Chapter 44

"However, the Twenty-Third Sword is too dangerous..." Meng Qi didn't know how to describe the Twenty-Third Sword, after all, he had seen this sword technique in a manga from his previous life, while the description provided by the Master of the Six Realms was relatively brief. He couldn't reveal his deep understanding of it.

The Twenty-Third Sword comes from the "Holy Spirit Sword Technique" in the manga "Feng Yun." It is a sword that can only be used by burning and abandoning one's life. It is a sword of the heart, a sword of the soul, a sword of the spirit, and a sword of intent. Under this sword, the senses stagnate, and all things freeze, making it impossible to avoid.

This is an extremely powerful sword technique, but the only problem is that one must die to use it, which Meng Qi found somewhat inappropriate.

Of course, Meng Qi had read this manga many years ago, and his memory was already blurry. Perhaps his recollection was not entirely accurate. Moreover, this was obtained from the Master of the Six Realms, and who knows if it was the "original" sword technique.

Because the items in the exchange catalog were vast, Zhang Yuanshan and Qi Zhengyan had not noticed the "Holy Spirit Sword Technique," so they looked at Meng Qi and Jiang Zhwei with confusion.

Jiang Zhwei smiled and said, "I didn't expect us to coincidentally choose the same sword technique. Little monk, don't worry. I exchanged the sword manual to study the changes in sword techniques and the gathering and dispersing of sword intent. I will use it to improve my own sword path, not to be led by the 'Holy Spirit Sword Technique.' If I ever learn the Twenty-Third Sword, I will only seek to understand the principles and the origins of the heart sword, soul sword, sensory stagnation, and time anomalies, rather than just practicing and imitating."

It seems that the Master of the Six Realms had specifically pointed out the danger of the Twenty-Third Sword during the introduction. Jiang Zhwei understood what Meng Qi was implying. However, if it weren't for this danger, the Twenty-Third Sword wouldn't be worth only 4,000 merit points. Of course, whether one can master it after exchanging is another matter.

"Miss Jiang, since you have made up your mind, then go ahead and exchange it." Jiang Zhwei's words were very reasonable, and Meng Qi nodded thoughtfully.

After all, it would be a long time before he could exchange the Twenty-Third Sword.

A natural swordsman's decision is naturally impossible to dissuade. Zhang Yuanshan took out the jade book, looked at the introduction of the "Holy Spirit Sword Technique," and frowned slightly before relaxing. "This is indeed a good sword technique. There aren't many powerful techniques that can achieve the effect of the Twenty-Third Sword."

Jiang Zhwei caressed the "White Rainbow Piercing Sun Sword" and smiled lightly. "But those powerful techniques don't have such strict requirements. Yes, I want to exchange the first eighteen moves of the 'Holy Spirit Sword Technique' to study the essence of the emotional sword techniques, and then continue to deepen my understanding in the future."

She stood up, took the jade book, and returned 20 merit points to Zhang Yuanshan. Then she walked to the central light column and placed the "White Rainbow Piercing Sun Sword" inside.

Strangely, after the "White Rainbow Piercing Sun Sword" was placed in the light column, it did not fall to the ground but floated in mid-air, enveloped by a misty aura.

The light disappeared, the cracks vanished, and the "White Rainbow Piercing Sun Sword" shone as brightly as before.

"Only 30 merit points, quite a bargain." Jiang Zhwei smiled and took back her beloved sword, then turned to the others and said, "Exchanging the emotional part of the 'Holy Spirit Sword Technique' requires 200 merit points. I have 70 merit points left, and I plan to exchange the 'Heaven and Earth Hate' to study it."

The "Holy Spirit Sword Technique" can only be exchanged in parts such as the emotional part, the unemotional part, the Twenty-Third Sword, and the Six Annihilation Sword, and cannot be completely broken down into individual moves like Sword One, Sword Two, and Sword Three.

The "Heaven and Earth Hate" is the most representative move of the "108 Swords of Heaven and Earth" from the Sword Pavilion, valued at 60 merit points—Jiang Zhwei had been interested in the sword techniques of the "parallel sects" for a long time.

Meng Qi asked curiously, "Miss Jiang, you only exchange sword techniques?"

Do you not need to exchange cultivation techniques or medicinal pills?

"Our sect's 'Great Supreme Sword Sutra' has a unique cultivation method. It requires studying the sword techniques of various schools, understanding them, and then forgetting them to strengthen the sword intent in one's heart. The stronger the sword intent, the faster the internal energy grows, and the cultivation of acupoints becomes even more rapid. Therefore, exchanging sword techniques is also a form of cultivation, faster and safer than taking medicinal pills." Jiang Zhwei explained frankly, a fact known to anyone familiar with the Sword Pavilion.

After saying this, she reached into the light column and took out a gray secret manual and a few thin pages.

"Who's next to discuss their exchange?" She flipped through the sword technique manual with sparkling eyes and asked casually.

She planned to save the remaining 10 merit points as a reserve to prevent unexpected situations, such as needing healing if the main mission was not completed.

"Senior Brother Zhang, what do you plan to exchange?" Meng Qi already had a clear idea of what he wanted to exchange, so he was not in a hurry.

Zhang Yuanshan pondered and said, "To be honest, I have always believed in the path of specialization. If the martial arts I exchange are too varied, it would be counterproductive. After all, my current sword technique is sufficient, so besides the Heavenly Wisdom Pill, I really don't know what else to exchange."

He had already cultivated the acupoints related to the ear and was preparing to open the dual ear acupoints.

"The path of specialization?" Meng Qi's heart stirred, thinking of what Gu Xiaosang had said. "Senior Brother Zhang, why not strengthen your foundation?"

"What do you mean?" Zhang Yuanshan asked curiously.

Gu Xiaosang had mentioned that Zhang Yuanshan had not understood the true meaning of the two major martial arts of the True Wu Sect when he observed their introductory chapters. Meng Qi got inspiration from this:

"Senior Brother Zhang, I remember that most powerful techniques can be exchanged in parts such as the Qi Accumulation Chapter and the Acupoint Opening Chapter. You might as well directly exchange the Qi Accumulation Chapter of your main cultivation technique, which will be infused by the Master of the Six Realms. Then, you can compare the infused knowledge with your usual understanding and practice, making targeted changes to strengthen your foundation."

Techniques like the "Buddha Palm" and the "Seven Heaven-Cutting Swords" do not have separate Qi Accumulation and Acupoint Opening Chapters because they are already included in the understanding of each move. Moreover, they can be directly cultivated from any technique without hindrance and can even enhance the original foundation.

Zhang Yuanshan was stunned for a moment, then clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Why didn't I think of that? Why didn't I think of that..."

His excitement made Jiang Zhwei look up from the "Holy Spirit Sword Technique" manual.

After a while, he calmed down and solemnly bowed. "Thank you, Junior Brother Zhen Ding. Your suggestion has shown me a glimmer of hope in solving my biggest problem."

Since he had already completed this stage, exchanging the cultivation technique would not make his foundation unstable. Instead, it would allow him to compare and verify, understand the true meaning, and identify and address the issues he could not understand from the true meaning transmission.

"I just had a thought and mentioned it casually. There's no need for such a grand gesture, Senior Brother Zhang." Meng Qi smiled.

"It's deserved, it's deserved! My brother, although I excel in the defensive Tai Chi, my main practice is the introductory chapter of the 'True Wu Seven Sections Sutra.' Due to various reasons, it has become increasingly difficult to practice, but fortunately, there is the cycle world." Zhang Yuanshan, unable to contain his eagerness, quickly entered the light column and began the exchange.

It seemed that he had become more hopeful and enthusiastic about the cycle world.

Meng Qi flipped through the small jade book and found that the "True Wu Seven Sections Sutra" was divided into the Qi Accumulation Chapter, the Acupoint Opening Chapter, the External Scenery Chapter, and the Dharmic Body Chapter—there were no special chapters for the hundred-day foundation building.

Among them, the Qi Accumulation Chapter required 100 merit points, the Acupoint Opening Chapter required 1,000 merit points, the External Scenery Chapter required 20,000 merit points, and the Dharmic Body Chapter required 200,000 merit points.

In other words, if Zhang Yuanshan directly exchanged the cultivation technique, he would need to spend at least 200 merit points.

Bathed in rosy light, Zhang Yuanshan looked as if he had ascended to a fairyland, with light points dancing around him like fireflies.

After a while, the rosy light disappeared, and Zhang Yuanshan walked out of the light column, his face full of joy and his spirit refreshed. "It turns out that over the years, I have been increasingly going astray, and it was hard to notice. 200 merit points are well worth it!"

He still held a Heavenly Wisdom Pill, and the remaining 20 merit points were reserved for unexpected situations.

"Senior Brother Zhang practices the 'True Wu Seven Sections Sutra' and excels in the defensive Tai Chi, while Miss Jiang has a compelling sword intent and a fierce sword technique. We complement each other, and this exchange is also a reinforcement in this direction. Therefore, we should try not to repeat each other's choices." Meng Qi said to Qi Zhengyan.

In the short term, his role was clear, similar to the "MT" in online games, using hard cultivation techniques to attract attacks and create opportunities for others. However, Qi Zhengyan's role was a bit vague.

This was not a problem, but the current team lacked a long-range attacker, a specialist in hidden weapons and mechanisms, and many other things. However, there was no way around it, as the team currently consisted of only four people, which was still too thin. Everyone also needed to focus on their martial arts path.

Qi Zhengyan nodded. "Junior Brother Zhen Ding, are you going to strengthen your hard cultivation techniques?"

Meng Qi frowned. "I have too many things to exchange, and before entering the cycle world this time..."

He explained the secret passage, the True Observation, and the Bodhi Hall rewards, which no longer needed to be kept secret.

"Two worlds have the same secret passage..." Zhang Yuanshan said, finding it hard to imagine.

"No wonder you could find that secret passage..." Qi Zhengyan was also astonished.

Jiang Zhwei frowned slightly and thought, "Perhaps there is some connection, but we know too little to uncover it."

Everyone racked their brains for a while but couldn't figure it out, so they changed the topic. Zhang Yuanshan smiled and said, "According to Shaolin's custom, the reward from the Bodhi Hall would definitely be the Qi Accumulation Chapter of one of the 72