Start cultivating immortality in Xiaoao world, bumped into the master’s wife at the start!

Chapter 26: One Day, Dugu Nine Swords Is Complete!

“Stop, stop, stop! No more fighting, no more fighting!”

Feng Qingyang hurriedly called for a halt. At Linghu Chong’s request, they had already fought for several hundred more rounds, yet still hadn’t defeated him—this left him feeling somewhat frustrated.

“Huh? No more fighting?” Linghu Chong halted his movements, speaking with lingering excitement.

Feng Qingyang tossed aside the tree branch in his hand, walked up to Linghu Chong, and asked, “Chong’er, what were those moves just now? They’re different from the sword techniques you used before.”

During this bout, Linghu Chong’s swordplay was clearly different from last time—it was no longer the technique he had previously comprehended.

His attacks this time were more exquisite and refined, as though they held hints of transcending form and technique.

“Oh! It’s like this, Granduncle-Master. I purposely forgot all the sword moves I learned before and let my mind enter a state of emptiness. That way, I could focus solely on responding to your swordplay.” Linghu Chong explained.

Feng Qingyang was very surprised and said, “Looks like you’ve already touched the threshold of formless swordplay! Chong’er, you’re truly a martial genius—one rarely seen in a thousand years.”

“Thank you for the praise, Granduncle-Master. But I still have a long way to go and must train even harder.” Linghu Chong replied modestly.

Feng Qingyang nodded in satisfaction, saying, “Good! Not arrogant nor impatient, not servile nor overbearing—only this kind of mindset can take you further on the path of martial arts.”

He was very pleased—one could even say fond—of Linghu Chong’s performance.

“By the way, Granduncle-Master Feng, the sword technique you used earlier was so profound and ingenious. What is it? Could you teach it to your grand-disciple?”

Linghu Chong feigned ignorance and immediately rubbed his hands together, looking at Feng Qingyang with great anticipation.

“What? You want to learn Dugu Nine Swords?” Feng Qingyang asked with a chuckle.

“Mm-hmm!” Linghu Chong nodded.

“You won’t regret it in the future?” Feng Qingyang suddenly asked.

Linghu Chong was briefly stunned upon hearing this, then quickly understood what he meant. This involved secrets within Mount Hua Sect, the dispute between the Sword and Qi branches. With such an esoteric sword art, suspicions would inevitably arise.

But he didn’t care about any of that. He looked at Feng Qingyang with a resolute expression and said, “Granduncle-Master, I won’t regret it!”

“Good!” Feng Qingyang nodded, a pleased smile appearing on his face. “By rights, since you’re Yue Buqun’s disciple, I shouldn’t be teaching you sword techniques. But if Dugu Nine Swords isn’t passed on to you, in a few years, this supreme sword art may be lost.”

“I will teach you Dugu Nine Swords.”

Linghu Chong was overjoyed. He slightly bowed with cupped fists and said, “Thank you, Granduncle-Master!”

“Dugu Nine Swords was created by the Sword Demon Dugu Qiubai. Its essence lies in defeating technique with no technique, striking later yet arriving first. The sword style is purely offensive, with no defense, and is not bound by inner strength. To master it requires great talent and comprehension.” Feng Qingyang explained as he walked.

Linghu Chong quietly followed and listened.

“Dugu Nine Swords consists of nine forms: the General Principles Form, Sword-breaking Form, Saber-breaking Form, Spear-breaking Form, Whip-breaking Form, Rope-breaking Form, Palm-breaking Form, Sword-breaking Form again, and Qi-breaking Form.”

“The General Principles Form is the foundation, with infinite variations, used to interpret this foundational doctrine.”

“As for the formula of Dugu Nine Swords, it goes: Guimei tends toward Wuwang, Wuwang tends toward…”

“…”

After speaking, Feng Qingyang turned and looked at Linghu Chong. “So, Chong’er? Just from hearing it, it already sounds difficult, right? Think about this part, ‘Guimei tends…’”

However, before Feng Qingyang could finish, Linghu Chong interrupted him, “Yes, Granduncle-Master, I’ve memorized it!”

“You’ve memorized it?” Feng Qingyang was astonished.

Then, under his surprised gaze, Linghu Chong repeated his words verbatim.

“Did I get it right, Granduncle-Master?” Linghu Chong asked with a smile.

“You really haven’t learned Dugu Nine Swords before?” Feng Qingyang frowned and asked, still doubtful.

Linghu Chong shook his head, saying, “No.”

“Then how did you know the formula?”

“You just recited it like that, Granduncle-Master!”

“Good, good, good. Not only is your memory excellent, your comprehension is extraordinary. Perhaps the Dugu Nine Swords will shine even more brightly in your hands.”

Feng Qingyang repeated ‘good’ several times, clearly extremely satisfied—and even a bit envious—of Linghu Chong’s talent.

“Granduncle-Master, you overpraise me!” Linghu Chong said a little bashfully.

“Then let’s start now with the first form—the General Principles Form.” Feng Qingyang said.

“Yes, Granduncle-Master!”

Linghu Chong nodded.

And so, he began training in the Dugu Nine Swords under Feng Qingyang’s guidance.

Time passed gradually.

…

Mount Hua Sect.

In a tranquil and beautiful courtyard.

“Hee-yah!!”

Crisp and ethereal cries rang out.

Yue Lingshan was wielding a longsword, practicing swordplay in the courtyard.

Her movements were graceful, but the sword techniques were still somewhat immature—lacking refinement and real combat experience.

Meanwhile, Ning Zhongze sat alone in a nearby pavilion.

Facing Yue Lingshan, her right elbow rested on the stone table, hand supporting her elegant and beautiful face. She gazed off absentmindedly, lost in thought.

Her slightly reclined posture perfectly outlined her voluptuous and curvaceous figure.

Contours front and back—faintly discernible.

There was a touch of sorrow on her graceful, beautiful face, making her look delicately pitiful, arousing a sense of compassion.

“Sigh!”

Ning Zhongze sighed deeply—by now, it was unclear how many times she had already sighed.

She wanted to forget everything, but no matter what she did, she couldn’t.

Her mind was in chaos, and horrifying images of massive creatures kept surfacing in her thoughts.

“Mother, what’s wrong with you? You’ve been sighing the entire morning.”

Yue Lingshan heard her mother’s sigh, sheathed her sword, and slowly walked over to sit beside her, worry evident on her face.

“Shan’er, I’m fine.” Ning Zhongze replied, glancing at her.

That same phrase again. Yue Lingshan had heard it countless times. No matter how many times she asked, the answer was always “I’m fine.”

But looking at her like this—how could she be fine?

Anyone with eyes could tell she had something on her mind.

But if her mother wouldn’t speak, there is nothing I can do.

“Forget it. It’s noon already. I’ll go bring lunch, Mother.” Yue Lingshan said helplessly.

“Mm.” Ning Zhongze murmured.

Yue Lingshan stood up and quickly headed to the dining hall. Her mother’s condition worried her—she had to be quick.

“I wonder what Senior Brother is doing—has he gone for lunch yet?”

She hadn’t walked far before she reached the dining hall. She looked around inside but didn’t see any sign of Linghu Chong. Feeling puzzled, she grabbed Lu Hou’er and asked, “Lu Hou’er, where’s Senior Brother?”

“No idea! I haven’t seen him all morning either.” Lu Hou’er shook his head.

“So strange, where did he go? Skipping meals too…” Yue Lingshan furrowed her brows and mumbled.

Just then, Yue Buqun walked over and asked, “Shan’er! Where’s your mother?”

Yue Lingshan turned around, her face lighting up. “Father, Mother’s at the Tranquility Courtyard.”

“How is she? Is she feeling any better?” Yue Buqun asked.

“Uh…” Yue Lingshan hesitated, her face clouding with worry. “Hard to say. Mother seems troubled—she keeps sighing.”

“Troubled? What kind of trouble?” Yue Buqun’s brows furrowed slightly.

“I don’t know. I asked her, but she wouldn’t say.” Yue Lingshan shook her head.

“Sigh! Looks like what happened really hit her hard. It won’t be easy for her to recover. You should spend more time with her, chat with her more, help her recover sooner.” Yue Buqun sighed.

“Mm! Then I’ll bring her lunch now.”

“Go ahead.”

Yue Lingshan carried the meal and returned to the Tranquility Courtyard.

…

Soon, another half a day passed.

Sunset at Mount Hua.

The evening glow was especially beautiful, as if the entire mountain were about to ascend in the dazzling light.

On Cliff of Self-Reflection—

Sword light flashed, and sword energy crisscrossed.

“Stop, stop!”

Feng Qingyang shouted loudly, raising his hand to stop Linghu Chong, who was about to strike.

He looked rather disheveled, with his green robe somewhat tattered.

At this moment, Feng Qingyang had none of the aura of a reclusive master. Instead, he looked more like a worn-out old man.

It was hard to imagine what he had gone through during the day to end up like this.

Linghu Chong retracted his sword and looked at Feng Qingyang in confusion. “What’s wrong, Granduncle-Master?”

“Look, the sun’s already set. It’s getting dark. Let’s stop for today.”

Feng Qingyang supported his aging waist—right now he felt like all the bones in his body were falling apart. Linghu Chong was just too much—he could train swordplay all day without resting.

Linghu Chong was momentarily stunned. Turning westward, he saw that the sun had nearly disappeared beneath the horizon. He hadn’t realized that an entire day had passed.

Time had gone by too quickly—he hardly felt it. He hadn’t even swung his sword that much, and yet the day was over.

“All right then.” Linghu Chong said, still somewhat reluctant.

“You! You’re never satisfied. You’ve mastered Dugu Nine Swords to the Great Accomplishment level in just a single day. Such martial talent and comprehension is unheard of!” Feng Qingyang exclaimed in amazement.

He had underestimated Linghu Chong’s aptitude.

This wasn’t just a once-in-a-millennium martial arts prodigy—this was a monster!