The Path of Cultivation

What's puzzling is that Chu Liutang didn't mention this matter.

As for taking a liking to Peach Girl, that's highly unlikely.

Chu Liutang was different from himself; he was not the kind of cultivator who was lustful.

Moreover, with the Song family watching him and Song Linxin around, he can forget about having any energy to devote to other women.

"Did Miss Tao'er say where she was going?"

"I don't know, but according to her sisters, she should have returned to Fenglinfang."

After all, her parents are buried there, and she still has to pay back the money to the Wang family; she has a lot on her plate.

"Oh well."

With the woman he knew not there, he lost interest in staying overnight.

They rented a fine horse and quickly returned to Fenglinfang.

Fortunately, he ran into a childhood friend in the tribe's territory, who led him into the territory.

As usual, I threw away two pieces of dried meat to distract the two greedy spirit cats, and then visited the Scripture Elder.

"Reporting to Elder, this junior has successfully comprehended the Sharp Metal Sword Intent," Chen Lu said respectfully.

The Elder opened his eyes and shot out a scrutinizing gaze, making Chen Lu feel uncomfortable all over, as if his thoughts had been completely exposed.

"In this world... there really are people who can comprehend sword intent on their own..."

The Elder of Transmission withdrew his gaze; he knew everything about Chen Lu's condition.

But seeing it for the first time still left him with a hint of shock in his voice.

"I thought that such a genius could never come from this small Fenglinfang, especially not from my Wang family."

If you had been born two hundred years earlier, I would have definitely found a way to make you a disciple of Layman Bingyi.

Now, why should I... my Wang family need to cower in the small Fenglinfang?

With your talent, there's nowhere in Chongqing you can't go.

Chen Lu lowered his head, listening to the envy in the voice of the Scripture Transmission Elder.

"I originally thought that you would fail to comprehend it, and at that time, I would let you learn another superior finger technique."

While not as powerful as "Sharp Gold Sword Pointing," it is still a formidable opponent in Maple Forest.

The Elder of Transmission glanced sideways and noticed the long sword at Chen Lu's waist, which sparked his curiosity.

"Chen Lu, I'm here to test the true strength of your Sharp Metal Sword Intent."

"This... senior, I have just grasped the essence of swordsmanship, and it is still immature. I'm afraid it doesn't have much power."

Chen Lu hesitated for a moment, but being able to fight with the Scripture Transmission Elder would surely benefit his cultivation greatly.

However, he had only recently grasped the essence of swordsmanship, and its power was still immature, not much different from not using sword intent at all.

"Sword intent needs to be used more to grow. Since your finger techniques are not yet fully mastered, you can use the sword instead, which is perfect for combining with secret medicine to repair meridian damage."

The elder's tone was somewhat urgent; he wanted to see for himself the difference between the sword intent he had comprehended and the sword intent he had learned by imitation.

Chen Lu was overjoyed; such opportunities were rare.

Now that I have mastered the "Sharp Gold Sword Pointing" technique, I have no more reason to stay in the Sutra Repository.

This free training ground and free master are things we can no longer enjoy.

We should stay as long as possible right now; we can't miss this opportunity.

"Yes, senior." Chen Lu nodded slightly.

The two arrived at the courtyard outside the Sutra Repository. Chen Lu drew his sword, a sharp glint flashing across its bluish blade before falling silent.

The Elder did not take his sword, but instead held two fingers upright in front of his chest. Suddenly, a faint golden light appeared out of thin air with a whistling sound.

The sharp light emanated from the fingertip, condensing into an illusory longsword that was slightly dazzling at first glance, making people dare not look directly at it.

This is the Finger Condensation Sword that can only be obtained after the "Sharp Gold Sword Finger" has been cultivated to perfection.

"Although the 'Sharp Gold Sword Finger' is a Qi cultivation technique, its power is insufficient once one reaches the Foundation Establishment stage."

However, this sharp golden sword intent is unmatched by any realm; it can be infused with any sword technique or secret art, making it even more powerful than the original.

With a thought, the Elder of Transmission released a chilling pressure that made Chen Lu's hands tremble slightly, almost causing him to lose his grip on the sword hilt.

"Especially this sword intent, the pressure it carries can subdue the enemy without a fight."

Practicing secret techniques can only make finger techniques stronger, but it will not enhance sword intent.

To make it stronger, there are only two ways: first, strengthen its spirit; second, wield its sword against an even stronger being.

Chen Lu nodded slightly, gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, and strode forward, desperately resisting the oppressive force as he thrust the sword towards Chen Lu's dantian.

With one hand behind his back, the Elder casually deflected the sword's edge.

After a round of competition, he attacked the entire time, while his opponent simply stood still and easily blocked every attack.

This is completely different from a duel between two civets, where the civets will fight back, reveal their weaknesses, are not very smart, and can be distracted by their own little actions.

Facing the Elder who transmitted the scriptures, he felt as if he were facing an impenetrable wall, without any flaws, and the Elder accurately anticipated his next move.

After going back and forth several times, he felt a sense of despair.

If I were to encounter such an enemy, I would only have one fate: death!

To take action against such a person requires immense courage. Every round of attack is a tremendous test of one's conviction, and it is no exaggeration to say that one is walking a tightrope between life and death.

Only then did he understand what the Elder of Transmission meant when he said that wielding a sword against a stronger opponent could enhance one's sword intent.

After a while, Chen Lu was panting heavily, and his sword intent was almost completely exhausted.

However, he could sense that once his sword intent recovered, it would definitely grow significantly.

Although such sparring is extremely taxing on his energy and spirit, over time, it will greatly improve his strength.

"Alright, that's your limit for today."

The Elder withdrew his sword and walked over to Chen Lu, placing one hand on his shoulder as he carefully sensed the changes in his meridians.

"Remember, what you are learning is the sword finger technique, not swordsmanship. In combat, the sword is a feint, and the finger technique is the main attack."

When encountering a cultivator stronger than you, the key is to focus on flexibility and surprise attacks.

After listening, Chen Lu pondered what had just happened.

He had almost never engaged in close combat before, and had very little experience in this area.

As a result, when they get a sword and engage in a formal duel, they focus all their energy on how to use the sword well, neglecting the importance of finger techniques.

He hasn't mastered the "Sharp Gold Sword Finger" technique yet, so he can only rely on the sword for close combat. He needs to practice the coordination between finger techniques and swordsmanship during this time.

"Don't go to the escort agency for now. During this time, familiarize yourself with 'Sharp Gold Sword Pointing' and try to master its controls."

The martial arts competition at Fenglinfang marked the first time in nearly a decade that the Wang family had publicly displayed their strength.

For you, it's not just about honing your skills, but also about gaining more opportunities.

Several major families from Chizhu Immortal City will send representatives to participate. Those who achieve first place in the Qi Refining realm will receive substantial rewards from their families.

"What's the reward?" Chen Lu asked instinctively.

"A superior magical artifact or a superior secret technique, the winner will choose the specific one."

In addition, I have added an extra provision: if one is a member of the Wang family, one can choose an elder to become an apprentice to.

If the person is an outsider, they will be given a cultivation manual, enough to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

"Top-grade..." Chen Lu's eyes lit up instantly upon hearing these two words.

Whether it's magical artifacts or secret techniques, obtaining a high-quality one is extremely rare and hard to come by.

Even though it was a gift from the Song family and made with the best materials, it was ultimately only of medium quality.

He now has two offensive magical weapons, a sword and a crossbow, as well as a low-grade spirit armor, but he is missing only one thing: a pair of boots.

Right now, he can only fight, but he can't run away. If he encounters a body-refining cultivator, his lightness skill is simply not enough.

A pair of high-quality spirit boots would undoubtedly greatly enhance his ability to protect himself, making his lightness skills twice as effective.

If he were to choose a superior secret technique, he would still be lacking a pupil technique, as his visual observation ability is still insufficient compared to secret techniques.

Having a powerful pupil technique can also greatly enhance the power of his "Sharp Metal Sword Finger".

Whether it's a magical artifact or a secret technique, choosing either will be extremely beneficial to him.

As for being accepted as a disciple by the elders, Chen Lu didn't care much.

If he encounters difficulties in his cultivation, he can consult divination, and the results he obtains are much better than those from outsiders.

Not to mention that the most powerful elder who transmits the scriptures doesn't treat him as one of his own. He won't even know how he'll be betrayed and killed.

If his clan leader, who values ​​him, is also among the candidates, he will definitely choose him.

Although the clan leader doesn't seem to have much influence or power among the elders right now, at least they genuinely consider him one of their own.

"Thank you for your kindness, Elder," Chen Lu said respectfully.

Suddenly remembering Tao'er, who had returned to Maple Forest Village, he couldn't help but ask:

"Senior, does your family know of a woman who goes by the alias Tao'er?"

She owed her family five thousand spirit coins for murdering Wang Shengli, a pawnbroker.