Those who complained were unaware that the elder who created this sword technique had his profound internal energy unintentionally crippled by an opponent during a martial arts conflict in his prime, leaving him unable to practice inner energy techniques ever again.
Fearing a drastic drop in his status within the sect, the elder kept this a secret. Instead, he pretended to have made significant progress in his martial arts, acting mysteriously to deceive everyone in the sect.
However, the fact remained that he had lost the ability to protect himself. From then on, he lived a reclusive life, relying on his exceptional wit to avoid detection.
This period coincided with the Seven Mysteries Sect’s peak dominance in Jingzhou.
When the elder realized his energy could not be restored, he fell into despair. Using his authority, he secretly dispatched his subordinates to raid numerous obscure, hidden minor sects without informing the other leaders.
From these sects, he forcibly seized many clandestine martial arts manuals, hoping to find a supreme technique that could be used without internal energy.
After years of plundering, he indeed discovered many incredible secret techniques, but none suited his needs. He was deeply disappointed.
This elder was also a man of extraordinary talent and intellect. In his despair, he conceived the idea of utilizing the numerous secret techniques he had gathered to create a unique martial art tailored for himself.
This idea excited him immensely. Creating a unique martial art was the lifelong dream of every martial artist. From then on, he became utterly absorbed in the endeavor, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to researching and experimenting with his ideas. Eventually, to avoid worldly distractions, he even went into seclusion, paying no heed to the sect’s external conflicts.
Creating a martial art was an immensely difficult task, especially given the constraints he faced: it had to be usable without internal energy while incorporating numerous secret techniques to form a profound and supreme martial art.
The unprecedented process of creating this technique proved far more arduous than he had imagined. Yet, he was a man of great perseverance. After nearly half a lifetime of painstaking effort and decades of relentless work, the Blinking Sword Art manual was finally completed.
Overjoyed, the elder eagerly shared the news with others in the sect. However, having just mastered the technique, he was shocked to discover that the Seven Mysteries Sect had already declined drastically. The entire sect was besieged by numerous gangs and factions, facing imminent annihilation.
The elder, now in his sixties, was both alarmed and enraged. In this critical moment, he utilized his newly mastered bizarre sword technique to display immense power, slaying many formidable enemies and intimidating the remaining experts. Through his efforts, he carved a path through the encirclement, allowing the Seven Mysteries Sect to escape and ensuring its survival—a monumental achievement.
Unfortunately, shortly after the escape, the elder reached the end of his life. His final wish was to place the sword manual, the fruit of his labor, into the Seven Supreme Hall before passing away.
Even more regrettably, in the years that followed, no disciple until Han Li attempted to practice this technique, leaving this hidden gem buried and forgotten.
Han Li was completely unaware of these past events. Even if he had known, it would not have stirred his interest. For him, the sword technique was suitable for his practice and could potentially help him survive under Doctor Mo’s control. That was all that mattered. As for its origins or its creator, Han Li had no interest whatsoever. He was a pragmatic person who would not bother with anything that offered no tangible benefit.
In his room, Han Li lit an oil lamp and leaned over the wooden desk, continuing to study the manuals under the dim light.
He had no intention of copying the manuals. Instead, he planned to rely on his exceptional memory to commit all of them to heart. This way, it would be safe from loss or leakage.
He remained highly vigilant of Doctor Mo, not foolish enough to believe he was entirely free from surveillance. If numerous copied manuals were found in his room, it would expose his plans and alert Doctor Mo prematurely.
The orange flame of the lamp flickered with a soft “pop,” reminding Han Li that much time had passed and he should rest soon.
But Han Li paid no heed, completely immersed in the world of the manuals. The bizarre techniques described in the books captivated his entire attention.
As the lamp flames flickered one after another, his shadow cast on the wall wavered and shifted in size. Yet, Han Li himself remained motionless. The contrast between the moving shadows and his stillness created a strangely harmonious yet eerie atmosphere.
Time passed in quarter-hour increments. The shadow behind Han Li gradually blurred, then faded entirely as daylight brightened outside. Unknowingly, Han Li had spent the entire night engrossed in reading.
With a final “pop,” the last large lamp flame burst, and the oil lamp extinguished completely, jolting Han Li awake from his reading.
He glanced at the lamp, then at the daylight outside, and sighed inwardly.
He never imagined he would one day become so obsessed with studying techniques of killing. He was truly different from his former self.
After reflecting for a while, Han Li stood up, stretched his neck and limbs, causing his joints to crackle. He then stepped outside, fetched a basin of cold water from a nearby deep well, and washed his face to refresh himself. He circulated the Evergreen Technique through his body, dispelling all traces of fatigue from the night.
After a night of reading and research, Han Li realized that fully mastering this martial art would require at least eight to ten years of diligent practice. Even with his exceptional talent, it would take two or three years to achieve minor proficiency.
But time waited for no one.
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