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Li Mu humbly said, "The inheritance of this sword technique is indeed not easy. I am also grateful to my master for preserving the Huashan tradition. Otherwise, the Huashan Five Swords might not even have four left."

Upon hearing this, Feng Qingyang sighed and pondered for a long time, as if he were about to make an extremely important decision. Suddenly, his expression relaxed, and he sighed, "Fine! Call your senior brother over as well."

Upon hearing this, Li Mu understood somewhat. Had the goal been achieved? This was to teach him the Dugu Nine Swords. He beckoned Linghu Chong, who was practicing swordsmanship nearby.

When Feng Qingyang saw the two of them arrive, he couldn't help but sigh softly. His eyes swept over them, and his gaze seemed to penetrate to the very core of one's being.

Li Mu and Linghu Chong were startled, knowing that he must have something important to say if he was so serious, so they listened attentively.

Feng Qingyang stood with his hands behind his back, his voice drifting in and out, “In my early years, I met an extraordinary person and learned a set of exquisite sword techniques. It is known as the general outline of all sword techniques in the world. It can be used to control the sword techniques of all schools and sects in the world. It is profound and inexhaustible, and can break through anything. It specifically teaches the key points of: seeing the enemy’s weaknesses, anticipating the enemy’s moves, and defeating the enemy with no moves.”

Feng Qingyang sighed as he spoke, "It is difficult to master, and requires exceptional comprehension. Only those with outstanding talent and endowment can truly master it and unleash its full power. Unfortunately, it is hard to find a successor. I didn't expect Yue Buqun to become the sect leader. His judgment is quite good, and he has taken you two as his disciples. I ask you two, would you like to learn this sword technique from me?"

Li Mu and Linghu Chong exchanged a glance and said in unison, "We are willing to learn."

"Good! Good!" Clearly pleased, Feng Qingyang's eyes flashed, and he said in a more serious tone, "Before I pass on the sword technique, let me ask you one more question. You should think carefully about whether you will regret learning this sword technique in the future."

Linghu Chong asked doubtfully, "Master forbids me from learning martial arts from outside, and besides, Grandmaster Uncle is an elder of our sect. How could I regret it?"

Li Mu replied, "This disciple has no regrets."

Feng Qingyang nodded and said, "Alright! Since you're willing, I'll pass it on to you both! Listen carefully. Gui Mei moves towards Wu Wang, Wu Wang moves towards Tong Ren, Tong Ren moves towards Da You. Jia turns to Bing, Bing turns to Geng, Geng turns to Gui. The transition between Zi and Chou, the transition between Chen and Si, the transition between Wu and Wei. Wind and thunder are one change, mountains and lakes are one change, water and fire are one change. Qian and Kun stimulate each other, Zhen and Dui stimulate each other, Li and Xun stimulate each other. Three increases to become five, five increases to become nine..."

Feng Qingyang continued reading, reciting over three hundred characters before stopping and asking, "Well? How much have you memorized?"

The two replied simultaneously, "This disciple has memorized most of it."

Feng Qingyang said with considerable surprise, "You two are indeed quite talented." He gestured to Li Mu and said, "Try reciting it once."

Fortunately, Li Mu had already activated his learning card, which multiplied his learning efficiency, memory, and comprehension abilities several times over, and he did indeed remember most of the three hundred-plus words.

He immediately recited it as instructed, making only about ten mistakes. Feng Qingyang corrected him once and then gestured for Linghu Chong to recite it. With Li Mu leading the way, Linghu Chong effectively learned it again, making only six or seven mistakes.

Then it was Li Mu's turn to recite it. With the previous experience and the added benefit of the learning card, he recited it perfectly this time. The two took turns reciting it several times, and both remembered it flawlessly.

Feng Qingyang stroked his beard and said, "Very good, very good!" He then passed on more than three hundred words of incantation, repeating the steps above. After the two had memorized them, he then taught them the next section.

The general formula of "Nine Swords of Loneliness" has more than three thousand words, and the content is not connected. Even though the two had excellent memories, they could not help but remember the later parts and forget the earlier ones. It took them half a day, and with Feng Qingyang's repeated reminders, they finally memorized the general formula of more than three thousand words without missing a single word.

Feng Qingyang nodded and instructed, "This general formula is the fundamental key to the Dugu Nine Swords. Even if you remember it now, you will easily forget it later if you do not understand the underlying principles. From today onwards, you must recite it day and night and memorize it. You two must remember it well."

The two bowed and agreed immediately.

Feng Qingyang turned around and took two steps, saying, "The Dugu Nine Swords has nine moves in total. The first move, the 'General Formula,' is the foundation of this sword technique. It has various variations and is used to embody this General Formula. The second move is the 'Sword-Breaking Form,' which is used to break the sword techniques of all schools and sects in the world. There are also the Sword-Breaking Form, Spear-Breaking Form, Whip-Breaking Form, Rope-Breaking Form, Palm-Breaking Form, Arrow-Breaking Form, and Qi-Breaking Form. Today, we will talk about the General Formula first."

Then he explained the "General Formula" of the first sword of the Dugu Nine Swords, following the order of the mantra, breaking down each sentence word by word and then introducing the various variations attached to it.

The Complete Manual of the Nine Swords of Dugu is written in the hexagrams of the I Ching, and it is full of the metaphysical principles of the Five Elements, the Eight Trigrams, the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. Li Mu has traveled through many worlds and is well-informed. He has also had some contact with the I Ching. In addition, he has often read Taoist classics in recent years, so he can understand the profound meaning in it.

Although Linghu Chong was not very familiar with the Book of Changes, he was intelligent and quick to understand. When he didn't understand something, Feng Qingyang patiently explained it to him, and he gradually began to grasp its meaning.

This grand finale is profound and contains countless martial arts principles. Every explanation from Feng Qingyang allows the two to comprehend some of the essence of martial arts, which broadens their horizons and leaves them completely engrossed.

As dusk approached, Feng Qingyang fell silent, instructing them, "You two should diligently study this in private, and do not tell anyone else about it." Then he rose into the air and vanished without a trace in a few flashes.

Li Mu and Linghu Chong exchanged a glance, both feeling somewhat unsatisfied, but it was already late, so what could they do?

……

Chapter 543 The Theory of Talent

That night, after the two returned home, they did nothing else but focus on memorizing the general principles of the Dugu Nine Swords. The next day, when Feng Qingyang was transmitting his skills, he saw that the two had already memorized the general principles and knew that they had worked hard in private. He was very pleased.

He then continued explaining the final principles to the two of them. Time flew by, and as the day's transmission of skills was about to end, Linghu Chong couldn't help but ask curiously, "Grandmaster Uncle, this sword technique is so profound and contains the ultimate principles of martial arts. I wonder which senior master created it?"

Feng Qingyang closed his eyes slightly, pondered for a long time, and then said with emotion: "I once heard from the strange man who passed on this sword technique to me that this sword technique was created by a senior known as the 'Sword Demon' Dugu Qiubai in the late Northern Song Dynasty. This senior Dugu's martial arts were unfathomable. Before the age of forty, he was invincible in the world with a heavy black iron sword, and he could not find a worthy opponent."

"After the age of forty, I retired to the mountains and forests, gradually becoming detached from material things. Grass, trees, bamboo, and rocks could all be swords, and I came to understand the realm of 'no sword is better than having a sword.' After the age of sixty, I transcended the realm of 'no sword' and glimpsed the realm of 'no moves,' and finally gradually comprehended the way of the transformation between heaven and man. This Dugu Nine Swords is the essence and culmination of Senior Dugu's lifelong martial arts experience. It encompasses everything, and its profound and mysterious aspects are truly difficult to express in words. There are some points that even I have not yet fully grasped." As he said this, Feng Qingyang couldn't help but reveal a hint of longing.

Upon hearing this, Linghu Chong felt his blood boil and murmured, "To be invincible under heaven, to seek defeat but not find it, to have such a person, what heroic spirit! I, Linghu Chong, am fortunate to have learned this sword... how fortunate I am!" As he said this, seeing that the two of them were looking at him with smiles, he realized that he had lost his composure, scratched his head, and chuckled dryly.

Feng Qingyang said, "Speaking of which, the Dugu Nine Swords are all about advancing without retreating, every move is aggressive, and there is no defense..."

Li Mu asked in confusion, "This disciple is somewhat puzzled. Why are all the variations in the swordplay offensive moves, with no defense whatsoever?"

Feng Qingyang laughed and said, "Senior Dugu's name is 'Seeking Defeat.' He has spent his whole life seeking a defeat but has never been able to find one. When he uses this sword technique, every move is an attack, forcing the enemy to defend. Of course, he doesn't need to defend. If someone attacks him to the point that he has to turn his sword around and defend, he will be overjoyed and ecstatic."

Upon hearing this, the three were speechless for a moment. They thought of the old master Dugu, who roamed the world alone with his sword, seeking no defeat but finding none. He couldn't even find an opponent who could withstand a single blow. How lonely, and how proud he was!

Feng Qingyang suddenly sighed, "Speaking of which, the Dugu Nine Swords is quite different from the usual rules of martial arts. All martial arts in the world are only distinguished by the subtlety of their moves and the depth of their artistic conception. But the Dugu Nine Swords is different. It has no moves. Although it has no moves, it is based on all the moves of martial arts in the world. Back then, the old man relied on his unparalleled talent and wisdom to glimpse the secrets of heaven and create this sword!"

Li Mu asked in confusion, "This disciple is somewhat confused. Anticipating the enemy's moves and attacking their weaknesses—not everyone understands this principle. But even ordinary martial arts practitioners instinctively try to anticipate the enemy's next move and attack their weaknesses when fighting. The difficult part is how to anticipate the enemy's moves and find their weaknesses. I would appreciate guidance from Grandmaster Uncle!"

Feng Qingyang's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he smiled and said, "That depends on that final chapter. Everyone thinks that a flash of inspiration, an epiphany, or an intuition is something that comes and goes in an instant, seemingly there and not there, and is elusive. But that's not the case."

"It is said that when a person is born, their mind is clear and their thoughts are unobstructed, so they are naturally in this state. Unfortunately, as they grow older and gain more knowledge, distracting thoughts arise, their spiritual awareness is tainted, and their mind is gradually obscured. Only by chance or when they have a sudden realization can they return to the state of mind they had at birth for a short period of time, which is why there is talk of a flash of inspiration and sudden enlightenment."

"This final chapter is the most profound part of this sword technique. It not only contains countless martial arts principles, but also can remove worldly impurities and temper one's true nature. Gradually, it makes one's mind clear and see one's true nature. At that time, one's mind will be like a clear mirror, without the slightest stain. Any oversight or flaw of the enemy will naturally be known to one. Anticipating the enemy's moves and seeing their weaknesses will be as easy as eating and drinking."

After listening, Li Mu murmured, "A mind as clear as a mirror, reflecting the origin, is that the sword heart that is enlightened?"

Feng Qingyang was taken aback, then clapped his hands and laughed, "Sword Heart Clarity, Sword Heart Clarity... Haha... That's a good way to put it, isn't that exactly what Sword Heart Clarity is?"

Li Mu was somewhat speechless, wondering if the two were referring to the same thing as "sword heart enlightenment," though both were profound realms of swordsmanship and probably had many similarities.

Feng Qingyang stopped laughing and said, "The moves are easy to learn, but the state of mind is difficult to cultivate. This is the greatest hurdle of this sword technique. Only those with extraordinary comprehension, clear thinking, and the ability to act spontaneously, whose minds are more transparent than ordinary people, can suppress their thoughts and gradually temper their minds with the ultimate method, reaching the profound state of no thoughts and no intentions, with a mind as clear as a mirror!"

Li Mu thought to himself, no wonder Linghu Chong practiced so quickly. This swordsmanship truly suited his state of mind—free-spirited and pure-hearted. Unlike Li Mu himself, who had experienced too much and had too many thoughts, his mind wasn't so pure. His persona as a swordsmanship genius was built upon his extensive knowledge and his exceptionally high learning ability enhanced by the learning card.

Although he does have considerable talent in swordsmanship, without that support, he would be far inferior to Linghu Chong.

"I see, I have learned a lot."

Feng Qingyang laughed and said, "You were able to sense the changes in my aura and the direction of my sword intent beforehand, which shows that your mental state is quite good. You already have some signs of anticipating the enemy's moves. In this respect, Linghu Chong is not as good as you. However, your mind is not as pure as Linghu Chong's. With this addition and subtraction, when it comes to learning the Dugu Nine Swords, the two of you are about equal."

Li Mu nodded. Feng Qingyang's judgment was accurate, and what he said made sense. He and Linghu Chong were two different people: one was using his superb learning ability, along with his extensive knowledge and experience, to practice swordsmanship; the other was relying purely on his innate talent for swordsmanship.

It's quite remarkable that Li Mu's swordsmanship has gradually caught up with Linghu Chong's within just five or six years of being on Mount Hua, and is now on par with him.

Feng Qingyang continued, "This final technique allows you to anticipate the enemy's moves and spot their weaknesses. As for how to break through the enemy's moves, you need to look at the remaining eight techniques. These eight techniques are all-encompassing and represent the ultimate evolution of techniques. Apart from the final technique, the last three techniques are particularly difficult to learn."

"The Palm-Breaking Technique breaks the skills of fists, feet, fingers, and palms. Since the opponent dares to fight against my sword with bare hands, he must have extremely high skill. Whether he has a weapon or not makes little difference. There are countless fist, leg, finger, and palm techniques in the world. This technique breaks all kinds of fist and foot skills, which shows its extraordinary nature."

"The Arrow-Breaking Style encompasses all kinds of hidden weapons. To practice this style, one must not only have a clear mind, but also learn the art of listening to the wind and identifying weapons. One must not only be able to deflect all kinds of hidden weapons launched by the enemy with a long sword, but also use the force to counterattack and reflect the hidden weapons launched by the enemy to injure them. It sounds easy, but it is extremely difficult to practice."

"As for the Ninth Sword Qi-Breaking Technique, this technique is used against those who possess superior internal strength. It is understood through divine insight and resides in the mind..."

Li Mu asked in confusion, "I can understand the first few moves, but I don't quite understand this Qi-breaking move. Does it mean that if the enemy attacks me from mid-air, I can pierce and disperse his energy with one sword?"

Feng Qingyang chuckled and said, "Internal strength is formless and intangible, so how can it be dispersed by a sword? However, this move is quite profound, and even I have not yet fully comprehended it. It can deduce the circulation pattern of another person's true energy based on the changes in their qi, and thus break through the protective true energy of a person with profound internal strength. If this move is practiced to a high level, it is said that it can be used to deduce the circulation route of true energy in the meridians. It is truly formidable!"

Hearing how profound this Qi-breaking technique was, Li Mu and Linghu Chong were even more eager to try it.

Seeing their confident expressions, Feng Qingyang quickly cautioned them, "Don't think that just because you've learned this sword technique, you can look down on all the heroes in the world! There are countless martial arts masters in the world, so you must not become arrogant."

"Moreover, the strength of a martial art depends not only on what kind of martial art it is, but also on who is using it."

"The strength of this sword technique is the same. It depends not only on your own martial arts skills, but also on your mental cultivation and martial arts literacy. Otherwise, even if you can understand the enemy's moves, if your vision is insufficient, how can you identify the flaws and how can you break through the enemy's moves? If you two can master this sword technique within ten years, I will be satisfied."

The two bowed and replied, "We will do our utmost to live up to Grandmaster Uncle's expectations!"

Feng Qingyang laughed heartily and said, "Good... I'm relieved that you think this way."

Winter passed and spring came, spring passed and summer came. Half a year passed in the blink of an eye. Li Mu and Linghu Chong finally mastered the Dugu Nine Swords. However, this sword technique was profound and complex, and the two of them were still not proficient enough.

After Feng Qingyang finished teaching the sword technique, he no longer came here every day, but he still appeared once every three to five days to answer the two's questions!

Several more months passed quickly, and Li Mu and Linghu Chong finally understood all the changes within the Dugu Nine Swords.

One day, Feng Qingyang suddenly said, "I have taught you all the parts of this sword technique that I could. The rest you will have to figure out on your own. It is time for me to leave!"

The two were taken aback and exclaimed, "Grandmaster Uncle, where...where are you going?"

Feng Qingyang said, "I have been living in seclusion in this back mountain for more than 20 years. Seeing that you two have extraordinary talents and are quite to my liking, I was tempted to come out of the cave and teach you this sword technique. I only hoped that Senior Dugu's peerless martial arts would not be lost. Now that my wish has been fulfilled, it is time to go back."

Linghu Chong exclaimed, "So Grandmaster Uncle lives in the back mountain! That's wonderful! I can serve you day and night and relieve your loneliness."

Feng Qingyang sighed, "So be it! I'm used to being alone. If fate allows, we'll meet again someday. Don't tell your master about my affairs!"

Li Mu knew it was best to tell his master Yue Buqun about this, so he couldn't help but ask, "But if Master sees this sword technique, how should I answer?"

Feng Qingyang frowned, put his hands behind his back, pondered for a moment and sighed, "Alas... Yue Buqun has heard of this sword technique, but has never seen it. If he asks, then... never mind... just say that I taught it to you."

The two reluctantly replied, "Yes! We will obey your instructions, Grand Master Uncle."

Without lingering, Feng Qingyang vanished without a trace in a few flashes!

Chapter 544 The End of Qingcheng

With Feng Qingyang gone, a rare silence fell over the Cliff of Contemplation. Li Mu's fourth level of the Purple Cloud Skill gradually approached perfection, showing signs of a breakthrough.

He immediately focused his attention on the Zixia Divine Skill and the Yi Jing Bone Forging Chapter. Another year passed, and Li Mu grew another year older, turning nineteen. It was also the time for the opening of the Laughing Proud Wanderer. After so many years, it had finally arrived.

On this day, at the Chaoyang Peak of Mount Hua, as the sun rose and he felt the wisps of purple mist in the sky, his Zixia Gong, which had reached the fourth level of perfection, became increasingly harmonious and clear. Suddenly, his dantian leaped, and a surge of true energy burst forth, like the sun shining everywhere. His internal energy flowed smoothly and freely, creating a chaotic state.

A thought struck him, and with a flick of his sleeve, he floated onto a rocky outcrop. He sat cross-legged, palms facing upwards, clearing his mind of all distractions. He took a few deep breaths, regulating his internal energy, and the incantations for the fifth level of the Purple Cloud Skill appeared in his mind one by one.

He had already thoroughly grasped the fifth level of the practice. He knew exactly how to proceed step by step, where to direct the Qi, how to coordinate the acupoints, how to manage breathing, when to reverse the flow of Qi, when to avoid the extraordinary meridians, and when to reverse the flow of Qi in both directions.

Calm your mind and focus your spirit, guide your true energy, and circulate it according to the cultivation method of the fifth level.

As his true energy circulated faster and faster, his whole body surged, and a layer of purple energy enveloped Li Mu. After half an incense stick's time, he slowly finished his practice and stood up, his face beaming with joy. He had successfully completed the fifth level of the Purple Cloud Skill.

From then on, his internal strength cultivation was comparable to that of the leaders of major sects, and he was also a top-notch expert among the world's first-class masters. If he were to add the Dugu Nine Swords, there would be nowhere in the world he could not go.