Chapter 183

"No, I came the same way, it just took longer." Shang Yun said, turning the sword manual to the middle and back, and handing it to Ming Qitian, "Please look at this move, Ming Ming Jianzhu. I have been stuck here for more than a month, and I want to see how the Ming Ming Jianzhu deciphers this move."

"... Where are you stuck on this move?" After Ming Qitian finished reading, she pondered for a while as usual and looked up to ask—it didn't take any longer than just now.

"Stuck on the sword principles. Actually, I have already realized its sword intent, but I really can't figure out this part—" Shang Yunning walked up, pointed to two sentences, and talked about it, "... If I can't understand these sword principles, this sword move won't be smooth. Ming Ming Jianzhu Ming, I have read thirteen sword principle classics these days, and even browsed through historical myths, but I still can't find the foothold for this part—"

"It's not a reading problem."

"Huh?"

"You can learn this move, but you can't be so stubborn. It's not that you must understand these sword principles." The woman moved her gaze away from the book and looked at the slightly stunned man in front of her, "Understand as much as you can, learn as much as you can, and then use this imperfect sword. Use it more and look back at it more; after a long time, you will learn it."

Shang Yunning's pair of brown pupils landed on Ming Qitian's face, seemingly without focus, his mouth slightly opened a gap—it was a slightly dazed expression.

"Didn't the Ming Ming Jianzhu say earlier... deciphering moves, analyzing principles, understanding intent?" Shang Yunning frowned slightly, "Ming Ming Jianzhu Ming, aren't we talking about 'learning'? Why did it get to 'using'?"

This confusion was not hard to understand, probably similar to taking an obscure character to ask a teacher for its pronunciation and meaning, but the teacher looked at it and said, go copy it first, and then try to use it to write an article.

He thought for a moment that this clear-hearted Ming Ming Jianzhu also had moments of confusion.

"Because you can only learn it by 'using' it." Ming Qitian said.

"... Why?" Shang Yunning was slightly stunned. For more than ten years, he had always completed the "learning" stage only after deciphering a sword technique inside and out and mastering it freely. This had almost become a compulsive habit, "Is it that these sword principles must be realized in practice? But since it is a 'principle,' it should be logically clear. If it needs to be realized, isn't that 'intent'?"

"It is clear. It's just that summer insects cannot talk about ice; I cannot explain it to you." The woman's voice was calm, and everyone knew that this metaphor did not mean to offend.

"Oh." Shang Yunning nodded, "So it's a knowledge problem. Then which classics should I read—"

"It's not a knowledge problem."

"Huh?"

"It's a sword path talent problem."

"..."

It's a sword path talent problem.

The field was incomparably quiet, with only clouds and mist drifting lightly.

This sentence said to Shang Yunning always carried a strange sense of humor, but if it came out of Ming Qitian's mouth...

"... Oh." The first one to react was actually the person himself. Shang Yunning nodded, seemingly not having received much impact, "Then I will practice according to what the Ming Ming Jianzhu said later."

"Yes, or... you can try to continue 'learning,' but don't reason and ponder over books anymore. Pick up the sword and practice it a few more times. Perhaps when the flash of inspiration arrives, it will open up."

"Inspiration..." Shang Yunning, who had always been quietly and firmly advancing his own sword path, was clearly not very fond of this method, "Pinning hopes on this indefinite and uncertain thing is too much of a waste of time. And even if there is a flash of inspiration today and I am lucky enough to learn this sword, what about the next move?"

Ming Qitian nodded slightly: "That's true. Normally, deciphering swords and learning principles is the right path. However, if the frequency of inspiration is high enough, it is also a path."

"..." Shang Yunning showed a slightly confused expression again.

"I'm just saying that this way of learning swords does indeed exist."

At this point, this round of Sword-Asking should have ended, but before Shang Yunning left the field, he couldn't help but ask one last question: "Ming Ming Jianzhu Ming, is a person's sword path talent completely fixed at birth?"

Ming Qitian tilted her head and smiled: "This is a knowledge problem—Yunlang has an article called 'On the Three Thousand Human Sword Talents,' which was gifted to the Immortal Platform for publication in the world. It was even sent to West Long Road for review twenty years ago. Your sect should have a copy."

Shang Yunning was a bit embarrassed.

"According to this 'On Talents,' it is not so." Ming Qitian collected her expression and answered earnestly, "A person's talent is not determined at birth. The growth process from childhood to adulthood is actually the process of talent formation. Teaching can significantly influence its formation. It's just that birth does almost determine the upper limit of the 'finished product'."

"Oh, I grew up in Tianshan and started listening to swords at the age of three. I guess I have reached this upper limit."

"Not necessarily." The woman said, "The senior who wrote 'On Talents' said in the article that, in fact, changes in talent run through a swordsman's entire life."

"Oh?" This man's voice did not come from Shang Yunning, but from outside the clouds.

Many disciples who were sitting and listening were also reviewing their own "knowledge," and hearing this voice, they all put their hearts at ease.

—'So Pool Master Ye hasn't read it either.'

"Just like before it takes shape, even when one is old and frail, learning swords can still improve a person's sword path talent." The woman said slowly, "This improvement is very small and can be ignored, but it does exist, and it can enable people to break through the 'upper limit' determined at birth."

"In other words, if I learn the King Mu Sword, will my talent become better?"

"Theoretically, yes." The woman said, "This senior said that the quantity and quality of sword techniques practiced affect the degree of talent improvement equally. However, Shang Fuyu will probably find it difficult to feel this progress, because the text says that the better the talent, the smaller the effect—I have also learned some sword techniques in recent years, and I haven't felt that my talent is better. This should be a window opened for those with poor talent."

"But in fact, if the talent is poor, learning swords is slow, and it is difficult to learn superior sword techniques, so the talent cannot be improved."

"That is so, which is why the world has not discovered this mechanism for a long time."

At this point, the first round of Sword-Asking ended completely. The jade tripod chimed again, Shang Yunning bowed with his sword, and left the field.

Today was the first day of Ming Ming Jianzhu Ming's arrival. Tianshan exhausted its etiquette, and Ming Qitian also taught with all her heart. It was a time when the discussion of the Dao and exchanges were harmonious. It would be inevitable to have more competition for superiority at the Xian Pool Society tomorrow.

At this time, a disciple washed the sword for Ming Qitian with Heaven Pool water, and the second round was about to begin. Everyone looked eagerly at the white figure on the field who was untouched by wind and dew, all looking forward to becoming the next one.

However, at this moment, a shout rang out from outside the field.

"Ming Ming Jianzhu Ming!" Gu Yunfu waved the envelope in his hand, "There is a letter for you!"

A letter?

This sentence attracted more gazes than Ming Qitian's question just now. Tianshan disciples often received letters from outside, from family or friends, but if one linked this common way of passing messages to Ming Ming Jianzhu Ming, it always seemed to have a sense of disconnection.

One always felt that if the Sword Lord wanted to talk to his disciples, it was just a matter of opening his mouth. And if this letter didn't come from the Sword Lord, did Ming Ming Jianzhu Ming have other social connections?

But there was indeed a letter in Gu Yunfu's hand, soft and inferior yellow paper, a bit dirty and wrinkled, with a few lines of handwriting on the cover. He walked toward the field, and everyone's eyes followed him to Ming Qitian's face, seeing that this Ming Ming Jianzhu also revealed a look of doubt.

Gu Yunfu first looked at the expression of the woman in front of him, bowed, handed over the letter, and laughed: "I received it from the courier on the way. Because I saw that he knew about the Sword-Asking, I took the liberty to make things convenient."

Actually, although the Sword-Asking was not known to outsiders, it was not confidential. For example, many disciples of the Yi Sword Southern Sect, which Ming Qitian had just left, knew where this Ming Ming Jianzhu was going next.

Because he was worried that the person who wrote the letter was some inexplicable person, Gu Yunfu cleared the relationship first.

Ming Qitian nodded in thanks, took it, and looked at the envelope properly. Gu Yunfu had almost memorized the three lines of ink on the cover. Following the Ming Ming Jianzhu's gaze, they were in order:

"Tianshan Shanmen"

"To be opened by Miss Ming (Please have your sect deliver it when Ming Ming Jianzhu Ming comes to ask about swords)"

"Pei Ye"

When her gaze fell on this name, Gu Yunfu saw the Ming Ming Jianzhu's eyebrows stretch slightly, and the doubt disappeared.

Gu Yunfu originally thought she would put it away first, but he saw the woman actually tear open the envelope directly and read the letter right there.

This was at the Sword-Asking Society.

Did this name represent an urgent matter? And why send it like this if it was urgent?

Gu Yunfu held his hands and watched with his thoughts turning, but the expression on the woman's face did not change at all. The letter was very short, she finished reading it quickly, and then actually took out paper and pen and started to write a reply right there.

It was actually handwritten too.

The disciples had more or less doubts on their faces—did Yunlang Mountain run out of small jade swords?

Gu Yunfu had already reached out, intending to help this Ming Ming Jianzhu send it down the mountain, but he saw the woman finish writing and stop her pen quickly, take out a small sword, fold the letter, and tie it on.

Gu Yunfu withdrew his hand calmly.

That made much more sense... but it was still a bit strange.

And no matter what thoughts were turning in everyone's heads, Ming Qitian did not pay attention. She opened the letter immediately upon receiving it because she was worried that something had happened—although Liuli didn't have any reaction; she replied immediately because she had no leisure time later today; as for the handwriting, the woman's idea was actually simpler—since she didn't recognize many characters, reading and writing more wouldn't hurt.

After tying it up, the woman flicked her finger and watched the small sword turn into a stream of light and go straight into the high sky.

—

East Pool.

When Gu Yunfu walked into the pavilion with big strides, Chu Xiao was sitting at the desk, frowning and thinking while pressing on two sheets of paper.

This middle-aged man who was in charge of Tianshan's miscellaneous affairs had a worried and solemn face. In Gu Yunfu's memory, his brows had never relaxed, his body seemed to be busy all the time, and his brain seemed to be thinking forever.

"Pool Master Chu." Gu Yunfu bowed and took out the letter, "Disciple has returned from resigning from the Divine Capital. On the way, Junior Brother Yunsheng sent a letter from Bowang, asking me to bring this letter from the post station."

"It's Yunfu. How are the customs of the Divine Capital?" Chu Xiao did not move his head, continued to look at the two pages of paper in his hand, and said slowly.

"Compared to Tianshan... it really is a remote and desolate place."

"Hahaha, since that's the case, why resign?"

"It is not a place where my heart is at peace."

Chu Xiao shook his head with a smile, finished reading the content of the paper during the chat, freed his mind, and reached out his hand: "Bring it here and let me see."

Gu Yunfu handed over the already opened white envelope.

Chu Xiao unfolded the letter paper.

"Pool Master Chu, Zhang Shixiong Gu, greetings,

Since Yunsheng left West Long Road to pursue this line, more than a month has passed. It is indeed as said, from here to the east, it is far away from the sword shadows and washing away the blood light. Since entering the Shao Long Road, I have not encountered an enemy once.

It can be seen that this youth is indeed a line that can be dispensed with, and the enemy also thinks it is difficult to pursue without success, so there is no need to waste energy.

However, what is lost in the east is gained in the west. This line finally stopped at Bowang Prefecture City, but it was not without gains—in this place, there is actually a Soul-Taking Bead."

Chu Xiao raised an eyebrow and continued to look.

"On the night of the thirteenth of August, I was pursuing traces outside a mountain town. Suddenly there was a bloody smell in the forest. I searched for it and saw an old man running away in shock from afar, leaving behind a dead person.

The murderer should have been trying to destroy the body, but was interrupted by me.

There are two things that confirm the origin of the murderer: first, the deceased's eyes were unfocused and his mind was incomplete, which is exactly the work of the Soul-Taking Bead; second, as soon as I leaned over to the corpse, a ball of fire rose out of thin air, which should be the true energy technique of the Huan Death Tower.

This fire should have been intended to burn the eyes of the deceased, but it did not succeed.

At this point, there are two things to consider:

First, how did the West Long matter spread over a thousand miles and suddenly appear in this small prefecture?

Second, the Lake Mountain Sword Sect has lived between the Mirror Snow Pine Mountains for generations, so why did they set up an escape shelter in this small prefecture?

Please decide on the above, Pool Master Chu.

Another matter is what Yunsheng wants to do in Bowang at this time—after investigation, this deceased person is named Cheng Jiang Hong. Although I don't recognize him, he is indeed a Tianshan disciple who resigned two months ago."

Reading this, Chu Xiao raised his eyebrows again.

"Does the Pool Master recognize this person?" Gu Yunfu leaned on the desk.

"Hmm, he came up from being a servant. His ambition is very good, and his talent is also okay. He is a late bloomer. It's a pity that his ambition is in officialdom. Before he left, I passed him a move of the 'Eight Steeds Sword'."

"Did he learn it?"

"He learned it."

Chu Xiao did not look up and continued to read the letter.

"Pool Master Chu once said that Tianshan has wanted to enter Shao Long many times but failed. Isn't this a name and reality delivered to the door?

Meeting that night, the murderer was also a Seventh Life. The disciple wants to capture and kill this person, seize the magic tool, and then ask the mountain gate to send an envoy here to investigate the Huan Death Tower and wash away the grievances for Junior Brother Cheng. I can then spread my hands and feet and nail a foothold in Shao Long Road."

"Yunsheng always has plenty of ideas in this regard." Gu Yunfu laughed.

"It's a good thing. I was thinking of making him a deputy—it's a pity that although Yunsheng can already stand on his own, his cultivation is still a bit lacking." Chu Xiao said, and continued to look.

The following is for Gu Yunfu.

"Zhang Shixiong Gu, I met that person suddenly that night. Since I know his identity, he must have guesses about me, so I think, let's just uncover the flag of 'Tianshan'.

Therefore, in the previous cloud note, I asked you to go to the post station to take this letter openly and honestly, to beat the grass and scare the snake.

First, to confirm the identity of the murderer here again, and second, to check the deployment of his forces. In short, leave the 'snakes' that were startled on the road to Zhang Shixiong and the mountain gate to catch. Whether they have investigated, how many ambushes, when and where, how many people, etc., all must be recorded in detail and reported to Pool Master Chu, so that one can peek at the leopard through the tube and infer some things.

Don't worry about me. Although my identity is revealed, my whereabouts will not be leaked. Besides, even if he can find me, I can deal with a Seventh Life myself.

Disciple, Junior Brother, Lu Yunsheng, respectfully submitted."

Chu Xiao closed the letter paper and pondered.

(End of this chapter)