Chapter 1342: All Wrong

“Yes!”

Shui Qianrou’s scalp tingled instantly, and she almost cried out. She had just told this guy to be careful and absolutely not to anger their teacher, yet upon arrival, he had already grabbed the sword qi protecting the courtyard... Couldn't he just settle down for a moment?

“My apologies... I'll let go right away!”

Zhang Xuan’s mouth twitched, full of embarrassment. He had just arrived at the gate and, seeing a shroud of sword qi, quietly grabbed it, fearing it might harm the woman in front of him... He hadn't realized it was the entrance barrier left by Grandmaster Jian Qinsheng! The sword qi was sharp and could easily injure people. Placing it at the entrance was akin to turning guests away; who would dare to approach? However, it was the owner's prerogative not to welcome others. Tearing down their entrance barrier was certainly rude!

He loosened his grip. The sword qi, which had struggled for a long time, was suddenly released unexpectedly. Like a wild cat abruptly set free, it immediately lost its direction. The stone pillars on the main gate were instantly sliced through, and the gate lintel creaked before crashing to the ground, shaking the earth and raising a cloud of dust.

“This...” Zhang Xuan was dumbfounded. He had only released the sword qi, but he hadn't expected the unreliable thing to slice through the main gate... He had just arrived, and not only had he grabbed their barrier, but he had also demolished their main gate... Wasn't that a bit too impolite? But he... truly hadn't meant to.

Shui Qianrou, for her part, felt her vision go dark. She had repeatedly told him to be careful along the way, and now look... Before even meeting the teacher, he had caused such a commotion. How was she going to explain this?

Before she could even think of how to respond, feeling utterly dismayed, a loud shout echoed from the courtyard. Immediately, seven or eight figures surrounded them.

“Senior Brother Xie, it’s me...” Blushing, Shui Qianrou quickly stepped forward.

“Junior Sister Shui, what happened?” Senior Brother Xie frowned.

“This Master Zhang heard of our teacher’s reputation and wished to pay a visit. It was my carelessness for not informing him about the sword qi beforehand, which led to this incident...” Shui Qianrou explained.

“Teacher’s sword qi is incomparably sharp. Not knowing about it beforehand, yet not being harmed by it and instead collapsing the gatehouse, suggests this friend is also a master swordsman!” Raising his eyebrows, Senior Brother Xie scrutinized Zhang Xuan with his gaze. He appeared to be in his thirties, clad in a long blue robe, holding a long sword, and exuding an astonishing aura. Judging by his cultivation, he had already reached Saint 6-dan, mid-stage Domain realm!

“I’ve studied swordsmanship for a while, but only scratched the surface... The sword qi appeared so suddenly just now that I couldn’t react, which is why it ended up like this. I am truly sorry!” Zhang Xuan hastily said. His purpose in coming was to ask for help, so it was better to be humble. Besides, he had always been modest and low-key.

“No need for apologies. Teacher left this sword qi here to test a visitor's comprehension of sword intent. To be able to detect it beforehand and not be harmed indicates a natural sensitivity to the Way of the Sword and a considerable aptitude!” With a slight smile, Senior Brother Xie nodded. “Let’s go see the teacher!”

“See the teacher?” Zhang Xuan was stunned. This attitude wasn't right! When others saw him demolishing property, their lips would tremble with rage, wishing they could slap him dead... Yet, this person in front of him, far from being angry, was inviting him to meet the Grandmaster of Swordsmanship? Could it be that they were afraid to mention compensation now, lest he run off, so they planned to trick him inside first? Or perhaps... demolishing property was a form of assessment? Many powerful figures had peculiar quirks. Just like Saint Kui, who, despite being merely a remnant soul, still insisted on grinding an iron rod... Perhaps this supposedly rigid Grandmaster of Swordsmanship simply enjoyed having people demolish buildings. If that were truly the case, he would undoubtedly score a hundred percent.

Having deduced this possibility, he turned to look at Shui Qianrou nearby, hoping to find an answer on her face. However, he saw that the girl also wore a bewildered expression, seemingly unaware.

“Never mind, if it’s fortune, it cannot be avoided; if it’s calamity, it cannot be dodged! If it truly is an assessment and I have to demolish this courtyard, it’s no big deal; the place isn’t too large anyway...” After two breaths of deliberation, Zhang Xuan sighed in relief, smiled faintly, and clasped his fist. “Then I shall trouble Senior Brother Xie!” With that, he closely followed Senior Brother Xie into the courtyard.

Teacher Shui Qianrou’s courtyard, situated within the Saint Son Hall, was not large but exquisitely designed. It was enveloped by a formidable array, with sword qi circulating everywhere, seemingly operating according to a specific pattern, giving off a pervasive sense of sword intent. Cultivating here long-term would undoubtedly lead to rapid and significant advancements in one’s comprehension of the Way of the Sword.

His Eye of Insight secretly activated, he carefully observed the array, pinpointing the precise locations of its core and formation center. Knowing that if he truly wished to, he could instantly demolish the entire mansion, leaving no trace, he nodded with satisfaction.

“Senior Brother Xie, what’s going on?” While he was observing, Shui Qianrou hurried up to him, unable to resist asking.

As a disciple of the teacher herself, she only knew that the sword qi at the entrance prohibited unauthorized entry. When had it become a test or an assessment?

“Today, the teacher went to observe the new disciple selection and said there were a few promising talents with a deep understanding of the Way of the Sword. Therefore, he modified the power of the sword qi. If someone could detect it beforehand and not be harmed, it indicates an extreme sensitivity to the Way of the Sword. Should such a person appear, I was to bring them over. You left early this morning, so I didn’t have time to explain in detail...” Senior Brother Xie lowered his voice.

The Saint Son Hall’s selection of new disciples was a significant event, and many elders would observe it to find talents capable of inheriting their legacies. Jian Qinsheng, though somewhat rigid, also wished for the Way of the Sword passed down by his ancestors to continue, and hoped to find promising candidates to nurture.

“I see!” Understanding the situation, Shui Qianrou finally breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the teacher wasn't upset, that was good.

Rounding a garden, a pavilion appeared before them. An elderly man stood within it, holding a long sword, seemingly practicing a martial art.

“Teacher is practicing his sword; let’s wait a moment!” Senior Brother Xie waved his hand.

“Alright!” Stopping, Zhang Xuan carefully observed the elderly man in the pavilion.

His movements were very slow, yet they exuded a sense of grace and expansiveness, much like an elderly person practicing Tai Chi in a park. Each sword stroke seemed to seal off a section of space, making it impossible to dodge, only to face head-on.

“What exquisite swordsmanship...” Zhang Xuan’s eyes narrowed. Although he hadn't learned the Three Spirit Void Swords, having comprehended the True Understanding of the Way of the Sword, he was undeniably a master among masters in swordsmanship. Others might not discern what was being practiced, but he instantly recognized its extraordinary nature.

The old man’s sword movements were slow, yet they contained the most fundamental principles of the Way of the Sword. “It’s actually somewhat similar to the Heaven’s Path Sword Art!” He couldn't help but praise it.

Swordsmanship emphasizes agility and values speed, but during practice, faster movements aren't always better. Fast swords, while difficult to dodge, are a waste of effort if they don't hit the target, no matter how quick. It's like a rogue who hasn't learned martial arts, wielding two knives and slashing wildly. Even if their movements are fast and furious, they pose a threat. But against a true master, a single finger might be enough to lay them low. In combat, speed alone is useless; precision is also required. Without accuracy, no matter how fast one is, the effort is in vain.

The elderly man’s sword movements were slow, seemingly for better demonstration, yet each strike pointed directly to the Grand Dao, causing the air to tremble and seemingly capable of sealing even space. There were indeed many similarities to his Heaven’s Path Sword Art! This kind of swordsmanship, when used against an opponent, had no wasted movements. Once the long sword struck, it would inevitably hit a vital point or force the opponent to defend.

It was precisely for this reason that Zhang Xuan’s sword movements were so terrifying, making him unbeatable against opponents of the same rank and realm.

“However, it’s only similar... still lacking in some aspects!” After his initial shock, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but shake his head. Although these moves bore some resemblance to the Heaven’s Path Sword Art, they were not it! What seemed like a slight difference was, in reality, a world apart. A miss by a hair's breadth is a miss by a thousand miles! If the opponent were to fight him with this swordsmanship, even with the same strength as the puppets in Alley A, Zhang Xuan could easily defeat them! It wasn’t that the swordsmanship was weak... rather, he employed the true Heaven’s Path Sword Art, while the opponent’s was a false imitation. Once they engaged, it would be like the genuine and fake Evil-Warding Sword Manuals, where the imitation would be suppressed everywhere, naturally leading to an inferior outcome.

“Although I don't know if this set of sword techniques belonged to the third Hall Master or if he developed it himself, to achieve this level is already formidable. However... it’s still a great pity!” He sighed inwardly. The Heaven’s Path Sword Art, which he had compiled from countless sword technique manuals, had already reached the realm of profound simplicity. For an ordinary person to comprehend it to such a level, infinitely close, was truly terrifying.

As he was musing, the elderly man in the pavilion stopped his movements, sheathed his sword, and stood firm. His aura was as stable as a mountain, his true qi completely contained, making it impossible to discern anything from his appearance. Had Zhang Xuan not personally witnessed the miraculousness of his swordsmanship, he would have doubted if the old man was merely an ordinary person.

“Young friend, I saw you shaking your head just now. Do you find something amiss with my sword movements?” With a faint smile, the old man looked his way.

“Amiss? Not at all!” Zhang Xuan paused, then said, “They’re probably... all wrong!”