Exploring Immortality Cultivation-Chapter 917 - 3: First Attempt at the Ancient Method
[Alliance Hierarch, Additional Update 2/5]
Jia Chenglie is at the Mid-Stage Golden Core, while Lian Xingling has just formed her core, at the Golden Core Early Stage. However, as a Cultivator from the Heavenly Book Tower, all her skills depend on that Heavenly Book. Now, with both sides near, Luochen Sword Palace's Sword Cultivators have the advantage.
If Lian Xingling truly launched a sudden assault, Jia Chenglie might suffer a significant setback.
However, Jia Chenglie appeared unafraid, stepped a pace closer while fanning himself.
Lian Xingling raised her delicate hand, preparing to thrust with a single Linglong Sword Technique. But Lian Xinjie, quick-eyed and swift, grabbed his junior sister, lowering his voice, "Junior Sister! The situation now... isn't right... don't cause unnecessary trouble!"
Lian Xinjie's original intention was to convey, "We are undercover now, don't draw attention." Yet, when Jia Chenglie heard this, he understood it differently. He laughed, "Ah, Brother Lian, you're sensible. Since you are in the position of a criminal, don't cause unnecessary trouble."
Lian Xingling struggled twice, but Lian Xinjie held her tightly. Feeling aggrieved, she eventually had to suppress it.
"Tsk tsk." Jia Chenglie seemed to expect Lian Xinjie or Lian Xingling to attack, shaking his head in regret, "What a pity, what a pity. Brother Lian, a Sword Cultivator should remain proud. With your conduct, how dare you talk about Sword Dao or cultivate the Sword Scripture?"
Lian Xinjie, though filled with rage, showed no response. Ever since he changed his aspirations on the Shenzhou Continent, the sword in his heart was broken, unqualified to be called a "Sword Cultivator."
He was contemplating how to rid himself of these people when something bumped against his leg. Lian Xinjie looked down and was almost startled out of his skin. Wang Qi had pushed Mi towards him, gesturing to "protect her," then drew his longsword, sweeping it horizontally. The sharp wind carried by the sword tip, along with a faint bloody scent, swung toward the Heavenly Book Tower disciples.
"If a fight is needed, I'll do it."
This voice wasn't Wang Qi's original sound. His vocal cords and tongue had undergone slight adjustments, sounding lower, with a hint of hoarseness and stiffness, as if truly not having spoken for a long time.
Lian Xinjie's heart was on the verge of collapse. We two support staff endured so much for this task, why couldn't you, boss, restrain from impulsively rushing forward?
He intended to rush and restrain Wang Qi. Yet, Mi, appearing to obediently cling to Lian Xinjie's clothes, inscribed characters on his waist with her finger.
In Lian Xinjie's heart, Mi was a Great Demon in human form. He couldn't ignore the intentions of this "senior." Luochen Sword Palace's Cultivators are Sword Cultivators, their control over their bodies second only to Martial Cultivators, clearly sensing the Great Demon's conveyed message: "You are a Sword Cultivator, how should you act normally?"
Lian Xinjie's heart trembled. He was not a professionally trained spy, but a temporary defectee. Adding that he was previously a straightforward Sword Cultivator, his temperament was far from that of a professional spy. With a guilty conscience, he responded inappropriately.
In contrast, Wang Qi's reaction was more aligned with a Sword Cultivator's usual conduct.
With dust in the heart, sweep it away with the sword.
When disagreements arise, meet with life and death. This truly reflects the demeanor of a Sword Cultivator.
However, Wang Qi hadn't pondered so deeply. He charged forward because Zhen Chan instructed in his mind, "This person is suspicious. Go test it out."
The boss in the Mahayana couldn't probe these Low-Level Cultivators with Spiritual Sense, hence he needed Wang Qi to explore.
Wang Qi also wanted to uncover why this person, whose Cultivation Technique was tied to his Lifebound Magical Treasure, provoked Lian Xinjie.
Even a fool could tell, his previous provocations were obviously intentional, seemingly to anger Lian Xinjie and Lian Xingling, prompting them to attack.
Wang Qi was too curious, so he simply fulfilled this guy's wish, to see what secrets were hidden within.
Wang Qi thrust out a sword; it was not "quick," nor "urgent," yet extraordinarily "steady," unhurried, poised, leaving ample room for change. It was a highly sophisticated probing attack, "Phoenix Comforting Neck."
Though it was merely a probing sword path, what was Wang Qi's swordsmanship level? Ignoring the mana disparity, he could contend face-to-face even with a Divine Separation Stage expert. At this moment, he had sealed all his Modern Cultivator advantages, yet retained his knowledge and experience in "technique." He utilized this swordsmanship with such prowess, surpassing even Lian Xinjie, a direct disciple of Luochen Sword Palace!
Yet that Heavenly Book Tower disciple lightly shifted his steps, his folding fan gently swaying, precisely colliding with Wang Qi's sword hilt. As the fan surface touched the sword spine, a green glow flickered, some Spell had already unknowingly activated, binding Wang Qi's longsword.
Wang Qi wasn't particularly alarmed. What high-level martial cultivation methods could the Heavenly Book Tower possibly have? Even though Jia Chenglie was at the Mid-Stage Golden Core, his strength still surpassed Wang Qi's, it wouldn't be possible to compensate for the difference in close combat skills. Wang Qi applied pressure with his thumb, causing the long sword to vibrate, continuing to use various sword moves of the Luochen Sword Palace. Jia Chenglie's smile didn't change; although his whole person was moved by Wang Qi's sword momentum, the fan always remained adhered to Wang Qi's long sword. He himself was uninjured, and his footsteps were composed and unhurried.
This is clearly an extremely advanced step technique!
Lian Xinjie was startled. This guy is a cultivator from the Heavenly Book Tower. If it were an escape light or shrinking ground to inches technique, he wouldn't be surprised. But this was actually an advanced force-dissolving step technique?
Meanwhile, the entourage brought by Jia Chenglie was already shouting loudly: "What a Spring and Autumn Step! What a way to avoid the strong and attack the weak! This set of Confucian martial arts from Young Master Jia indeed shows some meaning!"
Simultaneously, Zhen Chan exclaimed in Wang Qi's mind, "The step technique accompanying the Middle Ages Confucian cultivation method 'Spring and Autumn Wind Moon Temple'? No, that's not right, it seems similar but different...there seems to be something else?"
Amidst the exclamations of the crowd, Wang Qi and Jia Chenglie had already tested each other with several moves. Jia Chenglie smiled and said, "'Unstained Snow Technique'? The true inheritance of Luochen Sword Palace! This one indeed seems unfamiliar. I've seen the ten or so direct disciples of Luochen Sword Palace; I wonder where you emerged from?"
Internally, he was considering that this disciple of Luochen Sword Palace seemed to have decent sword skills, but his cultivation level had just entered the Core Formation Stage. If used to sharpen himself, the effect might be even better.
"Too much nonsense." Wang Qi flicked his wrist, and countless fine fragments of sword Qi erupted from the blade. Jia Chenglie's folding fan rolled up, released by the long sword in Wang Qi's hand, and retreated two steps, blocking all the fine fragments of sword Qi. Wang Qi snorted coldly: "You want to use us to sharpen your martial arts true intent? Haha."
The smile on Jia Chenglie's face disappeared for a moment, seemingly surprised that this unfamiliar Luochen Sword Palace Golden Core could instantly see through his plan. However, he quickly smiled again: "Impressive, this brother, it seems you have a sharper eye than Brother Lian over there. Haha, yes, I indeed have stepped into the realm of martial arts, about to condense the 'orthodox of the world' martial arts true intent! The disciples and daughters of the traitorous Lian Family are just right to help me cultivate my inner righteousness and condense my true intent!"
This intention, after all, wasn't an issue to speak of... No, it wasn't without issue. Speaking of such things, it actually strikes a blow to the confidence of these two Luochen Sword Palace disciples, planting a seed of failure in their hearts, also better pleasing the Emperor's Extreme Split Sky Dao.
"So that's how it is. This is why he intentionally provoked and suppressed Lian Xinjie from the start. The issue of Lian Yichen's defection has mostly been exposed. For him, suppressing the betrayers is one of the ways to demonstrate his orthodox identity." Zhen Chan analyzed. "Martial arts true intent also prioritizes martial skill; perhaps there's also his lack of confidence, hence relying on his martial skills to defeat one or two pure martial artists."
Zhen Chan's analysis did not reach the ears of the Lian siblings. Lian Xingling's eyes widened, exclaiming: "This is impossible... Half a year ago, he was just a cultivator who entrusted all his skills to his lifebound magical treasure... How could he possess such powerful physical abilities?"
This doesn't align with the Heavenly Dao?
Jia Chenglie laughed heartily: "This is my method! Take this move, Spring and Autumn Hundred Battles!"
Jia Chenglie appeared extremely arrogant, fearless, as if not putting the Luochen Sword Palace cultivators in his eyes. However, he personally did not show a hint of underestimation, starting with endless palm strikes, seemingly trying to rely on close combat to forcefully suppress the opponent, preventing Wang Qi from combining the various mighty transformations within the Luochen Sword Palace's swordsmanship. As Jia Chenglie's palm strikes followed through, a conception of battlefield slaughter arose, displaying the iron-blooded ambiance of the battleground within the small space. The idea of shields and spears pressed steadily against the opponent.
Amidst the collision of swords and palms, the sound of metallic clashing spread far and wide. Wang Qi only felt as if an ancient battlefield was pressing on him, with countless iron hooves and chariot wheels crushing towards him, the surrounding air felt as though it had solidified, and even his sword techniques developed a hint of sluggishness.
Seeing this scene, Lian Xinjie clenched his fist, anxious at heart, as if contemplating whether to rush over and assist Wang Qi. He knew that this 'Junior Brother Xia', although he used the sword, was fundamentally different from these Ancient Method Practitioners, never considering nurturing some 'inner sword intent'. Under such confrontation, it would be hard to strike down the opponent without attracting suspicion.
Mi Xiaoshou slightly increased her grip. Although this was still nothing to a Core Formation Cultivator, where would Lian Xinjie dare ignore the advice of this 'Great Demon above Transformation'? He immediately ceased his intention to act, also pulling Lian Xingling back.
The group of followers had already cheered, as if their master had already won. Amidst the heated battle between the two, some kind of 'aura' around Jia Chenglie grew stronger, denser. His momentum was like that of an eagle, soaring straight to the high distant sky.
He wasn't wrong. He was just half a step away from merging his will into essence Qi and mana, combining with the martial arts he cultivated, and condensing into Martial Arts Fist Intent.
Every collision between the long sword and bare palm seemed like forging iron, tempering the budding Martial Arts Fist Intent more refined and robust.
—This foolish kid, his swordsmanship isn't weaker than Lian Xinjie's, his sword Qi quite sharp, but his mana is a tier below mine, perfect for honing myself!
The more Jia Chenglie fought, the more exhilarated he became, with an odd sense of confidence gradually growing in his heart.
—I can already defeat sword cultivators solely relying on martial arts!
In an instant, it felt like he had broken through a barrier, his mana circulating smoothly throughout his body, even carrying a faint flavor of warhorse cries and battle roars in his palm.
Right at this moment, a faint blood scent appeared once again.
Wang Qi's ghostly voice entered Jia Chenglie's ear: "Is that all?"
