Chapter 74

"Bu Zheng, what kind of array formation were you playing with just now? Why did you blow up the ground like this?" Xiuying, hearing the loud noise, also looked over. Seeing the huge sword marks in front of Bu Zheng, she couldn't imagine that these were caused by a single sword technique. She thought Bu Zheng was playing with array formations and elixirs as usual.

Fortunately, it was her who saw it. If it were someone else, they might have noticed a trace of sword intent in the ground, which could have caused a stir throughout the Qingyun Sword Sect.

Sword intent is the threshold for sword cultivators. Only those who comprehend sword intent can be called true sword cultivators. In the Qingyun Sword Sect, only a few elders have comprehended sword intent, and none of the younger generation have.

Even Qin Shuang hasn't comprehended sword intent. Sword intent is a spiritual realm, not something that can be accumulated through other means. It purely depends on one's opportunities and enlightenment, which cannot be assisted by elixirs or other tools.

However, those who comprehend sword intent are not necessarily stronger than those who don't. If the gap in strength is too large, this spiritual realm cannot make up for it. But it is certain that those with sword intent are stronger than those without, and the difference is not just a little.

Has Bu Zheng comprehended sword intent?

Currently, no. Sword intent sometimes erupts suddenly, but that doesn't mean it has been comprehended. However, those who have experienced an eruption have a higher chance of comprehending it.

This time, Bu Zheng's sword intent was only slightly present, not very obvious, and not yet at the level of comprehension. Although it gave him some insight, if he focused on sword practice, he could master it within a few years. But currently, he doesn't have that intention.

Because the sword intent was not strong, Qin Shuang, who was far away, didn't feel it. She just silently thanked Bu Zheng and then turned to leave. As for the token, she didn't give it to him because it was no longer important.

Now she believes that when she returns, she will achieve something. In the future, if Bu Zheng comes to find her, others will bring him to her without the token.

Bu Zheng doesn't know about this. He is still a bit confused.

"I don't know what happened. I just felt a bit dazed..." Bu Zheng shook his head. His actions just now were subconscious, entering a state of self-forgetfulness. He wasn't very clear about his movements, though he had some vague impressions.

"You, really..." Xiuying said and then continued practicing her sword techniques. She was already "used to" this phenomenon and didn't pay much attention, continuing her practice.

"I'm going to work now." Bu Zheng adjusted his internal energy and quickly recovered, at least enough to walk and work.

So, Xiuying continued practicing and cultivating, while Bu Zheng went to work. After finishing his tasks, Bu Zheng also started cultivating. This was their daily routine.

Xiuying practiced and cultivated all day, while Bu Zheng only started cultivating after completing all his tasks. Given this time difference, it would be almost impossible for him to reach the pinnacle of martial arts.

Three days later...

"Ha ha ha..." Bu Zheng, who was cultivating, suddenly burst into laughter.

"What's wrong? Are you crazy?" Xiuying stopped practicing.

"Not crazy, not crazy. I'm just happy. I finally mastered the dual meridian technique..." Bu Zheng laughed, "We should celebrate tonight."

"Dual meridian technique? That's just the first meridian level. You're too weak. I've already reached the second meridian level. This Guiyuan Heart Method is really good, but it's a pity you can't learn it." Xiuying said with a mix of disdain and contempt, as Bu Zheng's progress was too slow.

Xiuying didn't know that Bu Zheng's mastery was different from hers and everyone else's. Others followed the heart method, guided by predecessors, while he completely explored on his own. His heart method was created by himself, or rather, deduced by himself.

Xiuying also didn't know that Bu Zheng's heart method was inherited from Ling Aoxue, a top-tier heart method of the righteous path. Although Ling Aoxue only gave him a very basic foundation, he used this foundation to deduce a heart method that was no weaker than what Ling Aoxue learned.

Perhaps Bu Zheng's heart method could no longer be considered the same as Ling Aoxue's, but the characteristics of his internal energy were very similar, leading many to mistakenly believe his heart method was inherited from Ling Aoxue.

Because of this, Bu Zheng didn't need any heart method. He deduced his own, and as for martial techniques, the ones demonstrated by Ling Aoxue and the other person were already top-tier in the world.

In other words, as long as the conditions were right, Bu Zheng could reach the pinnacle of martial arts. This was just a matter of time. However, time is limited in life, and whether he could reach the pinnacle depended on how fast he progressed and how long he lived.

"Hehe, I am a bit slow, but that just highlights your intelligence," Bu Zheng scratched his head and smiled foolishly.

This wasn't Bu Zheng being sarcastic. In his view, Xiuying was smart, and he was a fool, unable to read or cultivate internal energy for a long time.

Xiuying nodded in satisfaction and said, "I like that. Today, I'm in a good mood, so I'll cook..."

"No, thank you. Your cooking isn't as good as mine, and your hands are too slow." Bu Zheng shook his head and refused, speaking his mind.

"Hmph, that's fine. I'll continue practicing. Later, help me fix the array formation. It's a bit broken," Xiuying replied, not caring what Bu Zheng said, but reminding him to fix the array formation.

Currently, Bu Zheng still couldn't find a way to make the array formation last long-term. This was because he only understood array formations but not the materials used to inscribe them, which would make them permanent.

If others knew this, they would be stunned. With Bu Zheng's array formation skills, he was undoubtedly an expert, yet he didn't know some of the most basic array formation knowledge.

This wasn't Bu Zheng's fault. What he learned was all about array formations. Li Laifu taught him how to use array formations to control the alchemy furnace, which only required knowing the techniques. Later, the array formation manuals only taught him how to draw and use array formations, but not what materials to use for the best results.

He didn't even know that there were specialized tools for inscribing array formations, which could be used on different materials. He had only used a sword to draw array formations, completely unaware of these specialized tools.

Given this situation, it was already impressive that he could achieve what he had. To make the array formation permanent, he needed to systematically study.

If it were someone else, they could go to the sect's library to read array formation books, but Bu Zheng couldn't read at all. He could only rely on others to explain or observe, but currently, neither option was possible.

Xiuying could have explained these things to him. Even though she was diligently practicing to join the ranks of ordinary disciples, she would have explained to Bu Zheng. However, Bu Zheng never thought of this, and she had no way of knowing he needed it.

Thus, Bu Zheng continued to be a prodigy in array formations, having deep knowledge but lacking the most basic inscribing skills.

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After so many chapters, I want to ask all the readers: What kind of world do you think this book is set in? Does it feel like a xianxia, high martial, or Western world? If you can describe the various settings, that would be great. Feel free to leave comments or reviews.

Finally, please vote...

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