Chapter 564: Sword One
Xuanji Old Man saw Zhang Ruochen's distressed expression and thought he had been too harsh, just about to offer words of encouragement.
Zhang Ruochen's expression was solemn as he sighed: "The content of 'Sword One' is quite obscure. This disciple is dull-witted and can only understand three-tenths of it."
Xuanji Old Man was stunned.
What?
He had only read it once and could already understand three-tenths of the content?
To think, when Xuanji Old Man first read 'Sword One', he hadn't even understood one-tenth of it.
Understanding three-tenths and still claiming to be dull-witted—wasn't that asking for a beating?
Xuanji Old Man carefully studied Zhang Ruochen, somewhat skeptical, and asked: "Are you sure you can understand three-tenths?"
Zhang Ruochen said: "I only understood three-tenths of the content. Why is Master so surprised?"
Xuanji Old Man knew Zhang Ruochen wouldn't lie, and could only sigh inwardly, marveling that this young disciple's talent in the Sword Dao was truly astonishing.
Xuanji Old Man stroked his white beard and smiled: "Being able to understand three-tenths of 'Sword One' shows that your comprehension of the Sword Dao has already surpassed some Half-Saints."
"However, it only proves you have great talent in the Sword Dao. Whether you can successfully cultivate 'Sword One' remains uncertain."
"Understanding is just the first step. Successfully cultivating 'Sword One' is what truly marks entry into sword cultivation."
Only then did Zhang Ruochen roughly understand that being able to comprehend three-tenths of 'Sword One' was already quite remarkable.
But what his master said was also very true—even full comprehension wasn't that significant. Being able to successfully cultivate it was the real skill.
Zhang Ruochen said: "Master said that many Half-Saints can't even understand 'Sword One'. Does that mean only by reaching the Half-Saint realm can one successfully cultivate 'Sword One'?"
Xuanji Old Man said: "Not necessarily. If your talent is high enough, you might successfully cultivate 'Sword One' even in the Fish-Dragon Realm. Once you reach the Half-Saint realm, you can begin cultivating 'Sword Two'."
Zhang Ruochen asked curiously: "There's also 'Sword Two'?"
"Of course."
Xuanji Old Man nodded and said: "'Sword One' represents 'the Self', 'Sword Two' represents 'Yin and Yang'. Above that, there are 'Sword Three', 'Sword Four'... With each sword manual cultivated, a cultivator's understanding of the Sword Dao rises to a brand new realm."
Zhang Ruochen, like a student, continued to ask: "How does one understand 'the Self'? How does one understand 'Yin and Yang'?"
Xuanji Old Man shook his head: "It cannot be taught; you must understand it yourself. Your master can only tell you that only by successfully cultivating 'Sword One' can you be considered a true sword cultivator."
"Your fifth senior sister has extremely high talent in the Sword Dao. But she has cultivated for decades and has only barely reached the threshold of 'Sword Two'. So, at your current stage, don't covet higher levels. Successfully cultivating 'Sword One' will be enough to greatly increase your strength."
Zhang Ruochen recalled the sword technique his fifth senior sister had used to defeat the Earthfire Qilin in the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm, and recited: "Yin and Yang two Qi divide heaven and earth, Sword Dao naturally ends all methods."
That was the incantation his fifth senior sister had chanted at the time.
Xuanji Old Man said: "Correct. That's one of the incantations from 'Sword Two'."
Zhang Ruochen unconsciously tightened his grip on the 'Sword One' manual and said: "This disciple will definitely successfully cultivate 'Sword One' in the Fish-Dragon Realm."
Xuanji Old Man smiled: "You should know that in the past thousand years, only thirty-four people have successfully cultivated 'Sword One' in the Fish-Dragon Realm."
Zhang Ruochen asked: "Was Master one of them?"
"Indeed."
Xuanji Old Man appeared quite proud, for successfully cultivating 'Sword One' in the Fish-Dragon Realm was indeed an impressive feat.
But Xuanji Old Man added: "However, among those thirty-four, two also successfully cultivated 'Sword Two' in the Fish-Dragon Realm."
Zhang Ruochen had read the content of 'Sword One' and naturally knew how profound it was.
From this, 'Sword Two' must be even more extraordinary.
Successfully cultivating 'Sword One' was already extremely difficult. Yet there were those who could cultivate 'Sword Two' in the Fish-Dragon Realm.
Could it be... him.
Zhang Ruochen's mind turned to that person from eight hundred years ago.
That person was one of the Nine Emperors.
Sure enough, Xuanji Old Man's next words confirmed Zhang Ruochen's speculation.
Xuanji Old Man said: "Those two were Sword Emperor and Empress Chi Yao."
"Your master doesn't expect you to surpass them. If you can successfully cultivate 'Sword One' in the Fish-Dragon Realm, your master will already be quite gratified."
The name Sword Emperor was thunderous to Zhang Ruochen's ears.
Sword Emperor, named "Xue Hongchen", was the son of the Wanxiang City Lord. He possessed unparalleled talent, profound sword techniques, and a romantic demeanor. At just thirty-six years old, he surpassed his father, the Wanxiang City Lord, to become the renowned Hongchen Sword Saint.
Later, Xue Hongchen's realm in the Sword Dao grew higher and higher, eventually reaching an unsurpassable level, becoming the Sword Emperor of that era.
At the same time, Sword Emperor was also the youngest among the Nine Emperors.
The reason Ming Emperor named his son "Zhang Ruochen" was precisely because he hoped Zhang Ruochen would be as outstanding as Sword Emperor Xue Hongchen.
At that time, a saying circulated in the Kunlun Realm: "Hongchen Sword Saint toys with the mortal world, having a son should be like Xue Hongchen."
Although Zhang Ruochen had never met Sword Emperor, he had always regarded him as a role model since childhood.
So, upon hearing Xuanji Old Man mention Sword Emperor's name a second time, Zhang Ruochen couldn't help but ask: "Master, what realm did Sword Emperor ultimately reach?"
Xuanji Old Man looked into the distance, revealing an unprecedented look of reverence, and said: "Sword Emperor hasn't appeared in the Kunlun Realm for many years. No one knows what realm he reached. It's only said that eight hundred years ago, he had already successfully cultivated 'Sword Ten', and some say he comprehended 'Sword Eleven'. There are many rumors, but no one knows Sword Emperor's true realm."
Zhang Ruochen asked again: "Then what realm must one reach to be called a Sword Saint?"
"At the very least, one must successfully cultivate 'Sword Seven' to be titled a Sword Saint."
Zhang Ruochen was somewhat surprised: "In the entire Eastern Domain, only three people have successfully cultivated 'Sword Seven'?"
"Exactly so."
Xuanji Old Man sighed and said: "Therefore, even if you don't successfully cultivate 'Sword One' in the Fish-Dragon Realm, don't be discouraged. That's just your master's expectation."
Zhang Ruochen and Xuanji Old Man continued discussing the 'Wordless Sword Manual'.
It wasn't until nightfall that Zhang Ruochen left the Spirit Crane Pear Garden with the 'Sword One' manual, walked out of the Holy Academy, and headed toward Mingwang Street.
The Half-Saint mansion that Kong Lanyou had given him was located on Mingwang Street.
Walking through the bustling street, Zhang Ruochen's mind was still immersed in comprehending 'Sword One', reaching a state of utter absorption.
His eyes stared blankly ahead, all his thoughts concentrated in his mind.
Unknowingly, he arrived outside the mansion, pushed open the door, and walked in.
"Shua!"
Just as he stepped inside, suddenly, a sword cry rang out.
Sharp sword qi broke through the air, reflecting a two-finger-wide white sword light in Zhang Ruochen's eyes.
The sword light was extremely dazzling, causing Zhang Ruochen to involuntarily close his eyes.
"Zheng!"
Sensing danger, the Abyssal Ancient Sword automatically flew out of its sheath.
Zhang Ruochen reacted almost instinctively. Pointing his finger, the Abyssal Ancient Sword traced an arc and slashed toward the shade of the tree on the left side of the gate.
"Pa."
With the Abyssal Ancient Sword's descent, the opponent's sword immediately snapped, breaking into two pieces.
Zhang Ruochen opened his eyes, about to strike again, but saw that the person who had attacked him was merely a five or six-year-old little girl.
It was Hanxue.
At this moment, Hanxue stood beneath the tree shade, holding a broken sword, her tender little hands covered in blood. Bearing the pain in her wrist, she quickly retreated.
Instantly, Zhang Ruochen snapped back to reality and hurriedly controlled his Sword Heart Intent, retracting the Abyssal Ancient Sword into its sheath.
"Hanxue, why was it you?"
Zhang Ruochen immediately rushed over to check Hanxue's injuries.
Although that strike had been a casual attack, the power it contained was no small matter.
How old was Hanxue? How could she withstand one of Zhang Ruochen's strikes?
Fortunately, the Abyssal Ancient Sword had only cut through Hanxue's sword, splitting the tiger's mouth of her right hand and causing some minor injuries—nothing too serious.
Hanxue didn't cry, but tightly pursed her lips, looking pitiful: "Master, what were you thinking about just now? You struck too hard; you almost killed Hanxue."
"I'm sorry, Master was just comprehending the sword and didn't expect it to be you. By the way, why did you ambush Master?"
Zhang Ruochen extended his broad hand, placed it on Hanxue's wrist, and infused a stream of true qi into the meridians of her arm, intending to heal her.
But he discovered that before his true qi could even enter Hanxue's meridians, the wound on her hand had already begun to heal on its own.
Eh!
How could this be?
Zhang Ruochen possessed a Dragon Pearl within his body, yet even he didn't have such powerful self-healing ability.
In just a short time, the tiger's mouth of Hanxue's right hand had fully healed, leaving not even a scar.
What surprised Zhang Ruochen even more was that although his earlier strike had cut through Hanxue's sword, it hadn't knocked it from her hand.
She still tightly gripped the broken sword.
Keep in mind, Hanxue was now less than six years old. Her level of cultivation was simply astonishing.
"As expected of a Thousand Bone Constitution—truly extraordinary." Zhang Ruochen thought to himself.
Hanxue revealed her white teeth, her eyes sparkling, and said: "Earlier, Sister Yanchen came to the mansion. She told me that Master had returned to the Eastern Domain Sacred City. So, I thought that when Master came back, I'd show you the results of my recent training. That's why I deliberately ambushed you, but I didn't expect my cultivation to be too weak—I'm no match for Master at all. Master, do you think Hanxue is useless?"
As she spoke, Hanxue lowered her head, looking quite troubled.
Zhang Ruochen smiled and shook his head, reaching out a hand to ruffle her hair: "If you're useless, then is there anyone useful in this world? By the way, what did your Sister Yanchen come here for?"
Hanxue called Zhang Ruochen "Master" but referred to Huang Yanchen as "Sister," which was indeed somewhat odd.
However, Zhang Ruochen didn't ask about the reason.
He was more curious about the purpose of Huang Yanchen's visit.
Hanxue shook her little head, counting on her fingers as she said: "I don't know. I only saw Sister Yanchen come with a middle-aged uncle. I was nearby and vaguely heard them talking about betrothal gifts... visiting... and something about a marriage contract... Anyway, I didn't quite understand."
Zhang Ruochen's expression turned serious. He roughly understood the purpose of Huang Yanchen's visit. So, he took Hanxue's little hand and walked toward the inner courtyard.