Chapter 488 - 466: Child, Your Understanding of the Sword Dao Is a Bit Ridiculously Warped, Isn’t It?

Chapter 488: Chapter 466: Child, Your Understanding of the Sword Dao Is a Bit Ridiculously Warped, Isn’t It?

The instant the ancient sword left its sheath and landed in Lin Qingfeng’s palm, even the flowing wind around them seemed to freeze.

Although the sword looked mottled with rust, a faint cyan light shone from beneath the corrosion. Each trace of rust seemed to contain an air of ancient majesty and nobility. In You Gu’s eyes, this was no sword; it was clearly a verdict hanging before Yama Hall, a heavenly tribulation poised to descend at any moment!

Above the ruins of Anhe City, within that colossal Platinum Sword God Dharma Aspect, the very sword Lin Qingfeng had wielded was this one!

Back then, Lin Qingfeng had used this sword alone to block the combined assault of six Nascent Soul cultivators from both the righteous and demonic paths. No, to be more precise, he had single-handedly surrounded those six Nascent Soul cultivators!

Now, seeing it up close, the aura emanating from this sword was even more terrifying than before!

You Gu, who had just gotten to his feet, once again... THUD!

He was on his knees again!

This time, he knelt even more decisively and loudly than before.

Lin Qingfeng’s hand, holding the sword, froze in mid-air. The corner of his eye twitched uncontrollably.

’What the hell, are your legs spring-loaded?’

’Or do your knees have some kind of sensor that automatically powers down the moment you see me do anything?’

’He just wanted to take out the sword to use his replication skill. He hadn’t even started yet, and this guy had already skipped ahead to the worship segment?’

’Skipping other things is one thing, but skipping my scenes? Who was it that said skipping the plot is like skipping life itself! Especially my plot! Don’t you want to live your lives anymore?!’

’Speaking of which, are you some kind of Kneeling System? Do you get to directly attain godhood or something after kneeling a certain number of times?’

’Hiss... How terrifying!’

’No wonder you have the "survive by any means" tag. Who else would have it if not you! I knew you were shameless, but this is a new low!’

"Great skill appears clumsy, a heavy sword has no edge... This is the Dao in its simplest form!"

At this moment, You Gu once again prostrated himself completely.

"The mottled sword body is not corrosion, but the Dao-rhythm of prosperous and withered ages, settled over time! Its sharpness is concealed, not dull; it is a perfect reflection of Eldest Brother’s state of mind, having returned to simplicity!"

"This old one was blind, having lived hundreds of years in vain. Only today do I know what the true Sword Dao is! Before this sword, this old one’s meager cultivation is like a firefly before the bright moon. I am ashamed beyond words!"

Wang and the others standing to the side were completely dumbfounded.

’Hey, why did this old man start groveling again! You’re making us look disrespectful!!’

’This bastard is forcing us to kneel with him, isn’t he! Is he trying to make us look less loyal to Eldest Brother? Damn it, when there’s a king of tryhards around, you can only try hard along with them. We can’t lose face even if we lose the battle!’

"Eldest Brother is divinely mighty!"

"With this sword in the world, the eternal night is shattered! We could look up to Eldest Brother’s realm our entire lives and never grasp even a fraction of it!"

"To see this sword’s true form is a blessing we’ve cultivated over three lifetimes!"

For a moment, praise thundered before the sect gate, a mixture of flattery and awe.

Lin Qingfeng: "..."

He took a deep breath, feeling a headache coming on.

’What is wrong with this group?’

’Groveling is one thing, but are they turning it into a competition?’

’Today, at our own sect gate, they kneel to me, Lin Qingfeng. You could still say it’s out of respect for their teacher and the Dao. But if one day, they are out in the world and encounter a powerful enemy from another sect, will their knees bend just as easily?’

’If outsiders took a picture of Guixi Sect disciples being so spineless, kneeling en masse at the sight of a weapon, how could we maintain our reputation?’

’If some busybody screenshotted this and posted it on a forum, I’ve already thought of the title: "Shocking! Guixi Sect Disciples Suffer from Mass Calcium Deficiency. Is This a Perversion of Human Nature or a Collapse of Morality?"’

’Do we even want to have any prestige left? I have to put a stop to this unhealthy trend!’

Lin Qingfeng cleared his throat lightly, and the scene instantly fell silent.

"Enough."

"All of you, get up."

He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over each person’s face.

"Once you enter my Guixi Sect, you must understand the weight of a backbone."

"Kneeling to heaven and earth, to your parents and teachers—that is proper etiquette. I do not blame you for it."

"But you all will remember this."

"Your knees may bend within the sect. But once you step outside this gate, even if blades and axes are upon you, even if your soul is about to be scattered, if anyone dares to bend a knee to an outsider and tarnish the reputation of my Guixi Sect..."

"...then don’t bother coming back alive."

After that, Lin Qingfeng paid the new disciples no more mind and returned his attention to the ancient sword in his hand.

With a thought, the system panel unfolded before his eyes.

[Ancient Sword: Slow Sword]

[Grade: Initial Earth Tier (Evolving)]

[Base Attributes]

[Sharpness·Piercing Void (Advanced)]: The blade not only cuts through metal and jade but also carries a "penetrating force." Attacks have a chance to ignore 30% of the target’s Protective Gang Qi or physical defense, allowing the Sword Intent to pierce directly into their organs.

[Exorcism and World Purification]: Its righteous aura inflicts double burning damage to demons and ghosts, and it can dispel low-level Illusion Techniques and foul energies in the vicinity.

[Toughness·Immortal]: The sword’s body possesses an extremely fast self-repair speed. Unless its core is shattered by a Divine Soldier two tiers higher, it can be reforged using Spiritual Qi.

[«Cyan Lotus Sword Song»]

Slaughter and splendor coexist, moving from complexity to simplicity, from life to annihilation.

Tier 1: First Bloom of the Cyan Lotus

[Requirement]: Qi Refining Great Perfection or higher

[Form Description]: Sword Qi takes form. When the sword is drawn, a cyan lotus blooms. The Sword Qi is dazzlingly brilliant, yet it conceals a sharp killing intent.

Tier 2: Sword Domain: Step by Step Lotus

[Requirement]: Mid-stage Core Formation or higher

[Domain Effect]: Cyan Lotus Sword Domain: An absolute domain expands with the sword master at its center. Sword-Thread Structure: Each blooming Sword Qi lotus within the domain is woven from one hundred and eight sword-threads. The instant the lotuses bloom, the sword-threads erupt, inflicting devastating, multi-layered strangulation damage to enemies within range.

Tier 3: Mystical Skill: Evergreen

[Requirement]: Nascent Soul Stage or higher

[Finisher Effect]: Instantly detonates all existing cyan lotuses within the [Cyan Lotus Sword Domain], causing the Sword Qi to collapse inward, condensing into a single point of cyan light. This point-blank attack has extremely high killing power and a chance to enable cross-realm combat.

[Subsequent moves have not been unlocked]

[Other Unlocked Tags]

[Lingering Connection] (Control/Pursuit): After the Sword Qi hits an enemy, it leaves behind threads of Spiritual Power invisible to the naked eye. When the enemy attempts to flee or counterattack, the threads automatically tighten, restricting their movement speed or forcibly pulling them back into the attack range of the sword move.

[Remaining tags have not been unlocked]

[Sword Talent: Awakening]

As rust falls, the edge returns, startling gods and ghosts.The Cyan Lotus, reborn, washes the world of its mortal dust.With the Slow Sword, question karma’s flow,Half with compassion, half with wrathful glow.

The Sword Immortal of the past erased not only his name but also the heavy burden of his slaughter. Now, as the new master wields this sword, every swing seems to be a continuation of that old friend’s unfinished path.

Lin Qingfeng quickly scanned the long list of skill descriptions.

’However...’

’This sword is, after all, an evolving weapon I obtained from the sword mound. I can’t just casually toss it to my junior sister to use.’

’What if one day she gets carried away killing and loses it, or someone steals it? Wouldn’t that be a huge loss for me?’

’It’s better to have her master the technique herself.’

"System, use [Artifact Replication Order]."

[Ding! Consumed rare consumable: Artifact Replication Order (Sword-type) ×1]

[Copying the exclusive Cultivation Technique contained within the target weapon...]

[Copy successful! Obtained Skill Book: «Cyan Lotus Sword Song»]

A flash of light appeared in his hand, and a jade slip materialized out of thin air, surrounded by floating orbs of light.

Lin Qingfeng turned to look at Su Ling’er, who was still a bit dazed.

At that moment, Su Ling’er suddenly had a bad feeling.

When she saw her Eldest Brother turn around and look at her with a wide grin, Lin Qingfeng raised his hand and slapped the jade slip directly onto her forehead.

SLAP!

A crisp sound echoed.

Su Ling’er felt a jolt on her forehead, and her mind went completely blank.

’QAQ... Eldest Brother... does the Guixi Sect’s spiritual impartation always involve getting slapped like this?’

’The last time you taught me a Cultivation Technique, you slapped me. This time, you’re slapping me again...’

’If this happens a few more times, am I going to be slapped stupid?’

The next second.

BOOM!

The light from the jade slip dispersed the moment it entered her mind, transforming into a flood of profound information that washed over her sea of consciousness. The jade slip itself lost its glow, becoming ordinary.

But at that moment, Su Ling’er’s vision went black, and her eyes rolled back uncontrollably.

A massive amount of insight regarding the Sword Dao, the Cyan Lotus, and the cycle of life and death flooded madly into the depths of her memory.

’That’s...’

’«Cyan Lotus Sword Song»?!’

’So... so Eldest Brother remembered all along!’

’Back in Nabo Garden, Eldest Brother had me hold the Slow Sword and controlled me to pierce through those Nascent Soul Cultivators, one strike at a time, all so I could learn this Sword Technique!’

’Unfortunately, I was too stupid back then and failed to grasp its essence.’

She thought she had disappointed her Eldest Brother.

She thought she would never be able to learn such a peerless Sword Technique.

’But I never expected...’

’Eldest Brother would directly impart the Sword Technique to me!’

’Although it was with another slap... emmmmm... but Eldest Brother... Ling’er will... will definitely not let you down...’

With this final, lingering thought, Su Ling’er’s consciousness sank completely into the depths of her sea of consciousness.

...

「Sea of Consciousness Space」

Here was a void of chaos.

In the center of the void, a majestic cyan lotus was slowly blooming.

Su Ling’er’s soul had just taken form when she saw a blurry, green-robed figure standing before her.

This was a remnant will of a Sword Immortal contained within the «Cyan Lotus Sword Song», the spiritual guide for this Cultivation Technique.

The figure carried the same ancient Slow Sword as her Eldest Brother on his back. His aura was ethereal, and merely by standing there, an infinite Sword Intent radiated from him, as if he were the very pinnacle of the Sword Dao in this world.

At this moment, the Sword Immortal’s remnant will slowly opened his eyes, preparing to welcome the new inheritor.

"You who have come, are you the inheritor of the «Cyan Lotus Sword Song»?"

Normally, an inheritor entering this place should be respectful, holding a longsword, and demonstrating their desire for and talent in the Sword Dao.

However, when the Sword Immortal’s remnant will looked at the "consciousness," his gaze, once as still as an old well, was suddenly stirred by waves.

"This is..."

The consciousness of Su Ling’er that had appeared here was covered in countless sword marks!

It was an extremely peculiar form, created by treating her physical body, bones, meridians, and even her soul as a piece of raw iron, hammering and quenching it countless times through the methods of Artifact Refining, all fortified by an unwavering heart for the Dao!

He even had a feeling.

This young girl before him could not only use a sword to perform the «Cyan Lotus Sword Song».

In fact... it seemed she didn’t need a sword at all?

She herself was enough!

’In other words, she can use her fists, her elbows, any part of her body, to execute this supreme Sword Technique that should only be wieldable with a sword?’

’My own Sword Technique... can be performed with fists?’

The green-robed Sword Immortal was a little stunned.

An extremely incongruous image appeared in his mind:

’Other Sword Cultivators, when performing the «Cyan Lotus Sword Song», are clad in robes whiter than snow, their Sword Qi like a rainbow, taking heads while reciting poetry. How elegant and free-spirited.’

’But if this girl learns it...’

’Wouldn’t she be loudly reciting "Do you not see the Yellow River’s waters come from the sky," while shattering her opponent’s flying sword with an elbow strike, then backhanding them into a subterranean abyss with a punch?’

’How is that still the «Cyan Lotus Sword Song»? That’s clearly the «Cyan Lotus Iron Head Skill», or perhaps the «Cyan Lotus Skull Shattering Fist»! Even calling it the «Cyan Lotus Fist Song» would feel wrong!’

’No matter what you call it, the style is just completely off!!!’

The green-robed figure looked at Su Ling’er’s eyes, which burned with pure devotion to the Sword Dao, and couldn’t help but mutter to himself, ’Could it be... because she admires the Sword Dao so much, she decided to refine herself into a sword?’

’Wait... child, isn’t your understanding of the Sword Dao a little... ridiculously skewed?’