Chapter 703
Communication
The deep sea was dark and gloomy. Dressed in black, Yang Yi's legs seemed to be rooted to the seabed and reefs as he wielded his sword. Every movement was slow and laborious, and he could hardly control the direction of his sword swings.
Known as the 'Sword God,' he certainly wouldn't be unable to control the direction of his sword swings, especially since he had already reached the Innate Realm.
But don't forget that this is the deep sea. Even if Chen Xuan didn't pay special attention, he estimated that it was at least one or two thousand feet deep!
At such a depth, the terrifying water pressure is unimaginable; even steel would probably be crushed. It has clearly reached the limit of his body's endurance, which is why his movements appear so difficult and obscure.
At such a depth, he not only had to withstand the terrifying water pressure with his physical body, but also had to face the undercurrents to maintain his position, and endure the cold of the seawater. On the contrary, breathing was the easiest thing to solve, as his innate fetal breathing allowed him to stay underwater for a long time.
Cultivating in this way is extremely dangerous. One could easily perish underwater if one is not careful. This is true even for those at the Innate Realm, let alone someone who has only just entered the Innate Realm with shallow true energy. It's like dancing on the edge of a knife, pushing himself to the limit in order to break through.
However, the effect was still quite good. The water pressure could temper his muscles and bones, and the precise circulation of true qi helped improve his cultivation. The resistance of the seawater allowed him to better master swordsmanship. Getting used to this environment also significantly improved his lightness skill and movement technique. However, it was too dangerous. Not even a trace of extra true qi could be wasted, let alone unleashing sword qi at such a depth.
After observing for a moment, Chen Xuan thought to himself that it was a decent cultivation method, but it was only decent; it couldn't be called a heretical or evil path, but rather a risky approach.
For him, cultivation is actually a joyful thing, and he should feel happy in body and mind. The way of exploitation and suffering is just inferior. He does not deny that this method is indeed effective, but it is not the right path. If you go down the wrong path, it is okay in the short term, but in the long term, it will inevitably leave hidden dangers and injuries. It is clearly overdrawing the future in exchange for the current breakthrough. Going to extremes will have a price to pay. If you can keep breaking through and growing, it is okay. But when one day your cultivation stops, all the accumulated hidden dangers will come out, and your body may collapse all at once.
"Could he have been spurred on by Xu Yun's one-sword defeat, and now he's also planning to switch to a speed-based style? What suits you best is the best. His self-created swordsmanship is quite good; continuing to study it has great potential. Hmm, judging from his sword-wielding movements and the way he circulates his true energy, it doesn't seem like he wants to absorb the advantages of speed into his own swordsmanship. A good idea; no wonder he earned the title of Sword God. His talent in this area is considerable. However, this means losing the original essence of his self-created swordsmanship. A change in style means he can no longer follow his original path. He might see improvement in the short term, but his ceiling will also change."
After a quick glance, Chen Xuan understood his intentions. After all, the gap between them was obvious, and he didn't intend to interfere. That was their business. Who knew if they might actually find their own unique path in the future?
After watching for a while, Chen Xuan prepared to leave. His wives were waiting for him to catch seafood to take back and eat. Wouldn't it be more pleasant to enjoy delicious food with beautiful women by his side?
Just then, Yang Yi noticed his presence and immediately stopped what he was doing, looking over.
Yang Yi was surprised that there were people in such deep sea, and Chen Xuan's composure and ease made him take notice, especially since he was surrounded by a bunch of fish, shrimp and crabs and could still move around so easily.
Their eyes met from dozens of feet apart. Chen Xuan simply smiled and nodded slightly before rising towards the sea and leaving.
He didn't realize he had encountered a master. At this moment, Yang Yi, who had been cultivating for a long time, was also nearing his limit. He hesitated for a moment, then followed along as if possessed.
Upon quickly reaching the sea surface, Yang Yi saw Chen Xuan, completely dry, already a hundred feet away. Beside him, a large water sphere floated in the air, enveloping numerous seafood. He strolled leisurely on the undulating sea, his shoes not even getting wet, as if walking on a stone path.
Ignoring his soaking wet state, and knowing that he wasn't particularly skilled in light-footed martial arts and couldn't stand lightly on the water, Yang Yi used his light-footed technique to step out and catch up, calling out loudly, "Senior, please wait!"
Chen Xuan naturally knew that the other party was chasing after him. He stood on the sea as if his feet were weightless, his body rising and falling with the waves. He nodded to Yang Yi, who had approached, and smiled, "Brother, what brings you here? I'm not some senior; I'm much younger than you."
Upon hearing this, Yang Yi was momentarily speechless. Indeed, he had no reason to call out to the other party without any cause, and chasing after him was merely an instinctive action. His mind raced, and he quickly cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "The accomplished should come first. You flatter me, sir. I am truly unworthy of such a title. My name is Yang Yi. May I ask your guidance?"
"So it's the Sword God in person. My apologies. My surname is Chen, and my given name is Xuan," Chen Xuan said, cupping his hands. It was just his name, nothing to hide. As for the formalities like "no need for formalities," he could forget about them. He had already married a princess, and his cultivation level was what it was. It wouldn't be appropriate for him to be so modest.
Upon hearing this, Yang Yi's pupils contracted. Of course, he had heard of Chen Xuan's name. Even in the Rong Kingdom's martial arts world, he was a household name. He was the youngest Grandmaster-level expert in his knowledge, and his terrifying battle record was verifiable. He never expected to have the chance to meet him in person.
Seeing him in a daze, his legs trembling slightly in the water as he struggled to stay upright, Chen Xuan looked at a reef jutting out of the sea in the distance, pointed at it, and laughed, "It's not convenient to communicate here, why don't we go over there?"
"Mr. Chen, you flatter me. The title of Sword God is merely a compliment from my fellow martial artists and should not be taken seriously. I apologize for my abruptness. Please," Yang Yi said, taking a deep breath.
Soon the two arrived at a reef several meters in size. The large water sphere still floated beside Chen Xuan. Standing on it, Chen Xuan looked at Yang Yi, who had followed and was now using his inner energy to dry his wet clothes, and nodded, saying, "I wonder what business you have with me, Hero Yang? You can speak now, please forgive me, I'm still waiting to go back and eat; the ingredients are all prepared."
"I apologize, I have offended you, please forgive me," he said again with a bow.
Waving his hand, Chen Xuan smiled and said, "It's alright. Please speak frankly if you have something to say. I don't like beating around the bush. If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."
Unexpectedly, Chen Xuan was so easy to talk to, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. His mind raced and he quickly said, "I wouldn't dare to delay you, Mr. Chen. It's an honor to meet you. You must have seen me cultivating underwater just now, Mr. Chen. I'm sorry for making a fool of myself. I wonder if I could humbly ask for your guidance? Please forgive me if I have offended you in any way."
This was a rare opportunity, and he was good at seizing it. However, seeing that Chen Xuan was easy to talk to, he didn't dare to waste time talking nonsense, so he boldly asked for advice.
Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan clicked his tongue inwardly. Why did it seem like he was some kind of old man suddenly appearing to give newbies a treat? Pshaw, he wasn't an old man at all; he was still young.
Everyone has a hidden gene for being a teacher. Anyway, there's no rush. Let's just consider it a good deed. In this life, a seed that is sown unintentionally may yield a bountiful harvest in the future.
So Chen Xuan smiled and said, "I am younger than you and have not been cultivating for long. I dare not presume to give you guidance. I am not very learned, except for my martial arts skills, which are barely passable. If you don't mind, we can discuss things together." This is too easy to talk to! Aren't strong people supposed to be eccentric and difficult to get along with? Yang Yi was a little stunned at this moment, but this was a golden opportunity. He quickly suppressed his excitement and respectfully bowed, saying, "Mr. Chen is too modest. I am very grateful for your generous guidance. I am Yang Yi, a junior learner. May I ask Mr. Chen if my clumsy self-created sword technique can be improved?"
Chen Xuan immediately said, both amused and exasperated, "I don't even know the specifics of Master Yang's swordsmanship, how can we discuss this?"
Just now, he struggled to wield his sword underwater. Under the pressure and currents, his movements were completely chaotic. Although Chen Xuan could see most of it at a glance, he didn't understand the sword techniques and mental methods. How could he give him guidance and help him improve? Of course, he kept emphasizing that they were discussing and exchanging ideas.
Slapping his forehead, Yang Yi said slightly embarrassedly, "I was too excited and didn't think things through. I'll just offer this stunt and hope Mr. Chen can give me some pointers."
"You're actually willing to present your unique skills to me without reservation?" Chen Xuan said, speechless.
"It would be my honor if Mr. Chen would take notice of my humble skills," he said without hesitation.
Shrugging, Chen Xuan gestured, "Please."
Then Yang Yi demonstrated his self-created sword technique on the reef in front of Chen Xuan, while explaining the key points and accompanying mental techniques.
Chen Xuan had seen his swordsmanship after he stepped onto the arena, but at that time he was in the Acquired Realm, yet he could still unleash sword energy. Now, having reached the Innate Realm, his power had reached an even higher level, with sword energy surging layer upon layer, endlessly flowing. Moreover, having already possessed sword intent, his swordsmanship contained the meaning of a surging, unending tide, which made each of his sword strikes contain the profound and heavy power of a river. Every strike he unleashed was full of hidden currents and powerful aftereffects, far from being as simple as it appeared on the surface. However, compared to before, his swordsmanship now contained a touch of speed, probably influenced by Xu Yun's fast sword technique back then, and he was developing in this direction. It seems that being defeated by Xu Yun's sword back then had a great impact on him.
He quickly finished demonstrating a set of sword techniques, then bowed, holding the sword with both hands, and said, "Please enlighten me, Mr. Chen."
With Chen Xuan's current cultivation level and perspective, his self-created sword technique is simply child's play. However, it must be admitted that it is truly remarkable for someone at Yang Yi's level, having already touched the threshold of a superior martial arts technique. What is commendable is that it was created by himself. It is only lacking in refinement, and there is still a lot of room for development if he continues to study it in depth.
After a moment's thought, Chen Xuan waved his hand and said with a smile, "I already said it's a discussion, no need to be so serious."
He paused for a moment, then continued under Yang Yi's expectant gaze, "This sword technique is your own creation; you've already forged your own path. Others' suggestions will only hinder your progress. I have some personal opinions here for your reference; just listen to them, don't take them too seriously."
"First of all, in my personal opinion, your swordsmanship is too complicated. When you strike, the sword energy surges like a tide, and you pursue an unstoppable, continuous force too much. In doing so, you disperse the power of each move. It would be better to fuse thousands of sword energies into one strike, while still retaining the profound and weighty sword intent. The power should be able to be increased, like this."
Chen Xuan didn't just talk the talk; he also demonstrated it to him personally.
As Yang Yi pondered something, he gestured with his eyes and reached out, and the sword in his hand fell into Chen Xuan's hands. Using the sword techniques he had used before, he raised his hand and swung the sword towards the sea. The level of his cultivation was even comparable to that of Yang Yi before.
The same move appeared ordinary in Chen Xuan's hands. There were no fancy layers of sword energy; only a three-foot-long dark blue sword light emerged from the sword. The sword light shot out, and the sound of surging waves was deafening.
That sword light seemed to contain the profound power of the ocean, directly tearing a crack more than ten feet long on the sea surface, as if it wanted to cut the entire ocean apart. In particular, under the powerful force contained in the sword energy, the crack in the seawater could not be healed in a short time!
The same sword strike, the same technique, the same mental cultivation, and even the same level of cultivation, but in Chen Xuan's hands, the power was worlds apart from that of Yang Yi's, more than ten times greater. In particular, the lingering aftereffects were so strong that even seawater could not heal it.
Yang Yi's pupils contracted in disbelief upon seeing this. Was this really the sword technique he had created? And he could execute it like this? Such a simple sword strike—this was already a return to simplicity, wasn't it? He had only watched it once, and in such a short time, he had already elevated his sword technique to such a level?
While he looked on incredulously, Chen Xuan flicked his wrist and stood with his sword on his back, giving him some time to process what was happening.
After a moment, he took a deep breath, his gaze intense, and bowed deeply, saying, "Thank you, Mr. Chen, I have learned a great deal."
He had already seen the way forward. His self-created sword technique was too complicated and flashy. The next step should be to simplify it.
With a smile, Chen Xuan said, "No need for that. It's just a discussion. This is how your self-created swordsmanship should be. It's just that you practiced it too scattered before. Abandoning the tedious and integrating it into one sword is what it looks like. Besides, I personally think that you have already found your own path. You only need to delve into the swordsmanship itself. There's no need to add unnecessary details and pursue speed. There is still a lot of room for improvement. As for the profound and vast sword intent of the ocean, why not continue to develop in this direction? Have you ever seen a whirlpool in the ocean? If you follow this line of thought and integrate it into your sword energy, the sword energy will be viscous and spiraling. When facing an enemy, it will guide the opponent's moves directly into your rhythm, like using four ounces to move a thousand pounds. It can also give the sword energy the ability to strangle, multiplying its power, like this."
As he spoke, Chen Xuan thrust his sword towards the sea again, using a move from Yang Yi's self-created sword technique, but it had reached a level that Chen Xuan could hardly comprehend.
As Chen Xuan thrust out his sword, the three-foot-long blade emitted a sharp, piercing light. The surrounding waves roared, and a fierce wind swept through, making the air thick and viscous. The sword energy spiraled and fell into the sea, drawing the seawater to rotate and forming a ten-zhang-wide, unfathomably deep whirlpool that lingered for a long time.
Yang Yi's eyes nearly popped out of his head at the sight. Wait, my brain isn't working properly, I can't keep up! Is this still my self-created sword technique? Can it really be like this? Can I do it?
He could already imagine what it would be like to fight with such swordsmanship. The sword strikes would be as heavy as a thousand pounds, the sword energy would rotate and pull, easily deflecting the enemy's moves so that they would not fall on him. With one thrust, the sword energy would shred and tear the person to pieces. Just thinking about it was brutal.
Chen Xuan presented the improved sword technique to him in the most intuitive way, allowing him to maximize his current cultivation level. The actual combat effect still depends on the individual. Take Xu Yun, who had competed with him before, for example. If Yang Yi had used this sword technique back then, no matter how fast Xu Yun was, with the spiraling true qi pulling him, he probably wouldn't have been able to get close to him.
After finishing, Chen Xuan handed over the longsword, saying, "This is just my humble opinion after watching your swordsmanship. You don't need to take it to heart, and don't let it affect your personal path. You still have to walk your own path. This is just for reference."
However, Yang Yi did not answer at this moment. He stared intently at the swirling eddy on the sea surface, which was slowly calming down. He was lost in deep thought. That scene lingered in his mind and was like a ray of light illuminating the night sky.
Seeing this, Chen Xuan smiled and didn't disturb him. He was merely offering some suggestions, hoping it wouldn't affect his future. After a while, it was getting late, so he silently planted his sword in the reef and left... (End of Chapter)