Chapter 432: Chapter 298: The ’Sky-reaching Path’ Planned by Yan Chuan for Chen Ze! [Vote for Monthly Pass!]_2
"In the grand stage of Cang Mountain Sword Discussion, it is a wonderful opportunity for martial artists like us to advance bravely and comprehensively improve. Yan Chuan himself has already achieved some success; he might now want to promote Chen Ze and others, offering some support."
Yan Chuan’s actions are admirable.
Many people envy Chen Ze, Wang Ge, and Fu Yunzhan. Yan Chuan’s martial arts lectures and guidance are well-recognized. Even from his explanations on the arena, there are constantly people gaining inspiration and insights, leading to improvements in their martial arts skills.
One can hardly imagine how exhilarating it must be for Chen Ze and the others, who receive meticulously tailored guidance from Yan Chuan.
No one can know the three’s feelings.
But the improvement in Chen Ze and his companions’ skills is apparent in one bout after another on the arena.
For example, Chen Ze—
"Quanzhen Swordsmanship!"
"Jade Maiden Swordsmanship!"
"This is—"
"Another breakthrough?!"
...
Under Yan Chuan’s careful guidance, Chen Ze’s swordsmanship is constantly advancing, approaching the Sixth Realm, and is about to reach Refining Fire!
...
[Task Five]
[Research Project Name: Heaven and Earth Net Formation (Difficulty: Geng ★)]
[Inspiration: 100]
[Completing the task rewards ’Experience +50,000’, ’Spiritual +50,000.’]
...
On the seventh day of the Sword Discussion, the arena battles became increasingly intense.
After the "Heaven and Earth Net Formation" was just completed, the Hai Character Arena welcomed another team that Chen Ze and his party could not contend with.
...
"Master Yan!"
Lu Yuru ascended the stage, politely cupping her fists to Yan Chuan.
Yan Chuan returned the gesture: "Lu Fairy!"
"Chufeng" third ’Three Heavenly Swords’ Lu Yuru!
In this ’Cang Mountain Sword Discussion’, among the contestants on the "Chufeng List", Lu Yuru ranked only above Situ Fei, who was in first place, and above Wei Lingshan in fourth place, Ding Xiang in seventh, and Ying He in ninth, making her a favorite for the championship.
Of course, the "two lists" rankings are not entirely accurate.
For example, Ding Xiang.
For example, Wei Lingshan.
One is ranked seventh, the other fourth. Although they have never crossed swords, they are both ’Absolute’ individuals, one at the peak of movement techniques, the other at the peak of defense. In their respective fields, they claim absolute mastery, their strengths difficult to distinguish. Even if they battle, it could end in a draw; the fourth and seventh places make the rankings seem pale.
Similarly—
Lu Yuru’s third-ranking on the "Chufeng List" is somewhat inflated.
This individual does not have the strength of a ’Absolute’, and being ranked third on the "Chufeng List" is indeed overestimated, but her combat power is certainly comparable to Ying Jifeng without any inferiority.
She is a strong adversary.
Yan Chuan looked serious, glancing at Wang Zhengyi, who was still absorbed in organizing his "Shakyamuni Elephant Throwing Skill", appearing unlikely to finish anytime soon, indicating reliance on him for this battle was futile.
Lu Yuru observed Yan Chuan’s actions with amusement; she had a Wisdom Eye, clearly seeing that Yan Chuan possessed a Fourth-Rank Purple Equipment. This Exotic Treasure could rival Ying Jifeng’s astonishing but unutilized ’Three Yin Divine Lead Extinguishing Yang Bomb’, which far surpassed other Third-Rank Blue Equipment like the ’Chasing God Blade’, ’Five-Colored Stone’, ’White Bone Banner’, ’Binding Rope’, ’Fire Dragon Flag’ and ’Eight Diagrams Dragon Whisker Handkerchief’ by a whole rank.
Possessing such a treasure, encountering her signals Yan Chuan’s reliance on Wang Zhengyi, and Lu Yuru could only categorize it as Yan Chuan feigning inability.
Yan Chuan playing the weak to defeat the strong.
Little did he know, he was already seen through by Lu Yuru.
"Master Yan."
Lu Yuru, being a dignified person, chose not to reveal what she had uncovered. She smiled at Yan Chuan and said: "My ascent this time has no other intention, I declare in advance, I’m not here to challenge your arena, but rather, like Brother Peng Fannian before, I specifically came to seek your guidance!"
"Oh?"
Yan Chuan expressed surprise and doubt.
Lu Yuru, as the third rank on the "Chufeng List", despite becoming somewhat awkward after Ding Xiang and Wei Lingshan successively demonstrated ’Absolute’ strength, still possessed undeniable power, being much stronger than individuals like Peng Fannian and Jing Bao, and even surpassing Ying Jifeng by a margin.
Her approach to attack the arena was seen by Yan Chuan as a strong adversary.
Yet surprisingly, this elegant girl, upon arrival, followed in Peng Fannian’s footsteps, seeking guidance rather than confrontation.
However!
However!
What was the situation with Peng Fannian at that time?
At that time, Wang Zhengyi’s Mirage Pearl was still there. Once the dense fog arose, without an Exotic Treasure, Peng Fannian couldn’t capture the Hai Character Arena, so his humble request for guidance was partly enforced by circumstances.
But now?
The Mirage Pearl is shattered!
Wang Zhengyi is resting over there.
Only Yan Chuan remains; after sleeping for ten hours before, he then gave explanations for four days without pause, his energy has long dwindled.
Under such circumstances, given Lu Yuru’s power and the combined strength of her Zhaoxin Academy’s peak team, she has every hope of capturing the Hai Character Arena.
Yet, she openly declares she’s not here for the arena battle, but solely for guidance?
This woman!
Is her dedication so sincere?
Instantly, Yan Chuan’s goodwill towards Lu Yuru soared, and he replied with a smile: "Lu Fairy, your modesty is overwhelming."
"Then I must thank Master Yan greatly."
"Do you still wish to spar with the three mentors first?"
Lu Yuru, having Peng Fannian as an example, was very familiar with the practice. Seeing Yan Chuan’s astonished nod, she promptly cupped her fists toward Chen Ze and the others: "I must trouble the three gentlemen!"
"..."
"..."
"..."
Chen Ze, Wang Ge, and Fu Yunzhan were puzzled.
Yan Chuan also felt a bit odd internally.
This Lu Yuru!
She is too adept!
Just like the fast-paced protagonists in online novels back in the day!
...
"She is named ’Three Heavenly Swords’ Lu Fairy. People often mistakenly think she practices a sword technique called the ’Three Heavenly Swords’, but that’s not the truth."
"In reality, Lu Fairy practices a combination of ’Yin Yang Sword’, ’Four Symbols Sword’, and ’Eight Diagrams Sword’, integrating and coordinating these three sword techniques to truly form the ’Three Heavenly Swords’."
"If three people were to employ ’Yin Yang Sword’, ’Four Symbols Sword’, and ’Eight Diagrams Sword’ respectively, closely cooperating from different angles whilst mutually supplementing from within and without, forming a tripod stand, they could display the changes of ’Yin Yang’, ’Four Symbols’, and ’Eight Diagrams’, thus attaining the realm of natural transformation, of endless cycles."
"However, Lu Fairy’s attempt to cultivate all three sword styles disperses her energy across them. Although each has reached Great Success and progresses side by side, nothing particularly stands out, which is the main reason Lu Fairy has not reached the ’Absolute’ level."
"Success comes from the Three Swords! Failure also stems from the Three Swords!"
"But Lu Fairy obviously harbors great ambitions. As she trains in the Three Great Sword Techniques, she is attempting to comprehend, integrate, and aspire to create her version of ’Three Heavenly Swords’ by merging the complexity of ’Yin Yang Sword’, the variability of ’Four Symbols Sword’, and the fluidity of ’Eight Diagrams Sword’."
"Extremely ambitious!"
"Once created, Lu Fairy might immediately prove her Innate Dao!"
"Yet this path is too difficult."
"Take Lu Fairy for example, she is fixated on this, trapped by the three sword techniques; although constantly pondering, her cultivation and swordsmanship are both stalled, and it’s feared that she hasn’t improved for a long time, and continuing like this might render her indistinguishable among others!"
...
Yan Chuan explained about Lu Fairy twice, but not in depth.
This time, being on the same arena, Yan Chuan, through close observation and the "Mutual Teaching and Learning" feedback, finally discovered the true ambition hidden under these three sword techniques of Lu Fairy.
Regarding such an idea!
Regarding such an ambition!
Yan Chuan could only praise it as ’stunning’ and add the term ’bold’!
If successful, she becomes a dragon!
If failed, she becomes a worm!
Lu Fairy either has a great gambling nature or an extreme self-confidence in her capabilities.
Judging from Lu Fairy’s study and mastery of the three sword techniques, it seems more likely to be the latter—
"Using intention rather than force, directing qi with intention, circulating the body through qi, maneuvering the sword with heart, moving with the sword, and walking with the sword, achieving Man and Sword as One."
"What a splendid set of ’Eight Diagrams Sword’!"
"What a remarkable set of ’You Body Trigram Linked Sword’!"
Yan Chuan continually explained, unable to resist applauding and praising.
Indeed, Lu Fairy has comprehended the essence of the "Eight Diagrams Sword" so profoundly and executed it so brilliantly; her sword moves like flowing clouds and flowing water, sometimes gushing downward, sometimes like clouds slowly drifting, sometimes with flashes of lightning and peals of thunder, sometimes like a gentle breeze caressing willow trees. Her movements are like a swimming dragon, her sword like a flying phoenix. Fast but not chaotic, calm but not stagnant, soft but not weak, permeating both heaven and earth.
...