Chapter 4 Martial Arts Pavilion
The Martial Arts Pavilion was very large. The first floor was where Outer Sect Disciples selected Cultivation Techniques and Martial Skills, and all the items displayed were Human Rank Cultivation Techniques and Martial Skills.
The cultivation world had a clear hierarchy, and Cultivation Techniques and Martial Skills were also divided into distinct Ranks. From lowest to highest, they were Human, Spirit, Earth, and Heaven Rank. Each Rank was further divided into Low Grade, Medium Grade, High Grade, and Super Grade.
Of course, Wei Zong knew there was an even higher Dao Rank, but in this world, Heaven Rank was already the Peak.
For a small Sect like Mysterious Cloud Sect, the highest Cultivation Technique was only Spirit Rank Super Grade.
For Outer Sect Disciples, they could only access Human Rank Cultivation Techniques and Martial Skills. Spirit Rank methods above Human Rank were no longer provided free of charge; Disciples or Elders needed to exchange them for merit points. In fact, many Inner Sect Disciples still used Human Rank Martial Skills.
Zhang Yuan's uncle was a Hall of Punishment Elder, and he only managed to get him a Low Grade Spirit Rank Martial Skill... Generally, when Disciples chose Martial Skills, they would definitely consider them carefully.
Wei Zong was clearly an exception.
His gaze quickly swept over the rows of Martial Skills, and soon, he locked onto a Sword Technique.
Human Rank High Grade, Canglang Sword.
This was it.
Having made his decision, he immediately took the sword manual to the old man guarding the pavilion for registration.
The old man opened his half-closed eyes and casually glanced at the Cultivation Technique Wei Zong presented. His originally indifferent expression turned a little strange.
Wei Zong found his changing expression a bit odd.
"May I ask, Elder, is there something wrong with this Martial Skill?"
Cough!
Clearing his throat, the old man slowly said,
"Do you know that this Martial Skill has been in the Martial Arts Pavilion for over ten years, yet no Disciple has ever chosen it? Why is that?"
"This Disciple does not know. Please enlighten me, Elder." This piqued Wei Zong's interest. He hadn't expected there to be some hidden secret to the Martial Skill he had casually chosen.
"The Canglang Sword was originally a Spirit Rank Martial Skill with four Moves, but the last Move was lost long ago. If one only practices the first three Moves, its power is inferior to other Spirit Rank Martial Skills, because the unique aspect of this Sword Technique lies in its first three Moves being preparation for the last Move." The old man rubbed his scalp and continued,
"Over time, Inner Sect Disciples were unwilling to choose it, so this Sword Technique was removed from the Spirit Rank Martial Skill area and reclassified as a Human Rank Martial Skill for Outer Sect Disciples to choose from."
"Then why don't Outer Sect Disciples choose it either? Although the Canglang Sword is incomplete, it's still much stronger than ordinary Human Rank Martial Skills, isn't it?" Wei Zong was still somewhat confused.
"Indeed, the Canglang Sword is strong, but the difficulty of comprehending it is far above that of ordinary Human Rank Martial Skills. How could a group of youngsters who are only in the Body Tempering Realm learn it? Before you, some people also didn't believe in evil and hoped to achieve great things by learning this Cultivation Technique, but in the end, they all returned empty-handed. If it were anyone else, this old man wouldn't say much, but you..."
As if he thought of something interesting, the old man looked at Wei Zong with interest and continued, "The person you fought today, I remember he's the nephew of that old scoundrel Zhang Xinyuan, isn't he?"
"Elder is truly a Divine Ability, knowing that Zhang Yuan and I had a conflict even from such a distance." Wei Zong seemed to imply something.
The old man gave Wei Zong a strange look and immediately became somewhat uncertain and surprised. However, being an old and experienced person, he quickly suppressed the surprise in his heart, keeping his face impassive, pretending he hadn't heard anything, and continued, "You've provoked Zhang Xinyuan. That old scoundrel is not easy to deal with. You are destined for continuous trouble in the future. If I were you, I would choose a reliable Martial Skill and honestly improve my strength, instead of placing my hopes on this unreliable Canglang Sword."
"Thank you for your kindness, Elder, but this Disciple does not intend to change." Wei Zong replied neither subserviently nor arrogantly.
"Hmph, you don't know what's good for you! You'll have your taste of suffering then!" The old man huffed angrily. After speaking, he closed his eyes, no longer intending to bother with Wei Zong.
Seeing the old man's posture, as if sending him away, Wei Zong understood and bowed slightly.
"This Disciple will take his leave first."
The old man's half-closed eyelids drooped, as if he hadn't heard Wei Zong's words.
Seeing this, Wei Zong was not annoyed. He smiled slightly and walked out of the Martial Arts Pavilion... Two days later, in the small courtyard.
Wei Zong stood with his sword.
Slowly, his figure moved, like a hanging antelope horn, leaving no trace. His movements became faster and faster, sword after sword swung out, and sword light filled the sky, dazzling and mesmerizing.
A gust of wind blew, and a few leaves swayed towards Wei Zong. Before they could reach him, they were torn to shreds by the sword light. It was as if telling the world what kind of violent power was contained beneath this seemingly peaceful sword light.
His sword became faster and faster, already breaking free from the constraints of Moves. At a rough glance, he looked like a Young Man new to swordsmanship, wildly swinging his sword. But upon closer inspection, one would discover the astonishing beauty in his sword-wielding process; every action subtly conformed to the rhythm of Heaven and Earth, every movement seemed naturally formed.
After a long time, he slowly retracted his sword.
The fine steel longsword in his hand was bought by him at the Artifact Refining Pavilion for thirty taels of silver. Although it wasn't a Divine Weapon or Sharp Weapon, for him, it was quite handy to use.
In these two days, he had naturally not been idle. Not only had he deduced the last Move of the Canglang Sword, but his cultivation had also risen steadily, achieving a Breakthrough to the Meridian Opening Realm.
Upon reaching the Meridian Opening Realm, with all eight extraordinary meridians open, a small amount of Spiritual Power could be generated. Of course, this amount of Spiritual Power was not enough to use Spirit Rank Martial Skills, but Wei Zong could independently circulate Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, so he didn't have to worry.
Closing his eyes, the Mind-Cultivation Technique essentials of the Canglang Sword flowed in his mind. The fine steel sword in his hand slowly leveled.
Buzz!!
Accompanied by a sword cry, the longsword was drawn.
Wei Zong began to practice the Canglang Sword.
Turbulent Waves
Breaking Waves with a Long Wind
Terrifying Waves
The first, second, and third Moves were performed by him with ease, without any sense of obscurity. When it came to the last Move, all the deductions for this Martial Skill emerged.
In an instant, his Sword Technique changed. The fine steel longsword arced gracefully through the air, and surging Spiritual Qi poured into Wei Zong's body, then gathered on the sword in his hand.
This last Move was... Thousand Waves... Converging Flow!
Splash!
A sound like crashing waves seemed to emerge, the air was filled with the salty smell of seawater, and there was even a sea breeze caressing his face, making him comfortable, as if he had arrived at the seaside.
But beneath this comfortable facade, what was contained was astonishing killing intent.
A Sword Qi emerged, the Sword Qi was azure, the color of the sea.
At the same time, it inherited the ferocity of the sea.
Boom!!
The Sword Qi flew out, directly shattering the courtyard wall. In an instant, sand and stones flew, and dust filled the air.
After an unknown amount of time, the dust dissipated. Wei Zong looked around. Not only was a huge pit blasted into the courtyard wall, but the Sword Qi had also flown far away, pulverizing trees and overturning soil in its path, forming a long trail leading into the distance.
It was fortunate that Wei Zong was being suppressed and lived in the most secluded place, so he didn't alarm anyone else. At this moment, if anyone else were to see this scene, they would probably gouge out their own eyes. Who would have thought that such a strike was unleashed by a Disciple who hadn't even reached Qi Condensation? The power of this Sword Qi was already comparable to a Tiangang Realm strike.
Even Wei Zong was somewhat speechless. He hadn't expected that this Sword Technique he casually picked had subtly touched the edge of Concept. It seemed that when complete, the Canglang Sword would be considered top-tier even among Spirit Rank Martial Skills.
Of course, being able to unleash such a stunning strike was also due to his own reasons. If it were any other Body Tempering Realm, or even Qi Condensation Realm Martial Artist, they would have long since died from having their Spiritual Power drained.
Now that the Sword Technique was complete, Wei Zong felt a slight sense of relief. He finally had basic self-preservation ability. Even if he encountered a Tiangang Realm Martial Artist, he was confident he could put up a fight. He also had plans to go out and explore.
Moreover, he was about to achieve a Breakthrough to the Qi Condensation Realm, and it was time to gather resources for his Cultivate needs. Staying in the Sect all the time would not lead to rapid growth in his cultivation.
In the Martial Artist world, wealth, companions, methods, and land are listed in that order, with wealth being first, showing the importance of resources. In his previous life, although his Cultivate talent was ordinary, he relied on his daring spirit, coupled with many fortuitous encounters along the way, gathering a large amount of resources, and managed to Cultivate to the Dao Lord Realm.
Just in time, this year's Sect missions hadn't been completed yet. He might as well take this opportunity to finish them.
Thinking this, he cleaned himself up and headed towards the Trial Hall.