World's No. 1 Swordsman

Chapter 69: The Former Sect Master

Upon learning from Wang Sheng that it would take at least two to three years to achieve any results, Chi Wen pursed her lips, looking somewhat disappointed.

"Isn't there any shortcut?" she asked anxiously.

Wang Sheng did his best to fill his role as her senior brother. "Most shortcuts are unorthodox methods. Cultivation emphasizes first cultivating virtue, then the mind. Only after that do we cultivate the Dao and its techniques,"

"If you wish to walk the path of cultivation, you must first understand its purpose. Cultivating the Dao is about pursuing the essence of the Dao itself, not simply learning powerful techniques.

"Sword techniques, talismanic arts, and incantations are merely means to protect one's path. Your Dao should be your foundation; do not mistake the means for the end or lose sight of what truly matters."

After a brief pause, Wang Sheng smiled. "Your father taught me all that. At seventeen, I became his disciple, and he gave me a similar lecture as soon as I arrived."

Chi Wen smiled back and nodded, but the look in her eyes made it clear that she had not changed her mind.

Wang Sheng switched to a different subject. "You didn’t know what the mistress actually did for work?"

"All I knew was that she was always busy. Back in middle school, there were times when I wouldn't see her for an entire week. She never talked to me about any of this..."

Wang Sheng sighed, realizing that he had brought up an even more painful topic. "She must have her own reasons."

"I understand, don’t worry," Chi Wen said as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She had grown noticeably thinner, making her appear particularly weak. "I’m the one at fault here. I don't blame her."

Wang Sheng frowned slightly. He couldn't shake the feeling that his junior sister's unusually bright demeanor seemed out of place.

Sometimes, acting too normal was a sign that something was wrong. She was probably hiding something deep inside.

However, he was only her martial sibling, not her real brother. It was not his place to interfere too much. Bringing her back to the mountain and away from all the turmoil was already the best he could do to repay his master's kindness.

Now, he could only hope that his master would return soon and use his steady yet teasing warmth to comfort her wounded heart.

After chatting with Chi Wen for a bit, Wang Sheng sought out his senior sister and gave her a few instructions, urging her not to teach Chi Wen any Daoist techniques too casually.

It wasn't that he feared Chi Wen would master anything too quickly. Rather, she could become impatient and end up hindering her future cultivation.

Teaching someone to cultivate was entirely different from cultivating oneself. He and his senior sister had yet to fully grasp the required balance.

***

In over half a month since returning to the mountain, Wang Sheng had become quite well-known among Wudang's younger disciples.

Now, everyone knew that among the third-generation disciples, the strongest swordsman was Daoist Master Fei Yu. Many would even ask him about swordsmanship whenever he sparred with Gao Shixing.

However, Wang Sheng never saw himself as an expert. He remained humble, believing that interacting with others and exchanging insights could only benefit his growth.

Making friends and discussing the Dao were some of the joys of cultivating in the mountains. At the very least, they kept loneliness at bay. He just had to make sure not to let them interfere with his meditation and comprehension of the Dao.

His sparring sessions with Gao Shixing had amassed quite an audience of disciples. Due to the past prominence of Daoist martial arts, many in Wudang practiced sword cultivation. While it wasn't the dominant path, it still had a significant presence.

What excited Wang Sheng even more was that several elderly Daoists with flowing white hair had come to observe his most recent match against Gao Shixing. They even offered the two some pointers, giving Wang Sheng a profound sense of enlightenment.

As practitioners, those seasoned sword cultivators had devoted most of their lives to the Dao before the revival of primal qi. Hence, like a sponge, he eagerly absorbed the invaluable knowledge that they had accumulated over decades.

Though the lineage of Qing Yanzi's disciples differed from Wudang's, the Wudang sect did not treat them as outsiders. Other than needing the sect master's approval to access Wudang's core Daoist scriptures, they were free to come and go anywhere in the mountain.

As the foundation of Daoist lineages, cultivation techniques were regarded as their most guarded secrets. They were not shared lightly even within the sects that had formed around them.

Aside from practicing swordsmanship, Wang Sheng remained mindful of his advice to Chi Wen. When he wasn’t sparring, he spent most of his time comprehending the mysteries of the Seed Formation Realm.

He had already begun grasping the method of sealing his inner circulation. With each attempt, he came closer to success.

If all went well, within half a month, he would formally step into the third realm of the Foundation Establishment Stage. He reminded himself not to rush; it was best to go with the natural flow of things.

If breaking through the Seed Formation Realm was already this challenging, his master was likely facing even higher difficulties to reach the Golden Core Realm.

When would his master return? How surprised would he be to meet his daughter again?

Master will probably cry.

Whenever he imagined Qing Yanzi's ever-youthful face streaked with tears, he couldn't help but feel a strange sense of satisfaction.

One day during his cultivation, Wang Sheng felt as if he could break through at any moment. He cautioned himself not to rush, choosing instead to relax and wait for the right moment.

The sun rose and set, and the stars began to shift in the sky. Soon, his eighth sparring match with Martial Uncle Gao arrived.

During their seventh match, when the elderly Daoists had been watching, Wang Sheng had managed to hold his ground against Gao Shixing for half an hour.

It made Zhou Yinglong feel utterly speechless.

He was the one who asked for guidance in the first place! How could he, the original challenger, end up as nothing more than a spectator? Worse, he even had to fetch tea and towels on the side now!

Wang Sheng’s rapid improvement was not due to a sudden surge in strength. A true leap in strength was usually only attainable through the advancement of one’s Daoist realm.

Rather, his growth stemmed from his deepening understanding of the sword. The Seven-Star Sword Formation and Seven-Star Sword Technique had begun to merge, and the Seven-Star Sword Intent within him had become more refined.

Nevertheless, if Gao Shixing were to fight at full force, Wang Sheng estimated that he wouldn't last more than a hundred moves.

Looking back on his years in the mountains, it almost seemed like living in a dream.

When he first became a disciple, his goal was merely to make it onto the Earthly Rankings, Mortal Rankings, or Newcomer Rankings.

However, Wang Sheng had gained more confidence now. He pushed himself further, hoping that once the rankings were officially released, his sect would have three people on the Immortal Rankings. Such a feat would make them unparalleled in the cultivation world.

Not that it had much practical significance.

***

At dawn, laughter drifting with the wind from outside the courtyard woke up Wang Sheng from his meditation. Several young disciples were approaching on the winding mountain path leading to his door.

Chi Wen was sweeping fallen leaves in the courtyard with a broom, while Mu Wanxuan was meditating in a nearby grove.

Mu Wanxuan had intentionally avoided the past few sparring sessions. She had little interest in the Dao of the Sword, and with so many people around, she wasn't sure where to stand or sit. Hence, she simply chose to stay away.

Wang Sheng sat on a large rock near the entrance, closed his eyes, and began adjusting his state to its peak. Gradually, he fell into a strange state of mind.

Looking inward, he seemed to see an illusory realm. Everything around him was shrouded in darkness, yet at its center, a hazy ancient sword glowed faintly with a blue light.

Its blade and hilt had yet to take on a defined shape, but within the sword's form, seven stars were arranged in the positions of the Big Dipper.

Before him was the manifestation of his Dao of the Sword—the source of his sword intent.

The surrounding darkness represented his inner circulation, the yet-to-be-formed spiritual platform within him. It was already almost fully enclosed, with only the smallest gap remaining.

Gradually, more than thirty young men and women in Daoist robes gathered outside the courtyard, each carrying a sword.

Wang Sheng sensed a sharp surge of sword intent from the foot of the mountain and opened his eyes. Sure enough, he saw Gao Shixing and Zhou Yinglong making their way up the steps.

As he stood up, several people greeted him.

"Good morning, Senior Brother Wang."

"Good morning, Junior Brother Wang."

"Senior Brother Wang, are you about to break through?"

Wang Sheng cupped his hands in greeting and replied with a smile. When Gao Shixing arrived, Wang Sheng gestured politely and entered the courtyard with him.

Chi Wen, who had been boiling water over the stove, quickly fetched freshly brewed tea from the house and placed it on the windowsill for his senior brother and martial uncle.

He had thought today would be just like any other, but unexpectedly, the lean, dark-skinned Dao master smiled slightly at Wang Sheng. "This will be the last time I come to spar with you."

Momentarily stunned, Wang Sheng bowed deeply to Gao Shixing. Instead of asking his reasoning, he replied, "Martial Uncle, I will never forget your guidance."

Gao Shixing shook his head. "No need for such words. We were merely sparring, mutually benefiting from each other. However, your path has begun to influence mine. If I continue to spar with you, I fear I will stray from my own Dao."

"I have thought about that as well. That is why today, I must exchange a few good moves with you to validate my own Dao."

"Indeed." Gao Shixing's smile was a bit stiff, but there was no doubt that he was truly happy.

The two drew their swords and stepped into position, standing ten meters apart.

Knowing that this could be their last ever chance to spar, they both resolved to go all out, hoping to find new insights in each other's sword arts.

Wang Sheng tilted Abyss Listener forward. Its hum echoed within him as his true essence surged.

Gao Shixing, on the other hand, raised his treasured sword horizontally. Though he was not a tall man, at that moment, he radiated an overwhelming, razor-sharp sword intent.

Many of the Wudang disciples closed their eyes, using spiritual consciousness to observe. In their perception, two hazy forms of ancient swords seemed to have taken shape in the air.

Just then, a clear laugh rang out from beyond the courtyard gate.

"You two can spar all you like, but don't go too far and end up injuring someone."

The man was still on the winding mountain path—which was quite far away—when he began speaking. However, by the time he was done, he had already appeared at the courtyard entrance. With his hands behind his back, he grinned and studied Wang Sheng.

Another senior master?

Wang Sheng dared not be negligent. Though he could not sense the white-haired elder's exact cultivation level or feel any oppressive presence from him, the way he had spoken just now made it clear that the man had gone past the Seed Formation Realm.

In fact, Wang Sheng found his presence strikingly similar to that of his master before he had left for Mount Zhongnan.

Just as Wang Sheng was about to step forward and greet him, Gao Shixing respectfully bowed. "Master, what brings you here?"

"Your martial uncles have been telling me that Qing Yanzi got lucky and picked up a peerless sword. I've spent my life studying the sword, so I naturally had to come and see for myself," the elder replied.

Wang Sheng let out a dry chuckle. How had he suddenly turned into a sword?

Wait, Daoist Master Gao Shixing's master? Didn’t Zhou Yinglong mention before that Daoist Master Gao Shixing was the highest-ranking elder in the sect? That means... the former sect master?!