Chapter 28: Breakthrough Agreement

Sword Dynasty

Volume 2

Chapter 28: Breakthrough Agreement

The “too fast” Xue Wangxu said had two very different meanings for these two people from Guanzhong…

“Too fast!”

The slightly plump merchant had a grave expression.

The sword seal path was initially rarely seen and very difficult for ordinary cultivators.

It was hard to imagine a cultivator of Ding Ning’s age being able to form two sword seals in the time it took Shen Yi to take sixty steps.

“This is the sword seal path?”

Shen Yi heard the plump merchant's voice and snapped out of his stupor. He felt no pain or shame for being defeated. He was in a state of complete shock. “How can it be so fast… Even if someone is born with a meticulous personality, they would need years on the sword seal path to master it. Your sword seal just now wasn't simple. How long have you been cultivating… how can you be so fast?”

Ding Ning ignored the shock of the two people from Guanzhong. He glanced at Shen Yi and said very straightforwardly, “I'm no ordinary cultivator.”

Shen Yi fell silent.

Xue Wangxu, who was sitting under the eaves, became furious and shouted, “What are you talking about! When I said too fast, I meant that you and Ding Ning finished things too quickly! Ding Ning, don’t you know that after I don’t have to worry about cultivating every day, I have more time each day, which feels incredibly slow? Can’t you fight for a while longer?”

Hearing his angry shout, Ding Ning turned around and said with a frown, “Your demands are a bit high.”

Zhang Yi, who was standing respectfully beside Xue Wangxu, said softly, “Sect Master, this doesn’t seem right. You told me earlier that one should fight with full strength in battle. This is respect for one’s opponent. Youngest Sect Brother is still young. If he deliberately holds back, what will happen if he loses control and injures himself?”

Hearing Zhang Yi’s words, Xue Wangxu became even more furious. He raised his hand and moved to strike. “Zhang Yi, I’ve taught you so many principles about respecting your master. You dare to lecture me now?”

Zhang Yi immediately broke out in sweat and bowed in fear. He said repeatedly, “This disciple does not dare.”

“So I was truly narrow-minded and ignorant in Guanzhong.” Hearing Xue Wangxu and Zhang Yi's conversation, Shen Yi's face flushed slightly. He bowed solemnly to Ding Ning and said seriously, “Now that I think about it, it wasn't just the speed of the sword seal path. The timing of those two sword seals was extremely precise. At first, you knew I wasn't your match. You found it troublesome, so you were reluctant to fight me. I thought you would have the upper hand in some aspect, which led Xie Rou to swear, but I didn't expect there to be such a huge difference between us.”

Looking at this humble young man with the aura of Guanzhong, Ding Ning turned to look at the angry Xue Wangxu and thought. Then he said, “You didn't fight with your full strength.”

Shen Yi said, “You haven't cultivated as long as me. Your cultivation speed is faster than mine. Even if I suppress my cultivation to your level, I have practiced the sword longer. I still have the advantage.”

Ding Ning shook his head and said, “That's not what I meant. You're deliberately suppressing your cultivation and are naturally restrained. You can't fight to your heart's content.”

Shen Yi did not understand Ding Ning’s meaning and felt confused.

“I'll wait for your Three Yang Grass,” Ding Ning said calmly. “Soon, I'll reach realm three. When my cultivation approaches yours, if you wish, we can fight again. You won't have to hold back and can unleash your sword essence then.”

“This is much better.” Xue Wangxu's anger subsided like a child's when he heard Ding Ning's words. He laughed.

“This…” Shen Yi felt like he should be happy. He wanted to fight to his heart's content, but right now, he felt something was wrong.

Zhang Yi spoke with a worried frown, “Youngest Sect Brother, this isn't as simple as you say. Even though you're close to achieving your breakthrough, it won't happen just because you want it to. Youngest Sect Brother, the people of Guanzhong are honest. It's not good to lie to him like this.”

Shen Yi suddenly looked up. He finally realized what was wrong.

The journey from the Energy Refinement Realm to the Vital Energy Realm was a huge hurdle, requiring one to sense and absorb the primal energies of the universe. Many people would be stuck at this hurdle their entire lives. Who in the Energy Refinement Realm would say they would soon reach the Vital Energy Realm, and would truly reach the Vital Energy Realm soon?

“You don’t have to believe it now.”

Ding Ning remained calm. He looked at Shen Yi and said, “You can take it as advice. If I can reach the Vital Energy Realm soon, I will fight you again. If not, then I will owe you a favor first.”

Facing Ding Ning’s calm gaze, Shen Yi nodded and said, “I will wait for your news. In addition, the Shen Family will send you the Three Yang Grass as soon as possible.

Ding Ning bowed slightly in thanks. “Thank you very much.”

Shen Yi nodded and left with his sword slung over his back.

 

A loud cheer rang out from behind him.

Shen Yi's footsteps felt heavy as he reached the alley entrance.

The heaviness of his footsteps reflected the heaviness of his current mood.

“Uncle Jin…” He did not turn around and said softly, “Even through his elder sect brother scolded him and said that the time to reach realm three is uncertain and won't come soon, for some reason, I feel like he'll soon achieve a breakthrough. His gaze is too calm and confident. Is he really like those rare freaks from the Void Spirit Sword Sect and Min Mountain Sword Sect who possess an innate perception of the primal energies of the universe? So he doesn't need to waste time on this hurdle?”

The plump merchant grimaced.

He hesitated but still spoke, “I feel the same way as you. If he really isn't an ordinary cultivator as he claims… he's a real freak, I'm afraid you'll never be able to prove yourself stronger than him. I hope you won't be discouraged.”

“Father always told me that I must remain strong when I lose and accept my defeat. There are many capable people in this world. I can't always win. In a person's life, the only one who can't be defeated is themselves.” Shen Yi's hands trembled slightly. His expression grew firmer, and a smile appeared at the corners of his lips.

“This young man looks good. If he were a nobleman in Changling, they wouldn't act like this after losing.” Xue Wangxu watched Shen Yi's figure disappear from the alley. He said with interest, “Ding Ning, how about you bet with him next time to claim to be a disciple of the White Goat Cave?”

Ding Ning glanced at him and said, “With the current condition of the White Goat Cave, it is better not to get in the way of others.”

Xue Wangxu's expression froze slightly. He said with a frown, “It's not really a big deal. At least the Green Vine Sword School has deep roots.”

Zhang Yi had hesitated before. Finally, he gathered his courage, looked at Ding Ning, and said, “Youngest Sect Brother…”

“I'll be using the White Goat Cave spirit veins to cultivate during the day for the next few days. Eldest Sect Brother, how about you take care of the sect master for me and take him to the places he wants to visit?” Ding Ning said directly, without waiting for Zhang Yi to persuade him.

Zhang Yi fell silent and nodded resignedly. “Alright.”

 

Although the people of the Qin Dynasty collectively possessed a brave and fierce temperament due to the military merit-based reward system, and they did not panic or flee in fear when they saw cultivators fighting, preferring instead to flock to watch, there were still considerable differences in temperament across regions.

For example, in Zhushan District, the Zheng people, whom Xue Wangxu and Ding Ning had previously visited, were weaker and more timid. They lived in constant anxiety and fear of impending doom.

The people of Guanzhong had the most heroic and violent culture. Most cultivators wielded swords like axes, and their attacks were always slashing. They cared more about their promises than their lives. Sacrificial warriors and brave warriors were also often from that region. If Xue Wangxu and Ding Ning went to a small town in Guanzhong and became enemies with the entire town, they would likely have to slaughter the entire town to escape, or be killed there.

Changling was where the power of the Qin dynasty nobility was intricately intertwined. However, the people of Changling were relatively moderate and acted with great caution, always weighing the pros and cons of their actions.

When they considered too much, their temperaments became softer and quieter, or rather, more cunning and ruthless.

Therefore, Xue Wangxu's sigh was not without reason. Among the disciples from the cultivation places in Changling, the young geniuses who came from Changling always had too much of a shadow in their eyes and not enough openness.

With such a temperament, how could they express the honest and straightforward sword manuals that were mainstream in the Qin Dynasty?

However, the sword essence of some sword sects in Changling did not follow a straight path, but rather a path that leaned more toward deceit and cunning.

For example, the Shadow Mountain Sword Cave.

The gate of the Shadow Mountain Sword Cave was located on Shadow Mountain, north of Changling. Most of the buildings in the Shadow Mountain Sword Cave, as well as some of the sword caves excavated by the earliest dynasties on the mountain, were all located on the sunny side of Shadow Mountain. However, because the surfaces of these buildings were dark gray and black, they appeared like a collection of shadows.

Gu Xichun was within one of those shadows.

He sat cross-legged on the ground. In front of him was a dark, smooth cliff wall. The entire surface of the dark gray and black mountain wall looked like a shadow, with countless sword marks of varying depths.

These sword marks appeared irregular and extremely complex.

Gu Xichun, sitting cross-legged in front of this smooth cliff wall, had no idea how long he had been studying it. His body was covered in dust, and he had lost his usual aura.

A middle-aged master dressed in dark gray robes walked silently beside him.

Seeing Gu Xichun sitting there with a haggard and pale face, like a wilted flower, the middle-aged master with a kind and gentle face could not help but sigh softly and say, “Actually, you don't have to be so radical… no matter what you learn from the Shadow Sword Wall, you probably won't be able to win the Min Mountain Sword Trials. I just received news that a young man from the Dugu Family has returned from the Northern Desert and wants to participate in the Sword Trials.”

 

Notes:

This novel is not my work... I just translated it from a Chinese web novel written by Wu Zui

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