Chapter 2589: Floating Left and Right Blades

Wind Rises in Kyushu

Therefore, Lu Ye possessed sufficient insight to analyze the Blood Eye Dao Mark. Lu Ye's current analysis of this Dao Mark was not for cultivating any pupil technique, but for other considerations. He wanted to maximize the power of the Pan Shan Saber and attempt to integrate this illusion technique into his saber art. In fact, Lu Ye had conceived this idea as early as when he obtained the Blood Eye Dao Mark, but for various reasons, he had been unable to act on it, leaving the matter shelved. He had a vision that, if successful, would allow him to unleash the Pan Shan Saber's power to a much greater extent in future encounters.

He was not the only master of Liao; in the vast starry sky, Liao had served many generations of masters, and some of those predecessors had left their own saber art inheritances within it. Lu Ye had benefited immensely from these inheritances. His current strength far surpassed that of many previous masters, and he naturally qualified to leave his own legacy within Liao. However, when it came to a saber art he could truly call his own... he seemed to have none. Compared to those predecessors, if their cultivation realms were the same, his greatest advantage would merely be faster saber strikes, heavier momentum, and stronger destructive power. However, these were benefits derived from his own profound foundation, not from a specific saber art.

Therefore, Lu Ye had always wanted to develop his own saber art, especially given the current circumstances. The enemies he would face in the future would be increasingly formidable, and often, relying solely on the speed and power of his strikes might not be effective. For instance, in his previous battle against a Law Cultivator at the He Dao realm, the opponent consistently maintained their distance, preventing him from getting close. If he couldn't hit the enemy, then no matter how fast his saber strikes or how powerful their momentum, it would be futile. What he primarily needed to achieve was to land a hit! As long as he could land a hit, everything else would follow.

On the Talent Tree, the basic framework of the Blood Eye Dao Mark remained largely unchanged, but its internal details were in constant flux, with numerous Yin-Yang dualities appearing and disappearing, manifesting and dissolving.

Several days quickly passed.

The Training Hall.

The main structure of the current city was a deserted He Dao city. Back when Lu Ye first arrived in the Inner Realm, he had taken refuge here. Later, Yuan Xi arrived and claimed both the city and Lu Ye as her own. The original owner must have been ambitious, as the city was well-planned during its construction, even including a Training Hall. Consequently, despite its current modest size, the city was fully equipped. The Training Hall was primarily intended for cultivators to spar, though it had never actually been used. Over the years, this city had conquered countless He Dao cities, acquiring vast amounts of resources and materials. Yuan Xi had utilized everything that proved beneficial for the city. Consequently, the current Training Hall was exceptionally sturdy, capable of allowing even He Dao cultivators to engage in full combat without worrying about power leakage.

Fu Wei stood not far from Lu Ye, his face etched with a look of deep grievance. "Senior Brother, what are we doing now?" he asked. Last time, Lu Ye had dragged him over to test the saber, and his proud defenses had proven as fragile as paper under Lu Ye's long blade, which was a significant blow to him. He hadn't expected to be pulled here again today. Lu Ye could even kill He Dao cultivators, and Fu Wei genuinely did not want to face him. Whatever Lu Ye intended, it was unlikely to be a pleasant experience for him.

"Don't worry, it's not a saber test this time," Lu Ye reassured him.

Fu Wei's spirits immediately lifted. "Senior Brother wants to test his own defenses?" If that were the case, he wouldn't hold back! After all, given Lu Ye's strength, there was no way he could harm him, so he naturally had no qualms.

"Not that either!" Lu Ye shook his head.

Fu Wei suddenly tensed, staring at Lu Ye's right hand. "Senior Brother, why are you drawing your saber again?" They had agreed it wasn't a saber test, but Lu Ye's actions contradicted his words.

"Watch closely," Lu Ye said, his long saber already out of its sheath. "No matter how you do it, if you block this strike of mine, I'll give you ten thousand Dao Fish!"

Hearing "ten thousand Dao Fish," Fu Wei's spirits soared once more, but he quickly realized that blocking a strike from Lu Ye with his own abilities was utterly fantastical. His Senior Brother was clearly playing a trick on him. Just then, however, he suddenly noticed that Lu Ye's saber strike wasn't particularly fast; it was something he could clearly perceive and grasp with his own eyes. Furthermore, Lu Ye's descending strike had no special variations; it was simply a straightforward slash.

His sturdy frame tensed, and his already long neck seemed to stretch further in anticipation. He swiftly summoned his second Dao weapon... It was a long sword, and although it was his second Dao weapon, Fu Wei had clearly nurtured it to perfection. Under the activation of his Dao power, sword light surged freely as he raised his hand to block. He was brimming with confidence!

But the next instant, his expression froze, and he turned his head to look to his side. Resting on his shoulder was a black, straight long saber. Even without any Dao power infused, he could still feel its contained sharpness. He turned to Lu Ye. "Impossible! I distinctly blocked that strike!" He truly believed he should have blocked the strike. In his view, not just him, but even an ordinary novice cultivator should have been able to defend against it, as the strike was neither fast nor varied; it was simply a straight attack. Yet, the reality was that Lu Ye's saber rested on his shoulder.

"What did Senior Brother do?" Fu Wei asked, bewildered.

Lu Ye didn't answer. Instead, he quietly reflected on the sensation of his recent strike, secretly pleased that his efforts during this period had finally yielded some results, though it still felt not entirely refined. Fu Wei's inability to spot the flaw was due to his limited perception. The enemies Lu Ye would face were mostly He Dao cultivators, who might not miss such a vulnerability.

"Want to know?" Lu Ye raised an eyebrow.

Fu Wei nodded vigorously, like a chick pecking rice.

Lu Ye sheathed his saber and took two steps back. "Then watch closely!" With that, he unleashed another straight saber strike towards Fu Wei, just as before.

This time, Fu Wei dared not be careless. He focused intently on Lu Ye's saber edge, a glint suddenly appearing in his eyes, and raised his sword to block. A slight weight settled on his shoulder, and Fu Wei's face twitched. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the long saber resting on his shoulder, in the exact same position as before. He had failed to block it again. This time, he had seen it clearly and felt utterly confident he could block the strike, yet the outcome was still a surprise. He could sense that Lu Ye had exerted very little Dao power; in other words, Lu Ye's displayed strength was likely only at the second or third level of the Fusion Dao realm. Yet, even that minimal effort had left him completely defenseless.

"Senior Brother, once more!" Fu Wei said, a hint of disbelief in his voice.

Lu Ye naturally agreed and struck for the third time. This time, Fu Wei's eyes were wide open; furthermore, he activated his Dao power to maximize his visual perception. He truly did manage to discern a subtle anomaly. Lu Ye's saber strike appeared to be a straightforward downward slash with no variations, but when he observed it with his enhanced vision, he discovered it was erratic and elusive. It seemed to come from the left, yet also from the right; no matter how he defended, he couldn't block it. Only when Lu Ye's saber momentum was about to conclude did Fu Wei shout, "This way!" He thrust his sword forward. He thrust into empty air, and for the third time, the Pan Shan Saber rested in the exact same spot.

"What did you see?" Lu Ye asked.

Fu Wei's face was filled with admiration. "Senior Brother, this saber strike is so elusive and ghostly, it's truly impossible to guard against. Your junior brother finds it incredibly difficult to resist. With this strike, I fear even He Dao cultivators would be ensnared. It truly defies creation, profoundly wondrous. Senior Brother, if you don't mind, how about I name it the 'Elusive Left-Right Saber'?"

Lu Ye frowned deeply. "You've already seen the trick..." He turned and walked out. He still needed to continue comprehending and refining it. Only when Fu Wei could no longer discern anything at all would this saber be ready to face formidable enemies.

Fu Wei was left scratching his head in the Training Hall. His flattery had been quite good, so why did Senior Brother look so displeased? Still, as long as he could send Senior Brother away and avoid having to be his saber test subject, he was content. Fu Wei's wish was indeed pleasant, but unfortunately, almost every day thereafter, Lu Ye sought him out and brought him into the Training Hall for a practice session. Consequently, he found himself understanding Lu Ye's saber less and less.

He He Realm, Treasure Artifact Workshop.

This was a shop that had stood in the He He Realm for hundreds of thousands of years. Its owner was an artifact refiner known as the "Divine Craftsman." This Divine Craftsman was also a renowned figure in the Inner Realm. Legend had it that there was nothing in this world he couldn't refine, with the sole exception of supreme treasures. However, the Divine Craftsman had not been seen for many years, and no one knew whether he was alive or dead. Nevertheless, the Treasure Artifact Workshop he founded still existed. Not only was there a main workshop in the He He Realm, but many large He Dao cities in the Inner Realm also housed its branches. It could be said that this establishment had intricate connections with many He Dao cities.

At this moment, Lu Ye stood before the Treasure Artifact Workshop's facade, holding a visiting card. It was hard to imagine that a shop with such an unassuming facade could boast an astonishingly great reputation.

A moment later, on the third floor of the Treasure Artifact Workshop, Lu Ye sat opposite an old man with fiery red hair that seemed to burn like flames. Even from a distance, Lu Ye could feel the heat radiating from him. He was bare-chested, his skin resembling slabs of glowing red rock, and what flowed in his veins seemed to be molten lava. Sparks subtly emerged with each breath he exhaled through his mouth and nose. Lu Ye was genuinely concerned he might accidentally set the place on fire.

"Lotus recommended you?" the old man asked after finishing the visiting card, raising his eyes to Lu Ye.

Lu Ye nodded. "Yes, Pavilion Master Lotus said that among all the artifact masters in the Inner Realm, only Elder Qi's craftsmanship is the most exquisite!"

The reason he had come here was that he wanted to refine something but lacked the proper connections. So he had approached Lotus, who then gave him a visiting card, directing him to this old man.

Elder Qi's silver-bell-like eyes scrutinized Lu Ye from head to toe. "To have that enchantress make an appearance, who are you to her?" he asked.

"Pavilion Master is something of a senior to me," Lu Ye replied.

Elder Qi frowned in thought. After a moment, he casually crumpled the visiting card in his hand, burning it to ash. "Since Lotus recommended you, I'll grant your wish," he said. "What do you want to refine?"

Lu Ye raised his hand and drew the Pan Shan Saber, placing it horizontally on the table before him. "I want to refine a saber sheath!" he declared. His current saber sheath was the one he had refined years ago in the starry sky, long since inadequate for heavy use. However, Lu Ye had never found a suitable replacement and had simply made do, as the sheath was primarily for storing the Pan Shan Saber in daily life, with no significant demands placed on it.