Swords emerge from the human world

Chapter 84: The Path to the World Lies Beneath Our Feet
The future is the path laid out before us.

It may be a broad, wide road, a narrow, winding path, or even a road of no return...

Easy paths, difficult paths, and even paths that lead nowhere.

Since learning swordsmanship and internal energy cultivation, Chen Jin's temperament has changed from its former gloomy and pedantic nature to a resolute one.

For him, if there was no way to go, then he would fight his way out.

Having just finished the provincial examination and stepped out of the examination hall, he was already considering what path to take next, mainly in two directions: passing the examination or failing.

If I can pass the exam, the road ahead will undoubtedly be much smoother.

But we should also consider the worst-case scenario.

Ultimately, one's own strength is the most important factor.

With sufficient strength, the path to the world lies at your feet.

Therefore, after dinner, Chen Jin quickly took out his heavy sword and practiced swordsmanship in the courtyard.

Shi Qifeng saw this and was filled with admiration.

As a witness to the whole process, he has the most authority to speak: In the beginning, when the greatsword was first forged, Chen Jin held it in his hand and looked quite clumsy, unable to swing it more than a few times;
Gradually, you'll get the hang of it and be able to use it freely;
From the effortless mastery of the sword to its current imposing presence, the sword's gleam and sharp edge are truly awe-inspiring.

Such a level of swordsmanship would qualify one as a top-tier master in the martial arts world.

On second thought, the young master is a cultivator of immortality, and his supernatural abilities are unpredictable. He cannot be judged by the standards of a martial arts practitioner.

That was a completely new world.

I am not qualified to give my opinion.

The next day, Chen Jin went to visit Chen Shounian.

Chen Shounian was very pleased with his arrival and immediately instructed his steward to prepare a banquet, and also invited Chen Hesheng and Guo Ai to accompany him.

After the banquet, he said, "Chen Jin, come with me to our ancestral home."

"it is good."

Chen Jin naturally wouldn't refuse; he had long wanted to visit his ancestral homeland, and this was a perfect opportunity.

This time, he will not travel by sedan chair or carriage, but by horseback.

Chen Shounian and the others were skilled horsemen, needless to say; Chen Jin had also ridden a few times on the way to the prefectural city, so he was not a novice.

Guo Ai specially changed into men's clothing, with a sword at her waist, looking quite dashing.

Chen Hesheng took the opportunity of having a stomachache to run away. Although he was quite old and had already started a family, he still held his father in great awe and couldn't hold his head high in front of Chen Shounian, so why bother making things difficult for himself?

Anyway, I knew in my heart that I had nothing to do today.

This journey was accompanied by several attendants and guards, who set off from their homes and walked along the shore of Qingyu Lake.

Willows sway gently along the shore, ripples spread across the lake, and people are boating on it; looking into the distance, there are several small islands in the lake, making for a beautiful scene.

What a great place.

Chen Shounian, riding on horseback and holding a whip, kept introducing the various scenic spots to Chen Jin, just like a tour guide.

From then until the very end, he never asked Chen Jin how he did on the exam or what his future plans were.

It seemed like just a leisurely stroll to relax.

Chen Jin listened attentively, his expression calm.

After passing Qingyu Lake, they turned towards Fuyun Mountain, dismounted, and placed their horses at the foot of the mountain, where they were guarded by their attendants. Chen Shounian, along with Chen Jin and Guo Ai, climbed the steps to begin their ascent.

Chen Shou, though old, was still vigorous and walked with great speed; Guo Ai was no weak woman either, her long legs striding with the ease of walking on flat ground.

In contrast, Chen Jin, taking one step at a time, fell behind. Seeing this, Guo Ai, quick-witted as ever, subconsciously slowed her pace and walked alongside him.

This scene caught Chen Shounian's eye, and he felt a surge of comfort in his old age, and smiled.

Fuyun Mountain is a famous scenic spot, but the peaks are not very high. The mountaintop has been developed, with pavilions, towers, teahouses and taverns built to provide rest and food for tourists.

Looking around, one can even see Taoist temples and Buddhist temples, and they seem to be quite popular with worshippers.

Chen Shounian said with some dissatisfaction, "Even the mountain has been turned into a market. In this day and age, it's getting harder and harder to find a quiet place. Sigh, in the end, everything they do turns into business. But ironically, we came up the mountain today and wanted to have a cup of tea, and we really have to rely on their business."

At this point, he chuckled self-deprecatingly, "As expected, I'm getting old, full of complaints, and becoming more and more annoying."

Guo Ai said crisply, "I don't mind my maternal grandfather."

The three of them found a scenic pavilion to sit down, ordered tea and snacks, and chatted while enjoying their tea.

Chen Shounian asked, "Chen Jin, what do you think of our ancestral land?"

Chen Jin replied, "The mountains and rivers are beautiful, and the spiritual energy is nourishing."

"Would you be willing to migrate back?"

"I can't ask for it."

Chen Jin didn't mince words: "However, this matter isn't up to me; it depends on the results of the exam."

Chen Shounian looked at him and said, "You should know that there are other ways to recognize one's ancestors besides the imperial examinations and obtaining official titles. Martial arts and cultivation are also options. Of course, compared to the other two, obtaining official titles and obtaining official titles is the most promising and easiest path to achieve."

Whether it's martial arts training or spiritual cultivation, both place great emphasis on innate talent and aptitude, require a huge amount of resources, and need the support of favorable circumstances to achieve even a modest success.

Chen Shounian continued, “The direct descendants of the six branches of the Chen family each have their own paths to success. Some study, some practice martial arts, and some cultivate themselves. Those with exceptional talent are proficient in both literature and martial arts. Only my branch has disappointing descendants who are neither good at literature nor martial arts, and there is a lack of successors. That is why I chose you.”

Chen Jin cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your kind favor, Sixth Master."

Chen Shounian smiled and said, "I know you've practiced martial arts and can also cultivate internal energy. I didn't mean to pry into your secrets. I just wanted to say that if you don't pass the exam, there are other ways. Don't put all your eggs in one basket."

After the provincial examination is over, there are no more taboos, so you can speak freely.

It's not that I don't believe Chen Jin can pass the exam, but the difficulty of passing the provincial examination is evident. There are tens of thousands of candidates, but only a hundred or two will pass in the end. It's like a thousand troops crossing a single-plank bridge. Who can guarantee that they won't be pushed off the bridge by others?
Therefore, it is necessary to prepare for both possibilities in advance.

The key point is that Chen Shounian had already poured a great deal of effort into Chen Jin and was absolutely unwilling to see anything go wrong with him.

If they fail the exam, they may suffer a major setback and become despondent, leaving their ancestral home and the prefecture city to return to Maoxian.

At that time, the outcome will be unpredictable.

Chen Jin understood what he meant: "Sixth Uncle, actually I only know a little swordsmanship. As for martial arts and cultivation, I have to figure it out on my own. I'm afraid I haven't even entered the door yet."

Chen Shounian couldn't help but ask, "Then what about your master? Which school or sect did he belong to?"

Chen Jin pondered for a moment and said, "I have no master."

He couldn't very well say that Kui Xing was his master, and that this was his biggest secret, one he absolutely didn't want to reveal.

Chen Shounian was taken aback: "No master?"

Chen Jin nodded: "I obtained a sword manual by chance, and then I started practicing it."

Chen Shounian looked at him strangely: "Don't tell me you fell off a cliff and had a strange encounter in a cave."

Chen Jin chuckled: "No, I found it by chance in a deserted temple in the mountains."

Chen Shounian was somewhat convinced by this statement. Opportunities and chance encounters do exist, but they depend on individual circumstances and are incredibly varied; anything can happen.

But if that happens, things will be harder to manage and plan afterwards.

　This title is dedicated to myself and to those who feel lost!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)