One person: Starting with the Snow Drinking Blade

It was a morning no different from any other.

Nie Lingfeng had just finished his morning lessons, practicing the Wind God Leg, Cloud Dispelling Palm, Heavenly Frost Fist, and the Six Secrets of Arrogant Cold. His whole body was steaming with heat. He was sitting cross-legged on the smooth stone platform where he usually sat, circulating the Ice Heart Technique to regulate his breathing and calm his surging blood and qi.

Suddenly, without warning—

Deep within his consciousness, one of the two orbs of light that had remained dim and dormant since the first inheritance, symbolizing the subsequent inheritance, suddenly burst forth with dazzling light!

A torrent of information, several times stronger and purer than in the first stage, erupted like a volcano that had been accumulating for thousands of years! Vast and boundless thoughts, images, insights, and mantras surged into his sea of ​​consciousness, forcefully yet orderly, rapidly merging and sublimating with his existing martial arts foundation!

The Xuanwu True Scripture! Nie Feng comprehended it from the murals in Lingyun Cave, and later perfected and deduced it, integrating the essence of ten peerless martial arts into one, a supreme profound skill that cultivates both internal and external strength and leads directly to the innate realm! It emphasizes "absorbing the vast energy of heaven and earth and nourishing the form of the Northern Darkness Xuanwu." When cultivated to a high level, one's physical body becomes indestructible, and true energy is generated spontaneously, circulating endlessly and almost infinitely!

"Invincible in All Directions"! A peerless combat technique that seamlessly integrates offense and defense, leaving no openings! It is divided into two parts: "Defensive Moves" and "Killing Moves." The defensive move, "Defense in All Directions," once unleashed, places all ten directions around the body within its defensive perimeter. The interwoven energy forms a net that is impenetrable, impenetrable to water or needles. The killing move, "Kill in All Directions," concentrates the body's energy into a single point or simultaneously attacks all ten directions, unleashing a fierce and unparalleled offensive that leaves the enemy with nowhere to escape and no way to defend!

And then there's… *The Demon Blade*! An extremely evil sword technique, utterly ruthless and driven by a murderous rage! Its power is earth-shattering, capable of changing the very fabric of nature with a single strike. However, its cultivation conditions are extremely demanding. The practitioner must first "sever all emotions," cutting off all attachments, desires, and attachments; then "sever all ties," abandoning all moral principles and ethics; and finally, "become a demon," fueled by boundless killing intent and malevolence, to master it. The slightest misstep will allow the demonic nature to corrupt the mind, turning the practitioner into a madman driven solely by slaughter, with no hope of redemption!

The information bombardment lasted for a full fifteen minutes before gradually subsiding.

When Nie Lingfeng reopened his eyes, his gaze was radiant, as if he had been reborn, and his understanding of martial arts had been elevated to a completely new level.

The already mastered martial arts techniques, such as the Wind God Leg and the Cloud Dispelling Palm, suddenly revealed a deeper level of mystery under the higher-level and more systematic martial arts philosophy of the Xuanwu True Scripture. The Wind God Leg is not only a leg technique, but also an application of the lightness, speed, and all-pervasiveness of the "wind"; the Cloud Dispelling Palm is not only a change in palm power, but also a simulation of the unpredictable gathering and dispersing, supple and powerful characteristics of the "cloud"; the Heavenly Frost Fist and the Six Secrets of Frost are a profound interpretation of the solidified and deadly nature of "cold" and "frost".

The exquisite and complex moves in "Invincible in Ten Directions," the unparalleled demands for multitasking and precise control of true energy to an unbelievable degree, and the explanation of offensive and defensive rhythm and seizing opportunities, captivated him and left him completely engrossed.

However, when he touched the thick black aura, as dark as the deepest night, that represented the legacy of the "Demon Blade," with his mind, his brows immediately furrowed.

With just a sliver of mental contact, an extreme negative emotion—violent, bloodthirsty, insane, and wanting to destroy everything—suddenly surged into his heart like a cold, venomous snake! The Qilin tattoo on his chest instantly heated up, its crimson light flowing, and combined with the peaceful chill emanating from the Ice Heart Technique, he barely managed to suppress and dispel that demonic thought.

The inherited message clearly warns: The Demon Blade possesses unparalleled power, but its cultivation method is contrary to the laws of nature and will bring endless troubles. Only those with a will as firm as ancient ice, who have been tempered by the mortal world yet whose Daoist heart remains unchanged, and who possess the determination and perseverance to face death, should not lightly touch it. Touching it will easily lead to downfall, and once fallen, it will be difficult to turn back.

Nie Lingfeng decisively withdrew all probing of the black aura and unhesitatingly mobilized his mental power to construct three solid mental barriers around the dangerous inheritance, completely sealing it in the most remote corner of his consciousness.

"Only an idiot would practice this thing." He curled his lip, his tone filled with undisguised disdain. "In the original story, Senior Brother Feng... uh, Senior Nie Feng, if he hadn't been forced to practice this damn demonic blade, would he have been tormented by demonic nature so terribly later? He clearly had exceptional talent and amazing comprehension, but he spent most of his energy suppressing demonic nature and fighting against his inner demons, neglecting so many important matters!"

"I now possess the magnificent and righteous 'Xuanwu True Scripture,' a supreme profound skill that points directly to the innate realm, and the peerless combat technique 'Ten Directions Invincible,' which combines offense and defense. My future is bright and promising. Why would I go and practice that heartless and ruthless evil sword technique that drives me to madness at the drop of a hat?" He shook his head, his eyes resolute. "I'm not stupid, and I'm not tired of living."

With the guidance of the supreme profound skill, the "Mysterious Martial Scripture," Nie Lingfeng's cultivation entered a new fast track.

He revised his rigorous cultivation plan: during the day, he would focus on cultivating the "Xuanwu True Scripture" to accumulate, purify, and sublimate his true energy, while also supplementing his cultivation with the "Ten Directions Invincible" to hone his combat skills and control his true energy; at night, he would replace sleep with the advanced mental technique of the "Ice Heart Mantra" to nourish his consciousness and consolidate his cultivation in deep meditation; as for his insights into "Creating the Blade," they became his "leisure" and "contemplation" during his breaks from cultivation—he felt that the thin layer of paper between the window was getting thinner and thinner.

The cultivation method of the *Xuanwu True Scripture* is unique and wondrous. It requires practitioners to assume a specific static posture imitating the form of the Xuanwu divine beast, combined with a deep and profound breathing rhythm, in order to draw in and absorb the pure energy of the surrounding world into the body, tempering muscles and bones, expanding meridians, and condensing true essence. Initially, Nie Lingfeng was somewhat worried about whether there truly was any so-called "spiritual energy of heaven and earth" to absorb in this cave buried deep underground and sealed for thousands of years.

But when he first truly entered the cultivation state of the "Xuanwu True Scripture," he was surprised to discover that the moss on the rock wall, which was everywhere and emitted a faint blue light, contained a special energy that was extremely pure, gentle, and easy to absorb! This energy seeped into his body thread by thread with his breathing, blending seamlessly with his own true qi, and the effect was several times faster than simply circulating internal energy!

"So that's it... No wonder these mosses can grow so lushly in this sunless place, no wonder the Fire Qilin chose this spot to dwell..." He suddenly realized, his eyes filled with surprise as he looked at the star-like blue lights on the surrounding rock walls. "This entire Lingyun Cave is simply a natural, enormous blessed land for cultivation! These glowing mosses are the best source of 'spiritual energy'!"

The training of "Invincible in Ten Directions" is ten times more arduous than any previous martial art. Even the basic training of "defensive moves" requires the practitioner to instantly sense and predict attacks from at least ten different directions—front, back, left, right, up, down, and diagonal—and simultaneously mobilize true energy to form corresponding defenses. The training of "killing moves" is even more demanding, requiring the practitioner to precisely divide their true energy into more than ten streams, either concentrating it into a single point for explosive penetration or dispersing it in ten directions to form a deadly net. This places an extreme challenge on both mental exertion and true energy control.

Without an opponent to practice with, Nie Lingfeng created his own training conditions. He frantically practiced moves against the air, imagining countless enemies attacking from all directions; he repeatedly tested his moves against the hard rock wall, experiencing the subtle differences in the penetration of true energy under different angles and forces; he stirred up the pool water and used his palm wind and fist force to strike the splashing water droplets, practicing dealing with multi-angle "attacks" at the same time... He often practiced until his true energy was exhausted, his muscles ached as if they were about to burst, and his body was covered with bruises and abrasions that he had created himself.

Fortunately, he had the double protection of the Qilin tattoo and the Xuanwu True Scripture. No matter how tired he was or how severe his injuries were, as long as he circulated the Xuanwu True Scripture for a few cycles, mobilizing the balanced and peaceful Xuanwu True Qi in conjunction with the warm current from the tattoo, the injuries would heal at a speed visible to the naked eye. Moreover, after each serious injury recovery, he could feel that his tendons, meridians, and even skin were more resilient than before, like refined steel, becoming stronger with each tempering.

At the beginning of the tenth year, on a seemingly ordinary day.

Nie Lingfeng finished his morning practice of the Xuanwu True Scripture, feeling refreshed and clear-headed. He casually picked up an ordinary stone stick from the edge of the pool, smoothed and rounded by the water. It was about three feet long, as thick as a child's arm, heavy but not clumsy.

He didn't display any moves; he simply held the stone stick casually, closed his eyes, calmed his mind, and stopped trying to "think" about any sword intent, but simply "feel" it.

Feel the weight and solidity of the stone, feel the coolness and roughness of your palm touching the stone, and feel its "rooted" connection to the earth beneath your feet.

Suddenly, an indescribable sense of clarity welled up in my heart.

It was as if a blocked river channel had been cleared by a flood, or as if a dusty mirror had been suddenly polished.

He "saw"—not with his eyes, but with his heart. The stone stick in his hand was no longer just a stone stick. It could be a knife, a sword, a gun, or any weapon he could imagine. The key was in the "intention," not the "form."

Good fortune comes to mind.

Nie Lingfeng flicked his wrist very naturally and casually.

The stone rod sliced ​​through the air, producing a deep "hum." It wasn't the sound of physical vibration, but a strange sound of a resonance between thought, object, and space.

laugh--!

A soft sound, like a sharp knife cutting paper.

Three zhang away, on the hard rock wall, a smooth cut, about a foot deep and more than five feet long, appeared out of thin air! The cut surface was as smooth as a mirror, and could even reflect a faint blue moss light. The edges were so neat that it seemed to have been carefully cut by the sharpest divine weapon in the world, without a trace of cracks or roughness!

Nie Lingfeng slowly opened his eyes and looked at the stone staff in his hand. The stone staff remained unchanged. He then looked at the astonishing cut on the rock wall.

After a moment of silence, the corners of his mouth slowly turned up, eventually transforming into a hearty, unrestrained smile.

"It's done." He murmured to himself, his voice calm yet filled with immense joy and relief. "This is... the true 'Creation Blade'."

Everything can be a knife. The key lies in whether the wielder possesses the "intention" to cut through everything. When the intention is there, even grass, trees, bamboo, and stones can be cleaved through metal and iron, nothing is indestructible!

Almost at the same instant he grasped the true meaning of "Creating the Blade," the true energy of the "Mysterious Martial Scripture" within his body, which had been circulating smoothly, seemed to be drawn and catalyzed by some invisible force, causing its circulation speed to surge dramatically! The true energy, which had been as thick and surging as a river, began to undergo a qualitative change, its color gradually transforming from ice blue to a deeper dark cyan, its texture becoming more condensed and pure, and the faint sounds of wind and thunder echoing within its meridians as it circulated, rapidly transforming towards a higher and more profound level!

The last three months.

Nie Lingfeng stood by the cold pool, his tall, pine-like figure reflected in the water. He looked like a boy of seventeen or eighteen, with a handsome face, calm and deep eyes, and a well-rounded and restrained aura, yet it seemed to contain a raging storm that could erupt at any moment.

He took a deep breath and slowly assumed the starting stance of "Invincible in Ten Directions"—a seemingly simple posture that contains profound truths of the universe and combines offense and defense.

The defensive move—protecting all directions!

With a thought, his true energy surged forth! Centered on his body, the air within a three-foot radius suddenly became viscous and heavy, as if solidified into invisible amber! A layer of dark blue aura, invisible to the naked eye yet undeniably real, completely enveloped him, its surface shimmering with faint light, its energy circulating ceaselessly, airtight and impenetrable! Just then, a faint gust of air from the depths swept up a few small pebbles, which entered the three-foot area. With a few soft "poof" sounds, the pebbles were instantly shattered into dust and scattered without a trace!

Killing move—Kill in all directions!

He moved! His figure was like a phantom, leaving a clear afterimage in place, but his true form had vanished like a ghost! In the next instant, it seemed as if ten Nie Lingfengs appeared in the cave at the same time! Some punches, some palms, some legs, some fingers, ten attacks condensed with powerful true energy, came from ten completely different directions, including up, down, left, right, front, back, and diagonal angles, accompanied by sharp whistling sounds, and slammed into the incredibly thick rock wall three zhang away!

Ten attacks landed on the same point on the rock wall almost simultaneously!

Rumble, rumble, rumble—!!!

A deafening roar erupted within the enclosed space! The entire grotto seemed to tremble! The thick, incredibly hard rock wall, several meters thick, shattered like tofu struck by an invisible giant hammer! Countless fragments of rock of varying sizes shot backward like a torrential rain, and dust billowed into the sky, filling the entire space!

As the smoke and dust slowly dissipated and settled, the situation gradually improved.

Nie Lingfeng had already withdrawn his attack, standing firmly in place like a towering mountain, his breathing steady, as if the earth-shattering blow he had just unleashed was not his doing. Before him, the rock wall had vanished, replaced by a huge, jagged hole. Behind the hole lay a deep, dark, ancient tunnel that stretched downwards at an unknown distance, from which a gentle breeze carrying the smell of mildew and decay slowly blew.

He stood quietly, feeling the dark blue true energy within his body, which surged like a vast ocean yet was as responsive as his own limbs; feeling the terrifying power contained in his muscles and bones, enough to split mountains and shatter rocks; and feeling the clear and comprehensive understanding of the various martial arts principles in his mind.

The Xuanwu True Scripture, completed.

"Invincible in Ten Directions", a masterpiece.

The Wind God Leg, Cloud Dispelling Palm, Heavenly Frost Fist, Six Secrets of Unyielding Cold, and Ice Heart Technique have long been perfected.

The true meaning of creating a sword, comprehended and understood.

ten years.

More than 3,600 days and nights of sitting in meditation, ascetic practice, enlightenment, struggle, and breakthrough.

From a helpless child to a young man with unparalleled martial arts skills and a full spirit.

Nie Lingfeng looked down at his long, strong hands with distinct joints. His palms were warm, yet capable of unleashing thunder. He unbuttoned his shirt and looked down at the Qilin tattoo on his chest. Its color had become even warmer and deeper, with a faint golden light flowing within the crimson. It rose and fell slightly with his breath, like a sleeping divine beast that might awaken at any moment and roar across the world with him.

He bent down and picked up the Snow Drinking Blade lying quietly to the side. As soon as he held the blade, the chilling aura of the coldest place in the world flowed naturally, but it no longer made him feel the slightest discomfort—now the purest and most refined Xuanwu True Qi in his body, with both yin and yang, and the balance of strength and gentleness, could perfectly contain, control, and even unleash this unparalleled chill.

The blade hummed softly, as if responding to its master's call.

"It's time to go out."

Nie Lingfeng slung the Snow Drinking Blade over his shoulder with fluid, natural movements. He turned around one last time, his gaze slowly sweeping over the deep blue grotto that had imprisoned him for ten years, and which had also shaped him over those ten years.

The cold pool remained crystal clear, reflecting the shimmering moss. The rock face was densely covered with various markings, dates, reflections, mundane complaints, and even frantic graffiti, recording every step of his journey from despair to struggle, from perseverance to transformation, from naivety to maturity. The luminous, deep blue moss continued to sway gently, radiating an eternally tranquil light, as if silently bidding farewell, or perhaps offering a blessing.

There's not much lingering attachment, nor much sentimentality. Ten years have passed, and everything has settled.

He turned around, took a step, and steadily stepped into the newly appeared, deep, and unknown tunnel.

The footsteps echoed in the empty passage, firm and steady, without the slightest hesitation or turning back.

After ten years of seclusion, he emerged victorious.

What kind of world lies ahead? What challenges await? What kind of scenery awaits?

He was unaware of it.

But he was ready to use the Snow Drinking Sword in his hand and all his knowledge to meet the heroes of the world, to cut through the fog ahead, and to see with his own eyes the vast and turbulent human world.