Chapter 728: One Sword Transforms into Ten Thousand Swords

Ancestor Daoist was lost in memories from 120,000 years ago. Daoist Buyu held a brush, meticulously recording Ancestor Daoist's recollections. If one disregarded the actual content Daoist Buyu was writing down, it appeared to be a harmonious scene between an elder and a junior.

Ancestor Daoist spoke from dawn until dusk, stopping only after the kebabs he'd eaten for lunch had completely digested.

Lu Yang and Gan Tian used their divine sense to glance at what their master was recording. Concerned that Ancestor Daoist might not be able to stomach Daoist Buyu's overly "advanced" propaganda concepts – potentially leading to outrageous actions like an ancestor thrashing an unworthy descendant – they tacitly decided not to bring it up.

Moreover, what their master recorded couldn't really be called incorrect; at the very least, every sentence had been spoken by Ancestor Daoist, though it was perhaps slightly embellished.

"Second Senior Brother's talent for twisting facts must have come from Master," Third Senior Sister transmitted via divine sense.

Second Senior Brother had inherited all of Daoist Buyu's questionable traits, which explained his notorious reputation in the Western Buddhist Kingdom.

"If Second Senior Brother learned it from Master, then where did Master pick up these skills?"

"From Eighth Elder. Wasn't it said that Eighth Elder raised Master from infancy?"

"And Eighth Elder? Our Grandmaster doesn't seem to have that kind of personality."

"Self-taught."

"Truly gifted."

As Ancestor Daoist hadn't yet begun cultivating, he possessed no divine sense. However, observing Daoist Buyu rapidly fill several pages with dense writing, he understood that the current Sect Master was diligently recording everything he said. He nodded with considerable satisfaction.

"Keep up the good work. I have high hopes for you."

It was rare to find someone who didn't mind his verbosity and was willing to listen to him recount history, which put Ancestor Daoist in high spirits.

Ancestor Daoist found Daoist Buyu increasingly likable. Of course, this might also be because both of them were prone to getting lost.

Having gained the Ancestor's appreciation, Daoist Buyu immediately declared, "Ancestor, rest assured, I will definitely publicize your glorious deeds in establishing the Dao Seeking Sect!"

"Excellent, excellent! With people like you in the sect, how could it not prosper!"

"Oh, by the way, Ancestor," Daoist Buyu asked, still networking, "do you know where Ancestor Hanhai is?"

Ancestor Daoist shook his head. "I don't know."

The Dao Seeking Sect was so vast, and without any contact information for Daoist Hanhai, he was impossible for anyone to find.

"By the way, your eldest disciple and the previous Sect Master might be able to find Hanhai."

Daoist Buyu grinned, not taking the bait. Everyone knew that Xiao Zhi and their master certainly knew where Daoist Hanhai was.

"It's getting late. I'll head back now," Ancestor Daoist said with a yawn. After chattering for most of the day, he was quite fatigued.

"I'll escort you," Daoist Buyu enthusiastically offered. He wasn't concerned about revealing Ancestor Daoist's true identity by escorting him, as Ancestor Daoist's public persona was that of Daoist Hanhai's disciple, making him second in seniority within the Dao Seeking Sect.

After seeing off Ancestor Daoist, Daoist Buyu returned to Tianmen Peak. "Come on, both of you, tell me what has happened since I last left?"

All the major events Daoist Buyu had heard about on his journey – concerning the Demon Realm and half-immortals, for instance – were related to Lu Yang. Now that he had the opportunity to ask the person involved, he was eager to seize it.

The last time Daoist Buyu had returned, it was right after the sect's celebration, and Lu Yang had only been in the mid-Golden Core stage. Now, Lu Yang was already in the mid-Nascent Soul stage, and a significant amount had happened during that interim.

As he had experienced it firsthand, Lu Yang spoke effusively.

As he spoke, Lu Yang suddenly realized something was amiss. "Wait a minute," he pondered, "hasn't it only been a little over a year since I advanced from mid-Golden Core to mid-Nascent Soul? How could so many things have happened?"

Daoist Buyu listened with delight. This was all excellent material for his storytelling, far richer than the Ancestor's own experiences.

The Ancestor's story, after all, simply revolved around the challenges of establishing the sect and competing with cultivators of his own realm.

On Lu Yang's side, despite being only in the Nascent Soul stage, the enemies he provoked started at the Tribulation Transcendence stage, and if he was lucky, he might even attract two half-immortals.

If Lu Yang's knack for causing trouble had existed in the Ancestor's era, the Great Yu Dynasty would have perished 20,000 years sooner.

Back then, the Imperial Advisor of Great Yu was only at the Tribulation Transcendence stage.

"…Daoist Monarch Wanfa just suddenly kowtowed like that; I was quite surprised too," Lu Yang recounted. Naturally, he couldn't reveal anything about Immortal Fairy and thus adamantly insisted it was a coincidence.

In Daoist Buyu's eyes, however, whether it was a coincidence or not was irrelevant.

"Alright, rest for a day. Tomorrow, I'll teach you the 'One Sword Transforms into Ten Thousand Swords' sword art."

Daoist Buyu had wanted to teach this technique the last time he returned to the sect, but Lu Yang's cultivation level wasn't high enough. This particular move required the Soul Transformation stage, and now Lu Yang had just met the qualifications.

In the early morning, Lu Yang, full of vigor, donned his cultivation robes and carried the Azure Edge Sword.

"Originally, I intended to teach you 'Man and Sword As One' and 'One Sword Transforms into Ten Thousand Swords'," Daoist Buyu began. "But since you're unwilling to learn 'Man and Sword As One,' we'll simply omit that."

"You have already met the prerequisite conditions: 'Sword follows the heart,' a clear mind, 'Qi and sword merging,' and 'Movement and stillness as one.'"

Originally, only sword geniuses in the Soul Transformation stage could attain these four realms. However, as a sword spirit root, Lu Yang had already reached these states while comprehending the Way of the Sword.

"Maintain a clear mind, discard distracting thoughts, and focus on the Way of the Sword. Drive sword qi to leave your body and take form, allowing your divine sense to merge with the sword qi. This will enable the free division of the sword qi, transforming it into ten thousand sword qi in a single thought."

"Just like this."

Daoist Buyu extended his index finger, and a streak of sword qi leaped forth. As he gently swayed his finger, the ethereal afterimage left by the sword qi transformed into numerous distinct streaks. Lu Yang watched in awe, never having imagined such a use for sword qi.

"Sit cross-legged to calm your mind, relaxing naturally. Your hands must be firm, your eyes level. Let your qi circulate throughout your body, endlessly..."

Daoist Buyu then imparted the sword art's mental incantation.

Lu Yang's talent in the Way of the Sword was no less than his talent in spells; he grasped it instantly.

With a crisp *clang*, the Azure Edge Sword unsheathed, accompanied by hundreds of sword qi streaks, roaring like a dragon.

"Go!"

With a soft command from Lu Yang, the Azure Edge Sword soared into the sky, accompanied by hundreds of sword qi streaks. It was as if a mighty army galloped across the heavens, with the Azure Edge Sword as its commanding general!

With a single thought, Lu Yang transformed the hundreds of sword qi streaks into tangible replicas, creating hundreds of Azure Edge Swords.

"It's done!"

Lu Yang brought two fingers together and pressed down. The hundreds of Azure Edge Swords rained down with whooshing sounds, plummeting to the ground. Turf was ripped up, trees toppled, and the ground was riddled with countless holes.

Had an early-stage Soul Transformation cultivator been standing beneath, they would have been pierced like a hedgehog.

Lu Yang was thrilled; in just half a day, he had mastered "One Sword Transforms into Ten Thousand Swords," a technique that had stumped countless sword geniuses.

Daoist Buyu nodded with satisfaction. This young disciple's speed in learning sword arts surpassed even his own back in the day.

Neither master nor disciple noticed the puppet, which was secretly staring at them ominously.

"If the Azure Edge Sword can do it..."

Lu Yang had a new idea. He put away the Azure Edge Sword and took out the Sword-Washing Pool.

"Let your qi circulate throughout your body, endlessly... Go!"

The Sword-Washing Pool shot into the sky, where it transformed into hundreds of Sword-Washing Pools, forming a dense, dark mass like gathering storm clouds.

"Descend!"

The Sword-Washing Pools descended like a meteor shower, imbued with an inescapable sword intent, smashing into the ground. The solid earth was dented by several inches; even a mid-Soul Transformation cultivator would have been crushed to death by this technique.

"Indeed, the Sword-Washing Pool is more powerful!"

Daoist Buyu looked at the Sword-Washing Pool in confusion.

"Why does this thing look so familiar?"