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On the cloud platform, Chen Sheng looked at the elusive azure figure of the Profound Sword within the water curtain and slowly furrowed his brows.

Every time Profound Sword struck, it was accompanied by thunderous sounds, the sword speed so fast it almost formed a bluish-gray streak of light, with the Sword Qi a thousand zhang away able to precisely pinpoint Chen Xihua's movements.

This kind of roaming combat skill was very reminiscent of the time he had seen Master Qing Xiao.

Although Profound Sword's cultivation was far inferior, the concept of wielding the sword and using speed to gain the upper hand was identical.

The Path of Vertical Sword essentially boils down to "trading distance for opportunity, using speed to suppress the opponent."

The principle is simple, but truly achieving the integration of sword speed, sword frequency, and sword distance requires refining one's Sword Essence through countless efforts, supported by top-tier cultivation techniques. ​

Chen Sheng recalled Master Shi Fang's previous words, mentioning that Profound Sword had studied at Myriad Swords Sect, leading him to ask,

"Does study exchange also include Transmission?"

Chen Sheng shifted his gaze from the water curtain to the face of Master Shi Fang.

He clearly remembered that Myriad Swords Sect held their core inheritances very tightly; when Master Nine Profound mentioned the "Myriad Swords Chong Mai Golden Seal," he did so with the pride of the sect.

​Master Shi Fang drained his cup of Spirit Tea and smacked his lips:

"Naturally it involves Transmission. Without the True Understanding of Sword Form to refine Sword Form and the Myriad Swords Chong Mai Golden Seal to nurture Sword Essence and Meridian, the Path of Vertical Sword would be rootless duckweed."

He traced two intersecting sword marks in the air with his finger:

"Look at Profound Sword's footwork—the toe touches down first when he steps, exactly the Stepping Sword Technique from the True Understanding of Sword Form."

Chen Sheng was even more astonished. These two are core inheritances of Myriad Swords Sect and they're willing to transmit them outside?

Master Shi Fang, however, smiled and explained to him,

"What is given for free? It is said that Peak Master Hua Cang gave away a piece of Star Marrow Cold Gold for it."

"That is prime material for refining a Tier Four High Grade Flying Sword, something even True Monarch Sword Dragon of Myriad Swords Sect has coveted for years."

He paused, then added,

"Besides, you know the restriction methods of our Nascent Soul Sects; even if Profound Sword learns them, he can't share them, only use them himself."

"And although these two cultivation techniques are excellent, they need the Sword Nurturing Pool of Myriad Swords Sect to exert their full power. Profound Sword, even if he learns them, can only grasp the form, not the essence."

Chen Sheng pursued further, "Is Myriad Swords Sect not afraid?"

Master Shi Fang burst into hearty laughter:

"Afraid of what? These two techniques are learned by every Inner Sect disciple of Myriad Swords Sect, but few achieve fame with them."

"Is a mere Profound Sword learning techniques going to surpass those Sword Madmen of the Sword Sect?"

"Sword Vein is nurturing Profound Sword as a future pillar; could they mimic Myriad Swords Sect's training model? The way of the Myriad Swords is like nurturing venom; only when countless swords are broken can unmatched Divine Weapons emerge!"

"Moreover, while True Understanding of Sword Form and Myriad Swords Chong Mai Golden Seal are core inheritances, they are only core for the Foundation Establishment and Golden Core Stage. At the Nascent Soul level, the profound Sword Dao of Myriad Swords Sect is not so readily disseminated."

Hearing this, Chen Sheng nodded lightly, lost in thought.

As they spoke, the battle in the water curtain shifted.

Chen Xihua wasn't foolish enough to continue being kited around. Since he had lost the initiative to attack, he shifted his focus to defense,

He took out a shield in the shape of a White Tiger from his Storage Pouch. The shield was entirely snow-white, carved with lifelike tiger patterns—a Quasi-Tier Three Spiritual Artifact named the White Tiger Golden Light Shield.​

"Buzz—"

Chen Xihua injected Spiritual Power into the shield; instantly, a golden barrier a zhang high rose from the ground. The White Tiger's phantom on the barrier roared skyward, setting off golden ripples around it.

He sat cross-legged on the grass, hands performing sealing techniques, presenting a posture of letting the opponent attack at will.

The opponent's sword frequency and sword speed were high, corresponding to great mana consumption. Chen Xihua's plan was simply to drag it out, forcing the opponent to close the distance.

Profound Sword raised an eyebrow, continuing to unleash Sword Qi:

"Is this… a defensive battle?"

​Profound Sword's Sword Qi followed closely, with blue-gray sword lights raining down on the Golden Light Shield, making crisp "ding-ding" sounds.

The barrier shook violently, the tiger's mane being cut upright by the Sword Qi, yet it steadfastly protected Chen Xihua.

Profound Sword sensed his Sword Power significantly waned due to the thousand-zhang distance. When the sword tip struck the barrier, it felt like it was mired down.​

He gazed at the unmoving barrier, his brows furrowed, continually switching sword techniques, sometimes hacking heavily, other times probing lightly. The crashing sounds were relentless, and though the barrier shook fiercely, it stood firm.

Master Shi Fang laughed heartily:

"This boy's mastery of the Path of Vertical Sword is evidently incomplete, a Myriad Swords Cultivator; if one strike fails, they roam a thousand miles; why stubbornly attack a turtle shell?"

Chen Sheng merely shook his head. He believed if Profound Sword was chosen for focused training by Sword Vein, he was clearly not a fool; he'd come around soon.

Sure enough,

After probing for several rounds, Profound Sword suddenly withdrew his sword and retreated, flashing to a position two thousand zhang away.

He also sat cross-legged, ingesting an elixir pill to recover Spiritual Power, clearly intending to drag the match out with Chen Xihua.

The essence of the Path of Vertical Sword is distance. While far-off strikes might not break an opponent's defense due to insufficient Sword Power, he wouldn't close the distance.

The Sword Power, though stronger and more potent at close range, risked being invaded by the opponent.

Dragging it out? That's simple; who can't? If he doesn't strike, the opponent maintains their defensive magical artifact. Who will outlast the other in consumption?

As for the opponent continuously consuming elixir pills to maintain it, at worst, it ends in a draw; after all, he's not closing in.

Even though the opponent consistently deploys defensive magical artifacts to obscure sight.

But Profound Sword was not naïve, having already gathered information on the opponent, constantly mindful of the fact that he was a Body Cultivator at Body Refining Sixth Layer Perfection, and had no intention of foolishly walking into a trap.

​Seeing this, Chen Xihua reluctantly withdrew the Golden Light Shield, knowing Profound Sword's intentions—to drag the match to a draw rather than risk closing in for Chen Xihua to strike.

Indeed, as soon as he removed his defense, Profound Sword launched another attack. The blue-gray Sword Light followed like a shadow, maintaining a safe distance.

So the two played cat and mouse: one attacking, one defending, one retreating, one pursuing, in a tug-of-war across the boundless grassland.

Chen Xihua tried numerous times to use the terrain to mask his charge but was repelled by Profound Sword's Sword Qi. Profound Sword also feigned attacks to lure the opponent, but Chen Xihua's unyielding defensive posture thwarted him.

As the tournament's time ran short, a resolute glint flashed in Chen Xihua's eyes.

He slapped his chest hard, spitting out a mouthful of Essence Blood that fell on his lapel, instantly forming blood-colored runes—this was the Blood Gang Secret Skill of the Body Refining Sixth Layer, trading the burning of vital energy for a tripling of speed. ​

"Hah!"

​Chen Xihua transformed into a crimson lightning bolt, the grass beneath his feet uplifted by Gang Qi, leaving a long trail as he charged at Profound Sword.

Seeing this, Profound Sword's gaze hardened as he utilized the secret of Human-Sword Unity.

In an instant, he and his longsword merged into one, becoming a streak of azure-gray light, moving a half-step faster than Chen Xihua's Blood Gang Secret Skill.

The two light beams on the grassland were in a chase, with the crimson lightning nearly catching the azure-gray light several times, but always eluding at the last possible second. ​

"Time is up!"

With True Monarch Han Lou's voice, the Power of Space transmitted both out of the Small Realm.

Chen Xihua held his chest, gasping heavily, blood staining his lips, having never been in control throughout, feeling exasperated:

"The Path of Vertical Sword is truly vexing."

Profound Sword also disengaged from the Human-Sword Unity, his face pallid as he shook his head after a glance at his opponent:

"It's a pity I still haven't mastered that sword technique; otherwise, I would have surely broken its defense."

After years of exchange, he had learned the "Vertical" character of the Path of Vertical Sword well, but the "Sword" character lacked; a Sword Cultivator's offensive strength is also the core, and breaking all with one strike is the ultimate pursuit.

Though he had won the surface, he hadn't truly defeated his opponent, feeling a similar regret in his heart.

On the Sword Vein high stage, Peak Master Hua Cang was quite satisfied, stroking his beard with a smile:

"To maintain the initiative is rare; the trip to Myriad Swords Sect was not in vain."

On the cloud platform, Chen Sheng watched the fading scene of the grassland in the water curtain and nodded gently.

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