Chapter 677: Learning from Nature

While the world was in an uproar over the mysterious Demon sect expert, Yu Liancheng walked westward along a straight line, neither fast nor slow.

His walking speed was not fast; one could even describe it as very slow.

During his exchange with the middle-aged Daoist, the Gui Cang Nine Paths had absorbed thousands of cultivation techniques from the Heavenly Book.

These techniques varied in quality and direction, but all had their merits; otherwise, they would not have been recorded in the Tianshushazijuanshu. What Yu Liancheng needed to do was to temper these techniques, take their essence, discard their dross, and forge them into a single furnace, forming an inseparable whole with the Gui Cang Nine Paths.

On this day, Yu Liancheng suddenly heard a thunderous sound from ahead, and the moisture in the air increased significantly. Upon reaching a cliff, he saw a magnificent river. The yellow waves were surging, the water volume was extremely abundant, and it crashed wantonly between the black rocks and the yellow earth plains. In this section with a massive drop, it rushed and fell, forming several extremely wide waterfalls. The sound of the impact was such that the reefs seemed as if they could shatter at any moment.

It was the legendary Dahe.

This Dahe had once helped the Dahe Kingdom resist the elite troops of Southern Jin.

The Sword Saint Liu Bai had also attained enlightenment here.

Thinking of the Sword Saint Liu Bai, and sensing the river-like Sword Intent somewhere ahead, Yu Liancheng finally awoke completely from the countless techniques. His figure moved, and he arrived at the other side of the riverbank.

Here, the Huanghe turned into countless waterfalls; the sound of the water was like thunder, the muddy waves rolled on, endless and magnificent, a truly shocking sight.

By the river stood a reef.

This reef had once caused countless swordsmen from across the world to travel thousands of miles to watch and pay homage.

Because on the reef were the sword marks left by the Sword Saint Liu Bai.

However, if any swordsman were to come here now, they would never pay homage to these sword marks.

——Because Liu Bai himself was right here.

Liu Bai sat cross-legged, his gaze fixed upon the Dahe.

He wore white robes that were dazzlingly bright under the sunlight, without a speck of dust.

His black hair remained loose, like a black waterfall. His spine was held straight, radiating a piercing Sword Qi.

If there was any change in him, it was that his gaze was sharper and his expression more composed.

Besides Liu Bai, Liuyiqing was also behind him.

When Yu Liancheng appeared, Liu Bai's Sword Intent seemed to sense it. He turned his head to look at Yu Liancheng, then rose to offer a salute. His tone was calm and respectful, his demeanor peaceful, and he did not seem surprised at all: "Liu Bai greets Mr. Yu."

"Liuyiqing greets Mr. Yu." Compared to Liu Bai, Liuyiqing's tone was much more excited.

This was not only because his sword technique attainments had progressed by leaps and bounds under Yu Liancheng's guidance over the past few days, but also because of the legendary feat of Yu Liancheng entering Taoshan alone.

In Liuyiqing's heart, he had already elevated this Demon sect expert, who looked to be about the same age as him, to the status of the Fuzi of Datang.

"Are you two contemplating the surging Dahe?" Yu Liancheng smiled and nodded.

"Indeed. After receiving your guidance that day, it was as if the clouds parted to reveal the sun, and I was suddenly enlightened. Thus, I returned to the Dahe to contemplate the Sword Intent," said Liu Bai.

Yu Liancheng smiled and asked, "Have you gained anything?"

"I have indeed gained something, so I would like to ask for your instruction to verify my sword moves," Liu Bai said, cupping his hands.

Yu Liancheng nodded, extended his right hand in a gesture of invitation, and smiled: "Make your move."

"Mr. Yu, be careful."

As the last word "careful" left his lips, the sword in Liu Bai's hand was already unsheathed, a dragon's roar resounding.

The sword light soared into the sky, dancing everywhere, and like the surging Dahe, it thrust toward Yu Liancheng.

Yu Liancheng's figure swayed slightly; he clearly made no other movements, yet all of Liu Bai's sword light missed.

The sword momentum had been spent, the old force exhausted and the new force yet to be born; no matter who wanted to move again, they would always be half a beat slow.

But Liu Bai turned his wrist, and his sword momentum circled and rounded, without the slightest pause, thrusting toward Yu Liancheng again like flowing clouds and water.

"Interesting!"

Yu Liancheng's eyes lit up; he tilted his body slightly and dodged it again.

Liu Bai's sword momentum was like the surging river, constantly pressing toward Yu Liancheng, with no stagnation or pause between the connection of one move and the next.

After Yu Liancheng's pointers and these days of contemplation, Liu Bai's Sword Dao had indeed reached a higher level.

The pity was that although he had grasped a few notes of the "Endless Life" of the Dahe, he could not merge it with the surging, majestic momentum of the river. This made his sword technique more exquisite, but its power was slightly weaker.

Yet Liu Bai's sword was still terrifying, or perhaps, even more terrifying.

If it were any other Knowing Destiny great cultivator, they would likely be drowned in the endless sword momentum in the blink of an eye.

But unfortunately, the target of Liu Bai's sword was Yu Liancheng.

Under the sky full of sword light, Yu Liancheng kept shifting or retreating. No matter how swift and brilliant Liu Bai's sword light was, it could not harm him in the slightest.

After dozens of strikes, Yu Liancheng retreated again and again until there was nowhere left to retreat; behind him was the surging Dahe.

Liuyiqing, standing to the side, also knew that the critical moment had arrived; his heart beat faster, and he watched Liu Bai's strikes without blinking.

Swish!

Liu Bai thrust another sword.

The sword momentum was like a long rainbow startling the heavens, like the surging Dahe.

Yu Liancheng finally made his move; he pressed his fingers together like a sword and thrust out.

And so, the sword light shattered, and Liu Bai was defeated.

One moment he was as imposing as a rainbow, the next he was defeated like a collapsing mountain.

This was very unreasonable, but such an unreasonable thing had happened, and yet Liu Bai, the person involved, was not the least bit surprised.

He knew that Yu Liancheng's Sword Dao realm was more than a notch higher than his own, and he remembered Yu Liancheng telling him, "All things have flaws that can be followed; there has never been a perfect Sword Dao. As long as one can perceive the flaws in another's sword technique, a single strike can seal off the opponent's sword path..."

Clearly, Liu Bai's sword technique was far from reaching perfection.

At least in Yu Liancheng's eyes, many flaws could be seen, so he could break it by simply raising his hand.

"Your sword technique has indeed advanced; both the momentum and the intent are more rounded and natural..."

Yu Liancheng pondered for a moment and began to critique Liu Bai's sword technique.

Liu Bai lowered his head slightly, humbly seeking instruction.

After a long while, Yu Liancheng exhaled and said, "You are already a Sword Saint of a generation, a peerless genius rarely seen in a thousand years. As long as you practice diligently, I fear you are very likely to be the number one person in the history of Sword Dao."

Liu Bai suddenly raised his head, his gaze as sharp as a sword: "Then what about you, sir?"

Yu Liancheng smiled slightly, offering no answer.

He gazed at the white clouds in the firmament and the murky waves of the Huanghe: "Seeing your sword technique reminds me of four words; perhaps they will be of some help to you."

"Please enlighten me, sir."

"Learn from nature." Yu Liancheng slowly spat out the four words: "The river water surges, its momentum magnificent, continuous and unending. The stars move, rising and falling, changing, their light dimming and brightening. Plants wither and flourish, living and dying in a year, a cycle that repeats. Heaven and Earth are the greatest creation; learn from nature, take the myriad things of Heaven and Earth and the natural creation as your teacher to grasp the true essence of cultivation. You have realized the Great River Sword Intent, making you the foremost person in the human world. If you can thrust the Natural Sword, even Fuzi would be able to contend with it."

"Learn from nature, learn from nature."

Liu Bai carefully savored these four words, feeling as if they contained infinite wondrous charm. He looked up at this landscape, also feeling that unprecedented mysteries had emerged. Every flower, every blade of grass, every tree, and every mountain and river could all be a sword.

"Mr. Yu..."

Just as Liu Bai was about to continue questioning Yu Liancheng, he saw Yu Liancheng already step into the Dahe, treading upon the surging river water, walking slowly toward the other side of the Dahe, not forgetting to wave his hand, with ethereal singing drifting over.

"What use is Heaven and Earth? They cannot serve as mats or quilts. What use are wind and moon? They cannot be eaten or drunk. What use is a speck of dust? The myriad things are within it. What use is change? The Dao manifests of its own accord..." The black shadow gradually drifted further away, already impossible to see clearly, the lingering sound winding, never ceasing to the ear.

"... Straw sandals and bamboo hat, walking for a thousand years; wandering the eternal sky in a single morning. Hey! Hey! Hey! Carefree and at ease, even the God cannot control me."

Liu Bai smiled bitterly.

Mr. Yu clearly told him to take nature as his teacher, yet why was he singing "What use is Heaven and Earth"? He did not understand, he did not understand.

After crossing the Southern Jin, one arrives at the Dahe Kingdom.

It is said that although the Dahe Kingdom is far from the Tang Kingdom, they have been on good terms for generations, and the people living here admire the Tang Kingdom's Wen Hua immensely. Over countless years, who knows how many students and envoys have been sent to Chang'an; whether it be the Imperial Court's official system, architecture, or cultural details, the shadow of Chang'an can be seen everywhere.

Of course.

Yu Liancheng had not yet been to the Tang Kingdom, so naturally, he could not tell how much similarity there was between the Tang Kingdom and the Dahe Kingdom.

After walking around the city, he came to a restaurant, chose a seat by the window, and gazed into the distance, seeing a verdant mountain peak.

This mountain is called Mogan Mountain.

Living on the mountain is Wang Shusheng, who is one of the few Divine Talisman Masters in the world.

There is also the legendary Book Idiot Mo Shanshan, who is also an extremely beautiful and delicate woman.

After drinking two bowls of wine, Yu Liancheng decided to go take a look at Mogan Mountain.

It was mainly to imagine asking Wang Shusheng for advice on how to draw talismans; there were absolutely no other thoughts.