099. Secret Technique

Shimei, come, let's spar! Qian Jale called out again.

"Coming!" Lingyu rose to her feet and drew her sword.

The two exchanged no pleasantries and immediately clashed in combat. A circle of sword cultivators surrounded them, watching and commenting among themselves.

"Wow, Shimei has progressed so quickly. Even against Qian Jale's swift sword strikes, she can handle it with ease."

"?" someone shouted. "When did Shimei learn that?"

Upon closer inspection, it was true. Someone laughed, "You should stop boasting that this is your exclusive secret technique. Shimei simply picked it up by watching, you see it's not so exclusive at all."

"Exactly, exactly." A group of them mocked, "A secret technique anyone can casually learn hardly deserves the name."

Just after the mockery began, someone exclaimed in surprise, "That's the Moon Chopping Strike, isn't it?"

"......Oh, that's the Fire Dance Step!"

"Is it? Let me check... Indeed it is!"

The group exchanged bewildered glances. In these past few days, most of them had sparred with Lingyu and knew she had a weaker foundation but exceptional comprehension; with a bit of guidance, she grasped concepts quickly, and her swordsmanship advanced by leaps and bounds.

At first, many had joined her sparring to please Qian Jale. Gradually, however, Lingyu's own strength had won their genuine friendship.

A person obsessed with the sword dao, possessing a strong will to win and unyielding perseverance, is worthy of friendship, even if her strength is slightly lower. As a sword cultivator, one does not fear a momentary lag in strength but fears losing the sharpness of the sword.

Moreover, Lingyu's strength advanced at a dizzying pace; this alone was sufficient to command their admiration.

What they called exclusive secret techniques were actually personal skills. With so many disciples in the Small Sword Pool, sparring sessions inevitably required revealing ultimate moves. They did not prohibit others from learning them, but each had their own habits and strengths. Learning others' techniques was only temporary. Over the long term, one must develop one's own style.

Thus, new disciples to the Small Sword Pool might learn others' techniques at first, but soon would discard them and research what suited themselves.

But now Lingyu had broken this pattern. Not only had she acquired multiple people's secret techniques but had even applied them in actual combat.

To understand this, her opponent was Qian Jale, one of the top experts among the Qi Refining disciples in the Small Sword Pool. Many Qi Refining tenth-layer disciples still fell to his blade. His sword was famous for its speed, like a sudden rain. One strike would continue until the opponent was beaten into confusion, only then stopping. Sparring with Qian Jale allowed no distraction, no time for feints, and relied solely on instinct.

Yet Lingyu had employed several secret techniques during the match.

What did this represent? It meant she had mastered these techniques as naturally as extending her arms, wielding them with perfect ease. This was a scene they had never seen.

The Feather Sword was named for its lightness and agility; the Moon Chopping Strike carried a domineering name, its execution even more imposing; the Fire Dance Step was named for its dancing quality, possessing a unique rhythm.

These secret techniques each bore distinct traits, yet Lingyu wielded them all simultaneously without any awkwardness.

When she executed the Feather Sword, it was light and swift as a feather; when releasing the Moon Chopping Strike, it carried an aura of fierce momentum; stepping in the Fire Dance Step, it flowed naturally.

As if these techniques had been created by her, tailored to her own attributes, perfectly harmonious.

"Monster!" Finally someone shouted, "She's truly a monster!"

Many eyes remained fixed on the duel without blinking, their breaths unconsciously held in check.

The Qi Refining disciple who had invented the Fire Dance Step even muttered to himself, "So the Fire Dance Step can actually evade Qian Jale's strike..." This was a revelation even to him.

More people shook their heads in admiration: "No wonder Shimei, with her dual spirit root physique, chose the path of the sword cultivator. Tsk, such innate aptitude is truly heaven-sent."

Compared to law cultivators, the difference for sword cultivators lay in physical aptitude. They were like a combination of law cultivators and martial artists, required to cultivate both spiritual arts and sword techniques.

This Shimei possessed the dual spirit root talent and an exceptionally pliable root bone. It was a pity not to cultivate her as a sword cultivator.

At this moment, Lingyu was unaware of the discussions around her. She was fully immersed in the sword fight. Qian Jale's strength was formidable and left her no room for distraction. During this period, she had learned many techniques that needed careful verification in combat.

The timing for the Feather Sword's sword qi emission—if delayed by a fraction—would be even better, by slightly compressing the true essence to release denser sword qi. The Moon Chopping Strike was not suitable for frequent use, as too much preparation time was required; to achieve one-strike kill effect, the timing must be grasped more accurately. The Fire Dance Step required few modifications, but true essence remained an issue when applying it...

Within Qian Jale's tempestuous sword qi, Lingyu gradually adjusted the learned techniques to make them more reasonable and suitable for herself.

She did not notice time flowing away. A cup of tea passed, then a quarter hour...

Finally, she was struck down by Qian Jale.

The entire sparring had lasted a full half hour.

Lingyu propped herself up with one hand on the ground, panting heavily. Qian Jale sat down with a plop, also drenched in sweat.

Half an hour of continuous sparring was rare among Qi Refining disciples, whose true essence was insufficient to sustain such duration; prior to this, the victor would have been decided long ago.

Previously, Qian Jale had been unable to land a decisive blow on Lingyu. Although Lingyu's strength was inferior to his, the two had directly engaged in sword techniques, depleting their true essence. Ultimately, Qian Jale, relying on his superior mastery of sword techniques, defeated Lingyu.

"Refreshing!" Upon regaining his breath, Qian Jale declared contentedly, "This is proper sparring!"

Lingyu sat up and cupped her fists in salute to Qian Jale: "Thank you for the instruction, Brother Qian."

Qian Jale waved dismissively, "Mutual, mutual." Pointing to the surrounding disciples, he added, "Hey, you lot should all take notes. Shimei's foundation is much weaker than yours, yet in under two months she can spar with me for half an hour. How about you? Feeling ashamed?"

These Qi Refining disciples had gone from astonishment to admiration to numb acceptance.

Old Guo spoke up: "Qian Jale, I admit I lack your prowess. These techniques—Feather Sword, Moon Chopping Strike, Fire Dance Step—were not only all mastered by Shimei individually but fused into one. Don't get too cocky. Not long ago, under your hands Shimei held out for less than a cup of tea. Now you've taken half an hour to best her. Soon our Myriad Cries Alliance will claim victory!"

"Cut!" Qian Jale sneered, "Shimei isn't part of your group. What's there to celebrate?" Yet he made no denial of Lingyu's potential to defeat him.

"Who says not?" Old Guo sidled closer with a flattering face, "Shimei, with our close relationship, you were already a member of the Myriad Cries Alliance, weren't you?"

Lingyu reached out and patted his shoulder, "Don't worry, one day I'll help you settle this score!"

"Qian Jale, hear that?" Old Guo beamed, turning to the group and clapping enthusiastically, "Brothers, we can't let Shimei handle this alone. Each of you must contribute. Reveal your secret techniques so Shimei can witness them!"

The crowd erupted in cheers.

Sword cultivators were passionate about victory but not irrationally jealous. From this sparring, they had discerned Shimei's extraordinary talent; her future accomplishments would far surpass even Qi Refining, perhaps reaching Core Formation like Ancestor Lan. Befriending such a person was advantageous without downside.

Furthermore, observing her technique refinements—the Feather Sword, Moon Chopping Strike, Fire Dance Step—each owner seemed to gain immensely from them, fueling their jealousy. Who wouldn't want to join? Perhaps one of Shimei's insights could break their bottlenecks!

A throng surrounded Lingyu, either sparring or consulting, leaving her overwhelmed.

Qian Jale watched the scene with a smile, yet sighed inwardly.

Recalling more than a month earlier, when he had effortlessly defeated Lingyu, he had thought: this disciple possesses keen judgment and unyielding will; if she cultivates swordsmanship diligently and lays a solid foundation...

To his surprise, in less than two months, Shimei had made him reevaluate.

Suddenly he felt a profound sense of loss. Throughout his life, he had believed his sword talent was merely slightly inferior to those Nascent Soul direct disciples. Upon succeeding in Foundation Establishment, he would be accepted into a Core Formation master's sect, and with some luck, even a Nascent Soul Patriarch might not be out of reach.

Yet now he realized someone possessed better talent than he.

He carefully recalled the duel with Lingyu. This sensation was odd. Lingyu's strength was not overwhelming, her foundation even poorer, yet every strike left him feeling uneasy. He felt he controlled the situation, guiding the rhythm, but always came up empty-handed.

Like striking cotton, no force could land, yet she couldn't be knocked down. Her sword qi also troubled him—sometimes water, sometimes fire—though appearing as purple sword qi, the internal five elements could transform freely, rendering him utterly awkward.

Where lay the source of this? How to break it?

Qian Jale pondered deeply, unaware that he had rediscovered the fighting spirit long thought lost. Though he appeared effeminate, his character was bold and combative. From childhood, he had never shown weakness or surrendered.

Upon entering Tai Bai Sect, he quickly earned renown among the sword sect disciples. As his cultivation rose, more fell to his sword. Until now, even ordinary sword cultivators in the sect could no longer ignite his competitive spirit.

When the mood struck, he would pick a fight, but afterward it left him empty, for against these opponents he could foresee the result, no thrill remaining.

Now, though he could still best Lingyu, each encounter grew harder. He increasingly saw holes in his swordsmanship that needed mending, to continue advancing...

At this very moment, Lingyu was sweating profusely. It was true she could rapidly learn these secret techniques and refine them, but circulating the true essence to achieve perfection was the domain of the immortal book.

Her foundation was inadequate; many sword cultivation principles remained unmastered, far from capable of seamlessly integrating these techniques. Each time she acquired a new one, she would ponder it deeply, then the immortal book would reveal sword moves for her to grasp the essence and seek optimal methods.

Now, with so many techniques presented, how could she comprehend them all at once?

"You all slow down! I can't remember them all!"