Chapter 132: Innate Grand Mystery Art
Going beyond the scope of basic swordsmanship was no small matter—it was nearly impossible to achieve.
Qin Mu understood the difficulty involved.
All sword techniques in the world, no matter how complex, how varied, or how innovative, could be broken down into a few basic sword forms: thrust, lift, circle, chop, cleave, point, snap, hook, flick, wipe, sweep, block, intercept, and flourish.
Even the most astonishing sword techniques ever created were merely combinations of these forms.
But the Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor was different—he had added new basic sword techniques to these most fundamental forms!
How terrifying was that?
Qin Mu had no idea how many new basic techniques the Preceptor had added, but even if it was just one, every existing sword technique would have to be rewritten and reinvented. Otherwise, in the Preceptor's eyes, they would be riddled with flaws!
"He could be called a god…" Qin Mu suppressed the shock in his heart and murmured.
The Grand Six Harmonies Sword Technique that Qu Ping unleashed was truly majestic, its power fierce and overwhelming, reaching an almost unbelievable level!
Qin Mu had encountered several Six Harmonies realm cultivators in the Great Ruins, but none were as terrifying as this Qu Ping.
Compared to the Five Radiances realm scholars of the Grand Academy, those in the Six Harmonies realm seemed to have undergone a tremendous leap, their improvement astonishing!
Although Five Radiances realm scholars were strong, they weren't absurdly so. In Qin Mu's view, among all the scholars of the Grand Academy, there was no one who could match him.
But the cultivators of the Grand Academy, even those who had just advanced to the Six Harmonies realm, were incredibly powerful!
The Six Harmonies realm represented a complete transformation.
Just as Qin Mu thought this, the whisk draped over Lin Xuan Daozi's elbow suddenly rose. The whisk strands lengthened, gathering together as they thrust toward Qu Ping's Grand Six Harmonies Sword!
Qu Ping's Grand Six Harmonies Sword wasn't encompassed by basic swordsmanship, while Lin Xuan Daozi used his whisk as a sword, his technique clear and distinct, rooted in the fundamentals of basic sword forms.
His sword technique lacked the grandeur of the Grand Six Harmonies Sword, but in Qin Mu's eyes, it revealed something extraordinary.
"Qu Ping is bound to lose. Lin Xuan Daozi will likely defeat him in a single move."
He had learned swordsmanship from the Village Chief, mastering only one move—Sword Robes Mountains and Rivers—while the rest were the most basic forms. Yet his insight had already surpassed countless sword masters.
Lin Xuan Daozi's strike appeared simple, as if merely thrusting toward Qu Ping's descending Grand Six Harmonies Sword, but each strand of the whisk was a fine sword, and these fine swords were endlessly changing!
Too many variations!
Qin Mu activated his Divine Thunder Heaven Eye and Azure Heaven Eye, his heart pounding. Lin Xuan Daozi's whisk had over a hundred strands, each one changing its form more than a dozen times in an instant. That meant over a thousand variations every single moment!
With so many changes, there was no way to defend!
In contrast, Qu Ping's Grand Six Harmonies Sword had far fewer variations. His sword pillar contained even more sword light, but it mostly used a single spiraling form, rotating concentrically and advancing layer by layer.
Against Lin Xuan Daozi's whisk strands as swords, it would surely be broken.
Qin Mu also noticed that Lin Xuan Daozi's foundational skills were incredibly solid, rivaling his own. Among the cultivators and martial artists Qin Mu had encountered, Lin Xuan Daozi had the strongest grasp of basic swordsmanship. Though slightly inferior to Qin Mu himself, the gap wasn't large.
Even the Sword Hall Master, who had received Qin Mu's teachings, was a step or two behind Lin Xuan Daozi.
The key point was this: although Qu Ping's sword technique included the Preceptor's new basic forms, his foundational skills weren't at the peak level. His roots weren't firm. No matter how exquisite the technique, without a solid foundation, its full power couldn't be unleashed.
Clang, clang, clang, clang—
A dense series of collisions rang out. The onlookers only caught a glimpse of the whisk strands colliding with the blazing sword pillar before the pillar disintegrated in midair, vanishing. Only a few could see the exchange of sword techniques in that instant.
Qu Ping was struck in the chest by the whisk, slamming with a thud into the mountain gate. The gate trembled, sending down a shower of dust.
Lin Xuan Daozi lightly shook his whisk, the strands shortening as they draped back over his elbow. He sat down, eyes fixed on his nose, nose fixed on his heart, calm and composed.
On the mountain gate, Qu Ping slid down. His chest was riddled with bloody holes, pierced by the whisk strands. Lin Xuan Daozi had still held back, avoiding vital points as the strands entered his body, not taking his life.
Several physicians from the Medical Office rushed over, fed Qu Ping a few spirit pills, tore open his robes, and applied ointment to the wounds on his chest and back to seal the bloody holes.
"So strong!"
Behind the mountain gate, the scholars of the Grand Academy felt their hearts sink. Qu Ping wasn't unknown among the cultivators of the Academy; in fact, he ranked highly among them.
The Grand Academy not only held entrance exams but also annual scholar exams to determine rankings, using them to motivate the scholars to strive for improvement. Qu Ping ranked within the top hundred among the Academy's cultivators.
Within the top hundred, the difference in strength was usually small, yet Qu Ping lost in a single move. This showed a significant gap between his strength and Lin Xuan Daozi's.
That was the most terrifying part.
Suddenly, the Second Prince's voice reached everyone present: "Those who couldn't see the changes in their sword techniques had better not step forward."
This dealt a heavy blow to the scholars. Most of those present hadn't been able to discern the changes in Qu Ping and Lin Xuan's techniques.
Especially Lin Xuan's swordsmanship—as a Daoist sect Daozi, his sword art was hidden within the changes of his whisk strands. If one couldn't even see those changes, stepping up would only invite humiliation.
Beside Shen Wanyun, Yun Que said quietly, "Senior Brother, did you see the Daozi's sword technique changes?"
Yue Qinghong quickly leaned in, wanting to hear Shen Wanyun's opinion. Shen Wanyun hesitated, then said, "I used my Heavenly Eye to see his technique changes, but I can't counter them…"
Yue Qinghong chuckled, "Senior Brother, if you go up, that little Daoist will surely seal his Six Harmonies divine repository to fight you. Most of his cultivation is in that repository. Without it, he can't execute such exquisite swordsmanship!"
Shen Wanyun hesitated for a moment, then shook his head, "I need to wait a bit longer to see if I can find a flaw. That Qin Mu is nearby; let's go ask for his opinion."
The three approached Qin Mu's spot. Shen Wanyun said, "Junior Brother Qin, do you think you could defeat this Daoist sect Daozi?"
Qin Mu hesitated, then said, "If we fought at the mountain gate and he sealed his Six Harmonies divine repository, our chances would be about fifty-fifty."
"Bragging!"
Yue Qinghong sneered, "What a load of hot air! If it's fifty-fifty, that means you're stronger than a Six Harmonies realm cultivator?"
Fox Ling'er pointed at the girl, looking astonished, stammering, "Young master, this is the girl you bumped back-to-back into the copper pillar! I recognize her face!"
Yue Qinghong was mortified with shame. This fox was too infuriating.
Shen Wanyun's eyes flickered, "What if it wasn't an open fight at the mountain gate? What would your chances be, Junior Brother?"
Qin Mu said frankly, "Ten out of ten. In a life-or-death struggle, with no holds barred, he wouldn't stand a chance. Actually, I'm very strong."
Shen Wanyun's heart skipped a beat, and he raised an eyebrow, silently calculating his own chances if he ever faced Qin Mu in a deadly encounter.
Yun Que laughed, "Junior Brother Qin, aren't you exaggerating a bit…"
"Young master, this monk is the one you knocked out with one punch!"
Fox Ling'er pointed at Yun Que in surprise, "It's this bald head! I remember this head! Monk, your clothes are still with the young master. How much are you planning to pay to get them back?"
Yun Que's smile froze on his face. Awkwardly, he said, "For a monk, wealth is an external thing. I don't have any money now. I'll redeem them when I do…"
"So you're just a poor monk after all."
Fox Ling'er lost interest in him, saying, "You'd better hurry, or the young master will pawn your clothes."
As they spoke, another cultivator emerged from the mountain gate. He was imposing, with an impressive bearing. He stepped forward, greeted the two Daoists blocking the gate, and said, "Valiant Guard Commander Kun Ziyu, requesting the Daozi's instruction. I am in the Seven Stars realm, and I seal my Seven Stars divine repository."
Lin Xuan Daozi stood up, returned the greeting, and said, "Senior Brother Kun, please."
Shen Wanyun's eyes lit up, "Valiant Guard Commander Kun Ziyu! He's back from the border too!"
Wei Yong quickly asked, "Senior Brother, how skilled is this Kun Ziyu?"
Shen Wanyun didn't answer. Yue Qinghong said, "Our Grand Academy scholars are all eighth-rank officials, while a Valiant Guard Commander is sixth-rank. Senior Brother Kun earned his sixth-rank through combat at the border. You can imagine his strength! In the last cultivator exam, he ranked in the top ten of the Grand Academy!"
Wei Yong showed respect, "Anyone who can earn fame and rise to sixth-rank through battlefield combat is an impressive figure!"
Qin Mu didn't know much about this and asked them. Shen Wanyun said, "Every year, Grand Academy scholars go down the mountain for training, accompanied by the Imperial Academy. Most go to the border, some to the Great Ruins, and some to the Engineering Bureau. If they achieve merit, they get promoted and ennobled. Many scholars in the Academy are sixth-rank officials, and some are even fifth-rank!"
Qin Mu marveled. The Eternal Peace Kingdom was training officials!
After leaving the Grand Academy, scholars could directly take up real positions, either as local officials or in the military!
Kun Ziyu's combat power was formidable. Even with his Seven Stars divine repository sealed, he surpassed Qu Ping. Moreover, compared to Qu Ping, his skills were more suited for actual combat. He cast spells while controlling his sword, his technique not bound by forms but adapting on the fly.
He and Lin Xuan Daozi even fought in midair, exchanging blows in the sky. Sword light flashed like lightning, accompanied by thunderclaps as bolts of lightning struck at Lin Xuan Daozi. Meanwhile, Kun Ziyu closed in for close combat, his movements like thunder. He had clearly also trained in an extremely powerful combat technique!
This battle was spectacular, dazzling the onlookers below and drawing their admiration.
Qin Mu frowned and said to Shen Wanyun, "Senior Brother, the Daoist sect's techniques are extraordinary. What's their origin?"
Shen Wanyun shook his head. Just then, a deep voice came from behind them, "The Daoist sect's classic, the Innate Grand Mystery Art, is a righteous technique as famous as the Heavenly Demon Sect's Great Cultivation Heavenly Demon Art! Kun Ziyu is likely to lose."