Chapter 53: Sword Technique Sparring

The next test was the swordsmanship competition. Because swordsmanship involves the channeling of immortal energy, mastery of sword techniques, and the wielding of immortal energy to direct the sword, this event was considered the main highlight of the day.

This test was supervised by Hua Qiandu and Qiao Chuyang from the Sword Sect.

According to the immortal energy levels of the disciples, the Immortal Cultivation Academy categorized the sword testing accordingly: those at the third heaven of the Celestial Immortal realm were grouped into threes for their duels; those at the second heaven of the Celestial Immortal realm were grouped in tens; those at the first heaven of the Celestial Immortal realm were grouped in thirties; and the sixty-two disciples at the Immortal Void stage of the Void-Crossing realm formed a group of their own. The fifteen disciples at or below the Spirit Void stage of the Void-Crossing realm were not required to participate in the swordsmanship trials.

Disciples within each group competed in one-on-one matches determined by a draw. Disciples from a lower tier were permitted to challenge those from a higher tier, but higher-tier disciples could not challenge those below them.

Among all the academy disciples, the most eye-catching contest by far was the duel among the third-heaven Celestial Immortal disciples, a group consisting of only three people: Ming Yue, Mu Xiaotian, and Nalan Meidai.

The drawing results for the third-heaven Celestial Immortal matches were:
Match 1: Ming Yue versus Nalan Meidai.
Match 2: The winner would face Mu Xiaotian, and the ultimate victor of that match would take the crown.

Contestants were restricted to using swords only; poisons, poisoned needles, hidden projectiles, and weapons other than the standard sword were strictly prohibited. As long as lives were not endangered, contestants were free to use any sword forms to subdue their opponent. Knocking the opponent off the platform constituted a victory.

Ming Yue and Nalan Meidai received the standard-issue swords provided by the academy and stood together on the dueling platform, both glaring coldly at each other.

Nalan Meidai had deliberately dressed up for the occasion today. Her lightly powdered face looked all the more stunning and alluring, and her curvaceous, enchanting figure caught the sideways glances of many immortal sect disciples. Naturally striking, she wore a light blue dress that made her appear even more breathtaking and dazzling.

The young girl opposite her appeared to be in the prime of her youth, blessed with a pair of luminous, vibrant eyes. Wherever her gentle gaze swept, it was as if shooting stars were streaking across the sky, sparking a sense of first love that made hearts flutter involuntarily. The petite girl possessed delicate, exquisite facial features and a serene expression, radiating an otherworldly aura untainted by mortal affairs.

The onlookers could not help but praise them inwardly. These two completely contrasting beauties drew everyone over to watch. One side of the platform faced the raised seating area reserved for the sect leader and elders, allowing them a clear view of the proceedings.

At that moment, Nalan Meidai raised her sword, channeling her immortal energy to its maximum capacity directly into the blade, a disdainful smile tugging at the corner of her lips. Ming Yue was half a head shorter than her and lacked any backing or powerful lineage; Nalan Meidai was absolutely certain she could make a fool of her. Whenever she recalled how Ming Yue spent every day in the company of Feng Qingcheng, alongside the wild rumors of intimacy between Feng Qingcheng and Ming Yue that had recently swept through the academy, hatred made her feel half-crazed.

Last time, Nalan Meidai had resorted to despicable means to injure Ming Yue and secure her defeat. Today, she dared not use hidden weapons to harm her again, but she had absolute confidence in reducing this person to utter humiliation before the crowd. Smiling triumphantly, Nalan Meidai slashed toward Ming Yue with lightning speed, too fast for the eye to cover.

The crowd let out a gasp of shock, looking with concern toward the serene, dainty girl standing opposite Nalan Meidai, and could not help shouting out, "Block the attack!"

Nalan Meidai's sword technique was extremely fast. As the blade was on the verge of slashing into the girl's shoulder, everyone broke out in a cold sweat for her.

Seated on the platform, Sect Leader Feng and the various elders stared unblinkingly at the scene, watching with even greater intensity than the disciples below.

Just as everyone was drowning in anxiety, the petite girl cast a cold glance at the incoming blade. With what looked like a completely ordinary and casual swing of her sword, she narrowly brushed past Nalan Meidai's weapon. The onlookers wiped the sweat from their brows, their suspended hearts finally relaxing.

Nalan Meidai sneered, gathered her breath, and unleashed dozens of consecutive strikes. Every blow targeted Ming Yue's vital points, driving her back until she was cornered near the very edge of the platform.

Elder Jiang of the Medicine Sect smiled and said, "It looks like Nalan Meidai is going to lose."

Murong Yiwen asked, "Master, how can you tell?"

Elder Jiang of the Medicine Sect pointed at Ming Yue. "The little girl seems to have grasped the essence of swordsmanship."

"Wow! Nalan Meidai's sword technique is truly exquisite, capturing the profound essence of the immortal sword. It looks like Lady Ming Yue is bound to lose," sighed a disciple down below.

"Not necessarily, not necessarily," someone nearby chimed in. "The most exquisite part of swordsmanship does not lie in the ferocity of the moves, but in achieving complete harmony between the sword and the wielder's mind and heart, reaching a realm where having no specific form triumphs over having one." The speaker was none other than Qiao Chuyang. Standing beside him was Nangong Yurou, whose face was etched with worry. Hearing his words, her expression finally softened.

Hua Qiandu stroked his chin and said, "That little girl's calm and collected demeanor really looks a bit like that fox. It seems the Feng fox hasn't spent less time coaching her on ordinary days."

Yan Dan thought to herself that Lady Ming Yue was bright and intelligent, having received personal guidance from Elder Feng Qingcheng. It seemed her daily sword practice had not been in vain.

At that moment, Ming Yue appeared to be forced back step by step by Nalan Meidai, but in reality, she had entered the wondrous state of harmony between her sword and her mind. Every sword strike Nalan Meidai launched suddenly appeared exceptionally clear and sluggish in her eyes, allowing her to parry Nalan Meidai's moves effortlessly with every counter. While it seemed to outsiders that she was at a disadvantage, to the eyes of true masters, the difference in skill was already apparent.

Ming Yue could now feel a continuous stream of immortal energy resembling creeping vines, slowly extending into the sword she held in her hand. The weapon instantly grew light and agile, as if it had achieved a mystical realm of sharing her very blood and veins.

Every swing she made seemed connected to her immortal meridians, granting her ease, composure, and absolute confidence in her victory.

Ming Yue sensed that the immortal-energy-infused sword in her grasp possessed the spiritual breath of a cultivation practitioner, rendering it as smooth as flowing clouds and moving water. Each seemingly plain and unremarkable strike actually carried a lethal murderous intent.

Recalling how Nalan Meidai had secretly used a magical treasure to ambush her during their previous duel, Ming Yue sneered and launched relentless attacks against Nalan Meidai without the slightest hesitation.

Nalan Meidai finally experienced the ruthless edge of the sword Qi emanating from Ming Yue's hands, and her own sword movements gradually slowed down. Growing flustered, she struck out with increasing viciousness, wishing she could execute the girl before her on the spot with a single blow.

Taking advantage of the moment Ming Yue retracted her sword, Nalan Meidai fiercely lashed out with a strike directed straight at her heart. The move was executed with extreme speed, and it seemed far too late for Ming Yue to counter.

"Ah, watch out!" The crowd could not help gasping aloud, breaking into a cold sweat as they worried immensely for Ming Yue.

Even Qiao Chuyang and Hua Qiandu could not help forming hand incantations, hoping to deflect Nalan Meidai's blade aside before the strike reached Ming Yue's heart.

"Ming Yue, make your move!" Nangong Yurou could not help screaming toward the platform, her eyes welling up with tears of anxiety.

Ming Yue seemed to sense the danger. She tilted her head to glance at the sword tip about to reach her chest—it was only a few inches away from her heart!

Amidst the gasps of the crowd, she flicked the hilt of her sword with a seemingly weightless nudge. Despite the plain appearance of the move, it instantly batted Nalan Meidai's weapon away. The force appeared minimal, yet the immortal energy transmitted through the hilt knocked Nalan Meidai back several paces, nearly causing her to tumble off the platform.

Furious, Nalan Meidai's pretty face contorted in anger. Drawing a deep breath, she charged at Ming Yue with her sword raised, wishing she could chop Ming Yue into tens of thousands of pieces.

Ming Yue cast a calm glance at Nalan Meidai, and suddenly the incantation taught to her by Feng Qingcheng flashed through her mind: "The art of wielding a sword through the air lies in the unity of mind and intent, preserving the primordial essence in endless, perpetual cycles. For an immortal cultivator, the most vital aspect of flying with a sword is transforming the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into one's own immortal energy, merging form and spirit, and thereby converting it into the driving force to command all things in the universe. External worldly things are for my use, for my command, and for my desire."

It felt as though something inside Ming Yue's heart was struggling to break free. She sensed that she had grasped the profound mystery within, yet it also felt as though she had caught nothing at all.

In her hands, the sword felt like a spirited dragon, flexible and brimming with vitality, parrying Nalan Meidai's weapon strike after strike.

Ming Yue suddenly felt the sword in her hand magnify infinitely in her vision, expanding until it seemed as wide as a bridge.

Ming Yue frowned, a flash of insight crossing her mind. For some reason, the scene of Feng Qingcheng taking her on a flight atop a soaring sword surfaced in her thoughts. Taking a decisive step forward, she found herself standing squarely on top of the blade. Feeling her immortal meridians shift, she directed the sword beneath her feet to charge in a wobbly, zig-zagging trajectory toward Nalan Meidai.

Nalan Meidai stared dumbfounded at the giant sword diving down from mid-air. Feeling as though she had been locked in place by immortal energy and stripped of any ability to retaliate, she was struck by the sword beneath Ming Yue's feet with a loud smack, tumbling off the edge of the platform. Dizzy and disoriented, she hit the ground and vomited a mouthful of blood.

The immortal sword beneath Ming Yue's feet seemed entirely out of control, swooping down toward the platform and shooting back up into the sky alternately. Looking down at the dense crowd of people below, Ming Yue was terrified of accidentally injuring any innocent Mount Shu disciples, breaking out in a cold sweat of sheer panic. Highly anxious yet utterly helpless, she had no idea how to make the sword stop.

Seeing this, Elder Jiang of the Medicine Sect stood up and pointed a finger at Ming Yue from afar. Ming Yue felt the sword beneath her stabilize, and the externalized immortal energy gradually withdrew, allowing her to descend slowly to the ground.

"Ming Yue's swordsmanship has reached the primary stage of flying with a sword, and her technique is vastly superior," the proctoring teacher announced loudly. "In this round, Ming Yue wins."

Everyone erupted into cheers. Among all the disciples of this generation, Ming Yue was the very first to master sword flight! Hua Qiandu could not help giving Ming Yue a thumbs-up, praising, "Well done." Yan Dan also nodded to Ming Yue in approval.

Nangong Yurou ran over to support Ming Yue, chiding playfully, "You girl, you scared me to death just now! I thought you were a goner."

Ming Yue wiped the sweat from her forehead and smiled. "I'm not that easy to finish off."

Down by the platform, Jiang Yiyi supported Nalan Meidai. Trembling with rage, Nalan Meidai wished she could charge back up and land a few more blows on Ming Yue.

Jiang Yiyi sneered, "So what if she can fly with a sword? Everyone will learn it eventually; there's nothing special about it."

Although Ming Yue had won a narrow victory, she still had a match against Mu Xiaotian ahead of her. However, Mu Xiaotian informed the proctoring teacher, "I haven't reached the level of sword flight yet, so I forfeit this match."

Ming Yue felt a soreness radiating through her entire body, her arms aching and numb as if drained of all strength. It appeared that poor mastery of sword flight consumed an immense amount of immortal energy, and she would likely need to rest for several days to recover.

During this period, Feng Qingcheng was in secluded closed-door cultivation, meaning she did not need to report to the Pill Sect to see him. She decided to use these few days to head to the back mountains and help Lin Tian search for the medicinal herbs required for his treatment.