Chapter 1874: Swordsmanship

**Mortal Realm**

“Since you put it that way, fellow Daoist,” Qin Sang said, “this humble Daoist will shamelessly visit True Master Zuo more often from now on. Well, as the saying goes, ‘keep in touch,’ haha…”

Qin Sang chuckled to himself as he spoke.

True Master Zhijian also smiled and shook his head. “Do you, fellow Daoist, perhaps think that True Master Zuo treats you differently because of his connection with me, this humble Daoist? A Great Master’s discerning eye is like a torch, seeing clearly every minute detail. How could their judgment be swayed by outsiders? Since True Master Zuo is trying to win you over, it only proves that your abilities are strong enough to gain the Great Master’s recognition and esteem. You must not underestimate yourself.”

Qin Sang took a sip of wine and said, “I won’t underestimate myself, but it’s undeniable that my acquaintance with True Master Zuo, and his willingness to help me in times of peril, is also related to you, fellow Daoist…”

As he spoke, Qin Sang briefly described his joint battle with True Master Zuo against the Demon King seven years ago, objectively detailing his strength and the role he played.

Before this, every time Qin Sang returned to Star Island Immortal Lake, he would conceal his true cultivation level.

After obtaining the *Poison God Scripture*, Qin Sang’s cultivation speed could be described as astonishing. He wasn’t afraid of True Master Zhijian knowing, but rather that the information might reach the Daoist Court and draw the attention of those with ulterior motives.

Qin Sang understood the principle that “a tree taller than the rest of the forest will be toppled by the wind.” As a rogue cultivator with no backing, he had to be cautious in everything he did.

After the battle at Zhitan, it was no longer possible to keep it hidden. However, his strength and background were now vastly different from before.

Qin Sang speculated that after the Zhitan incident, True Master Zuo must have contacted True Master Zhijian to inquire about his background.

True Master Zhijian probably already knew.

As expected, after listening to Qin Sang’s account, True Master Zhijian showed no particular surprise. He gently swirled the wine in his cup and feigned astonishment, saying, “As the saying goes, ‘one should look at a person with new eyes after three days of separation.’ This humble Daoist has only been in seclusion for a few years, yet not only has the outside world undergone dramatic changes, but an old friend has also soared to prominence, almost making me unable to recognize him! Fellow Daoist possesses the ability to slay a Demon King, so you must have thoroughly understood the Chengying Sword and gained enlightenment in the Way of the Sword. Do you still remember our agreement from back then? There’s no time like the present, and the moonlight is perfect. Why don’t we discuss the Way of the Sword tonight!”

Qin Sang felt helpless. True Master Zhijian clearly knew what he wanted to ask, yet he pretended to be confused and kept changing the subject. It seemed there was something he couldn’t speak of.

Since True Master Zhijian was unwilling to speak, Qin Sang did not press the matter. He drained his cup and said, “To wield a sword before you, fellow Daoist, this humble Daoist needs some preparation. Could you wait for me for another year?”

Qin Sang had not forgotten his agreement with True Master Zhijian and had always looked forward to it.

However, he currently didn’t have a suitable spirit sword at hand.

The Gray Oriole Sword’s rank was insufficient. The Wandering Cloud Sword was currently absorbing Adamantite Fruit, and he estimated it would be completed soon.

“Alright, let’s set it for a year from now!”

True Master Zhijian nodded, raised his cup in accompaniment, picked up the wine pot, shook it, and refilled both their cups.

Unknowingly, it was already deep into the night.

The two conversed about everything under the sun, discussing ancient and modern times, and departed thoroughly content.

Six months later.

In his cave abode.

Qin Sang was meditating with his eyes closed when he suddenly felt something, and silently activated a sword art. Instantly, sword light filled the room.

A shimmering sword light hovered before Qin Sang, revealing the clear and translucent Wandering Cloud Sword.

It looked largely the same as before, but the blue light emanating from the spirit sword seemed somewhat richer.

However, Qin Sang could perceive that the Wandering Cloud Sword’s blade was now virtually indestructible, thanks to the Adamantite Fruit.

After its spirit embryo was born and it advanced to a Spirit Treasure, the Wandering Cloud Sword’s speed in absorbing spirit wood far surpassed what it was before.

Both Adamantite Fruits had been absorbed by the Wandering Cloud Sword. Counting from the day it began absorbing them, seven years had passed to the present, but the actual time spent absorbing them was only three years in total.

Between absorbing the two Adamantite Fruits, Qin Sang spent a few years comprehending the changes brought about by the Adamantite Fruits, causing a delay.

Qin Sang kept his eyes closed, using his spiritual sense to perceive his Natal Spirit Sword. A moment later, he murmured, “So it is…”

After absorbing the first Adamantite Fruit, Qin Sang discovered that the spirit embryo’s changes were not significant after the absorption.

The second one was no different.

This showed that absorbing spirit wood could only enhance the spirit sword itself and increase its power, but it could not accelerate the Wandering Cloud Sword’s transformation by accumulating more spirit wood.

The key to a Spirit Treasure’s transformation into an Acquired Spirit Treasure lay in its spirituality, specifically the nurturing of a tool spirit within the spirit embryo.

Qin Sang had also learned this when consulting Master Gu.

Regarding the nurturing of spirituality, a Natal Spirit Treasure, cultivated intrinsically with its master and sharing a bloodline connection, possessed unparalleled advantages over other Spirit Treasures.

However, to keep a Natal Spirit Treasure pure and prevent a rift from appearing between it and its master, some forging secret arts that use external forces to catalyze spirituality could not be roughly applied to a Natal Spirit Treasure and required careful discernment.

Qin Sang hadn’t learned many secret arts. For now, he could only rely on nurturing the Wandering Cloud Sword himself.

He opened his eyes. The Wandering Cloud Sword slightly rotated its blade, its tip pointing directly at Qin Sang’s eyes.

At that moment, Qin Sang’s pupils involuntarily contracted. He felt the blade was extraordinarily sharp, so much so that it caused a stinging sensation, and he couldn’t help but inwardly praise it.

Six months later, the agreed-upon date arrived.

Northern region of Star Island Immortal Lake.

This place had become increasingly desolate and quiet. Cultivators scrambled to flee into the inner lake to escape disaster, some even relocating their entire sects, bringing along families and mortals affiliated with their sects.

Mortals with connections were also fleeing south. Those who remained could only resign themselves to fate.

Island after island turned into desolate land. Although traces of past prosperity could still be seen, they were long since deserted.

Two figures flew through the wind; they were Qin Sang and True Master Zhijian.

Their flight continued northward without pause. Signs of human habitation became increasingly rare the further north they flew, until only desolation filled their sight.

Upon reaching an open expanse of water, True Master Zhijian descended his flight, flicked his finger, and sent a sword shadow whistling forth. A moment later, it returned, and he nodded slightly, saying, “There’s no one within a thousand *li* radius. This spot will do.”

“Alright!”

Qin Sang landed a thousand *zhang* in front of True Master Zhijian, his feet touching the water’s surface, rising and falling with the gentle ripples.

The two exchanged a distant bow across the water.

Qin Sang formed a sword incantation with his fingers, and a beam of sword light shot out from between his eyebrows. The sword emerged like a dragon.

Provoked by the sword energy, great waves immediately surged before Qin Sang.

The Wandering Cloud Sword circled once above Qin Sang’s head, transforming into a startling rainbow that shot straight into the sky. Its hum was like thunder, shaking everything in all directions.

There were no islands or reefs nearby, but there was no lack of life in the water. Upon hearing the thunderous sound, even ordinary un-enlightened fish and shrimp instinctively felt fear and fled the area in droves.

The birds in the sky dared not fly over this body of water.

“Good sword!”

True Master Zhijian’s gaze followed the Wandering Cloud Sword, his eyes shining with admiration as he praised it loudly.

The next moment, he flicked his sleeve, and a silver light shot out, transforming into a three-foot azure blade that hovered inverted before True Master Zhijian.

Qin Sang had seen this sword before. It was the same sword True Master Zhijian had used when Qin Sang first met him in the Star Valley Grotto.

Back then, this sword was merely a pseudo-Spirit Treasure. Now, it had become a genuine Spirit Treasure. At some point, two seal script characters, ‘Wenxin’ (Inquiry Heart), had been inscribed on its blade.

But Qin Sang knew that this was not True Master Zhijian’s strongest spirit sword.

Qin Sang asked curiously, “Why aren’t you using that sword?”

The sword he referred to was the sheatheless spirit sword in True Master Zhijian’s cave abode, which was entirely wrapped in white cloth strips inscribed with talismans.

That sword had left a deep impression on Qin Sang when he first saw it, making him curious about its true form.

True Master Zhijian knew what Qin Sang was asking and replied, “That sword, I cannot fully control it either, so I left it in my cave abode.”

Qin Sang nodded. Seeing that the Wenxin Sword hovering before True Master Zhijian remained still, he didn’t stand on ceremony. With a slight shift of his thoughts, a clear, ringing sword hum echoed from the sky, accompanied by incessant whooshing sounds.

“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”

The sound of swords whistling resonated throughout heaven and earth.

True Master Zhijian looked up. What he saw was a scene of ten thousand sword energies obscuring the sky. Sword shadows, seemingly real yet illusory, and sword energy like rain, covered the entire body of water.

The surroundings had already transformed into a forest of swords, with nowhere to dodge.

“Fellow Daoist, behold my sword!”

True Master Zhijian lightly exclaimed.

The Wenxin Sword lightly trembled. Its blade turned, its tip pointing skyward. In an instant, it vanished.

Qin Sang’s face showed surprise. The moment the Wenxin Sword disappeared, he actually lost all perception of it.

Only by using his Celestial Eye divine ability could he see a sword shadow moving against the myriad sword energies, rising against the tide.

But just as the sword shadow was about to collide with the sword energy, his Celestial Eye Butterfly also lost track of the Wenxin Sword.

“Clang!”

A sword hum, distinctly different from that of the Wandering Cloud Sword, suddenly rang out.

The sound was not loud, and compared to the whistling of sword energy, it could be called faint, yet it was clearly audible.

At this moment, the whistling of swords seemed to be suppressed by this sword hum.

Immediately after, golden sword glows suddenly emerged in mid-air. Their number was comparable to the sword energies descending from the sky, and each point of sword glow corresponded precisely to a single strand of sword energy.

Tens of thousands of sword energies and tens of thousands of sword glows collided almost simultaneously, as if heaven and earth were crashing into each other.

“Boom!”

Dark clouds gathered in the sky.

Gigantic waves surged in the lake.

Blinding sword light erupted between the water and the sky, as if it had turned into a lightning domain, making it impossible to see. Both their figures were submerged by the sword light.

Two distinct yet equally formidable and terrifying sword intents instantly swept across all directions.

Fortunately, this was an open expanse of water. Had it been on land, the power of a single strike might have already caused mountains to collapse and rivers to cease flowing!

At this moment, Qin Sang was surrounded by chaotic sword intent. In his eyes and heart, there was only the sword. As his thoughts stirred, just as he was about to change his move, a sword hum suddenly resonated in his mind.

This ‘sword hum’ was not an actual sound, but a divine ability he had gained from comprehending the Chengying Sword. As the saying goes, ‘the sword rises from the heart field,’ and it would immediately warn him if it detected any killing intent directed at him.

A strong warning sign surged in Qin Sang’s heart. Without hesitation, he recalled the Wandering Cloud Sword.

“Whoosh!”

In an instant, a sword rainbow descended from the sky, tearing through the air to arrive, and slashed into the void beside Qin Sang.

Only a ‘clang’ was heard, and a sword shadow was cut out by the Wandering Cloud Sword before it could even act. It was the Wenxin Sword.

“Not bad!”

True Master Zhijian, from afar, nodded slightly and praised aloud, seemingly having seen through the reason for the Wenxin Sword’s exposure at a glance.

The Wenxin Sword trembled lightly and returned without success. It did not entangle with the Wandering Cloud Sword, but instead shot back as a beam of sword light.

Qin Sang stared at the Wenxin Sword, but couldn’t discern how it had vanished or why it could appear silently beside him. Knowing that such entanglement would be disadvantageous, he no longer hesitated and immediately changed his sword art.

The sword array emerged!

The sky darkened and the earth grew dim. Then, suddenly, stars shone in the sky. Sword-stars hung in the air, one by one. The lake water beneath their feet disappeared.

At this moment, both of them seemed to have been pulled into the void, drifting in a river of stars.

This time, it was Qin Sang who vanished. His true body merged into a sword-star, and he secretly divided into seven sword souls.

Each sword soul entered one of the seven constellations, each presiding over a constellation. With the power of a single person, he evolved the sword array.

True Master Zhijian stood still in his original position, not moving an inch, allowing himself to be drawn into the sword array.

At this moment, his position was precisely at the center of the sword array. He looked up at the sword-stars, his gaze profound, as if he were deducing something.

Naturally, Qin Sang could not allow him to break the sword array, so he immediately activated it.

True Master Zhijian was located in the Pleiades constellation. The sword-star of the Pleiades constellation was the first to light up. Beams of starlight, like pouring rain, crashed towards True Master Zhijian.

At the same time, the other six constellations also shimmered with starlight, striking from afar.

The starlight was sword light.

Locked onto by the starlight and simultaneously facing a terrifying sword momentum, True Master Zhijian’s expression remained unchanged. The Wenxin Sword before him suddenly trembled violently. A supremely powerful sword intent burst forth, causing the sword momentum pressing upon him to shatter one after another.

“Whoosh!”

The spirit sword slashed against the heavens!

The first beam of starlight intersected with the Wenxin Sword. It was surprisingly solid, first freezing, then shattering inch by inch.

True Master Zhijian held one hand behind his back, and with his other hand, he formed an incantation gesture, pointing at the void.

The Wenxin Sword suddenly split into two, one solid, one illusory; one bright, one dim. They rotated around each other, spinning faster and faster.

Eventually, both Wenxin Swords disappeared, replaced by a constantly rotating Yin-Yang symbol.

Sword intent transformed into Yin and Yang.

The subsequent starlight, as it descended, seemed to be pulled by some sort of suction, falling into the Yin-Yang symbol one after another.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

Dull thuds continuously rang out. The Yin-Yang symbol vibrated ceaselessly, but it never collapsed.

At the same time, Qin Sang noticed that his sword array was also being subtly affected, and he couldn’t help but be secretly astonished.

Although he was only at the Mid-stage Nascent Soul, relying on the Wandering Cloud Sword and the sword array, using only sword techniques, even Late-stage Nascent Soul experts would have to face him with caution.

Even a powerful being like Spirit You King, though unafraid of the Seven Mansions Sword Array, would not find it easy to break the array.

Unexpectedly, before True Master Zhijian, after only a few breaths, the opponent seemed to have found a countermeasure.

One must know that True Master Zhijian’s cultivation was comparable to his own, also at the Mid-stage Nascent Soul.

“Is the gap between me and True Master Zhijian in the Way of the Sword really this vast?”

Qin Sang immediately felt a sense of ‘showing off one’s axe before Lu Ban’s gate,’ but he wasn’t disheartened, as he hadn’t yet unleashed the full power of the sword array.

“Rumble…”

Waves rippled.

Viewed from outside the sword array, the entire body of water was shrouded in an indistinct aura, as if it had been cut off from heaven and earth.

However, this place was not peaceful. Vibrations continuously emanated from within, shaking heaven and earth.

This confrontation lasted for about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, and the scene within the sword array remained unchanged.

The Yin-Yang symbol floated above the stars, spinning on its own.

Qin Sang had almost exhausted all the variations of his sword array, but he could not break through it, much less harm True Master Zhijian.

“Buzz!”

Suddenly, the stars of the Seven Mansions vibrated in unison. An unprecedentedly dense starlight illuminated the star-sea.

A fierce beast was born within the star-sea, formed from star malevolence. It let out a thunderous roar and lunged downwards!

“The Western Sacred Beast…”

For the first time, a solemn expression appeared on True Master Zhijian’s face. He murmured in a voice Qin Sang could hear, “This array imitates the stars of heaven and earth, profound and extraordinary. It’s only a pity that it only contains the Western Seven Mansions. If all the stars of the entire cosmos could be incorporated into the array, allowing the Four Symbols to be complete, the Three Enclosures to appear, and the Nine Luminaries to shine together, it would truly be a peerless sword array!”

Upon hearing this, Qin Sang was slightly startled. True Master Zhijian seemed to have a deeper meaning in his words. There was no time to ponder it now. He fully unleashed the White Tiger Sacred Beast to charge towards the Yin-Yang symbol!