I'm Just Making Up The Exercises, My Disciple, Have You Really Mastered Them?

Chapter 77: The Master Only Teaches the Way, Not the Law (Request for Confirmation)

There was only a small booklet and two spirit crystals in the bag, and no other items.

Li Xuan's face was filled with disappointment.

Blood Wu Xin is a poor guy.

In his heart, he couldn't help but curse, "You're a demonic cultivator, killing people and seizing treasures, isn't that normal? You've come all the way to the border wilderness, aren't you planning to plunder some treasures to use in the wilderness?"

"You're really useless, not even a bit of injustice if I scatter your ashes!"

Looking at the bag, it was just an ordinary bag, not a storage bag or anything like that.

He casually threw it aside.

"I wonder if there are any treasures like storage bags in the inner domain."

He sighed in his heart, wondering if he should find a disciple with talent in refining tools, create a set of refining methods for him, and let him comprehend it, so that he could refine things like storage bags?

"I don't know how to refine tools either. It would be difficult to create one. I need to go to the inner domain and find the refining methods there for reference, in order to create a perfect one."

"Only the inner domain might have such a monstrous talent in refining tools, right?"

Li Xuan pondered in his heart.

But refining tools was ultimately not his priority at the moment. He would wait until later to see if he could find such a monstrous talent.

He put away the spirit crystals.

He looked at the blood-red booklet.

As he flipped it open, four characters came into view.

"The Blood Devil's Scripture!"

It was clearly a demonic cultivation technique.

However, Li Xuan didn't care. He wasn't planning to cultivate these techniques, but rather to use them as a reference to understand the Martial Dao in the inner domain.

"This is actually an incomplete volume?"

Li Xuan was surprised.

The Blood Devil's Scripture was incomplete, missing a portion, and was only an incomplete volume.

Even though it was only an incomplete volume, Blood Wu Xin was able to cultivate it to the Grandmaster realm, and even to the Great Grandmaster realm.

So, can the complete Blood Devil's Scripture be cultivated to a level beyond Great Grandmaster?

Li Xuan flipped through the Blood Devil's Scripture and confirmed that it was indeed a demonic cultivation technique, based on devouring and refining essence blood to strengthen oneself.

The purer and more abundant the essence blood, the greater the improvement obtained.

That's why Blood Wu Xin targeted Meng Chong.

It also recorded a special secret technique of the Blood Devil's Scripture, the Blood Devouring Silk, used to devour essence blood.

"It's quite intriguing."

Li Xuan was amazed as he read it, and the Blood Devil's Scripture gave him some inspiration.

For example, the technique of devouring essence blood, as well as the Blood Devouring Silk.

Naturally, he wouldn't create a technique for devouring essence blood, but he could use it as a reference to create some more exquisite and upright techniques.

"The new Martial Dao system is starting to take shape."

After reading the Blood Devil's Scripture, Li Xuan had some ideas in his mind.

In addition to the physical Martial Dao, there was now a new Martial Dao system for Body Refining, but it was not yet perfect, just an idea for now.

Moreover, he also needed to find suitable people to comprehend it.

"The Blood Devil's Scripture is a powerful demonic cultivation technique in the inner domain, and Blood Wu Xin is not weak among the Grandmasters... However, the Blood Devil's Scripture belongs to the Yin and Evil category and can be restrained by Lifeblood Realm's fiery aura."

The Lifeblood Realm's aura was as fierce as fire, perfectly restraining the Yin and Evil aura of the Blood Devil's Scripture.

In a battle between the same realm, a Martial Artist who cultivated the Blood Devil's Scripture would be restrained in every aspect.

"However, the Lifeblood Realm's aura is also a great temptation for them."

Why did Blood Wu Xin desire Meng Chong's essence blood?

Why did he desire Xu Yan's essence blood? It was precisely because of this.

For a demonic cultivator who cultivated the Blood Devil's Scripture, the essence blood of a Lifeblood Realm Martial Artist was more abundant and pure, making it a great treasure!

After flipping through the Blood Devil's Scripture, Li Xuan memorized every word and detail.

With a thought, the Blood Devil's Scripture turned into powder and disappeared.

This magic cultivation method naturally cannot be left behind. In case one day I become careless, or forget, and leave this place, if someone finds and picks it up, wouldn't it create a demonic cultivator?

Although the Border Wasteland cannot produce Martial Artists, if one were to devour blood essence using the Blood Devil Scripture, it is still possible to increase one's strength.

While it is true that the Border Wasteland cannot break through its limits due to the disappearance of the spiritual mechanism of heaven and earth, it is feared that one's strength can still be raised to the level of a Fifth or Sixth Grade Martial Artist in the Inner Domain.

For the Border Wasteland, this is definitely not a good thing.

Since I have already memorized this cultivation method, it is only reassuring to destroy it.

...

Outside the Cloud Mountain County, in the mountains and forests.

Li Xuan had one hand behind his back, gazing at the distant sky.

Xu Yan held a sword and stood respectfully behind him.

"Disciple, you must remember, I only teach the Dao, not the method. That's why I am teaching you the Way of the Sword, not sword techniques..."

Li Xuan raised his hand and broke a branch, saying in a deep voice, "As I have repeatedly emphasized, cultivation lies in enlightenment, in understanding the true meaning within. The Way of the Sword is the same. Watch carefully."

"Yes, Master!"

Xu Yan was excited in his heart.

Li Xuan pointed the branch in his hand, and with a hiss, a burst of True Qi shot out, directly creating a hole in a large tree.

Xu Yan widened his eyes, shocked in his heart, "Master's sword technique... no, it's the Way of the Sword, it's so powerful. Holding a branch in his hand, he casually pointed, and it's much stronger than Blood Wuxin's blade aura."

After testing the feel, Li Xuan began to wave the branch in his hand. With the support of Innate True Qi, it appeared extremely sharp, but in reality, he was just randomly gesturing.

It was all thanks to his incredibly powerful Innate True Qi that he displayed such a formidable and sharp aura.

Of course, it couldn't be said that it was completely random gestures. Slashes, stabs, picks, sweeps, and wipes were some of the sword moves he performed with skill.

After a series of gestures, Li Xuan put away the branch and asked in a deep voice, "Disciple, have you remembered?"

Xu Yan nodded excitedly and said, "Master, I have remembered everything!"

Remembered everything?

How can this be!

Li Xuan raised the branch again and said in a deep voice, "Disciple, look again, remember, I am teaching you the Way of the Sword, not sword techniques. Understand its true meaning!"

As he spoke, he gestured with the branch, but this time, it was slow. What he gestured was the appearance of the Tai Chi Sword from his previous life.

The difference was that he infused it with Innate True Qi.

It seemed slow, but it formed a sword aura that surrounded him, rotating with him, and the momentum was quite terrifying.

Xu Yan stared intently, but was somewhat puzzled. Why was it so slow?

How can one attack the enemy with such slowness?

After finishing the gestures, Li Xuan asked again, "Disciple, have you remembered?"

"Master, I have remembered everything!"

"What about the previous ones?"

"I have remembered them too."

This disciple has such a good memory, he remembered everything in one go.

"Disciple, look again!"

Li Xuan waved the branch again.

This time, the branch moved extremely fast, a series of rapid gestures, and then he stopped.

"Have you remembered?"

At this moment, Xu Yan was a little dazed.

Why is every sword move different?

"I... I have remembered."

Xu Yan nodded.

"What about the previous ones?"

"I... I remembered ninety percent!"

Xu Yan suddenly froze.

He had remembered all the slow sword moves from before.

But for the first set of sword moves, he only remembered ninety percent, and he actually forgot a few of them!

"How could I forget?" Xu Yan felt extremely frustrated.

But Li Xuan was overjoyed and said, "Good, my disciple, take another look!"

With that, he demonstrated again.

Xu Yan's mind was already in a daze: "I forgot, I didn't remember everything, yet Master actually said it was good?"

"Disciple, do you remember?" Li Xuan put away the branch and asked.

"I... I didn't remember everything!" Xu Yan's face was filled with shame. He had lost focus earlier and didn't remember the sword moves his master had just shown.

"Good, good, my disciple, you have gained a deeper understanding of the way of the sword!" Li Xuan said with satisfaction.

What? Xu Yan was confused. He hadn't been able to remember the sword moves, so how did he gain a deeper understanding of the way of the sword?

"No, something's not right! I definitely didn't comprehend the deeper meaning of Master's words." Xu Yan fell into contemplation, his powerful imagination was at work.

"Master emphasized repeatedly that he only imparts the principles, not the techniques. What he taught me is the way of the sword, not the sword techniques... To truly understand its true meaning, I need to understand the way, not the techniques. So what I need to do is not to remember the sword moves, but to forget them! To not be bound by the sword moves, to not be bound by the situation, to integrate and comprehend freely..." In that instant, Xu Yan felt that he had understood his master's profound intentions.

In his mind, he began to recall the sword moves his master had just demonstrated - the fast ones, the slow ones, the swift ones, the tricky ones... Gradually, the sword moves overlapped in his mind, integrated, and slowly formed a new set of sword techniques.

"I need to learn to forget!" Xu Yan admonished himself in his heart.

"Master, I have already forgotten half of them!" Xu Yan spoke up.

"Good, good!" Li Xuan was overjoyed. His disciple had entered a state of enlightenment, which was a good thing. It meant that he had taken a solid step towards understanding the way of the sword.

Xu Yan indeed had talent in the way of the sword, and it was quite extraordinary.

"Disciple, take another look!" Li Xuan gestured again.

The subsequent gestures were naturally different from the previous ones.

In fact, every time he gestured, he had already thought it through. The first time was a somewhat imitative sword technique, the second time was Tai Chi sword, slow and leisurely but following the principles of Tai Chi.

The third time was swift, the fourth time was tricky, and the fifth time was completely chaotic.

With speed, slowness, swiftness, trickiness, and disorder, Xu Yan had to comprehend them on his own.

"Master, I have forgotten half of them!" Xu Yan spoke up after watching.

"Very good, take another look!" Li Xuan continued gesturing.

He gestured several more times, and Xu Yan watched, sometimes confused, sometimes contemplative, sometimes suddenly enlightened...

In his mind, all the sword moves were rearranged, overlapping with each other, integrated, or reinserted, repeatedly.

A set of sword techniques seemed to emerge in his mind.

Li Xuan stood by, watching his disciple's enlightenment.

The time was almost right.

The perfected realm of swordsmanship should also be taught to disciples, so that they can better comprehend the way of the sword.

If successful, this would be a great achievement.

Xu Yan opened his eyes, his gaze slightly confused.

He felt that he was in a state of confusion.

A jumble of sword moves swung in his mind, without any direction.

The seemingly plausible sword techniques, however, could never take shape.

He felt that he might have misunderstood the direction.

The sword techniques taught by his master, he had already forgotten, unable to remember how they were executed.

"Master, I have forgotten everything!"

Li Xuan smiled approvingly, "Good, you have forgotten well, my disciple. You are not far from comprehending the way of the sword!"

Injecting some excitement into his disciple.

Indeed, upon hearing this, Xu Yan immediately became spirited, his eyes shining.

"My disciple, what I have taught you is the way of the sword. Among the countless martial artists in the world, only a few can enter the way of the sword. To enter the way of the sword, one must first transcend the realm of sword techniques.

"Do not be confined by sword techniques and moves."

Li Xuan turned his head and looked up, his mysterious aura elevating his image.

Xu Yan trembled and respectfully said, "Please, Master, enlighten me!"

"The fact that you can forget the sword techniques and moves I just demonstrated means that you have the aptitude for the way of the sword. You are not restricted by sword techniques and moves.

"But this is far from enough!

"To comprehend the way of the sword, to enter the way of the sword, one must have a clear Sword Heart. Only those with a clear Sword Heart can step into the way of the sword."

Li Xuan said solemnly.

"A clear Sword Heart?"

Xu Yan was shaken, respectfully asking, "Master, what is a clear Sword Heart?"

"A clear Sword Heart is the fundamental realm of the way of the sword. Those with a clear Sword Heart are not bound by sword techniques and moves. Their sword hearts are clear.

"A clear Sword Heart is a clear and transparent heart of the way of the sword. With clarity, one can see through any sword technique or move at a glance, discerning their flaws and strengths.

"At a glance, one can effortlessly pick and use sword techniques and moves, making them their own. They become their own sword techniques and moves."

Li Xuan explained the foundation of practicing the way of the sword, the clear Sword Heart, to Xu Yan.

Xu Yan was deeply moved, "A clear Sword Heart is a clear and transparent heart of the way of the sword. With clarity, one can see through any sword technique or move at a glance, discerning their flaws and strengths. They can effortlessly pick and use them."

In his mind, scenes of his master demonstrating sword techniques appeared.

Gradually, he also envisioned himself extracting and overlapping them, integrating them, creating a set of sword techniques that had not yet taken shape.

If he could complete the integration and union of these techniques, forming a set of sword techniques that belonged to him, and being able to pick and use sword moves at will...

Could this be a clear Sword Heart?

He had some understanding and said, "Master, a clear Sword Heart means that although I do not have my own sword techniques or moves, the sword techniques and moves of others are mine. In my eyes, the enemy's sword techniques seem transparent, and I can easily see their flaws and predict how their sword will strike..."

Li Xuan was overjoyed in his heart. Xu Yan was not far from comprehending the clear Sword Heart. The realm of swordsmanship he had created was finally coming to fruition.

"In simple terms, it is as you said. To achieve this, it means that you have entered the realm of the clear Sword Heart."

Li Xuan nodded with a pleased tone.

"Master, I understand to some extent, but not completely..."

Xu Yan fell into contemplation.

"My disciple, the clear Sword Heart can only be comprehended through self-realization. If you can comprehend it, then you have entered the realm. If you cannot, then you cannot."

Li Xuan said solemnly.

He himself did not possess a clear Sword Heart; it was just something he had created. How to enter the realm and what methods to use, he did not know.

It all depended on his disciple's extraordinary imagination and comprehension to figure it out on his own.

"My disciple, first, you must have a clear Sword Heart. Only when your Sword Heart is clear can it become transparent. And a clear Sword Heart is not bound by sword techniques and moves.

"Contemplate deeply, and I believe you will be able to comprehend it."

After saying this, Li Xuan left the forest, leaving Xu Yan alone to contemplate and comprehend.

(End of this chapter)