heart stirred. ’Yes, it’s Sword Momentum! Only by first understanding Sword Momentum can my Body Like a Sword. It’s just like when I comprehended the True Dragon Visualization Image; I had to first understand the True Dragon Momentum to truly achieve a body like a dragon. Without momentum, how can it be a dragon?’

’Otherwise, it’s merely an empty form.’

Ling Fei’s understanding of this so-called ”momentum” was becoming clearer and clearer.

Without momentum, even a sword is just an empty form.

Therefore, only with momentum can it be a true sword.

If it has no cutting edge, is it still a sword?

’Correct. It must have momentum to truly be called a sword. Otherwise, even if you’re holding a sword that looks sharp, if it lacks the momentum of a cutting edge, how can it be a sword?’ Ling Fei’s conviction solidified; he had clearly reached a preliminary understanding of the True Meaning of the Sword. With that, he stopped his practice and immediately took out the Sword Manual.

With the Sword Manual out, Ling Fei’s Heart Spirit focused on comprehending the sword within its pages.

This time, as his Heart Spirit sank into it, Sword Qi immediately soared to the heavens.

A monstrous Sword Intent surged into Ling Fei’s mind.

The Sword Intent shot to the sky, incomparably sharp, as if someone wielded a sword to slay ten thousand foes, as if someone wielded a sword to shatter all obstacles.

Wherever the sword passed, everything was slain!

That level of Sword Intent deeply shook Ling Fei’s heart.

At the same time, Ling Fei became completely immersed in that Sword Intent.

He was comprehending it, trying to capture that Sword Momentum!

’The sword’s cutting edge slays all. No matter how the Sword Techniques change, they can never be separated from the cutting edge. Only by preserving that edge can one defeat the enemy.’

Ling Fei had an epiphany.

This was only a preliminary insight, and it might have flaws, but it was undoubtedly a huge step forward.

At least, he now had his own True Meaning of the Sword in his heart.

Immediately, Ling Fei closed the Celestial River Sword Technique, picked up his sword, and began to practice again.

This time, his Sword Momentum was clearly much sharper.

After practicing his movements, Ling Fei began to practice a formal set of Swordsmanship.

Back in Longtan Town, Zhang Quan had taught them a set of Basic Swordsmanship called the Lingyun Sword.

This set of Swordsmanship was elegant, like a sword piercing the clouds. Its techniques were unpredictable, emphasizing victory through surprise.

”Lingyun Piercing Cranes!” Ling Fei thrust his sword, the movement incomparably sharp.

...

After practicing for half a day, Ling Fei sheathed his sword.

Now, his attainments in the Sword Dao had grown even deeper.

’This Celestial River Sword Technique truly lives up to its name as the Celestial River Academy’s Institute Martial Arts. To call it a mere Celestial Martial Arts would be an understatement!’

After sheathing his sword, Ling Fei couldn’t help but feel emotional.

This Celestial River Sword Technique was definitely a powerful form of Martial Arts.

However, its upper part only contained the Sword Principle, which was why it was classified as Celestial Martial Arts.

Ling Fei had now comprehended the Celestial River Sword Technique twice. The Sword Intent within was about to dissipate, leaving him with only one more chance to study it.

Therefore, he was in no hurry to use his last chance.

’I’ll comprehend the True Dragon Visualization Image first. The momentum of comprehending the Dao seems to have similarities. If I can improve my understanding of the Mystical Principles of the True Dragon Visualization Image, it will also be a great help in comprehending the Sword Dao. So, the Sword Dao can wait.’ Ling Fei’s thoughts turned as he formulated a plan.

He could comprehend the True Dragon Visualization Image as many times as he wished, and the Mystical Principles within would never dissipate.

But the Celestial River Sword Technique was different. He only had one chance left.

Naturally, he had to cherish it.

With that, Ling Fei continued to comprehend the True Dragon Visualization Image!