Chapter 14: The Astonishing Swan Sword Technique, Mastery of Thirty-Six Swords

For five days, Fang Wang did not leave his cave dwelling. Though he was excited to have joined the Grand Abyss Sect, he had no intention of seeking out other disciples. He understood well that his standing in the sect depended solely on his cultivation. As long as he maintained his reputation as a genius, he would be surrounded by friends; the moment his cultivation faltered, troubles would inevitably follow.

It was noon.

Sensing something, Fang Wang opened his eyes and picked up the token at his waist. A voice echoed from within: "Fang Wang, come to the Hall of Tranquility to see me."

The voice was aged and deep. At the mention of the Hall of Tranquility, Fang Wang’s expression lit up. He immediately rose, fastened his storage pouch to his belt, picked up the flying sword given by Zhou Xue, and hurried out of his cave. He mounted his sword and flew away.

The Hall of Tranquility was the palace of the Peak Master—the very man who had summoned him, his future master, Yang Yuanzi.

Fang Wang was filled with anticipation for what he might learn next.

The Hall of Tranquility stood atop the third peak, which Senior Disciple Li Yu had previously pointed out to him. Ascending swiftly, Fang Wang soon arrived before the hall. No disciples guarded the entrance; the palace was ringed with towering trees, each like a giant sword thrust into the sky.

He stood before the great doors, pushed them open, and stepped inside.

The hall was not large, resembling a simple Taoist temple. Fang Wang approached a solitary figure, bowed low, and greeted, "Disciple Fang Wang greets Master."

Yang Yuanzi sat meditating before a stone statue—a woman’s form, graceful yet featureless, her face left uncarved, giving her an air of solemn mystery.

Upon hearing Fang Wang, Yang Yuanzi rose and turned to face him.

Only then did Fang Wang see his master’s true appearance: hair streaked black and white, wild and unbound, a black Taoist robe draped over him. His eyes were dull as a dried-up well; stubble shadowed his mouth, making him appear unkempt—utterly unlike the image Fang Wang had imagined.

Yang Yuanzi spoke: "Why did you choose the third peak?"

Fang Wang had already prepared his answer. "For the most profound inheritance."

"The Nine Heavens Azure Thunder Sword Array? As expected. Which clan are you from?"

"I am from the Fang Clan of Nanqiu City."

"Never heard of it. No matter, I’m not interested. Since you’ve entered my tutelage, you are now my disciple—the fifth in rank. You have four senior brothers and sisters; you’ll meet them in time. You’ve already reached the seventh level of Qi Nourishment. Is there anything you wish to learn?"

Yang Yuanzi’s tone was placid, as if unconcerned with his so-called genius disciple.

Only now did Fang Wang realize why the sect leader, Guang Qiuxian, had advised him to join the first peak. Clearly, the issue with the third peak was Yang Yuanzi himself.

Fang Wang did not stand on ceremony. "Master, could you teach me how to use a storage pouch?"

At this, Yang Yuanzi’s pupils contracted slightly. He asked, "You don’t know how to use a storage pouch? No one in your family taught you?"

"My family knows nothing of cultivation. A clanswoman was guided by an immortal cultivator; I came to the Grand Abyss Sect with her."

"How long have you been cultivating?"

"Less than a year."

"Less than a year and you’ve reached the seventh level of Qi Nourishment?" Yang Yuanzi regarded Fang Wang anew, narrowing his eyes. "Impressive. To open a storage pouch, you must first develop spiritual awareness."

Seeing Fang Wang eager to ask more, Yang Yuanzi raised his hand and handed him a manual. "This is the Grand Abyss Sect’s compendium of cultivation. It records all basic methods. Take it and study it."

Fang Wang bowed in thanks, unaware that Yang Yuanzi found the situation exasperating.

The book was intended for outer disciples, to guide them onto the path of cultivation. Since becoming Peak Master, Yang Yuanzi had rarely touched it; in fact, it was the very copy he received upon entering the sect, kept as a memento.

Fang Wang tucked the manual away and asked, "Master, could you teach me the Nine Heavens Azure Thunder Sword Array? I’d like to attempt it."

Yang Yuanzi snorted. "In the Grand Abyss Sect, you do not learn whatever you wish, regardless of your talent or insight. You must make contributions. When you entered, the sect did not investigate your background—not because they did not care, but because you must prove yourself through contribution."

"As a personal disciple, you may select three superior techniques from the Hall of Daoist Arts. But the Nine Heavens Azure Thunder Sword Array is the core legacy of this lineage. To learn it, you must first become the chief disciple."

Fang Wang asked eagerly, "How can I become the chief disciple?"

Yang Yuanzi was not annoyed, but instead seemed intrigued. "To become the chief disciple, you must first reach the Spirit Pill stage and perform great deeds. Don’t think about it for at least fifty years."

Fang Wang’s heart sank with disappointment.

Yang Yuanzi’s tone shifted. "However, you are the first in sect history to become a personal disciple upon entry. Though I have never broken with tradition to accept a disciple in this way, your name will be recorded in the annals of the Grand Abyss Sect."

He lifted his right hand, producing a jade scroll of pale green.

"This sword art is called the Soaring Swan Divine Sword Technique. It is my own; the Nine Heavens Azure Thunder Sword Array is the sect’s legacy—I cannot grant it to you. But the Soaring Swan Divine Sword Technique is different; I acquired it during my adventures. When you have cultivated spiritual awareness, use it to read the contents within the jade scroll."

Yang Yuanzi smiled, but the smile was more frightening than a grimace.

Fang Wang took the scroll, barely concealing his excitement. "Master, is this sword art powerful?"

Yang Yuanzi lifted his chin with pride. "With this sword art, I claimed the position of Peak Master of the third lineage. Do you think it is strong? I mastered only twenty-seven of its swords and was unmatched among my peers. If you can master it within ten years, you possess extraordinary talent."

"Thank you, Master. I shall not disappoint you!"

"First, reach the ninth level of Qi Nourishment. As a personal disciple, you may cultivate freely. When you reach the Spirit Molding stage, then you may focus on mastering the Soaring Swan Divine Sword Technique."

"Understood."

Yang Yuanzi then explained the sect’s rules: no infighting, no harming innocents, and no collusion with demonic cultivators.

With that, he dismissed Fang Wang.

Fang Wang did not immediately go to the Hall of Daoist Arts to choose his techniques. He felt no rush—mastering the Soaring Swan Divine Sword Technique alone would take much time. Though it seemed only a moment passed, for him, it would mean living countless years more.

Lock someone in a room with nothing but food and water, no entertainment whatsoever, and they might go mad in a month.

Even Fang Wang, driven by the desire for strength, found spending a hundred or two hundred years in the Heavenly Palace excruciating.

Once inside the Heavenly Palace, one could not leave until reaching mastery.

Yet he gradually discovered another advantage: any technique or supreme art could definitely be cultivated to perfection there—a most domineering trait!

Moreover, ever since unlocking the Heavenly Palace, Fang Wang had gained a photographic memory.

Returning to his cave, Fang Wang took out the cultivation compendium and, following its instructions, quickly developed spiritual awareness. For someone at the seventh level of Qi Nourishment, this was trivial—he managed it in just an hour.

The compendium also described the cultivation stages, from lowest to highest: Qi Nourishment, Spirit Molding, Spirit Pill, Profound Heart, Soul Condensation, and beyond, encouraging disciples to strive for higher realms.

The Spirit Molding stage was pivotal—it determined a cultivator’s destiny, as the quality of the life-spirit shaped at this stage set one’s talent and comprehension. Yet, there were always those who defied destiny and achieved greatness.

Setting aside the compendium, Fang Wang began to cultivate.

He resolved to first advance his cultivation to the ninth level of Qi Nourishment.

Now able to live without food, having entered the fasting state, he could focus entirely on his training. Closing his eyes, he entered a state akin to cultivation within the Heavenly Palace.

A month and a half later, Fang Wang reached the eighth level. The gap between seventh and eighth was as vast as Zhou Xue had said; he had only been victorious before because the Xuan Yang Divine Sutra surpassed the techniques of other cultivators.

He continued to train.

Nearly four months passed, and Fang Wang finally reached the ninth level in one great stride.

He opened his eyes, a glint of brilliance flashing within. Once again, he condensed the True Fire of Xuan Yang—nine miniature suns floating behind his head, illuminating his cave. Feeling the surging spiritual energy within, he was reminded of when he first reached the legendary realm in martial arts.

He felt invincible.

Of course, he knew this sensation was fleeting; in the world of immortals, he was still at the lowest rung and had much to strive for.

Fang Wang picked up the jade scroll Yang Yuanzi had given him and sent his spiritual awareness into it. A torrent of words flooded his mind. When he had finished sorting through them, his consciousness grew hazy. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in the Heavenly Palace.

Standing in the grand hall, he began to cultivate the Soaring Swan Divine Sword Technique.

It consisted of thirty-six swords; no physical sword was required. The art condensed sword forms from spiritual energy, each as effective as a magical weapon, responsive to his will.

Yang Yuanzi had claimed mastery over twenty-seven swords, which made Fang Wang even more eager to master all thirty-six.

Yet, the very first sword took him five years to master.

The Soaring Swan Divine Sword Technique was exceedingly difficult!

It was not simply a matter of condensing spiritual energy into a sword form; he also had to imbue it with his spiritual awareness, so that each sword form became an extension of his own perception—a true test of spirit.

No matter how difficult, as long as he was in the Heavenly Palace, he could eventually succeed—even if it meant enduring untold years.

He pressed on to the second sword.

The second sword took another five years.

By the sixth sword, the time required shrank to two years. Fang Wang thought he was on the verge of a breakthrough. However, from the eighteenth sword onward, each one required over ten years, nearly driving him to despair.

Who could endure century after century of relentless training and study, without any leisure or diversion?

Fang Wang once tried to create a computer from his previous life within the Heavenly Palace, but it was only an empty shell; creating a person was utterly impossible.

And so it went.

When at last Fang Wang mastered all thirty-six swords, thirty-six sword forms—each resembling the Azure Monarch Sword—hovered around him in resplendent array, though his face had grown numb from the ordeal.

"At last, it’s over."

With those words, his consciousness returned to the present.

Cultivating the Soaring Swan Divine Sword Technique had cost him two hundred years!

He was exhausted.

Fang Wang got up at once and left his cave dwelling. He had to see the world outside, or he would lose his mind.

Boom!

The doors swung open, and sunlight poured over him, reminding him what it felt like to be truly alive.

He walked to the edge of the cliff, gazing out over the spectacular peaks of the Grand Abyss Sect, content to stand and look for half an hour before returning to his cultivation.

Watching the comings and goings of disciples, Fang Wang finally felt grounded in reality.

"Fang Wang, it’s been a while. Have you reached the Spirit Molding stage?"

A woman’s voice called out. Fang Wang turned to see Gu Li of the Gu family from North Luo.

Gu Li’s cave was right next to his—an oddity, as these were the personal disciples’ dwellings.