System Possession, One Sword Shocks the Gods

26: Qingyuan Sword TechniqueThe news brought by Murong Bai was like cold raindrops falling on Ye Chen’s heart; however, it failed to extinguish the fighting spirit burning within him, instead stirring up even more turbulent waves.

Lin Hong, Kaiyuan Realm Seventh Level, a powerhouse of the Inner Court. Such an opponent was undoubtedly a towering mountain to Ye Chen, who had just broken through to the Kaiyuan Realm First Layer. However, there was no fear in Ye Chen’s eyes, only a sharpness and calmness like the edge of a sword.

”Three months... time is tight, but it’s not without a chance.”

He did not get angry because of Murong Bai’s contempt or that charity-like Cultivation Technique; instead, his state of mind became even clearer. Others’ gifts always came with shackles; only one’s own strength was the foundation for standing firm.

He did not delay. After a brief period of breath adjustment to completely stabilize his Realm after the Breakthrough, he stood up and headed for the Scripture Pavilion.

The Tianfeng Academy Outer Court Scripture Pavilion was a magnificent seven-story tower with flying eaves and bracket sets, exuding an ancient and weathered Aura. Inside the pavilion, the collection of books was as vast as the sea, covering many categories such as Cultivation Techniques, Martial Skills, Formations, Medicinal Pills, and miscellaneous studies.

Ye Chen showed his identity jade token and, after paying an entry fee of ten points, stepped into the pavilion. A scent of books and an ancient atmosphere washed over him. Rows of tall bookshelves stood like a forest, with many Disciples weaving through them, reading quietly.

He did not stay on the first or second floors. Following the advice of the Outer Court Steward of Tianfeng Academy, he went straight to the third floor. There were significantly fewer Disciples on this floor, the environment was quieter, and the classics on the bookshelves emitted more subtle and powerful Spiritual Qi fluctuations.

After searching for a moment, he found the light-green Jade Slip containing the ”Azure Origin Sword Art” in a relatively remote corner of a bookshelf. The Jade Slip was protected by a soft light shield, with the requirement for exchange marked beside it: three thousand points.

Without the slightest hesitation, Ye Chen pressed his identity jade token into the groove next to the light shield. With a flash of light, three thousand points were deducted from the token, and the protective shield dissipated.

He picked up the cool-to-the-touch Jade Slip and immersed his Divine Sense into it.

Boom!

A massive amount of information flooded into his mind! The complete formulas for the first four layers of the ”Azure Origin Sword Art,” the Spiritual Qi circulation routes, the key points, and several attached basic sword moves were all presented.

Just as the Outer Court Steward of Tianfeng Academy said, this Cultivation Technique was upright and peaceful, with pure and long-lasting Spiritual Qi. It especially focused on the compatibility and nurturing of Sword Intent, making it indeed a High Grade Foundation Establishment technique for a Sword Cultivator. Although it was only Profound Rank High Grade and incomplete with only four layers, its potential was far beyond what the ”Basic Qi Guiding Art” could compare to.

Ye Chen did not leave immediately. He found a quiet corner on the third floor of the Scripture Pavilion, sat down cross-legged, and began to comprehend.

He did not completely copy the circulation of the formulas in the Jade Slip. With the System’s ”Deep Analysis” function and the insights of a Sword Sovereign from his previous life, what he needed to do was understand its essence and then... optimize it!

”System, Deep Analysis of ’Azure Origin Sword Art’, and attempt to perform Fusion and deduction with ’Basic Qi Guiding Art’ (System Improved Version) to find the optimal cultivation path,” Ye Chen commanded in his heart.

[Instruction received. Beginning Deep Analysis of ’Azure Origin Sword Art’... Analyzing...]

[Analysis complete. Beginning comparison, Fusion, and deduction with the host’s existing Cultivation Technique...]

[Deduction in progress... Estimated time: 12 double-hours.]

In his mind, the circulation routes, Spiritual Qi characteristics, and pros and cons of the two Cultivation Techniques were analyzed and dismantled by the System in an extremely detailed manner, then tried in the most optimal combination.

Ye Chen was immersed in this deep level of realization, completely unaware of the passage of time in the outside world.

Twelve double-hours later.

[Deduction complete! Generated a new optimized Cultivation Technique: Qingyuan Sword Foundation (Temporary Name).]

[Technique Grade: Profound Rank High Grade (Possesses the potential to grow to Earth Rank).]

[Technique Characteristics: Spiritual Qi purity increased by 50%, Spiritual Qi recovery speed increased by 30%, compatibility with Sword Intent increased by 80%, and impact force against the Kaiyuan Realm barrier enhanced. Circulation routes optimized, efficiency increased by 25%.]

It’s done!

Ye Chen was excited. Although the core of this optimized ”Qingyuan Sword Foundation” was still the ”Azure Origin Sword Art,” the circulation routes were more efficient, the Spiritual Qi was purer and more condensed, and especially the compatibility with Sword Intent had reached a staggering height—it was almost tailor-made for him!

He immediately began the first circulation according to the optimized route.

”Buzz!”

Inside the Dantian, the originally steadily flowing Spiritual Qi, guided by the new cultivation route, seemed to have found a wider riverbed, and its surging speed suddenly accelerated! The surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi was drawn in, forming a small vortex that poured into his body, quickly being refined into pure and long-lasting green Spiritual Qi.

The quality of this newborn Spiritual Qi far exceeded the previous one, carrying an endless resilience. As it circulated, it not only nourished the Meridians but also faintly resonated with the Sword Intent in his Divine Soul, as if they were breathing together.

After running only one Major Cycle, Ye Chen felt that his cultivation had stabilized significantly, and his control over Spiritual Qi had become more proficient.

”Excellent technique!” He opened his eyes, a green light flashing through them.

He did not continue to Cultivate but got up and left the Scripture Pavilion. He had obtained the Cultivation Technique; what he needed next was resource accumulation and practical combat tempering. Working behind closed doors was not the best strategy.

Returning to the Ding-Character Courtyard, Ye Chen began to take stock of the gains from the bandit suppression.

In the identity jade token, the mission rewards for wiping out the Black Wind Stockade had already been issued—a full one thousand five hundred points! Adding the remaining one hundred from before, as well as the approximately five hundred points converted from Hei Sha’s Storage Pouch (he had exchanged some unused Medicinal Pills and Materials), his current points reached two thousand one hundred.

And the five thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones in Hei Sha’s Storage Pouch were a huge sum of money!

”I’m not short on resources for now; next, it’s time to go all out and improve!”

He formulated a detailed cultivation plan: during the day, he would Cultivate the ”Qingyuan Sword Foundation,” accumulate Spiritual Qi, and polish his sword techniques; at night, he would enter the Myriad Worlds Sword Tomb to absorb Sword Intent fragments and monitor the Fusion progress of the ”sword intent furnace”; at the same time, every few days, he would take on some high-difficulty hunting or combat missions to temper himself in life-and-death struggles.

Time flew by during the intense cultivation.

Seven days later, the ”sword intent furnace” in his mind emitted a slight hum.

[Sword Intent Fusion complete!]

[Obtained a new Sword Intent embryonic form: Flowing Wind Fleeting Shadow (Elementary).]

[Effect: Greatly increases sword-striking speed and movement agility; sword move trajectories become even more unpredictable, containing the swiftness of ’Wind’ and the craftiness of ’Shadow’.]

A new realization surged into his heart, and Ye Chen’s understanding of ”Wind” and ”Speed” suddenly deepened. He tried to perform the ”Wind Shadow Sword Art,” and the sword light became faster while his figure became more ethereal, as if he had truly turned into a fleeting shadow and flowing wind. The power increase was significant!

”Not bad!” Ye Chen nodded with satisfaction. This ”sword intent furnace” was indeed miraculous!

He continued to put in different Sword Intent fragments for Fusion. Although there were a few failures that caused some Sword Intent realizations to weaken, overall, the gains were huge. Under this constant Fusion and optimization, his ”Wind Shadow Sword Art” gradually broke away from its embryonic form and began to form a set of powerful sword skills unique to him, combining swiftness, ferocity, craftiness, and even a hint of destruction Concept.

One month later, after consuming a large amount of Spirit Stones and Medicinal Pills and experiencing more than a dozen life-and-death practical battles, Ye Chen’s cultivation steadily rose to the Kaiyuan Realm First Layer Peak! He was only one step away from the Second Layer!

And his ”Wind Shadow Sword Art” had officially entered the ”Consummate” level! When performed, the sword light was like a waterfall and his figure like a ghost, with power comparable to a Profound Rank Medium Grade sword skill!

On this day, he had just returned from the Myriad Beast Mountain Range after completing a mission to hunt a Second-Order Peak Yao Beast, still carrying a hint of Evil Qi that had not yet dissipated.

Outside the courtyard gate, a transmission Talisman turned into a stream of light and flew in.

Ye Chen reached out and caught it, scanning it with his Divine Sense. It was an official notice issued by the Outer Court Deacon Hall:

”The Outer Court Minor Competition will be held in two months. Specific rules and rewards will be announced in half a month. All Outer Court Disciples can sign up to participate.”

Ye Chen crushed the Talisman, his eyes as sharp as swords.

”Is it finally coming...”

He felt the surging power within his body and the joyful humming of the qingfeng sword at his knees.

Lin Hong, Inner Court Genius? Kaiyuan Realm Seventh Level?

He wanted to see how much these two months of hard cultivation could close the gap between him and this so-called Genius!