“But Sword Twenty-Three is too dangerous…” Meng Qi struggled to describe Sword Twenty-Three, since he had seen this sword technique in a comic from his previous life, while the introduction from the Master of the Six Dao Reincarnation was relatively brief. He couldn’t reveal his deep understanding of it.
Sword Twenty-Three originated from the “Holy Spirit Sword Method” in the “Fengyun” comic. It could only be executed by burning one’s life force and forsaking life itself. It was the sword of heart, soul, spirit, and sword intent. With a single strike, all senses would cease, and everything would freeze—utterly unavoidable.
This was an extremely powerful sword move. The only drawback was that it required death to unleash, which Meng Qi found particularly problematic.
Of course, it had been many years since Meng Qi read that comic, and his memory had long been blurred. Perhaps his recollection wasn’t entirely accurate. Moreover, this was obtained from the Master of the Six Dao Reincarnation—nobody knew whether it was the “authentic” version of the sword method.
Because the list of redeemable items was vast, Zhang Yuanshan and Qi Zhengyan had both overlooked the “Holy Spirit Sword Method,” and thus looked at Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei with confusion.
Jiang Zhiwei smiled and said, “Never thought we’d coincidentally target the same sword method, little monk. Don’t worry, I’m redeeming the sword manual to study variations in sword moves and the dispersion and concentration of sword intent. I take inspiration from others’ stones to polish my own jade. I won’t let the ‘Holy Spirit Sword Method’ lead me by the nose. If one day I learn Sword Twenty-Three, I’ll only seek to understand its principles—why the sword of heart and soul, why the cessation of senses, why the anomaly of time—rather than simply imitate it.”
It seemed the Master of the Six Dao had specifically warned about the danger of Sword Twenty-Three. Jiang Zhiwei understood Meng Qi’s implication. However, if not for such danger, how could Sword Twenty-Three be worth only 4,000 merits? Of course, even after redemption, whether it could be mastered was another matter.
“Miss Jiang, since you’ve made up your mind, go ahead and redeem it,” Meng Qi nodded thoughtfully after Jiang Zhiwei’s reasonable explanation.
After all, it would still be a long time before Sword Twenty-Three could be obtained.
A natural-born swordsman’s decision was naturally unshakable. Zhang Yuanshan took out the jade manual, glanced at the introduction of the “Holy Spirit Sword Method,” frowned slightly, then relaxed his expression. “Actually, this is a fine sword method. Not many martial arts techniques can match the effect of Sword Twenty-Three.”
Jiang Zhiwei caressed the “White Rainbow Through the Sun Sword” and smiled lightly, “But those techniques don’t have such harsh requirements. Well, I’d like to first redeem the first eighteen forms of the ‘Holy Spirit Sword Method’ to study the essence of the sword of emotion, and then continue to delve deeper later.”
She stood up, took the jade manual, paid Zhang Yuanshan twenty merits, and walked to the central light column, placing the “White Rainbow Through the Sun Sword” into it.
Strangely, after the sword entered the light column, it didn’t fall but floated midair, wrapped in swirling mist.
The light faded, the cracks disappeared, and the “White Rainbow Through the Sun Sword” looked as radiant as ever.
“Only thirty merits, quite a bargain,” Jiang Zhiwei happily retrieved her beloved sword and turned to the others, saying, “Redeeming the ‘Holy Spirit Sword Method’ emotional section requires two hundred merits. I still have seventy left, and I plan to redeem one move of the ‘Heaven and Earth Share Hatred’ to study it further.”
The “Holy Spirit Sword Method” could only be redeemed in sections such as the emotional part, emotionless part, Sword Twenty-Three, and Six Annihilation Sword Twenty-Three, not fully broken down into Sword One, Sword Two, Sword Three, etc.
“Heaven and Earth Share Hatred” was the most representative move from the “Crippled Heaven and Maimed Earth Hundred and Eight Sword Techniques” in the Hidden Sword Pavilion, valued at sixty merits. Jiang Zhiwei had long been interested in sword techniques from “parallel sects.”
Meng Qi asked in confusion, “Miss Jiang, are you only redeeming sword techniques?”
Didn’t she need to redeem martial arts manuals or pills?
“My sect’s “Supreme Sword Sutra” cultivation method differs from others. It requires observing various sword techniques, mastering and then forgetting them, to strengthen the sword intent in one’s heart. The stronger the sword intent, the faster the inner strength grows, and the more effortless the acupoint refinement becomes. Therefore, redeeming sword techniques is also part of my cultivation, faster and safer than consuming pills.” Jiang Zhiwei said frankly. Anyone familiar with the Sword Washing Pavilion knew this.
After saying this, she reached her hand into the light column and pulled out a gray manual and several thin pages.
“Who should discuss their redemption next?” Her eyes sparkled as she flipped through the sword manual casually.
She planned to keep the remaining ten merits as a reserve, in case of unexpected situations, such as needing treatment if the main mission wasn’t completed.
“Senior Zhang, what do you plan to redeem?” Meng Qi already had a clear idea of what he wanted to redeem, so he wasn’t in a hurry.
Zhang Yuanshan hesitated, “Frankly speaking, I’ve always believed in focusing on one path. Redeeming too many martial arts techniques might not be good, since my current sword techniques are sufficient. So, aside from the Tiancong Pill, I’m not sure what else to redeem right now.”
He had already refined the ear-related acupoints and was preparing to open the double ear acupoints.
“Focusing on one path?” Meng Qi’s mind stirred, recalling Gu Xiaosang’s words. “Senior Zhang, then why not strengthen your foundation?”
“What do you mean?” Zhang Yuanshan asked in confusion.
Gu Xiaosang had mentioned that Zhang Yuanshan failed to grasp the true essence of the two major martial arts techniques of the Zhenwu Sect during their initiatory transmission. Meng Qi got inspiration from this:
“Senior Zhang, I recall that most martial arts manuals can be divided into sections such as Qi Accumulation and Acupoint Opening for redemption. Why don’t you directly redeem the Qi Accumulation section of your current primary cultivation technique, have the Master of the Six Dao impart it to you, and then reflect on the differences between what he imparted and what you’ve cultivated independently. This way, you can make targeted improvements and solidify your foundation.”
Actually, martial arts techniques like the “Buddha’s Palm” and “Severing Heaven Seven Sword” didn’t have divisions like Qi Accumulation and Acupoint Opening, since their essence was already contained within each move and strike. Moreover, they could be directly cultivated from any martial arts technique without obstacles, and they could even enhance the original foundation.
Zhang Yuanshan was stunned for a moment, then clapped his hands together with a crisp sound, excitedly pacing back and forth, “How come I didn’t think of this, how come I didn’t think of this…”
His excitement even drew Jiang Zhiwei’s attention away from studying the “Holy Spirit Sword Method” manual.
After a while, he calmed down and solemnly bowed, “Thank you, Junior Zhen Ding. Your suggestion has given me hope to resolve my major concerns.”
Since he had already completed this stage, redeeming and cultivating it again wouldn’t destabilize his foundation. Instead, he could use this opportunity for comparison and mutual verification, to comprehend the true essence, identify existing problems, and make up for his inability to grasp the method from the true essence transmission.
“I just had a sudden thought and mentioned it casually. It’s not worth Senior Zhang’s such a grand gesture,” Meng Qi smiled.
“It is worth it, it is worth it! Although I’m more skilled in Taiji defensive techniques, my main cultivation is the introductory part of the “Zhenwu Seven Cutoff Sutra.” Due to various reasons, the more I practiced, the more difficult it became. Fortunately, there’s the Reincarnation World,” Zhang Yuanshan couldn’t contain his eagerness, quickly stepping into the light column to begin his redemption.
It seemed he had gained more anticipation and enthusiasm for the Reincarnation World.
Meng Qi flipped through the small jade manual and found that the “Zhenwu Seven Cutoff Sutra” was divided into the Qi Accumulation section, Acupoint Opening section, External Scenery section, and Dharma Body section—the first hundred days of foundation building were generally similar, without special sections.
Among them, the Qi Accumulation section required one hundred merits, the Acupoint Opening section required one thousand merits, the External Scenery section required twenty thousand merits, and the Dharma Body section required two hundred thousand merits.
In other words, if directly redeemed and cultivated, Zhang Yuanshan would have to spend at least two hundred merits.
Radiant light draped over his body, dazzling and brilliant, as Zhang Yuanshan seemed to ascend to a fairyland, with light particles dancing around like fireflies.
After a while, the radiant light disappeared, and Zhang Yuanshan stepped out of the light column, his face full of joy and his spirit refreshed: “It turns out that over these years, I’ve been gradually straying onto a mistaken path, a subtle deviation hard to notice. Spending two hundred merits was totally worthwhile!”
He still held a Tiancong Pill in his hand, and the remaining twenty merits were also reserved for unexpected situations.
“Senior Zhang cultivates the ‘Zhenwu Seven Cutoff Sutra’ and excels in Taiji defensive techniques, while Miss Jiang’s sword intent is sharp and her sword techniques fierce, complementing each other. This redemption further strengthens their respective directions, so we should avoid overlapping as much as possible,” Meng Qi said to Qi Zhengyan.
In the short term, his positioning was clear: like the “MT” in previous online games, using body-hardening techniques to draw attacks and help others find opportunities. However, Qi Zhengyan’s positioning was somewhat vague.
This wasn’t necessarily a problem, but the current team lacked ranged attackers and experts in hidden weapons and mechanisms, among many other deficiencies. However, there was nothing they could do about it. The team currently had only four members, which was still too thin, and everyone couldn’t afford to be distracted, as the martial arts path still required focused dedication.
Qi Zhengyan nodded, “Junior Zhen Ding, are you going to strengthen your body-hardening techniques?”
Meng Qi frowned, “I have too many things to redeem, and before entering this reincarnation world…”
He explained the secret passage, Zhen Guan, and the Bodhi Temple reward, now no longer needing to hide anything.
“Two worlds having the same secret passage…” Zhang Yuanshan said in disbelief.
“No wonder you could find that secret passage…” Qi Zhengyan was also astonished.
Jiang Zhiwei slightly furrowed her brows and pondered, “Perhaps there is some connection, but we currently know too little to uncover it.”
After thinking hard for a while, they couldn’t figure anything out and had to change the topic. Zhang Yuanshan laughed and said, “According to Shaolin’s tradition, the Bodhi Temple’s reward must be allowing you to choose the Qi Accumulation section of the non-move-related parts of the Seventy-Two Marvelous Techniques. You can directly choose Golden Bell Cover or Diamond Indestructible Divine Skill, so there’s no need to redeem other body-hardening techniques’ Qi Accumulation sections.”
“Yeah, I need to complete the first missing move of ‘A-nan Breaking the Precepts Saber Method,’ and replenish the toxic needles of the ‘Storming Pear Blossom Needles,'” Meng Qi stated his plans. “Also, I feel that ‘Eight Steps of Divine Movement’ is no longer sufficient. I’ll try to sublimate it to ‘Hundred Transformations of Divine Movement’ with merits. If there are any merits left, I’ll pick another good saber method.”
Qi Zhengyan looked at the needle syringe he had picked up; there was no need to hide this.
“You’ve thought it through thoroughly; these are definitely the top priorities for redemption. If you’re short on merits for the saber method, I can lend you ten, with a repayment of nine out of thirteen,” Jiang Zhiwei teased.
Zhang Yuanshan nodded slightly, “I can also lend you some.”
After all, the remaining merits were for unexpected situations, and they could just collect some unimportant manuals or items as backup.
Qi Zhengyan hesitated for a moment and said expressionlessly, “Ten out, twelve in.”
“How long are you guys going to laugh about this?” Meng Qi pretended to be “angrily embarrassed” and strode toward the central light column, stepping into it.
“Completing the first move ‘Cutting Purity’ of the ‘A-nan Breaking the Precepts Saber Method’ requires 110 merits. Once completed, it will be equivalent to a redeemed item and cannot be exchanged for merits again.”
“Replenishing the toxic needles of ‘Storming Pear Blossom Needles’ requires 50 merits.”
“‘Eight Steps of Divine Movement’ can be sublimated into ‘Hundred Transformations of Divine Movement.’ Due to your understanding, it only requires 40 merits.”
“Proceed with the redemption?”
The voice of the Master of the Six Dao echoed in Meng Qi’s ears.
Meng Qi naturally didn’t hesitate. Instead, he was delighted that the cost was less than he had anticipated, especially since the sublimation of “Eight Steps of Divine Movement” only required 40 merits thanks to his understanding!
Therefore, he directly chose to proceed with the redemption.
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