A mere handyman disciple, having entered the Sword Pavilion just a few days ago, had already undergone such a earth-shattering transformation. If he didn't attribute it to the Sword Pavilion, he truly wouldn't believe it!
"If you're beaten, get lost." Meng Fan looked at Yang Shi coldly and lowered the wooden sword from his throat.
Yang Shi turned and left, no longer willing to clash with Meng Fan.
What Meng Fan did not know was that, at this very moment, on the roof of the training hall pavilion, a pair of old men playing chess were watching him.
"1st Layer of Qi Condensation, thrashing someone at the 5th Layer. Our Shushan Sword Sect hasn't seen such an exceptional talent in a long time, has it?"
"Beneath the 6th Layer of Qi Condensation, the gap isn't actually that vast. If one’s swordsmanship is accomplished, fighting above one's level is not difficult."
"But one cannot deny that the gap between the 1st and 5th Layer is not insignificant!"
"He is indeed quite eye-catching, but it's a pity he only has mixed-grade spiritual roots; his upper limit is very low."
"What if he has mixed-grade spiritual roots? This lad just made two moves, and both times he precisely grasped the vulnerabilities in his opponent's attack. Especially when facing that first sword, he completely saw through the other's sword technique. This proves that his comprehension is astonishing; he is very likely to compensate for the deficiencies and flaws of his mixed-grade spiritual roots!"
"I don't exclude that possibility, but it is difficult! By comparison, I still value that girl, Li Xuerou, more. She possesses supreme-grade spiritual roots and crushes others in every aspect!"
"To compare a supreme-grade spiritual root with a mixed-grade one—you really can say anything."
...
Meng Fan was in no rush to return to the Sword Pavilion. Since he had finally come out, he decided to wander around a bit more.
A moment later, he arrived at the Sword Comprehension Hall of the Shushan Sword Sect.
The Sword Comprehension Hall, also known as the Sword Testing Hall, was, to put it plainly, a place for practicing swordsmanship. The training hall, containing a small spirit-gathering array, was a treasure ground for cultivating techniques and increasing one’s cultivation base. The Sword Comprehension Hall, however, was where the disciples of the Shushan Sword Sect practiced and tested their sword skills. Testing swords meant sparring!
However, unlike the martial arts arena, sparring in the Sword Comprehension Hall was about stopping at the right moment and exchanging pointers on swordsmanship. It was a practice match, or rather, a form of instruction. Over time, it had even become a place for low-level disciples to learn swordsmanship from higher-level ones. Naturally, sometimes a reward was required.
After Meng Fan arrived at the Sword Comprehension Hall, he was pleasantly surprised. Compared to the training hall, he preferred this place! Because the disciples here were all practicing and sparring with swords, Meng Fan felt as if he had opened the door to a new world the moment he arrived.
With "Sword Dao Divine Mastery," he was like a fish in water here. Once he entered the hall, he saw one sword technique after another. An ordinary person would only feel dazzled by so many techniques and would be unable to learn anything unless they studied one technique seriously. But Meng Fan was different. The supreme talent of "Sword Dao Divine Mastery" gave him terrifying innate potential in the realm of the sword. Every sword technique practiced by these disciples appeared to him like an immaculate, breathtaking woman, completely laid bare.
He was frantically absorbing this sword knowledge. Meng Fan sat quietly in a corner, watching these disciples practice. One technique after another was rehearsed and deduced in his mind. He could see the vulnerabilities and flaws in these disciples' swordplay and then perfect and patch them up in his own mind.
This was simply absurd! Even a senior with extremely high attainments in the Sword Dao might master a few sword techniques; mastering a dozen would already be astonishing. Someone like Meng Fan, who could master any sword technique at a glance and reach proficiency after a little contemplation, was a rarity—a phoenix feather and unicorn horn—across the entire world. No, not a rarity—he was the only one!
Meng Fan sat in the corner for two full hours. In the Sword Comprehension Hall, it wasn't long before someone noticed this strange person. Everyone came to the hall to practice or spar. While some would watch others to learn, sitting in a corner for two straight hours without moving an inch was quite unusual.
Especially a female disciple practicing directly in front of Meng Fan, who was beginning to feel unhappy. She misunderstood that Meng Fan had been watching her the entire time, which made her feel awkward. She even began to think Meng Fan was a lecher, taking the opportunity to peep at her. If he had watched for just a little while, that would be one thing, but two hours? Which young lady could stand that?
She finally couldn't help it, walked up to Meng Fan, and said coldly, "You, get up!"
"Me?" Meng Fan pointed at himself, standing up in surprise. Why was someone calling him out? He was completely baffled.
"Do I look good?" the woman stared coldly at Meng Fan.
This question caught Meng Fan off guard. What kind of rhythm was this? "You look good." Since the other party had asked, Meng Fan answered politely. After all, it was his first time at the Sword Comprehension Hall, and he didn't want to cause trouble; he was being extremely well-behaved.
"Even if I look good, you didn't have to stare at me from behind for two hours, did you? That is very rude!" the woman said with an icy expression.
Uh... Meng Fan widened his eyes. This could be a misunderstanding too? A self-absorbed woman? He explained rather awkwardly, "Miss, you've misunderstood. I wasn't watching you; I was watching everyone practice sword."
The woman sneered, "Watching everyone practice? If you were watching everyone, why did you have to sit behind me for two hours?"
How could one explain this? It seemed that no matter how he explained it, it wouldn't be clear. Sitting in a corner, the disaster came from the sky.
"Miss, you really have misunderstood. I wasn't watching you; I was only watching everyone practice." He denied it three times, but it didn't seem very convincing.
"Explanation is just a cover. Since you say you were watching everyone practice, then after watching for so long, it's time to try practicing yourself. Why don't you spar with me?"
She wanted to teach this lecher a lesson!
Meng Fan said helplessly, "Miss, that really isn't necessary."
The woman sneered, "Guilty? You say you weren't peeping at me and were watching everyone practice, so you must have seen me practicing my sword technique too. As long as you can perform the technique I just practiced, I will believe you!"
A wry smile appeared on Meng Fan's face. Actually, this wasn't difficult!
"Fine." Meng Fan agreed; he didn't refuse. Since it was easy to resolve, there was no need to put on a front and let others misunderstand him.
"If I can perform the sword technique you just practiced, you must apologize to me and admit it was a misunderstanding," Meng Fan said to the woman with a helpless expression.
"No problem. Let's see how long you can keep up that stubborn talk," the woman said, looking at Meng Fan with sarcasm. In her view, there was no way this lecherous, sleazy man could perform her sword technique. Her technique was extremely difficult to master; even with dedicated practice, one couldn't even reach the entry level in ten days and nights. Even if this guy had really been watching her, it was impossible for him to learn it. She made this demand purely to make things difficult for him and to embarrass him.
Unfortunately, she had met Meng Fan. From this point on, she would learn that there truly were geniuses in this world!
"What is the name of the sword technique you just practiced?" Meng Fan asked.
"Green Sea Tide-Rising Sword."
Meng Fan nodded and memorized the name. He had watched many people's techniques in the hall and had gained much insight, but he hadn't known their names.
"Your technique seems gentle and powerless, yet it is continuous, linked ring by ring. It has the ability to use four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds and to overcome the strong with the weak. You only need to draw your opponent into the rhythm of your technique, and they will gradually be controlled by you and fall into a losing position. But when you were using the sword just now, there was a major flaw and vulnerability: it was too slow!"
"This kind of sword technique requires airtight, continuous strikes, one after another. Softness must be paired with lightning-fast speed to catch the opponent off guard and force them into a disadvantage."
Meng Fan picked up a wooden sword from the weapon rack in the corner, drew it, and set the scabbard aside. "Miss, your sword is too slow!"
With that, Meng Fan began to test his sword. The woman opposite him watched with disdain, though she felt that even if this guy sounded like he knew what he was talking about, it was all just nonsense. If a little rookie at the 1st Layer of Qi Condensation could see through her Green Sea Tide-Rising Sword and proceed to instruct her, then her sword practice would be a joke.
"Watch closely!" Meng Fan began to wield his sword. In his hands, the wooden sword was like a streak of lightning—swift and fluid. The eight postures of the Green Sea Tide-Rising Sword were executed by Meng Fan with fluid grace. There was almost no difference from the moves the woman had used before. In fact, in the details, there were even some optimizations!
Most importantly, Meng Fan's sword was fast. Strike after strike, airtight and continuous, it was vaguely dazzling. The woman beside Meng Fan was completely dumbstruck, her mouth open wide enough to fit a duck egg.
A moment later, Meng Fan sheathed his sword and looked quietly at the woman. "Miss, are you satisfied with this set of sword techniques?"
It took a while for the woman to react. She stared blankly at Meng Fan and asked, "Have you studied the Green Sea Tide-Rising Sword before?"
Before Meng Fan could answer, she spoke to herself, "No, that's impossible. You couldn't have had contact with the Green Sea Tide-Rising Sword!" She furrowed her brows tightly and stared at Meng Fan, truly doubting her life. If it were true that this person had reached such a level in the Green Sea Tide-Rising Sword just by watching her practice a few times, it would undoubtedly be a fairy tale—an impossible thing.
"Who exactly are you?" the woman stared at Meng Fan and asked coldly. At this moment, she didn't care if Meng Fan had been peeping at her; she was more curious about why he knew the Green Sea Tide-Rising Sword.
Meng Fan said to the woman, "I am Meng Fan, a sword-guarding disciple of the Sword Pavilion. May I ask how to address you, Miss?"
The Sword Pavilion? Upon hearing these two words, the woman couldn't help but look at Meng Fan with surprise.
"Inner disciple, Liu Yanping." Since the other party had introduced himself, she couldn't hide her identity.
Meng Fan nodded slightly, without any extra reaction. He had never heard this name, let alone known her.
"Have you studied the Green Sea Tide-Rising Sword?" Liu Yanping asked with a frown.
"No."
"Then how do you know this technique?"
"I just watched you practice it a few times and followed the gourd to draw the ladle."
"Nonsense!" Liu Yanping glared at Meng Fan, her chest heaving with anger. To learn the Green Sea Tide-Rising Sword to this level just by watching was impossible even for a Sword Immortal descending from the heavens. However, since things had reached this point, she did not continue to pester Meng Fan. Though she was a woman, she was a good sport. Since Meng Fan had fulfilled her challenge perfectly, she couldn't keep making unreasonable trouble.
Most importantly, his critique of her technique earlier, combined with the way he had just performed it, truly felt like a sudden enlightenment for her. She had gained a clearer understanding and direction for the Green Sea Tide-Rising Sword. Liu Yanping gave a slight, bitter smile. Honestly, she should have been thanking Meng Fan. To keep pestering him would have been too much!
"Miss, if there is nothing else, I will continue to observe the sword techniques," Meng Fan said to Liu Yanping. He moved to a different corner, quite far from the girl, and began to observe the other disciples again.
Then, Liu Yanping started to secretly watch Meng Fan. Undoubtedly, she was very interested in him. This was normal because Meng Fan's performance just now was indeed strange—bizarre, even! She didn't believe Meng Fan had never had contact with the Green Sea Tide-Rising Sword before. But even if he had, how could an outer disciple at the 1st Layer of Qi Condensation practice it to such a degree?
Of course, the fact that Meng Fan had said he was a sword-guarding disciple of the Sword Pavilion also made her curious. The Sword Pavilion! These two words were filled with mystery in the Shushan Sword Sect. Especially the third and fourth floors of the pavilion, which were practically forbidden areas.
With curiosity, Liu Yanping began to spy on Meng Fan. She soon discovered that he was indeed seriously watching others practice swordplay. This made her feel perplexed. What was the use of watching others? If it were a master of the sword, they might be able to see something. But what could an outer disciple at the 1st Layer of Qi Condensation, even from the Sword Pavilion, possibly see? No mantras, no cultivation methods—just watching blankly. If one could learn a sword technique this way, then what was the point of secret manuals?
Liu Yanping shook her head, feeling that this guy was a bit neurotic. Once she confirmed that Meng Fan was only watching and doing nothing else, she stopped paying attention, as she couldn't see anything of note.
It was not until sunset that Meng Fan reluctantly got up and left the Sword Comprehension Hall. The Sword Pavilion was closing, so he had to hurry back. After returning, Senior Brother Luo told Meng Fan to close the main gate and then paid him no more mind. From start to finish, he didn't ask where Meng Fan had been. He didn't care about such things. Asking these questions was meant to give Meng Fan enough freedom.
"You lad, you haven't wiped a single sword today, it seems. Don't forget your daily duties!" Senior Brother Luo didn't forget the necessary reminders.
Meng Fan nodded. He hadn't wiped a single sword today, so he immediately went to work. He hadn't felt much effect in the training hall, so he had to work hard at wiping the swords and absorbing the warm current. Meng Fan didn't know what the warm current that flowed from the sword bodies into his lower abdomen was, so he silently labeled it "Sword Essence."
Every time he drew a sword, he could absorb a wisp of Sword Essence. During cultivation, consuming this essence could increase his speed. Therefore, working as a sword-guarding disciple at the Sword Pavilion was perfect for him!
At this moment, Meng Fan wiped the swords earnestly; he planned to finish forty before returning to his room to cultivate. He had calculated that the Sword Essence from forty ordinary swords would be enough to sustain his cultivation for the whole night! Of course, this referred to ordinary swords. If it were a spiritual sword, one might be worth ten or even a hundred ordinary ones. But Meng Fan didn't dare to touch spiritual swords yet; the impression the spiritual sword "Hongqi" had left on him was still vivid! Last time was just luck; Hongqi hadn't been determined to hurt him. But luck was something one couldn't guarantee every time.
Strength was the king. Once his strength improved, then he would consider touching spiritual swords again.
When Meng Fan reached the twenty-sixth sword, a long-lost "Sword Fiend" appeared. The probability of an ordinary sword containing a fiend was not high. But since Meng Fan was wiping forty swords in one go, the probability of encountering one with a fiend was much higher!
[Sword Name: Copper Mountain.]
...
The moment Meng Fan touched the sword, a streak of Sword Fiend surged violently into his body. Without exception, "Sword Dao Divine Mastery" activated again, beginning to refine the fiendish aura. In Meng Fan's mind, a scene began to emerge. Such swords that possessed a fiendish aura, though not spiritual swords, had indeed become stained with some spiritual nature. Every sword had its own "memory."
In this memory, Meng Fan saw a youth. The youth held this Copper Mountain sword and practiced the same move—a simple, vertical hack. In this memory, the youth kept repeating this action. Time flowed like water; in the memory, time passed very slowly, but in reality, in the Sword Pavilion, only a second had passed.
In the scene Meng Fan saw, the youth had hacked away countless times. The youth had even grown into a young man. Throughout his aging, he continued to practice this single vertical hack, never giving up. Meng Fan frowned, puzzled. It was truly just a simple vertical hack, with nothing special about it, and it could hardly count as a technique. Even a three-year-old child could wield a wooden sword and do the same.
But his intuition told Meng Fan that this move shouldn't be simple. The memories contained within the Sword Fiend were bound to be extremely precious and important. This vertical hack was surely going to undergo a earth-shattering change.
Soon, the youth in the memory had become a middle-aged man. Finally, on a certain day in a certain month, the man swung his sword down as usual. But this time, it was different! As the sword fell, ripples surged in the void. This plain, unremarkable strike transformed in mid-air, undergoing a world-shaking change.
Sword Intent? No. It was... Sword Momentum!
As the middle-aged man’s sword fell, it actually invoked the power of heaven and earth, vaguely containing the profound mysteries of the universe. The sword merged with heaven and earth, seized the creation of the heavens, and condensed into Sword Momentum! Decades of hacking out this one move daily had finally borne fruit.
"Sword Momentum—Mountain Splitting!"
Before the memory ended, Meng Fan vaguely heard a weathered voice.
[Mountain Splitting.]
Meng Fan opened his eyes, shock in his gaze. He had actually seen Sword Momentum from an ordinary, common sword. Although he had encountered what seemed to be ordinary swords before that turned out to be the personal weapons of top experts, he was still incredibly shocked. One could only say that the Sword Pavilion of the Shushan Sword Sect was truly absurd.
How many famous, strange, and bizarre swords were contained in this small pavilion? And this was only the first floor! On the second, third, and fourth floors... how many terrifying sword weapons were hidden there?
In fact, Meng Fan had simply struck gold.