Chapter 39

The Thirty-Six Swords of Green Cloud is a Daoist martial arts sword technique, emphasizing lightness, agility, speed, and grace. Because it is the most basic sword technique, it encompasses all the combat methods such as chopping, thrusting, pointing, sweeping, collapsing, intercepting, wiping, piercing, lifting, twisting, and sweeping. It embodies the sword techniques in its form and conceals the sword intent within its movements. Although the moves are simple and unadorned, when combined with footwork, they fully reveal the natural and fluid essence of Daoism, with a balance of hardness and softness, and a momentum like a dragon playing with a pearl, graceful and elegant.

The Qingxuan Sword Technique, where one day of practice is equivalent to ten years of effort, has been deeply mastered with the help of the Lanhuan Lingmiao Pavilion, grasping its five flavors.

One can see that when Qingxuan wields the sword, it is clear and ethereal, with sword light crisscrossing; when he moves, it is as smooth as flowing clouds, leaving no trace.

In the sword technique, the moves are simple and unassuming, without a hint of flamboyance; in the body movements, there is no excessive maneuvering, like a light boat floating on water, gentle and unhurried.

The sword technique is not difficult, the body movements are not difficult, and the mental techniques are not difficult...

It is this simple and straightforward Thirty-Six Swords of Green Cloud that Qingxuan performs so beautifully.

This is a feeling Qingxuan has never experienced before.

In the sword technique, he transforms into a towering pine, shaking off the snow; at times, he becomes a clear spring, winding around a rock; or a gentle breeze, sweeping away a wisp of cloud...

The wind, flowers, snow, moon, sun, moon, stars, green pines, weeping willows, reeds, and rocks... all the plants and trees in nature are transformed into sword techniques, and he himself seems not to be practicing the sword, but to have become various creatures in nature, performing freely and gracefully...

After two hours, Qingxuan, feeling refreshed and invigorated, sheathed his sword and checked his attributes. The Thirty-Six Swords of Green Cloud had already reached 16% progress towards "near perfection."

Qingxuan was momentarily delighted and sighed. He was delighted because, with the "near perfection" realm, from now on, performing this set of sword techniques would be as easy and natural as raising a hand or taking a step, and the sword techniques would be deeply ingrained in his subconscious. Even in a sudden encounter with an enemy, he could subconsciously perform them without panicking.

At the same time, he couldn't help but sigh. If it weren't for the Lanhuan Lingmiao Pavilion directly elevating his sword technique to "near perfection," it would have taken him several years of hard practice to reach this level. If a green-level martial art is so difficult to improve, it's easy to imagine how challenging it would be to achieve mastery in higher-level martial arts in the future.

"Little Uncle!" A soft call, and Qingxuan's sleeve was pulled by Yunming.

Qingxuan, who was deep in thought, was startled and turned around to see his young nephew, Yunming.

"Eh? Yunming? Why are you alone? Where's your sister?"

"She went out to play with the senior sisters," Yunming replied.

At the front of Green Cloud Temple, there was a small courtyard where the fourth senior sister's female disciples lived. Green Cloud Temple was an orphanage in Qingyang Town, and the orphans were both boys and girls. Living together in the temple was inconvenient, so a separate courtyard was set up on the front mountain, where the fourth senior sister, Yue Qinglan, taught her disciples. However, it was uncertain whether her lively nature would mislead her disciples.

"Little Uncle, Little Uncle, teach me to practice the sword, teach me to practice the sword." Yunming, who rarely used such pleading tactics, had big, blinking eyes, looking extremely cute. He had clearly learned this from his sister.

"Uh, aren't you learning sword techniques from your father?"

Yunming and Yunxuan were true second-generation martial artists, forced to practice martial arts from a young age by their parents.

"Father and mother's sword techniques aren't as beautiful as yours."

"Uh..."

Qingxuan didn't know whether to cry or laugh at the idea that his killing techniques were called beautiful.

"Little Uncle, please, please..."

Unable to resist Yunming's persistent pleading and seeing the child's genuine passion for the sword, Qingxuan, who would normally demand stories in exchange for lessons, nodded and said, "Alright." Although his sword technique was not yet perfected, teaching a child was not a big deal. Moreover, children have a playful nature, and after a few hard practices, they might not pester him anymore. Otherwise, if this continued, he wouldn't be able to do anything else.

"Oh, oh, great, great."

Yunming, seeing his little uncle agree, immediately jumped for joy.

"Take the sword, uh... this bamboo stick... and follow me. The first move is 'Pine Welcoming Snow,' the second move is 'Willow Dark, Flowers Bright,' the third move is 'Flowing Clouds, Running Water'..."

Days passed in this fulfilling manner.

Before he knew it, it was already May, the middle of summer. In this world, the calendar used was similar to the lunar calendar of ancient China, with the first, second, and third months being spring, the fourth, fifth, and sixth months being summer, the seventh, eighth, and ninth months being autumn, and the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth months being winter, quite in line with the natural seasons.

After obtaining the Lanhuan Lingmiao Pavilion, Ye Qingxuan's enthusiasm for martial arts became extremely intense. Every day, he practiced the "Complete Heart Technique," "Kunwu Primordial Jade Technique," "Thirty-Six Swords of Green Cloud," and "Tai Chi Cultivation Technique" without rest.

He practiced the "Complete Heart Technique" rigorously, ran the "Kunwu Primordial Jade Technique" while sitting, started with a set of "Tai Chi Cultivation Technique" to loosen his body, and then intensely practiced the "Thirty-Six Swords of Green Cloud."

In the twelve hours of a day, there was not a moment of rest. Even when physically and mentally exhausted and lying down, he still practiced internal cultivation and persisted with the "Complete Heart Technique."

The "Complete Heart Technique" was incredibly convenient, as his internal strength increased rapidly even while sleeping. Although the lying practice made him uncomfortable for the first two days, he quickly adapted. Every morning, he woke up feeling refreshed, and after internal inspection, his internal strength had significantly improved. The young Taoist Qingxuan was always immersed in happiness.

Before long, Qingxuan broke through his previous realm and reached the fourth level of the "Body Tempering" stage.

He gained one skill point.

Not only that, but through this period of cultivation, the several martial arts he had already mastered had made varying degrees of progress, especially the "Tai Chi Cultivation Technique" and "Kunwu Primordial Jade Technique." Due to increased familiarity, their speed and the amount of internal strength gained were greatly improved.

Now, Ye Qingxuan had 13 skill points, one green-level martial art exchange opportunity, and two blue-level martial art exchange opportunities.

Looking at the vast essence in the twelve main meridians, Qingxuan speculated that this reserve would be sufficient to support his cultivation until he reached the "Qi Gathering" stage. Before then, he wouldn't have to worry about slow internal strength progression.

If he could activate the vast essence in the twelve main meridians a few more times, his "Little Wu Xiang Technique" might open a few more of the "Twelve Heavenly Palaces" and activate a few more "Heavenly Palaces."

The young Taoist Qingxuan entered a fervent period of martial arts practice.

The mischievous and playful little uncle was gone, bringing a rare tranquility to Green Cloud Temple. The people who were used to his antics even found it somewhat uncomfortable.

Qingxuan practiced martial arts every day without interruption, and Yunming, who had betrayed his sister, now followed his little uncle to practice sword techniques. With no one to play with, Yunxuan had to go to the courtyard to play with her senior sisters.

For a time, Green Cloud Temple enjoyed a rare peace.

The little uncle had started practicing martial arts.

When the news spread, the entire temple was surprised.

The always mischievous and lazy little uncle was actually practicing martial arts so diligently?

The little uncle who even sat to defecate was now practicing at the crack of dawn and not stopping until sunset?

This bizarre news was hard to believe, not just for the disciples but even for Qingxuan's senior brothers.

The eldest brother, Qingzheng Daoist, came first, watched Qingxuan perform a set of sword techniques, said "good" three times, and left without even looking at his own son.

The fourth senior sister, Qinglan, came next, watched again, and left with a smile. From then on, Qingxuan's diet improved several times over, and while other Taoists ate vegetarian, the fourth senior sister sent food from the outer courtyard, with fish and meat continuously.

The third senior brother, Qingsong, came last, watched Qingxuan perform several sets of sword techniques, remained silent, and hastily recorded the changes in the sword techniques. He then went back to study, not seen for three days...

Seeing their master's attitude, the third-generation disciples dared not take it lightly.

Every morning, everyone would see the little uncle practicing diligently with Yunming, with Yunxuan always following closely behind.

It seemed that any atmosphere could be contagious.

With the sect competition approaching, all the disciples joined the cultivation ranks, and for a time, the martial arts atmosphere in Green Cloud Temple was extremely intense.

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