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In the void before Qin Yi, a brilliant, three-foot-long sword formed purely of azure energy. Its Sword Intent was sharp, cold, and utterly fierce, rocketing straight toward the cross-legged figure.
Just as the energy blade reached the space between his brows, Qin Yi's eyes snapped open.
Simultaneously, a potent wave of repulsive force erupted from his form. The three-foot energy sword shattered with a crystalline crack and vanished without a trace.
"Dugu Yuyun."
Still seated, Qin Yi's gaze locked instantly onto the young man standing at the entrance of the garden.
Seeing Qin Yi fully awake, Dugu Yuyun's expression remained composed, though his earlier confidence had vanished. He quickly bowed low.
"Senior Martial Uncle."
"In Mount Shu, how should a disciple be punished for attacking a superior?" Qin Yi's voice was dangerously cold.
Dugu Yuyun froze, then risked an explanation, "Junior Brother Situ said he was injured in the flower garden. In my impression, Senior Martial Uncle had no cultivation, so I merely thought to, "
"So you acted to test me? To determine whether this Elder was a fake?" Qin Yi finished his sentence with a sharp, incredulous laugh.
Dugu Yuyun opened his mouth, but shame and realization kept him silent.
"You two brothers are quite amusing," Qin Yi sneered. "One gets drunk and tramples the garden, the other dares to strike at a superior. Did our Laws and Morals Elder take a vacation?"
Cold sweat broke out on Dugu Yuyun's forehead, and he bowed even lower.
In truth, he had harbored a subtle contempt for Elder Chang Yi. An Elder of Mount Shu with zero cultivation, had he not been cloistered away for years, most disciples would have treated him as an embarrassment. It was precisely this prejudice that had allowed him to strike so carelessly.
But the moment the attack failed and he registered the Elder's power, and now that this Senior Martial Uncle invoked their seniority and the name of the Laws and Morals Elder, panic set in.
Unlike the drunken Situ Zhong, Dugu Yuyun was one of Mount Shu's shining prodigies, a true talent praised and personally guided by Sect Lord Zhangqing, his future as a Sword Saint all but guaranteed. An offense reported to the disciplinary elder would be disastrous for his reputation and path.
"It seems the authority of the Laws and Morals Elder needs to be reinforced."
Qin Yi's voice came again, causing Dugu Yuyun to tremble. He immediately deepened his bow.
"Disciple was wrong."
"Hmph." Qin Yi snorted again, a sound of pure displeasure.
He cast a deep, final glance at the youth, then closed his eyes and waved a dismissive hand.
"Go. This is the last time."
Dugu Yuyun blinked, comprehending the weight and unexpected mercy in Qin Yi's words. A wave of profound gratitude washed over him.
"Thank you, Senior Martial Uncle."
"And tell that drunk Junior Brother of yours to keep away from here," Qin Yi added lightly. "It's not easy to raise these flowers."
"Disciple will definitely pass on the message," Dugu Yuyun promised sincerely.
Qin Yi returned to his stillness, ignoring him completely. Filled with relief, Dugu Yuyun bowed one last time and quietly withdrew from the flower garden.
Only after the young man's figure was completely gone did Qin Yi sigh softly, his composure cracking slightly.
"As a Senior Martial Uncle, I couldn't even see through that junior… Truly disgraceful."
It was the painful truth. The apocalyptic power he once wielded in the worlds of Hokage and One Piece was useless for subtle perception. In the unique system of this world, everything was different.
First, the firmness of space and the fundamental laws were alien. The same amount of energy, when released, yielded a vastly different scale of destructive force.
Second, the true power of this world was not the flashy destruction often shown in adaptations, but the terrifying precision of Sword Intent. When Mount Shu's Sword Controlling Technique reached profound levels, a master could traverse the North Sea in the morning and reach the Southern Wastelands by dusk; they could instantly take an enemy's head from a thousand miles away.
Such attacks possessed terrifying armor-breaking properties and a vast Sword Intent capable of shattering the spirit, ignoring most conventional defenses.
The Five-Element spells of the Immortal Realm were similarly distinct from Ninjutsu Chakra. They were Immortal Techniques released through Spiritual Qi, which was far purer and more enduring than even the Natural Energy used in the Hokage world's Sage Mode.
Qin Yi still lacked a complete grasp of the true destructive ceiling of high-level Sword and Fairy abilities. He only knew that in that ancient war between Jing Tian and Chong Lou, the sheer aftermath of their clash had been enough to cause the collapse of the New Immortal Realm itself.
He had carefully observed Dugu Yuyun again and again during their brief exchange, yet the young man still seemed unfathomable, a power he couldn't completely categorize or see through.
The thirty-year-old Sword Saint Dugu possessed genuinely extraordinary strength. Different power systems created vastly different scales between worlds.
The road ahead is long and winding… but I shall seek the Dao from top to bottom!
Sighing at the vastness of the journey, Qin Yi once again closed his eyes, focusing on the bottleneck of the fifth realm.
Ten days later, he finally broke through, achieving the Fifth Level: Comprehending the Dao!
But immediately upon reaching this step, he found himself completely unable to advance further. No matter how much Qi he absorbed, the path remained blocked. He sighed in frustration.
"I've exhausted my accumulation. I need a deeper understanding of the Dao."
To reach such profound comprehension, he would have to completely calm his mind once more, to read, to contemplate, to accumulate true, worldly experience. This next phase would take ten or even a hundred times longer than the initial breakthrough.
Qin Yi decided to change his immediate focus: he would study Mount Shu's foundational Sword Techniques and Immortal Techniques, the paths of practical martial practice.
Mount Shu's Qi Skills and Immortal Techniques were renowned for their power and vast number, far exceeding the depth and variety of Ninjutsu. Restoring-type, Boosting-type, Sealing-type, all were highly effective and potently powerful.
Since Xu Zhangqing had taken over as Sect Lord, he had greatly expanded Mount Shu, constructing the Upper Purity Palace, the Three Sovereigns Hall, and numerous other structures, tripling the sect's size. New facilities, such as the Weapon Vault, Talisman Vault, and Scripture Library, had been built. Above Sword Summit were the martial arena, the Sword Qi Platform, and the Contemplation Hall.
Qin Yi first visited the Weapon Vault and chose a simple Azure Edge Sword, then headed to the Sword Qi Platform atop Sword Summit.
Reaching the Fifth Level of Comprehending the Dao meant achieving a fundamental understanding of nature, humanity, and all things. Once one's spiritual accumulation thickened and perception clarified, technical progress would come quickly.
Since his realm could not advance for the moment, the practice of Sword Techniques, Immortal Techniques, and Talisman Arts became his new goal. These skills could be quickly mastered through constant, practical application and accumulated experience.
He sat on the Sword Qi Platform, cross-legged in a remote corner. Before him lay a vast, rolling sea of clouds, misty and boundless, truly resembling an Immortal Realm. The Spiritual Qi was dense and vibrant here.
Placing the Azure Edge Sword across his knees, Qin Yi slowly closed his eyes.
In his mind, the core method of the Sword Controlling Technique appeared, golden characters flickering one by one. Qin Yi's spirit moved, and his Qi followed his spirit, gently extending into the Azure Edge Sword resting on his knees.
"Hum!"
The Azure Edge Sword trembled slightly, and Qin Yi sensed its pulse, its rhythmic connection to his will.
Most of Mount Shu's ultimate sword arts, such as the Myriad Swords Art, Heavenly Sword, and the mighty Sword God Technique, were built upon this fundamental skill. Only by mastering Sword Controlling could one hope to grasp the more advanced techniques.
Through constant experimentation and deep reflection, Qin Yi's extraordinary talent shone through, and his insights grew richer.
As the sun dipped low and dusk began to paint the sky, "Hum… hum… hum!!"
The Azure Edge Sword on his knees suddenly vibrated violently, then slowly, miraculously, lifted into the air.
"Success!"
His eyes snapped open, a genuine flicker of joy shining within.
But at that very moment, A sudden, urgent, and rapid bell tone resounded across Mount Shu. Qin Yi's head snapped around, all thought of triumph instantly gone.
In an instant, countless sword lights shot into the sky. A massive Sword Array floated above the heavens, its sword intent spreading everywhere as the entire firmament blazed bright with power.
"A major event has happened!"
Qin Yi's expression grew solemn. The bells of Mount Shu never rang like that for a trifle.
(End of this chapter)