AGM 519 – Comprehending Sword
The picture on the mountain rampart was right in front of Qin Wentian, vivid and extremely life-like, containing a myriad of changes within. In the picture, the image of a great roc soared through the skies, hurtling through the clouds with an extremely terrifying speed as fast as lightning.
At this moment, a sword beam shot down from the blue skies, startling both the Heavens and Earth.
The great roc flew with such speed, yet it still couldn’t exceed the speed of that sword beam. The sword attack landed with unerring accuracy and instantly resulted in the death of the great roc.
Qin Wentian felt immense shock in his heart. He didn’t expect that at merely the first step, the sword strike depicted on the mountain rampart would be so profound that it made him feel as though he was like an ant. His speed when compared to that was nothing. Nothing at all, so slow that he felt like a snail.
Qin Wentian questioned himself. Would he ever be able to unleash such a magnificent strike?
“Wrong. This ancient mountain pathway to the grass hut must be a trial, the first picture on the first step is shown to the prospective trial takers, allowing them to comprehend the essence behind the attack. Earlier, after Li Hanyou slashed out with that strike, she successfully understood and thus was able to advance forwards on the pathway. Since she can take nine steps, how can it be possible that I won’t be able to take even a single step?”
Qin Wentian mused, although Lin Shuai didn’t tell him the instructions, he already understood that this mountain pathway was a trial where one had to understand the essence behind each sword strikes in order to be able to move forward.
Also, this place was left behind by the founder. How could it be so easy to comprehend the insights and essence of the founder’s swordplay? He mustn’t be impatient.
“This picture is extraordinary, majestic and impressive. My strength in front of it is nothing at all, I need to enter a dreamscape to better process this.” Qin Wentian murmured in a low voice. After which, he closed his eyes and sat down calmly in meditation.
Exercising his will, Qin Wentian instantly stepped into a dreamscape of his own creation. The Diagram of the Mountains and Rivers which he had acquired from the green-robed senior’s dream-will inside the dark forest of Chu, could be seen suspended in the air. The stronger he grew, the more extraordinary he discovered this Diagram to be.
Right now, The Diagram of the Mountains and Rivers had turned into the scenario he had seen in the picture earlier. Above him, a great roc soared through the air, hurtling through the clouds with a speed so fast that the naked eye was unable to track its movements.
Yet, because he was the creator of this dream, everything here was under his control. Qin Wentian stood above the clouds and watched the great roc fly past. Abruptly, a beam of resplendent sword light descended down from the blue skies, slashing its body. The great roc died instantly.
“Hmm, I can’t see through it.” Qin Wentian was not flustered. He replayed the scene again and again, trying to gain comprehension of that heaven-shocking sword strike.
Gradually, Qin Wentian saw something. This sword strike was like the essence of the wind. No matter how fast the great roc was, it was unable to escape Wind. Wind was present everywhere, and no matter how fast or far the great roc flew, there was no way to escape. The sword strike was hidden within the wind.
“I have never gained any insights into the Mandate of Wind before, would I be able to comprehend this strike?” Qin Wentian mused as he brandished his sword. Understanding was one thing, doing it in reality was another. After all, he didn’t understand anything regarding the Mandate of Wind.
“But it’s impossible for every disciple in the Battle Sword Sect to have comprehended the Mandate of Wind. As long as I’m able to comprehend the essence behind it, I should be able to take a step forward.” Qin Wentian closed his eyes as he left his dreamscape. Staring at the mountain rampart before him, he stretched his hands out, placing his palms onto it while he thought about his insights into this sword strike. Instantly, a shocking sword beam whistling with anger shot through the skies, sundering the heavens and earth.
The mountain rampart vanished. A smile appeared on Qin Wentian’s face as he took a step forward. At this moment, a second mountain rampart appeared, with the second picture engraved onto it.
Depicted was a giant that was so high that its head touched the heavens. With a single step, he could crush mountains, and destroy rivers. A single palm strike from it was even powerful enough to fragment the heavens.
It was an utterly devastating scene. As the giant was galloping, a gigantic sword slashed down from the heavens, splitting the giant into two. The speed of this sword wasn’t fast. However, when it slashed down, the giant’s immense body transformed into numerous stones and rocks, eventually transforming into a mountain range.
“The strength of that sword strike is above millions of jin.” Qin Wentian felt tidal waves of shock rushing through his heart. He closed his eyes, entered his dreamscape and replayed that scene once more, trying to contemplate the essence of the sword strike slashed out by that gigantic sword.
“This… I’ve already comprehended the basic concept of it from the pulsation effect of the Mandate of Great Earth when I practice my halberd arts.” Qin Wentian smiled and opened his eyes, placing his palms upon the mountain rampart once more. Another sword beam soared through the skies as he took another step.
The crowd within the surroundings that saw Qin Wentian consecutively take two steps couldn’t help but to have expressions of astonishment upon their faces.
“Junior Brother Qin is truly amazing, he has actually already comprehended the second sword strike.” Lin Shuai stared at Qin Wentian in the distance as he sighed in admiration.
“They’re only the first two sword strikes. Didn’t senior also easily comprehend the first seven sword strikes back then? The first seven aren’t that difficult.” Ye Lingshuang responded. Lin Shuai smiled, “I did. However, how can my speed compare to him? Tell me how many sword strikes do you think Junior Brother Qin would be able to comprehend today?”
“Based on his speed, his comprehension abilities don’t seem to be weak. Maybe he would be the same as the other members who had stronger comprehension abilities, able to comprehend seven sword strikes in a single day I guess. From the eighth sword strike onwards, it wouldn’t be so easy any more.” Ye Lingshuang replied, as Liu Yun who was beside her, nodded in agreement. “Back then, Li Hanyou also comprehended seven sword strikes in a single day. However, she took a total of three days for the eighth sword strike, and eventually a week for the ninth.”
“To be able to comprehend the ninth sword strike, Li Hanyou‘s comprehension is already extremely outstanding. Maybe she will have a chance to comprehend fourteen sword strikes in a single year.” Lin Shuai stared at in the direction of Li Hanyou. This girl had an insanely high comprehension when it came to swords, she should be able to comprehend fourteen sword strikes within a year.
“Junior Qin already comprehended the third sword strike, how swift.” At this instant, the eyes of Lin Shuai suddenly gleamed with sharpness. Qin Wentian effortlessly comprehended the third sword strike.
“Today, seven sword strikes may not be the limit for Junior Brother Qin’s comprehension.”
“Jiang Huai, how many sword strikes do you think he will be able to comprehend?” Ye Lingshuang turned her gaze to the skinny young man Jiang Huai. Jiang Huai’s comprehension was extremely powerful as well.
“No idea, but he should be able to break the record of comprehending seven sword strikes.” Jiang Huai quietly replied. As they were conversing, Qin Wentian had already comprehended the fourth sword strike and instantly, he attracted the attention of many in the surroundings.
“How fast, he’s already at the fourth sword strike. The record was comprehending seven sword strikes in two hours. If this continued on, he would be able to reach the seventh sword strike in just a bit longer.” Some had a puzzled look on his face, this newly arrived junior brother did seemed to be extraordinary indeed.
“Already at the fifth sword strike, this speed is crazy.”
Everyone started, Qin Wentian had already taken his fifth step and caused five additional sword beams to shoot out. This was an indication of comprehending the sword strike at the fifth step.
“Awesome.” Lin Shuai was similarly shocked by Qin Wentian as well.
“The final two sword strikes are much more difficult in comparison to the first five. It won’t be so easily comprehended.” Someone among the crowd stated. However, the instant the sound of his voice faded, Qin Wentian had already comprehended the sixth sword strike.
“How could this be, is this blind luck?” The person who spoke earlier felt extremely depressed, as though Qin Wentian’s success was a smack on his face. This caused many to regard him with disdain.
“He’s going to break the record.” Another person stated.
“I don’t believe that he’ll be able to comprehend the seventh sword strike so fast.” That person who spoke earlier stubbornly remarked. And indeed, this time around, Qin Wentian remained motionless for a period of time, standing in silence as though stumped by the profoundness of the sword strike.
“Haha, what did I say?” That person laughed as he stared at those next to him with an air of superiority. But when he saw the strange expressions on the faces of others looking back at him, he quickly turned and stared in the direction of the mountain pathway. Beams of sword light filled the sky, Qin Wentian had completed the seventh step.
At the instant he completed the seventh step, a corona of brilliant light enveloped him, causing many to sigh in envy. Above his head, there were actually sounds of a sword keening that rang out unceasingly.
“He broke the record.” The crowd stared at Qin Wentian in disbelief. They didn’t expect a new member to be able to break the record of comprehending seven sword strikes in the shortest amount of time.
Lin Shuai’s face was filled with smiles. No wonder the ancestor commanded his master to bring him into the Battle sword Sect. It seemed like the ancestor had already noticed his talent.
“So what if he broke the record? The eighth sword strike isn’t going to be so simple. There’s no way he will be able to take the next step.” Some commented in a dissatisfied tone of voice. They couldn’t believe that a newbie would be able to do what they couldn’t do.
“That might not be true, maybe we’ll have a good show to watch later.” Another person in the crowd spoke in tones filled with admiration.
In the distance, a few silhouettes could be seen flying over with blinding speed. Apparently the sound of sword keening was a signal that someone had broken the record. Attracting the attention of others in the Battle Sword Sect.
“The eighth sword strike, it isn’t going to be so easy for that lecherous fellow to comprehend it.” Ye Lingshuang snorted, glancing at Little Rascal who was in her arms before glancing at Qin Wentian while cursing in her heart. If that that fellow who was as lecherous as Liu Yun could truly have such outstanding talent, the heavens must have been blind!
If Qin Wentian knew that he became a lecher due to the actions of Little Rascal, he might be so angered that he would vomit blood.
“Senior Sister Ye, why do you say he is a lecherous fellow? Has he taken advantage of you before?” Someone commented at the side. Ye Lingshuang immediately turned her gaze onto the person as she fiercely asked, “Are you looking for a beating?”
“No no…” That person shivered, immediately shutting up. However, the damage was done, this newly arrived disciple Qin Wentian who broke the record of comprehending the seven sword strikes was already known as a lecher to many. Not only that, he even took advantage of Ye Lingshuang, what a courageous fellow.
Qin Wentian naturally had no idea that his reputation had already been destroyed. Right now, yet another picture depicted on a mountain rampart sprang up before him.
This time around, the same great roc as the first picture soared through the air. And like before, a single sword strike slashed down from the heavens. However, this strike was different compared to the first strike – at the instant this sword strike landed, Qin Wentian could see several streams of laceration energy borne of the wind gush into the body of the great roc, completely shredding it into dust.
“How can this be possible?” Qin Wentian started. There was no way that the Mandate of Wind could achieve this degree of killing.
Qin Wentian once again entered his dreamscape to contemplate, the scene replaying before him countless times. Yet, he discovered that no matter what he tried, he couldn’t successfully replicate the scene in the picture at all. He had no way to evolve his understanding towards the Mandate of Wind.
“I must definitely find the reason.” Qin Wentian disregarded all his previous notions and started from the beginning once more. The sword strike which slashed down with the wind generated numerous streams of wind-attributed energy that enveloped the great roc. The next instant, when the sword landed, the great roc was immediately shredded into powder. He had no idea how this was accomplished.
Qin Wentian’s expression constantly changed. He sank deep into thought and in the blink of an eye, two hours had already passed. At this moment, many people suddenly laughed, it seemed like Qin Wentian wouldn’t be able to comprehend this strike at his current level.
“How can the eighth sword be so easily comprehended?” Ye Lingshuang remarked.
The difficulty of the eighth sword strike was a whole level higher compared to the previous seven.
“I understand now.” At this moment, a bolt of lightning flashed through Qin Wentian’s mind, he suddenly saw the light. It was impossible to replicate the strike with just a single Mandate. What if…there was a second Mandate fused within the strike?
“This is the energy created from the fusion of Wind and Rain.” Qin Wentian’s eyes shone with a resplendent glow. The scenario was swiftly formed in his dreamscape and instantly, as the wind and rain raged, the heavens and earth underwent a shocking change. Qin Wentian completed the eighth step. The moment his step landed, everyone’s expressions changed, their eyes gleaming with utter shock.
He had solved the riddle, fully comprehending the eighth sword strike!