Chapter 15: The Boundless Ethereal Sword Technique, One Year

After finishing the discussion about the Ice Cold Dew, Xiao Rang noticed Lin Heng was in good spirits and took the initiative to bring up the sword technique he had promised to teach him a few days prior.

“Disciple, I will now teach you the Cloud Sword Sect’s signature sword technique, ‘Ethereal Boundlessness.’”

“This sword technique is divided into three levels, complementing the internal cultivation method ‘Cloud Sword True Art.’ These correspond to the three great stages: Innate, Grandmaster, and Supreme Grandmaster. The first level focuses on swordsmanship, the second on sword intent, and the third on the sword domain.”

“Mastering the first level allows one to harness the primal energy of heaven and earth against opponents. Besides refining your bones and muscles by drawing on this energy during practice, you can also use the primal energy to greatly enhance the power of your sword technique.”

“The second level involves refining your internal breath with the power of heaven and earth. By using sword intent to guide your internal force, sword energy is stored within your meridians and acupuncture points. In battle, every movement can unleash a surge of sword energy, significantly increasing both the power and range of your technique beyond the first level.”

“The third level is to disperse your sword intent throughout heaven and earth, unifying your internal breath with the primal energy. Your aura envelops the battlefield, forming a domain that greatly enhances your sword technique’s power, accelerates your recovery, and suppresses your opponents.”

“When paired with the ‘Swift Wind Cloud’ footwork, the ‘Ethereal Boundlessness’ sword technique ensures an undefeated stance among peers of the same rank. Even when facing opponents of higher realms, you will not be entirely defenseless.”

Lin Heng listened intently as Xiao Rang introduced the sword technique. The first level alone was alluring. The ‘Cloud Sword Nineteen Forms’ he had previously learned lacked the ability to draw upon heaven and earth’s energy; its power depended solely on one’s arm strength and internal breath.

But the ‘Ethereal Boundlessness’ technique, empowered by the primal energy of heaven and earth, promised immense power beyond measure.

“Listen carefully as I recite the mantra for guiding the sword technique’s energy. Then follow me to practice the moves.”

Xiao Rang’s voice shifted to a secret transmission, imparting the core secrets of the ‘Ethereal Boundlessness’ technique to Lin Heng.

The difficulty of learning this signature technique was clear, yet it did not daunt Lin Heng. After listening to the essentials, he closed his eyes in contemplation for a moment before beginning to practice according to his understanding.

With over a year’s experience practicing the ‘Cloud Sword Nineteen Forms,’ Lin Heng took to the new moves with surprising ease. Soon, he attempted to draw upon the primal energy of heaven and earth to harmonize with his sword technique.

This was where the true challenge lay.

After some time, Lin Heng asked Xiao Rang about a few uncertain points, then fell silent and resumed diligent practice.

With each repetition, his sword moves grew sharper and more refined, steadily reaching a higher level.

At this point, Lin Heng could clearly feel that as he practiced, his muscles, bones, and flesh were better tempered by the primal energy, while his spirit gradually sharpened and began to forge its own sword intent.

Later, he linked his sword technique with internal cultivation. The interplay of movement and stillness meant that practicing swordplay was simultaneously cultivating internal energy, and meditating to refine breath was nurturing sword intent.

This harmonious balance of motion and stillness accelerated Lin Heng’s progress both externally and internally.

“Excellent.” Xiao Rang watched Lin Heng’s swordsmanship reach a refined state, smiling and nodding before turning to leave.

This disciple rarely gave him cause for worry in cultivation.

In the following period, Lin Heng’s life settled into a rhythm of regularity and calm.

Most of his time was spent practicing swordsmanship.

When fatigued, he would retreat to the study to read or listen to Master Xiao Rang discuss the affairs of the world to ease his mind.

With the unlimited resources of the Cloud Sword Sect, Lin Heng’s cultivation advanced rapidly.

Day by day, he could clearly feel himself growing stronger—his physique becoming sturdier, more acupuncture points opening, and the cloud-like internal breath circulating through his meridians deepening.

Because he experienced such obvious progress every day, Lin Heng never found cultivation to be a hardship and instead delighted in it.

One month after the grand apprenticeship ceremony, he had reached the fourth level of the Innate Realm.

Two months later, he ascended to the fifth level of the Innate Realm.

From then on, Lin Heng maintained a steady pace of advancing one level every two months, resolutely marching toward the Innate Realm’s eighteenth and final level.

“One year from now, the five great imperial dynasties have each sent two royal daughters of good cultivation aptitude and beauty to the Cloud Sword Sect, intending them to serve as your sword attendants. Master plans to select another ten from within our sect to form a group of twenty sword attendants for you. Disciple, what do you think?”

One day, after finishing his sword practice, Lin Heng was called by Xiao Rang.

“Master, aren’t you afraid they will distract me from my cultivation?” Lin Heng smiled after taking a sip of black-boned chicken soup brewed with century-old ginseng to replenish the energy expended in practice.

Though Lin Heng had been immersed in cultivation for the past year, he noticed that many inner sect disciples of similar or slightly older age often came to find him after his training sessions.

Inner sect disciples hold a status above the outer disciples who joined the sect by paying fees and whose aptitude is inferior. They are generally disciples of mid-level elders but do not hold the core transmission status of the sect’s senior elders.

Their loyalty to the sect is reliable, and their support would be indispensable for Lin Heng’s future succession as head of the Cloud Sword Sect.

However, Xiao Rang had blocked these advances. Firstly, fearing some might be impostors sent by hostile forces to assassinate Lin Heng, and secondly, to prevent Lin Heng from indulging in pleasures and neglecting his cultivation.

Therefore, Lin Heng’s interactions were limited to the sect’s elders and their direct disciples.

He did not mind much, often preferring solitude.

“At first, I feared you’d be influenced by others. Now, I worry about you overexerting yourself to the point of spiritual deviation,” Xiao Rang sighed, shaking his head.

In just one year, Lin Heng had leapt from the third level of the Innate Realm to the ninth, entering the mid-stage of the Innate Realm.

Such rapid progress was astonishing, hardly befitting an eight-year-old child who trained tirelessly every day without complaint or weariness.

Although Lin Heng’s natural optimism and love for cultivation demonstrated a healthy mental state, Xiao Rang sensed that Lin Heng harbored a burning desire for vengeance, fueled by the assassination attempt from the Lihui Pavilion last year.

Such fighting spirit was good, but excessive pressure could backfire, so regular relief was necessary.

Xiao Rang believed it would be beneficial for Lin Heng to interact with peers of his own age.