Martial Arts Crossover: My Wife is the Top Scholar

Chapter 11 Purple Star Soft Sword, Bodhidharma Sword Technique

Swords, spears, halberds, axes, hooks, and forks.

Thirty-three divine weapons were displayed before the two of them.

Swords, sabers, spears, halberds—all kinds of divine weapons were available. Feng Suzhen chose a sharp sword and a soft armor to wear close to her body.

Feng Suzhen specializes in music and her most proficient weapon is the "qin" (a type of zither), so she doesn't have high requirements for other weapons.

Swords, spears, halberds, anything goes.

I use a sword because I am relatively familiar with it, and it allows me to play the zither and sword together with Li Zhaoting.

Li Zhaoting had even lower requirements for weapons; he could use any bamboo or willow branch as a weapon.

Before Li Zhaoting set off, his master, unusually, returned to normal and talked about some old stories of their sect.

"My lineage has practiced swordsmanship for generations, and the sword techniques passed down through generations number at least eighty or one hundred. There are seven or eight sword techniques that are no less than the direct lineage secrets of the seven major sword sects."

You can use these sword techniques as a starting point, or use exquisite moves to win when your foundation is weak, but you must never copy others' methods; you must forge your own path.

Each generation of successors must forge their own unique sword according to their own sword style. If you can't use my sword, then bamboo or tree branches will have to do.

As your teacher, I look forward to your growth.

The master looked at Li Zhaoting with great anticipation.

Li Zhaoting looked at him with disdain: "Is this your reason for having neither a precious sword nor armor?"

"Hehe! I don't have a sword, but here is a divine steed, a Qilin breed, with extremely strong endurance and excellent for long journeys. I'll give it to you as a gift."

"Hiss~ Is this a divine steed? It's so ugly!"

"Rare and exotic animals must be either stunningly beautiful or uniquely ugly, so that they can be remembered."

"That makes sense! Thank you, Master!"

“Go! A good man’s ambition lies in all directions. Don’t cry and act like a little girl. I know my own body. I can last at least another twenty years.”

"Master..."

"what happened?"

Actually, I wasn't worried about you.

"You traitor, die!"

The master shouted and swung his belt.

Li Zhaoting rode his old wine horse northward to the Central Plains.

Thinking of the scene when they parted, Li Zhaoting smiled and quickly selected two weapons.

A precious sword.

The sword is three feet and five inches long, entirely purple, and can be wrapped around the waist, surrounded by purple mist, as radiant as the glow of dawn.

It is the famous Ziwei Soft Sword.

The sword was encircled, allowing it to be neatly concealed in the belt.

Li Zhaoting had no clue how to forge a sword. Instead of racking his brains to understand the ultimate swordsmanship his master spoke of, he decided to choose a divine weapon to draw inspiration from and develop his own ideas.

A folding fan.

The fan ribs are made of small-leaf sandalwood, and the fan surface is made of silkworm silk. It is impervious to swords and spears, and is indestructible. It has excellent transmission of true energy. When waving the folding fan, the fan ribs can generate sword light.

The front of the folding fan depicts mountains and rivers, while the back shows the lights of countless homes. When the front and back are put together, they represent rivers, lakes, seas, the common people, and the vast landscape.

The two continued turning the winch.

The next treasure vault to be opened was the largest, containing a massive amount of books, totaling more than 40,000 volumes.

These books are neatly arranged on the bookshelf, with the outermost few books serving as a catalog. The catalog details the contents of the bookshelf, allowing for quick searching.

The collection comprises over 40,000 volumes, including long-lost Confucian and Buddhist classics, as well as travelogues, novels, and some rare copies that would make even the most accomplished Confucian scholars jump for joy.

Feng Suzhen loved reading and quickly selected several rare books to take back and study carefully.

The next treasure trove was the smallest, barely bigger than a toilet, and contained a dozen or so books.

These are martial arts manuals collected by the Southern Tang Dynasty.

Several of them are well-known in the martial arts world.

The Samyukta Agama

The Bodhi Heart Method

The Dharma Sword Technique

"The Flower-Picking Capture Technique"

The Lion's Roar of Vajra Zen

The Five-Turn Arhat Qimen Formation

The 108 Arhats Formation

……

The Southern Tang Dynasty revered Buddhism, and its collection of martial arts manuals mainly consisted of Buddhist martial arts. Li Zhaoting and Feng Suzhen both possessed profound lineages and did not covet martial arts from other schools.

The martial arts of Buddhism and Taoism are not easy to learn.

Those who do not understand Buddhist and Taoist principles are prone to going astray and becoming possessed by demons.

Xiao Yuanshan, Murong Bo, and the Black Wind Duo all suffered greatly from this, becoming possessed by demons, plagued by illnesses, and even crippled in both legs. The more they practiced, the more severe their injuries became.

The article specifically criticizes the Black Wind Duo, who, despite following their learned master Huang Yaoshi, were obsessed with early romance and refused to study hard, ultimately becoming two illiterate individuals.

He possessed unparalleled martial arts skills, yet he didn't know how to cultivate them correctly, resulting in a state that was neither human nor ghost.

If one only learns martial arts moves, or like Kumārajīva uses mental techniques such as the Lesser Formless Skill to activate these skills, it is easy to end up with a jack of all trades and master of none.

Murong Fu is the biggest lesson.

Want to learn everything, but master nothing.

Feng Suzhen took away the Lion's Roar Skill and the Bodhidharma Sword Technique.

Li Zhaoting took a supplementary mental cultivation manual. The cover of this manual was damaged, and the original name was unknown. It could move meridians and acupoints, ignoring all acupoint striking, meridian interception, grappling, and restriction techniques.

In terms of practical effect, it is very similar to the Heaven-Shifting, Earth-Turning, and Acupoint-Shifting Technique among the Ten Great Divine Skills of the Demonic Cult. However, the Demonic Cult's method can only shift by one inch to guard against acupoint strikes.

Comparing the two, the "Shifting Heaven and Earth and Moving Acupoints" technique seems to be a weakened version of this mental cultivation method. Even so, it can still be ranked among the top ten divine skills, which shows how wonderful the mental cultivation method is.

The last secret room contains the elixir of immortality.

Inside the medicine box made of jade, there were ginseng roots the size of radishes, lingzhi mushrooms shrouded in purple mist, and he shou wu shaped like a child—all highly nourishing medicinal herbs.

Direct consumption can provide a massive amount of internal energy. If prepared by a renowned physician, it can be used to create a life-saving elixir that can revive the dead and heal the bones, making it priceless.

Feng Suzhen asked, "My lord, do you know any renowned physicians? Could you ask one to prepare the medicine?"

"A miracle doctor? I don't know him!"

Li Zhaoting subconsciously rubbed his chin, his expression changing from serious to somewhat unserious.

"My lord~~"

Feng Suzhen's cloyingly sweet coquettishness is backed by a jealousy that makes one's bones ache.

Li Zhaoting wanted to dodge, but how could he avoid it?
"My wife, I really don't know the miracle doctor."

Li Zhaoting emphasized the words "miracle doctor".

They were so confident and assertive that even a lie detector couldn't detect it.

Li Zhaoting indeed did not know the miracle doctor.

Li Zhaoting knew a "poison doctor".

Feng Suzhen extended a finger and gently lifted Li Zhaoting's chin, revealing a queenly demeanor.

"My lord, you're not being honest~~"

"My lady, spare my life!"

Li Zhaoting felt that a fierce battle would take place tonight, lasting day and night, night after night, without end.

……

The next morning, Li Zhaoting rubbed his lower back as he did his morning exercise.

Last night's battle was too intense, and Feng Suzhen was so lazy that she couldn't even move a finger. When Li Zhaoting got up for his morning exercise, Feng Suzhen was still sleeping soundly.

Watching the slowly rising red sun, Li Zhaoting, on a whim, danced a section of "The Rising Sun," stretched his tendons and ligaments, and then practiced Tai Chi for a while.

Tai Chi Chuan is the supreme martial art of Wudang, but it is not a closely guarded "secret" that is not passed on. On the contrary, it has been simplified into more than a dozen versions and widely accepted as disciples in the martial arts world.

The Tai Chi Chuan that Li Zhaoting practices comes from his eccentric master and is not a common martial arts style. Some of its essential elements are in no way inferior to his master's swordsmanship.

Even with Li Zhaoting's precognitive advantage as a time traveler, he still didn't know the origins of his master. The old Taoist priest was crazy all day long and never spoke the truth.

Li Zhaoting possesses the true energy of Yin and Yang, giving him an innate advantage in comprehending Tai Chi. His movements include Wild Horse Parts Mane, White Crane Spreads Wings, Knee-Hugging and Twisting Step, Playing the Lute, and Reverse Arm Roll...

With a calm mind and relaxed body, fluid and continuous movements, a clear distinction between emptiness and fullness, and natural breathing, all concepts of true qi, such as internal and external breath, innate and acquired qi, are returned to their original state.

Maintain a relaxed and upright posture, with a slightly concave chest and straight back, a relaxed waist and drooping hips, and shoulders and elbows relaxed. Guided by intention, one achieves unity of form and spirit.

On a whim, I grabbed a five-foot willow branch and swayed it gently in front of me, like an old man fishing. The lush green willow leaves rustled down in the morning breeze.

With a high pat on the horse, grasping the sparrow's tail, a single whip, cloud hands, and willow branches moving at will, they form a Tai Chi Yin-Yang symbol.

"This humble servant will learn your swordsmanship!"

Feng Suzhen's voice came from the corridor.

Feng Suzhen, a lady from a prestigious family, had developed a good habit of going to bed early and getting up early since childhood. However, she had slept in late because the battle last night was too intense.

Upon waking up, he found Li Zhaoting missing. Knowing that Li Zhaoting must be doing his morning exercise in the garden, he quickly washed up and rushed to the garden, only to find that Li Zhaoting had entered a state of enlightenment.

A sense of harmony between humanity and nature brings peace of mind and tranquility.

Feng Suzhen couldn't resist making a move to test the waters.

The technique used was none other than the Bodhidharma Swordplay found in the treasure vault last night. This swordplay was not the common technique used by Shaolin monks as a foundation, but was personally taught by Bodhidharma.

The sword technique consists of thirty-three moves, with incredible variations and extreme complexity. It uses stillness to control movement and qi to generate power, strengthening the body's foundation and blood circulation, and greatly aiding in internal energy cultivation.

In Liang Yusheng's system, this sword technique is the Wudang School's direct lineage secret technique, and together with the Mangshan School's Xuan Nu Sword Technique and the Tianshan School's Tianshan Sword Technique, it is known as one of the three great sword techniques in the martial arts world.

There are two drawbacks.

Firstly, since it was created hundreds of years ago, even a martial arts master as accomplished as Bodhidharma would inevitably have some shortcomings that need to be filled in by later generations.

Secondly, the Bodhidharma sword technique is a Buddhist sword art that emphasizes compassion. Its moves are gentle and focus on defense, evasion, and maneuvering, resulting in a serious lack of lethality.

It's slightly lacking in its ability to defeat enemies, but it's an excellent choice for morning practice and building a foundation.

Feng Suzhen formed a sword with her fingers and suddenly made her move. Under the influence of the energy, Li Zhaoting flicked his wrist, and a willow branch floated out, drawing an arc in the air.

The martial arts training ground, built by Min Zihua at great expense, was now a great convenience for the two to practice martial arts. Feng Suzhen's moves were exquisite, and she could dodge and weave, changing her stance several times in a second, making her movements unpredictable and fantastical.

Her slender feet lightly touched the ground, her figure fluttering like a butterfly among the flowers, light and graceful to the extreme. With her left hand, she gently grabbed a three-foot-long bamboo shoot in the bamboo forest.

A bluish light rippled, and sword energy permeated the air. The dense, cloud-like sword energy enveloped Feng Suzhen, making her resemble a green rice dumpling with a fragrant aroma, capable of warding off evil and disaster.

Li Zhaoting's eyes darted around, seemingly half-asleep, as he traced beautiful arcs with the willow branch in his hand, forming interlocking, layered circles.

Like a flower basket made of bamboo strips, or brocade woven from silk, the soft and weak willow branches, with Li Zhaoting's strokes, are woven into a net that covers the sky and the earth.

Like black hair brushing against the face, like flying catkins clinging to clothes.

A thousand strands bind the slender willow, a startled swan's reflection lingers in the cold light.

Dewdrops clung to the branches, and clouds drifted by. Feng Suzhen felt as if she were blinded by a thousand leaves. A flash of sword light passed by, and Feng Suzhen was powerless, being held in Li Zhaoting's arms.

"My wife, how is my swordsmanship?"

Just as Li Zhaoting was about to do his morning exercises, a flippant voice came from the top of the wall: "What excellent swordsmanship!"

Feng Suzhen shyly broke free from his embrace.

"Lu Xiaofeng, aren't you afraid of getting a sty?"

Li Zhaoting gritted his teeth as he looked at the red cloak on the wall and the iconic four eyebrows.

(End of this chapter)