Jiang Xuan glanced at the sword in his hand, casually swung it twice, searching for the sensation from just moments ago. Then, his eyes narrowed as he forcefully calmed his emotions, fully focusing with utmost seriousness, and swung the sword again.

"Whoosh!" A buzzing sound resonated again as the perfect circle formed once more, made up of thirty-six layers of sword shadows.

"I did it! I really did it! I only took ten hours!" Jiang Xuan was incredibly excited as he swung the sword again.

"Whoosh!"

This time, although the thirty-six sword lights were instantly struck out, the formation was not perfect, leaving several gaps in the defensive circle. Jiang Xuan wasn’t surprised by this, as he had just mastered the basics of the move.

He hadn’t been focused enough the first time.

He had been too excited.

"Chasing Wind Blade has nine main techniques, and in terms of power, there is no difference between the basics and mastery. Both will have the same effect when performed. The difference lies in… mastery means being able to execute the move effortlessly, anywhere and anytime, with the technique ingrained in your instincts. Even if you’re attacked while asleep, you can execute the technique perfectly upon waking. But when you’ve just learned it, you need to focus entirely to perform the move perfectly."

"Although the power doesn’t change, the difference in practical application is massive! It's a world of difference!" Jiang Xuan was well aware of this gap.

When practicing the sword, there were no dangers around him, and his attention was solely on the sword. Once a technique was learned, it was easy to perform again.

As long as he was focused, it was fine.

However, in battle, where the environment was filled with danger—there could be sneak attacks, injuries, and extreme mental tension—it was much harder to execute a perfect move unless one had mastered the technique.

"My father took two years to master Ring Blade Style from entry to mastery. But after mastering the basics, it only took him less than a year, because he had real combat experience. He joined the hunting teams to fight against beasts and monsters, growing more skilled through real-life battle. This is why his time to mastery was short…"

"But I…" Jiang Xuan thought to himself.

He certainly couldn’t leave the tribe’s earthen city right now. Although the several late-stage congenital female warriors in the tribe could serve as training partners, it wasn’t a life-or-death battle, and the lack of danger could even be counterproductive. If he encountered a real fight, he might be caught off guard.

And, right now, he couldn’t afford to fight to the death.

Because he could not afford any injuries. If his wounds were too severe and couldn’t be quickly healed, it would affect his participation in the upcoming arena battle in a month.

"If I don’t engage in life-and-death combat, no matter how diligently I train, the time for mastery will be twice as long as for the basics."

"Twice as long, what of it?"

Jiang Xuan’s spirits lifted. "I mastered this style in ten hours. I’ll be able to master it in a day and a half at most! As for the fifth style, the difficulty increases, but I’ll be able to master it in one or two days, and two or three days for full mastery…"

"My father was the greatest genius of the Jiang tribe in a hundred years before he disappeared. Even though he mastered the first eight styles of Chasing Wind Blade, the ninth style eluded him. He was the one who suppressed all congenital warriors in the area around Heitan Mountain."

Jiang Xuan silently thought, "But if we compare him to the history of the Jiang tribe over a thousand years, he’s not that impressive."

"In the past thousand years, the Jiang tribe has produced four warriors who surpassed congenital realms! All four of them mastered the nine styles of Chasing Wind Blade before the age of twenty! The most legendary of them was Jiang Zhengwu, from five hundred years ago. He entered the congenital realm at thirteen, mastered all nine styles at fifteen, and surpassed the congenital realm at twenty-one, earning the title of the Black Abyss Sword Ancestor, reaching the threshold of the deity or demon realm… But sadly, he couldn’t lead the tribe to build a city and elevate it to noble status."

The Black Abyss Sword Ancestor, Jiang Zhengwu.

The greatest genius in the history of the Jiang tribe for a thousand years! Also considered the greatest genius of Heitan Mountain in a millennium! The number one swordsman of a thousand years, and the only one in the Jiang tribe who ever touched the threshold of the deity or demon realm!

The Jiang tribe prospered during the time of Jiang Zhengwu, with many noble families and powerful city families trying to form alliances with him.

Ancient prophecies had even declared that Jiang Zhengwu had the potential to become a deity or demon.

He was supposed to lead the Jiang tribe to nobility, a matter almost set in stone! But everything changed when he was only thirty-one.

Five hundred and fifty-seven years ago, the tribulation-level strongman Jiang Zhengwu perished in the deepest part of Heitan Mountain’s Ten Directions Abyss!

He was devoured by the thousand-year-old demon beast, Chi Zheng!

"Demon beasts have different lifespans from humans. To this day, the thousand-year-old demon Chi Zheng still resides in the Ten Directions Abyss of Heitan Mountain. The last time it caused chaos was a hundred and thirty years ago. It’s one of the three nightmares of Heitan Mountain. And our Jiang tribe’s ancestor, Jiang Zhengwu…"

Jiang Xuan sighed. "Though he fell more than five hundred years ago, stories about the Black Abyss Sword Ancestor Jiang Zhengwu are still being passed down throughout the region, including in Feixue City and its surrounding counties. Any swordsman, anyone who studies the sword, knows of him and his legend."

"It is said that even the two major academies in Feixue City have extensive records on Jiang Zhengwu’s life. Not only those who study the sword but also those who practice other weapons have certainly heard of him. He is truly known by all."

Jiang Xuan felt a sense of pride.

Though many of the ten great tribes of Heitan Mountain had produced strong warriors who surpassed the congenital realm, Jiang Zhengwu was undoubtedly the most brilliant of them all.

Even though he didn’t lead the Jiang tribe to nobility, it was only because he passed away too early, without enough time to gather the wealth required for city-building.

"Ancestor Jiang Zhengwu mastered the nine styles of Chasing Wind Blade at fifteen!"

"I’m also fifteen this year. I have the chance to be the second person in a thousand years to master all nine styles at this age!" Jiang Xuan understood that he was already on the path to surpassing the greatest genius of his tribe. But he also remained clear-headed.

"I have the teachings from Senior Qishi, which is why my progress has been so rapid. My ancestor didn’t have such a fortuitous encounter. Relying solely on his talent and hard work, he achieved such heights. If he hadn’t fallen so early, he might have even reached the realm of deities or demons..." Jiang Xuan silently thought. "Right now, my cultivation is still only half-step congenital. Compared to my ancestor, I’ve fallen behind quite a bit. Even if my swordsmanship catches up, I still need to work harder! Perhaps, I also have a chance to become a deity or demon!"

Becoming a deity or demon…

On the land ruled by Feixue City, there is only one deity or demon, the Lord of Feixue City! He is the supreme ruler here!

For Jiang Xuan, becoming a deity or demon had once seemed like an unattainable luxury. He didn’t even dare to fantasize about it, as his talent was simply insufficient.

But now, with the breathing technique, Jiang Xuan finally saw a glimmer of hope.

"Senior Qishi!"

"Senior, are you there?"

Jiang Xuan called out several times to the soundstone, hoping to share the good news with Senior Qishi, but received no response. He was used to this.

He didn’t call out again and instead resumed practicing his sword.

Having just mastered the fourth style of Chasing Wind Blade, Jiang Xuan needed to consolidate it.

At the Wei family’s old mansion in Feixue City.

In the front hall.

"Fourth Uncle, what did you say?" Wei Baiyun suddenly stood up, her eyes red, "My father... he’s gone?"

The journey home had been smoother than Wei Baiyun expected, but she never imagined that the first piece of news she would hear upon returning home would be that her father had died two years ago. The death of a tribulation-level expert was no small matter for the entire Feixue City, and she hadn’t heard a word about it.

Standing behind the chair, Jiang Yao blinked her eyes.

She had never met her grandfather, so the news of his death didn’t affect her much.

What caught her attention more was the luxurious and grand hall, the decorations she had never seen before, and even the maids in beautiful clothes standing nearby.

"Third Brother fled back to Feixue City, badly wounded." The elderly man sitting in the main seat, holding a teacup, looked sternly at Wei Baiyun, "He specifically ordered that you shouldn’t know about this, and there’s no need for you to come to the funeral."

"I know, my father never forgave me. I let him down all those years ago," Wei Baiyun bit her lip, her face pale as she slowly sat down.

"Hmph!"

Hearing Wei Baiyun mention the past, Wei Hongkuo snorted in displeasure, then reprimanded, "If Third Brother were still alive, do you think you’d be able to step into the Wei family’s door? With your father’s temper, even if you kneeled to death outside, you’d never step foot into the Wei family again!"

Wei Baiyun’s elopement with the wild man and the resulting pregnancy were matters that had caused the greatest reaction inside the Wei family. The one who hated her the most and proposed her disownment was her father, Wei Hongkuo.

However, Wei Baiyun understood.

Although her stubborn father never forgave her, he was also protecting her.

The more he showed cruelty toward her, the less others in the family would intervene.

By disowning her, the issue was considered closed, and the family would no longer press it. Otherwise, a small tribe like the Jiang tribe would easily be wiped out by a team of people from one of Feixue City’s major families! Many of the hidden dangers and assassination attempts over the years were quietly suppressed by her father.

"Thank you for seeing me, Fourth Uncle," Wei Baiyun said.

Her relationship with Wei Hongkuo had never been good, and she knew that now he was willing to meet her, it was likely to mock her. The Jiang tribe had been stuck in a life-or-death struggle for three years, which was no secret. Wei Hongkuo had surely heard about it.

Under the roof, one had no choice but to lower their head.

Wei Baiyun had come to ask for help, so she had no choice but to humble herself.

But she believed that with her son’s talent, the family would surely take notice of him!

"You think I’m seeing you because I care? I just don’t want you and your daughter to kneel outside forever!" Wei Hongkuo said coldly.

Clink!

After taking a sip of tea, he placed the cup down on the table and said coldly, "Speak. You’ve come home after more than ten years; you’re surely not just here to greet me."