Chapter 6

Dugu Jiu Jian (Nine Swords of Dugu) is more about the principles of martial arts than a specific sword technique. As long as one understands all the principles of martial arts, no one's skills can escape this framework, and thus can be easily countered. Understanding the principles of the sword means that every strike conforms to these principles. Whether there are fixed techniques or not becomes unimportant.

It's like the great calligraphers of later generations; their casual brushstrokes become timeless classics. However, no matter how much you practice their calligraphy, it will still look like a dog's scrawl if you don't grasp the essence!

You can copy the form but not the spirit!

This is the realm of winning without techniques, the difference between a mere expert and a master. Just like when Zhang Sanfeng taught Zhang Wuji Tai Chi Sword, he first made Zhang Wuji forget all the techniques, which is the same principle!

This requires a very high level of insight, and Linghu Chong has such exceptional talent! Xiao Ran's foundation is far inferior to Linghu Chong's, and he can't keep up with their thinking. Unlike Linghu Chong, who understands everything at a glance, Xiao Ran, after the fusion of his two souls, has a photographic memory, so he memorizes everything first.

Feng Qingyang not only taught the two of them Dugu Jiu Jian but, at Xiao Ran's request, also taught them all the lost sword techniques of Huashan. As Xiao Ran put it, these sword techniques must be recorded in the book.

After teaching for two months and hearing Xiao Ran's story, Feng Qingyang left. Before leaving, he said to Xiao Ran, "If the book is completed, send me a copy! 'The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber,' 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes,' 'The Return of the Condor Heroes,' 'The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber,' what will our story be called?" "Of course, it will be 'The Smiling, Proud Wanderer!'"

Xiao Ran, having obtained Dugu Jiu Jian, constantly pondered and practiced with Linghu Chong on the mountain. At first, he could only last one or two moves against Linghu Chong, but after half a year, although Xiao Ran hadn't broken through to the second level of body cultivation, he could last seventy to eighty moves. If he didn't use internal energy, he could last up to 150 moves.

His rapid progress left Linghu Chong speechless.

Linghu Chong also sighed, "To think you've trained external skills to such a level! No wonder Grandmaster Feng said your insight is far above mine! Even without cultivating internal energy or learning Dugu Jiu Jian, few disciples of major sects can defeat you!"

Xiao Ran's insight might not be higher than Linghu Chong's, but Xiao Ran has an excellent memory, knowledge from two other worlds, and a scientific method for learning new things, which Linghu Chong can't match!

...

Xiao Ran's time in this world was running out.

Perhaps Tian Boguang failed to practice the Bi Xie Sword Technique, so he didn't come to Huashan, and everything was peaceful...

Except for the one thing that remained the same as the main plot: Linghu Chong being dumped. Xiao Ran even drank with him that night.

Xiao Ran thought he would pass through the world of 'The Smiling, Proud Wanderer' without any significant events, but then an unexpected visitor came to Huashan.

A large group of people marched up the mountain, led by Feng Boping and his gang. They were originally from the Huashan Sword Sect, but after losing a sword duel twenty-five years ago, they never stopped wanting to retake Huashan. Under the instigation of the ambitious Zuo Lengchan, they came to Huashan to challenge Yueru Bunchun for the leadership.

At the mountain gate, a tall, thin old man held up a five-colored banner adorned with pearls and gems and said, "I am Lu Bai, the Crane Hand, representing the Five Mountains Sword Sect's leader, Zuo Lengchan, to request a meeting with the Huashan Sect's leader, Yueru Bunchun."

All the Huashan disciples were stunned, their hearts filled with turmoil. The last time Zuo Lengchan's Five Mountains banner appeared, it led to the massacre of the Liu Zhengfeng family on Hengshan. Xiao Ran had also instilled in them the idea that the Songshan Sect was not to be trusted, so they were already wary.

Xiao Ran, who was present, had already prepared mentally and had more experience than the disciples, so he quickly reacted and said to Yue Lingshan, "The last time on Hengshan, the Five Mountains banner led to bloodshed. These people don't seem to have good intentions. Go and bring out your Master and Mistress from their seclusion immediately!"

After that, Xiao Ran sent Lu Dàyǒu to Qing Si Cliff to bring Linghu Chong down.

Xiao Ran didn't have much of a relationship with Yueru Bunchun, but he had gotten along well with the Huashan disciples. They had treated him well with good food and drink while he told stories. They practiced swords together and chatted, just like classmates on Earth.

He knew that the Huashan Sect would face a series of misfortunes and many would die. Xiao Ran, being an emotional person, had been thinking of ways to resolve this crisis. He didn't have a specific plan, but if all else failed, he could bring out Feng Qingyang. With Feng Qingyang backing them, anyone who wanted to challenge Huashan would think twice.

At this moment, the traitor Laodenuo rushed over and said, "Please forgive me, Senior Masters. My Master and Mistress are in seclusion. I will lead you to the Zhengqi Hall to wait."

Xiao Ran was somewhat disdainful. A traitor is different; he was eager to play the role of a guide.

Xiao Ran wasn't afraid of these people. In the original story, Linghu Chong, without internal energy, defeated Feng Boping before he had fully mastered Dugu Jiu Jian. Due to Xiao Ran's intervention, Linghu Chong started learning Dugu Jiu Jian about half a year earlier.

Linghu Chong was injured on Huashan by Cheng Buyou because he was overconfident. It was his own fault, not anyone else's.

Xiao Ran was slightly inferior to Linghu Chong, but even if he was only as good as Linghu Chong when he first learned Dugu Jiu Jian, he still had a chance against Feng Boping.

They all went to the Zhengqi Hall.

Seeing the Zhengqi Hall, Feng Boping and his disciples almost shed tears. When they first joined Huashan, they also took their vows here, but it was then called the Jianqi Chongxiao Hall...

The place is the same, but the people are different!

At this moment, a man with a sallow complexion and a face full of resentment, his eyes slightly moist, said in a slightly shrill voice, "What is the Qi Sect doing, changing the Jianqi Chongxiao Hall to the Zhengqi Hall! Our Huashan Sect is a sword sect, and the Jianqi Chongxiao Hall was originally named with the sword first and the qi second! No wonder they have produced a bunch of useless disciples, tarnishing the reputation of our Huashan Sect!"

All the Huashan disciples were displeased. Xiao Ran stepped forward and said, "What is your name, Senior? How my Master teaches his disciples is none of Zuo Lengchan's business!"

He looked at the sword on the man's waist, which was clearly in the Huashan style, and thought it must be one of Feng Boping's group!

Sure enough, the man said, "I am Feng Boping of the Huashan Sword Sect. It doesn't matter if Yueru Bunchun practices recklessly, but if he teaches recklessly, it will ruin the reputation of the Huashan Sect!"

Xiao Ran chuckled and said to Lu Bai, who held the banner, "Senior Lu, did you bring such a delusional person to Huashan?"

Lu Bai glanced at Feng Boping, feeling that this person exuded a sinister aura and that arguing with a junior disciple of Huashan was beneath him. Lu Bai said coolly, "Such lack of respect and disregard for the teacher's authority, is this the etiquette of Huashan disciples?"

Xiao Ran smiled lightly, "If a bunch of unknown ruffians rushed to Songshan and said that Zuo Lengchan's disciples are all useless, would Senior Lu respect them?"

Lu Bai's face turned red, and Feng Boping and his group were furious. The short man beside him suddenly rushed out and said to Xiao Ran, "What kind of disciple did Yueru Bunchun teach, daring to be disrespectful to Zuo Lengchan? Die!"

He drew his sword from his waist and thrust it at Xiao Ran, the sword light flashing with the sound of wind and thunder!