Chapter One Hundred and Three: What Defines a Genius of the Sword

“You want to save them?”

Yu Huan’s eyes widened, and at last she showed some semblance of a ten-year-old girl.

Lin Ze didn’t answer, simply taking the girl’s hand and leading her toward Broken Soul Cliff.

“I think we should return and report this to the Sect. Maybe then they’d have a better chance of survival.” Yu Huan had always trusted her own eyes, and in her opinion, the hint of unease on the Daoist’s face was not an expression a true powerhouse who could change the tide should wear.

Unable to break free from his grip, she had no choice but to calm herself and analyze the situation for him.

“Shut up.” Lin Ze didn’t even look back.

He wasn’t as irrational as the girl imagined; on the contrary, he was quickly sorting through his thoughts.

Reporting the news was hardly something that required his personal effort. If he remembered correctly, the cultivators of the Eastern Peak Sect possessed jade slips for communication. Unless, as in the simulator, the Celestial Hound sealed the spiritual energy, once the White Fox delivered the message to Qin Hongxiu, she would have her own ways to send it back to the Sect—far more efficiently than if he were to run back and forth himself.

Time was the most crucial element right now!

According to the others, there was still a day and a half before the beast horde attacked the various checkpoints. Even if he traveled at full speed, using lightfoot techniques, it would take him a full day to reach Broken Soul Cliff.

With these calculations, two possibilities became clear.

Either, before the cultivators arrived, the beasts would break through the demon mountain early, hiding in the Eastern Yue mountains and waiting to invade Taiyang Prefecture… But the chance of this was slim, since the Golden Core elders had yet to join the battle, and with their cultivation, they could easily detect any unusual movements from the Celestial Demon Sect.

Or, as in previous years, to avoid suspicion, the Celestial Demon Sect would wait until the cultivators of all peaks were in position before making their move. The lesser demons at the other checkpoints would be reduced to mislead the disciples, while the main force would gather at Broken Soul Cliff, ready to surge forth once the time was ripe.

If the second scenario came to pass, whether the Eastern Peak Sect could avert disaster or not, the cultivators stationed at Broken Soul Cliff were doomed.

Even if they could use artifacts and formations to barely hold off ten for every one of their own, there were only thirty to fifty cultivators there. When faced with thousands of beasts, such resistance would be utterly meaningless.

Lin Ze steadied his breath.

No matter what he saw next, he had to remain clear-headed.

He was only there to save the two old men from Crane Forest, not to play the savior. At least for now, having the White Fox notify Qin Hongxiu was the only thing he could do; the rest must be left to the Eastern Peak Sect.

Once this was clear, everything else fell into place.

Lin Ze looked up at the sky, where the outline of the moon was faintly visible amid the pitch-black night.

Almost simultaneously, the day’s simulation count had refreshed.

He quickly opened the simulator and inserted Qin Hongxiu’s character card.

Murmuring to himself, he said, “Let’s see what this so-called sword genius is truly like.”

There was only half a night left before she would face off with the Celestial Hound. In such a short time, how far could the little martial aunt master a new sword technique?

Lin Ze didn’t know, but he was eager to find out.

Qin Hongxiu was renowned as a Golden Core sword immortal, her swordsmanship reaching the realm of perfection. To use an alchemical analogy: if he had already mastered a Grade Three Dragonbone Pill, picking up another recipe of the same level would naturally be much easier—no need to start as a novice. Though alchemy and swordsmanship were not entirely the same, the comparison held.

Unfortunately, even so, the time was simply too short.

With no better option, Lin Ze could only give it a try, adding two skill cards into the simulator.

[Superior Skill Card: Innate Art]
[Superior Skill Card: Innate Moonlight Sword Scripture]
[Simulation begins.]

…

To watch someone who had already fallen come alive again, lounging lazily atop her heavy sword—it was a feeling both strange and wondrous.

Lin Ze slowly sat down beside Qin Hongxiu; turning his head, he could see her face, even the subtle upward curve of her lips.

Despite her languid expression, the heroic air between her brows was unconcealable. Beneath the black hood, her crimson lips always carried a hint of teasing amusement.

If Su Bailu was a young heroine just venturing into the world, the little martial aunt was more like a retired master, fishing idly—yawning as she casually skewered the enemy’s heart with a flick of her rod.

He had only recently seen her soaring into the clouds, heavy sword in hand, so he would not be deceived by her outward appearance.

He found himself a little distracted… Shaking his head, he refocused his attention.

As usual with the simulator, since the White Fox had not yet delivered the message and the trigger condition hadn’t been met, this simulation would follow the same course as before.

This vibrant body would, in about six hours, be reduced to charred remains in the searing flames.

If the Celestial Hound arrived earlier, then it would be even less—perhaps only four hours.

“Stop yawning and get on with your sword training,” Lin Ze glared at her. Given their respective strengths, he only dared act so fierce in the simulator.

As if hearing his words, Qin Hongxiu stretched and began to peruse the two new techniques in her mind.

She showed little interest in the Innate Art, only cultivating it because she discovered that the Moonlight Sword Scripture required it as a prerequisite, her face full of reluctant resignation as she started the breathing exercises.

Breathing techniques, unlike most skills, were hardly difficult. As a spiritual-grade technique, the Innate Art was one that even Lin Ze had succeeded in after just a single attempt.

About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea later, Qin Hongxiu slowly opened her eyes.

Just as Lin Ze thought she would pick up her heavy sword and practice, she instead simply lay back on it, her breathing long and steady, as if she had fallen asleep.

…

It wasn’t until he switched to first-person perspective that Lin Ze realized what she was doing.

In her mind, a miniature figure appeared, wielding a three-foot green sword, movements as fluid as water, practicing the Moonlight Sword Scripture…

“You have your own built-in simulator?” Lin Ze couldn’t help but mutter.

Of course, it wasn’t a simulator; rather, her understanding of the sword had reached the point of true mastery, enabling her to deduce the changes in sword techniques within her own sea of consciousness… How many sword skills must she have studied to reach this level!

He was so absorbed in watching the miniature figure that he failed to notice the change at Qin Hongxiu’s fingertips.

Back in the Xiao family village, Xiao Bao had almost grasped the Frost Sword Intent after a single glance—perhaps due to insufficient talent, or perhaps the difference in skill level. Qin Hongxiu was a bit slower, taking about ten breaths’ time.

A silver gleam flashed suddenly at her fingertip.

Moonlight Sword Intent!

Lin Ze stared, entranced by the miniature’s movements.

He had never considered using someone else’s character card to aid his own cultivation before.

Mainly, everyone’s constitution differed, and each interpreted techniques in their own way; what suited one might not suit another.

But this time was different.

This miniature was born of Qin Hongxiu’s understanding of swordsmanship, untainted by anything else. Moreover, he had already mastered the Moonlight Sword Scripture to perfection, so he could just barely comprehend her insights.

An hour passed; the sword intent at her fingertip suddenly surged, birthing a silver beam of light.

It was Moonlight Sword Qi.