Chapter Forty-One: Passing on the Master's Teachings

“Hmph! Xue Renqi, just wait and see!” Duan Tianyi forced himself to suppress his anger, letting out a cold snort.

“Long Yun, Xiao Leng, let’s return to the Heart Sword branch!” At this moment, Xue Renqi was feeling extremely proud; after so many years, it was the first time he could truly hold his head high.

He immediately led Long Yun and Xiao Leng through the mountain gate.

“Grand Elder, how could that boy have survived?” Watching the trio’s backs, Duan Tianyi’s brow furrowed so deeply it seemed it might drip water, his face dark and ugly.

Qiu Di’s gaze brimmed with poisonous resentment. He said in a low voice, “You must endure these days. Do not let your temper ruin our plans, or I will not forgive you!”

Sensing the murderous aura emanating from the Grand Elder, Duan Tianyi trembled inwardly and nodded.

“Junior Brother Long Yun, this victory has truly brought honor to our Heart Sword branch. From now on, no one will dare look down on us!” Yuan Chen’s eyes gleamed with excitement.

Xue Renqi could not hide the joy on his face. “Don’t celebrate just yet. Last time, Long Yun emerged from the Sword Stone with five peerless sword techniques. From this day forward, the Heart Sword branch will never again be bullied!”

“Five peerless sword techniques!”

All the disciples’ eyes lit up instantly. The decline of the Heart Sword branch was due to the lack of a signature sword technique to support them.

Now, with the five sword arts so highly esteemed by Master Xue Renqi, they would no longer be defenseless against those of equal rank. Hearing Xue Renqi’s words, everyone was elated.

Xue Renqi pressed his hands down and continued, “This is the first great joy for our Jade Sword Sect. The second is that the second senior brother from the Human Sword branch, Xiao Leng, will henceforth become a disciple of the Heart Sword branch!”

“Master, we already know. Senior Brother Xiao Leng joining us is a blessing. We are willing to acknowledge him as our senior brother!” Yuan Chen immediately spoke up.

Xiao Leng was a powerhouse at the Bone Transformation level, only a rank below Xue Renqi. Making him the senior brother of the Heart Sword branch was undoubtedly the best choice.

Hearing this, Xiao Leng’s eyes flickered. In the Human Sword branch, the position of senior brother was coveted by many, and disciples formed factions and schemes.

Yet now, seeing the unity among the Heart Sword branch, although he was an outsider, they showed no resistance. Instead, they willingly offered him the position of senior brother.

For a moment, a warmth swept through Xiao Leng’s heart. His lips moved, but he did not know how to respond.

Long Yun patted his shoulder. “Senior brother, this is the goodwill of your fellow disciples. You should accept it. The Heart Sword branch has always been united; your reputation is high in the sect, and being the senior brother is only fitting.”

Xiao Leng finally nodded, sensing the sincerity of the seventeen disciples of the Heart Sword branch. He, who had always been solitary and cold, felt a small crack open in his heart, and the feeling was wonderful.

“Well then, the Heart Sword branch is now doubly blessed. But don’t grow complacent. Recently, due to Long Yun’s affairs, I haven’t spoken much about the Sword Stone. Now that it’s reopened, you may cultivate around it. Moreover, starting tomorrow, Long Yun will teach on my behalf, selecting among the five peerless sword techniques for each of you based on your true energy!” Xue Renqi declared loudly.

“Wonderful!” The disciples erupted in cheers, and if not for Xue Renqi’s presence, they would have surrounded Long Yun on the spot.

Long Yun turned to Xue Renqi. “Master, I have something I wish to discuss with you. Is now convenient?”

Seeing the gravity in Long Yun’s gaze, Xue Renqi was moved. He wondered what could trouble Long Yun so deeply.

“What? What did you say? That scoundrel!” Upon hearing Long Yun recount what had happened at Bhikkhu Mountain, Xue Renqi smashed the rosewood table beside him in a rage.

Long Yun had anticipated this reaction, so was not surprised. He continued, “Master, this matter is serious. I feared the sect leader might not believe me, so I came to inform you first. It would be best if you could subtly remind him to be prepared.”

Hearing this, Xue Renqi gradually calmed down and nodded. “Long Yun, this is no trivial matter. Do not let other disciples know, lest word leak and disaster follow.”

“Also, you’ve killed Cong Gui and several disciples of the Sky Sword branch. The Grand Elder will surely be wary. Do not leave the branch for now; just focus on your cultivation. Even if they plot, they won’t dare act openly, and you’ll be safe.”

Long Yun nodded. “Thank you, Master. I won’t go out these days.”

He touched the copper flask containing the Heaven-Seizing Pill in his robe and silently thought, “Forgive me, elder. Your instructions will have to wait.”

The next morning, Xue Renqi left the Heart Sword branch early, and Long Yun taught on his behalf, imparting the five peerless sword techniques to the sixteen disciples according to their personalities and true energy strengths.

Having finished, Long Yun approached Xiao Leng and spoke softly, “Senior brother, your Flying Snow Sword Technique and the Snow Marten Spirit Bone within you both belong to the ice attribute. Of my five ultimate sword arts, only the Star Annihilation Sword and the Ten Thousand Destruction Sword are derived from endless slaughter, and their nature is close to ice. I intend to give you these two techniques.”

Xiao Leng stood up abruptly. He was a true martial fanatic. Although he’d watched Long Yun teach the five ultimate sword arts to the others, he never dared hope for Long Yun to share them with him.

But now, Long Yun sought him out last and offered both sword techniques. Such generosity was rare among disciples.

Thinking this, Xiao Leng nodded. “Thank you.”

Long Yun smiled faintly. It was rare to hear Xiao Leng say “thank you,” and it surprised him, but he did not linger. With a thought, he transmitted all the moves and cultivation paths of the two ultimate sword arts into Xiao Leng’s mind.

Xiao Leng closed his eyes and felt the strength of the two techniques, his face filled with astonishment. The Flying Snow Sword Technique was the pinnacle art of the Human Sword branch.

Yet compared to what Long Yun had given him, it was inferior. And as Long Yun said, these techniques matched his true energy perfectly.

He immediately sat cross-legged on the ground to contemplate their sword intent.

Seeing the seventeen disciples, aside from himself, all absorbed in cultivation, Long Yun found a green stone to sit upon. His mind wandered.

In half a year, the Hunting Tournament hosted by the Azure Sect would begin, drawing all the gifted disciples of the Azure Mountain system.

He had a vague premonition. Last night had been unusually calm; Long Yun did not know why the Grand Elder had ceased his pursuit, but he was surely plotting something.

Thinking of this, Long Yun sighed. When the enemy comes, defend; when the water rises, build earth. Those mountain bandits, though formidable, were treacherous and played by no rules.

If they were united, they would become a formidable force, and could influence the outcome of the tournament.

“Junior brother!” As Long Yun was lost in thought, Yuan Chen came and sat beside him.

“Senior brother Yuan Chen, is something the matter?” Seeing Yuan Chen’s awkward expression, Long Yun was puzzled.

“Junior brother, as you know, I’ve only reached the Two Aperture Qi Condensation realm. Even with the five peerless sword arts, my cultivation may not improve. Did you gain any insights from the Sword Stone about improving one’s constitution?” Yuan Chen finally asked.