Chapter 132: Innate Tai Xuan Gong

To go beyond the realm of basic sword arts was an extraordinary, almost impossible feat. Qin Mu understood the difficulty of this profoundly.

All sword techniques in the world, no matter how complex, varied, or innovative, could be broken down into a few fundamental movements: thrusting, lifting, clouding, chopping, cleaving, pointing, smashing, hanging, scooping, wiping, sweeping, parrying, intercepting, and flowering.

Even the most astonishing new sword arts were simply combinations of these basic forms.

However, National Master Yan Kang was different; he had added new fundamental sword techniques to these existing basic ones!

How terrifying was that?

Qin Mu didn't know how many new basic sword techniques he had added, but even one would require every existing sword art to be rewritten and redeveloped. Otherwise, in National Master Yan Kang's eyes, they would all be riddled with flaws!

"He could be called a god..." Qin Mu murmured, suppressing the shock in his heart.

Qu Ping's Grand Six-Directions Sword Art was truly magnificent and awe-inspiring, possessing immense power that was beyond belief! Qin Mu had encountered several Divine Ability practitioners at the Six-Directions realm in the Great Ruins, but none were as formidable as Qu Ping.

For students of the Imperial College, the leap from the Five-Elements realm to the Six-Directions realm was immense, representing astonishing progress!

While Five-Elements realm students were strong, they weren't extraordinarily so. In Qin Mu's opinion, none of the Imperial College students in that realm could stand against him.

However, Divine Ability practitioners at the Imperial College, even those who had just advanced to the Six-Directions realm, were incredibly powerful!

The Six-Directions realm brought about a truly transformative change.

As Qin Mu was pondering this, Daoist Lin Xuan's horsetail whisk suddenly floated up from his elbow. Its silken strands rapidly extended, gathering together to meet Qu Ping's Grand Six-Directions Sword thrust.

Qu Ping's Grand Six-Directions Sword was not encompassed by basic sword arts. In contrast, Daoist Lin Xuan, using his whisk as a sword, displayed clear, distinct moves rooted in fundamental sword techniques.

His sword art lacked the grandiosity of the Grand Six-Directions Sword, but in Qin Mu's eyes, it revealed something extraordinary.

"Qu Ping is certain to lose. Daoist Lin Xuan will probably defeat him in one move."

He had learned sword arts from the village chief, mastering only the "Sword Treading Mountains and Rivers" move, with the rest being basic techniques. Yet, his discernment already surpassed that of countless sword masters.

Daoist Lin Xuan's sword strike also appeared simple, seemingly just a thrust towards Qu Ping's cleaving Grand Six-Directions Sword Art. However, each individual strand of the whisk was like a slender sword, and these slender swords were infinitely variable!

There were far too many variations!

Qin Mu opened his Divine Firmament Heavenly Eye and Azure Firmament Heavenly Eye, his heart shaking. The hundred-odd strands of Daoist Lin Xuan's whisk each changed forms over a dozen times in an instant. This meant that in every single instant, his moves varied over a thousand times!

Such a multitude of variations made it impossible to defend against!

Qu Ping's Grand Six-Directions Sword Art, however, lacked such variations. Although the sword light within his sword pillar was more numerous, it mostly relied on a single type of winding sword form, rotating concentrically and progressing layer by layer.

When confronted by Daoist Lin Xuan's whisk-as-sword, it would undoubtedly be shattered.

Furthermore, Qin Mu noticed that Daoist Lin Xuan's fundamental skills were remarkably solid, nearly on par with his own. Among all the Divine Ability practitioners and martial artists Qin Mu had encountered so far, Daoist Lin Xuan's mastery of basic sword arts was the strongest. Although he was slightly inferior to Qin Mu, the difference wasn't significant.

Even the Hall Master of the Sword Hall, despite receiving instruction from Qin Mu, would still be a little less skilled than Daoist Lin Xuan.

The most crucial point was this: although Qu Ping's sword art incorporated new fundamental sword techniques created by the National Master, Qu Ping's basic skills had not reached their peak; his foundation was unstable. No matter how exquisite the sword art, an unstable foundation would prevent its full power from being unleashed.

Cling, cling, cling, cling—

Countless dense clanging sounds erupted. The onlookers only managed to see the individual whisk strands collide with the magnificent sword pillar before the pillar disintegrated in mid-air, ceasing to exist. Only a select few could discern the instantaneous changes in both combatants' sword arts.

Qu Ping was struck in the chest by the whisk and slammed with a thud against the mountain gate. The gate creaked, and wisps of dust drifted down.

Daoist Lin Xuan gently flicked his whisk. The strands shortened, resting once more on his elbow, and he calmly sat down, his gaze fixed on his nose, completely composed.

Meanwhile, Qu Ping slid down from the mountain gate. His chest was riddled with bloody holes, pierced by the whisk strands. Daoist Lin Xuan had still refrained from a killing blow; each strand had avoided his vital organs when it penetrated his body, sparing his life.

Several imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Office rushed over, giving Qu Ping several spiritual pills. They then tore open his clothes and applied medicinal paste to the wounds on his chest and back, staunching the bleeding.

"So strong!"

Behind the mountain gate, the many Imperial College students felt their hearts sink. Qu Ping was by no means an unknown figure among the Divine Ability realm students; on the contrary, he was a high-ranking individual.

The Imperial College not only held entrance exams but also an annual student examination to determine rankings, using them to motivate students to strive for academic progress. Qu Ping ranked within the top hundred among Divine Ability practitioners at the Imperial College.

Being in the top hundred generally meant comparable strength, yet Qu Ping's defeat in a single move indicated a significant disparity between his strength and that of Daoist Lin Xuan.

This was the most frightening aspect.

Suddenly, the Second Prince's voice echoed in everyone's ears: "Those who cannot discern the changes in their sword moves had best not step onto the stage."

This statement was a huge blow to the Imperial College students, as most present had failed to perceive the intricate changes in Qu Ping's and Daoist Lin Xuan's moves.

Daoist Lin Xuan's sword art, in particular, was profound; as the Daoist Heir of the Dao Sect, his swordsmanship was hidden within the transformations of the whisk's strands. If one couldn't even discern the changes in his sword art, stepping up would only lead to self-humiliation.

Beside Shen Wanyun, Yun Que whispered, "Senior Brother, did you discern the changes in that Daoist Heir's sword art?"

Yue Qinghong also hurried over, eager to hear Shen Wanyun's opinion. Shen Wanyun hesitated, then said, "I could see his move variations using my Heavenly Eye Insight, but I couldn't decipher them..."

Yue Qinghong chuckled, "Senior Brother, if you were to step forward, that young Daoist would surely seal off his Six-Directions Divine Treasure to fight you, as most of his cultivation lies there. Without the Six-Directions Divine Treasure's cultivation, he wouldn't be able to execute such exquisite sword art!"

Shen Wanyun pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "I need to wait longer and see if I can spot any flaws. Qin Mu is nearby; let's go ask for his insights."

The three approached Qin Mu. Shen Wanyun asked, "Junior Brother Qin, do you think you can defeat this Daoist Heir of the Dao Sect?"

Qin Mu hesitated, then replied, "If it's a battle at the mountain gate and he seals his Six-Directions Divine Treasure, then my chances of winning are fifty-fifty."

"Boasting!"

Yue Qinghong sneered, "What grand boasts! If your chances are fifty-fifty, doesn't that mean you're stronger than a Divine Ability practitioner at the Six-Directions realm?"

Fox Spirit pointed at the woman, her face full of surprise. "Young Master, this is the girl you slammed back-to-back into the bronze pillar! I recognize her face!"

Yue Qinghong was mortified and enraged; this fox was simply abominable.

Shen Wanyun's eyes flickered. "What if it's not a straightforward battle in front of the mountain gate, Junior Brother? What then are your chances of winning?"

Qin Mu replied frankly, "A hundred percent. In a fight to the death, with no holds barred, he wouldn't stand a chance. Frankly, I'm very strong."

Shen Wanyun's heart skipped a beat, and his eyebrows twitched. He began secretly calculating his own chances if he were to encounter Qin Mu in a life-or-death battle.

Yun Que chuckled, "Junior Brother Qin, your words are a bit too boastful..."

"Young Master, this monk is the one you knocked out with a single punch!"

Fox Spirit pointed at Yun Que in surprise. "It's this bald head! I remember this head! Monk, your clothes are still with the Young Master. How much do you plan to pay to get them back?"

Yun Que's smile froze. He retorted awkwardly, "For a monastic, wealth is merely an external possession. I don't have the money right now; I'll redeem them when I do..."

"So, after all that, you're still a poor monk."

Fox Spirit lost interest in him. "You'd better hurry, or the Young Master will pawn your clothes."

As they were speaking, another Divine Ability practitioner emerged from the mountain gate. He had a distinguished bearing and a respectable appearance. He stepped forward to greet the two Daoists guarding the gate and said, "I am Kun Ziyu, Captain of the Zhenwei Guard. May I request the Daoist Heir's guidance? I am in the Seven-Stars realm, and I have sealed my Seven-Stars Divine Treasure."

Daoist Lin Xuan rose and returned the greeting. "Please, Senior Brother Kun."

Shen Wanyun's eyes immediately lit up. "Kun Ziyu, Captain of the Zhenwei Guard! He's back from the border too!"

Wei Yong quickly asked, "Senior Brother, how capable is this Kun Ziyu?"

Shen Wanyun did not answer. Yue Qinghong, who was beside him, said, "We Imperial College students are all eighth-rank officials, while a Captain of the Zhenwei Guard is a sixth-rank official. Senior Brother Kun's sixth-rank official status was earned through battles at the border. You can imagine his strength! He ranked in the top ten of the Imperial College's last Divine Ability practitioner examination!"

Wei Yong was filled with reverence. "To fight on the battlefield, earn fame, and rise to the sixth rank—these are truly remarkable individuals!"

Qin Mu didn't know much about this, so he inquired. Shen Wanyun explained, "Imperial College students descend the mountain every year for training, accompanied by the Directorate of Imperial Academies. Most go to the border, some to the Great Ruins, and others to the Heavenly Works Department. If they perform meritorious service, they receive promotions and titles. Many students at the Imperial College are sixth-rank officials, and some are even fifth-rank!"

Qin Mu marveled; Yan Kang Nation was cultivating officials!

Upon graduating from the Imperial College, students could immediately be assigned practical roles, serving as local officials or directly joining the military!

Kun Ziyu's combat prowess was astonishing. Even with his Seven-Stars Divine Treasure sealed, his strength surpassed Qu Ping's. Moreover, compared to Qu Ping, his skills were more suited for actual combat; he simultaneously activated spells and controlled his sword, his sword art not confined to fixed moves but adapting to the situation.

He and Daoist Lin Xuan actually ascended into the air, clashing mid-flight. Streaks of sword light darted back and forth like lightning, accompanied by bursts of thunder. Bolts of lightning struck towards Daoist Lin Xuan, while Kun Ziyu engaged in close combat, moving with the speed and force of rushing thunder. He clearly also practiced an extremely formidable combat technique simultaneously!

This battle was spectacular, leaving the onlookers below dazzled and filled with admiration.

Qin Mu frowned and asked Shen Wanyun, "Senior Brother, the Dao Sect's cultivation method is extraordinary. What is its origin?"

Shen Wanyun shook his head. Then, a deep voice from behind them said, "It's the Dao Sect's classic, the Innate Grand Profound Art—a righteous profound art on par with the Heavenly Devil Cult's Great Educational Heavenly Devil Scripture! Kun Ziyu is likely to lose."