Chapter 241 Sword Arts and the Sword Dao

"Do you remember what I asked you back then? What kind of sword is yours?" Jiang Xuan looked at the lake, the fishhook sinking into the water, but no fish took the bait. After all, there was no bait, so it was indeed not easy to catch anything.

"My sword?" Gu Duxing pondered. Jiang Xuan bringing up this question again must have a deeper meaning, but he was still somewhat confused.

"What exactly did you comprehend?" Jiang Xuan asked again, looking at the silent Gu Duxing. "If you lose your way, then seek it out. There are countless sword practitioners in this Iron Cloud City, there should be some you can find."

Gu Duxing seemed to understand something. After a moment, he bowed to Jiang Xuan, "Thank you for your guidance, Senior!"

Then, without stopping for even a moment, he strode away, heading outside the encampment.

Dong Wushang watched Gu Duxing leave. He didn't know where the courage came from, but he walked up to Jiang Xuan, respectfully bowed, and then asked, "Senior, Duxing, he's..."

"Bull!"

Ji Mo and the others secretly thought, giving thumbs up. This was a ruthless person, actually asking directly. What he said before was not a joke.

Jiang Xuan glanced at Dong Wushang, a hint of admiration in his eyes. Apart from Chu Yang and Gu Duxing, this guy was the third to dare to talk to him directly.

He didn't dislike others asking for guidance, because he deeply understood that one person's strength was extremely weak. Just like himself, he relied on himself from countless worlds to have his current strength.

Moreover, as his strength grew stronger, his perspective on those who came later became more detached. The jealous mentality of "teach the apprentice, starve the master" could no longer appear in his heart.

He had his own insights. In the myriad realms, strength was paramount, but strength was not inevitable. There was a huge difference between the strength of one person and the strength of a civilization.

It was like Huang Tiandi (Desolate Heaven Emperor) in the Perfect World. After creating the Covering Heaven Law, he also passed it on to later generations, even giving his many powerful methods to others, hoping that living beings could stand shoulder to shoulder with him and destroy the darkness.

It was also like Confucius in the Confucian Dao World, who recorded and passed on his insights, benefiting future generations. Even after death, his talent was divided into three parts, allowing the human race to prosper forever, no longer lambs to be slaughtered at will.

It was also like Ji Ning in the Mang Huang (Desolate Era) World, after comprehending the Eternal Ultimate Sword Dao and the *True Spirit Undying*, he passed it on to countless chaotic beings, allowing more beings to attain Dao to eternity and embark on the ultimate path...

Among the myriad realms, truly powerful civilizations were the result of countless living beings pressing forward, allowing wisdom to constantly collide, and allowing inheritance to last forever. Only then could truly powerful experts appear, only then could civilizations that were strong enough to stand above the myriad realms appear.

Even Jiang Xuan, no matter which world he was in, had also received guidance and inheritance from his predecessors, which allowed him to have insights and gains. Otherwise, without any guidance, it would be impossible for him to have his current strength.

This was exactly what the sages of the previous life said: "Establish a heart for heaven and earth, establish a destiny for the people, continue the lost learning for the past sages, and create peace for all generations." Only now did Jiang Xuan truly understand this, and it was precisely because of this that he could look at everything with detachment, and have the mentality of a sage to educate the people.

"His heart is in chaos." Jiang Xuan smiled, looking at the small boat drifting in the lake. "He is too obsessed with this sword. What he has comprehended has become swordplay, not the sword dao."

Dong Wushang suddenly understood. This was the same principle as his knife practice. Obsessing over knife techniques would make one neglect the knife.

However, he was still a little puzzled. They were all from aristocratic families, and they had been instructed by their family elders since childhood. The difference between knife and sword techniques and the knife and sword dao had been reminded countless times. With Gu Duxing's talent, how could he be confused?

Or was it that the sword technique Gu Duxing had obtained was too powerful, so powerful that he couldn't tell the difference between technique and dao?

Jiang Xuan didn't explain it to him. The current Gu Duxing was confused by the Sword Heart Illumination sword technique. What he saw was the sword heart of his predecessors, not his own.

Sword Heart Illumination, this was not a fixed sword technique. It had no fixed moves. All those who could comprehend it had different sword hearts, and the power and sword intent of this move were also different.

…

In the evening, Gu Duxing finally returned, his clothes tattered and injured, but his eyes were bright, as if he had found something.

When everyone saw him dragging his injured body back, they were all furious and prepared to grab their weapons and attack the door. Fortunately, Gu Duxing explained in time that he had gone to challenge the sword masters in Iron Cloud City, and that was how he was injured.

"Duxing, so you really figured it out? Could it be that getting beaten up has this kind of effect? Maybe we should beat you up tomorrow."

"That's right, if that's the case, I'll beat you up every day, and I guarantee you'll have insights every day!"

Ji Mo and Luo Kedi said one after another. This was what they had been looking forward to for a long time. They had been forcibly dragged here by Gu Duxing earlier, and they had been beaten up. How could they not vent their anger?

"Get lost!" Gu Duxing scolded, but then said, "Senior wants me to find my own sword dao. What's the use of your lousy sword skills?"

"Damn, no personal attacks!" Luo Kedi complained. They were not specializing in sword practice, and it was already good enough that they had their current level.

"Ah… I'm so envious, I really want to get Senior's guidance." Ji Mo was so envious that he felt like he was going crazy. He felt annoyed just looking at Gu Duxing now.

"You can try, maybe it'll work out?" Luo Kedi encouraged. A dead friend is better than a poor daoist, let Ji Mo take the hit first.

"Dog Aunt, why don't you go, you bastard!" Ji Mo cursed.

"I think we can let Wushang go, wasn't he fine just now?" Rui Butong said. Dong Wushang had asked a question just now, and nothing had happened.

"That makes sense, Lord Dong, why don't you give it a try?"

"That's right, Brother Dong, for the sake of our brothers, why don't you give it a try?"

Luo Kedi and Ji Mo joined forces to instigate, which made Dong Wushang's face turn ugly. He couldn't wait to skin these two guys alive.

"Why should I go, why don't you two bastards go?" Dong Wushang cursed angrily, almost drawing his Ink Saber to chop these two guys.

Gu Duxing looked at the way they were acting, and said with a sullen face, "Alright, don't be so embarrassing."

Ji Mo and the others became even more temperamental after being told off like this. Gu Duxing had received guidance, but they hadn't. Now they couldn't even talk about it?

But before they could explode, they heard Gu Duxing say, "Actually, Senior isn't as scary as you think."

The others were stunned, and then they saw Gu Duxing look at Ji Mo, "You were acting so recklessly a few days ago, but Senior didn't even bother with you, did he?"

"And老大 (laoda, "Boss" or "Oldest"), that day he cursed as soon as he saw Senior, but Senior didn't bother with him either. I think we all treat Senior like a fearsome tiger, but in reality, Senior's state of mind is lofty and he simply wouldn't bother with these small matters of ours."

Ji Mo and the others fell silent, listening to Gu Duxing continue, "So, I think that even if we don't succeed in asking for guidance, we won't be punished by Senior."

"However, you have to think clearly about what you want to ask. If you ask any stupid questions, even if Senior doesn't punish you, I'll beat you to death."

Dong Wushang nodded, thoughtfully, "Duxing is right, an expert like Senior has a detached state of mind, so how could he bother with us juniors? Actually, I also have many questions I want to ask, but I don't know how to start."

Today he asked Jiang Xuan a question, and although it wasn't about anything related to the knife, he felt that Jiang Xuan wasn't difficult to communicate with, it was just that they were all afraid in their hearts.

Of course, he also agreed that even if Jiang Xuan was willing to guide them, they couldn't ask some idiotic questions, because that would definitely disgust a powerhouse.

Gu Duxing saw that they all had their own thoughts, so he said, "For now, don't act rashly. After老大 returns from the Butian Pavilion, I'll discuss it with老大."

Ji Mo and the others nodded. It was good to have this hope, and they didn't dare to rush, so they waited for Chu Yang to return before discussing it.

…

Knock knock!

That night, Chu Yang knocked on Jiang Xuan's door.

"Senior, this junior Chu Yang, has something to ask for guidance."

Chu Yang had already discussed it with Gu Duxing and the others, and had also discussed it with the Sword Spirit for a while. In the end, he decided to come over. If it could really succeed, then not only Ji Mo and the others, but even his own strength could greatly increase.

"Come in."

Jiang Xuan's voice came out, and Chu Yang immediately pushed open the door and entered. He saw Jiang Xuan leaning against the chair, not showing any aura, but he seemed to be integrated with the heaven and earth, and there was no flaw to be found.

"It's somewhat similar to the state of harmony between man and nature, but it's even more profound and unpredictable, as if he has become an incarnation of heaven and earth, a manifestation of the dao." The Sword Spirit didn't know how to describe it, it was simply too detached.

Chu Yang didn't dare to think too much, and put away his thoughts. He opened his mouth and said, "Senior, this junior has a request."

"Speak." Jiang Xuan said lightly.

Chu Yang looked at his calm appearance, gritted his teeth, and said, "This junior wants to ask Senior to guide our cultivation."

Jiang Xuan raised his head, and the jade slip in his hand disappeared. Then he smiled and looked at Chu Yang, and said, "I was wondering when you would dare to say these words."

"Senior, you've agreed?" Chu Yang was overjoyed, he didn't expect it to be so smooth.

Jiang Xuan smiled and said, "Guidance is possible, but what if the price is the Nine Tribulations Sword?"

Chu Yang's smile immediately stopped. The Nine Tribulations Sword was his capital to become stronger. It had only truly awakened in this life, and it would allow him to become stronger in the future. It wouldn't be long before he was confident that he could surpass his previous life.

"What? Don't you regard them as brothers? In your eyes, they are not even worth a sword?" Jiang Xuan said. The current Chu Yang didn't know the true meaning of the Nine Tribulations. What kind of decision would he make?

Chu Yang was silent. Should he hand over the Nine Tribulations Sword, or give it up?

The Sword Spirit didn't say anything either. It hadn't told Chu Yang the meaning of the Nine Tribulations. It was looking forward to what kind of answer this unique Sword Master would give.

After a long time, Chu Yang raised his head again and looked at Jiang Xuan. He held out a section of the sword tip with both hands and said, "Senior, please!"

He had given his answer, he could give up the Nine Tribulations Sword.

Jiang Xuan glanced at it, but didn't care. The Nine Tribulations Sword was a treasure in their eyes, but in his opinion, it was nothing.

Earlier, he had used his *ta xin tong* (telepathy) to look at Chu Yang, seeing many thoughts in Chu Yang's heart, and also seeing what the Sword Spirit was thinking. But he did this only to see the most truthful choice in Chu Yang's heart.