The sudden reversal left everyone below the Sword Discussion Platform looking at each other in stunned silence. Many had clearly seen that Ji Qingxuan’s defeat was sealed, yet her sword techniques had suddenly changed. They were completely different from her previous style, and even the flow of her spiritual energy had become incredibly profound, as if she had been replaced by someone else. If she could achieve such a level, why had Ji Huan injured her arm and left her face pale earlier?
Jiang Huai, who was resting his head on Su Qingyi’s lap, opened his eyes. He had to admit, he felt a little guilty. He was the one who had cheated. Ji Qingxuan’s body contained his spiritual energy, they had cultivated together through dual cultivation, and she possessed his Dragon Emperor Imprint. Their cultivation levels were not vastly different, allowing him to directly use the Dragon Emperor Bloodline to control Ji Qingxuan’s body. While he found it a little unaccustomed to Ji Qingxuan’s spiritual energy circulation and the strength of her body, it was more than enough to defeat Ji Huan. He had already observed Ji Huan’s swordplay from below, and all the flaws in Ji Huan’s techniques were naturally perceived and lodged in his mind. Jiang Huai was also a little surprised. In the past, when his cultivation was low, he learned quickly, but he had never been this terrifyingly quick to comprehend, like a dimensional swipe.
With the victor decided, Ji Qingxuan naturally left the stage and returned to her seat. Ji Nianchen dispelled the Daoist Seals on her, swiftly healing her injuries. Ji Huan, however, was not so fortunate. His injuries were severe, and he appeared utterly disheveled. The prince presiding over the Grand Competition had to step in to stabilize his condition before he was sent to the Imperial City to seek treatment from imperial physicians.
The day’s final match was Ji Nianchen versus Lin Qing. Lin Qing, still in his green robes, stood bathed in sunlight, appearing gentle and refined, like a silent tree. Jiang Huai stood and entered the secret realm, and Lin Qing also stepped forward. They gazed at each other for a moment, and Lin Qing suddenly chuckled, “You are Jiang Huai?”
“Yes,” Jiang Huai nodded lightly and drew the Yening Sword. Perhaps due to Lin Qing’s gentle expression, Jiang Huai’s tone wasn’t overly cold. Lin Qing slowly spoke, “I’ve watched your matches. Your comprehension is truly terrifying.” Jiang Huai was momentarily at a loss for words at the unexpected compliment. Lin Qing continued unhurriedly, “Years ago, I obtained a cultivation technique called the Azure Water Green Vine Divine Art in a secret realm. However, my talent is dull, and I have never grasped its essence. If you can defeat me today, I am willing to gift you that technique.”
“That isn’t necessary…”
“It is a technique that, once seen, no one can refuse. But in my hands, it is like waste paper now. Perhaps you should take a look first, then decide?”
“Alright,” Jiang Huai said no more and gripped his Spirit Sword. Lin Qing stopped talking and instantly, countless green vines emerged from the ground around him, rushing towards Jiang Huai. Jiang Huai wielded his sword, cutting down the vines, and approached Lin Qing. Lin Qing casually sidestepped, also holding a verdant Spirit Sword.
Jiang Huai habitually used the Heaven Profound Thirteen Swords to test his opponent’s depth. Now, his improved Heaven Profound Thirteen Swords were imposing, but he paused for a moment. His Heaven Profound Thirteen Swords found no advantage against Lin Qing. In an instant, he employed Silver Lin. His soul had been locked onto Lin Qing’s aura, and he was certain this strike had pierced Lin Qing’s chest. But a moment later, Lin Qing’s body turned into a rotting vine. A green vine that had just emerged from the ground transformed into his true form, and he unhurriedly drew his sword. Jiang Huai sidestepped to evade it.
Their swords clashed again, but this time, Jiang Huai no longer rigidly stuck to his sword techniques. He began to adapt his moves based on the opponent’s swordplay, gradually trying to learn the flow of his spiritual energy and the profound changes in his sword techniques. During this process, several cuts appeared on his chest. The opponent’s sword techniques were intricate and wondrous, and the flow of spiritual energy was difficult to grasp.
This was the first time Jiang Huai had encountered such a situation recently. He observed the opponent’s moves with increasing seriousness. He even seized an opportunity when the opponent was not paying attention, let out a roar infused with the power of his dragon soul, and followed up with a soul-disrupting secret technique, but Lin Qing’s eyes never showed a flicker of confusion, remaining incredibly calm. Fortunately, although his sword techniques were peculiar, they were not without countermeasures. All of Jiang Huai’s acupoints opened, madly absorbing Worldly spiritual energy. Finally, through repeated sword strikes, he gradually matched the opponent’s rhythm and sensed the weak points in his spiritual energy circulation, finding the opportune moment to stab Lin Qing’s chest. Lin Qing lowered his head slightly but showed no surprise, his expression still calm, and he said softly, “I lost.”
Jiang Huai withdrew his sword, and his injuries instantly healed. He was still capable of fighting, so Jiang Huai looked at him in confusion. Lin Qing shook his head gently. “Your comprehension is too terrifying. If I couldn’t defeat you within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, I fear you would have completely learned my sword techniques by then, and victory would be even more impossible.”
The principle was indeed sound, but his easy surrender still surprised Jiang Huai. Lin Qing shook his head. “Brother Jiang, this peerless cultivation technique should belong to someone who can truly comprehend it.” As he spoke, Lin Qing took out an ancient scroll and handed it to Jiang Huai. Jiang Huai took it but couldn’t help asking, “Are you truly just lending it to me to read?”
“Not lending, but gifting,” Lin Qing shook his head. “I have already comprehended everything on this ancient scroll for a long time, but I can only understand sixty percent of it. It is of no use to me anymore. If you can comprehend it, then that would indeed be a good thing.” Jiang Huai himself often held similar thoughts; lending some cultivation techniques for others to comprehend was not a big deal. But it was rare to encounter someone as generous as Lin Qing. He opened the Azure Water Green Vine Divine Art scroll and flipped through it. For a moment, he lost himself, his consciousness blurring as if entering a world filled with forests. In the forest, everything grew, and streams flowed. It was like a painting, but within the painting, all things grew, yet it contained a profound meaning. His spiritual energy circulated almost instinctively following the painting. When he came back to his senses, he raised his hand, and a green vortex had formed in his palm. This was the sign of successfully cultivating the first level of the Azure Water Green Vine Divine Art.
A hint of envy flickered in Lin Qing’s eyes, but he only smiled lightly. “It seems this technique is truly suitable for you. Now that our match is over, I would like to take this opportunity to absorb some more Life Divine Tree spiritual energy here. I hope you will allow it.”
“Of course, I have no problem with that,” Jiang Huai replied softly. So, Lin Qing naturally sat down and began to absorb spiritual energy into his body, while Jiang Huai continued to pore over the Azure Water Green Vine Divine Art in his confusion. Gradually, he frowned. It was not because there was anything wrong with the technique, but purely because the technique was too good, so good that he couldn’t learn it completely just by reading it once. This was something he had never encountered before. The technique was divided into ten levels. Merely cultivating to the sixth level would allow one to perform the Daoist magic that Lin Qing had used, refining ten life-bound green vines, and one could be reborn directly through one of these vines. Its supernatural properties even surpassed Jiang Huai’s understanding. Yet, such a wondrous technique was so easily given away. Jiang Huai glanced at Lin Qing, who was sitting on the ground. The technique was indeed excellent, and Lin Qing had not shown him any hostility. Perhaps, as he said, he could not fully comprehend this divine art, so he gave it to someone destined for it. However, he couldn’t help but speculate with the worst possible intentions. Regardless, Jiang Huai certainly owed him a favor.
When Lin Qing finished cultivating and opened his eyes, Jiang Huai said softly, “I owe you a favor.” Lin Qing did not politely refuse; instead, he nodded gently. “To me, this is indeed a good thing.” With that, they left the secret realm, and the Five Regions Grand Competition of the day came to a close.
Jiang Huai walked off the stage and first checked on Ji Qingxuan’s injuries. Knowing she was alright, he breathed a sigh of relief. Ji Qingxuan had already told Ji Nianchen about her mother, and Ji Nianchen looked at Jiang Huai with gratitude. Before they could say more, Ji Qingxuan had already led Jiang Huai back to the courtyard and began asking about what had happened in the secret realm.
“Because we cultivated together, your body has the imprint of the Dragon Emperor Bloodline, so I could control your body,” Jiang Huai said, winking at Ji Qingxuan. Initially, he hadn’t planned to help Ji Qingxuan this way, as it amounted to cheating. He remembered Ji Qingxuan as proud and perhaps disdaining winning through dishonest means. However, today’s Ji Qingxuan seemed much softer to Jiang Huai, and seeing her in a desperate situation, he ultimately decided to act. He had never been a true gentleman and felt no psychological burden. Fortunately, Ji Qingxuan didn’t seem to mind. She couldn’t help but ask, “Why was it so easy for you to win using my body?”
“Because his sword techniques had numerous loopholes in my eyes, and your spiritual energy circulation method is very clumsy… Every strike was driven by steady circulation, not explosive activation of acupoints. But I can’t teach you this move.” Jiang Huai had already realized that he seemed to be an anomaly on the path of cultivation. Everyone else absorbed spiritual energy steadily through their acupoints into their sea of Qi, and when using spiritual energy, it rotated in the sea of Qi, supplied by the acupoints to the whole body. However, many people found this process particularly difficult and required long-term practice to stabilize their acupoint circulation. But ever since he started cultivating, controlling the circulation of his acupoints was as easy as controlling his breathing. It was only later, when he tried to teach Luo Qingyu and Wen Wanwan sword techniques, that he realized he seemed different from everyone else, as if others had natural rules binding their bodies, while he was playing a cracked version. He always felt that all of this was somehow connected to Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi seemed to know many things about him but remained silent. Jiang Huai couldn’t figure it out, so he decided not to think about it.
Ji Qingxuan gazed at his cheek for a while before reaching out and gently poking his chest. Jiang Huai snapped back to attention and looked into her eyes. “Thank you,” she said.
“Why should we be polite between us?”
“I feel like… without realizing it… there’s no turning back,” Ji Qingxuan suddenly turned her face away and mumbled very, very softly.
“No turning back from what?”
“I won’t tell you,” Ji Qingxuan pouted slightly.
