In the sky, Lin Xuan soared forward, the wind parting reverently before him. Having broken through to the Nirvana Realm and ascended as a Heavenly Symbol Master, he now grasped a deeper thread of the Qi of Death.
Heaven and earth, Qian and Kun, life and death, yin and yang, vertical and horizontal…
Countless insights flickered through Lin Xuan's mind like starlight across a tranquil lake.
The sword that had slain Mu Shi moments ago, the killing sword of the Vertical Sword Technique, was a crystallization of death's essence. In contrast, Lin Xuan now envisioned a new counterpart: the Horizontal Sword, a technique forged from the Qi of Life.
The Horizontal Sword focuses on skill, seeking its advantage, which is called opening; the Vertical Sword focuses on momentum, seeking its substance, which is called closing.
One opening and one closing, the horizontal and vertical as one, is the unity of heaven and earth, the unity of life and death!
Even their natures contrasted beautifully. The Vertical Sword thrived on opposition, each clash feeding its ferocity, the more pressure it endured, the greater its retaliatory force.
The Horizontal Sword grew with every strike it dealt, its momentum bloomed through action, a lotus of endless assault.
One Blade Throat Sever, Hundred Steps Flying Sword, each a manifestation of the Vertical Sword's resolve: a desperate slash born in death to grasp at life.
By contrast, the Horizontal Sweep of Eight Directions was life's unceasing tide, washing away resistance with unrelenting vitality, using life to extinguish death.
Opening and closing, yin and yang, Qian and Kun, life and death, thus spins the wheel of the heavens.
The blade itself mirrored the cosmos:Double-edged, one within, one without.One sharp, one curved.One soft, one hard.One Yin, one Yang.One Qian, one Kun.One Heaven, one Earth.
When heart and sword unite, when Sword Heart and Sword Dao harmonize, then the Dao flows endlessly, and the boundaries between life and death blur like mist.
Suddenly, Lin Xuan, who was flying rapidly, stopped abruptly. After looking around, he fixed his eyes on a certain place.
"I didn't know the Palace Master was here in person," he said softly. "Lin Xuan greets you."
"You are Lin Xuan?"
"You are Lin Xuan?" The voice was elegant, cool as moonlight on jade.
The Nine Heavens Great Purity Palace Master appeared from the void, her expression unreadable. Yet upon hearing his name, a rare smile graced her lips, gentle, tinged with surprise.
She studied him carefully, her eyes reflecting both scrutiny and admiration."Your aptitude... truly peerless. For Qingzhu to lose to you—it is her good fortune."
"You flatter me, Palace Master. Lin Xuan is but a humble sword practitioner with average talent. If Miss Ling hadn't yielded, I would surely have lost."
That calm face did not have the slightest fluctuation because of the praise of a Revolving Wheel Realm expert, and even the tone was as calm as water.
It sounded like he was stating the facts in his heart, but the self-description of 'Lin Xuan' revealed a bit of arrogance emanating from his bones.
Title? None! This one? Confident, not below anyone! There is only Lin Xuan, and only one Lin Xuan, an ordinary sword practitioner!
Looking at the young man in front of her, the Nine Heavens Great Purity Palace Master seemed to have an illusion. She seemed to see the shadow of her disciple, the only successor who always said 'Qingzhu, Qingzhu' on weekdays.
However, compared to Ling Qingzhu's relatively cold and aloofness, Lin Xuan in front of her had a more domineering arrogance, so domineering that even if anyone heard it, it would be difficult to feel a trace of dissatisfaction, but instead, there would be a bit more respect.
If Ling Qingzhu is like an Azure Lotus of the Nine Heavens, seemingly quiet and elegant, but also giving people a kind of cold and aloofness that can be viewed from a distance but not profaned, because she is always above the Nine Heavens.
Then Lin Xuan in front of her is an immortal who has descended to the mortal world. He stands in the mundane world, but everyone is very clear that everyone in this mundane world is not from the same world as him.
For ordinary people, the Nine Heavens Azure Lotus is out of reach, but for others who also live in the Nine Heavens, it is not so.
However, all mortals would appear somewhat inferior when facing such a celestial being.
"Are you willing to join my sect?"
After calming her mind, the Palace Master of the Nine Heavens Great Purity Palace also took the initiative to invite Lin Xuan with a hint of expectation, even changing her self-reference to 'I'.
"Lin Xuan is focused on seeking the Dao. I wonder, what Dao can the Palace Master impart?"
Lin Xuan did not give a response immediately, but instead questioned the Palace Master of the Nine Heavens Great Purity Palace, which directly stumped her.
Resources? Lin Xuan lacked for none. Martial arts? His own swordsmanship transcended technique. Even the approaching Hundred Dynasty War posed no threat to him.
Moreover, Lin Xuan was asking about the Dao, not requesting resources. However, the only thing the Nine Heavens Great Purity Palace could offer was the Supreme Dao within the Supreme Induction Scripture.
However, according to the rules of the Nine Heavens Great Purity Palace, the Supreme Induction Scripture could only be passed on to women, not to men.
Therefore, since the establishment of the Nine Heavens Great Purity Palace, the Palace Master has always been a woman. This is why Little Marten was able to determine at a glance that the person was the Palace Master of the Nine Heavens Great Purity Palace, because in the entire Eastern Xuan Region, there was only one woman who was a Revolving Wheel Realm expert.
"Alas, so be it."
The Palace Master of the Nine Heavens Great Purity Palace shook her head and sighed. After admiring such a rare talent, she hesitated for a moment and pointed a finger towards Lin Xuan.
In the blink of an eye, a stream of light arrived in front of Lin Xuan. Lin Xuan did not dodge or resist, but allowed the beam of light to enter his mind.
After closing his eyes and sensing it slightly, Lin Xuan raised his hand and bowed to the Palace Master of the Nine Heavens Great Purity Palace, saying softly.
"Lin Xuan will remember the kindness of imparting the Dao!"
His voice was still calm, but it inexplicably gave people a sense of solemnity. The Palace Master of the Nine Heavens Great Purity Palace smiled upon hearing this.
"I just want to see what height such a rare talent can reach, and whether he can comprehend the secret techniques left by the Symbol Ancestor."
Looking at the eyes that were still calm, yet filled with determination and confidence, even after hearing the words 'Symbol Ancestor', a very absurd idea flashed through the Palace Master of the Nine Heavens Great Purity Palace's mind.
Perhaps, he could surpass the Symbol Ancestor?