Volcanic Age

A week flew by as Zhou Xuchuan practiced the Plum Blossom Sword Art under Liu Zhengmu’s guidance. At the same time, he wondered how he would give his master enlightenment.

He had free time to think about other things because he already had a perfect understanding of the Plum Blossom Sword Art.

However, because he was immersed in his thoughts, Zhou Xuchuan failed to notice one thing: his master was watching him.

Unbelievable!

Liu Zhengmu couldn’t hide his shock after seeing Zhou Xuchuan swing the sword.

I knew something was extraordinary about him since one year ago, but I didn’t know it was to this extent!

As one of the foundational skills, the Plum Blossom Sword Art was easy. It was even easier for those who had completely mastered the Plum Blossom Fist.

Despite that, it was impossible to effortlessly execute the Plum Blossom Sword Art with such perfection in just a week, even with prior theoretical knowledge.

Which left only one explanation.

Zhou Xuchuan was nothing like a prodigy. His physical capabilities including his muscular and skeletal physique and reflexes weren't exceptional, he wasn’t born with good qi or blood vessels either. As his master, Liu Zhengmu was well aware of this.

However, talent isn’t just limited to physical and learning capabilities. It could be a talent related to using the sword. Liu Zhengmu thought that this must be the case with Zhou Xuchuan. No, to be precise, he misunderstood.

Strictly speaking, Zhou Xuchuan was just rewalking the path he had walked on before. There was also the fact that the Plum Blossom Sword Art was one of the basic techniques. However, as he would never have imagined such a thing happening, it wasn’t surprising that Liu Zhengmu believed that Zhou Xuchuan possessed heaven-sent talent with the sword.

If Zhou Xuchuan had not experienced Liu Zhengmu’s hellish training under the guise of improvement training, he wouldn’t be performing as well as he was doing right now. After all, he was hiding his true skills in order to avoid arousing his master’s suspicion, even as he thought about what kind of advice he could give him.

However, thanks to the huge improvement in physical capabilities due to the hellish training, he ended up subconsciously displaying everything he knew about the Plum Blossom Sword Art.

If he’s this good, he might be able to join the Lotus Pavilion.

The Lotus Pavilion was one of the buildings within Mount Hua, as well as an organization that only a select few among the fourth-generation disciples could be affiliated with.

It was basically a smaller, younger version of the Plum Blossom Swordsmen, and a place where promising talents of the fourth generation were trained separately before they reached adulthood. The disciples of the sect master and the Five High Elders also joined the Lotus Pavilion and trained there.

Aside from that, almost nine out of ten members of the Plum Blossom Swordsmen were from the Lotus Pavilion.

Liu Zhengmu had never managed to join the Lotus Pavilion due to his feeble constitution.

However, someone with exceptional skills like Zhou Xuchuan could join the Lotus Pavilion and receive a higher level of training. If he was lucky, he might get bestowed with good spiritual medicine, and even get a specialized instructor as well.

As long as he could prove his power and talent, he would be able to receive the best treatment. At first glance, it may seem unfair, but this was rather common in large sects of the martial world like Mount Hua.

***

A few days later, Zhou Xuchuan eventually just asked Liu Zhengmu directly, “Master, I apologize for asking, but can you show me sword techniques other than the Plum Blossom Sword Art?”

“Other sword techniques?”

“Yes.” Zhou Xuchuan nodded.

Liu Zhengmu fell into deep thought after hearing his disciple’s request. It hadn’t even been two weeks since this disciple started holding the sword, not to mention practicing the Plum Blossom Sword Art. No matter how talented he was, he had not reached the final stage of the Plum Blossom Sword Art, which meant that learning advanced sword arts would just be a hindrance to him. This was what he was worried about.

Sensing his master’s hesitation, Zhou Xuchuan noticed this and quickly added, “I am not asking for your teaching. I just have not seen any other sword techniques of our sect. As a disciple of Mount Hua, I wish to see our sect’s proper sword techniques at least once.”

“Hm, I see. Okay, then.”

If it was merely a demonstration and not teaching, there shouldn't be an issue. After all, some of the older members of the fourth generation already practiced sword arts other than the Plum Blossom Sword Art during joint training in the training district every morning. If observing different techniques was problematic, the training districts would have stopped them already.

Before Liu Zhengmu got into position, he sensed the eager anticipation in his disciple’s gaze. He pondered over which techniques to demonstrate.

Let’s see…

Five sword techniques came to his mind.

Six Cardinal Sword, Falling Petal Sword Art, Plum Brilliance Sword Art, Five Ways Plum Blossom Sword Art, and lastly, the Fourteen Forms of the Plum Blossom Sword.

The Six Cardinal Sword and the Falling Petal Sword Art were intermediate arts, just a step above the basics. Most of the outer sect disciples would return to their homes after learning these two.

The Plum Blossom Brilliance Sword Art was one of the rare sword techniques in Mount Hua that focused on speed, and the Five Ways Plum Blossom Sword Art used the five elements, just like its name implied.

Both of them were relatively advanced, and among the outer sect disciples, only those who had received acknowledgement could learn them. At the same time, it was the limit for them as well. Any other advanced martial arts aside from these two weren’t taught to the outer sect disciples, and only the main sect disciples could learn them.

The Fourteen Forms of the Plum Blossom Sword, an abridged version of the Twenty-four Forms of the Plum Blossom Sword, was the final technique he considered demonstrating.

It was one of the most advanced martial arts in Mount Hua, and it was challenging to learn.

“I will show you the Fourteen Forms of the Plum Blossom Sword.” Liu Zhengmu decided after much thought. Although he had not reached the final stage, he wanted to present the best of his abilities at this opportunity.

“Before I show it to you, let me ask. Do you know about the Fourteen Forms of the Plum Blossom Sword?”

“Yes, Master. The Fourteen Forms of the Plum Blossom Sword is a sword technique of Mount Hua composed of the first move, the Roadside Plum Blossom, to the fourteenth move, the Resplendent Plum Blossom.”

The Twenty-four Forms of the Plum Blossom Sword, was made up of twenty-four moves. If one could execute the final move, the Plum Blossom World, the sword would have the scent of a plum blossom.

In the past, some had mockingly questioned the significance of a sword technique carrying the scent of the plum blossom, but that was truly a foolish question.

A sword technique having the scent of something indicated that it could influence the very laws of nature itself. It was a realm that all cultivators wished to reach. There was a reason why the disciples of Mount Hua idolized the Plum Blossom Swordsmen.

“Yes, that is right,” Liu Zhengmu affirmed Zhou Xuchuan's words. “However, you may be mistaken, so let me clarify. The moves of the Fourteen Forms of the Plum Blossom Sword may look the same as the moves from the Twenty-four Forms, but it is actually slightly different. If it was the same, there would be no point in separating the two, don’t you think so?”

“So it’s an abridged, inferior version,” Zhou Xuchuan interjected, already familiar with the concept.

The Fourteen Forms of the Plum Blossom Sword was an abridged version of the Twenty-four Forms of the Plum Blossom Sword. Fourteen moves were combined into one sword technique, reducing not just the difficulty of learning but also the power.

“So you know. Good, that is enough.”

Liu Zhengmu smiled in satisfaction at his disciple’s reply. Then, he got into position and started executing the Fourteen Forms of the Plum Blossom Sword.

Zhou Xuchuan felt emotional seeing his master execute the very first move, the Roadside Plum Blossom.

This is the first time I’m seeing it from Master.

Before he had regressed, he had just learned the Plum Blossom Sword, which was why Liu Zhengmu did not show Zhou Xuchuan any other sword techniques. As he said before, he was worried that it may hinder his training.

Originally, he was going to teach Zhou Xuchuan once he became powerful enough, but he unfortunately passed away before he had a chance to. Despite being master and disciple, one of the closest bonds there was, Zhou Xuchuan could count on one hand the number of times he watched his master display his sword techniques in full.

Ah, this isn’t the time to be emotional.

Zhou Xuchuan inwardly scolded himself and focused on Liu Zhengmu. Although Liu Zhengmu was currently above him in cultivation level, as a former expert of the Harmony Realm, Zhou Xuchuan had a better understanding of martial arts. It didn’t take that long for him to fully grasp Liu Zhengmu’s sword technique and martial arts.

He seems to be perfect until the ninth move, and he gets stuck starting with the tenth move, the Plum Full Blossom. Thankfully, it doesn’t look like it’s because of insufficient understanding but a lack of proficiency…

Zhou Xuchuan, having reached the final stage of the Fourteen Forms of the Plum Blossom Sword, felt confident he could perform it with even greater precision than Liu Zhengmu, given sufficient internal qi and some time.

Huh? Zhou Xuchuan’s eyes glinted.

“...Haa!”

Liu Zhengmu displayed the fourteenth move, the Resplendent Plum Blossom. He was sweating because of the significant consumption of internal qi and stamina.

“Here. That was the Fourteen Forms of the Plum Blossom Sword. This master of yours was lacking in skill and was unable to display it perfectly. I’m sorry.”

He really was like the usual Liu Zhengmu. Anyone else would’ve tried to look cool in front of their disciple. No, it wouldn’t just be their disciples either. Martial artists, especially those of the Orthodox Faction, were very proud. They would usually try to hide their deficiencies in shame, but Liu Zhengmu openly revealed it and apologized for not being able to display the martial art in its entirety.

“Not at all, Master!” Zhou Xuchuan started applauding with eyes filled with infinite trust. “That was splendid. Not to mention the sect master, even the Head of the Martial Alliance would have gasped in shock at your prowess!”

“Boy, did you not ever hear that too much is worse than too little? Flattering too much may seem like fawning.” Liu Zhengmu laughed. Still, he didn’t look displeased.

“I will bear that in mind, Master.”

It was definitely not fawning. Liu Zhengmu was akin to God in Zhou Xuchuan’s mind.

“Well, then. Is there any other sword technique that you’d like to watch? Since I’m at it, I’ll show you other things as well.”

Hearing that, Zhou Xuchuan inwardly cheered. He didn’t show it on the outside and acted like an innocent and curious ten-year-old boy.

“I wish to see the Five Ways Plum Blossom Sword Art too, Master.”

“You give me an opportunity to make up for that lacking performance. I reached the final stage in the Five Ways Plum Blossom Sword Art a long time ago, so I shall show you the entire sword art.”

Once reaching full mastery in the Plum Blossom Sword Art, a disciple of the main sect would get to learn a few advanced sword techniques, and one of them was the Five Ways Plum Blossom Sword Art.

Liu Zhengmu didn’t find it strange that Zhou Xuchuan had requested that he display the Five Ways Plum Blossom Sword Art.

“Master, this incompetent disciple is too lacking in experience and wasn't able to fully grasp your execution of the Fourteen Forms of the Plum Blossom Sword. Could you please execute the technique slowly this time?”

“Of course.”

Liu Zhengmu was very satisfied to see his disciple showing so much eagerness in learning martial arts despite being only ten. Not only did he have the talent, but he also had such a good attitude. He was proud to be the master of such a disciple.

Liu Zhengmu started executing the Five Ways Plum Blossom Sword Art from the first form just as Zhou Xuchuan had requested.

A martial art, whether it be a sword technique or a saber technique, was more difficult to perform slowly. Even swinging a sword once would require a considerable amount of muscular strength, stamina and endurance if it was to be performed slowly. The same applied to focus. The slower it was, the more conscious they would be of what they were doing.

Even if it was a martial art that Liu Zhengmu had mastered a long time ago, he would still need a considerable amount of focus unless he was performing a sword technique on the level of the Plum Blossom Sword Art.

Hehe.

And that was what Zhou Xuchuan was aiming for.