C58 The Secret of the Four Character Sword Techniques(1)

At the peak of the hill behind the Red Wood Orchard, Woo Zhengyang stood by the small lake where he had once quickly mastered the Floating Light Step. Holding his Green Steel Sword, he seemed lost in thought.

Woo Zhengyang had been in this state for a full day and night. Consequently, he was unaware of today's banquet and, even if he had known, he wouldn't have been interested in attending. He preferred not to waste time on trivial matters.

After advancing to the second level of refining his meridians, the speed at which Woo Zhengyang condensed his Sword-shaped Genuine Qi had slowed. The eight extraordinary meridians were incredibly perilous, and the Sword-shaped Genuine Qi was extremely sharp. Any slight mistake in their collision could damage or even block the meridians. Woo Zhengyang couldn't afford to be careless and didn't dare to be as reckless as before.

Allowing his body time to adapt, Woo Zhengyang would come outside to practice his martial skills. This time, he focused on the sword. The Sword-shaped Genuine Qi cultivated through the Sword Sacrificing Spell was designed for sword practitioners. Only by mastering sword skills could Woo Zhengyang truly unleash its power. When combined with the Dragon Countering Nine Steps, it was unparalleled.

Initially, Woo Zhengyang struggled to grasp the four-character sword formula within the Sword Sacrificing Spell. However, after his battle with Huang Ruoshan, where he understood the application of the Dragon Countering Nine Steps, he finally gained clarity.

From start to finish, Woo Zhengyang's thinking was too limited. It's important to understand that both the "Sword Sacrificing Spell" and the "Dragon Countering Nine Steps" are ancient techniques passed down through generations. Back in those days, practitioners would train both their bodies and their energy channels simultaneously.

Woo Zhengyang had experimented with using pure energy to execute the four-word sword technique and had also tried using sheer physical strength to do the same. However, he never considered combining the two.

Once the door in his mind was opened, Woo Zhengyang began to find ways to use both forces in his swordplay, finally grasping some key insights. He wielded the sword with strength, and then unleashed a burst of energy.

Thanks to Woo Zhengyang's formidable strength, when he used pure physical power to wield the sword, his speed was not inferior to others who relied solely on energy. Upon striking the target, the long-held energy burst forth with unimaginable power.

This power was something those who used only energy could not match. If they wanted speed, they had to infuse energy into their swordplay, but by the time they unleashed it, much of the energy was already depleted, significantly reducing its impact. If they chose to sacrifice speed for a powerful energy burst at the end, the power was indeed impressive, but in battle, speed is crucial. Without it, their sword might not even have the chance to unleash its energy before the enemy struck them down.

At that moment, things wouldn't have been so simple, or else Woo Zhengyang wouldn't have stood there for so long.

How to apply two forces to a sword simultaneously without conflict, and even enhance each other, is a significant challenge. Although genuine energy is meant for explosive power, it must already be within the sword when striking. Otherwise, if the sword arrives but the force hasn't yet, it's all pointless.

When two different forces operate within the sword at the same time, conflict is inevitable. Woo Zhengyang tried several times, but each time the physical force was released, the genuine energy was also triggered by the powerful force's fluctuations. As a result, instead of increasing the sword's power, the two forces canceled each other out, weakening it considerably. This led to the Green Steel Sword vibrating violently, almost to the point of breaking.

"Woo Zhengyang, hiding out here, are you?" Zhang Tia emerged from the orchard, clearly frustrated. He had assumed Woo Zhengyang was training in his stone chamber, but it was empty. After searching for a while and asking other disciples, he finally found him here.

Woo Zhengyang, deep in thought, was annoyed at being interrupted. Seeing it was Zhang Tia didn't improve his mood. He replied coldly, "What do you want?"

"Of course, there's something. You're making waves in the outer sect, not even attending the annual entrance ceremony. The four elders sent me to invite you!" Zhang Tia teased.

"Since you're so polite, I guess I'll take a look..." Woo Zhengyang said, stepping down the mountain, leaving Zhang Tia fuming.

When Woo Zhengyang entered the martial practicing field, the place was already buzzing with activity. The large area was mostly filled with tables and chairs, leaving a space in the center where pairs of new and senior students were sparring. Though it was called sparring, it looked more like the senior students were showing off their skills in front of the elders while giving the new students a hard time. Even with their abilities and techniques restrained, the new students were still no match for them.

Woo Zhengyang's arrival inevitably drew attention. Many senior students dared to step forward only because they thought this maverick wasn't around. Now that he suddenly appeared, several who were about to make their move backed off, and even a couple who were already engaged in sparring got distracted, nearly forcing the new students to reveal their true abilities.