Chapter 3

"NO!"

Sun Jian Sheng's eyes widened as he realized that there was no way he could block or dodge this strike, a sense of powerlessness overwhelming him.

"You lost."

The tip of the sword pressed against Sun Jian Sheng's throat, and Jiang Chen said calmly.

"I haven't lost, you haven't defeated me yet." Sun Jian Sheng roared, his left hand forming a fist and striking at Jiang Chen.

The fist technique was the狂风拳 (Gale Fist).

A fierce wind surged out from the punch, covering a vast area. However, from Sun Jian Yue's shoulder movements, Jiang Chen had already anticipated that his opponent would use another martial technique and promptly moved to avoid, increasing the distance between them.

"Defeat me!"

Forcing Jiang Chen back, Sun Jian Sheng's expression turned fierce as he unleashed the落花剑法 (Falling Flower Sword Technique).

The Falling Flower Sword Technique was a famous high-level Yellow Rank sword technique of the One Qi Sect, requiring 2,000 sect contribution points to exchange.

The sword light exploded, the shattered light resembling withering petals, falling gracefully. The beauty of the technique was tinged with a ruthless and merciless aura.

However, the effectiveness of a sword technique depends on who wields it. Just because you have an invincible sword technique doesn't mean you are invincible. In Jiang Chen's eyes, Sun Jian Sheng's Falling Flower Sword Technique was full of flaws. The sword light seemed dense but was actually distributed very poorly. A truly dense sword light should give the impression of a tightly woven net, like a large net being cast down.

At the moment Sun Jian Sheng struck, Jiang Chen also moved, not with a powerful sword technique but with a simple thrust and flick.

Clang!

Sun Jian Sheng's hand went numb, his long sword flying out of his grasp, and he stood there in shock.

"Jiang Chen won?"

"Did he really win with just one strike?"

"A two-rank difference, how is that possible?"

At that moment, everyone seemed to disbelieve the outcome.

In fact, if Jiang Chen had put in a lot of effort to defeat Sun Jian Sheng, people would have accepted it. After all, Jiang Chen's sword technique was extremely powerful in the past, and after a year, it would have improved to some extent. What they couldn't accept was that Sun Jian Sheng couldn't even withstand one strike from Jiang Chen, implying that most Eighth Rank Qi Sea Realm martial artists couldn't withstand a single strike from him.

"Bi Qing, Jiang Chen really won."

Liu Ling said in surprise.

Bi Qing took a deep breath; she hadn't expected this result. "His sword technique hasn't declined much, but it's a pity that his achievements are limited to this. His Qi Sea is broken, and even a Vajra Realm martial artist can't help. Only a superpower has the method to restore a Qi Sea."

"Indeed, it's a pity."

Liu Ling shook her head.

The Qi Sea Realm is the most vulnerable stage for a martial artist. Once the Qi Sea is broken, it's almost impossible to achieve anything significant in life. Not everyone has a great fortune, and not everyone can change their destiny.

"Let's go!"

Bi Qing had little interest in what would happen next.

"The sunset is beautiful, but it's near dusk."

For some reason, Liu Ling thought of this phrase, turned around, and glanced back at the handsome young man on the field. At that moment, he was bathed in the glow of the twilight.

Ignoring Bi Qing and Liu Ling's departure, Jiang Chen said to Sun Jian Sheng, "You can start slapping yourself now. Remember, ten times, in front of everyone."

"You—"

Sun Jian Sheng's chest heaved, his eyes filled with rage.

"What, are you going back on your word?"

Jiang Chen's face carried a hint of mockery.

"Enough."

Suddenly, a deep voice rang out, and everyone looked in its direction.

"It's the outer sect elder, Sun Jian Yue."

"Jiang Chen is in trouble now."

With a stubbled face, Sun Jian Yue strode forward. "Do you two have any respect for the One Qi Sect's rules? Has no one told you that private duels are not allowed anywhere except on the sparring platform?"

Sun Jian Yue's arrival made Sun Jian Sheng somewhat smug. He had never thought about slapping himself ten times in front of everyone. If he did, he would become a laughingstock in the One Qi Sect. "Father, I know I was wrong and am willing to accept the sect's punishment."

"Knowing your mistakes and correcting them is a virtue. Although you are my son, the punishment will not be reduced. As for you, Jiang Chen, your issues are more serious. First, you engaged in a private duel, and second, your attitude is not right. You are both outer sect disciples and should help each other. Even if you can't help, you shouldn't attack or humiliate each other."

"Do you admit your mistake?"

Sun Jian Yue questioned Jiang Chen, his eyes sharp.

Jiang Chen glanced around and said, "Everyone here can testify that I only passively accepted the challenge."

"That's right, Sun Jian Sheng started it, and I even got beaten up." Wang Dong quickly came to his aid.

"Stubborn and unyielding. Who will testify for you? They have already violated the sect rules by not stopping you. Jiang Chen, I'll ask you again, do you admit your mistake? Arguing is useless." Sun Jian Yue completely ignored Wang Dong.

"You are the outer sect elder, whatever you say, I have no objections."

Jiang Chen understood that, no matter where he was, the reality of the strong ruling remained unchanged. If he were strong enough, stronger than the sect leader, who would dare to question him?

"From your tone, it seems you think I am bullying you with my power?" Sun Jian Yue narrowed his eyes.

"Jiang Chen is dull, I have no such thoughts."

"Good, now come with me to the Law Enforcement Hall."

In the end, Sun Jian Sheng was sentenced to a week of solitary confinement, while Jiang Chen was sentenced to a month, with Sun Jian Sheng confined at home and Jiang Chen at the Dead Tree Cliff.

...

The Dead Tree Cliff was one of the restricted areas of the One Qi Sect.

Although called a cliff, it was actually a mountain, with dozens of cliffs of varying sizes on it, each with a cave.

Jiang Chen's place of confinement was the 33rd cliff, Eagle Beak Cliff, located on the eastern slope.

"Remember, you must not leave Eagle Beak Cliff for a month, or you will be punished according to the sect rules." The attendant who led him there reminded him.

"Understood."

Jiang Chen nodded.

After the attendant left, Jiang Chen took a look at Eagle Beak Cliff. It was not large, about 15 meters square, shaped like an eagle's beak. The cave was even smaller, only about 4 to 5 meters deep, with simple living facilities like a wooden bed, table, and chair. A dusty oil lamp was placed on the table.

"Huh!"

It was daytime, and the cave had decent visibility. Jiang Chen saw a line of text on the cave wall.

"Without having been confined at the Dead Tree Cliff, one is not a good disciple. —Xie Xiao Feng."

"Xie Xiao Feng?"

Jiang Chen's eyes flashed with surprise. Xie Xiao Feng was one of the three strongest swordsmen in the history of the One Qi Sect. The first was the founder, the second was the seventh-generation sect leader, and the third was Xie Xiao Feng. Unfortunately, Xie Xiao Feng had disappeared for ten years. When he was in the One Qi Sect, his status was higher than the sect leader, and he was only in his twenties at the time. If he were still alive, he would be in his thirties.

Besides the cave, there were also Xie Xiao Feng's words outside the cave.

"Observing the clouds, I created the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique, a mid-level Yellow Rank technique."

"Through improvements, the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique has reached the high-level Yellow Rank. Those with the right conditions may learn it."

On a large rock, besides the two lines of text, there were two clouds, clouds formed by sword marks.

The first cloud was fresh and elegant, the second cloud was ancient and natural.

"This Xie Xiao Feng is indeed a remarkable person, able to create a high-level Yellow Rank sword technique during his discipleship." Jiang Chen was very impressed by Xie Xiao Feng. In his view, those who could create martial techniques were all extraordinary geniuses, not ordinary martial artists.

Without deliberately learning the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique, Jiang Chen's current goal was to break through the first level of the Void Sword Body Technique.

During the confinement, there were only two meals a day, breakfast and dinner. As a result, Jiang Chen often felt hungry, but thanks to his cultivation of the Void Sword Body Technique, his willpower was very strong, and he wouldn't become restless due to hunger.

He had taken one of the three Illusory Crystal Grass plants, leaving two. On this day, Jiang Chen took the second one.

The illusion lasted for more than four hours, from dusk until the next morning.

When he opened his eyes, Jiang Chen had a momentary illusion that time had slowed down and the world had become clearer. He could clearly see the frequency of insect wings flapping and hear the sound of ants crawling. However, this feeling lasted only a moment before disappearing.

"Just a little more, a little more to break through the first level of the Void Sword Body Technique."

Each major realm's ninth level enhances a martial artist's five senses. For example, the Ninth Level Qi Sea Realm, the Ninth Level Flying Heaven Realm, and the Ninth Level Vajra Realm, mainly because the Ninth Qi Sea is located at the center of the forehead, closely connected to the brain. The Void Sword Body Technique is a secret technique targeting the spirit, so it can also enhance a martial artist's five senses.

Illusory Crystal Grass cannot be taken consecutively. With Jiang Chen's mental strength, he needed to wait a week between doses. For other Qi Sea Realm martial artists, taking it even once could lead to mental collapse.

"I wonder if this Flowing Cloud Sword Technique is a genuine high-level Yellow Rank technique."

With nothing else to do, Jiang Chen focused on the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique.

Without a sword manual, Jiang Chen could only study the technique by observing the sword marks. It seemed that Xie Xiao Feng's statement that those with the right conditions could learn it was not baseless. If one's insight was not sufficient, it would be impossible to understand the technique from the sword marks.

Clouds are formless, and wind is intangible.

The Flowing Cloud Sword Technique is unpredictable, with each move and technique not bound by form, focusing on the essence.

On Eagle Beak Cliff, Jiang Chen held a long sword, his body sometimes stretching, sometimes sprinting, sometimes relaxed, and sometimes taut. The long sword in his hand was like a cloud, ethereal and elusive, gentle like idle clouds in the sky, and fierce like a stormy sea, extremely breathtaking.

In a week, Jiang Chen deduced three sword techniques from the sword marks: Cloudy and Light, Wind Rising and Cloud Gathering, and Overturning the Sky and Reversing the Clouds.

Each of these three techniques was ten times more powerful than a mid-level Yellow Rank sword technique.

Cloudy and Light is the starting move of the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique. This move can be both offensive and defensive. When defending, it is like a sky full of clouds, without any flaws. When attacking, it is like a swift wind sweeping through the grass, light and quick.

Wind Rising and Cloud Gathering focuses on the sword momentum. Once the momentum is established, weaker opponents will be defeated without a fight, and even stronger opponents will find it difficult to withstand the overwhelming attack.

As for Overturning the Sky and Reversing the Clouds, it is even more powerful. When this move is executed, it truly turns the world upside down, making an opponent without any flaws appear full of flaws, leaving them battered and bruised.