Chapter 955: Situ Leihong's Method
"The saber was born from the sword. For the sake of understanding the special characteristics of sabers, I learned some Saber Techniques. Little Friend Xiao Chen, if you do not mind, how about exchanging some pointers?"
Situ Leihong was not in a rush to start speaking of business. Instead, he wanted to exchange pointers with Xiao Chen. He clapped his hands, and a servant stepped forward to bring out two unsharpened treasured sabers, not giving Xiao Chen any opportunity to refuse.
Situ Leihong made an inviting gesture, allowing Xiao Chen to choose a saber first.
Xiao Chen stood up and said, "Since Senior is willing to give me some pointers, I am naturally willing to accept them. However, I am already used to the saber in my hand. I hope that you don't mind."
"As you please."
Situ Leihong did not feel upset over this. Instead, he revealed an attitude of appreciation. Then, he waved his hand.
Suddenly, the hall started spinning very quickly. Before Xiao Chen understood what was going on, the scene before him changed, turning into a vast drill ground.
Now, Situ Leihong held a distinctly cold saber in his hand. The flashing light that it radiated seemed to be the same as the sky, giving the impression that it was one with the sky.
Situ Leihong took one step and charged towards Xiao Chen. A crisp and melodious saber hum resounded. When he swung the saber, it left an inextinguishable, resplendent, and dazzling saber light in the air.
Xiao Chen felt mildly surprised. Although Situ Leihong did not comprehend saber intent, his dense saber light was comparable to that of bladesmen with ninety-percent-comprehended saber intent.
Those who did not know what was going on would mistake Situ Leihong for an expert bladesman.
Xiao Chen did not have much time to think. The saber light already arrived before him. As he held the Lunar Shadow Saber, he materialized the Flawless saber Dao. His saber became like an extension of his body. As he raised his hand, it was like a treasured saber being unsheathed.
"Dang!" The scabbard blocked Situ Leihong's saber light. A shocked look flashed in his eyes as he quickly switched moves.
A volcanic eruption resounded. Situ Leihong's figure flashed, and he sent out a tyrannical and powerful saber light from the right side.
Xiao Chen's long hair fluttered without any wind blowing. He twisted his body as he shuffled his feet. The saber soul that he used as saber intent flowed out from every pore of his body, not limiting his saber to just the one he held.
The sound of a hundred sabers blended together. With one twist, Xiao Chen shifted from defense to offense, forcing Situ Leihong to retreat.
Neither had any intention of using Martial Techniques. The two fought an intense battle in the drill ground with just their skill with the saber.
In Xiao Chen's opinion, Situ Leihong's skill with the saber was exquisite. Even a proper bladesman would admire him.
However, Situ Leihong's heart did not lie with sabers. His affection for the saber was fundamentally different from Xiao Chen's love for it.
With neither using Martial Techniques and Xiao Chen employing all his comprehensions in the saber and his Flawless saber Dao, Situ Leihong simply could not fight back at all.
Xiao Chen tilted his body and attacked. Boundless saber light flickered. Using his body as a saber and his shoulder as the tip, he used his incredible skill in sabers to knock Situ Leihong back.
Then, Xiao Chen's black hair swung forward. Each strand of hair was like a treasured saber. Situ Leihong had no other choice than to retreat further.
"Ding!"
Amid the thousands of saber light, a multicolored light flashed. It was Xiao Chen using the Lunar Shadow Saber's scabbard to tap Situ Leihong's chest in the time it took for a spark to fly, taking advantage of Situ Leihong's continuous retreat.
Withdraw!
Xiao Chen did not actually stab Situ Leihong; he only gently touched Situ Leihong's jacket before quickly backing off.
"Senior, there is no need to continue this exchange," Xiao Chen said calmly as he landed on the ground.
Situ Leihong was in high spirits. Xiao Chen's new saber Dao had piqued his interest. "Haha! I'm fine. I'm a half-baked bladesman in the first place. However, you will not be able to injure me. Just do your best and show no mercy. Let's continue."
Xiao Chen shook his head and asked, "Senior, since you do not understand the saber, why the need to persist?"
Situ Leihong's face sank, and the smile on his face faded away. He said coldly, "I do not understand the saber? Even the Martial Emperors in the Profound Domain do not dare to say that."
"Senior possesses a powerful saber and has great skills with the saber, comparable to that of a first-rate bladesman. However, if you do not understand, then you do not understand. If you truly understood, then how is it that you could not even comprehend saber intent?"
After a long time, a faint smile returned to Situ Leihong's face. "You have the same horrible character as Ying Zongtian. Back then, he said that my skills with the saber were not worth anything at all.
"That precious disciple of his waxed lyrical over your skills with the saber in the letter. It is rather unique. You created it yourself, right? What is it called?"
Xiao Chen answered honestly, "Flawless."
When Situ Leihong heard the word "Flawless," his face went blank in startlement. He smiled disappointedly and said, "Flawless…how can there be something truly flawless in the world? I once thought that swords were the most perfect and flawless weapon in the world. However, if it was truly flawless, why would it birth a weapon like the saber?"
Xiao Chen suddenly thought of something. He asked, "Is Senior thinking of addressing the deficiencies of the sword by researching sabers? So that you can forge a truly flawless sword?"
"That's right. The apex of Spirit Weapons is Divine Weapons. I want to forge a flawless sword that surpasses that of Divine Weapons. Unfortunately, after a hundred years, I still have made no progress in that regard.
"Let's not talk about this matter. Let's talk about yours."
Situ Leihong waved his hand, and the world spun around. The scene before Xiao Chen changed back into the hall.
Since Situ Leihong's cultivation was unfathomable, Xiao Chen did not feel surprised at his means. He handed the Lunar Shadow Saber to him and said, "I would like Senior to help me take a look at this saber."
Situ Leihong received the Lunar Shadow Saber and casually drew it. However, saber light suddenly shone. The resplendent and dazzling saber light illuminated the entire hall.
Xiao Chen's expression instantly changed. Situ Leihong had drawn the Lunar Shadow Saber by only one centimeter, but he reacted very quickly, sheathing the saber back right away.
Xiao Chen had tried many times, but he could not draw the Lunar Shadow Saber at all.
Furthermore, Su Xiaoxiao said that the Embryonic Soul in the saber was extremely weak; it could not stand the light of day. So Xiao Chen did not try to draw it anymore after that.
Xiao Chen had not expected Situ Leihong to be able to draw it so easily. He rushed forward and asked, "Senior, is the Embryonic Soul in there alright?"
Situ Leihong put down the Lunar Shadow Saber and said, "It is fine. It is not that weak. I suppose you came to me for help in nourishing the Embryonic Soul in there into an Item Spirit?"
Xiao Chen heaved a sigh of relief and asked, "Senior, there is a way?"
"Although I specialize in swords, it is still easy for me to nourish an Item Spirit for an ordinary saber; not much effort would be needed. However, yours is a little problematic."
Xiao Chen said calmly, "Senior, just say it straight. I only need to know the conditions. I do not expect this to happen immediately."
Situ Leihong held the Lunar Shadow Saber once again. He said sullenly, "You will need many rare divine materials. However, that is nothing; I have them. On account of Ying Zongtian, I can provide most of them to you. However, there are three things that you need to find on your own."
"What three?"
"Soul Returning Grass, Paramita Flower, and Three Life Stone."
Xiao Chen stood up and said, "Many thanks, Senior. As long as I can find these three items, I can bring back my previous Item Spirit?"
"Why? You doubt my abilities? Without an Embryonic Soul, I would not dare to say this. Since I say it, I am fully confident," Situ Leihong retorted with an unhappy expression on his face.
Xiao Chen was overjoyed. He performed a cupped-fist salute and said, "Many thanks, Senior. I will never forget this kindness. Xiao Chen will repay this many times over in the future."
"Don't be in a rush to leave," Situ Leihong called out to stop Xiao Chen. He smiled and added, "I can provide the divine materials on account of Ying Zongtian. However, my help in bringing back your Item Spirit is not free. Earlier, the Spirit Fox King's adopted daughter was here. However, I did not help her for free, either."
"Senior, please go ahead and speak franky."
Situ Leihong said, "In the Profound Domain, there is a Sword School Ranking and a Saber School Ranking. They have been held since the Ancient Era. Now, they are maintained by the Sword Sovereign Liu Xiaoyun and the Saber Sovereign Wu Xiaotian. The rankings are held once a decade. Each time, they attract all the swordsmen and bladesmen in the Profound Domain.
"The two rankings will start in four months. The top ten of the Saber School Ranking will be able to gain a piece of ten-thousand-year-old Flame Crystal. I want you to win it and bring it to me."
Xiao Chen thought for a while and replied, "The ten-thousand-year-old Flame Crystal? I will bring it to Senior four months hence."
Situ Leihong smiled and said, "You are rather bold in your tone. Do you think there is no one in my Profound Domain? This Saber School Ranking does not prohibit the older-generation cultivators from taking part. As long as one is not a quasi-Emperor or above, anyone can take part."
"Senior, just wait for my good news. I'll take my leave!"
After Xiao Chen walked out, he kept feeling that he forgot something. Suddenly, he recalled that Situ Leihong said that the Fiend Race girl from earlier was the Spirit Fox King's adopted daughter.
The Spirit Fox King's adopted daughter? Isn't that Xiao Bai?
Xiao Chen turned around and prepared to walk back into the hall to ask Situ Leihong about it. However, the doors were tightly shut; no matter how he pushed, they would not open.
The bellboy appeared before Xiao Chen and said, "Haha! Young Master, the Manor Lord already has a new guest. I'll show you out."
Xiao Chen sighed. Xiao Bai had been here, and yet he missed her. What a pity.
However, he had things to do now. He had to ask Ying Qiong about the Soul Returning Grass, Paramita Flower, and Three Life Stone and figure out the details of the Saber School Ranking as well.
---
Right after Xiao Chen left, the Supreme Sky Emperor appeared silently in the hall.
"Zongtian, your disciple is really very bold, not showing any regard for the Saber School Ranking. He also agreed immediately without even asking where the Soul Returning Grass, Paramita Flower, and Three Life Stone were."
Situ Leihong smiled faintly. He was not surprised at Ying Zongtian making an appearance. Or perhaps it should be said that Ying Zongtian had arrived long ago.
Ying Zongtian laughed, "Little Lei, I haven't seen you for many years, but you are still as wicked as before. You made my disciple go and fetch the ten-thousand-year-old Flame Crystal and the Spirit Fox King's adopted daughter get the ten-thousand-year-old Essence Iron from the Sword School Ranking. In one go, you obtained both these items."
Situ Leihong rolled his eyes and complained, "How many times have I told you? Don't call me Little Lei. I am already over two hundred years old."
Smiling, Ying Zongtian retorted, "What's wrong? You can't accept that? If you can't, then go and reincarnate earlier. I am an old monster who is more than two thousand years old. You are only a couple of hundred years old, so you are still Little Lei."
"Alright, alright, alright. I can't beat you. Let's speak about serious matters. How confident are you of breaking through to Sovereign Martial Emperor?" Situ Leihong did not pursue his complaint but moved on to another topic.
"Originally, I was fully confident. However, there have been problems connected to the Three Holy Lands. They might even try to sabotage me in secret."
Situ Leihong raised his eyebrows and asked, "What's wrong? Because of that fellow from earlier? That sounds about right. The Three Holy Lands definitely do not wish to see the Azure Emperor's descendant rise up. Despite that, you stood out and supported him. Aren't you seeking trouble for yourself?"
Ying Zongtian did not seem to care. He sidestepped the question somewhat, saying, "It is not hard to become a Sovereign Martial Emperor. It is also not that difficult to become a powerful Sovereign Martial Emperor like the Thunder Sovereign or the Heaven Abandoning Deity Sovereign. However, further than that is only a dead end. No one can reach that."