Chapter 33: Chapter 30: Observing Martial Arts through the Mirror and the Jade Disc
The deep and resonant voice continued, "The first trial, 'Fire Rune Chart,' tested your combat ability. This second trial, 'Mirror Light Spirit Wall,' will test your enlightenment!"
Enlightenment?
Ye Chen was slightly startled.
"Over these years, whenever a challenger arrived at this trial, I would demonstrate a Cultivation Technique for them to observe. After I have demonstrated the technique once, the challenger has three days to comprehend the Cultivation Technique I demonstrated.
Within three days, if the challenger can perform this set of techniques in front of the jade wall to the required standard, the 'Mirror Light Spirit Wall' will open the passageway forward, allowing them to enter the final trial of the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode's outer abode."
The voice paused for a moment, then continued, "Challenger, at the first trial, you successfully obtained the special rewards 'Wind Thunder Sword Skills' and the 'Wind Thunder Movement' technique.
Therefore, I will specifically demonstrate these two sets of techniques for you within the 'Mirror Light Jade Wall'!"
"After my demonstration, nine faint lines will appear in the Mirror Light Jade Wall. If you can illuminate any three of those lines by practicing these two sets of techniques, you will pass this trial."
"Challenger, I must particularly remind you that in order to light up three lines, you must at least cultivate one sub-technique from either of these two sets of techniques to a minor level of mastery within three days!"
The two techniques Ye Chen had acquired, 'Wind Thunder Sword Skills' and 'Wind Thunder Movement,' were both of the profound-class superior-grade level, and even the sub-techniques within them reached the level of profound-class inferior-grade techniques.
To cultivate one of the profound-class inferior-grade techniques to a minor level of mastery within three days was an extremely high demand on a challenger's enlightenment and could be said to be immensely difficult!
Keep in mind, even yellow-class techniques, which are much easier compared to profound-class techniques, take many people over a month to cultivate to a minor level of mastery.
Three days to cultivate a profound-class technique to a minor level of mastery, in terms of enlightenment, would definitely qualify as a genius!
This degree of difficulty did not intimidate Ye Chen; in fact, he became somewhat excited.
"This voice must be that of the master of the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode."
"He said he would demonstrate 'Wind Thunder Sword Skills' and the 'Wind Thunder Movement' technique within the Mirror Light Jade Wall. Does that mean I will soon see the true visage of the master of the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode?"
Ye Chen was exceedingly curious about the existence that even the hundred-foot-tall Three-Eyed Giant Ape would call master.
Such a powerful figure personally demonstrating techniques to him was something impossible to achieve in a sect!
Ye Chen was incredibly excited to see what the 'Wind Thunder Sword Skills' and 'Wind Thunder Movement' technique would look like when demonstrated by the master of the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode.
"Challenger, I will only demonstrate these two sets of techniques once. Watch carefully!"
As the voice faded, the immense Mirror Light Jade Wall suddenly emitted a startling light.
Within the light, it seemed as though a world unfolded, revealing a realm of drifting fog and mist, and within this realm, a cyan figure stood with his hands behind his back in the void.
"Is this the figure of the master of the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode?!"
All of Ye Chen's attention was fixated on the figure standing in the void within the jade wall's realm.
This was a somewhat slender middle-aged scholar. He was wearing a cyan robe, his hands clasped behind him as he proudly stood facing the misty sea of clouds between heaven and earth, his eyes alight with infinite wisdom, as if capable of piercing through everything in this realm.
When he saw this figure, the Three-Eyed Giant Ape outside the Fire and Water Dao excitedly screamed, "Master, Master!"
"The master normally shows only a shadow when demonstrating techniques for those challengers, and you can't see his face at all. Only this little girl in front of me got to see the master's face last time. I didn't expect that this time, this young man would actually make the master appear in full!"
"I haven't seen the master's full figure for so many years, it's been over three hundred years!"
"Master, I've finally seen you again!"
The hundred-zhang-tall Three-Eyed Giant Ape, looking at the figure of the middle-aged scholar displayed on the light screen, actually let huge teardrops roll down one after the other.
Jiang Yao's eyes also revealed an expression of boundless admiration, "The owner of Thousand Lotus Cave Abode is said to be a legendary cultivator from the Heavenly Saint Realm!"
"Heavenly Saint Realm, that's a supreme realm that surpasses the 'True Qi Realm,' 'Spirit Sea Realm,' and 'Rotating Pill Realm!' Even my master, 'Fairy Jia Luo,' has not cultivated to the Heavenly Saint Realm.
It's said that there are currently no cultivators of the Heavenly Saint Realm level in the entire Heavenly Wind Kingdom!"
"But who knows what happened to him, he only left behind this 'Thousand Lotus Cave Abode' here, along with the Demon King that followed him."
Ye Chen was completely oblivious to the feelings of the Three-Eyed Giant Ape outside the Fire and Water Dao and Jiang Yao, his entire focus had merged with the Mirror Light Spirit Wall, and even the meridians throughout his body had opened up one after another, mobilizing all his observational power to look into the jade wall.
Because inside the Mirror Light Jade Wall, the owner of the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode, the figure of the middle-aged scholar, had begun to practice the "Wind Thunder Sword Skills" and the movement technique "Wind Thunder Movement."
The Mirror Light Jade Wall, the ethereal sky amidst the drifting clouds.
The green silhouette standing in the void finally lowered his hands from behind his back, and with a grasp into the empty air with his right hand, a green longsword instantly appeared in his palm.
The green figure glanced at the sword in his hand and, after three breaths, finally raised his head.
Just as he lifted his head, the long hair trailing behind him rose without any wind, and his entire aura surged as if a divine sword had finally been unsheathed!
"It's starting!"
Ye Chen stared intently at the green silhouette, watching his every move.
As the sword intent and aura reached its peak, the whole figure took a step into the void, and in an instant, fierce winds raged between heaven and earth, with the sound of thunder faintly audible.
Then, his sword, together with his entire being, turned into a hurricane!
That hurricane was precisely the circulation of the "Hurricane Frenzy," the first form of the "Wind Sword Skills," which is part of the "Thunder Sword Skills" three major subsidiary sword techniques!
When this hurricane's circulation reached its ultimate point, instantly, the green silhouette reappeared, and this time, his swordsmanship changed.
It was as if a gentle breeze swept across the land, far milder and less violent than the preceding hurricane, yet it made countless trees on the ground sway wildly.
This was precisely the second form of "Wind Sword Skills," the Thirteen Wind Strips!
Following "Hurricane Frenzy" and "Thirteen Wind Strips," the green figure transformed yet again, each form of "Wind Sword Skills" flowing effortlessly from his hands.
By the end, Ye Chen felt that this figure had become a breeze between heaven and earth, demonstrating every aspect of the wind's meaning.
Until all nine forms of "Wind Sword Skills" had been practiced, the vision of the green silhouette practicing in the void lingered in Ye Chen's mind.
And the green figure didn't stop there, his aura shifted, and he began to practice the "Thunder Sword Skills" from the "Wind Thunder Sword Skills".
Wind Sword Skills.
Thunder Sword Skills.
Until the final combined sword technique!
Countless techniques, each infused with boundless meaning, and even with all his focus, Ye Chen couldn't capture their full essence.
In the end, he even felt that the figure was not merely demonstrating the "Wind Thunder Sword Skills" but was explaining to him a profound dao of martial cultivation!
Ineffably profound!