Comprehending Myriad Techniques as Woodcutter

Chapter 215: Chapter 183: Black Celestial Book Harvest, Cloud Dragon 9 Styles

WHOOSH—

RUSTLE—

A powerful gale, laced with the sharpness of Sword Qi, howled ceaselessly within the mountain cave.

Within the core of the mountain’s belly not far away, a furious hurricane of Sword Intent would whip up periodically. The scattered aftershocks would blow out through the cracks in the rock, becoming a convenient boon for Xie Yuan.

This sword-wind was erratic—sometimes strong, sometimes weak; sometimes frequent, sometimes rare. Its arrival was entirely a matter of luck.

This, in fact, made Xie Yuan even more convinced that its source was the mystical power of the Black Celestial Book.

Chaos threaded through its wondrous nature—that was the Black Celestial Book’s signature trait. The celestial book, destroyed in the age of myths, had split into several secret manuals of the Martial Dao. They were not symbols of fortune and opportunity.

It was a good thing this immense, howling Sword Intent was deep within the mountain’s belly, where it couldn’t hurt or disturb anyone. After all, Cloud Mountain soared into the heavens, and its body was vast. The core of the mountain was extremely far from the surface, buried under layers of earth and rock, which was why the Cloud Mountain disciples outside remained completely unaware.

As for whether Cloud Mountain’s past Grandmasters knew about it... Xie Yuan didn’t know either. But if they only resided on the mountain and never ventured inside it, their ignorance would be normal.

[Black Celestial Book: (198/200)]

’It went up another point.’

Xie Yuan’s spirits lifted. He sat cross-legged in the cave, bathing in the sword-wind as if it were a pleasant spring breeze, completely at ease.

If an outsider who didn’t understand the situation saw the look of pleasure on his face as the sharp wind blew over him, they would assume he had some peculiar hobby.

’Sharpness... Sword Qi...’

Having been buffeted by this wind for so long, Xie Yuan’s gains weren’t limited to just the progress bar.

Although he could achieve results in the end without using his brain, comprehending the Sword Qi for so long had given him additional insights into swordsmanship.

Each strand of Sword Qi mixed in the wind was like a different sword form attacking him—from different angles, at different speeds, with different power.

Even within the same gust of wind, there were strands of Sword Qi from different angles, representing strikes from different approaches.

Xie Yuan felt as if he had sparred with countless master swordsmen. His mind seemed to have gained a deeper understanding of swordsmanship, yet it was as if a veil separated him from it, making it intangible.

Just like this sword-wind, he could feel it, be caressed by it, but he couldn’t grasp it.

’Perhaps the time isn’t right yet.’

Xie Yuan had a realization but felt no impatience. Enlightenment itself was a flash of inspiration; it could happen in the next moment, or it could never happen at all. Some people, after gaining nothing for a long time, would gradually lose their mental balance, marking the beginning of their descent into madness.

But Xie Yuan would probably never be anxious. After all, if he couldn’t figure it out himself, well, something else would figure it out for him.

[Black Celestial Book: (199/200)]

’Yep, it’s almost figured it out.’

Xie Yuan’s expression was calm, long accustomed to his own level of perceptiveness.

Time slowly passed, and the sword-wind howled intermittently.

A powerful blast of Sword Edge, mixed with bits of gravel, blew over, striking Xie Yuan’s bare torso with a RUSTLE and producing a PING PING sound, like metal striking stone.

Xie Yuan’s skin was like a sheet of iron. It looked and felt supple as usual, but it contained immense defensive power within.

Xie Yuan sank into his consciousness, wholeheartedly comprehending the sharp intent within the sword-wind. Each time, he experienced a different kind of Sword Qi, yet he applied the same level of focus.

’Even though I’m using a small cheat, I can at least say I’m serious and hardworking while using it. I’ve shed a bit of sweat, you know.’

[Black Celestial Book: (200/200)]

On the ethereal panel, the numbers jumped, but Xie Yuan no longer saw them.

His mind was in a state of pure clarity. It was as if he could see countless wind-like figures around him, each brandishing a sharp sword, circling and striking at him relentlessly.

Xie Yuan seemed to see a great mountain. On its countless steps were innumerable swordsmen, and even innumerable masterless swords, all swinging continuously, displaying different forms of swordsmanship. Whirlwinds spun and howled around the mountain, and within the wind were also countless figures, demonstrating their swordsmanship in mid-air. They drifted about, a sight that was not without its peculiarity, strangeness, and even absurdity.

But Xie Yuan felt nothing else toward this scene. He was completely immersed in the world of swordsmanship, seemingly having forgotten why he had come here.

He felt like an ascetic monk on a pilgrimage, kowtowing with every step. After an unknown amount of time, he had finally arrived at the holy land. Gazing upon the various sword styles he had dreamed of, he was utterly captivated, forgetting himself completely, lost in a trance.

After watching for who knows how long, Xie Yuan vaguely felt a pain in his body. He suddenly jolted and came to his senses.

He frowned and touched his bare chest, discovering the skin was slightly broken.

’My defense was broken. No wonder I felt a bit of pain just now; it’s what woke me up.’

’How long has this wind been blowing... Oh no!’

A jolt of alarm went through Xie Yuan. ’A few days and nights couldn’t have passed, could they?’

He quickly grabbed the clothes he had tucked behind him, put them on, and rushed out of the cave, only to find the sky filled with the glow of sunset. It was dusk.

’It’s evening. I wonder if it’s the evening of the same day, or...’

Xie Yuan was inexplicably struck by the same panic one feels after sneaking off to play games during a break, only to get engrossed and realize you’ve missed class. He was about to hurry back to the Outer Courtyard, but he changed direction and climbed to a familiar cave on the cliff not far from here, one where he often practiced.

’Forget it. I’m late anyway, a little longer won’t make a difference!’

Xie Yuan arrived at the cave. As he scanned the area before him, his expression flickered.

[Cloud Mountain Sword Form: Perfected]

[Cloud Dragon Nine Forms: Entry (1/500)]

’The Cloud Mountain Sword Form is perfected, just as I expected... Another perfected Cultivation Technique.’

Xie Yuan’s eyes lit up. With a flick of his hand, he abruptly drew his sword.

A brilliant flash of sword light illuminated the cave, lighting up the dim evening cliff face.

BANG—

The Sword Qi slashed out, carving a deep gash into the cave wall. Rubble rustled and fell from the ceiling.

Xie Yuan sheathed his sword, his eyes shining with an intimidating light.

The Cloud Mountain Sword Form was perfected, but its power was a secondary concern.

Just like perfecting the Rushing Wolf Saber Skill, perfecting the Cloud Mountain Sword Form brought a comprehensive improvement to his foundational swordsmanship. His hacks, thrusts, stabs, and slices were all now incomparably precise.

Moreover, although the Cloud Mountain Sword Form was of a higher grade than the Rushing Wolf Saber Skill, it was itself a swordsmanship style meant for building a foundation, so the effect was even more profound. Though Xie Yuan had only recently started practicing swordsmanship, his foundation was now incredibly solid, far surpassing someone who had trained since childhood to his age. It was as if he had been immersed in the Sword Dao for decades.

And that wasn’t all. By practicing a sword style to perfection and immersing himself in the sword-wind to gain enlightenment, he had truly comprehended a trace of Sword Intent. This was an understanding that touched upon the very fundamentals of the Sword Dao. Now, even ordinary moves would have their power greatly amplified when he performed them.

’Comprehending both saber intent and Sword Intent... does that make me a master of both blade and sword?’

’But what I’m truly exceptional with is actually the axe.’

Xie Yuan’s expression was joyful. More techniques meant greater strength, which was naturally a cause for happiness.

And the gains from this session weren’t over yet.

’Cloud Dragon Nine Forms... I’ve already reached the Entry level?’

Xie Yuan was a little surprised. He had never even seen this swordsmanship style, only heard of its great fame.

The Cloud Dragon Nine Forms was one of the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect’s most profound and world-renowned swordsmanship styles, known for being unpredictable and immensely powerful.

This was a swordsmanship style of an extremely high grade. Typically, only Grandmasters could master it; few disciples in the Qi and Blood Metamorphosis Realm were capable of even reaching the entry level.

Qin Zhenyang was one, but he hadn’t heard of any others. Of course, as a handyman disciple, his information was limited, but the number was certainly not large. After all, the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect’s swordsmanship was famous for its myriad variations and exquisite moves, making it notoriously difficult to master.

Furthermore, as one of the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect’s top-tier swordsmanship styles, not everyone was qualified to learn the Cloud Dragon Nine Forms. The threshold was extremely high.

Ordinary Core Disciples of the Inner Sect couldn’t study it without first performing meritorious deeds; it was reserved for the True Disciples of the various peaks and halls.

For Xie Yuan, a mere handyman, to have suddenly learned and already entered the first level was a truly unexpected delight.

Eager to try it out, he gripped the hilt and drew his sword once more.

The Long Sword let out a ringing sound, like a dragon’s cry.

The sword light flickered, resembling a flying dragon amidst the clouds, shaking its head and wagging its tail. The blade was hidden within the brilliant white light as if concealed in mist. Before one could see it clearly, their mind would fall into disarray, and the Sword Edge would already be upon them.

Xie Yuan executed the First Form of the Cloud Dragon Nine Forms inside the cave. His figure was graceful and elusive, sword light crisscrossing as both man and sword flickered continuously, making them difficult to track. If he were facing an enemy here, they would likely have their throat slit by his sword before they could even grab the corner of his robes.

The sword light flared brightly, then subsided, revealing Xie Yuan’s tall figure, standing with his sword sheathed.

’As expected of the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect’s peak swordsmanship. Its power surpasses every Cultivation Technique I’ve learned so far!’

Xie Yuan’s face was alight with excitement. Even though he had just reached the entry level and could only use the First Form, its power was not to be underestimated.

In terms of power and difficulty, it ranked first among all the Cultivation Techniques he knew.

Unpredictable yet incredibly sharp—no wonder it was so hard to master.

The Cloud Dragon Nine Forms was powerful, but its difficulty was even greater.

Of course, for Xie Yuan, difficulty wasn’t a consideration. With his talent, the harder, the better.

’The Cloud Mountain Sword Form is perfected, and I’ve learned the Cloud Dragon Nine Forms. The Black Celestial Book is just too good. Hmm, speaking of which, it must be the combination of perfecting the Cloud Mountain Sword Form and comprehending the Sword Intent in the wind that allowed me to grasp such a powerful swordsmanship style and reach the entry level directly.’

Xie Yuan nodded, his spirits soaring. Such gains were exhilarating.

But he felt there was more. Having been immersed in the world of Sword Intent for so long, there were still other realizations lingering in his mind that he couldn’t quite grasp yet.

[Black Celestial Book: (1/500)]

’I’ll find out next time... It gets harder with each level. The next one will probably take a long time.’

Xie Yuan nodded, sheathed his Long Sword, and leaped out of the cave, expertly making his way down the cliff face. Climbing this cliff every day was extremely beneficial for his comprehension of the Cloud Dragon Step, allowing him to progress at a rapid pace.

He made his way back to the handyman disciples’ compound. The moon had already risen, which was right around the time most of the handymen finished their work.

In the courtyard, Xie Yuan greeted many of the handymen he knew. Seeing that no one seemed to find his presence unusual, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

’Looks like it hasn’t been too long. It should still be the same day.’

Tian Zhuang was nearby. Seeing him approach, he called out casually:

"Junior Brother Zhang, did you head to the Mid-Mountain Guest Courtyard this morning?"

"Yeah, the day of the sword competition is getting close, so I went to tidy things up. By the way, how many days are left?"

At Xie Yuan’s question, Tian Zhuang started counting on his fingers and said:

"Seven days until they come up the mountain. Sigh, we’ve been so busy lately..."

Hearing this, Xie Yuan confirmed to himself that he had indeed only been in his trance for a day. ’Thank goodness. If I’d been missing for too long, it would have been hard to explain.’

Seeing that he hadn’t attracted any undue attention, Xie Yuan silently blended back in with the other handymen, preparing to wash up and rest.

’I’ve been in a state of enlightenment for so long today. I should get a good, solid night’s sleep, recharge my energy, and strike a balance between work and rest.’

’It’s just that the handyman disciples’ compound stinks a bit... It’s filled with handyman disciples who’ve worked hard all day. The smell really isn’t pleasant.’

They were handymen, after all. The Cloud Mountain Sword Sect was established high on a mountain, so the living conditions weren’t great to begin with, and it was even worse for the handymen. Only those who had slept in the large, communal bunks could know the misery.

However, Xie Yuan had been cultivating for a long time and had a firm will, so he didn’t find it too difficult to endure.

’Anyway, I should be able to move to a better place soon...’

As his thoughts were wandering, Tian Zhuang, who was brushing his teeth beside him, suddenly said:

"Oh, right. I ran into Senior Brother Qin this morning, and he asked why you weren’t there."

"Senior Brother Qin? Qin Zhenyang?"

Xie Yuan froze for a moment, seeking confirmation.

"Yeah, the Eldest Senior Brother. He looked like he needed you for something, so I told him you’d probably gone to the Mid-Mountain Guest Courtyard to work. He didn’t say anything and just left. Did he go looking for you there later? Did you see him?"

Tian Zhuang asked.

Xie Yuan’s hand paused, and his expression stiffened.

’How would I know if he went there or not? Should I say I saw him, or that I didn’t?’

Just as he was wondering how to answer, a commotion arose at the compound’s entrance, followed by a continuous stream of greetings:

"Senior Brother Qin!"

"Greetings, Eldest Senior Brother!"

Qin Zhenyang’s calm and steady voice sounded from the entrance:

"There’s no need for formalities.

"Junior Brother Zhang Shan, come here for a moment."

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