Chapter 140: Tianhe Nine Records, The Two Formulas of Fast and Slow

Putting aside other matters, Chen Ci could tell that this Jiao Zhenren, besides being a disciple of the He Mountain Sect and a fine son-in-law of Longhu Mountain, possessed at least one or two legacies from outside sects, and they were of no low grade.

For instance, this Tianhe Sword Record.

And the White Bone Magic Tool that Lin Laohu passed on to him.

Just hearing the names, they were already much stronger than the Evil Methods in the He Mountain Scripture. Among the He Mountain Sect cultivators present, Chen Ci was the youngest, so he would be the one to say the unpleasant truths.

The He Mountain Great Method is truly, really not good.

Moreover, this handsome cultivator's True Qi cultivation was far superior to his own; although still within the realm of a Qi Refining cultivator, he had likely already surpassed the Hundred Apertures and only refrained from Foundation Establishment to strike for a higher level. Chen Ci sipped his wine while pondering something in his heart.

Speaking of "discussing sword arts only, stopping at the point," although Chen Ci held the title of "Sword Master," it was, after all, only mundane sword techniques. Whether they were useful was one thing; if he didn't win, he would at most become a laughingstock, which was fine. But if he luckily won by half a move and this person couldn't swallow his pride and dealt him a vicious blow, that would be disastrous. Looking at the status the He Mountain Sect cultivators held in Jiao Zhenren's heart, it was unlikely anyone would stand up for him; he would probably just be given some rewards and a few words of comfort and that would be the end of it.

One must know that a cultivator's body is extremely precious before attaining the Dao; it can be injured, but it cannot be damaged, otherwise, one's Dao cultivation is extremely difficult to Perfect.

Regarding the risks and gains, Chen Ci gently stroked his own White Bone Heart-Locking Sword, needing to ponder it further.

Chen Ci wore a look of indifference on his face, but his heart sank slightly. It was often rumored in the outside world that He Mountain Sect cultivators were fierce and renowned, especially skilled in fighting, but when it truly came to killing people, a sword cultivator's flying sword was still the most efficient.

At this, the expressions on the faces of the He Mountain Sect cultivators all changed somewhat; the Red Dragon Temple cultivator was quite angry, Lin Qinhu was quite cold, and Chen Ci silently took out his little notebook and began to record.

That wasn't all; this person pointed with two fingers, and his white rainbow sword light flew over the head of the old Daoist Shen from Red Dragon Temple, circled around, folded back from Chen Ci's side, and leisurely stopped beside him.

Furthermore, the flying sword was real, and its sharpness and power far exceeded evil Qi spells. It was feared that a single encounter could shred the Black Sha and Gold Sha, and in ten rounds, it could break the spell of the Five Yin Evil Qi Bag. It was just unclear how the He Mountain Sect's filthy methods would affect this flying sword.

From the leading Foundation Establishment cultivator of Red Dragon Temple to Lin Qinhu, not a single person had responded.

"Fellow senior brothers, this junior's cultivation is shallow. In the past, I have only practiced sword arts with the senior brothers in the temple, and I do not know if my skill is sufficient."

This flying sword method was truly fast, much faster than the Five Yin Black Sha and Five Yin Gold Sha he had refined. Not to mention anything else, every time the sword light shifted, Chen Ci could only barely react and make a response in his mind.

"Teacher, this disciple is willing to spar with this junior brother."

Spar, my foot. The style was completely different; how could they fight? This was not the He Mountain Sect's "flying sword" method of using object-driving spells to manipulate magic swords, but a proper, authentic sword cultivator's flying sword!

Could the "Tianhe" legacy that Jiao Zhenren obtained be a sword cultivator's method?

Truly, enviable, purple!

The scene went quiet; instead, this young cultivator had an impulsive urge to try.

Chen Ci only glanced at it once, then loosened his palm from the White Bone Heart-Lock Hammer and lay flat, resigned.

"Shaoshang, is it that without the cooperation of your fellow disciples, you cannot demonstrate what you have gained in your cultivation?"

This handsome cultivator's attitude was very respectful: "May I ask the senior brothers for some pointers?"

Lin Qinhu slowly stood up and bowed: "It is just that this disciple's control of Dharma Power is not quite satisfactory. If by any chance I fail to stop at the point, I hope Teacher will forgive me."

Thinking of this, Chen Ci felt sour again. He had thought that by following his cheap senior brother, he could cling to Jiao Zhenren's thigh, but he hadn't expected the thigh to have gone astray, and not just once, but twice. What was to be done now?

After speaking, he lightly tapped his waist, and a white rainbow flew out, as swift as an arrow released from a bowstring, and also like a plain bird circling and dancing in the air. For a moment, light and shadow shuttled up and down, coming and going like a silver fish playing in the water, extremely agile, leaving people dazzled and mesmerized.

This cultivator surnamed Gu laughed, gave a perfunctory bow to the He Mountain Sect cultivators, and began to practice this so-called Tianhe Sword Record on his own. A white rainbow circled and danced above the main hall, performing faster and faster, drawing rounds of applause from the other cultivators.

It was actually a foot-long small sword, wrapped in clear light, half-void and half-real, carrying sword light and yet having a three-foot edge, faintly turning into a rainbow.

A look of headache flashed across Jiao Zhenren's face, and he waved his hand: "Qinhu, sit down. Do not lower yourself to the level of your Junior Brother Gu."

Lin Qinhu's expression remained unchanged; he bowed to Jiao Zhenren and then took his seat.

This Lin Laohu, he is so disappointing.

Chen Ci was secretly pondering how to deal with the flying sword method, but the expression on Jiao Zhenren's face in the seat of honor grew worse the more he watched. Finally, he couldn't help but scold: "Your practice of this Tianhe Sword Record is a complete mess! Fast, slow, light, heavy, division, transformation, void, reality, unity—you haven't even grasped the most basic meaning of fast and slow. What is the use of simply seeking speed!"

As soon as the words fell, Jiao Zhenren picked up a bamboo chopstick from the table, wiped it with his hand, and threw it out, clashing with the sword light in the sky.

Seeing his teacher make a move, the cultivator surnamed Gu showed no fear and gave a light shout, taking the initiative to attack, driving his flying sword to slash toward that streak of emerald light. But that streak of emerald light was quite fast. The two rainbow lights tangled slightly, and just as they were about to clash, the emerald light suddenly braked, then lightly touched the tail of the foot-long flying sword, knocking it into a stagger. After a few consecutive hits, the flying sword was knocked down.

"Bang!"

Seeing the flying sword fall, the emerald rainbow light easily turned again and slashed toward the cultivator surnamed Gu. Before he could re-form the sword seal, he felt a chill on his neck; the bamboo chopstick had circled his head once before leisurely returning to the seat of honor.

Disbelief appeared in Gu Shaoshang's eyes. His expression was first unwilling, then dazed, and finally, he tremblingly cupped his hands and bowed: "This disciple thanks Teacher for the guidance!"

"In the sword arts of the world, although there is a saying that 'nothing is unbreakable, only speed is unbreakable,' seeking only 'speed' loses the original intent of the sword art. The core of sword-control methods truly lies in 'following the heart and will'."

Jiao Zhenren glanced at him, picked up his wine cup, and began to give pointers: "The Tianhe Sword Record is actually nine formulas. Among them, the four records of 'fast, slow, light, and heavy' are the most practical. If used well, the changes are as you wish, and you can strike down an opponent in a single encounter. Today, I will tell you about these two formulas of 'fast and slow'."

Jiao Zhenren actually did not hide anything. From the Daoist oral formulas to the techniques of operation, he explained every subtle point one by one, not fearing at all that others would learn them.

Either this Tianhe Sword Record was not some secret legacy, or Jiao Zhenren felt that everyone present was his own people, and how much they learned was their own fortune.

Chen Ci was stunned at first, then focused and began to record. This Tianhe Sword Record was both a Daoist method and a sword formula, but it was more like a technique for refining sword artifacts. With "Sword Master" on his side, he understood the concepts instantly. The method of drawing a sword to kill people, whether it was a wandering knight or a sword immortal, actually had no great difference; it was just the difference between immortal and mortal.

It was also the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Jiao Zhenren's words were like swords, suddenly fast and suddenly slow. Although he did not hide anything, he only skimmed over it and never lingered. Even a high-level expert of the Dao Foundation like Lin Qinhu could only forcibly memorize it. As for whether it was beneficial to his Dao cultivation... well, they were just two remnant formulas, so it was hard to say.

Anyway, it didn't cost money, and learning it wouldn't hurt.

"The way of the sword lies in realization, in diligence, and in fighting. Is it not a joy?"

After saying this, Jiao Zhenren finished the thin wine in his hand and stopped speaking, waiting for his disciples to digest it.

Chen Ci remained silent and motionless, appearing to be in a daze, but in reality, he had already quietly opened his Gold Finger panel to view what he had gained.

Tianhe Nine Records Sword Art (2/9): Not yet initiated.

Free-loading made him happy.

But this feeling of being neither here nor there, how should one put it? It was unpleasant, truly unpleasant. The Five Yin Magic Method was "incomplete," and this Tianhe Nine Records was "lacking." It really was missing something.

"A cultivator's affairs, how can they be called free-loading? Doesn't this just show that Master Chen has high comprehension?"

Chen Ci closed the panel, thought for a while, and finally sighed lightly: "Eight Views Palace is still generous. This Small Heavens Qi Absorption Pill Method was passed on just like that. Sigh."

After waiting for a while, Jiao Zhenren looked at the sky, stroked his long beard, and smiled lightly: "The Dharma is not passed to three. Today, we can compare one more category. Bring pen and ink, and draw a talisman to see how your attainments in talisman methods are."

As soon as the words fell, the boys on the left and right brought talisman paper, brushes, and ink from the back and delivered them one by one to the tables of the cultivators. One brush, one ink, one sheet of talisman paper, and nothing else.

"Teacher is biased. Knowing that the senior sisters and junior sisters of Longhu Mountain are especially good at pills and talismans, how is this one sheet of talisman paper enough? Please bestow a few more upon us."

A disciple from Tianhe Daoist Temple in the front row stood up and bowed, making a strange face, which drew a laugh from everyone.

"One sheet is enough. Attainments in talisman methods are first judged by the speed of forming the talisman, then by the difficulty of the talisman, and finally by the level of quality."

Jiao Zhenren smiled: "Even if you draw an Armor Horse Talisman, if it is fast enough and good enough, you have a chance to compete for first place."

Chen Ci sat at the very back, but he could scan the expressions of everyone in the hall at a glance.

The few female cultivators from Longhu Mountain indeed looked smug, appearing as though they had everything under control.

The few male cultivators from Tianhe Daoist Temple were mostly smiling, appearing not to care much.

The cultivators of the He Mountain Sect were even more focused on just participating, having completely given up.

Chen Ci let out a cold snort; when out and about, one earns their own face, and today, this situation still had to be salvaged by him, the He Mountain Light, Master Chen!

(End of this chapter)