In the small boat, the three remained silent for a long time.
Jimo Huaxue recalled the past events, feeling a sense of melancholy in her heart.
Nangong Xier was suddenly struck by the news that her second senior brother had died for her. Shock, anger, and regret surged through her, a whirlwind of emotions. At that moment, she felt a desperate urge to grab her sword and go to Mount Weilong immediately, seeking vengeance for her fallen comrade.
“The Shanglin Heavenly Palace with Brother Su and the Shanglin Heavenly Palace without Brother Su are completely different,” Jimo Huaxue said softly.
Su Baiyi’s heart stirred. “City Lord of Jimo, do you know Grand Palace Master Su Han?”
“He and my father were close friends. He often visited Jimo Sword City as a guest, and my father admired him greatly, believing him to be a rare talent in the martial world, one not seen in a hundred years,” Jimo Huaxue said softly. “If he hadn’t died back then, perhaps the martial world would have truly become the world we hoped for. By the way, you said you were Brother Xie’s disciple. When did Brother Xie take on a disciple?”
Su Baiyi asked in confusion, “City Lord of Jimo, you seem to be very familiar with my master, but why aren’t you surprised at all by the news that he’s still alive?”
“Brother Xie, that sly fox, how could he have died so easily?” Jimo Huaxue chuckled. “You still haven’t answered my question.”
“When I was young, I was targeted by enemies and almost assassinated, but fortunately, my master happened to pass by and saved me. We then settled in a place called Apricot Blossom Village and lived there for over ten years. However, not long ago, Shanglin Heavenly Palace discovered us and took my master away,” Su Baiyi replied respectfully.
Jimo Huaxue turned around and carefully examined Su Baiyi’s features. After a long while, she suddenly asked, “Your surname is Su?”
“I don’t know. I used to be called Chen Sancai, but after meeting my master, he told me my surname was Su and my given name was Baiyi,” Su Baiyi replied.
“No wonder.” Jimo Huaxue nodded, extending a finger to touch Su Baiyi’s forehead. After a long while, she furrowed her brow slightly, her tone puzzled. “All these years you’ve been with Brother Xie, and he hasn’t taught you any powerful martial arts?”
Su Baiyi patted the Junyu Sword at his waist. “My master said that there are only three moves in swordsmanship: drawing the sword, swinging the sword, and returning the sword. So, for the past ten years, I’ve been diligently practicing the art of drawing the sword. It wasn’t until a few days ago on the Golden Wind that I was forced to start learning how to swing the sword.”
“Brother Xie always talks nonsense. If sword techniques were truly useless, why would all the different schools and sects create so many sword moves? His ‘Seeing flowers in the mist’’ sounds simple, but in reality, a single flower in the mist might contain the essence of an entire set of Xie family’s Falling Flower Swordplay He simply doesn’t want to teach you. He grew up in the Xie family, practicing their sword techniques, and that’s how he eventually became a renowned swordsman. Ask anyone from the Xie family, and they’ll tell you that they too spent over ten years tirelessly practicing drawing their swords.” Jimo Huaxue waved her hand gently, and the Junyu Sword landed in her grasp.
“Lord Jimo, are you saying… I was tricked?” Su Baiyi looked helpless.
Jimo Huaxue ran her finger along the blade, flicking it gently. “Not exactly. After over ten years of relentless practice drawing the sword, when it’s unsheathed, the sound is like thunder, the speed like lightning. In a duel, you can quickly gain the upper hand. The way you’ve been practicing isn’t wrong, just… inefficient. That’s why I’m curious why Brother Xie, who’s always been so clever, would teach you the most inefficient way to use a sword.”
“Lord Jimo, do you know the reason?” Su Baiyi asked.
“Let’s find out!” Jimo Huaxue suddenly thrust the sword forward, the tip stopping just a hair’s breadth from Su Baiyi’s forehead. Su Baiyi didn’t even have a chance to react, frozen in place.
“Lord Jimo…” Su Baiyi felt a chill on his forehead and couldn’t help but swallow.
Jimo Huaxue returned the Junyu Sword to its sheath and glanced at Su Baiyi. “Just now, I infused a wisp of sword energy into your forehead. An ordinary person would feel a pain akin to ten thousand ants gnawing at their heart, but you remain unscathed. The moment that wisp of sword energy entered your forehead, it dissipated. Do you know what kind of person can do that?”
Su Baiyi shook his head. “I don’t know.”
“Only a master who has reached the Ascending realm can withstand that wisp of sword energy from me.” Jimo Huaxue once again placed a finger on Su Baiyi’s forehead. “But have you reached the Ascending realm ?”
Su Baiyi gave a wry smile. “Lord Jimo, please don’t make fun of me.”
“I’m not mocking you. At first glance, your dantian appears empty, and based on your martial arts foundation, you seem like an ordinary disciple from a small sect. However, once my true energy tries to invade you, a powerful force suddenly emerges and devours my true energy.” Jimo Huaxue looked puzzled. “Young man, what kind of internal energy cultivation are you practicing?”
Su Baiyi smiled bitterly. “I practice the Book of Immortals, which is said to be the martial art cultivated by the former Demon Sect leader, Nangong Yunhuo. This martial art is quite strange. Even after practicing it, I feel like I haven’t practiced anything at all. It’s usually useless and doesn’t come in handy at all, except for absorbing others’ power and turning into a monster when I fall asleep…”
“The Book of Immortals.” Jimo Huaxue’s expression turned somewhat strange. She glanced at Nangong Xier before looking back at Su Baiyi. “That’s not some Demon Sect martial art, and Nangong Yunhuo never practiced it.”
Nangong Xier whipped her head around. “Second… Second Sister-in-law! Are you sure this isn’t a Heavenly Gate Holy Sect martial art?”
Jimo Huaxue shook her head. “Although I didn’t accompany my father to the shores of the South Sea back then, I still know quite a bit about this matter. The hidden details are intricate and complex. My father refused to tell me everything, but he did tell me one thing: he said there was never any Demon Sect, and the Heavenly Gate Holy Sect’s leader, Nangong Yunhuo, was a hero worthy of respect. As for the so-called ‘evil Demon Sect martial arts,’ that’s all just nonsense.”
Nangong Xier wanted to ask more, but a sharp pain in her chest suddenly rendered her speechless.
Jimo Huaxue extended a finger, sending a wisp of true energy into Nangong Xier’s body. “I can tell you about these things later. Su Baiyi, did Brother Xie give you the Book of Immortals?”
Su Baiyi nodded. “My master said he stole a treasure from the Shanglin Heavenly Palace, which is why he’s been hunted all these years. I never connected this incident with the half of the martial arts manual he gave me until he was taken back to the Shanglin Heavenly Palace. Only then did he tell me that the treasure he stole from the Shanglin Heavenly Palace was the Book of Immortals.”
“I understand why Brother Xie didn’t teach you swordsmanship. It’s because he didn’t know how to. You’ve cultivated the power of the Book of Immortals, and without the most suitable sword technique to guide you, you could easily go astray.” Jimo Huaxue suddenly realized.
Su Baiyi sighed. “Everyone keeps saying how amazing this martial art is, but why can’t I feel it at all? This whole journey has been nothing but getting beaten up and running for my life. If they want the manual so badly, why didn’t my master just give it to them? Why put me through all this trouble?”
“The Book of Immortals.” Jimo Huaxue’s expression held a hint of mockery. “That’s a true divine scripture from the immortals. You only have half of it, so naturally, it’s hard to grasp its essence. But fortunately, you’ve met me today. From now on, I will teach you swordsmanship.”
Su Baiyi’s eyes lit up with joy. “Lord Jimo, you know how to teach me swordsmanship?”
“Naturally. You practice the Book of Immortals, and I am a Sword Immortal.”
Thank you.