Chapter 10: I Only Want One Successor

"Feng Qingyang?"

Hearing the old man's name, Linghu Chong was stunned.

He suddenly remembered that on Siguo Cliff, there was a large rock with the three characters "Feng Qingyang" carved into it.

He had not expected it to be the name of this senior.

"Senior, could you be the grand-uncle of the 'Qing' generation of our Huashan Sect? Why have I never heard Master mention you?"

"Hah, that brat Yue Buqun, why would he ever mention anyone from the Sword Sect?"

Hearing the words "Sword Sect," Linghu Chong felt a shock in his heart.

Having followed Yue Buqun for many years, he had naturally heard his master mention the "Sword-Qi Conflict" of the past; after that battle, the experts of the Huashan Sect were nearly wiped out, and it had not recovered even to this day.

And now, whenever a disciple enters the sect, they must strictly remember the iron rule of "Control Sword with Qi."

He never expected to encounter a senior of the Sword Sect here.

Feng Qingyang, however, ignored Linghu Chong's attitude and only looked at Lu Li.

"That brat Yue Buqun is inflexible, yet he managed to raise a child like you; it is truly astonishing."

"How about it? Are you willing to learn these Dugu Nine Swords and break all the martial arts under heaven?"

Hearing what Feng Qingyang said—using "you" instead of "you two"—Lu Li was somewhat surprised.

Could it be that these Dugu Nine Swords were to be passed on to him alone? In fact, when Linghu Chong arrived at Siguo Cliff, Feng Qingyang had already noticed this disciple.

Seeing the natural ease revealed in his bones when Linghu Chong practiced swordplay, he felt a spark of interest and took note of this Huashan disciple.

Yesterday, Linghu Chong discovered the Five Mountains Sword Cave but remained depressed, and Feng Qingyang had seen it all.

If Linghu Chong still could not walk out of his predicament today, Feng Qingyang had intended to step forward and guide him.

However, Lu Li's performance today made Feng Qingyang appreciate him even more!

And the exchange with Lu Li just now made Feng Qingyang realize that this second disciple of the Huashan Sect was even more talented than the first!

The Sword-Qi Conflict had been over for more than twenty years, yet Feng Qingyang had never been able to let it go.

He had been depressed for years, his complexion growing increasingly frail, and he knew he did not have many years left to live.

These Dugu Nine Swords were something he had obtained by chance; now that he saw a raw talent like Lu Li, who was also a Huashan Sect disciple, he was impatient to find a successor.

As for Linghu Chong, although his natural talent was quite good, compared to Lu Li, it was not quite enough.

Feng Qingyang just wanted to find a successor to fulfill his wish.

He felt that teaching Lu Li alone would be enough.

Moreover, the Sword-Qi Conflict of the past was a knot in his heart that remained untied to this day.

In his heart, he even felt that if such a fine sword technique were passed to two disciples of the Qi Sect, wouldn't it be a benefit to the people of the Qi Sect? No, one successor is enough!

He actually had no intention of teaching Linghu Chong!

Feng Qingyang looked at Lu Li and asked, "Kid, are you willing to learn this sword technique?"

Lu Li hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Senior, are you going to pass it to me alone?"

"That is correct."

"For this kind of swordsmanship, one successor is enough."

Feng Qingyang's expression was proud.

Lu Li was somewhat surprised; he had not expected the plot of the original work to undergo a small change here.

At this moment, Linghu Chong also smiled and said, "Junior Brother, such an opportunity—it would be a pity to give it up."

"Your aptitude is superb; I am ashamed to compare myself to you."

"This sword technique is what you deserve; do not worry about me."

In his heart, he naturally wanted to learn the Dugu Nine Swords, but he was a person who followed his own nature in all things and did not force it.

Now that Lu Li could learn a peerless sword technique, he offered his heartfelt blessings.

Thinking of this, Lu Li was no longer coy.

He immediately cupped his hands and said, "Disciple Lu Li, I ask Grand-uncle Feng to teach me this sword."

Feng Qingyang took Lu Li to a secluded spot, and Linghu Chong consciously went into the cave, not eavesdropping.

Only then did Feng Qingyang say, "I will first teach you the outline of the formulas; this is the foundation of the Dugu Nine Swords, and you must remember it well."

"Guimei tends toward Wuwang, Wuwang tends toward Tongren... Jia turns to Bing... at the intersection of the Rat and Ox hours... Wind and Thunder are one change, Mountain and Marsh are one change, Water and Fire are one change, Heaven and Earth stimulate each other, Thunder and Lake stimulate each other, Fire and Wind stimulate each other..."

Lu Li understood clearly.

These were the principles of the Book of Changes; he focused and memorized them twice, and then he had them down.

This level of aptitude left Feng Qingyang full of praise.

Next came the "General Formula, Sword-Breaking Stance... all the way to the Qi-Breaking Stance."

There were nine swords in total.

For nine consecutive days, Lu Li would head to Siguo Cliff to practice the Dugu Nine Swords with Feng Qingyang.

By the ninth day, Lu Li had learned the Dugu Nine Swords in their entirety.

Only then did Lu Li understand why the Dugu Nine Swords could be called a supreme sword technique.

Before, he had always thought the Dugu Nine Swords were a sword technique of striking after the enemy and bullying the weak with strength.

That was not the case.

Only after learning the sword technique did he understand that the so-called "seeing the flaw" in the Dugu Nine Swords was not about waiting for the enemy to make a move and then striking.

It was about prediction!

The Dugu Nine Swords summarized various martial arts of the Central Plains, simplified them, and then, based on the Book of Changes, summarized a set of laws for human body movement.

As soon as the enemy's shoulder moved, one could judge the direction and movement of the enemy's next sword strike.

Just by seeing the enemy's elbow twist or wrist flick, one could fully anticipate the enemy's moves!

The so-called "striking after but arriving first" and "attacking only, never defending" all lie in anticipating the enemy's moves!

The Dugu Nine Swords can analyze an enemy's moves and flaws before the enemy has fully executed their attack!

This feeling was quite like the surprise Lu Li felt when he first saw the duel between Kakashi and Zabuza in Naruto—your moves have all been seen through by me!

In a mere nine days, Lu Li's sword technique realm had once again risen to an astonishing level.

Watching Lu Li immersed in the Dugu Nine Swords, Feng Qingyang could not help but boast: "How is it? Can this sword technique break all the martial arts under heaven?"

Lu Li thought for a moment and said: "Grand Uncle-Master Feng, this sword technique is indeed miraculous, but to say it can break all martial arts under heaven is not possible."

"However, I do believe it can break the martial arts of the Central Plains."

Hearing this, Feng Qingyang frowned: "Why is that?"

"The world is not just the Central Plains; while the Dugu Nine Swords' anticipation of the enemy is miraculous, I have heard of the Yoga techniques of the Western Regions, which can alter the body's functions and also possess strange moves that go against human anatomy."

"If one were to encounter such strange martial arts, the Dugu Nine Swords would be unable to anticipate the enemy."

"However, the sword technique is miraculous, and it is sufficient for self-preservation."

Hearing Lu Li's words, Feng Qingyang pondered for a long while, sighed, and said: "You not only have supreme talent, but your vision is also extraordinary."

"In the future, you will surely be able to break free from the shackles of the Sword-Qi Conflict and achieve dual cultivation of sword and Qi."

Hearing Feng Qingyang mention the Sword-Qi Conflict, Lu Li could not help but ask: "Grand Uncle-Master Feng, at a realm like yours, do you still feel the Sword-Qi Conflict is necessary? Sword and Qi cannot be separated; back then, did not a single person understand this?"

Feng Qingyang's expression was desolate, as if recalling the past.

"What you say is correct; sword and Qi indeed cannot be separated, but that was in the past."

"It is said that during the Song Dynasty, the Spirit Qi of heaven and earth was still abundant, and everyone could practice Qi."

"At that time, there were the Five Greats, whose cultivation was unfathomably deep."

"Our Huashan has been passed down since that time, and it was also primarily focused on practicing Qi."

"But later on, the Tatars invaded, the Central Plains became polluted, and sensing the Qi of heaven and earth became increasingly difficult."

"Many disciples practiced Qi until they died without achieving anything, wasting their years in vain."

"Instead, those who practiced sword techniques made names for themselves in the pugilistic world early on."

"Practicing Qi is indeed powerful in the later stages, but how many people have the patience to be willing to bet their whole lives on it? Sword practice can be mastered quickly, but wanting to transition from external to internal later on will fail due to aging and insufficient blood and Qi."

"As this continued for a long time, it split into the two schools of thought: Sword and Qi."

"You must know, not everyone has your natural talent."

"If it were only this, although there were differences, it would not have led to fellow disciples slaughtering one another."

"But that day, two teachers obtained two secret manuals, which is what caused the great disaster."

Speaking to this point, Feng Qingyang stopped and waved his hand: "Enough, there is no need to mention the past anymore."

"Since I have found a successor, I have no regrets in this life."

"You have supreme talent, and now that you have achieved success in both sword and Qi, you need not worry about the disturbances of mediocre people like us."

Having said this, Feng Qingyang's figure flickered and he drifted away, disappearing into the mountains.

Lu Li silently bowed in salute and stood there for a long time.