Chapter 14: Comprehending the True Essence of Swordsmanship
"I'm just so stupid, stupid, stupid, the biggest fool! Waaaah!" Mu Wanqing was already crying from anxiety. She scrambled up from the ground and rushed to the sword character, seizing it and staring intently.
Now that the Skycloud Sect stood on the brink of annihilation, only by comprehending the true essence of swordsmanship hidden within the character bestowed by a master could there be any hope of saving the sect.
Boom!
Once again, the vast sword intent emanating from the character struck her fiercely, hurling her back.
"I don't believe it! Waaaah!" She forgot all thoughts of life or death, throwing everything aside as she charged at the sword character, snatching it up for the nth time and locking her gaze upon it.
A terrifying sword intent, like a boundless ocean, surged forth from the character, engulfing Mu Wanqing and nearly tearing her to shreds.
"Hold on! You must hold on for me! Waaaah!" She clung desperately to the sword character, forcing herself to endure the searing pain that stabbed at the depths of her soul. Mouthfuls of thick blood spewed from her lips.
Blood gushed from her wounds, and she felt as if her whole being was about to explode into dust.
Yet in that moment, her state of mind suddenly cleared. She sensed the vast, true essence of swordsmanship pouring endlessly from the sword character.
Her entire consciousness and body became immersed in a mysterious realm, as if the sound of the sword’s dao filled all of heaven and earth.
That sound was like the most wondrous melody in the world, cleansing her spirit, leaving room for nothing but the sword in her heart. She saw the source of the sword's music.
Far in the distant expanse between heaven and earth, a gigantic golden sacred sword was embedded upright.
She had succeeded!
"The true essence of the sword is a colossal golden sacred sword..."
Mu Wanqing was overjoyed, hastening to listen closely to the miraculous sound of the sword’s dao.
At this moment, she was already suspended in midair, her eyes tightly closed, still gripping the sword character.
From her graceful figure, a vast sword intent spread outward.
Crack!
Crack!
Crack...
From within Mu Wanqing, a succession of breakthrough sounds erupted, unstoppable as a bamboo splitting through the air!
With each breakthrough, the sword intent emanating from her grew all the more immense.
"What an overwhelming sword intent!"
"How can there be another such terrifying sword intent?"
"Is there a second monstrous enemy coming to attack our Skycloud Sect?"
Amidst the fierce battle, everyone felt the surge of sword intent, and all were struck with terror. They urgently turned to seek the source.
"Ah, it's Mu Wanqing!"
"Heavens! How can such a terrifying sword intent emanate from Mu Wanqing?"
Gazing at Mu Wanqing, who floated serenely in midair, everyone present—including Bai Lison—stood as if struck by lightning, utterly stupefied and unable to move.
They forgot their battle with Tu Wuchang, completely dumbfounded. Mu Wanqing was only an inconspicuous junior disciple in the Skycloud Sect.
And yet, now she stood like a Sword Saint!
Tu Wuchang, too, had noticed Mu Wanqing. He stood frozen, waves of shock surging in his chest, greatly unsettled. "This is far beyond my expectations. A mere junior disciple of the Skycloud Sect is actually a genius in the way of the sword, and at such a critical moment, she has glimpsed the true essence of swordsmanship!"
"No, it's that sword character in her hand. The true essence is hidden within it!"
He reacted instantly, his eyes blazing with fanatical heat. Throwing caution to the wind, he charged straight at Mu Wanqing, determined to seize the sword character from her.
If a slip of paper could let a Skycloud Sect girl glimpse the true essence of the sword in an instant, then that sword character was a peerless treasure, worth more than ten thousand Tu Wuchangs!
Such a treasure could not be missed.
"Quick, protect Mu Wanqing… protect that sword character!"
Bai Lison's eyes nearly burst with rage as he roared, disregarding his heavy wounds, and rushed forward.
A treasure capable of allowing Mu Wanqing to comprehend the sword’s true essence in an instant could not be allowed to fall into Tu Wuchang’s hands. At any cost, it must be defended.
Whoosh—
The disciples of Skycloud Sect surged forward together in haste!
Yet…
Boom!
The sword character in Mu Wanqing's hand suddenly exploded, shattering into fragments that fluttered down like snow.
"Ah!" Tu Wuchang cried out, pounding his chest and stamping his feet in dismay. "A peerless treasure! Gone, just like that! Damn it, damn it, damn it!"
He could only watch helplessly as a priceless treasure was destroyed before his eyes.
His heart bled; he was utterly distraught.
Bai Lison and the others from Skycloud Sect were also stunned, staring blankly at the falling scraps of paper, their minds a void.
"Gone… it's gone…" Bai Lison muttered in despair.
A single sword character had enabled a lowly disciple like Mu Wanqing to comprehend the true essence of swordsmanship. That character must surely have come from the same master who wrote the longevity character just now.
The brushwork of a reclusive master—gone, just like that…
But suddenly, his eyes gleamed with renewed brilliance as he shouted, "Quick, grab those scraps of paper!"
"Yes, even a scrap is a treasure beyond price!"
Someone echoed his cry.
Whoosh—
The crowd surged forward once more, scrambling for the scattered scraps. The scene was utter chaos, with eyes red and faces twisted in madness.
"That’s mine! No one else can take it!"
"Why are you grabbing my behind? Damn it, is there a scrap stuck to my rear? Ah, that's mine—no one touch it!"
The crowd had gone completely mad.
Tu Wuchang joined the frenzy, relying on his strength to seize several scraps at once. He laughed wildly, "Haha! I got them! Several at once—I'm rich, rich!"
He had come to Skycloud Sect seeking revenge, only to stumble upon such a windfall. Tu Wuchang was overjoyed, feeling beyond exhilarated.
But then—
Boom!
The scraps he clutched so tightly suddenly ignited, burning to ashes in the blink of an eye.
Gone.
"Wha—" Tu Wuchang stared at the ashes in his palm, dumbfounded. "No, this can't be real…"
Everyone else who managed to grab a scrap saw the same: spontaneous combustion, reduced to ash in an instant.
The sword's true essence had permeated the entire sheet. Once the sword character was destroyed, how could mere scraps bear such power?
Self-immolation was inevitable.
Everyone stood there, empty-handed, having gained nothing.
The brushwork of a reclusive master—even a scrap was too much for them to claim.
"Tu Wuchang!"
A cold, commanding voice boomed from above, shaking their souls.
The crowd snapped out of their stupor and looked up.
Mu Wanqing had opened her eyes. A sword of war blazed with radiant sword light in her hand, her graceful figure emanating a mighty sword intent.
Her clothes were in tatters, swathes of snowy skin exposed—enticing beyond measure—yet no one present dared to harbor the slightest evil thought.