Chapter 244: A Beauty That Brings Ruin to a Nation
The people of the Cripples' Village came out to offer their congratulations, celebrating that the village chief, on the verge of death, had finally found an heir to his legacy, and also celebrating Qin Mu's inheritance of the chief's mantle, becoming the current Human Sovereign. However, the chief gave Mute a cold look, and Qin Mu himself was somewhat reluctant about the title of Human Sovereign.
After the festivities, Qin Mu continued to study swordsmanship under the chief.
The Sword Diagram was a sword style created by the chief, not one from the Human Sovereign Hall. The first form, Sword Steps Over Mountains and Rivers, was already the most complex sword technique Qin Mu had ever seen, even more intricate than the first form of the Dao Sect's Dao Sword, Dual Polarity Reverses Yin and Yang.
Yet Sword Steps Over Mountains and Rivers was the simplest form in the Sword Diagram. The second form, Sword Strikes the Kaihuang Era, was several times more complex, making it extremely difficult to learn.
When Qin Mu first learned Sword Steps Over Mountains and Rivers, it had taken him over ten days.
During his travels in the Yan Kang Kingdom, his horizons and insights had improved immeasurably compared to before. After receiving the teachings from the stone on Woodcutter Mountain and comprehending the Grand Unification Technique, which merged with the Overlord Body Three Elixir Technique, his talent and comprehension had also grown significantly.
Nevertheless, learning the Sword Strikes the Kaihuang Era still consumed over twenty days.
Only then did he understand the chief's good intentions. If the chief hadn't sparred with him using Sword Steps Over Mountains and Rivers, it would have taken him even longer to learn Sword Strikes the Kaihuang Era—perhaps even a year or more to master it.
It was precisely because the chief had pushed and squeezed his intellect that Qin Mu managed to learn Sword Strikes the Kaihuang Era in just over twenty days. He was now at a level halfway between swordsmanship and sword technique, and though the comprehension was taxing, he could still grasp it.
But the third form of the Sword Diagram, Calamity of the Sovereigns, reached the pinnacle of sword technique in terms of skill and variation, and it was beyond Qin Mu's ability to learn. He could only memorize the moves, but to execute them, he needed to understand the mysteries within. Yet no matter how hard he pondered, he couldn't fully unravel the secrets of Calamity of the Sovereigns.
This was a matter of insight and experience. Without high insight, without broad experience, one lacked the foundation. Even if taught, one couldn't learn or use it.
Qin Mu had no choice but to give up and focus on mastering Sword Strikes the Kaihuang Era.
One sword strike, the Kaihuang Era, a sea of blood.
In the small desolate village of the Yan Kang Kingdom, Qin Mu had heard the young chief, who had stepped out of Deaf's painting, recite this verse. There was a unique emotion hidden within the sword technique.
The Sword Steps Over Mountains and Rivers that the chief taught him also carried a certain charm and sentiment—a feeling of gathering heroes to conquer gods and demons. Sword Strikes the Kaihuang Era, on the other hand, was a sentiment of commemorating martyrs.
These two sentiments were different, and the artistic conception within the sword techniques was vastly distinct. Although Qin Mu had already learned both forms, he still couldn't grasp the emotions and meanings embedded in them.
Sword Strikes the Kaihuang Era required an astonishing amount of vital energy, consuming nearly half of his cultivation with a single strike. Without a robust foundation of vital energy, it was impossible to execute.
"Chief, how many forms are there in the Sword Diagram?" Qin Mu asked.
The chief, calm and composed, replied, "Only eight forms."
Qin Mu was surprised. "Eight forms? That's so few?"
"One form per cultivation realm."
The chief narrowed his eyes and said, "So there are only eight forms."
Qin Mu counted on his fingers: Spirit Embryo, Five Luminaries, Six Harmonies, Seven Stars, Heavenly Human, Life and Death, Spirit Bridge. No matter how he calculated, that was only seven realms. So why were there eight forms?
"Beyond the Spirit Bridge realm lies the divine! Could the chief's eighth form be a divine technique?" His heart pounded wildly.
During these days, aside from studying the sword techniques, he sparred with the chief, using the pressure from the chief to push himself further.
He was trying to integrate the National Teacher's three basic sword forms into Sword Strikes the Kaihuang Era. With a master like the chief guiding him, his progress was naturally rapid.
The chief's swordsmanship was close to the Dao. For him, whether the basic sword forms had fourteen or seventeen variations didn't matter, but for Qin Mu, adding the National Teacher's three forms significantly enhanced the power of this technique.
These days, his swordsmanship had improved by leaps and bounds.
Qin Mu felt as if he had returned to the past, training daily with Horse Master in fist techniques, sparring with Butcher in blade techniques, playing thieving games with Lame, learning blacksmithing from Mute, cultivating divine eyes with Blind, refining medicine with Pharmacist, painting with Deaf, and tailoring clothes with Granny.
Though he was exhausted and collapsed into bed every day, his life was fulfilling.
This time, when he returned to the village, Horse Master, Butcher, and the others taught him even more advanced skills. What they had taught him before was just the basics, but now, with his improved insight and experience, Qin Mu could learn their deeper abilities, much to the delight of the old folks in Cripples' Village.
"Granny's heart demon has flared up again!"
Suddenly, chaos erupted in the village. Lame shouted, "Blind, come quick! Old Lady Si has revealed her true face, and I can't bring myself to strike. You can't see her, so you handle it and suppress this little demon!"
Qin Mu was sparring with Butcher in blade techniques when he heard this and looked over. He saw a woman walking out of Granny Si's room. The moment Qin Mu saw her, his heart pounded violently, as if struck by an invisible arrow straight through his heart.
Granny Si must have revealed her true appearance, clearly having dressed up meticulously. She no longer wore tattered clothes but a finely tailored outfit made of exquisite silk that perfectly showcased her figure.
Her makeup was carefully applied—bright eyes and white teeth, with light powder that didn't hide her stunning beauty.
On her left wrist was a jade bracelet of vivid green, and her earlobes dangled teardrop-shaped earrings. When she stepped out of the room, her radiance made it seem as if winter had vanished, and spring had arrived. Though the weather was still freezing, everyone in the village felt the warmth of blooming flowers and fragrant air.
She walked out like a goddess descending from another world into the mortal realm, stunning everyone in the village.
Pharmacist felt ashamed of his own appearance and fled, covering his face. Deaf's brush fell onto the table as he hurriedly grabbed a bronze mirror to groom himself. Mute rushed to the water vat to wash his face. Horse Master chanted Buddhist scriptures to suppress his heart demon. Butcher used his pig-slaying knife to hastily shave off his beloved beard, while Lame closed his eyes and yelled for Blind to come.
Even the chief was flustered. He turned his head and said, "Blind, Blind!"
Blind walked toward Granny Si with his bamboo staff, unhurriedly asking, "Is it Sect Leader Li or Old Lady Si?"
Lame fumed, "Of course it's that pervert Li! Old Lady Si can't suppress him anymore! You can't see her face, so you handle Li!"
Granny Si's mouth emitted a rough, aged voice, but she smiled seductively, "My wife can no longer resist me, and now I have suppressed her. Look at me—am I beautiful?"
She laughed joyfully, infatuated with her own beauty, her breath like orchid fragrance. Though her voice was coarse, her tone was gentle: "Before I married my wife, I realized I was unworthy of such a beauty. Not only I, but no stinking man in this world deserves her! Yet I was determined to marry her. I knew she wasn't willing to wed me—after all, I was her master—but she couldn't resist. I also knew she planned to kill me on our wedding night, and I was happy to let her. Because..."
She raised her wrist, examining her flawless, snow-white skin, even more delicate and pure than mutton-fat jade. Even the translucent jade bracelet became a mere accessory, unworthy of her wrist.
Sect Leader Li covered her mouth with a tittering laugh, "Because I admired her too much. I didn't truly want to marry her—I wanted to become her. If she killed me and I became her, wouldn't that be the perfect solution?"
Blind approached with his staff. Though she was extraordinarily beautiful, it had little effect on him. He said calmly, "Sect Leader Li, you've gone too far. Have you forgotten that you were once a man?"
"Stinking men—what's there to miss about them?"
Sect Leader Li's posture was alluring, and she cast him a sidelong glance. "You blind fool, with your eyes and heart both blind, you simply don't understand the joys of being a woman. Don't try to stop me—you can't. I'm leaving. I will live another life as a woman!"
Qin Mu shut his eyes tightly, refusing to look at her, but couldn't help opening them and saying, "Sect Leader Li, you're twisted! As fellow sect leaders and saint masters of the Heavenly Saint Sect, I'm ashamed of you!"
Blind stood still, leaning on his staff, and laughed, "Well said, Mu'er."
Sect Leader Li glanced at Qin Mu, and instantly his mind went blank. All thoughts vanished, leaving only the feeling that she was incredibly beautiful.
"If you keep yapping, I'll kill you and become the saint master again." Sect Leader Li spoke with a delicate, playful tone, pinching her fingers in a flower gesture.
Qin Mu's heart raced. He felt that if such a beautiful woman wanted his life, he would willingly give it.
"No, no! That's Granny Si... Bah, that's Sect Leader Li Tianxing, a rotten old man! Bah, even if it were Granny, that's the woman who raised me!"
Cold sweat poured down Qin Mu's forehead. He was on the verge of developing a heart demon and quickly closed his eyes.
Sect Leader Li walked toward the village exit, her demonic aura growing heavier and her demonic nature stronger. On the path ahead stood a blind man with a bamboo staff.
The two moved almost simultaneously, lightning-fast, and in an instant, the outcome was decided.
A surge of energy erupted in all directions. Cripples' Village was filled with treasures, and the terrifying shockwaves from their clash triggered various artifacts, which burst into brilliant light. Waves of fearsome energy dispersed the clouds in the sky!
Sect Leader Li clutched her chest and slowly fell, "Blind, my wife's cultivation is too weak. Otherwise, I wouldn't be inferior to you—I'd be stronger!"
Blind leaned on his staff and said calmly, "We've never fought before. How do you know you're stronger than me?"
Qin Mu quickly ran into Granny Si's room, grabbed a human skin and some tattered clothes, and draped them over Sect Leader Li. The sect leader turned back into a little old woman and screamed, "I don't want to look like this! I am the most beautiful woman in the world! I refuse to be this ugly! I want to wear the finest clothes and be the most beautiful woman!"
Horse Master strode over, chanting Buddhist scriptures to suppress her demonic nature, and subdued Li Tianxing. After a moment, Granny Si slowly regained consciousness, her voice returning to normal, and she thanked Horse Master.
Pharmacist quickly stepped forward to check her injuries and treat her, saying, "Blind, you were a bit harsh. Mu'er, you're faster at alchemy than I am. Make some spirit pills."
Qin Mu acknowledged and quickly began refining pills.
Blind sighed, "I had to be harsh. Granny's cultivation has advanced too quickly—she's nearly at the Life and Death realm. It must be because Sect Leader Li's primordial spirit has fused too much with hers. Plus, the Grand Unification Technique of Sect Leader Li is truly formidable. I had no choice but to strike hard."
Granny Si sat up, took the spirit pills Qin Mu brought, and said, "I'm fine. I feel much better."
The chief drifted over, shaking his head, "Granny, it's a good thing you were in the village. If you were outside and Sect Leader Li took over your body, it would bring ruin to the nation. His demonic nature is too strong—causing chaos across the land would be ordinary. Even the emperor would lose control upon seeing you, and within a few years, even the Yan Kang Kingdom could fall into Sect Leader Li's hands."
Horse Master said, "Your heart demon is growing stronger. Dragging this out won't work. My Buddhist teachings aren't as profound as Old Tathagata's. Perhaps Old Tathagata can help suppress Sect Leader Li. You should go to the Great Thunderclap Temple."
Butcher touched his face and found blood on his hands. He had shaved his beard too hastily with the pig-slaying knife and cut his face, but he had been so captivated by Granny Si's beauty that he hadn't noticed. Now that Granny had put on the old woman's skin, he finally realized, horrified, and quickly said, "There's no time to waste! Granny should leave immediately! The longer you delay, the more dangerous we become!"
The chief coughed and said, "Going to the Great Thunderclap Temple is to ask Old Tathagata to suppress Granny's demonic nature, not to wipe out the sect. We don't need too many people. Horse Master knows the way and should go. Blind can ignore Granny's appearance, so he'll go too. Mu'er is clever, has practiced the Creation Demon Technique, which can help, and is skilled in medicine. You three will accompany Granny to the Great Thunderclap Temple."
His expression grew grave, and he said solemnly, "Remember, under no circumstances must Sect Leader Li be allowed to escape. Otherwise, the world will fall into chaos!"