Chapter 165 Five Years

  The second update!

  ——

  The wind arises from the end of the green duckweed, gentle as a willow catkin brushing against the clouds, violent as it can split the sea and shatter mountains, uprooting withered trees and snapping rotten wood. As for transformation, none of the myriad things in heaven and earth can surpass it.

  Sitting cross-legged on the edge of a cliff, in the midst of a sea of clouds, Chen Xuan pondered for a moment, temporarily giving up his cultivation of "Xun Jian Dao" and went to observe the other seven great sword paths.

  Qian is Heaven. The sword movement of "Qian Jian Dao" is high and far-reaching, like the sky covering everything, empty and mysterious.

  Kun is earth, "Kun Sword Path" is heavy and thick, defending endlessly.

  Kan is water, "Kan Jian Dao" is like a river and sea, like a waterfall and stream.

  Separate, fire also, "Separate Sword Path" is unbridled and violent, fierce and overbearing.

  The word "shock" refers to thunder. The "Shen Jian Dao" is like a thunderbolt, unstoppable and unbreakable.

  Kan is a mountain, "Kan Jian Dao" is like a mountain and a peak, majestic and magnificent.

  Duì is moisture, "Duì Sword Path" is like dragging and sticky, condensing and stagnating everything.

  These seven major sword paths, like the "Xun Sword Path", are all intricate and complex, vast as the sea, each with its own unique uses, and also contain many secrets of heaven and earth.

  At least in Chen Xiao's eyes, to master this sword technique, apart from deduction and intuition, one must also grasp the eight Dao intentions of heaven, earth, mountains, thunder, water, fire, wind, and swamp.

  Among them, the four Dao intentions of water, fire, wind, and thunder have been mastered by Chen Tang. The earth Dao intention and mountain Dao intention are just small Dao, all belonging to the earth element great Dao, and the swamp Dao intention is also the same, belonging to the water element great Dao, which has also been mastered by him.

  In short, among these eight Dao intentions, only the Heavenly Sky Dao intention is temporarily not under Chen Xiao's control, and the other seven are already clear in his mind. It is also because of this that Beiheng would say that the "Wan Cang Jian Dian" is suitable for Chen Xiao to comprehend, which can be considered as teaching according to one's ability.

  However, Beiheng only suggested that he comprehend it, rather than actually practice it. After all, the Wanzang Sword Classic was too difficult to cultivate, and everyone in the world knew how formidable this sword technique was, but nobody practiced it. Why? There was only one word - difficult!

  Although the lifespan of a cultivator is much longer than that of an ordinary person, if they cannot ascend to become a celestial being and live as long as heaven and earth, one day they will still fall due to exhaustion of their lifespan. It's also because of this that no one would waste a large amount of time comprehending a sword art that is impossible to cultivate successfully.

  This is the consensus of the vast majority of people, or some people have successfully cultivated it, but it is also a rare existence, and there may not be one in millions.

  However, Chen Tang decided to cultivate. He wasn't being pretentious or unbelieving of the evil, but purely an impulse from his heart, just like when he made talismans, it was simply because he liked them in his heart, with no other reason.

  And he faintly felt that if he could successfully cultivate the Wan Zang Sword Classic, it would also have immeasurable benefits for his own Dao cultivation.

  The Way of the Symbol, in essence, is to deduce the profound mysteries of Heaven and Earth, transforming the rotten into the miraculous. And this Wan Cang Jian Dian (Ten Thousand Treasures Sword Classic), although it deduces sword techniques, does not sword technique also encompass the profound mysteries of Heaven and Earth?

  "If I can successfully cultivate the 'Wan Cang Jian Dian' before advancing to the Golden Elixir, perhaps I'll be invincible at the Gathering of the Stars..."

  Chen Xiao sank into deep thought for a long time, and then immediately began to cultivate from "Xun Jian Dao".

  In the vast ocean of knowledge, the immense power of his divine soul slowly rotated, immersed in endless changes. What he had to do was to deduce all the variations of Xuanjian Dao and make them clear in his mind.

  This is an enormous undertaking, just like memorizing the trajectories of billions of stars, extremely complicated, extremely tedious, and extremely exhausting.

  Fortunately, Chen Xiao had an extremely solid foundation in Xuan Dao cultivation and was also wholeheartedly devoted to cultivating the Wan Cang Jian Dian, so he didn't find it boring at all.

  Thus, Chen Xiao became deeply absorbed in his meditation, completely unaware of the passage of time. Day and night, he sat cross-legged at the edge of the precipice on Kexin Peak, motionless and unwavering, neither eating nor drinking, resembling a mud-carved statue.

  During this period of time, the upper and lower peaks of Kexin were also on the right track. The 72 male and female disciples inside the inner gate were busy with their respective tasks, doing their jobs conscientiously and in an orderly manner.

  Now Chen Yao's name has resounded throughout the Southern Border's cultivation world, and these seventy-two Flowing Cloud Sword Sect inner disciples also feel honored and extremely proud.

  Moreover, since Chen Xiao was the elder brother of Tai Shang's Northern Harmony, the materials and benefits issued to Ke Xin Peak within the sect were among the best in the entire sect. This made other true disciples, even elders, envy them. However, they could only envy, unable to raise a bit of dissatisfaction or jealousy. After all, who let their own Tai Shang elder be Chen Xiao's older brother?

  It is worth mentioning that after the Su family was destroyed, Su Chan, the eldest son of the Su family who had originally joined Ling Du's sect, suddenly disappeared. No one knew where he went or whether he was dead or alive. Some people said he was harmed by the enemy family, some said he escaped, and there were many rumors, but as time passed, the name Su Chan gradually faded out of people's sight, and no one mentioned him again.

  The days passed quietly like this, and before I knew it, a year had already passed.

  On this day, the snow was flying heavily, and the sky and earth were all white. Early in the morning, Bei Heng arrived at Ke Xin Peak, but saw that Chen Xi was still cultivating, his body buried under the heavy snow, and his appearance could not be seen.

  "Has he been cultivating all this time?" Beiheng asked in surprise, as he had also been in seclusion for the past year. This time was crucial, and he wanted to see how Chen Tang's cultivation was progressing, but unexpectedly, Chen Tang seemed to be in seclusion as well.

  "Uh, my brother has been sitting there without moving since last year." Chen Huan explained in a low voice as he stood beside Bei Heng.

  "Last year? Has this guy been contemplating the Wanzang Sword Classic all along?" Beiheng's expression solidified, and he hastily arrived in front of Chen Tai. Indeed, he discovered that Chen Tai's internal energy was quiet and dormant, not cultivating at all. There was only one possibility - he was mentally rehearsing the Wanzang Sword Classic!

  "It's really... how can I put it?" Bei Heng raised an eyebrow, seemingly about to get angry, but instead suppressed his emotions and sighed bitterly: "If only I had known earlier, I wouldn't have taught him the Wanzang Sword Technique."

  "The Wan Zang Sword Classic? So that's it, this is indeed the most difficult sword technique in the world to cultivate, and few people can successfully cultivate it." Chen Huan was suddenly enlightened, he had heard his master, Xianyuan Zhenren, mention this sword technique before, and understood its difficulty.

  "Whatever, let him cultivate then. Hopefully he'll know his limits and give up, if not, it's just a waste of time." Bei Heng shook his head and turned to leave.

  "Give up? I'd rather hope that my brother can succeed in his cultivation... Hmm, I also need to work hard, and after a few years, return to Songyancheng, rebuild the Chen family, and comfort Grandfather's spirit in heaven." Chen Huan muttered to himself, and then left.

  Another year has passed with the cold wind blowing by, Chen Tang has been sitting quietly on the edge of the cliff for two years now, yet there is still no sign of him waking up.

  Chen Haokun would often come to the mountaintop to take a look at his brother after practicing hard. He keenly noticed that his brother's complexion had become increasingly pale, and his cheeks were also deeply sunken. His thick hair and beard had grown long enough to drag on the ground, and his expression was withered to the extreme.

  Seeing this, Chen Hao couldn't help but worry about Chen Yu, as excessive blood loss was extremely detrimental to cultivation. Not only would it damage his foundation, but it could also lead to a catastrophic situation where he would lose control and ruin all his years of hard work.

  During this time, Beiheng, Wen Xuan Zhenren, Ling Kongzi, Du Qingxi, Duanmu Ze, Song Lin and others also came to visit Chen Tang. However, they found out that Chen Tang had been contemplating the Wanzang Sword Classic all along, and couldn't help but sigh.

  Undeniably, Chen Xiao's qualifications are extraordinary and his strength is also extremely powerful, but in everyone's eyes, he wants to successfully cultivate the "Wan Cang Jian Dian", the hope is extremely slim, and Chen Xiao's behavior has become a waste of time, laboring without achieving anything.

  Gradually, the entire Flowing Cloud Sword Sect learned about Chen Xiao's cultivation of the "Million Treasure Sword Classic". Some were amazed, some were astonished, but more were skeptical. No one believed he could succeed, and they simply regarded this matter as a tragedy. A young genius, now no different from a madman, truly worthy of sighs and regret.

  The third year.

  The fourth year.

  In the fifth year, looking at the still and lifeless Chen Tai, Chen Huan could no longer bear the worry in his heart, deciding to wake up his brother, because he felt that his brother's vital energy had become extremely weak, even on the verge of exhaustion, if this continued, he would surely die.

  "Huh?" Just as Chen Hao was about to take action, he suddenly discovered that his brother Chen Tang's body seemed to have moved slightly. However, upon closer inspection, it still appeared lifeless and motionless.

  "Was it just my imagination?" Just as Chen Huan was puzzled, he suddenly saw that his brother opened his eyes, which were filled with bloodshot, crimson and terrifying.

  "Brother, you're awake?" Chen Hao said with a trembling voice.

  Chen Ting, however, ignored him and stood up, his entire body now as thin as a bamboo stick, with his cheeks and eye sockets deeply sunken, a pitiful sight.

  "Ah!"

  Chen Tai began to breathe deeply, mobilizing his magical powers. Instantly, the blood vessels in his eyes disappeared rapidly, and his skin became plump and smooth, with wrinkles disappearing without a trace. In their place was a crystal-clear luster like warm jade, and his cheeks also regained their previous handsome appearance.

  In an instant, Chen Tai was transformed into a completely different person, his spirit soaring as he emerged from the dust, his expression radiant and swift, no longer bearing any resemblance to his previous woeful appearance.

  "Brother, you've finally come back on track. Even if the Wan Zang sword technique is powerful, it's not worth cultivating." Chen Hao said worriedly.

  Chen Xiao was taken aback and didn't say much more. He crossed his fingers into a sword shape and stabbed out with one swift motion.

  This finger didn't contain a hint of true yuan, but in Chen Hao's eyes, it seemed to perfectly merge with the surrounding void, ethereal and elusive, difficult to comprehend. It was as if any change he made would be unable to escape this finger's attack, making him feel like he had fallen into an absolute predicament, leaving him feeling powerless.

  Empty and profound, like the ancient clouds of the sky, this is "Qianjian Dao".

  However, Chen Huan had been obsessed with the sword path since childhood, and over the years, he had refined his understanding of the Haoran Sword Path to become even more formidable. He was on the verge of touching the edge of the Dao realm. How could he possibly surrender easily when faced with his brother's casual pointing?

  "Come on!" Chen Hao shouted loudly, also weaving his fingers into a sword. In the void, he made a swift stroke, and instantly, a majestic aura burst forth from his fingertips, unstoppable and unopposed, directly colliding with Chen Tai's incoming finger strike.

  Chen Xiao smiled slightly, his hand flicked, and instantly a mighty river appeared, majestic and powerful, containing all things, effortlessly dissolving Chen Huan's attack into nothingness.

  Nothing in the world is softer and weaker than water, yet nothing can surpass it in attacking the hard and strong — "Kan Sword Way".

  Chen Hao's one move was frustrated, but instead of being discouraged, his determination was ignited. His fingers moved swiftly and the majestic sword aura emerged, as if crafting civilization, writing a magnificent chapter in history with each word shining brightly, full of grandeur and majesty, filling every inch of empty space, like a sage descending upon the world, not to be violated.

  Chen Xiao smiled, his fingers moved again, "Kun Sword Way", "Dui Sword Way", "Li Sword Way", "Zhen Sword Way", and "Gen Sword Way" were used in succession, each move repelling Chen Huan's offensive, the sword momentum was unparalleled.

  "Stop it, stop it." Chen Hao jumped back and said loudly: "But I don't admit defeat. One day, I will surpass you."

  "Haha, then I'll wait...!" Chen Yuanyue's laughter grew louder and clearer, like a dragon's chant that resonated between heaven and earth, conveying an indescribable sense of joy, openness, and exhilaration.

  Sat in meditation for five years, abandoned sleep and forgot to eat, vomited heart and blood, the various hardships and dangers within, cannot be told to outsiders without personal experience.