Chapter 52

When Han Muye saw Lin Shen, the head instructor, again, he almost didn’t recognize him.

The once tall and robust, bold-faced head instructor was now emaciated, with a scruffy beard, sunken eyes, and prominent cheekbones.

The martial uniform hung loosely on his body, as if it might float away.

"Head Instructor Lin, you..."

Han Muye felt a bit of self-reproach.

If it weren't for his interference, Head Instructor Lin would still be the same, wielding his sword with a thousand strikes, splitting rocks and shattering mountains.

But his few words had shattered Lin Shen's resolve, destroying the path he had pursued for so many years.

Although he knew that after a thousand sword strikes, Lin Shen's resolve would still be shattered, at least he could have let him indulge in it for a few more years, right?

"Hehe, I don't blame you." Lin Shen laughed, his gaunt face showing a hint of blood color.

"I just wanted to come and chat with you."

Lin Shen had a faint smell of alcohol on him.

Han Muye looked around, stepped out of the Sword Pavilion, and then sat down on the stone steps.

The rules of the Sword Pavilion state that one must not enter unless they have received a sword.

Lin Shen sat down beside him.

"Really, I don't blame you."

"I know, it was just a delusional thought."

Lin Shen sighed softly, his gaze looking into the distance.

"I just used this method to stop myself from thinking too much."

Han Muye nodded and then asked, "Head Instructor Lin, who told you about this cultivation method?"

This method was not only a form of ascetic practice but also a torment to one's mental state.

Moreover, Lin Shen was not a fool.

Whose words would he believe so deeply?

Even if his master told him, he might not fully believe it.

Lin Shen and Xu Ming, as well as Zhao Pu, were all from the same school, so Lin Shen should also be a disciple of the Three Stones Study.

Tuoba Cheng, known for his boldness, would not have let Lin Shen practice a method involving a thousand sword strikes.

"It was my elder brother."

Lin Shen directly gave the answer.

"You've only been in the sect for a short time, so you don't know the reputation of my elder brother, Lin Chongxiao."

"Master's Three Stones Study has no direct lineage, all because of my elder brother."

Lin Shen's voice was low, and he spoke softly, "Back then, my elder brother entered the inner sect as the top student from the outer sect. In one day, he challenged twelve opponents and entered the top hundred of the inner sect."

"Master took him as a true disciple, saying that within ten years, he would cultivate him into the direct lineage of the Earth and Stone lineage."

A direct lineage disciple has the qualifications to become an elder of the sect.

Each direct lineage disciple, barring any unforeseen circumstances, would reach the Earth Realm.

Among the five lineages of the Nine Profound Sword Sect, those who could become direct lineage disciples were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

"Then, what about your elder brother...?" Han Muye asked softly, "Did he become a direct lineage disciple?"

Although some questions were hard to ask, he still had to ask them.

The reputation of a direct lineage disciple was so well-known; how could Han Muye not have heard of it?

If he hadn't heard of it, it naturally meant he wasn't one.

"Twelve years ago, in the battle at the Fiery Demon Valley, our sword sect surpassed the Tai Ling Sword Sect, becoming the third of the four major sword sects."

"Master Tuoba Cheng, with his perfected sword intent, delivered a single strike that injured the Fiery Demon Valley's Grand Elder Hu Taisheng and killed the Tai Ling Sword Sect's most promising elder, Qin Ci, who had the potential to reach the Golden Core Realm."

Lin Shen's eyes gleamed.

Han Muye seemed to see countless sword cultivators charging, their sword light piercing the sky and shattering the mountains.

Sword cultivators cultivate the thread of heavenly opportunity.

This opportunity is seized with the sword in hand.

Striving against others, striving against heaven.

"In that battle, our sword sect lost three Earth Realm executive elders and seven true disciples."

"Master's sword intent was severely damaged and has not recovered in twelve years."

"My elder brother, he, was one of the seven true disciples who fell."

Lin Shen's facial muscles twitched, and there was a glimmer of tears in his eyes.

He forced back the sorrow in his heart and took a deep breath.

"At that time, I was in front of my elder brother, and he asked Master to take me as a disciple."

"Then he told me, 'A thousand sword strikes, split rocks, and shatter mountains.'"

He placed the large sword he carried on his back across his knees and stroked the scabbard and hilt.

"My talent is far inferior to my elder brother's..."

"I just wanted to cultivate hard and one day reach the realm my elder brother spoke of."

Saying this, he shook his head and smiled lightly, "Brother Han, thank you for waking me up."

"I should accept my fate."

As he spoke, he stood up and looked up at the two large characters 'Sword Pavilion' above him.

"I won't practice the sword anymore."

"I took this sword, my elder brother's sword, out of the Sword Pavilion years ago. Now, I will return it."

Reluctantly, he stroked the long sword once more, then held it with both hands and handed it to Han Muye.

Han Muye stood up, pondered for a moment, and took the long sword.

He reached out and gripped the sword he had once held, and with a "clang," he drew the long sword.

"The sword is undamaged and well-maintained."

"Today, I have received a long sword from a sword sect disciple."

Lin Shen's gaze fell on the long sword, and he took a deep breath before turning and walking away.

"Head Instructor Lin, if you don't practice the sword anymore, where will you go in the future?"

Han Muye asked.

"Home."

"My younger sister has better cultivation talent than me. I might as well go home, carry on the family line, and live a comfortable life."

Lin Shen's figure swayed as he took large steps and left.

Only when his figure disappeared down the mountain path did Han Muye turn around.

Lu Gao, standing at the entrance of the Sword Pavilion, looked at the long sword in Han Muye's hands.

"Brother Han, I've heard the story of Lin Chongxiao."

"The reputation of the Three Stones Green Tiger is well-known."

Han Muye nodded.

Lu Gao carefully glanced at Han Muye's expression and then said in a low voice, "Cultivation is sometimes about accepting one's fate."

"I never thought I could become an outer sect disciple in my life."

He grinned and placed his hand on his chest, "I just want to earn more, and when I'm older, go down the mountain, marry a wife, have a few sons, and then let them come up the mountain to cultivate."

Han Muye looked up at him.

"Brother Han, you have great opportunities and great talent. You will surely have a smooth path ahead." Lu Gao quickly changed his words, remembering that Han Muye was once unable to join the sword sect due to insufficient talent.

In terms of talent, Han Muye might not be higher than him.

If he had given up, what about Han Muye?

"Brother Lu, cultivation is not difficult." Han Muye spoke softly and then, without waiting for Lu Gao's response, walked directly into the Sword Pavilion.

He held the long sword and walked step by step into the depths of the wooden swords.

Although this sword was not a spirit weapon, it was a heavy sword, and a considerable amount of spiritual materials were used in its making.

Stopping in front of an empty wooden rack, he placed the long sword on it.

Looking at the heavy sword, Han Muye seemed to see a young sword cultivator with sword qi piercing the sky, sweeping through the outer sect with one sword, and entering the top hundred of the inner sect with another.

He saw this young man shine brightly and then saw him fall in a bloody battle.

Unconsciously, Han Muye's hand fell on the hilt of the sword.

Images flashed through his mind.

The robust figure of Head Instructor Lin swinging the long sword, each strike using all his strength.

The Profound Yuan Sword Technique split rocks.

The Profound Sword Technique shattered mountains.

Han Muye had seen these images before.

Gripping the hilt tightly, the fragmented sword qi in his qi sea poured in.

"Buzz—"

The long sword resonated.

One sword qi.

Ten.

A hundred.

A thousand!

"Boom—"

The images in Han Muye's mind suddenly exploded, and then a young man stood there, holding a large sword, as tall and straight as a mountain.

"I am Lin Chongxiao, I greet you, fellow cultivator."