Evil Venerable of the Sword Dao Chapter 2 - 2 002 Sword Qi

The eastern horizon began to lighten as dawn slowly broke, painting the sky with twilight hues.

Emerging from the veil of night, the morning light was preparing to arrive.

It mirrored the glint of sword light that now emanated from Zhou Yan’s eyes.

After a full night dedicated to comprehending the Sword Dao, Zhou Yan’s focus was absolute. His spirit had thoroughly purified his marrow and bones, integrating a core of Breaking Void Internal Power into his very being.

His frame, though slender, now possessed a resilience like tempered steel, brimming with potent Blood Qi.

His gaze had deepened, dark as the stars, shedding the lingering immaturity of a fifteen-year-old. It was as if a profound understanding of the true Dao had dawned upon him overnight.

As the first rays of sunlight touched the horizon, his motionless form began to stir.

Initially subtle, the movements gradually gained momentum.

Finally, his hand assumed a unique posture, a peculiar shape that mimicked the fluid motion of a beast—a form now evident in his own movements.

“Dragon Form, Rising Dragon Sword!”

Zhou Yan’s voice was soft as he uttered the command, and the sword in his grasp vibrated subtly.

With a sharp whistle, the sword produced a clear, melodious sound, akin to a perfectly struck musical note.

In front of him, a gust of wind stirred, scattering a flurry of dry leaves. They were instantly impaled, suspended like exquisite beads upon the surface of the silver-gray iron sword.

Yet, this strike, imbued with immense power, caused the sword that had been his companion for three years to emit a dull groan. It snapped, falling from the air in two pieces.

Zhou Yan’s brows knitted into a deep crease, a clear sign of dissatisfaction with his own execution.

“Dragon Form, my comprehension is merely at an entry level. I grasp much of the concept, yet lack even basic control. Is it that I cannot overcome my inherent foolishness?”

Zhou Yan mused aloud.

He then extended his hand.

With another whoosh, the broken sword lying on the ground ascended, returning to his grasp!

Setting aside his contemplation, he temporarily abandoned the Dragon Form and the Nine Yin Nine Yang Mental Method. Instead, he turned his attention to practicing the foundational swordsmanship of the Zhou Family—the Bi Shui Connecting Heavens Sword Technique.

Despite dedicating an entire night to the Dragon Form Sword Dao without success, Zhou Yan refused to accept that his family-regarded innate comprehension talent was futile!

Especially after receiving the inheritance and experiencing the profound sensation of marrow cleansing, he felt a barrier had shattered. This fueled his conviction in his own understanding, proving it far superior to what Zhou Lingyi and the others perceived!

Driven by an unshakeable faith, he resumed practicing his family’s fundamental swordsmanship.

This technique comprised nine forms, each remarkably intricate.

Previously, Zhou Yan had found the initial three forms relatively straightforward. However, beyond the third, each subsequent form became increasingly abstruse, making practice an arduous task.

Consequently, at his prior Swordman Triple Heaven realm, he could only master the first three forms of the Bi Shui Connecting Heavens Sword Technique.

The fourth form presented a significant challenge.

The fifth form was as impenetrable as deciphering a celestial text, far beyond his grasp.

Now, having absorbed the torrent of information from the inheritance and grasped the foundational Dragon Form of the Xingyi Swordsmanship, practicing the family’s swordsmanship felt like a natural unfolding.

First form, second form.

Third form, fourth form.

After executing the fourth form once more, he seamlessly transitioned into the fifth, then the sixth…

Seventh…

He repeated the sequence four or five times before finally comprehending the eighth form.

At this juncture, Zhou Yan was lost in the depths of his cultivation, oblivious to everything else. The broken silver-gray iron sword, catching the crimson light of the rising sun, flashed intermittently into his vision, jolting him back to awareness.

Streams of Qi flowed through his body like water, a gentle rustling sound accompanying their circulation. These currents intertwined with clusters of Sword Qi—tiny silver swords birthed from the Breaking Void Internal Power and the Nine Yin Nine Yang Mental Method.

Awakening, he became aware of this internal phenomenon.

For a fleeting moment, Zhou Yan’s resolute expression softened with a mixture of astonishment, elation, surprise, and disbelief.

“Sword Qi… possessing Sword Qi within the body is the hallmark of the clear Sword Qi Realm! Yet, I am currently only at the Sword Beginning First Layer Heaven realm… how is this possible…”

Zhou Yan drew a deep breath, his heart racing with excitement. He focused, striving to regain his composure.

The Sword Dao Realms were categorized into Swordman, Sword Beginning, and Sword Qi. Only upon reaching the Sword Qi realm could one progress to the subsequent stages!

Yet, after a solitary night, it seemed he had earned the right to step into the Sword Qi Realm!

An overwhelming surge of excitement coursed through him.

The journey from the Sword Beginning Realm to the Sword Qi Realm typically spanned three distinct stages.

However, progressing from Sword Beginning Three Heavens to Sword Qi First Layer Heaven presented a chasm, a seemingly insurmountable gap.

Within Canglan City, countless prodigies found themselves perpetually stalled at this very threshold!

Such a monumental challenge was beyond the comprehension of Zhou Yan, a scion from an unremarkable lineage.

Now, the nascent form of Sword Qi pulsed within him.

How could he contain his elation?

Grasping the gravity of his current situation, even Zhou Yan, possessing a semblance of Grandmaster composure, felt his heart pound with exhilaration.

In this world governed by the Sword Dao, a cultivator's destiny was shaped by two paramount factors: physical constitution, often termed root bone; and profound understanding, or the capacity for comprehension.

During his prior evaluations, while his root bone was deemed exceedingly poor, his comprehension had been nothing short of exceptional, surpassing ordinary expectations by leagues!

Consequently, despite his mother’s “lowly status” as a “mysterious” courtesan, he still retained a position as a core direct descendant within the family’s hierarchy.

However, on numerous occasions, his failures had deeply disappointed his grandfather, whose sorrowful and let-down gaze pierced Zhou Yan’s heart like a blade, instilling in him a profound sense of shame.

Now, with his body purified, his root bone was undeniably robust and peerless, and his comprehension, as if a celestial shackle had been shattered, appeared extraordinarily profound!

He was no longer destined to be the grandson who incurred his grandfather’s disappointment!

No longer the son who brought shame upon his father, nor the “merely ornamental” “prodigy” subjected to the curious and mocking glances of those around him!

He would no longer cause his grandfather to wear such a crestfallen expression!

He would no longer witness the heart-wrenching sorrow reflected in the eyes of his grandfather and father!

He would ascend to become a genuine prodigy, an unparalleled genius who would command the awe of all!

Retrieving his fractured sword, Zhou Yan slung it diagonally across his waist and set his course towards the ascending sun.

Bathed in the nascent glow of dawn, he seemed to emerge from antiquity, embarking on a pilgrimage towards the eternal Sword Dao!

...

“Zhou Yan, do you even realize you are already tardy?”

“The Patriarch Grandfather is acutely aware of your reckless pushing of limits!”

“Do you comprehend that you have become a cautionary tale for the family, openly admonished by the Preaching Elder?”

Even before he reached the training grounds, a voice, sharp and tinged with a nascent hoarseness, reached Zhou Yan’s ears.

It belonged to a youth currently navigating the turbulent phases of puberty. He was Zhou Yan’s cousin, Zhou Xian.

Zhou Xian was blessed with superior physical attributes, though his comprehension had, in the past, been overshadowed by Zhou Yan’s brilliance.

Consequently, he had once humbly sought enlightenment from Zhou Yan.

Upon discovering Zhou Yan’s apparently “diminished” capacity, his demeanor underwent a stark transformation.

Now, he arrogantly deemed his own abilities far superior to Zhou Yan’s, refusing outright to address him as “senior brother” or even “cousin”!

Furthermore, he harbored intense resentment towards Zhou Yan, viewing him as a personal disgrace and an insult, steadfastly refusing to be drawn into any comparison with him!