Chapter 177 - 22: First Setback

Chapter 177: Chapter 22: First Setback

At these words, the light in everyone’s eyes faded.

An Innate Sword Heart was already a one-in-ten-thousand rarity; in all of Shandong Dao, only one or two might appear over the span of decades. As for the Acquired path, mastering ten Perfect Sword Intents was essentially an impossible dead end.

Lin Yan’s jaw went slack. He too was stunned, but for him, the shock was greater because he was reminded of Senior Situ.

’I possess an Innate Sword Heart...’

’Only those with a Sword Heart are worthy of my guidance...’

’He’d sensed a hint of a humblebrag in Senior Situ’s words back then, but he hadn’t realized the sheer scale of it.’

’Now... he understood.’

’I was still thinking too small. I hadn’t considered the larger implications.’

’A Sword Dao genius, the kind that appears in Shandong Dao only once or twice in decades, is barely qualified to receive guidance from this Senior Situ. Just how lofty must his status be?’

’And that little girl...’

Standing at the back of the crowd, Lin Yu saw Lin Yan’s jaw hanging slack and assumed he was just as discouraged as everyone else. He nudged Lin Yan lightly with his elbow and whispered, "Ten Perfect Sword Intents... That’s not giving people hope, that’s just cruel. If I could actually master ten Perfect Sword Intents, what would I even need a Sword Heart for? By then, who would dare say I don’t have one? They’d probably just claim I have some ultra-rare, hidden Sword Heart."

Lin Yan blinked at Lin Yu’s sarcastic remark, but after a moment’s thought, he realized there was some truth to it.

’It’s true. Once you’re powerful enough, people will invent justifications for you.’

"Practicing the sword... requires a steady, grounded approach. Do not aim for the unreachable." Lin Shouyuan’s voice cut through the whispers below the platform. "The Flowing Cloud Thirteen Techniques is the most difficult set in our Lin Family Swordsmanship. Today, I will perform it once to demonstrate its Sword Intent. How much you grasp will depend on your own aptitude."

As he spoke, Lin Shouyuan extended his right hand. Below the platform, Lin Mingxi instantly understood, untying the Narrow Sword from her waist and tossing it lightly. The sword cut a graceful arc through the air before settling perfectly into Lin Shouyuan’s palm.

"Watch closely!"

The moment he finished speaking, his sword flashed into action.

First Technique. The blade’s edge cut through the morning mist, its trajectory as faint as the first trace of a cloud.

The Second and Third Techniques followed immediately, each strike faster than the last. The light of the sword began to leave afterimages in the air.

By the Fifth Technique, his figure was no longer stationary. His feet moved lightly, each step landing in the gap where the sword’s light had just faded but not yet vanished.

...

The moment he transitioned from the Ninth Technique to the Tenth, Lin Yan’s pupils contracted slightly.

’Here it comes. The Flowing Cloud Sword Intent.’

...

For the Eleventh Technique, the light from the blade suddenly grew heavy, the air rumbling as if with distant thunder. Though it was merely a Narrow Sword, it felt as if he were swinging an entire storm cloud down upon them. The crowd below retreated another involuntary half-step, but Lin Mingxi had already slyly turned her back on her own father.

Twelfth Technique: Light Rending the Clouds.

An incomparably sharp Sword Intent burst forth from the layers of sword light, like a sudden crack appearing in a sky thick with dark clouds, allowing a ray of heavenly light to pierce the earth like a sword.

The Thirteenth Technique—the final strike.

Lin Shouyuan’s sword froze in mid-air. It simply hung there, unmoving.

All the sword light, Sword Momentum, and Sword Intent dissipated at this moment, as if the previous twelve strikes had never been made.

’So powerful. We both wield Perfect Sword Intent, but compared to Fifth Uncle, the power I can unleash is a world apart.’

’This is the kind of crushing superiority that comes from a higher Realm.’

’Coming to this lecture was the right decision.’

Lin Yan felt a wave of relief. After comprehending two Perfect Sword Intents in a row, it was impossible not to feel a sliver of superiority, no matter how much he tried to suppress it. But seeing his Fifth Uncle’s performance just now made him realize that while Sword Intent certainly boosted one’s power, it wasn’t a guarantee of invincibility.

Fifth Uncle’s display of swordsmanship shattered a budding arrogance he hadn’t even noticed within himself.

Lin Shouyuan withdrew his sword and turned to step off the platform, but as he did, a flicker of disappointment showed in his eyes.

’The only reason I held a public lecture this time was that Old Qi came knocking.’

’I owed Old Qi a favor. Old Qi had asked me to give some guidance on the Sword Dao to Lin Yan, a clansman from the Third Branch, so I chose this method to do it.’

’While demonstrating the Flowing Cloud Thirteen Techniques just now, my Perception had covered everyone below. If that Lin Yan truly had talent, he would have been drawn in by my Sword Intent, and an epiphany would have caused subtle changes in his breathing and even his heartbeat.’

’However, aside from Mingjing and a few others in the front row who were affected by my Sword Intent, I didn’t perceive any change in anyone else’s aura.’

’Achieving Sword Momentum with the Flowing Cloud Thirteen Techniques in just seven days is certainly astonishing. But if he had prior sword training and a foundation to build on, it isn’t impossible.’

’This Lin Yan most likely lied to the Third Branch. He must have cultivated swordsmanship before ever arriving at the main estate.’

’A fake Sword Dao genius, and a person of poor character at that. There’s no need for me to meet with him privately.’

"I see, so that’s it! The part I could never figure out... I finally understand it now! Thank you, Fifth Uncle... Huh? Where’d Fifth Uncle go?"

In the front row, a young man from the main family snapped out of a daze that had lasted for more than a dozen breaths. By the time he looked back toward the high platform, it was empty.

"Fifth Uncle left a while ago. Let’s go, too. Watching Fifth Uncle’s swordplay just now gave me some insights as well. I need to go into seclusion to properly cultivate and try to take my Sword Intent to the next level."

As the crowd dispersed, Lin Yu approached Lin Yan. "Lin Yan, a few of us are getting together in a bit. Want to join?"

Lin Yan followed Lin Yu’s gaze to several other Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artists and knew he was talking about a gathering for those of their rank from the branch families.

"I’m afraid I can’t today. I accepted a mission from the clan, and I’ve already put it off for several days. I can’t delay any longer."

"Alright, then we’ll get together when you’re back and have time."

Lin Yu didn’t press the matter. He simply thought Lin Yan had potential and was worth befriending; he had made his friendly intentions clear, and that was enough.