Chapter 20

Su Zhong didn't care what these Huashan Sect people thought. A significant reason he came to Huashan was for the wall carvings. Without minding the dirt on the ground, he sat cross-legged and began to study the sword techniques on the wall, including the methods to break them.

As he read, he thought about how to evolve his Life-Stealing Sword technique into these sword techniques. The Life-Stealing Sword is a sword technique based on fundamental sword skills. The first twelve moves, the more experience and knowledge one has, the more refined the sword techniques can become.

At first, Su Zhong found it very challenging, but his brain, enhanced by the Boundary-Breaking Pearl, was far superior to that of ordinary people. He visualized a small figure in his mind, continuously trying to evolve the sword techniques. This figure was a reference to himself, like a virtual version of him. If the figure could successfully evolve, then he himself could also succeed.

As time passed, his speed in deducing these sword techniques became faster and faster. Eventually, he could quickly transform any sword technique he saw into a Life-Stealing Sword version in his mind.

When Su Zhong finally收回 his attention, he realized that the sky outside had already turned dark.

The expressions of the few people in the cave varied, but Feng Qingyang sat calmly on a stone, his face serene as if nothing had happened all day.

Su Zhong didn't care what he thought; he only cared about the sword techniques.

He drew his sword and performed the Hengshan Sect's Hundred Changes and Thousand Illusions Thirteen Sword Techniques, which were truly illusory and captivating.

Feng Qingyang laughed heartily and pierced through Su Zhong's mist-like sword shadows with a single strike.

Undeterred, Su Zhong flipped his wrist and performed the Huashan Sect's Xiyi Sword Technique, which was silent and skillful, like a dragon crossing the sky.

Feng Qingyang countered with a single strike, breaking Su Zhong's sword technique again.

Su Zhong shifted his stance and continued to attack.

As time passed, the speed of their confrontation increased. Their figures gradually blurred. Su Zhong was surrounded by a sphere of sword light, while Feng Qingyang stood still, delivering a single strike each time.

"Excellent! Truly worthy of the name Dugu Nine Swords!" Su Zhong stood with his sword, the tip pointing diagonally, and laughed heartily.

"The Life-Stealing Sword is also an excellent sword technique," Feng Qingyang smiled, stroking his beard.

"Old Feng, be careful. The next move is my strongest—Life-Stealing Thirteen Sword!" Su Zhong closed his eyes, and the temperature around him suddenly dropped, as if he had entered an ice cave.

Feng Qingyang's expression turned serious: "Sword Intent? So that's it. The first twelve moves are the technical foundation, and the thirteenth move is the essence of the sword technique. Sword Intent! I didn't expect it to be Sword Intent!"

"But I also have Sword Intent!" Feng Qingyang's eyes gleamed.

Once the Sword Intent was unleashed, all swords submitted!

With Feng Qingyang and Su Zhong at the center, a boundary was formed.

On Su Zhong's side, all the swords hummed and trembled. On Feng Qingyang's side, there was complete silence.

"Life-Stealing!" A green light suddenly flashed, illuminating the dark cave like daylight. A strong wind blew, making it hard for everyone to open their eyes.

Feng Qingyang stood in the fierce wind, his hair flying, and shouted, "Break!" A bright white light shot up into the sky.

The green light and the bright white light collided with a loud boom.

The loud noise made everyone's ears hurt, and the intense Sword Intent made their eyes tear up, unable to open them.

After a while, everyone opened their eyes and looked at the scene.

Su Zhong was sitting cross-legged on the ground, and Feng Qingyang also looked somewhat exhausted.

"Life-Stealing Sword, Life-Stealing Sword, I see now." Feng Qingyang's face was complex. "All sword techniques are to take away lives? Without people, the sword dies."

Su Zhong stood up, his face glowing.

"Exactly. Dugu Nine Swords is about breaking all techniques, while my Life-Stealing Sword is about pursuing and taking lives. Once a person is dead, no sword technique is useful."

"Have you broken through?"

"I have. Finally reached the middle stage of the innate realm. I've been stuck at this level for over two years. Now I've finally broken through." Su Zhong's eyes sparkled.

Not only that, but he had also found a way to progress further. The Life-Stealing Twelve Sword techniques are technical, and the more sword techniques he knows, the more refined they become. But the core is the Life-Stealing Sword Intent. His breakthrough was due to his progress in the Life-Stealing Sword Intent.

Su Zhong understood that to advance further, he needed to focus on the Sword Intent.

Strictly speaking, Su Zhong lost to Feng Qingyang in their confrontation. However, he was not disappointed. This defeat helped him see the direction of his progress!

Techniques are endless, but the Sword Intent is the foundation.

Su Zhong stayed on Huashan for a month, striking Lin Pingzhi with three sword techniques every day. Then he would close his eyes and ponder the Life-Stealing Sword Intent, ignoring external affairs.

Lin Pingzhi initially complained bitterly, but later he became enthusiastic.

He tasted the benefits. After being struck by Su Zhong's three sword techniques, he would spend the whole day thinking about how to counter them.

In no time, his sword technique improved rapidly. He mastered the Huashan Sect's basic sword technique so thoroughly that among the Huashan disciples, only Linghu Chong could suppress him. Everyone else was defeated by him.

He became addicted and kept seeking more challenges.

After a month, Su Zhong, despite Lin Pingzhi's attempts to retain him, left Huashan and returned to Peach Blossom Island.

He then entered seclusion. He had found his path and devoted all his time to refining the Sword Intent.

...

Six months later, on Peach Blossom Island.

Su Zhong stood on a rock, watching the sunrise in the east, his heart calm.

Over the past six months, besides practicing basic sword techniques for two hours each day, he spent more time sensing nature. The vast sea became his best object of study.

Su Zhong had a feeling that since he understood the Sword Intent, the Boundary-Breaking Pearl in his mind had a sense of stirring, as if it had been awakened, but it still lacked something, so it had not fully awakened.

After much research, he found that the deeper his inner strength, the stronger the vibration of the Boundary-Breaking Pearl.

Therefore, the Sword Intent is the key, and inner strength is the power to open this door.

Su Zhong was very excited about the complete awakening of the Boundary-Breaking Pearl.

However, one thing completely disrupted his cultivation plan. Lin's family had been at sea for six months and wanted to visit their hometown. Moreover, Lin Pingzhi had not seen his son for six months, and he missed him.

Su Zhong, concerned about their safety, had to follow.

...

"Father, is Little Sister coming back today?" Wang Bofen asked excitedly.

"Didn't Pingzhi say that according to their schedule, it should be today?" Wang Yuanba held two gold balls, which rattled as he turned them.

"Do you think your brother-in-law will agree to let us sell the Bamboo Leaf Green?" Wang Zhongqiang asked with some worry.

"He dare not. The Fuiwei Escort Agency is gone, what skills does he have to refuse us, the Golden Saber Sect?" Wang Bofen said proudly.

"But I heard that Lin Yang's kung fu is very powerful," Wang Zhongqiang, who was more thoughtful, said.

"Lin Yang? That little fool? How powerful can he be? You know how dull he was as a child," Wang Bofen said with disdain.

"But the rumors in the martial world..."

"Do you believe the rumors in the martial world? Pah!" Wang Bofen retorted.

Wang Zhongqiang didn't know what to say. But thinking about what Wang Bofen said, it made sense. Moreover, after six months, the Bamboo Leaf Green from Peach Blossom Island had become a bestseller. The huge profits made him excited. If this matter was successful, the influence of the Golden Saber Sect in Zhongzhou would be even greater.

Wang Yuanba, sitting in the main seat, listened to his sons argue without speaking. He thought this matter should be no problem. To protect their wealth, one needs strength. The declining Lin family lacked this strength. If Lin Zhenan, his son-in-law, didn't understand, he would use his fists to teach him a lesson.

They say that little fool is powerful, perfect for testing my skills. He has always liked Lin Pingzhi, but he doesn't like Su Zhong, who has never shown respect to elders.

...

"Xiao Linzi, where is Senior Brother?" Yue Lingshan pouted, very unhappy.

In the past six months, the Huashan Sect had undergone significant changes. The Sword Sect had caused trouble for the Huashan Sect, but Feng Qingyang's appearance solved all the problems. Now the Sword and Qi Sects are united, with the elders of the Sword Sect, such as Cheng Buyou, joining the Elder Hall, and Yue Buqun still serving as the sect leader.

The Huashan Sect's cultivation philosophy has abandoned the distinction between sword and qi. Feng Qingyang, the old senior of Huashan, personally deduced the entire five-year cultivation course for Huashan disciples, ensuring a solid foundation in both sword techniques and inner strength. After five years, the cultivation path depends on personal preference.

A rule was set: no Huashan Sect member may mention the Sword and Qi Sects. Anyone who does is considered a traitor to Huashan.

Cheng Buyou and others were initially unhappy, but after understanding the origin of the Sword and Qi Sects, they could only accept the rule with a heavy heart.

The conflict between sword and qi, on the surface, was a difference in philosophy. In reality, it was a struggle for interests. Those with direct grudges had long been eliminated. The remaining ones were just the younger generation. With Feng Qingyang in charge, no one dared to defy.

Philosophy is just a facade. Feng Qingyang wanted to eliminate this polarized philosophy to minimize internal conflicts.

The Huashan Sect's reconstruction was grand, and its strength increased dramatically. Its reputation in the martial world grew. However, unfortunately, Linghu Chong was still injured, not by anyone else but by Yilin's father, Bu Jie.

By chance, Linghu Chong followed a group to Luoyang again. But now it was much better than in the original story. He is now a special care patient and a talented disciple of Huashan, not the suspect everyone disliked in the original story. Laodenuo was already killed by Feng Qingyang, and Liuhouer naturally didn't die.

"Senior Brother went to listen to music in the Green Bamboo Alley outside the city," Lin Pingzhi said, then resumed practicing the simplest Huashan Sect's basic sword technique.

"Xiao Linzi! Senior Brother went to listen to music, and you practice sword techniques. No one accompanies me shopping