The Sword Master – The Righteous Hermit

After listening to the explanation from the Elder of Transmission, Chen Lu felt a deep sense of powerlessness.

In the past, when I practiced, after sensing what sword intent was, I would first imitate it, then get closer to it, and finally master it. Everything came naturally.

Now, Chen Lu could only sit on the futon and daydream, his mind filled with guesses about what sword intent was like.

If things continue like this, even if I thought about the next life, I still wouldn't be able to cultivate sword intent.

"We can only consult the Immortal Master first to see if there is any way to comprehend sword intent."

Back in his quiet room, Chen Lu put the manual aside and began practicing.

He only opened his eyes when the divination was refreshed at midnight.

Holding the nearly falling-down original copy of "Sharp Metal Sword Pointing" in his hands, he silently recited in his heart:

"Disciple Chen Lu humbly beseeches the divine will to reveal to me the method of cultivating sword intent!"

[Information: The original text of "Sharp Gold Sword Points" contains a message left by a master swordsman, which can only be revealed after soaking in wine.]

"Words left behind by a master swordsman?"

Chen Lu was puzzled and carefully recalled the sword masters who had contact with the Wang family ancestors.

But immediately, he thought of one person: the sword master who had traveled alone in Yuzhou for three hundred years.

He was the only person who had contact with the Wang family, and judging from the rumors that he never hesitated to share his knowledge, it was in line with his style.

Chen Lu was puzzled. Why use such a secretive method when they could simply tell more cultivators to comprehend the sword intent?

Fortunately, Chen Lu had a habit of carrying medicinal wine with him, which made it convenient to treat some minor bruises and sprains.

In this way, even if the Elder of the Transmission asked how he discovered there was something inside, it would be easy to explain.

He reached into his waistband, took out a small jar, unsealed it, and carefully placed the booklet inside.

Watching the booklet sway in the wine, Chen Lu felt somewhat uneasy.

I don't know how much time has passed, and how old the booklet has become. I wonder if the information it contains is still complete.

After waiting for more than an hour, the booklet was almost soaked and ruined, but Chen Lu still didn't find anything.

He couldn't help but wonder, shouldn't we use medicinal wine instead of regular drinking wine?

After waiting a while longer, just as he was about to retrieve the booklet, a sudden change occurred.

Instantly, a dazzling light burst forth from the wine jar, shining through the mouth of the jar onto the roof, appearing incredibly brilliant.

But the scene only lasted for two seconds before becoming intermittent, like a stream that was about to run dry.

Finally, the wine swayed slightly, and the booklet remained still.

He waited a while longer, and only after confirming that there was really no reaction did he carefully take it out.

In the original book, between the lines of text on the page recording the compiler, there were lines of smaller characters.

At the very bottom of the page, there is a tiny stamp. Upon closer inspection, it contains only two characters: "Bingyi" (秉义).

Those who stray from the right path will be punished, while those who uphold righteousness will be honored!

According to rumors, the sword master who had dealings with the Wang family also called himself "Bingyi Jushi".

In other words, this really is that senior's.

Chen Lu calmed himself down and looked at the small characters interspersed between the lines.

Perhaps the book's material is too ordinary, causing much of the text to become so blurry that it's almost impossible to read.

He strained to decipher the words before piecing them together.

The opening lines seemed to be a warning to the Wang family elder with whom he had a past relationship.

The gist of it is that the senior member of the Wang family did not have a pure Dao heart, nor a clear sword heart.

He needs to treat others with sincerity, stop scheming, and let go of his evil thoughts in order to break through his bottleneck.

Unfortunately, this should have been said in person, because that senior member of the Wang family died in seclusion a few years after returning.

Next, it explains how to cultivate this Sharp Metal Sword Intent.

Chen Lu sat up straight, calmed his chaotic thoughts, and focused on examining the situation.

"Ancient divine blades were forged through countless hammerings and temperings to become sharp blades; their sharpness lay in the metal, and their spirit in the craftsman."

If one receives divine guidance, one should observe the hardness of metal and stone, listen to the sound of metal ringing, feel the sharpness of cold iron, sense the chilling aura of metal, observe the melting of metal by fierce fire, and comprehend the inherent nature of unyielding integrity.

After reading it, Chen Lu suddenly felt enlightened.

The main text is quite lengthy and has many pages, but it's nowhere near as concise as these few sentences.

The cultivation method described by Layman Bingyi is actually very simple and pure.

It means tracing back to the origins of the characters "锐" (ruì, sharp) and "金" (jīn,

Sharpness, in the context of swordsmanship, comes first from the sword, and then from the heart.

Gold refers to the essence of gold, the innate golden energy, the purest, strongest, and most pristine primordial energy, which arises from the heart and condenses inward towards the spirit.

Gold is born from sharpness, and sharpness comes from the sword; this is a complete sequence of cultivation.

"Judging from this, I should first observe all the steps from raw materials to the forging of a sword in order to quickly grasp the essence of the word 'sharp'."

Then, by comprehending the meaning of "sharpness," one can naturally cultivate the sharp metal sword intent.

Thinking of this, Chen Lu felt a surge of excitement.

However, there is one thing: Fenglinfang only has workshops that produce raw materials, but no workshops that refine weapons.

If you want to observe weapon crafting, you can only go to Red Bamboo Immortal City.

However, the Wang family had almost no influence in Chizhu Immortal City and could not send an outsider to such a secluded place as the weapon-refining workshop.

Chen Lu hesitated for a moment. It seemed that there was only one person who could persuade him to go to the weapon-refining workshop to observe.

Second senior brother, Chu Liutang.

Chen Lu felt a sudden toothache whenever he thought about asking for help.

She had rejected his attempts to win her over several times because the Chu family was too powerful.

He worried that one day, if he asked for help too many times, he would not be able to repay the kindness of the Chu family, and would eventually have to pay for everything with his life.

What he wants is mutual help and support, mutual success, so that he can feel at ease with everything he has.

Chen Lu was caught in a dilemma. After thinking for a long time, he decided to consult the diviner tomorrow to see if he should ask for his help.

The next day, at midnight.

"Disciple Chen Lu humbly beseeches the divine will to instruct me whether I should seek help from Chu Liutang and enter the weapon-refining workshop to observe weapon refining."

[Medium to low fortune - ominous: Exchange one matter for another, help each other.]

Chu Liutang felt regretful, thinking that you were too profit-driven and not a true friend.

Although you successfully entered the weapon-refining workshop, your reputation was ruined during the subsequent exchange of assistance, causing the clan leader to abandon your protection.

[Auspicious/Medium Fortune: Chu Liutang speaks frankly about his thoughts and is satisfied.]

A person should have self-awareness, and you possess this quality fully. You are a like-minded person and an excellent partner for cooperation.

I'm willing to help you this time, as a celebration and a starting point for our cooperation.

"Hiss~ So Senior Brother Chu is quite a sentimental person after all."

After seeing the two hexagrams, Chen Lu was somewhat surprised, and then felt a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex feeling of mixed emotions, including reflection and contemplation).

"Being out of favor within the family, he was exiled to become an alchemist, far from the center of resources."

He could foresee his future from the start, yet he didn't seek more profit. Instead, he dutifully and relentlessly refined elixirs, trying to be an honest man.

These days, it's rare to find someone as talented, quick-witted, and hardworking as him—a true "unrivaled ox or horse."