Chapter 8

In the martial arts field, Liu Zhenying was sparring with Li Junde and others. Class A and Class B had each won eight matches, and there were still eight matches left to be completed.

Seeing Xun Yi, dressed in Confucian scholar's robes, standing at the entrance of the martial arts field, the students of Class A immediately became alert and focused on their sparring with Class B.

"These people's sword skills are so poor." The small figure of Bai Fu, sitting on Xun Yi's shoulder, watched the distant sword fights and commented, "Compared to your Master's Maolin Sword Technique, they are far inferior."

"After all, the Lingfeng Academy follows a moderate path and is not a specialized martial arts training ground. They only need to pass the third-level martial arts examination, allowing students to become slightly proficient in martial arts," Xun Yi said calmly. "What do you think of the two people fighting in the middle?"

Liu Zhenying and Li Junde, who were sparring among the students, one with a sword that danced in the wind, graceful and unpredictable, the other dodging left and right, using a wooden sword to strike from unexpected angles and counterattack from blind spots.

"There are traces of the Maolin Sword Technique," Bai Fu muttered. The sword Liu Zhenying used seemed to be the third form of the Nine Swords of Maolin — Qingfeng Fuli (Gentle Breeze on the Willow). The gracefulness of this move was like a gentle spring breeze caressing the willows by the river, light and elegant.

As for the counterattack of Li Junde, it appeared to be the move that followed Qingfeng Fuli in the Maolin Sword Technique — Guihui Yingke (Ghost槐 Welcoming Guests). This move was devious, with a ghostly and sinister aura, each step filled with danger. The gate of ghosts opens, life and death part, aiming for a decisive strike.

This also matched their fighting styles. Li Junde had a family-secret technique for defense, making him highly resistant. Even if Liu Zhenying hit him twenty times, he remained lively and energetic. "Tianqing Qi" (Clear Sky Qi) would quickly restore him to normal. However, if Liu Zhenying were hit by Li Junde, the outcome would be immediately decided.

"However, without the accompanying techniques, not understanding the Four Seasons Heart and the Withering and Flourishing Heart, this sword technique is just a show!" Bai Fu, standing on Xun Yi's shoulder, commented with an air of authority. Suddenly, Bai Fu sensed someone watching and instinctively looked behind Xun Yi. A yellow shadow flashed by, and upon closer inspection, it was the younger students practicing their horse stances.

"There seems to be a divine power fluctuation. Is there a deity in this academy?" Bai Fu thought to himself. Just as he was about to investigate further, Xun Yi asked curiously, "You even know about our family's Four Seasons Heart and Withering and Flourishing Heart?"

"Hmph, of course I do. I once saw Lord Maode perform this sword technique. The Maolin Sword Technique has three realms: Spring Wood Sprouting, Wood Excelling in the Forest, and Maolin in Full Bloom." Bai Fu, a ghost cultivator and a divine servant of the City God, had seen Lord Maode use the sword in his lifetime.

Xun Yi's eyes lit up, and he immediately sought his guidance.

Xun Yi's father died early, and his grandfather passed away two years ago. It was difficult for him to receive guidance from the elders in the Maolin Sword Technique. As for the other members of the Xun family...

"Forget it, if Uncle Two doesn't compete with me for the position of head of the Xun family, I should be grateful."

The Xun family, established by their high ancestor, was ranked as a national duke. They branched out, and the Xun family was known as a major clan in Qinglong City. Their descendants spread across the land, from the imperial court to the business world.

However, as a direct line of the Xun family, there were not many male descendants. In Xun Yi's grandfather's generation, there was only one male descendant, Xun Yi's grandfather, with four older sisters. In Xun Yi's father's generation, there were two uncles. Uncle Two had two nephews, and Uncle Three had only one daughter.

According to the clan rules, after the death of the grandfather, the position of head of the family should have been passed to Xun Yi, the eldest grandson. However, citing his youth, the position was left vacant, and even the title that should have been inherited by Xun Yi was temporarily withheld by the court.

The eldest grandson is ill! Not yet of age! This was the main reason the Xun family opposed him.

When Xun Yi's grandfather, Xun Yu, was alive, his Uncle Two once said, "The nephew is young and in poor health, making it difficult for the eldest line to continue. I have two sons, why not adopt one to continue the family line and take care of the nephew?"

Of course, this suggestion was immediately rejected by Xun Yu. Before his death, Xun Yu made specific arrangements for Xun Yi and wrote down his insights on the Maolin Sword Technique, giving them to Xun Yi to study. Unfortunately, the manuscript was incomplete, with the last three moves and the heart method experience torn out, leaving Xun Yi to study on his own, which inevitably had flaws.

However, after receiving guidance from the Martial Judge yesterday, many difficult and obscure points were resolved. Now, hearing that Bai Fu also understood the family's sword technique, he hurriedly sought his advice.

"The Maolin Sword Technique is not just a sword technique but also a heart method, a technique that works in conjunction with the family's bloodline. Only the Xun family can truly bring out its subtleties. Others may practice the sword, but it remains a show, lacking the true essence of the sword technique."

"So, it must be combined with our family's Wood Mastery bloodline?"

"Exactly, only the Xun family's bloodline can comprehend the realm of Maolin in Full Bloom. Otherwise, others can only hover at the realm of Wood Excelling in the Forest."

From ancient times, a single tree does not make a forest. The Maolin Sword Technique embodies the essence of wood spirits. One must first understand the way of wood spirits and study the basic sword techniques. Only after a solid foundation can one practice the true sword technique and enter the realm of Wood Excelling in the Forest.

Wood Excelling in the Forest, the wind will surely destroy it. This realm is merely the entry level of the sword technique, qualifying one to learn the Nine Swords of Maolin.

"Once you thoroughly understand the sword techniques and comprehend the life and death principles and the Four Seasons Heart from the twelve forms, you can break through. After all, the twelve forms correspond to the twelve plants of the four seasons."

Xun Yi's eyes narrowed, and he whispered, "Twelve forms? Where did you hear that?"

It is known that the Xun family publicly claims that the Maolin Sword Technique has nine forms. Apart from the three forms of spring, each of the other seasons conceals one form. Summer has no bamboo, autumn has no maple, and winter has no cypress, all hidden within other sword techniques, known only to the direct line of the family.

"I may be a ghost spirit, but in my lifetime, I followed Lord Maode. There is even a spirit tablet for me in the Xun family's ancestral hall!"

Xun Yi immediately showed respect, "Elder, you were actually one of the people who followed the founding ancestor?"

"No, no, Master, don't say that. I was just a personal guard of Lord Maode. I died in the Qingmen Pass battle and became a divine servant after death."

"Was the local City God one of the people who died in the Qingmen Pass battle? The Qingmen Pass battle? Died in Qinglong City?" Xun Yi felt this sounded familiar.

"Not just that, this Qinglong City was transformed and rebuilt by the local City God and Lord Maode using the power of the previous dynasty."

This familiar story seemed to be mentioned by the family elders during the annual ancestral worship. Xun Yi's expression became strange, "You said you have a spirit tablet in our family's ancestral hall. Could it be that the local City God also has one? Could it be...?"

"Exactly, yes, the one you are thinking of."

"Cao Hou!" Xun Yi touched his cheek, suddenly feeling the world was too small. In their family's ancestral hall, there was still a spirit tablet for Cao Hou. It was said that their fifth-generation ancestor, Lord Maode, had instructed the Xun family to help maintain the incense offerings.

"Lord City God had no descendants, and the title was cut off in his generation. Lord Maode, remembering their past friendship, asked the Xun family to maintain the incense offerings, promising that as long as the Xun family continues, Cao Hou's incense offerings will never cease. Otherwise, why do you think Lord City God would seek your help? Every generation of the Xun family's head has worked at the City God's residence. Without Lord City God's secret protection, how could the Xun family be so prosperous?"

Bai Fu's words left Xun Yi speechless, his expression changing. He secretly resolved to go to the ancestral hall to see which righteous person this Bai Fu was.

"What is he doing?" Liu Zhenying, who was sparring in the distance, wondered. Seeing Xun Yi's changing expression, he was startled, thinking that his heart ailment might have flared up.

"Stop!" He countered with a move called "Hengzhu Cuimei" (Green Bamboo in the Mist) to deflect Li Junde's sword, "I admit defeat today!" Then, he immediately rushed towards Xun Yi.

---

Today, there are three updates! There will be another update soon! Please recommend and collect! Mobile users can visit http://m.piaotia.net

Page flip AD starts

Page flip AD ends