Evil Venerable of the Sword Dao Chapter 1 - 1 001 Grandmaster Soul
1: Chapter 001: Grandmaster Soul 1: Chapter 001: Grandmaster Soul Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Cold Pond, crane shadow.
Cold Moon, Qing Qiu.
Wild cranes took flight over the lake's silver expanse, while below, a young man honed his swordsmanship amidst the water.
"Striking the water lacks power, the resistance remains immense; it seems it's still not enough!"
The young man's dark eyes radiated determination.
He bit his lips fiercely, the corners already swollen and red, blood trickling down, yet he pressed on, undeterred.
“Boof, boof, boof—”
The silver longsword gleamed with an eerie, cold light under the moonlight. However, upon entering the water, its path deviated, becoming utterly uncontrollable and imprecise.
The boy's face grew progressively paler, the lake water mingling with his sweat, indistinguishable from one another.
His arms were already aching and numb, his entire body utterly spent.
"Either I drown in this lake, or I continue to push my body's limits!
I am still young; I cannot surrender so easily!
Grandfather treats me with such kindness; I cannot bear to witness his disappointed gaze once more!"
These thoughts strengthened the young man's resolve even further!
Extending his hand, he continued to wield the long sword, his face paler, but his expression hardening with unwavering determination.
…
Time flowed onward, past days of cultivation unfolding like dreamlike remnants, vividly pictured before his dazed eyes.
Each day's cultivation was a strenuous yet rewarding endeavor.
But today, the passage of time felt remarkably prolonged, each minute and second bearing the immense weight of mountains and rivers.
The lake water remained bitingly cold, his body long since gone numb, the frail figure submerged in the lake swaying precariously like a falling leaf in the wind.
He was on the verge of collapse, unable to endure any longer.
"Is this…
the end?
Will I finally meet my mother?"
He murmured, and a faint, elegant silhouette materialized in his memory.
It was an indelible imprint upon his spirit, a back that seemed perpetually on the verge of turning, yet never did.
He knew with absolute certainty that this woman was his mother, a person his father had long believed deceased.
His consciousness began to fade, his body losing its final reserve of strength, and he sank into the lake's embrace.
In that instant, it seemed as though countless stars in the night sky suddenly appeared, a mystical radiance descending, bathing the heavens and earth in a crimson hue.
…
"Blood essence holds ancient significance, the sun and moon nourish the soul.
Meditating upon Xingyi Fist, Heaven and Earth shall bow to my might."
…
"Mixed Yuan Qi, my Dao is attained, achieving Dao leads to the True Form.
The True Form conceals the True Spirit, a hidden spirit within Qi, the Alchemy Dao is achieved.
If inquiring about the True Form requires sincerity, to know the True Form is to align with truth.
True phenomena merge into the True Technique, True Technique harmonizes with Dao for ultimate enlightenment."
…
"Cultivating the spiritual root and acting with sincerity, this is martial arts;
Stabilizing the spiritual root and calming the heart, this is cultivation."
…
"Xingyi Fist, the initial form, Dragon Form.
The Dragon Form embodies the movements of a descending dragon and a soaring celestial dragon, complete with a bone-searching technique.
The dragon is indeed a creature of Yin, drawing the heart fire down into the belly."
The Elixir Book states, "The dragon emerges where the fire resides," and also, "Clouds follow the dragon," hence the Dragon Form in fist arts.
The power of this form originates from the Conception Vessel, connecting with the Qi cycle of the Tiger Form, one advancing while the other recedes.
Should the fist flow correctly, the heart fire descends; conversely, if resistance is met, the body will burn with Yin Fire, hindering vitality and clarity of mind…"
…
Within his mind, an unknown energy swirled, as if suddenly permeating his very marrow, causing the boy, immersed in darkness, to gasp, then tremble and regain consciousness.
At this point, the lake water had inexplicably frozen over.
His body, partially encased in ice, felt an immeasurable chill.
His form had become rigid from the cold, his face tinged purple by the frost, and his breathing grew increasingly faint.
Yet, within his mind, as if reciting sacred texts, strange and marvelous insights continuously echoed, granting him incomprehensible understanding of a bizarre world's esoteric knowledge.
Among these revelations, a particular fist technique stood out, appearing exceedingly profound, like the accumulated wisdom of a paramount being.
"Earth?
Xingyi Fist?
What is that?
Does a place called 'Earth' exist in this realm?
Are there swift 'cars'?
Are there 'computers'?"
These peculiar fragments of knowledge briefly sparked his curiosity, but were swiftly disregarded as his mind became engrossed in the boundless essence of Xingyi knowledge.
This occurred despite his body's current extreme state of weakness.
“This is a Sword Dao world; as for Earth, who knows what sort of place it is.
However, what that deceased Xingyi Fist grandmaster asserted holds much truth: myriad Daos ultimately converge upon the same destination.
Now that I possess nothing, I might as well utilize the Xingyi Fist as my bedrock, employing its profound mental cultivation techniques to aid me in forging my own Xingyi Swordsmanship!
The predecessor who could shatter the void was, even within our continent, a figure akin to a deity; their inheritance is undoubtedly superior to the rudimentary practices I’ve been following.”
The young man pondered these thoughts internally, having firmly decided his future path.
...
“Zhou Yan, are you still practicing here?
By pushing your physical limits in such a manner, even if you manage to break through to Swordman Triple Heaven and enter the First Realm of Sword Beginning, your body will undoubtedly be ruined!
For Swordmen, their physical form is the cornerstone; how can you possibly invert this fundamental order?
Was your previous talent merely a fabrication, bolstered by secretly exploiting your potential to achieve a false reputation?
If that is the case, you are truly a profound disappointment!”
A young woman, clad in a purple gauze dress with features that were both delicate and stunningly beautiful, yet exuding a frigid aura, delivered her words with an intensely biting tone.
At this instant, she was perched atop the stone embankment beside the lake, her raven-black hair cascading like a silken waterfall, enveloped by an ethereal Sword Intent.
Her silken attire fluttered, the hem of her regal purple gown brushing against the ground, rendering her an absolutely captivating sight.
She was none other than the Zhou family’s foremost prodigy, the peerless beauty Zhou Lingyi.
Furthermore, she was the very goddess residing within Zhou Yan’s heart, the object of his clandestine adoration for an extended period.
Under normal circumstances, he would have been overwhelmed with excitement, eager to offer explanations or perhaps bow in timid apology; this would have been his innate response in the past.
However, on this occasion, he did not act as expected, appearing influenced by the grandmaster’s soul, which had wrought a fundamental transformation; he regarded the girl with a newfound indifference and offered a few defiant, curling smiles, “Have I disappointed you?
When, precisely, have I ever failed to disappoint you?”
His faintly playful smile and audacious tone caused the young woman, standing regally on the stone wall, to arch her exquisitely sculpted brows.
Concurrently, Zhou Yan, uttering these very words, experienced an unfamiliar sensation.
To articulate himself in such a fashion felt remarkably effortless, deeply satisfying, and utterly liberating.
There was no necessity for guardedness, no need for pretense; everything flowed directly from his core, even his thoughts moved without impediment.
He was initially taken aback by his own uncharacteristic behavior, yet having acted thus, he found it surprisingly agreeable.
“Is this your supposed achievement, speaking to me in such a manner?” The girl’s voice carried a tone laced with ire and a hint of mocking laughter.
Zhou Yan had been previously unable to perceive such subtleties, but now, all his senses appeared preternaturally heightened; he could keenly discern these nuances in emotion.
“And how precisely have you addressed me?
In days gone by, you never showed the slightest concern for any of my affairs; I treated you with devoted kindness, yielding to your every whim…
all solely because of my love for you, which led me to debase myself utterly.
But now, my focus is solely upon the Sword Dao; success in this path will inevitably attract women.”
Zhou Yan’s declaration was delivered with potent conviction, ringing with an undeniable finality.
The young woman, Zhou Lingyi, regarded Zhou Yan with evident astonishment, her delicate features contorting into an expression of mingled fury and icy disdain, her eyebrows drawn together in a deep frown, “It seems you have truly lost your mind!
Very well, I shall eagerly await and witness your performance during the talent and physical assessment a month from now!”
The young woman, suppressing her burgeoning rage, gave her sleeve a dismissive flick and departed with an air of graceful disdain.
Zhou Yan’s gaze drifted towards the lake’s surface, which had miraculously thawed without his conscious awareness, and then to his own frail and weakened frame, a flicker of sardonic amusement crossing his features.
He felt as though he had undergone a complete metamorphosis, perceiving past events that once seemed natural as utterly foolish and naive; even recollecting certain past actions now filled him with a sense of constraint.
For instance, the act of debasing himself out of love for a woman, reducing himself to such a pitiable state, something previously unconsidered, now felt profoundly shameful.
Consequently, even after verbally driving Zhou Lingyi away, he felt no trace of apprehension.
He drew a deep, steadying breath, circulating the Primordial Qi within his form, and with a lift of his legs, he sprang from the lake’s edge back onto the stony embankment.
Then, bathed in the silver moonlight, he inhaled deeply once more, beginning to gather his Qi.
This time, Zhou Yan perceived a distinct, potent force, as if dormant within his very being.
According to the grandmaster’s teachings, a specific region known as the ‘Dantian’ was the reservoir of immense power!
This surge of Qi felt as if it did not originate from him at all.
“If this is indeed Inner Strength, then it must be refined and integrated into my own essence!”
Zhou Yan resolved mentally.
With this firm intention, he commenced his breathing exercises, adhering strictly to the Sword Skill Heart Method he was currently cultivating.
Yet, the moment he attempted to apply it, he discovered that the Sword Skill Heart Method he practiced was utterly inadequate, failing even to influence the minuscule cluster of Qi!
A frown creased his brow as he sank into deep contemplation.
Not long after, a specific recollection of the “Nine Yin Nine Yang Heart Scripture” surfaced in Zhou Yan’s mind from the grandmaster’s soul fragment. Instinctively, he initiated the First Layer of this breathing technique!
The cultivation method remained identical, but the pathway of the meridians mirrored the pattern of the Family Sword Technique!
This time, the cluster of Qi within became instantly enraged, like a divine sword, rampaging like a war god throughout Zhou Yan’s body!
Countless mystical meridians were violently fractured open under the assault of this furious Sword Qi, akin to a divine blade.
From the Zhang Gate, following the luminescence along the Tai Xu, Yuan Chong, Shouren, the marvelous governors, and foot brilliance, mystical acupoints were all forcefully breached in a single, sweeping motion!
Throughout this ordeal, Zhou Yan’s entire being seared, as if struck by celestial lightning, convulsing uncontrollably. Various agonizing sensations assailed him incessantly!
Even as he coughed up blood thrice, his consciousness wavered perilously, and the pain from his flesh pierced into the very marrow of his soul, Zhou Yan emitted not a single whimper!
Possessing an inherently iron-willed disposition, and now amplified by the inexplicable fusion with a grandmaster’s soul fragment, he exhibited an even more formidable resolve!
Cold sweat slicked his body. His previously heat-scorched robe was once again soaked, this time with perspiration, yet Zhou Yan remained resolutely still.
“Huu—”
A plume of dark, turbid air was expelled. Suddenly, Zhou Yan felt invigorated by three parts, his gaze became remarkably profound, a dignified aura flickered within his pupils before instantly vanishing into the void.
He had finally assimilated that energy cluster into his being. As anticipated, it resulted in a breakthrough akin to washing the marrow and cleansing the flesh, advancing him from the Swordman Triple Heaven to the realm of Sword Beginning of First Heaven!
Standing firm, he scooped a handful of lake water, resembling a ribbon of white silk. Upon grasping it, the water cascaded over his body.
This meticulously controlled vapor cleansed the myriad impurities from his form, washing them away utterly.
“Merely the First Layer possesses such potency. I, Zhou Yan, shall no longer bow to anyone in the future?
I too can become a prodigy!
I too can earn the respect of my family!
I need no longer witness the look of disappointed sorrow in Grandfather’s eyes!”
Zhou Yan’s gaze was as dark as an abyss, immensely deep, carrying boundless conviction for his future!