Chapter 84
Ten days passed.
The same Training Ground, the same wooden sword, the same corrections.
Shoulder, elbow, wrist, waist, lower body.
Pacheon Sword Saint’s teachings were no different from the first day, and Baek-Cheong’s movements were also no different from the first day.
Fixing one part caused another to loosen, and fixing the loosened part caused yet another to collapse.
If anything had changed, it was her stamina.
Thanks to her muscles, bones, and blood refined by the Inscribed Pill, she no longer fainted after completing Half Shichen of Training.
However, the forum was still a tight squeeze.
After Training ended, the most she could do was return to her Abode, barely manage Divine Sense Division, and briefly skim through the posts.
Writing posts or leaving replies was completely out of the question.
Truly, sadly, the life of a physical cultivator was an exhausting one.
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The next morning, upon entering the Training Ground, the Pacheon Sword Saint was standing in the center holding two wooden swords.
He handed one to Baek-Cheong, but Pacheon Sword Saint brought up something different from usual.
“Today, try handling it as a Flying Sword.”
Baek-Cheong paused while receiving the wooden sword.
She hadn’t expected Pacheon Sword Saint, who walked the Path of the Sword Cultivator as a Physical Cultivator, to mention a Flying Sword.
“Your body is not yet able to accept the sword in hand.”
Pacheon Sword Saint spoke dryly, but it was a conclusion he had reached after observing her for ten days.
“However, it is clear that you understand the Sword Art, so I wish to verify it by changing the method to a Flying Sword.”
A Flying Sword involved imbuing a sword with spiritual energy and controlling it with Divine Sense.
Though a Flying Sword seemed similar to Puppetry, Puppetry moved using a power Source like spirit stones, whereas a Flying Sword moved using the cultivator’s own spiritual energy.
However, the fact that they were handled with Divine Sense was the same.
And for Baek-Cheong, who controlled five Five Elements Golems simultaneously, handling a single wooden sword was a breeze.
“I will give it a try.”
Pacheon Sword Saint nodded and set down his own wooden sword.
“First, try levitating the sword.”
Baek-Cheong flowed spiritual energy into the wooden sword.
As the energy seeped along the grain of the wood, she extended her Divine Sense to wrap around the sword.
Slowly, the wooden sword rose from her hand.
It stopped quietly in the air without a single tremor.
Pacheon Sword Saint’s eyes twitched minutely.
“Downward Stroke.”
She controlled her Divine Sense as instructed and guided the wooden sword.
There was no need to worry about her shoulder, elbow, or wrist.
From top to bottom, the wooden sword came down, drawing a perfectly straight line.
It was a movement with nothing to correct.
“Upward Stroke.”
From bottom to top.
“Horizontal Stroke.”
From left to right.
“Reverse Horizontal Stroke.”
From right to left.
“Consecutive Strikes.”
From Downward Stroke to Upward Stroke, Upward Stroke to horizontal stroke, horizontal stroke to Reverse Horizontal Stroke.
There was no delay when transitioning from one movement to the next.
The movements that wouldn’t connect no matter how much correction she received over the past ten days now flowed like water with a Flying Sword.
“It really is much easier than Puppetry.”
A Flying Sword only needed to be moved while imbued with spiritual energy, and that was it.
Compared to controlling five Five Elements Golems simultaneously, this was on the level of a toy.
Pacheon Sword Saint gradually raised the difficulty of the movements.
Sword rotation, sudden braking, direction changes, speed variations.
He comprehensively covered everything from the basics to the difficult techniques of the Flying Sword Art.
However, Baek-Cheong wasn’t blocked by a single one.
Rather, there were even instances where she predicted the flow of the next movement and moved in advance before Pacheon Sword Saint could give the instruction.
When her enlightenment regarding the sword was combined with her Divine Sense Control, the Flying Sword moved entirely like her own hands and feet.
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.
.
The Training continued that day until the sun fully set.
After about One Shichen of basic movements, Pacheon Sword Saint continuously presented complex tasks, and Baek-Cheong digested them all.
Eventually, Pacheon Sword Saint stopped the Training and let out a sigh.
It was a sigh that was indistinguishable whether it was out of Admiration or regret.
“You are better than most Young Prodigies of the Heavenly Sword Sect.”
The Heavenly Sword Sect was the premier Sacred Ground for sword cultivators in the Cultivation World.
Being better than their young prodigies was a top-tier compliment among compliments.
However, no joy could be found on Pacheon Sword Saint’s face.
It felt different from the dry expression she had seen over the past ten days.
A very faint, yet dark shadow was cast over it.
“If you have this much Talent for the Flying Sword, you will not be lacking as a sword cultivator.”
Baek-Cheong realized the meaning hidden in those words.
No matter how outstanding she was with a Flying Sword, she could not inherit Pacheon Sword Saint’s legacy.
“Has he given up on the idea of an Inheritor Disciple?”
They had agreed to announce her as an Inheritor Disciple externally, but in reality, she was a Named Disciple from the start.
However, Baek-Cheong had also felt the sincerity in Pacheon Sword Saint’s eyes when he mistakenly thought she had the Jade Lotus Physique.
She even wondered if he had truly considered making her his Inheritor Disciple.
The shadow cast beneath his dry face was now telling her that his expectations had been set aside.
‘It’s a relief, but…’
Living as a Physical Cultivator was a terrible thing just to imagine.
However, it would be a lie to say she didn’t feel a sense of regret alongside the relief.
Because she was a cultivator, she was essentially missing out on a grand dao that definitively led to the Soul Formation stage.
“Try unfolding the Falling Star Style Sword Form with the Flying Sword.”
Before long, Pacheon Sword Saint composed his expression and nodded.
With a sword in hand, she couldn’t even perform simple movements, let alone unfold the Falling Star Style.
But if it were a Flying Sword, it might be possible.
“Destruction is striking down into a single point.”
Baek-Cheong recalled the Sword Intent, blew a massive Amount of Spiritual Energy into the wooden sword, and levitated it high.
Following the Sword Path that reeled in any wasted energy and concentrated its destructive power into a single point, the wooden sword struck down toward one spot.
Thwack!
A dull sound rang out as it collided with the floor of the Training Ground.
Because it was a wooden sword, the power was negligible, but the Sword Path itself was a different story.
“So this was it.”
What she had only understood in her head had gained substance.
The Sword Intent she had awakened from the Sword Art Diagram was manifested through the Flying Sword.
Only then was the meaning of the Falling Star Style fully understood.
“Good.”
Pacheon Sword Saint nodded briefly in satisfaction.
It was a short compliment, but coming from his mouth, it was quite generous.
“May I try the second Sword Form as well?”
Baek-Cheong carefully asked if she could try unfolding Star River One Line.
Pacheon Sword Saint slightly raised an eyebrow, then nodded wordlessly.
“From a point to a line.”
Baek-Cheong grabbed the wooden sword and infused it with spiritual energy.
She continuously drew the Sword Path in her mind, starting from the point of the Falling Star Style and stretching out into a single line like starlight.
Soon after, the wooden sword departed from a single point.
The sword cleaved through the empty air and began to draw a line.
However, as the Sword Path passed the halfway mark, the spiritual energy contained within the sword was running low.
At the same time, the wooden sword’s Sword Path trembled minutely.
The Sword Path grew blurry, its tail end threatening to scatter.
‘It’s not enough.’
With the spiritual energy gathered through her natural Qi Absorption rate, she could not complete Star River One Line to the end.
It would be possible if she loaded the spiritual energy stockpiled in her Dantian into the sword, but…
‘I can’t do that.’
It was spiritual energy she had stockpiled frugally in order to break through her realm.
Baek-Cheong bit her lip and withdrew her Divine Sense.
The wooden sword lost its power and fell to the floor of the Training Ground.
“It will still be difficult for you to handle the consumption of Star River One Line. It is something that can only be managed once you reach the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment Stage, so there is no need to overdo it.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Try again later when your realm rises.”
Pacheon Sword Saint turned his steps, then paused for a moment.
Though filled with lingering attachment and regret, he simply resumed his steps.
* * *
She was heading to her Abode.
Her legs were fine, her arms didn’t ache, and her shoulders didn’t feel like they were going to fall off.
Every time the sword-in-hand Training ended, she practically had to crawl, but the Flying Sword put no strain on her body.
Except for having used her Divine Sense and spiritual energy, she felt no different from the morning.
“At this rate, being a Sword Cultivator might actually be doable?”
Baek-Cheong entered her Abode with light steps.
Throwing her body onto the bed, she assumed her familiar posture.
She refined her Divine Sense and connected to the Nameless Forum.
“Hehe…”
She hadn’t been able to engage properly for over ten days.
As a result, her unresolved Desire to Stir Trouble was surging up.
She wanted to post a shitpost right this instant and watch the Dao Friends take the bait.
However, there was something occupying her mind right alongside her impulse to Stir trouble.
“The third Sword Form.”
After unfolding the Falling Star Style with a Flying Sword, she clearly grasped the Sword Art Structure.
If stretching from a point to a line was Star River One Line, then there was a Sword Form that advanced from a line to unfold into a plane.
However, it remained a mere estimation; she couldn’t grasp its form.
“For this, as expected.”
Without realizing it, Baek-Cheong’s lips curled into a mischievous smile.
It felt as though her Desire to Stir Trouble and her curiosity about the Sword Form were merging into one.
『Dao Friend(913.14): Newbie sword cultivators, Assemble!』
[Swi-swish- swoosh! Swooosh- swish! What comes next?]
As soon as she posted it, she crossed her arms in satisfaction.
From the title to the content, it was deliberate bait.
sword cultivator Dao Friends would figure out the content, but to the vast majority of Dao Friends, it is no different from utter nonsense.
[Dao Friend(11.23): What’s a newbie?]
[Dao Friend(88.4): The swi-swish is back. Is this going to be a repeat of that incident where someone actually guessed the Sword Art from onomatopoeia?]
[Dao Friend(201.9): Newbie? What kind of nonsense is this?]
It didn’t take long for replies to start rolling in.
It was the trio who resided in the Nameless Forum all day, leaving replies like true Forum Addicts.
[Dao Friend(439.68): Is 'newbie' a sword cultivator command from that specific Lower Realm? Putting that aside, it seems to contain two Sword Paths, looking at the onomatopoeia.]
[Dao Friend(811.12): …I do not know what a newbie is, but…]
Baek-Cheong’s face lit up upon seeing the familiar Interface Number.
They were the sword cultivator Dao Friends who had replied to the question post she left.
[Dao Friend(811.12): Looking solely at the onomatopoeia. Swi-swish-swoosh! is a Sword Path that gathers power and strikes down into a single point. It aligns with the latter half of the Sword Art the Dao Friend previously posted.]
[Dao Friend(811.12): Swooosh- swish! is a Sword Path that departs from the previous single point and stretches out long in a single trajectory, so its two Sword Arts must be connected in a single system that transitions from a point to a line.]
As expected of Dao Friend(811.12).
He even realized that the two Sword Forms were a Sword Art originating from the same Source.
[Dao Friend(88.4): I get that it’s a real Sword Art, but aren’t both of them a bit weird, asking with onomatopoeia and answering with onomatopoeia?]
└Dao Friend(913.14): Reject!
“This guy, every time.”
She was thankful that Dao Friend(88.4) took the bait, but he nitpicked too often.
She swatted him away with a reply and continued examining the sword cultivator Dao Friends' replies.
[Dao Friend(45.99): I agree with Dao Friend(811.12)'s analysis. If the first is condensation (condensation), and the second is extension (extension), then naturally, the next is obvious.]
Even the sword cultivator Dao Friend who had previously analyzed the Feint and Killing Move of the Falling Star Style appeared.
He showed up without fail this time as well and was analyzing it seriously.
[Dao Friend(100.2): Are you two performing the eccentric Feat of reading a Sword Path solely from onomatopoeia again? Then and now, the Sword Artistry of you two is extraordinary.]
[Dao Friend(45.99): Since it went from a point to a line, it is a self-evident truth that it will unfold from a line to a plane. Therefore, the next step is for the Sword Qi to stretch out in all directions from a single line, forming a single plane.]
[Dao Friend(811.12): To add to Dao Friend(45.99)'s words, transitioning from a line to a plane does not mean the Sword Qi scatters. It is a single line stretching out and filling the plane.]
[Dao Friend(811.12): Would it not be like a single water drop becoming a single river stream, and a single river stream filling the sky.]
The Dao Friends' replies flickered before her eyes.
A single water drop becomes a single river stream.
A single river stream filling the sky.
The Sword Path began to draw itself in her mind.
One line into two, two into four, four into eight.
Countless Sword Paths unfolded in the empty air, forming a single plane.
“This is it.”
The form of the third Sword Form was completed within her mind’s eye.
What kind of Sword Path it would become if unfolded with a Flying Sword; what kind of Flow of Qi was needed.
The structure of the Sword Dao, connecting from a point to a line, and from a line to a plane, was captured like a single painting.
“Ah…”
Of course, actually unfolding it was a different matter.
Given that she had to withdraw Star River One Line midway due to a lack of spiritual energy, the third Sword Form that unfolded into a plane would require several times more spiritual energy.
However, just understanding it was valuable enough.
Baek-Cheong stared blankly at the Sword Path that had surfaced in her mind’s eye for a while.
Belatedly coming to her senses, she left a reply.
[Dao Friend(913.14): Oh, I get it.]
Previously, when she awakened the Falling Star Style, she fell asleep without even leaving a word of thanks.
Since she was awake this time, she simply left a reply saying it helped.
[Dao Friend(33.3): They’re definitely pretending to know again. There’s no way they understood just by looking at this.]
[Dao Friend(88.4): You realized it just by looking at this, even with the analysis this time?]
└Dao Friend(100.2): Seeing as they seemed to have realized it after seeing swi-swish- swoosh! last time, an analysis is basically spoon-feeding them enlightenment, so why make a fuss about it now.
[Dao Friend(11.23): What on Earth did you understand?]
Baek-Cheong curled her lips up as she admired the Dao Friends' bewildered replies.
“The Nameless Forum really is the best.”
It felt like ten days' worth of thirst was quenched in a single shot.
She felt a somewhat uncomfortable feeling, but she ignored it and moved on.
‘Surely Sword Intent wouldn’t be imbued just from this level.’
In truth, she knew the reality of that uncomfortable feeling, but she was just trying hard to ignore it.