AI Cultivation: Reborn as a Sword
Chapter 78: Swordsmanship (2)

Lady Yue grips her sword with both hands and holds it before her, slowly raising it until it points straight up towards the heavens.

“Once the swordsmanship reaches a certain level, someone can make precise guesses about the level of another individual,” Lady Yue explains.

Her presence is such that she does not even need to verbally communicate her intentions; Lan Xiaohui copies Lady Yue’s stance, grips me with both hands, and makes me a perfect mirror to Lady Yue’s sword.

“The way you walk, talk and breathe suggests that your understanding of sword Qi is deep. After all, you have also comprehended Sword Law. I felt the pulses of your Domain deep beneath the earth.”

So that is where Lady Yue was. In the magma tubes and chambers below the ground? Could sentient carbon even survive in such an environment? This is intriguing. Lady Yue is not a simple person by any stretch of imagination.

“You have also demonstrated your ability in imperial Qi. For a Foundation realm cultivator, it is pretty advanced,” Lady Yue says.

Lan Xiaohui’s breathing deepens and her heart calms. “Imperial Qi?” she asks with an even tone.

Lady Yue’s eyebrows furrow in thought. “You cultivate through battle but you don’t know what imperial Qi is?”

“I do it out of necessity, Lady Yue. I had no one to teach me about these things,” Lan Xiaohui explains with a fair amount of honesty.

The idea that Lan Xiaohui had to learn to layer her Qi over her body for defense out of necessity comes as a shock to Lady Yue. Of course, Lady Yue cannot imagine that this was done in a safe environment, and to the older cultivator Lan Xiaohui’s words might sound like she had to sustain injuries in battle with permanent consequences.

I can tell, even without my superficial mind-reading ability that Lan Xiaohui’s is quickly rising even higher in Lady Yue’s affinity and regard.

“Did no one show you how to comprehend sword Qi?”

“I had to learn it on my own, Lady Yue,” Lan Xiaohui replies.

This seems to surprise the older cultivator even further. “How did you improve it to such a degree without a master?”

Is this why Lady Yue seemed so surprised that Lan Xiaohui does not have a master? Because she comprehended sword Qi?

I do not understand the norms established in the cultivator world but to me, it is as simple a matter as breathing. My perspective might be a bit warped, in that regard. I awakened with a profound Dao, and my vessel is uniquely suited to producing sword energy and sword Qi.

“I butchered demonic beasts with my sword Qi,” Lan Xiaohui says.

This seems to surprise Lady Yue even more. The methods of stubborn geniuses are best left unquestioned. “What did you process?”

Lan Xiaohui hesitates for a moment and then decides to bring out several scales, hides, skulls, and organs from my internal storage.

“Ironhide Boar, Jadeskin Serpent, Silver Direwolf…” Lady Yue enumerates the names of some of the creatures the parts belonged to. “How long did it take you to skin Jadeskin Serpent?”

Lan Xiaohui considers the question. “They were one of the first beasts I processed, so at the time it took me about a week to process the skin.”

“At the time? And now?”

“About an hour.”

Lady Yue laughs at these words. “Your sword Qi is far more advanced than I thought!” Lady Yue exclaims with a jovial tone.

“Thank you, Lady Yue.”

Lady Yue — much like Lan Xiaohui is capable — seems to put these matters to the side in an instant. “You have a powerful physique and strong roots. I can also tell that you practice a powerful Martial Art. What is it called?”

“Heartless Blood Lily,” Lan Xiaohui says.

“I have never heard of it. What grade is it?”

“It is a third grade method.”

Third grade, not Heaven grade. These terms must be interchangeable.

Lady Yue nods. “You have all these things, and you comprehended Sword Law. However, as you are now, I doubt you will be able to enter the Galaxy Sword Sect or even survive your trip to the center of this forest.”

Lan Xiaohui frowns. It is natural that she feels disappointed by this. In her own estimation, she holds herself in very high regard — who else could say that they could survive this Forbidden Ancestral Hunting Ground on their own, and challenge demonic beasts and more powerful cultivators? By all scales of measurement, Lan Xiaohui is not ordinary, or even merely above average.

How fearsome must these geniuses be to be able to bar her from entering the Galaxy Sword Sect?

Lan Xiaohui remains quiet for several seconds before she finally speaks. “Lady Yue, what must I do to improve?”

Here, the older cultivator smiles. “What you lack in the most is your fundamental swordsmanship. The way you hold your sword suggests you have not even attained unity with it — the awareness of its position and orientation.”

“My fundamentals are lacking?” Lan Xiaohui asks.

Lady Yue’s words strike true as Lan Xiaohui is immediately reminded that she has allowed my rigid positioning to falter slightly, and she straightens me once more. S~ᴇaʀᴄh the NƟvelFɪre.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

“In order for you to utilize your method, Qi, and body to its full extent, in the time that we have, you should practice your basic swordsmanship to the Intermediate level.”

Lan Xiaohui’s mood suffers a minor degradation at these words. “We will have to spar?” she asks with a timid tone.

Lady Yue laughs. “I will hold back,” she says. “There is also another aid in your training that I will provide.”

Slowly, Lady Yue extends her arm to the side, turning her wrist until her sword is such a tiny slit in Lan Xiaohui’s perception that it is essentially invisible. Coincidentally, the sword’s reflection on the water is smeared out into a fuzzy contrast where it is impossible to distinguish it from the caustics on the water.

I cannot comprehend this unnatural phenomenon.

“You will study my Sword Domain,” Lady Yue announces as a crescent slash of light opens behind and above Lady Yue’s head — truly, like the crescent arc of the moon. “When we spar together, when we cultivate together, when we sleep — it will all be done within my Sword Domain.”

Immediately, the effects of Lady Yue’s Domain become apparent. The freezing light of this tiny sliver of an arc is enough to cause sparks to explode from my vessel as if it is struck by a sharp metal object — a sword!

Lan Xiaohui also feels the effects of this, as the crescent moon pushes and pulls her around — like the rising and falling of the tides — and she struggles to maintain her posture or her focus.

It is immediately clear that Lady Yue is already holding back — at its full output, it is not inconceivable that Lady Yue’s Domain would obliterate Lan Xiaohui in an instant.

Lan Xiaohui’s heart beats slightly faster. This is not fear; this is excitement.

“Yes, Lady Yue!” Lan Xiaohui exclaims, a departure from her usual cool and collected demeanor.

“Finally, in my travels, I have obtained a cultivation method. I cannot teach you the methods I use now, but had I possessed this manual back when I was in the Foundation, I would have practiced it,” Lady Yue says. “It is no longer useful to me, so I will give it to you. It has been collecting dust in my ring for decades now.”

Lady Yue withdraws a jade slip from her ring and offers it to Lan Xiaohui who, at this point, can barely stand straight beneath Lady Yue’s crescent moon.

Had Lan Xiaohui been in a situation where she wasn’t constantly struck by blunt swords, or pushed around, she might’ve thought about this gift more, but as she is now, distracted by all these things, she simply accepts the slip and pours her consciousness into it.

[ Learned: Emptiness Prana (Cultivation Method - Immortal) ]

[ Emptiness Prana: One breath to empty the heart; One empty heart to extinguish all fires. This method is suitable for Foundation Establishment realm cultivators, up to the Nascent Soul Ascension realm. ]

It surprises me that I also learn this method — at no less than 50% mastery.

“This method will help you overcome all distractions — it is particularly useful in combat. It will help nurture your body and expand your perception,” Lady Yue offers a brief explanation and then brings her sword closer to her body. “Now come, our training begins now.”

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