The mention of Myriad Swords Convergence sent a jolt through Wuming, shattering his composed demeanor. His expression lit up with barely contained excitement, and his voice trembled as he spoke. "You mean? Can you clearly see what will happen in the future? Instead of just foreknowledge? Then do you know what is drawn on the sword manual of Myriad Swords Convergence?" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with excitement.
In that moment, Wuming grasped why Alex had proclaimed himself a master of fortune-telling, boldly challenging the Clay Buddha's reputation as the world's foremost fortune-teller. The Clay Buddha's predictions, while insightful, were like reading the outline of a story—knowing events in a general sense. But Alex's visions were different; he claimed to see the future with vivid clarity, as if watching it unfold. The distinction between the two was monumental.
For instance, right now, Alex asserted he could see the Myriad Swords Convergence manual in the future, and even more astonishingly, he knew that Wuming would successfully master this legendary technique. This level of detail was unprecedented.
Eager to uncover more, Wuming pressed Alex to reveal the contents of the Myriad Swords Convergence manual, his curiosity burning to know what secrets it held.
Alex, prepared for the topic, began to elaborate. "The existence of Myriad Swords Convergence is extraordinary, distinct from conventional martial arts techniques. The manual's opening page doesn't dive into forms or stances but instead presents a passage. To most, it appears cryptic, almost incomprehensible, but it's a hidden poem. Within it, four pivotal words combine to convey a profound instruction: one must abolish their own martial arts," he explained, laying out the method to practice Myriad Swords Convergence.
Since the conversation had turned to Myriad Swords Convergence, Alex was fully committed to sharing the intricate details of its training process with Wuming, ensuring no nuance was lost.
Wuming's brow furrowed slightly upon hearing Alex's words. "Abolish one's own martial arts?" he repeated, his tone laced with hesitation.
The requirement was formidable, equally as daunting as the extreme prerequisites of mastering the Sunflower Manual. Alex, as the head of the Divine Martial Hall of the World Alliance, had earned a measure of Wuming's trust, who believed him to be free of malicious intent. Yet, the notion of voluntarily discarding one's martial arts was so radical that it stirred suspicion in anyone, no matter how trustworthy the source.
Alex nodded, undeterred, and continued his explanation with precision. "Indeed, when you open the secret manual of Myriad Swords Convergence, the first ten pages are completely blank, like pristine white paper. This symbolizes that to practice Myriad Swords Convergence, one's body must be devoid of inner strength, a blank slate ready to be written upon. Only in the later sections do you find descriptions of basic sword-training movements," he said, painting a clear picture of the manual's structure.
He went on, addressing Wuming's unspoken doubts. "When you first encountered the manual, you dismissed it as a forgery because of its odd composition. However, one day, you were afflicted by a poison that sapped your inner strength entirely, leaving you powerless. It was in that state of emptiness that you unlocked the path to mastering Myriad Swords Convergence. That's precisely how it unfolded," Alex said, his voice steady as he recounted the vision.
Alex could sense Wuming's reservations about the idea of abandoning his martial arts, even catching a flicker of suspicion about Alex's intentions. But he had shared everything he needed to, laying out the full truth. The decision now rested with Wuming, and Alex trusted that the legend's judgment would guide him.
Deep down, Alex was confident that Wuming's lifelong obsession with Myriad Swords Convergence would compel him to explore the possibility, even with doubts lingering. Once Wuming tested the method, he would discover the truth of Alex's words for himself.
Wuming fell into a heavy silence, grappling with the weight of Alex's revelations.
The prospect of abolishing his own martial arts was a monumental decision, one that carried immense consequences for a warrior of his caliber.
Yet, at the same time, he couldn't fully dismiss Alex's words. The certainty with which Alex spoke, the vivid detail of his vision, lent an air of credibility that kept Wuming's skepticism in check.
Alex chose not to press Wuming further, remaining silent to give him space to process. His primary goal was to complete the copying of Wuming's 28G swordsmanship knowledge file, and the longer Wuming contemplated, the more time Alex had to finish without needing to divert his attention.
However, Wuming was no ordinary man. As a legend of the martial world, he had faced countless trials and honed a resilience that allowed him to master his emotions swiftly. Though Myriad Swords Convergence was a deeply personal matter, he set it aside for the moment, deciding to revisit it later with careful consideration.
Regaining his clarity, Wuming looked at Alex with renewed focus. "So, what else do you see about the future?" he asked seriously, his eyes piercing as he awaited Alex's response.
Alex couldn't help but admire Wuming's ability to compose himself so quickly, a testament to his strength of character. He sighed inwardly, impressed by the legend's mental fortitude.
On the surface, he maintained his calm demeanor, pretending to scrutinize Wuming's palm with great care. After a deliberate pause, he spoke. "I've seen that the martial world of the Central Plains will face a great calamity, a disaster brought by a formidable warrior from Japan named Jue Wushen," he revealed, his tone grave as he shared the vision.
"Jue Wushen?" Wuming repeated, his brow creasing once more.
The name stirred memories. Wuming had once driven Jue Wushen out of the Central Plains' martial realm during an earlier invasion. The thought that this enemy might return prompted Wuming to consider preparing countermeasures well in advance.
Meanwhile, Alex's copying process continued steadily, the 28G swordsmanship knowledge file requiring significant time to transfer. To keep the conversation flowing, Alex and Wuming engaged in casual dialogue, with Alex occasionally revealing detailed insights from the Storm Riders storyline.
Alex held firm trust in Wuming's honorable character and steadfast personality. By sharing these plot details, he believed Wuming could make early preparations, potentially influencing the future events of the Storm Riders plane in a positive way.
Elsewhere, under the faint glow of the moonlight, an old man in his sixties walked alone through the wilderness. Despite his solitary journey, he exuded an aura so sharp it seemed to cut the air around him.
As he passed beneath a tree, two leaves drifted down toward him. But as they neared, they abruptly split into two halves without any visible cause, giving the impression they had been sliced by an invisible sword.
"Wuming… where are you hiding? I must find you…" the old man murmured with unwavering determination.
To him, among all the swordsmen in the world, only Wuming surpassed his skill. To ascend to the absolute peak of swordsmanship, he knew he had to defeat Wuming in combat.
Suddenly, a surge of intuition made the old man halt. He raised his head, his eyes shimmering with sword aura. In the distance, he sensed a supreme sword intent rising into the sky, a force so powerful it commanded all blades to submit.
This divine aura was so overwhelming that it stirred in him an urge to kneel in reverence.
"What is this!? Wuming!?" the old man gasped, his face a mix of shock and elation. Recognizing the familiar essence within the sword intent, he tapped his feet lightly against the ground and shot toward the source at lightning speed.
Though dozens of miles separated them, his mastery of supreme swordsmanship allowed him to pinpoint Wuming's presence with uncanny precision.
Back at Wuming's home, unaware of the approaching figure, Alex's copying process was nearing completion.
He had shared a wealth of information about the original Storm Riders television series plot, carefully weaving it into their conversation to keep Wuming engaged.
Checking the progress bar in his mind, Alex noted that the copying was almost done, with roughly four or five minutes remaining until the 28G file was fully transferred.
At that moment, Wuming's expression shifted. "Hm? An old friend is coming…" he said, his eyebrows lifting slightly as he sensed something.
His gaze settled on Alex, and he spoke with a gentle but firm tone. "Brother Alex, let's stop the fortune-telling for today."
The words hit Alex like a thunderbolt. So close to completing the copy, and Wuming wanted to halt now?
Panic surged through him as he felt Wuming begin to withdraw his hand. Reflexively, Alex tightened his grip and blurted out, "Wait!"
Wuming paused, his eyes widening in surprise at Alex's abrupt reaction.
"I, I saw something incredible in the future!" Alex stammered, scrambling to meet Wuming's probing gaze with a convincing explanation.
Desperate to keep Wuming's hand in his grasp, Alex knew he needed a revelation shocking enough to hold the legend's attention.
But having already disclosed the secrets of Myriad Swords Convergence, what could possibly be more startling?
Wuming remained silent, his expression inquisitive, waiting for Alex to elaborate.
A big deal? What could Alex mean by that?
Ugh, it seems this is my only option… Alex thought, a flash of inspiration cutting through his anxiety. He sighed inwardly, resigned to his next move.
"I, I saw a person who has lived for thousands of years in the world…" he declared, his voice carrying the weight of the bombshell.