A flash of insight crossed Zhong Yun's mind as he remembered the secret passage of the sect recorded in the jade pendant.
This secret passage had been established by the seniors of the sect to guard against emergencies, and very few people knew about it. Spotting his opportunity, he feinted a move and, taking advantage of the moment the man in black was stunned, leapt forward, smashed through the window, and fled into the night.
The man in black pursued him relentlessly, but relying on his familiarity with the terrain, Zhong Yun made several twists and turns before finally diving into the secret passage. The entrance was concealed, and by the time the man in black caught up, his trace was already lost. Furious and frustrated yet completely helpless, Zhao Hu had no choice but to lead his men away in anger.
Still shaken, Zhong Yun leaned against the wall of the secret passage and panted heavily. He knew that his escape this time was purely a matter of sheer luck. The relentless pursuit by Zhao Hu and Qian Duoduo made him thoroughly understand that in this world where the strong reigned supreme, only one's own strength was the true foundation for survival.
Clenching his fists, a resolute gleam flashed in his eyes. "I must become stronger! Only in this way can I protect myself, uncover the truth, and... be worthy of her."
Shen Yao's cold and ethereal face surfaced in his mind, and a wave of warmth surged through his heart. Ever since that sparring match days ago, Shen Yao had paid him special attention, not only secretly protecting him from Zhao Hu's bullying but also frequently guiding his cultivation.
"Your sword technique focuses too much on form and lacks the application of Spiritual Qi," Shen Yao's voice rang in his ear like a clear spring.
"The sword is the sovereign of all weapons; one must wield it using Qi before its true power can be unleashed."
Zhong Yun recalled the scene where Shen Yao imparted her mental cultivation method to him. Her cold eyes seemed to contain a sea of stars, and the Spiritual Qi flowing at her fingertips had left him in absolute awe. He knew that the gap between him and her was as vast as that between the clouds and the mud.
"Senior Sister Shen, thank you," Zhong Yun said sincerely. "I will practice diligently and will never let down your expectations."
Shen Yao nodded slightly and turned to leave. Under the moonlight, her retreating figure appeared exceptionally cold and solitary.
Watching her back, Zhong Yun felt an inexplicable impulse surge within him. He wanted to protect her and make a genuine smile appear on her face.
From then on, Zhong Yun practiced even harder. He rose early and worked late every day, practicing sword techniques and comprehending mental methods to the point of neglecting food and sleep. His efforts were not in vain; his sword technique grew sharper and sharper, and his Spiritual Qi became increasingly profound.
One day, while Zhong Yun was practicing his sword, a round figure came running toward him. "Zhong Yun, wait for me!" Fatty Wang panted heavily. "I want to practice with you too!"
Looking at Fatty Wang's resolute gaze, Zhong Yun smiled faintly. He knew he was no longer fighting alone. Fatty Wang was not bad by nature, just somewhat fond of ease and pleasure. Inspired by Zhong Yun, he too had ignited a spark of passion for martial arts.
Thus, Zhong Yun, Fatty Wang, and Shen Yao—who frequently came to offer guidance—formed a small cultivation team. In the morning, they sweat profusely in the Martial Arts Arena, practicing their sword techniques. At night, they meditated in the quiet chamber, perceiving the Spiritual Qi.
Zhong Yun's diligence and perseverance deeply shocked Fatty Wang, who stopped slacking off and instead followed Zhong Yun in rising early and retiring late, striving hard in his cultivation.
Although cultivation was arduous, all three found joy in it. They encouraged one another, helped each other, and made progress together. Zhong Yun's sword technique grew increasingly fierce, and his application of Spiritual Qi became more refined; Fatty Wang's footwork became much more agile, no longer as clumsy as before; and looking at the progress of the two, Shen Yao's cold face often revealed a gratified smile.
However, the path of cultivation was never entirely smooth.
As his cultivation deepened, Zhong Yun encountered a bottleneck. He found that his Spiritual Qi had stagnated, and his sword technique could make no further headway. He tried all sorts of methods, yet he remained unable to break through. Frustration began to plague him, casting a shadow over his normally resolute spirit.
"What's wrong?" One day, Shen Yao noticed Zhong Yun's abnormality and stopped to ask.
Zhong Yun sighed and told Shen Yao about his predicament. After listening, Shen Yao pondered for a moment and said, "Are you perhaps too obsessed with form and power, while ignoring the intent of the sword?"
"Sword intent?" Zhong Yun was completely baffled.
Instead of explaining directly, Shen Yao drew her long sword and began to dance with it. Her sword technique was light, graceful, and ethereal, yet harbored hidden lethal intent, as if she had merged entirely with the surrounding environment. Every move and form was imbued with spirit, as though she were not merely wielding a sword, but narrating a story and expressing an emotion.
Zhong Yun watched in a trance, feeling as though he had grasped something yet failing to fully comprehend it. Shen Yao withdrew her sword, stood still, and asked, "Do you understand?"
Zhong Yun pondered for a moment, shook his head, and then nodded again. He vaguely felt that the "sword intent" Shen Yao spoke of was a higher realm of existence, but he had no idea where to begin.
"Use your heart to perceive," Shen Yao said calmly. "Every sword has its own soul, and every sword technique has its own story. What you need to do is find it, understand it, and then make it your own."
Shen Yao's words were like a bolt of lightning, parting the fog in Zhong Yun's heart. He closed his eyes and began to recall every bit of his sword practice, striving to feel the presence of the sword and comprehend the true essence of the sword techniques.
Late into the night, only Zhong Yun remained in the training ground. He gripped his long sword, practicing basic sword forms over and over again, but this time, he no longer obsessed over the perfection of the moves; instead, he poured his entire mind and soul into the perception of "sword intent."
In the distance, Shen Yao quietly watched Zhong Yun's back, a trace of an imperceptible smile playing at the corners of her lips...
The night was deep, yet a resolute figure still flickered across the training ground. Zhong Yun swung his long sword time and time again; sweat soaked his garments, but he paid it no heed. In his eyes was only those flashing arcs of sword light, and in his heart was only the persistent pursuit of "sword intent."
As the east turned pale and a fish-belly white appeared at the edge of the sky, Zhong Yun finally halted his cultivation. He let out a long breath, feeling thoroughly refreshed throughout his body, and an unprecedented flash of enlightenment surged into his mind. He seemed to have touched the threshold of "sword intent"—although still vague, it filled him with hope.
"Not bad. Your diligence and comprehension are both worthy of praise."
A booming voice rang out from behind. Zhong Yun turned around to see Elder Li standing not far away, a hint of admiration in his eyes.
Zhong Yun hurriedly bowed. "Elder Li."
Elder Li nodded and asked, "Do you know why I have come?"
Zhong Yun pondered briefly and replied, "This disciple is dull-witted; I ask the Elder to enlighten me."
Elder Li said, "I have observed your diligent cultivation and rapid progress recently, so I have decided to give you special guidance."
Joy welled up in Zhong Yun's heart, and he quickly expressed his thanks. He knew that Elder Li was a deeply respected elder within the sect, possessing profound cultivation and vast experience. Receiving his guidance would be of immense help to his cultivation.
Elder Li led Zhong Yun to a secluded spot in the back mountain. The Spiritual Qi here was dense and the environment serene, making it an ideal place for cultivation. Elder Li assigned Zhong Yun some special cultivation tasks; these tasks were extremely difficult, but they were of tremendous help in elevating one's cultivation level.
Zhong Yun gladly accepted the challenge, practicing day and night to complete task after task. In the process of completing them, he encountered all sorts of difficulties, but he overcame every single one.
One day, while cultivating in a valley, Zhong Yun suddenly heard a melodious tune played on a flute drifting from afar. Following the sound, he saw an old man in plain clothes sitting on a blue boulder, playing a bamboo flute. The old man's hair and beard were completely white, but he was spirited and possessed a transcendent air, as if he had merged with the surrounding nature.
The flute music was melodious and lingering, at times soaring and passionate, at times deep and mournful, as if recounting an ancient story. Zhong Yun listened in rapt attention; he had never heard such wonderful flute music, which seemed capable of cleansing the soul and making him forget all his troubles.
When the song ended, Zhong Yun finally came to his senses and hurried forward to bow. "Junior Zhong Yun pays respects to Senior."
The old man smiled faintly and said, "You and I share a fated affinity, no need for such formality."
Zhong Yun respectfully asked, "May I ask for Senior's honorable name?"
The old man shook his head and replied, "A name is merely a code, pay it no mind. I see your physical constitution is exceptional, and you are a fine seedling for martial arts, though your cultivation method has some slight deviations. I can give you a pointer or two."
Hearing this, Zhong Yun was overjoyed. Knowing he had met an expert, he immediately knelt and kowtowed. "I beg Senior for your guidance."
The old man helped Zhong Yun up and imparted some unique cultivation techniques to him. These techniques were vastly different from what Zhong Yun had previously learned, yet they were far more exquisite and profound.
As the setting sun dipped below the horizon, the old man drifted away, leaving Zhong Yun alone in the valley to quietly ruminate on his teachings. He knew that his path of cultivation had only just begun.
However, Zhong Yun did not know that his progress had already drawn the attention of certain people, and a conspiracy targeting him was quietly brewing...
Ever since he was outshone by Zhong Yun, Qian Duoduo had harbored deep resentment. He had originally thought that with his identity as an outer disciple and the facade of "diligent effort," he could steadily suppress Zhong Yun. Never had he expected that not only was Zhong Yun's cultivation speed astonishingly fast, but he had also won the favor of Elder Li, which filled him with a jealousy that burned like fire and left him unable to sleep in peace.
"Damn it! Just what kind of blind luck has this brat stumbled upon!" Qian Duoduo slammed his fist onto the table, gritting his teeth as he muttered, "I will never let him act so smug!"
He recalled previously discovering by chance that Zhong Yun was cultivating an extremely special technique, one that seemed somewhat connected to the Demonic Path. If he could spread this news—with a bit of "embellishment" added—it would inevitably ruin Zhong Yun's reputation and leave him forever unable to make a comeback!
Thus, Qian Duoduo began to secretly observe Zhong Yun's movements, attempting to find evidence of him practicing demonic arts. At the same time, he deliberately approached certain disciples closely connected to the Law Enforcement Hall, spreading rumors about Zhong Yun in an attempt to draw their attention.
Meanwhile, Zhong Yun remained completely unaware of Qian Duoduo's conspiracy. Following the old man's guidance, he concentrated wholeheartedly on his cultivation, and his realm advanced by leaps and bounds. Elder Li was extremely gratified by his progress and decided to let him represent the sect in participating in the upcoming Qingyun Trial.
The Qingyun Trial was a grand event jointly hosted by several neighboring sects, aimed at selecting outstanding disciples while also providing an opportunity for various sects to exchange pointers and interact. Being able to participate in the Qingyun Trial was not only a symbol of strength, but also a supreme honor.
Upon learning this news, Zhong Yun felt both excited and apprehensive. He knew this was both an opportunity and a challenge for him. He resolved to give it his all and not let down Elder Li's expectations.
To better prepare for the Qingyun Trial, Zhong Yun decided to venture out for seasoning and seek the opportunity to break through his bottleneck. After taking leave of Elder Li, he left the sect alone.
However, what Zhong Yun did not know was that the very next day after he left the sect, Qian Duoduo received the news, a sinister smile creeping across his face...
Climbing mountains and wading across streams all the way, Zhong Yun arrived at a densely wooded forest devoid of human traces. This dense forest was rich in Spiritual Qi, yet fraught with danger, making it an ideal place for tempering oneself.
While vigilantly observing his surroundings, he searched for a suitable location to cultivate. Suddenly, he heard the sounds of a scuffle coming from not far away, mingled with the voice of Qian Duoduo!
A shock went through Zhong Yun's heart, and he hurried toward the direction of the sounds. He wanted to see just what on earth Qian Duoduo was up to!