Cultivation: Start From Simplifying Martial Arts Techniques

Within the sword formation, Shen Tucang’s aura grew even deeper.

The Xuanwu Sword Technique excelled in both offense and defense, ranking at the pinnacle. However, under the continuous bombardment of twenty sword pearls, Shen Tucang found himself unable to break the formation, forced into a defensive posture.

As Shen Tucang focused solely on defense, despite the various sword techniques unleashed by the twenty pearls, they still couldn’t penetrate his immediate vicinity. With each moment spent defending, Shen Tucang began to harness the power of these sword pearls.

To break the formation, one needed overwhelming strength to tear it apart. Thus, Shen Tucang wasn’t in a hurry; he waited for his physical strength to reach its peak.

Standing at a distance, Chen Fei observed Shen Tucang within the formation and understood his intentions. However, Chen Fei remained calm.

The Xuanwu Sword Technique was exceptionally profound, but its effectiveness depended on the cultivator. Shen Tucang’s comprehension was too shallow, and there was a limit to the power he could continue to draw from within himself.

Breaking the formation with this limit was an impossible task. While there was a disparity between the Xuanwu Sword Technique and the Zhongyuan Sword, it wasn’t insurmountable. The significant difference lay in the late-stage of cultivation.

In the early and middle stages, for the Xuanwu Sword Technique to overpower the Zhongyuan Sword, both sides needed to have similar levels of mastery in their respective techniques, aligning their power levels.

“Break!”

Within the sword formation, Shen Tucang roared, and an immense force erupted from his body. Chen Fei’s deliberately executed version of the Zhongyuan Sword formation, using twenty sword pearls, began to sway slightly.

“Boom!”

Shen Tucang’s enormous sword cleaved through twenty sword pearls, tearing a gap in the Zhongyuan Sword formation. He burst into laughter and was about to step out of the formation. However, the shattered sword pearls from earlier began to reappear one by one, blocking Shen Tucang’s path back into the formation.

His laughter abruptly ceased as he watched the howling sword pearls closing in around him. His eyes filled with disbelief. Facing the Zhongyuan Sword formation for the first time, Shen Tucang had never expected the sword pearls to recover so quickly.

After painstakingly gathering his strength to shatter the sword pearls within the formation, he was pulled back into the formation before he could escape. How could this be?

Shen Tucang glanced outside the formation at Chen Fei, a sense of foreboding creeping into his heart. Could it be that this time it would end in a draw again?

Or worse, would he be the one to give in first and lose?

The thought of such a possibility caused Shen Tucang’s eyes to widen, and his elemental energy began to boil. He had come here today to compete with Chen Fei and wipe away past shame, not to lose to him.

He had worked hard to break through to the Aperture Tempering Realm, and his cultivation and techniques had been advancing rapidly every day. There was no reason for him to lose to Chen Fei. How many resources had the Primordial Sword Sect provided him recently?

If, under these circumstances, he still lost to Chen Fei, would it not mean that his talent and comprehension were far inferior to Chen Fei’s?

“Open!” Shen Tucang roared, and his entire body began to expand as elemental energy surged through his meridians in an explosive manner.

Veins bulged on Shen Tucang’s forehead as he transformed into a savage ancient beast. His ferocious aura swept through the surroundings, and cracks started to spread from his position.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

Shen Tucang unleashed his sword techniques, shattering each oncoming sword pearl. In the previous exchanges, he could only defend against the pearls but couldn’t break them. However, at this moment, every strike he made against the pearls resulted in them shattering upon impact.

With each step, Shen Tucang advanced, causing the ground to tremble slightly and leaving deep craters in his wake.

The Xuanwu True Body and the life-threatening techniques within the Xuanwu Sword Art made his elemental energy boil to the point of near-explosion as it circulated through his body, granting him immense power.

This boiling elemental energy could only be barely endured by those who had been tempered by the Xuanwu Sword Art. Ordinary Aperture Tempering Realm cultivators who allowed their elemental energy to explode in such a manner would likely not only harm others but also destroy their own bodies.

The Aperture Tempering Realm cultivators around them watched intensely from above, realizing that the situation had reached a critical point, and the outcome hung in the balance.

The displays of power from Shen Tucang and Chen Fei had left many in awe, especially those in the early stages of the Aperture Tempering Realm. In the past, they had perhaps looked down on those who had just broken through to this stage, aware of their inherent vulnerability during this phase. However, today, they saw little of that fragility in Shen Tucang and Chen Fei.

This was a testament to their extraordinary talent. Only true geniuses could swiftly pass through this fragile phase, and it was evident that both of them were such individuals.

Chen Fei stood his ground, calmly observing Shen Tucang’s approach. Shen Tucang’s current strength was undeniably formidable, although it couldn’t compare to the power of the Suppressing Dragon Elephant.

Nevertheless, it was significantly stronger than the average early Aperture Tempering Realm cultivator. However, this level of strength alone couldn’t fully break the Zhongyuan Sword formation, condemning Shen Tucang to remain trapped within it.

Chen Fei held the Qianyuan Sword, swiftly reversed it, and plunged it into the ground. In the next moment, three additional Chen Fei figures appeared simultaneously around the sword formation, along with his real self, surrounding the formation.

Shen Tucang, who had been steadily approaching Chen Fei, abruptly halted. Due to the interference of the sword formation, he couldn’t distinguish which of the four Chen Fei figures was the real one.

Shen Tucang’s core soul energy kept oscillating as he attempted to discern the truth. However, under the intrusion of the sword formation, he couldn’t make out the real Chen Fei. He had no idea where Chen Fei actually was.

Or perhaps, all four figures could be either Chen Fei’s real self or his illusions. As long as Chen Fei wished, the four figures could change at will.

Guo Huaiyu, observing from a distance, shook his head slightly. The outcome was clear.

If Shen Tucang had encountered someone who practiced the Giant Spirit Sword, there might have been some chance for him to win, even with a slightly lower level of comprehension. After all, the Xuanwu Sword Art was powerful, had high defense, and rapid recovery.

However, Shen Tucang happened to encounter the Zhongyuan Sword Formation, a well-known art for controlling the situation, and Chen Fei’s comprehension of the Zhongyuan Sword was exceptionally high.

There was no need for a head-on collision; it made Shen Tucang utterly disoriented. Even when he unleashed the Xuanwu True Body, it remained the same.

“All!”

Shen Tucang roared madly, his giant sword hacking and slashing at his surroundings in a desperate attempt to tear apart the sword formation. However, the sword pearls shattered quickly and regenerated just as fast, leaving Shen Tucang with no opportunity to catch his breath.

As time passed, the drawbacks of employing the Xuanwu True Body began to manifest. Shen Tucang hadn’t been injured by the sword pearls, but his body was continuously torn apart by his own burst elemental energy.

This tearing effect would accelerate over time, eventually causing his entire physical body to collapse.

“The winner of the match is Chen Fei!”

Guo Huaiyu, witnessing Shen Tucang’s situation, sighed and a sword light flashed, tearing apart the Zhongyuan Sword Formation and simultaneously terminating Shen Tucang’s activation of the Xuanwu True Body.

Shen Tucang’s body trembled slightly, and he knelt on the ground somewhat dejectedly. He had lost. This time, it wasn’t a draw, but a loss to Chen Fei, even though he had broken through to the Aperture Tempering realm earlier and had more resources.

However, in the end, he was the one who lost.

Chen Fei glanced at Shen Tucang and then looked up at Guo Huaiyu in the distance.

Indeed, the strength in the late stage of Aperture Tempering realm was terrifying. With a casual sword strike, Guo Huaiyu had torn apart the Zhongyuan Sword Formation, which had no resistance whatsoever. Even though Chen Fei had deliberately employed a weakened version of the sword formation, it was evident that Guo Huaiyu possessed immense power.

Even if Chen Fei were to use the full power of the Forty Pearls Sword Formation, it would still be difficult to withstand Guo Huaiyu’s single sword strike. This was an absolute gap in cultivation and a crushing advantage in martial arts comprehension.

The question remained: would adding the Suppressing Dragon Elephant’s presence be enough to barely block a single sword strike?

Bai Daoxiang and Nie Zhiyang exchanged glances. Although Chen Fei’s current strength was remarkable, it still fell short compared to when he had effortlessly sent them flying with a single sword strike. The genius who could hide his true power was the most terrifying, and they doubted that many people believed their story about being sent flying by Chen Fei with a single sword strike.

At most, they would report to their sect leader and advise keeping an eye on Chen Fei. As for taking preemptive action against him? They had no grudges with the Primordial Sword Sect, so they wouldn’t engage in such actions.

Even if the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect found out, they wouldn’t commit to such internal division, especially when there was a watchful eye from the Divine Flame Sect outside. It was not the time to disrupt their internal unity.

Furthermore, the early stage of Aperture Tempering realm was still just the early stage of Aperture Tempering realm, and it would require a long and arduous journey to grow into the late stage of Aperture Tempering realm.

There’s one more thing: the Primordial Sword Sect’s heritage is lacking. It can only be cultivated up to the late Aperture Tempering realm, and even in the late Aperture Tempering realm, it’s considered relatively weak. The chances of breaking through the Combined Aperture Tempering realm are extremely slim, and its combat strength is still among the weaker ones in the late Aperture Tempering realm. It’s nothing to worry about!

Shen Tucang leaned on his giant sword, took a few deep breaths, and looked at Chen Fei. He took out a bottle of pills from his pocket and tossed it to Chen Fei, who caught it.

ii

I’m willing to admit defeat; these are the Spirit Enhancing Pills, they’re yours!” Shen Tucang said and stood up. He continued, “1 have nothing to say; you’re better than me. But this is just the beginning; 1 will surpass you!”

With those parting words, Shen Tucang turned and walked away, heading toward the interior of the Long Rainbow Sect. He had to complete his remaining tasks and also ease his own emotions.

Chen Fei watched Shen Tucang’s departing figure, then opened the bottle in his hand, smelling the familiar scent of the pills. A smile appeared on Chen Fei’s face.

Shen Tucang would undoubtedly grow rapidly, due to both his talent and the resources of the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect. But Chen Fei would only get faster!

Two hours later, Chen Fei followed the members of the Primordial Sword Sect back to the mountain gate. Qu Qingsheng made some simple arrangements and let everyone go rest.

After everyone had left, Chen Fei took out the inheritance stone of the Primordial Sword Sect from his pocket.

The Long Rainbow Sect had obtained it and handed over fifty percent to the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect. However, the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect didn’t conduct a thorough search. This attack on the Long Rainbow Sect seemed more like a carnival hosted by the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect.

So even if Chen Fei didn’t store the inheritance stone in his spatial grid, it wouldn’t be discovered by the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect members.

Qu Qingsheng glanced at the inheritance stone in Chen Fei’s hand, then looked at Chen Fei and asked, “The Long Rainbow Sect’s inheritance in spear techniques? It’s probably been altered; be careful when practicing it.”

“It’s not spear technique,” Chen Fei shook his head.

“What is it then?” Qu Qingsheng asked curiously.

“The Primordial Sword Scripture,” Chen Fei said softly, causing Qu Qingsheng’s expression to freeze..