Martial Arts: After ten years of sword-drawing, the Sword God must bow his head when he sees me

Chapter 150 Strike First, Anticipate the Enemy's Moves

"Damn it! Who exactly is this kid? He's only at the first level of the Returning Origin Realm, so why is he so strong?"

Feng Qingyang was no stranger to the most outstanding martial artists in the martial arts world.

Even for those exceptional martial artists, fighting across several minor realms is already their limit; they are nowhere near as capable as Shen Ping'an in front of them.

Despite the vast difference in cultivation level between them, their strength was actually superior to his.

Even though he had used the "Nine Swords of Dugu," which was ranked in the middle of the Heavenly Rank, he still couldn't gain the slightest advantage.

At the same time, after exchanging dozens of blows, Shen Ping'an suddenly frowned slightly, and his internal energy surged.

In an instant, streams of true energy and the power of heaven and earth condensed from the sky into a sword shadow.

"Yan!"

As the sword shadow hovered in the air, a resounding sword cry suddenly burst forth from it, accompanied by a slight tremor, and a sound wave also emanated from the sword shadow.

As the sound reached his ears, Feng Qingyang felt a chill run down his spine.

As his inner energy gathered, he suddenly leaped backward, retreating to a distance of ten feet.

"buzzing"

But just as Feng Qingyang created distance and his feet touched the ground, dozens of sword energies appeared out of thin air to Feng Qingyang's astonishment. As they moved, they seemed to transform into a cage of sword energy that enveloped Feng Qingyang.

At the same time, Feng Qingyang suddenly felt his aura being locked tightly.

If he shows any abnormality, the sword intent surrounding him will instantly swarm towards him.

"When did he prepare these sword energies?"

Seeing the wildly surging sword energy in front of him, Feng Qingyang's eyes narrowed sharply.

But to Feng Qingyang's astonishment, the sword prison that had just trapped him vanished with a flick of Shen Ping'an's long sleeves.

This scene suddenly made Feng Qingyang somewhat confused about what Shen Ping'an meant.

With a slight lift of his eyes, Shen Ping'an looked at Feng Qingyang and asked, "What level have you reached in your cultivation of the 'Nine Swords of Dugu'?"

By now, Feng Qingyang was well aware that Shen Ping'an's strength far surpassed his own.

When faced with Shen Ping'an's question, Feng Qingyang did not hide anything and answered truthfully, "I would say it's barely at the level of comprehensive understanding!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Ping'an sighed softly.

"No wonder."

Those two simple words were filled with deep disappointment.

This made Feng Qingyang's eyelids twitch involuntarily.

But when he thought of the strength that Shen Ping'an had shown, the slight resentment that had just risen in Feng Qingyang's heart quickly dissipated, and a bitter smile appeared in his heart instead.

After a few breaths, Shen Ping'an spoke: "I came here today because I am curious about the Dugu Nine Swords, and I have no other intentions towards you, senior."

Hearing Shen Ping'an's words, Feng Qingyang felt a little relieved.

After calming his inner energy, Feng Qingyang said, "I never expected that after decades of not setting foot in the martial world, such a powerful prodigy as you would appear."

"With a cultivation level of the first stage of the Returning Origin Realm, you can still easily surpass me in strength. Your talent and strength are truly the best I have ever seen in my life."

Shen Ping'an smiled and politely replied, "You flatter me, senior."

Then, Shen Ping'an turned to look at Yue Buqun.

"When I was at the Liu residence, I spoke with Sect Leader Yue. Sect Leader Yue invited me to the Repentance Cliff of Mount Hua and promised to give Sect Leader Yue an opportunity afterward."

Upon hearing this, Yue Buqun subconsciously glanced at Feng Qingyang.

It was clear that Feng Qingyang was the opportunity mentioned in Shen Ping'an's words.

In Yue Buqun's view, Feng Qingyang, who was able to hide in Mount Hua, was very likely a senior of the Mount Hua Sect.

If they could befriend him, and even have Feng Qingyang oversee the Huashan Qi Sect, then the Huashan Qi Sect would essentially have gained another expert at the Heavenly Gang Realm.

From this point on, they can once again step into the ranks of the top-tier forces.

Shen Ping'an chuckled inwardly as he observed Yue Buqun's reaction.

However, Shen Ping'an had no interest in explaining the connection between Feng Qingyang and the Huashan Sect.

Under Yue Buqun's gaze, Shen Ping'an slowly entered the cave in the mountain wall beside him.

Perhaps because they knew Shen Ping'an was coming to the Cliff of Contemplation, Yue Buqun had placed many braziers inside the cave, which should have been pitch black.

The raging fire not only made the cave warmer but also brighter.

With his eyes gently closed, Shen Ping'an's internal energy flowed slowly around him, condensing into several sword shadows.

Just like before, as the sword shadow trembled slightly, a series of sounds rang out, and sound waves burst forth from the sword shadow.

A moment later, sensing the subtle changes transmitted through the sound waves as they touched the cave walls, Shen Ping'an slightly raised his eyes.

The moment he opened his eyes, Shen Ping'an flicked his long sleeves, and the sword shadows that had been gathering around him quickly converged into a beam of sword light that rushed toward a mountain wall.

"Boom!" The next moment, the rocks shattered, kicking up clouds of dust.

As Yue Buqun entered the cave, he discovered that as the smoke and dust dissipated, a series of martial arts sword moves were clearly visible on one of the mountain walls.

By the light of the fire inside the cave, Yue Buqun looked closely and discovered that these sword moves were indeed from the Huashan School.

Moreover, it was a superb sword technique that had been lost decades ago after the great war between the Five Mountains Sword Sect and the Sun Moon Sect.

Then, Yue Buqun looked along the mountain wall and discovered that it contained not only the sword techniques of the Huashan Sect, but also those of the Songshan Sect, Hengshan Sect, and Taishan Sect.

Even for each sword technique, there are notes explaining how to counter it.

At this moment, Yue Buqun suddenly remembered that decades ago, the Cliff of Contemplation had been the site where the Five Mountains Sword Sect annihilated the ten elders of the Sun Moon Divine Sect.

"So, these sword techniques were left behind by those people back then?"

Yue Buqun's eyes lit up as he gazed at the exquisite sword techniques carved on the mountainside.

The Huashan Sect was once a first-class power. How could the martial arts within the sect be limited to the Xuan-level techniques that Yue Buqun is currently practicing?
In earlier years, the Huashan Sect even possessed martial arts techniques of the middle-grade Earth rank.

However, with the Huashan Sect's masters almost all killed or injured decades ago, the situation has changed.

After that, a battle for sword energy erupted, and the remaining masters were all wiped out in the infighting.

This also led to a break in the martial arts tradition of the Huashan School.

Now that these lost sword techniques have been rediscovered, the benefits to the Huashan Qi Sect are self-evident.

Feng Qingyang, who followed Shen Ping'an into the cave, gave him a strange look.

Feng Qingyang was naturally aware that there were martial arts techniques left inside the mountain wall.

In fact, the reason why Yue Buqun and the disciples of the Huashan Qi Sect did not discover the martial arts on these mountain walls was also due to Feng Qingyang.

Feng Qingyang was unaware of how Shen Ping'an had learned that these lost martial arts techniques of the Five Mountains Sword Sects were actually found inside the cave on Siguo Cliff.

After a moment's hesitation, Feng Qingyang couldn't help but ask, "May I ask if you are a descendant of the Huashan Sect?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Ping'an gently shook his head.

"I had no prior connection with the Huashan Sect."

Hearing this, Feng Qingyang became even more puzzled.

In Feng Qingyang's view, Shen Ping'an had a very deep understanding of the Huashan Sect.

Even Yue Buqun, the sect leader, was unaware of this, yet Shen Ping'an knew it.

If Shen Ping'an weren't a descendant of the Huashan Sect, Feng Qingyang would find it hard to imagine any other reason why he would know so much about Huashan.

However, there are some things that Shen Ping'an finds difficult to explain, and has no interest in explaining.

Therefore, after giving Feng Qingyang a brief reply, Shen Ping'an looked at Yue Buqun and said, "The matter is settled, so I will not disturb you any longer."

Yue Buqun was taken aback at first, and wanted to persuade him to stay, but looking at the martial arts on the mountain wall and Feng Qingyang beside him, he couldn't move his feet.

After a moment's thought, Yue Buqun cupped his hands and said, "In that case, please do as you please, Young Master Shen. If you have any further instructions in the future, I and the Huashan Qi Sect will certainly not refuse."

Shen Ping'an nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Then, led by Ning Zhongze and Yue Lingshan, Shen Ping'an and the others headed down the mountain.

As he walked, Shen Ping'an's mind was still replaying the "Nine Swords of Dugu" he had just learned.

His swordsmanship appears simple, but in fact it is highly varied, similar to the "Ethereal Sword Technique" created by Shen Ping'an himself.

What may seem like basic sword moves can become incredibly varied when combined with each other.

Furthermore, his swordsmanship contains a sense of "no moves are better than moves".

However, this "no move is better than a move" is not the same as the "no move is better than a move" in the fourth realm of swordsmanship, the "no sword realm".

Rather, it is a way to anticipate the enemy's moves and adapt one's own sword techniques to the opponent's and enemy's moves.

The principle is somewhat similar to playing chess, where you first predict where your opponent will play a dozen or twenty moves from now.

The principle is somewhat similar to that of Yi Jianshu (a martial art).

However, unlike Shen Ping'an's "Ethereal Sword Technique," which is a gradual martial art that progresses from shallow to deep.

Even those who lack natural talent can eventually master the first few moves of the "Ethereal Sword Technique" if they persevere, and even cultivate these moves to a level of "divine skill".

The "Nine Swords of Dugu" requires extremely high comprehension from its practitioners.

If one lacks comprehension, the power of this sword technique will be reduced to less than one-tenth.

Moreover, in order to achieve the goal of striking first after the opponent has made a move and anticipating the enemy's moves, one must first have some knowledge of martial arts.

Otherwise, if you don't even know the enemy's moves, how can you prepare in advance?

Therefore, in Shen Ping'an's view, although the Dugu Nine Swords is powerful, the starting requirements for its cultivation are too high.

The only thing that Shen Ping'an found regrettable was that the "Nine Swords of Dugu" and the "Ethereal Sword Technique" were not related. Shen Ping'an's idea of ​​using the "Nine Swords of Dugu" to create subsequent sword moves for the "Ethereal Sword Technique" failed.

(End of this chapter)