Chapter 14

The old man's expression was solemn, his entire body exuding a solid aura, his brows and eyes filled with gravity.

This made Han Muye feel a bit anxious.

Was it really necessary to be so serious for a deal involving ten spirit stones?

Or perhaps, this senior was one of the big shots in the Nine Profound Sword Sect, who had taken a liking to him and wanted to pass on his legacy?

Maybe, this was his opportunity.

Han Muye's expression was respectful as he clasped his hands and said, "I want to learn."

The old man nodded, his expression unchanged, and looked at Han Muye. "Good. I'll ask you a few questions, and you must answer truthfully."

This process seemed very much like the way a big shot would pass on his legacy!

Han Muye suppressed his excitement and nodded vigorously.

"Good. I'll ask you, why did you come to the Nine Profound Sword Sect?" the old man asked, his eyes seeming to glow with a sharp light.

Why did he come to the Nine Profound Sword Sect?

Han Muye recalled, and the image of the rows of swords in the Sword Pavilion flashed through his mind.

"For the sword," he shook his head and said solemnly, "to wield the sword and roam the world, to live a long and prosperous life."

After being reborn, he had to have some ambition, naturally aiming high.

Hearing his words, the old man's face showed a hint of a smile, and he clapped his hands. "Good!"

"If you don't have the desire to dominate the world with your sword, you don't have the qualifications to learn my Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Source!"

Han Muye's heart leaped; he had indeed made the right bet!

Just as he was about to bow, the old man raised his hand again. "I'll ask you one more question. Is your cultivation potential above the fifth rank?"

Above the fifth rank?

To cultivate the Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Source, did he need such potential?

Indeed, with such a grand name, it would naturally require at least fifth-rank potential.

Han Muye's face stiffened, and he shook his head. "No."

He sighed inwardly; it seemed he wouldn't have the opportunity to learn such a supreme cultivation technique.

"Good!" the old man shouted, startling Han Muye.

"If your potential were good enough, you wouldn't need to come and learn my Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Source. You could just follow the standard path."

As he said this, the old man's eyes fixed on Han Muye, as if staring at a priceless jade.

"Having the desire to dominate the world but lacking the potential and resources."

"Such people are a dime a dozen in the world."

"Should these people just accept their fate and spend their lives as ants?"

The old man's face turned red, and he shouted loudly, his body seemingly radiating a violent aura.

This old man was a bit crazy.

Were all the great cultivators like this?

Han Muye kept his mouth shut.

After his outburst, the old man reined in his aura, his face returning to normal as he looked at Han Muye. "Today, I will teach you the Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Source. Remember, you are paving a path to the heavens for the ordinary sword cultivators of the world. Understand?"

Han Muye nodded.

Wasn't this responsibility a bit too great?

Seeing Han Muye nod, the old man placed one hand behind his back and took a step forward.

"I, Mo Yuan, have spent a hundred years in the Nine Profound Sword Sect, studying three hundred and sixty sword techniques, but I never found the way."

"Later, I watched the three elders of the Sword Pavilion in action, their sword qi stretching for three thousand feet, a single sword capable of splitting mountains and severing rivers, and only then did I gain enlightenment."

"Refine a single thread of sword qi, temper it countless times, divide it into one hundred and twenty-eight thousand strands, and condense it into sword intent."

"Temper the sword intent a hundred times, transforming it into tempered steel, flexible and strong, gather three thousand sword intents, and transform them into the great momentum of heaven and earth."

"This is—"

The old man raised his right hand, his fingers together, and pointed forward.

"Ten—Thousand—Swords—Return—to—the—Source—"

His gaze was distant and determined, his posture as straight and majestic as a sword!

If there were countless flying swords and endless sword light swirling around, and the earth shaking, it would truly be the Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Source, a single sword piercing the sky.

But in this small room, it seemed to lack a bit of momentum.

After a long silence, Han Muye couldn't help but speak softly, "That's it?"

The old man slowly lowered his hand, not answering him, but asked, "How much did you understand?"

Understand?

Just that move, no, that posture?

Han Muye closed his eyes, and the image of the old man standing in place, raising his fingers, slowly appeared in his mind.

This time, the image moved very slowly, so slow that Han Muye wanted to fast-forward it.

But he could feel that there was something in this image.

He looked carefully, at the old man's eyes in the image, at the old man's movements when he raised his fingers, at the old man's expression when he shouted "Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Source."

Unconsciously, he felt a difference.

Seriousness.

Determination.

The old man's eyes were filled with determination.

The old man's fingers were raised with determination.

The old man's expression was determined.

As he repeatedly replayed the image, the old man's aura became increasingly solid, until all the images shattered.

Han Muye's eyes opened.

He had understood the Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Source!

At the moment he understood the Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Source, he felt all the sword qi in the illusory space within his body tremble and surge, as if about to burst forth.

Could he control the sword qi within his body?

The Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Source was real!

This Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Source truly condensed the essence of countless sword techniques, a single sword capable of slicing through the stars and rivers!

Looking at the old man in front of him, Han Muye felt only admiration. He raised his hand and bowed. "Thank you, Senior, for your guidance. I have understood."

A great being who could create such a technique deserved respect.

"You, you learned it?" The old man was taken aback by Han Muye's actions and asked urgently, "What did you understand?"

Was this the final test?

Han Muye straightened up, clenched his fist, and said firmly, "With a sword in hand, the world is mine."

The old man frowned, about to speak, but then Han Muye added, "I understood that even without a sword in hand, there is a sword in the heart."

"Without a sword in hand, but a sword in the heart?" The old man was stunned, muttering to himself.

"Without a sword in hand, but a sword in the heart?"

"Ha ha, without a sword in hand, but a sword in the heart!"

The old man laughed loudly and turned to leave.

Only after he left did Han Muye realize that he hadn't paid the ten spirit stones yet.

And what about the promise of taking him as a disciple?

To be able to understand the Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Source with just one look, this level of insight, wouldn't this great being want to take him as a disciple and pass on his legacy?

The Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Source, this wasn't some common technique, was it so casual?

Shaking his head, Han Muye had no choice but to put away the two booklets and prepare to leave the meditation room.

Perhaps this was fate; he was just not destined to become an elder's disciple.

As he was about to leave, the jade tablet in front of him still had a glow.

"Huh?"

A message on the jade tablet caught Han Muye's attention.

"Room 85 needs a demonstration of the Green Wave technique of the Two Profound Sword Art. Reward: five hundred spirit stones."

Green Wave?

He had just understood this sword technique yesterday, and not just once.

Subconsciously, he touched the jade tablet, and the message disappeared.

Was this accepting the task?

Han Muye walked out of the meditation room, went to Room 85, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open.

Inside the room, a young man in an inner disciple's white robe looked at Han Muye, sized him up, and frowned slightly.

"Brother, I don't seem to have seen you in the inner disciples..."

Han Muye said coolly, "There are three thousand inner disciples. Do you know them all?"

"That's not what I meant—" The young man's face changed, but before he could finish, Han Muye waved his hand. "Do you want a demonstration of the Green Wave sword technique?"

The young man nodded.

Han Muye looked at the long sword on the young man's waist and held out his hand. "Give me the sword."