Why do I have so many masters?

Atop the solitary peak, Mr. Ying waved his hand, sending out streams of sword qi that sounded like thunder ripping through the sky, sealing off the edge of the peak. Anfeng could only hear the sound of sword qi slicing the air, pressing aggressively toward his face. The youth felt chills down his spine, as if at any moment, a divine sword might cleave down from somewhere and chop him into pieces.

The Scholar stood with his hands behind his back and a look of disdain as he glanced down below the peak before fixing his gaze back on Wang Anfeng and slightly furrowing his brow.

"My swordsmanship is complex and your foundation is far from sufficient to learn its divine skills," he said.

"However, if you're only pursuing complicated moves, there is one art I've developed after observing countless sword moves across the world, combining them into seventy-two breaking techniques, serving as an introductory cornerstone of a peak sword canon," he continued.

"It's just right for you."

With that said, he casually shook his sleeve, revealing an Eight-Sided Han Sword, and effortlessly cleaved through the air with it, producing a sharp, piercing sound. He glanced sideways at Wang Anfeng and commanded coldly,

"If you want to learn, then watch closely."

"Prepare yourself for the test soon. If you fail to satisfy me... hmph!"

The youth's scalp numbed, and he barely managed to answer "yes," immediately followed by a crisp shout.

"The first move, Azure Dragon Breaking Through Water, specifically breaks the Chaotic Spear Technique."

"Even the celebrated Golden Phoenix Nodding Head Spear Technique of Jianghu can be easily broken."

"Observe carefully!"

Amidst his words, the longsword was unleashed, its movements as chaotic yet solid as water. As the sword technique flowed, the sword shadows were continuous and unending.

Suddenly, the sword vibrated with a long chant, and the sword qi transitioned from illusion to reality, resembling an Azure Dragon emerging from the water, roaring ferociously as it lunged forward, shredding a square foot of air ahead into pieces.

The sword momentum grew sharper, and the style abruptly turned extremely vicious and continuous. The sudden lethal moves made it impossible to defend against. Anfeng, caught within this sword technique, unconsciously broke out in a cold sweat, feeling that this sudden deadly strike could easily destroy his martial arts abilities.

A cold voice rang beside his ear.

"The second sword style, Rattling Serpent's Tail, breaks double halberds and crutches."

The sword moves changed again, the sword light dense and endless, the killing intent inexhaustible, making the youth's scalp tingle.

Familiar voices echoed beside his ear, and with each echo, the style of the sword technique changed drastically before his eyes.

The various sword moves and techniques, all stemming from the same source, seemed simplistic in their major transformations but differed vastly in their exquisite aspects, combining into completely different yet equally brilliant sword moves and techniques that continuously unfolded before the youth's eyes.

Wang Anfeng widened his eyes, staring intently at the sword art, fearful of missing anything, though he couldn't remember a thing, only feeling the overwhelming and infinite changes of the sword light and the cold shouts filling his ears, encompassing all the weapon techniques he knew.

"Immortal Fishing for Soft-Shelled Turtles, breaking the Meteor Hammer Technique!"

"Ancient Tree Entwining Roots, breaking the Brow-Sweeping Sword Style!"

"Full Sky of Stars, breaking Tiger Hook and Strange Gate!"

"Six Yang Formation, breaking Taoist Mystical Arts!"

The sword light was icy sharp, continuing until the seventy-second posture, Nine Phoenixes Facing the Sun, breaking Inner-Home True Qi, as the sword shadow dispersed after merging. The Scholar casually tossed the wooden sword up, which spun and firmly embedded into the hard rocky ground, its hilt vibrating continuously, emitting tangible ripples from the sword edge.

The Scholar in green stood with his hands behind him and said,

"This series of sword moves is intricate, focusing specifically on the pinnacle of technique, enough to make you dominate below Middle Third Rank."

His voice paused before he casually added,

"Master it in seven days."

At that moment, Wang Anfeng still had remnants of flashing sword light before his eyes, and hearing this, he was somewhat shocked and instinctively said,

"Seven days?"

"This..."

The Scholar took a step sideways, looked at him, and scoffed,

"You asked me to teach you the intricate sword techniques, and now that I have, you hesitate to learn?"

"Are you mocking an elder?"

The youth took a step back and said,

"The junior wouldn't dare."

Mr. Ying scoffed, "You wouldn't dare, or you have the desire but lack the courage?"

Wang Anfeng opened his mouth, beads of cold sweat formed on his forehead, unsure how to respond. The Scholar flicked his sleeve and said coldly,

"Seventy-two breaking moves, with the core being to break."

"Don't worry, with Copper Man Lane as your backing, I'll ensure you master the basics in seven days."
Experience tales at empire

The youth's expression briefly stalled, unsure whether to cry or laugh, and stiffly bowed, saying,

"In that case, thank you, sir."

The Scholar nodded, his lips curving with a cold arc.

"No need."

"Huainanzi" once said, the way of Heaven is profound and silent, neither dead nor alive, neither obvious nor conceivable, not to be fully grasped or measured.

Facts proved that Mr. Ying's methods were just as unfathomable as the youth's poor imagination.

Under the bright moon outside Copper Man Lane, a huge wooden barrel filled with brown medicinal liquid, Wang Anfeng leaned back immerse in it, his head the only part visible, his face showing utmost fatigue, his hands, still submerged, trembling slightly.

If normally the opponents in Copper Man Lane were for competing or sparring, bounded by rules with strikes stopping at the slightest touch,

then these past days his opponents were in a fight to the death, almost relentlessly, with hardly any restraints, fight until death.

At first, it was enemies of similar cultivation and martial arts prowess, then it progressed to being attacked by two or three people, their martial power steadily increasing.

For instance, just earlier, one wielded a sword, oppressively sharp, another wielded a hammer, with tremendous force, pressing him to the point where he had to shatter those intricate sword styles into use, Immortal Fishing for Soft-Shelled Turtles, Ancient Tree Entwining Roots coming in succession, nearly pushing him to his limits before he could barely defeat one, only to be struck out of the lane by a heavy hammer, his chest churning with roiling energy, unable to wield his strength.

Another strike and he would certainly have been defeated and killed.

Remembering that outcome, Wang Anfeng still felt terrified. Wu Changqing waved his right hand, and numerous Silver Needles on the youth's acupoints vibrated simultaneously, dispersing the stifled energy in his chest and abdomen, and as the medicinal strength surged, combining with the Buddhism Inner Strength flowing within him, slowly settled his turbulent vital energy.