One can never truly comprehend what they have never possessed.
The sky was utterly clear, devoid of any breeze.
Yet, a chill permeated the air for those present; seasoned individuals, they had witnessed countless grand spectacles, and while they might not have personally experienced bloody feuds or heinous murders, they had certainly observed more than their fair share.
Nevertheless, Ma Yan’s words struck the gathered crowd with profound shock, causing them to exchange bewildered glances.
For a moment, a deathly silence descended, as if all sound had been swallowed.
The reason was singular: his words implicated a renowned figure—Cheng Lixue.
Ren Du’s brow furrowed.
He cast a sidelong glance at Ma Yan, a thought forming in his mind: ‘The cost of fabricating such a lie merely to provoke Yi Ranchén seems excessively high.’
The Eastern Continent valued traditional propriety, emphasizing loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness.
For Ma Yan to concoct such a tale bordered on disrespect towards his own sect.
However, upon observing Ma Yan’s pallid expression and slightly trembling hands, it became evident that he was recalling past events, perhaps overcome by a flood of memories.
Ren Du’s heart instantly grasped the implications.
‘What he says might truly be…’
Ren Du, not particularly adept at reading expressions, found Ma Yan’s words to ring true.
Yet, he knew that the individuals associated with Polaris were often contemptible and shameless, well-versed in weaving elaborate falsehoods with feigned emotion.
Furthermore, with Polaris now opposing Nandou Star, even if Ma Yan spoke the truth, Ren Du’s priority had to be Nandou Star’s interests.
Whether Cheng Lixue had annihilated Ma Yan’s entire sect was irrelevant.
What truly mattered was Cheng Lixue’s current alliance with Nandou Star, a partnership Ren Du could not afford to jeopardise.
Therefore, Ma Yan’s words… had to be false.
Turning his gaze, Ren Du observed Director Ji’s reaction.
Director Ji appeared utterly unperturbed, even sporting a faint smile, as if the slaughter of Ma Yan’s entire sect were nothing more than an amusing anecdote to entertain him after a meal.
‘This man truly embodies the pinnacle of baseness and shamelessness,’ Ren Du thought.
‘For him to still smile after Polaris’s people suffered such a calamity…’
Fenghu and Yunlong harbored a simmering anger, believing Ma Yan to be utterly shameless, fabricating such a lie to slander Cheng Lixue.
The two elders were well acquainted with Cheng Lixue’s character.
Cheng Lixue had studied under Jian Shu, the ‘Juebizi’ and Pavilion Master of Luochen Pavilion, and was renowned alongside their seven fellow disciples as the ‘Eight Swords of Luochen.’
These eight individuals possessed distinct personalities.
After Jian Shu’s passing, only the eldest disciple inherited the position of Luochen Pavilion Master; the other seven departed the pavilion to establish their own sects.
This was reportedly Jian Shu’s dying wish, hoping their lineage would proliferate and flourish, thus setting the rule of ‘First Disciple Inherits, Others Establish Independently.’
Though the eight had since scattered across the lands, their deeds had not faded into obscurity.
Fenghu and Yunlong had personally witnessed their rise to fame.
While Cheng Lixue was known for their reclusive nature, they would never be the type to ‘annihilate an entire sect’ as Ma Yan claimed.
The only exception would be if the Congdian Sect had committed some act that provoked both gods and men, prompting Cheng Lixue to execute divine justice and eradicate them.
Zhu Jifeng’s opinion aligned with that of Fenghu and Yunlong.
Mr. Ji, meanwhile, stood by with an air of eager anticipation, keen to observe the unfolding drama.
Only Wan Ren’s expression remained subtly grave, as he stood lost in thought.
The Polaris contingent, too, was considerably taken aback.
Cheng Lixue, despite their solitary disposition, had forged a reputation throughout the martial world for their chivalrous deeds.
Even if they were currently allied with Nandou Star and stood opposed to Polaris, one had to speak truthfully in the jianghu and not baselessy tarnish another’s name.
The notion of Cheng Lixue committing an act of total annihilation was met with universal disbelief among those present, suggesting a significant falsehood in Ma Yan’s assertion.
“Utter nonsense!
How could my master annihilate some Congdian Sect?
Their entire life has been dedicated to chivalry and justice; how could they suffer such a baseless slander from your lips?
Even if such an event truly occurred, it must have been because your sect committed some grave and heinous transgression, prompting my master to act and eradicate you all in one swift stroke!”
“Chivalry and justice?” Ma Yan scoffed.
“My master sparred with them in swordsmanship during the day, and their skill proved inferior to my master’s.
That very night, they slaughtered my Congdian Sect!
Not a single one of the one hundred and twenty-three members of my sect escaped their poisonous grasp!
I, being fond of wine, was out drinking and carousing with others at the time, which is how I alone survived…”
Ma Yan let out a cold laugh, his voice betraying an involuntary tremor.
“It’s common in the jianghu for one’s skill to fall short.
I presume everyone here has experienced defeat and conceded victory at some point.
Cheng Lixue is a renowned swordsman, and a life with both wins and losses is entirely normal for them.
Yet, simply because my master defeated them once, they sought to utterly exterminate us… Hmph!
Such ‘chivalry and justice’ is nothing but utter bullcrap!”
“Brother Ma,” someone from the Nandou Star side interjected, posing a question.
“You mentioned that Cheng Lixue’s swordsmanship was inferior to your master’s, implying their strength was lesser.
Yet you also claim they annihilated your entire sect.
How do you reconcile these two statements?”
Everyone turned to look, recognizing the speaker as none other than Mr. Ji.
Fenghu and Yunlong felt a surge of unease.
‘This man is truly too familiar,’ they thought.
‘He attaches himself to anyone.
How can he call Ma Yan ‘brother,’ given his terrible reputation?
From now on, we must keep our distance from him, lest he bring us trouble.’
“They did not annihilate my sect alone,” Ma Yan declared, “but rather, all eight of their martial brothers arrived together!”
This declaration sent a ripple through the crowd.
The Polaris contingent found Ma Yan’s words even less credible.
The Eight Swords of Luochen were eminent figures; how could all eight of them gather in one place merely to exterminate an obscure minor sect?
Furthermore, Cheng Lixue’s defeat in the daytime was an unforeseen event; how could they possibly have summoned their many martial brothers from across the land to launch an attack that very night?
Meanwhile, Fenghu and Yunlong from the Nandou Star side had already begun to vehemently denounce Ma Yan, accusing him of being unscrupulous, ill-behaved, and of poor character.
They argued that his current insults against the Eight Swords of Luochen were merely an attempt to tarnish the reputation of the Nandou Star Academy, which had allied with Cheng Lixue, one of the Eight Swords.
They believed his sinister intentions were to sow prejudice in the East Bamboo Immortal against Nandou Star, highlighting his malicious motives.
Yi Ranchén, unable to restrain herself any longer, drew her greatsword and pointed it at Ma Yan.
“You, Ma!” Yi Ranchén exclaimed.
“To insult my master so grievously, and to offend my martial uncles and others, is a truly unforgivable sin!
Since you claim your master’s swordsmanship surpassed my master’s, then come, duel with me and let us see which sect’s swordsmanship is truly superior!”
“Hmph!
Cheng Lixue’s swordsmanship is merely mediocre, yet the disciple they taught speaks with no small arrogance!
While I might not defeat Cheng Lixue’s martial brothers, do you truly think I cannot defeat *you*?”
Ma Yan drew his longsword, his expression defiant, waiting only for his opponent to make the first move.
No sooner were the words spoken than the action began.
Yi Ranchén’s greatsword swiftly thrust towards Ma Yan’s neck.
Ma Yan’s longsword, moving like a dragon’s dance across paper, parried the attack, and he lunged forward, launching his own assault.
For a moment, he held his ground, showing not the slightest disadvantage.
“What peculiar swordsmanship…” Fenghu began, addressing Wan Ren.
“Mr. Wan, we two know little of swordsmanship.
In your esteemed opinion, what is so extraordinary about this technique, that Miss Yi, whose swordsmanship is by no means ordinary, cannot gain even the slightest advantage?”
Hearing Fenghu and Yunlong’s question, Wan Ren’s brow remained deeply furrowed, refusing to relax even for a moment.
“This swordsmanship is unpredictable, replete with bizarre and intricate moves, differing greatly from conventional techniques,” Wan Ren explained.
“The path of swordsmanship emphasizes a balance between tension and relaxation, yet this particular style excessively pursues multiple changes within a single instant.
If the goal is to deliver a killing blow the moment one strikes, why introduce so many variations into a single fleeting move?
If the purpose is to seek out an an opponent’s weakness and seize the opportunity to defeat them, then one merely needs to solidify their sword forms, rather than seeking instantaneous changes.
For victory and defeat are not decided in the initial instant, but rather by whose subsequent sword moves are more stable and reliable.
In this regard, both fist-fighting and swordsmanship are alike; I believe you two can also appreciate this point.”
While he articulated his thoughts aloud, his mind was already grappling with how to unravel this swordsmanship.
As a master of the sword, encountering such an enigmatic and unpredictable technique inevitably filled him with a hunter’s thrill, much like a drunkard spotting fine wine or a gourmand catching the scent of roasting meat.
He was determined to discern its intricacies.
This swordsmanship was so bizarre and unfathomable that merely observing it once offered no clue to its破解之法.
Even engaging in combat might not reveal its secrets.
Wan Ren mused to himself, ‘If I could only have the opportunity to spar with this opponent a few times, I would surely uncover its hidden mechanisms.
However, I wonder how many encounters it would take.
If it were a life-and-death battle from the outset, there would be no chance at all…’
At this realization, a sudden insight struck him: Cheng Lixue might not necessarily be inferior in skill.
If Cheng Lixue had been able to spar with the opponent multiple times, then with their discernment, they would sooner or later have perceived the technique’s intricacies, deciphered it, and turned defeat into victory.
Considering this, Cheng Lixue had most likely suffered a disadvantage due to unfamiliarity with the opponent’s swordsmanship during their first encounter!
Compared to Ma Yan’s swordsmanship, Wan Ren paid closer attention to Yi Ranchén’s technique during the observation.
Cheng Lixue’s martial siblings had all made their names with single swords.
After achieving renown, Cheng Lixue had further created a unique composite swordsmanship, centered around a greatsword and a fine sword, named ‘Heart’s Utterance Swordsmanship.’
However, they had never taught it to anyone in their lifetime, not even their own disciples, hence opportunities to use it publicly were exceedingly rare.
The two swords, ‘Shuyan’ and ‘Zhuxin,’ gained fame not from their frequent use, but simply because Cheng Lixue was often seen carrying them through the jianghu, despite seldom employing their unique style.
That Yi Ranchén was taught this swordsmanship clearly demonstrated the profound importance Cheng Lixue placed upon her.
From Wan Ren’s perspective, the primary characteristic of this swordsmanship was its ‘ingenuity.’
A greatsword, heavy and unwieldy for single-handed use, was typically wielded with both hands in conventional swordsmanship.
Conversely, a fine sword was nimble and seemed incompatible with a greatsword.
For the two to complement each other, let alone cooperate closely, appeared impossible.
Yet, the brilliance of Cheng Lixue’s swordsmanship lay precisely in its utilization of the greatsword’s ‘steadiness’ and the fine sword’s ‘agility.’
Combining speed and slowness, it offered both power and velocity, though mastering its execution was undeniably challenging.
Cheng Lixue was a grandmaster of swordsmanship, and Wan Ren was well aware of their skill.
It was certain that Cheng Lixue, in creating this technique, had considered its shortcomings.
Although this swordsmanship was designed for simultaneous use of both greatsword and fine sword, it was also perfectly viable to fight with just one sword, guarding against situations where dual-wielding might be impossible.
In essence, this ‘Heart’s Utterance Swordsmanship’ could be employed with either two swords or one, boasting numerous variations and considerable power, truly a superior technique.
Alas, it ultimately failed to escape the process of evolving ‘from simplicity to complexity.’
At this thought, Wan Ren felt a pang of resignation.
For two hundred years, many swordsmanship styles had trended towards increasing complexity and variation.
To find an utterly simple swordsmanship in the current era was almost impossible.
In his memory, the only individual capable of reversing the process of swordsmanship evolving ‘from simplicity to complexity’ was likely the ‘Sword God’ themselves—a figure who had never known defeat in their life and required no more than two moves to kill.