In the Qingyun Dao Sect.
The back cliff.
Ye Ping sat on the ground quietly, keeping his eyes fixed on the sword mark left by Su Changyu.
Two hours ago, he was still clueless.
However, two hours later, a gentle breeze blew past and Ye Ping suddenly felt something unusual.
The sword mark was sharp and gave off a stubborn vibe, as if it was left behind by a peerless swordsman. It also contained a sword intent that was difficult for ordinary people to detect.
The more he looked at it, the more he felt a chill in his heart.
In the end, a figure suddenly appeared in Ye Ping's mind.
That Daoist was holding onto a long sword and practicing some sword moves afterwards.
Yes, he was practicing swords moves.
Boom!
It rumbled like thunder and rang like a bell.
The figure in his mind became clearer.
The figure was showcasing his sword moves, each of which gave Ye Ping a feeling of enlightenment, as if he was practicing the sword himself.
His sword moves were swift and ferocious like a gale.
There were a total of twelve moves in that set, and each set of three moves would feel different, as if it was a combination of four sets of swordsmanship.
The twelve moves were fully showcased in his mind.
It did not happen just once and was instead continuous.
Once! Five times! Ten times! Fifty times! A hundred times!
The sword moves were showcased faster and faster. Previously, it took twelve breaths for an entire set to be showcased once but it gradually reduced to six, three, and finally one breath after two hours.
Each time, it would feel like Ye Ping was practicing the sword himself and it felt even more terrifying than enlightenment.
Besides, the sword moves in his mind increased from 12… to 15… and then to 20 sword moves…
Sensing the sword moves that were continuously appearing in his mind, Ye Ping couldn't help but be shocked.
"Eldest Senior Brother is indeed a peerless Sword Dao expert."
Ye Ping was extremely agitated after the epiphany.
After just watching the sword mark for three hours, he had acquired a swordsmanship technique.
That made Ye Ping more and more convinced that Su Changyu was a peerless expert.
However, Ye Ping soon calmed himself down.
He had regained his composure.
"Ye Ping, don't be too agitated. This is only the beginning. I'm afraid you will be able to comprehend more sword techniques in the future."
Ye Ping secretly told himself.
He reminded himself not to get too excited and to stay calm because it was only the beginning.
After giving himself that reminder, Ye Ping became calmer.
At the same time, he also became more interested in learning.
To be honest, before comprehending the sword move, Ye Ping also had a slight suspicion that Su Changyu was deceiving him, but now, he completely believed that his Senior Brother was definitely a peerless expert.
Hence, Ye Ping became much more attentive and diligent than before.
At the same time, in another area of the Qingyun Dao Sect, Su Changyu was practicing with his long sword in an open area.
Although his sword moves seemed sharp, he lacked explosive power. After practicing an entire set of moves, even those who barely knew much about swordsmanship would be able to see some flaws in his skills.
After the time it took for an incense stick to burn out, Su Changyu put away the sword.
His forehead was covered with beads of sweat, but in order to maintain his image, Su Changyu did not sit on the ground to rest, and instead went to the side to recover his energy.
"Eldest Senior Brother, you've already practiced this set of sword moves for ten years. Why haven't you succeeded yet?" asked the little Junior Sister of the Qingyun Dao Sect, Chen Lingrou.
She was looking at Su Changyu with her eyes full of curiosity.
"Little Junior Sister, you're being too superficial."
Su Changyu wiped the sweat off his forehead and said slowly, appearing mysterious.
"How am I superficial?"
Chen Lingrou was curious and she didn't know why Su Changyu would say that.
"Little Junior Sister, this set of sword techniques is not ordinary. It is known as the Four Thunder Sword Technique, which is ranked among the top ten list of sword techniques in Qingzhou."
"There are a total of four sets that constitute this set of sword techniques, namely the Spring Thunder Swordsmanship, Summer Thunder Swordsmanship, Autumn Thunder Swordsmanship, and Winter Thunder Swordsmanship."
"If you master these four sets of sword techniques, you will be able to attract the thunder of the four seasons, which is effective against the evil devils. Back then, Daoist Siji relied on this set of sword techniques to rise to fame in Qingzhou. He created the Four Thunder Sword Technique. Do you know?"
Su Changyu was educating her seriously and he rattled on and on when he mentioned that set of sword techniques, as if he was eager to praise it to no end.
"Four Thunder Sword Technique?"
Chen Lingrou did not know much about swordsmanship but she felt that it sounded impressive.
"Eldest Senior Brother, which set have you practiced up to?"
Chen Lingrou asked.
"I've already practiced the Spring Thunder Swordsmanship to perfection."
Su Changyu answered proudly.
"You're only at the Spring Thunder Swordsmanship?"
Unfortunately, Su Changyu's junior sister did not give him a chance to pretend to be impressive.
"Little Junior Sister, you won't understand since you're not a sword practitioner. Daoist Siji poured his heart and soul into the creation of this Four Thunder Sword Technique."
"Daoist Siji once said that an ordinary Sword Dao cultivator may not even reach perfection after 500 years of practice. Even a genius in the Sword Dao would need at least a hundred years. I'm not trying to brag but I'm a genius in the Sword Dao."
"There are many Sword Dao cultivators in my generation. I may still be at the Spring Thunder Swordsmanship stage, but my progress is considered one of the best in Qingzhou."
Su Changyu praised himself seriously.
"Besides, the moves of swordsmanship are divided into four small realms; Beginner, Perfection, Greater Mastery, and Peak."
"It took me only 10 years to reach the realm of perfection. Besides, I'm confident that I will reach the Greater Mastery realm in less than 10 years. Within a hundred years, I'll reach the peak. By then, you will know how strong I am."
Su Changyu looked very confident, his eyes filled with expectations for the future.
"I don't quite get it." Cheng Lingrou shook her head. She did not understand such things because they were too tedious.
"Senior Brother, I heard that you left a sword mark for that little Junior Brother to comprehend. How long will it take for him to comprehend the sword moves and sword intent?"
Chen Lingrou asked curiously.
Su Changyu pondered for a moment.
'How long would it take him to comprehend?'
'He would never comprehend it.'
'There was no sword intent in the sword mark that he had left behind. What's there to comprehend?'
However, Su Changyu could not say those words out loud because others would find out that he was a good-for-nothing in the Sword Dao.
Hence, Su Changyu slowly explained to her.
"The sword mark that I left for him contains four sword techniques. If he can comprehend my sword techniques within a year, it would be considered an impressive feat. It's hard to say the same for sword intent."
Su Changyu said.
If Ye Ping was really a genius, he could indeed comprehend Daoist Siji's sword techniques.
However, he could only dream about the sword intent.
"What if he can comprehend it in one day?"
Chen Lingrou asked curiously.
Comprehend in one day?
Su Changyu glanced at Chen Lingrou and then shook his head and said, "It's almost impossible. Only a peerless genius would be able to do that."
His tone was firm.
"What if he not only comprehends the sword techniques but also the sword intent?"
Chen Lingrou asked.
Su Changyu was bewildered.
'Are you very bored? Why are you asking such wise questions?'
However, considering the fact that Chen Lingrou was his junior sister, Su Changyu continued to answer her patiently.
"A genius would be able to comprehend the sword techniques with just a sword mark, but if he can comprehend the sword intent too, he will be the best genius in the Sword Dao in Qingzhou."
Su Changyu answered.
"What if he can comprehend hundreds of sword intents in one Sword Dao?"
Chen Lingrou was shocked. She wasn't asking a random question but rather, she was curious because it sounded impressive.
"Hundreds of them? He would be the best swordsman in Qingzhou whom even Daoist Siji would have to bow down to."
Su Changyu answered with utmost patience.
"How about several thousands?"
Chen Lingrou asked.
"He would be the undisputed best in Jin Nation."
Su Changyu answered straightforwardly.
"How about tens of thousands?"
Chen Lingrou continued to ask.
Su Changyu was speechless.
'Have you had enough?'
"Junior Sister, let me put it this way."
"Rumor has it that in the Sword Dao lineage, sword techniques are only secondary and sword intent is the key. A large amount of sword intent can turn decay into magic. Even a single stab of the sword would be terrifying."
"In my Sword Dao, there are three realms in sword intent. The first realm is infinite sword intent, which is an indescribable amount. If a Qi Refinement cultivator reaches this realm, each move of their sword would allow them to cross several realms to kill the enemy."
"As for the second realm, it's very far from us so I won't mention it, but you mustn't belittle this realm. I'm sure you've heard of Daoist Siji haven't you?"
"He's the best Sword Dao powerhouse in Qingzhou and he's now more than 500 years old but he hasn't even reached the first realm. There's only one powerhouse in the ten nations who barely stepped into it in the 3000 years of his life. He's known as the Sword Sage Taixu who's distinguished in the ten nations."
"So, the focus of a true Sword Dao powerhouse is not the comprehension of the sword technique but the sword intent."
Su Changyu gave a long lecture.
Chen Lingrou was confused, mainly because the setting was too complicated.
However, it sounded impressive.
"In short, the more sword intent comprehension the better. Be it tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands, even millions of sword intent, the goal is forever going to be infinite sword intent to achieve invincible Sword Dao."
Su Changyu patted Chen Lingrou's head as he spoke.
"Understood. What about our little Junior Brother?"
Chen Lingrou continued to ask, looking somewhat curious.
In the entire Qingyun Dao Sect, Chen Lingrou was the most interested in Ye Ping. After all, she had always been the youngest and had the least seniority. Now that she finally had a Junior Brother, she was naturally full of curiosity and anticipation.
"Him?"
Su Changyu looked at the sky with an inexplicable sense of pride.
He then said slowly, "He should be a good-for-nothing in the Sword Dao."
Su Changyu had a composed gaze.
At this moment, Ye Ping who was at the rear cliff happened to have comprehended the Four Thunder Sword Technique…