Chapter 84

The doors of the Seven Radiance Hall were wide open, and people entered in a steady stream.

The Seven Radiance Hall was vast, easily accommodating over a thousand people. Directly opposite the main door was an octagonal platform, which was empty.

"Disciples of the Martial Radiance Hall, please take your seats here."

"Disciples of the Blade Radiance Hall, come over here."

"Disciples of the Weapon Radiance Hall, this way."

The chief senior disciples of each hall called out, guiding their respective disciples to their designated seats.

Disciples from the seven halls of the Seven Radiance Martial Academy gathered one after another.

At exactly nine o'clock, a figure in white, like a cloud, swiftly glided over the crowd and landed lightly and silently on the octagonal platform, graceful and elegant.

"Senior Swordman Illusory Cloud, thank you for your trouble." The mentor of the Heaven Radiance Hall bowed deeply and respectfully said.

"Years ago, I owed a favor to the Seven Radiance True Man. Today, I have come to repay it." Illusory Cloud Swordman spoke, his voice gentle and approachable, but when one tried to touch him, he seemed as distant and unpredictable as the clouds in the sky.

Below, all the disciples and mentors held their breath, their eyes filled with intense enthusiasm, especially the disciples of the Sword Radiance Hall and other sword practitioners, whose hearts raced.

A swordman, a True Martial Realm expert lecturing on martial arts, perhaps I can soar to new heights through this.

Illusory Cloud Swordman wore a white robe and carried a long sword at his waist. He looked like a scholar enjoying the early spring, though his face was ordinary, his eyes were clear and profound.

But no one would think he was a scholar who couldn't even catch a chicken.

Illusory Cloud Swordman's profound gaze swept over the crowd, seemingly slow, but in an instant, all the faces in the Seven Radiance Hall were clearly reflected in his eyes.

"Is Chen Zong, a disciple of the Sword Radiance Hall, here?"

The first words from Illusory Cloud Swordman stunned everyone. The mentors exchanged glances, and the faces of Bai Yushan, Bai Yulou, and others from the Sword Radiance Hall changed drastically, filled with shock.

"Did your Sword Radiance Hall not give Chen Zong a spot?" Qin Xinshi, the mentor of the Martial Radiance Hall, couldn't help but ask the mentor of the Sword Radiance Hall in a low voice.

"Our chief senior disciple said this person has poor character, so he did not allocate a spot." The mentor of the Sword Radiance Hall smiled bitterly, who would have thought that Illusory Cloud Swordman would know Chen Zong.

If they had known, regardless of his character, they would have definitely given Chen Zong a spot. Otherwise, if Illusory Cloud Swordman was dissatisfied, he might cancel the lecture, and the loss would be enormous.

"Who is Chen Zong?"

The mentors and disciples from other halls were puzzled. What kind of person could make Illusory Cloud Swordman remember him? Could he be a descendant of Illusory Cloud Swordman?

"Bai Yushan, quickly find Chen Zong." The mentor of the Sword Radiance Hall immediately shouted at Bai Yushan.

Bai Yushan almost spat blood but had to agree immediately, rushing out of the Seven Radiance Hall straight to the Sword Radiance Hall.

On the way, Bai Yushan felt increasingly aggrieved. By right, Chen Zong could have been one of the ten spots, but he had repeatedly defied and opposed him, so he refused to give him the spot. Everything seemed to go smoothly, but now this unexpected turn of events.

That's Illusory Cloud Swordman, a powerful martial artist even among True Martial Realm experts. Although the Bai family is large and powerful with many strong martial artists, they might not be able to intimidate such a strong expert like Illusory Cloud Swordman.

If Chen Zong really had some connection with Illusory Cloud Swordman, he would have to reconsider his attitude towards Chen Zong.

But he felt extremely unwilling and aggrieved, almost to the point of spitting blood, especially since he had to personally invite Chen Zong after refusing him a spot.

Chen Zong had just finished practicing sword techniques and was about to start his body-strengthening cultivation when he heard a knock on the door.

"Junior Brother Chen Zong, please come to the Seven Radiance Hall quickly." Bai Yushan, standing at the door, forced a smile and spoke in a calm tone.

"Why should I go to the Seven Radiance Hall?" Chen Zong was puzzled, even with a clear mind, he couldn't figure out what was happening.

"In the Seven Radiance Hall, the True Martial Realm expert Illusory Cloud Swordman is about to give a lecture. Junior Brother Chen Zong, don't delay." Bai Yushan said, deliberately not mentioning other matters.

"I remember I didn't get a spot." Chen Zong had a vague guess but was unsure. Bai Yushan coming to find him personally must mean something had changed, so he wasn't in a hurry.

"Junior Brother Chen Zong, Illusory Cloud Swordman has personally called for you. If you delay, you won't be able to bear the consequences." Bai Yushan's eyes twitched, suddenly regretting why he had deliberately not given Chen Zong a spot, making things this complicated, and hating Chen Zong even more.

"Illusory Cloud Swordman personally called for me!" Chen Zong was shocked.

He came from a small town, and even among the clans in Fengwu City, there were no True Martial Realm experts, and he had never heard of any remarkable ancestors. How could Illusory Cloud Swordman personally call for him?

It wasn't self-deprecation but a fact.

Despite his confusion, Chen Zong didn't want to toy with Bai Yushan and immediately took his precious iron sword and left the courtyard, heading quickly to the Seven Radiance Hall.

On the way, Bai Yushan remained silent, his face dark, and Chen Zong didn't speak either, thinking as he walked, but his thoughts were chaotic and unclear.

As he stepped into the Seven Radiance Hall, countless eyes focused on him, making Chen Zong feel immense pressure, especially the intense mental pressure from many gazes, as if they could see through all his secrets.

Chen Zong's gaze first fell on the figure in the white robe on the octagonal platform, first in shock, then in realization.

"It's him..." Chen Zong murmured, vaguely understanding why he was called.

Wasn't this Illusory Cloud Swordman the mysterious expert who appeared behind him while he was practicing on the Sea-Viewing Cliff a few days ago? He had asked if Chen Zong was a disciple of the Sword Radiance Hall and his name.

Seeing Chen Zong, Illusory Cloud Swordman didn't show any special reaction, which made those observing him even more puzzled. What was the relationship between Illusory Cloud Swordman and the disciple named Chen Zong?

Chen Zong's gaze moved from Illusory Cloud Swordman's face, quickly scanning the surroundings, taking in everything.

There were seven mentors, all at the Energy Cultivation Realm, and a group of dozens of Energy Cultivation Realm experts sitting in the front.

The Heaven Radiance Hall disciples, dressed in various martial uniforms, numbered only about twenty, each emitting a strong aura of vitality.

As one of the seven halls of the Seven Radiance Martial Academy, the Heaven Radiance Hall was the strongest, but also the one with the fewest disciples. Only those who reached the Ninth Layer of the Vitality Realm and had astonishing strength could enter the Heaven Radiance Hall.

The chief senior disciples of the other halls often didn't have the strength to enter the Heaven Radiance Hall, which gave an idea of how powerful the Heaven Radiance Hall disciples were.

Next was the Earth Radiance Hall, known as the hall of elite disciples, also filled with many experts.

Then came the Punishment Radiance Hall, which could not be entered directly and required passing an examination. The examination not only tested cultivation and strength but also fairness and objectivity. The Punishment Radiance Hall had only about twenty disciples, each at the Ninth Layer of the Vitality Realm.

All the disciples from the Heaven Radiance Hall and the Punishment Radiance Hall were present. The Earth Radiance Hall had fifty spots, and the other four halls each had thirty names. Adding the mentors and the academy's officials, there were over two hundred, nearly three hundred people in total.

Chen Zong retracted his gaze and found a seat among the Sword Radiance Hall disciples.

"Martial arts have a path."

"Practicing martial arts is seeking the path."

...

"A martial artist must be tenacious, hardworking, and resilient..."

When Illusory Cloud Swordman spoke, he delivered a profound discourse, like a general outline, leaving everyone in a state of confusion yet seemingly gaining some insight. But upon closer thought, they understood nothing, yet felt enlightened, a very peculiar sensation.

It was as if their minds had suddenly broadened.

Illusory Cloud Swordman's voice was calm, seemingly without fluctuation, yet as unpredictable and changeable as the clouds in the sky, guiding everyone to sink into it unknowingly, unable to extricate themselves, listening with rapt attention.

In the depths of his mind, the mysterious sword tip trembled, making Chen Zong's mind clearer and more lucid. Every word Illusory Cloud Swordman said was clearly remembered, and the rhythm and feeling were captured, making Chen Zong's gains surpass those of others, comparable to many Energy Cultivation Realm experts.

"Practicing the sword has the saying of 'one sword, nine transformations.' When a single sword can change nine times in an instant, it can enter a new level... a new realm."

"This realm is called the Martial Path, also known as the Three Unifications."

"Man has heart, eyes, and hands, all of which are essential in martial arts. When all three are unified, one can apply and maximize their strength, marking the initial entry into the Martial Path."

"The human body has essence, energy, and spirit, all of which are essential. In the cultivation of the Martial Path, the ultimate goal is the unification of heart, eyes, hands, essence, energy, and spirit, reaching the pinnacle."

Chen Zong felt his horizons broadened.

So, there is the concept of the Martial Path, the unification of heart, eyes, hands, essence, energy, and spirit. After the 'one sword, nine transformations,' one enters the first level of the Martial Path, the Three Unifications.

"I wonder what the Three Unifications are like?" Chen Zong wondered, curious and eager.

"Practicing the sword is like this, and so is practicing fists, palms, fingers, legs, and blades. Reaching the nine transformations allows one to touch the Martial Path, understand the Three Unifications, and initially enter the Martial Path."

"Heart represents intention, also called will. Eyes represent vision, the range of sight. Hands represent the hands and the sword in hand."

"Essence represents energy and physical strength. Energy represents the power of blood and qi in the Vitality Realm, internal energy in the Energy Cultivation Realm, and true energy in the True Martial Realm. Spirit represents mental will."

"The so-called unification of heart, eyes, and hands, in the Vitality Realm, is the perfect coordination of the body, surpassing limits."

"Of course, throughout history, no one has ever understood the Three Unifications in the Vitality Realm, and it is rare even in the Energy Cultivation Realm."

"I practice the sword, and my understanding of the sword is the deepest."

Next, Illusory Cloud Swordman explained some small techniques of sword practice, all accumulated and understood over many years. He explained them clearly, making them easy to understand even for those who had not practiced the sword, leading to deeper insights.

In many aspects, regardless of what one practices, the techniques are interconnected.

The lecture lasted for an hour and a half before it ended, leaving everyone wanting more.