Chapter 11: Leisurely White Clouds

Legend has it that there is a sword technique that can soar through the skies: Xing Tian Qi Jian!

This technique first made its appearance when You Tu, the most powerful sword immortal of his generation, used its seven strikes to decapitate the former lord of Sheng Shen Dian Tang. After this feat, he vanished from the world, and his tale became a celebrated legend.

Later generations studied Xing Tian Qi Jian and subsequently developed the Bai Yun Jian Fa.

Naturally, it was several levels inferior.

It was merely an ordinary acquired spiritual skill!

The Bai Yun Jian Fa is stored in the Ling Cang Ge of Tian Sang Ling Gong and comprises thirteen strikes in total.

At that time, Xu Xiaoshou, whose talent was considered only average, dedicated all his efforts to mastering it. After three years, he finally managed to learn the first strike, "Bai Yun You You."

This was the first spiritual skill he had ever mastered, and indeed, the only one...

Well, to be precise, it was just one-thirteenth of the entire technique!

As darkness enveloped his mind and he felt the earth tremble violently, Xu Xiaoshou saw Zang Ku lift him with a whoosh, soaring into the clouds.

He swung his sword, and the white clouds scattered leisurely, only to regroup with the same languid grace.

Without beginning or end, indestructible and ceaseless.

In an instant, countless sword forms flooded his mind, accompanied by a torrent of insights.

He remembered every midnight spent awake, every moment of unwavering practice in the courtyard, honing his sword skills.

Thrust, slash, sweep, cut...

These were the most fundamental movements, forged through blood and sweat, now becoming instinctive actions that suddenly flowed together in perfect harmony.

Xu Xiaoshou gazed at the white clouds before him and sheathed his sword.

At that precise moment, a sword light appeared on the horizon, moving slowly in a crisscross pattern. It seemed to approach leisurely but arrived in the blink of an eye.

The white clouds shattered into pieces, and the sky crumbled into dust.

Whoa!

Xu Xiaoshou woke with a start, gasping for air. As he moved, his clothes disintegrated into fragments and drifted down around him, just like the white clouds in the illusion.

He looked down and saw Zang Ku in his hand, vibrating with a crisp hum, seemingly jubilant.

So...

What on earth is happening?

Xu Xiaoshou was utterly bewildered. He had merely inserted the passive key, and it vanished, pulling him into that tranquil illusion of sword intent filled with white clouds. It even brought up the most painful memory from the depths of his heart.

The Bai Yun Jian Fa, which he had practiced for three years, mastering only one-thirteenth of it...

This was an acquired sword technique!

How utterly mediocre must his talent be to find such a feat so difficult? Of course, it was a painful memory!

Xu Xiaoshou composed himself, buried the memory deep within, and quickly checked his information panel. This had to be connected to the passive key.

A new entry had appeared:

"Acquired Mastery Passive Skill: Jian Shu Jing Tong!"

A mastery type?

Jian Shu Jing Tong?

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned. Was this from "Zai Lai Yi Chi"?

Had he truly drawn one of the most overpowered passive skills? And one with such a dramatic entrance?

Holy crap!

Xu Xiaoshou couldn't help but swear. Had the luck of emperors truly possessed him?

"Jian Shu Jing Tong..."

Just the name sounded incredibly impressive, far surpassing terms like "Strong" or "Sharp." In a system where passive skills had such straightforward names, one that transcended everyday language hinted at how terrifying Jian Shu Jing Tong must be.

Furthermore...

Connecting it to that white cloud illusion, Xu Xiaoshou trembled with excitement.

Could it be that the sword moves and knowledge from the illusion were now at his command?

Because it was a passive skill, it operated silently and subtly, making changes without him noticing unless he paid close attention.

He looked at Zang Ku in his hand, which was buzzing with energy.

It was excited!

Xu Xiaoshou could clearly and intensely sense that this inanimate object, Zang Ku, was thrilled—practically euphoric!

Should he give it a try?

The thought flashed through Xu Xiaoshou's mind. He closed his eyes and recalled the sword technique from the illusion that had shattered the white clouds.

His breathing became steady and deep, and he felt himself floating upward, as light as air.

Ethereal, pure, serene...

What a magical sensation.

In the next moment, Xu Xiaoshou felt himself transforming into a cloud, drifting leisurely, vast as a painting.

As the summer wind rose, the white clouds shattered!

Xu Xiaoshou knew he needed to strike.

So he did, swinging his sword unconsciously—awkward yet instantly traversing space and time.

One leisurely strike, stirring the late wind, sweeping away the fallen leaves.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!

The scene from the illusion replayed: countless sword lights drifted in, instantly filling the room.

Although the strike was painstakingly slow, it vanished into the horizon with blinding speed.

Xu Xiaoshou opened his eyes.

Boom!

The house, built of red-heart wood, exploded into fragments and collapsed.

Thud, thud, thud!

He looked up as the sky rained down red-heart wood debris, burying him like a wooden grave.

Holy crap!

What on earth is going on?

...

In a cramped room, there was a round wooden table and three men.

Xiao Qixiu sat ramrod straight, his sword now resting on his knees. He shook his head firmly:

"I don't drink!"

"You all know that true sword cultivators get drunk on the sword, not alcohol. Drinking only disrupts my mind, and over time, it would throw off my swordsmanship."

Qiao Qianzhi snorted, spraying wine onto the old man's face across from him, and immediately felt awkward:

"Uh, that wasn't intentional."

He turned to Xiao Qixiu, stifling a laugh:

"As if not drinking would make your sword path advance by leaps and bounds?"

Xiao Qixiu smiled faintly:

"I have made progress, actually."

He turned to the old man wiping his face:

"Sang Lao, are you planning to stay here for good this time?"

The old man still had a few blades of grass on his head. He glared at Qiao Qianzhi, raised his cup, and drained it in one go.

"I'll stay for a while longer, for now!"

Staring at his empty cup, he suddenly said:

"You could get drunk on both wine and the sword!"

Xiao Qixiu was about to object, but the old man continued:

"What a shame you can't do it, or the title of eighth sword immortal would be yours..."

Qiao Qianzhi couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing:

"Hee hee hee hee..."

Xiao Qixiu:

"..."

Just then, the sword on his knees began to hum loudly and vibrate intensely.

The three exchanged glances, each seeing surprise in the others' eyes.

Xiao Qixiu grasped the vibrating sword and listened intently, his mind filling with images of the surroundings.

Tian Sang Ling Gong, outer courtyard.

A gentle evening breeze blew as a disciple strolled with his sword, contemplating life.

Suddenly, the sword in his arms became restless, struggling to break free.

He was alarmed and quickly held it down, only to realize that every sword cultivator around him was experiencing the same phenomenon.

Clang—

Sword hums erupted everywhere, harmonizing into a single resonant wave that echoed through half of the outer courtyard.

What on earth is happening?

All the disciples were dumbfounded.

"A sword hum spanning a li, an acquired sword intent?" the old man said calmly.

"Indeed!"

Xiao Qixiu nodded and stood up at once, marveling:

"Who knew another disciple in the outer courtyard had achieved acquired sword intent? Combined with the two refining spirit innate talents and one physical innate talent we've already found, this batch of outer courtyard disciples is truly exceptional."

"A physical innate talent?"

The old man was surprised and set down his cup, deep in thought.

Then he changed the subject:

"I recall the last sword intent we saw was from that girl Su Qianqian!"

"Yes, an innate sword intent," he added.

Xiao Qixiu looked eager but still replied:

"Su Qianqian is in a league of her own. She's a real prodigy, wielding one of the twenty-one famous swords of the continent—something even I covet."

"Stop pretending, go check it out already!" Elder Qiao stood up as well. "You're clearly itching to go, yet you're still standing here."

Xiao Qixiu awkwardly touched his head.

The old man chuckled:

"Go on!"

The two rushed out the door.

"Tsk, tsk..."

The old man remained composed, as if an acquired sword intent wasn't worth getting excited over.

He finished the last of the wine in the jug, picked up his straw hat from behind, put it on his head, grabbed his walking stick from the door, and slowly departed.

A while later, he returned, closed the door, and left again.