The fight between myself and Jianchi at this moment was locked in a stalemate, utterly evenly matched. In terms of pure strength, Jianchi was definitely superior to Li Xie, whether it was the intensity of his Dou Qi, his reaction speed, or the intricate maneuvers of his swordsmanship. Moreover, apart from those initial two strikes, he hadn't deployed any wide-range Dou Qi attacks, nor the signature Dragon Shadow Sword Style of Dragon Shadow Villa, in the subsequent exchange. Clearly, he didn't want to rely on those two advantages to defeat me. Perhaps he felt the same way I did when I faced Jianxin initially; he only wanted to contest me with exquisite forms and a deep comprehension of the sword. However, for now, the outcome of the battle could be considered a draw, though strictly speaking, Jianchi had already lost. After all, my sword had struck him several times. If my Dou Qi strength matched his, he would already have several holes pierced through him by now.

Mid-clash, Jianchi and I were once again blasted apart by a powerful collision.

"Stop." Jianli commanded.

Ah!

Jianchi and I swiftly halted, retreating to our respective corners.

"Enough. I have seen your skill." Jianli stated with gravity.

"..." Jianchi and I bowed in unison and withdrew from the field. The other three disciples also smiled and nodded towards me. It seemed my swordsmanship display had earned their approval.

"Worthy of the name Lightning Sword!" Jianchi exclaimed with admiration. "That speed is truly astonishing."

"Not at all! You weren't slow either," I praised him sincerely.

"Heh." Jianchi merely offered a slight smile before looking toward Jianli.

"With your ability, you are indeed qualified to become my inner disciple," Jianli announced. "From this moment on, you are my fifth inner disciple!"

"..." I was already an inner disciple of Dragon Shadow Villa? The result felt too sudden. I stared at Jianli and the four younger disciples, momentarily lost.

"Junior Brother, hurry and perform the discipleship rite."

"Ah, yes." I snapped back to reality, realizing this wasn't the time to be dazed. "Disciple Xingchen pays respects to Master." I immediately knelt and kowtowed three times with utmost reverence.

"Hahahaha." Jianli seemed overjoyed, lifting me up with a grand gesture. "From now on, you are the fifth inner disciple of my Dragon Shadow Villa."

I maintained a persistent feeling of unreality, as if everything had been far too smooth. Had I truly become a disciple of Dragon Shadow Villa just like that?

Next, Jianchi introduced me to the other three senior brothers.

Eldest Brother was named Jianchen. He was the oldest among all the disciples, and his swordsmanship was the most profound and refined. He was generous and steady in temperament. In terms of speed, strength, and technique, he was exceptionally well-rounded.

Second Brother, Jianxing, excelled in strength; his Dou Qi cultivation was the deepest of all the disciples.

Third Brother, Jianchi himself, specialized in agility, speed, and technique—a strength I had experienced firsthand just moments ago, so I had a clear understanding of his prowess.

Fourth Brother, Jianping, was similar to Eldest Brother Jianchen, a master of balanced, all-around development.

The four senior brothers were also immensely pleased to have such a young junior brother join them.

"The rite of accepting an inner disciple is usually a very sacred and solemn affair," Jianli said. "However, I cannot announce your status publicly right now." Jianli looked at me apologetically. "I hope you can understand."

"I will follow Master's arrangements in all things," I replied respectfully, though a vague sense of oddity began to stir in my heart.

"Since you have become my disciple, there are many things you must know now," Jianli sighed deeply. "My Dragon Shadow Villa has stood for a thousand years, known alongside the Jin Chuan Dragon Abyss Gate, Gu Chuan Tiger Roar Gate, Bai Chuan Eagle True Gate, Xi Chuan Overlord Gate of the Alliance Central, and the Red Moon Villa of Bai Ri Tian Men, collectively known as the Six Great Clans of Bi Qi. The enmities and entanglements among us are too complex to explain in a few words. In short, keeping your status undisclosed is to protect your personal safety. Although you are an inner disciple, you are not a direct descendant of the Jian family lineage. If your background were discovered, it would pose a considerable threat to your family and friends."

"This disciple understands." Truthfully, Jianli's explanation startled me greatly. Up to this point, no one seemed to have traced my origins, which offered me some relief.

"Of course, now that you are a disciple of Dragon Shadow Villa, I must impart some of our unique skills to you," Jianli said, gazing at me with an odd expression.

Here it comes, the main event. I roused my spirit internally, eager to know what he would teach me.

"I have witnessed your swordsmanship; describing it as fast as lightning is no exaggeration," Jianli continued. "But while this sword style is sharp, tricky, and infinitely variable, it lacks a single, decisive, powerful strike, especially against an opponent with formidable defense. Your sword style’s power will be greatly diminished then."

"Master’s instruction is correct," I quickly nodded. In truth, I wasn't entirely without powerful offensive methods; techniques like the 'Single Thread Three Strikes' were my ultimate piercing skills, which I used to kill Hua Yu. But even 'Single Thread Three Strikes' proved inadequate against someone like Li Xie, whose defense was monstrously powerful.

"The root of the matter is insufficient power," Jianli concluded. "To resolve this difficulty, there are only two methods."

"Two methods." I was inwardly surprised; this was the crucial point. What exactly would it take?

"The first, naturally, is to enhance the intensity of your own Dou Qi energy. As long as the Dou Qi energy is strong enough, any formidable defense can be pierced with a single sword strike," Jianli explained. "This is actually the most fundamental and effective method."

"Mm." I nodded instinctively, though I was also well aware that while this method was effective, it required arduous effort over a long time.

"However, given your current cultivation, reaching that level of Dou Qi intensity will require a long period of strenuous training, and time simply isn't enough," Jianli stated.

"Time! Not enough!" I felt a flicker of confusion. What did Master mean?

"Therefore, only the second method remains." Jianli didn't elaborate on his previous statement. "That is to rely on the aid of a Divine Weapon or powerful artifact to achieve the goal of piercing the opponent's defense."

"A Divine Weapon or powerful artifact," I was slightly shocked. "But since they are called Divine Weapons or powerful artifacts, they must be incredibly rare. Where am I supposed to find one?"

"Is that so?" Jianli looked at me with a mischievous smile. "Boy, don't pretend to be naive. If Lu Tong thought highly enough of you to see you off, that old man certainly wouldn't let you leave empty-handed."

"Leave empty-handed?" I was confused. What did Master mean?

"Though Lu Tong cannot forge Divine Weapons, he certainly collects several powerful artifacts. I don't believe he sent you off without one," Jianli said with a hint of impatience.

"Ah, could it be..." I suddenly understood, quickly rummaging through my spatial pouch and pulling out the replica of the Crimson Blood Demon Sword. "Uncle Lu said this sword, though not truly a Divine Weapon, is a rare artifact in this world. Is this what Master means?"

"Exactly, that’s the one." Jianli snatched the sword and examined it closely. "That old man Lu is truly generous to gift such a treasure to you."

"A treasure?" I felt a bit unimpressed; it was just a replica, yet he called it a treasure.

"Boy, don't be ungrateful," Jianli seemed to perceive my doubt. "Although this sword is not the true Crimson Blood Demon Sword, the materials used are identical to the original. Its inherent texture and hardness are absolutely rare in this era. If I perform some special refinement on it, this sword of yours will be capable of piercing the defense of any expert from Red Moon Sect."

"What!" I was greatly astonished. "How is that possible?"

"What's so strange about that?" Jianli countered. "Now you should understand why Lu Tong gifted you this sword."

"Could it be that Uncle Lu already knew I would run into this predicament and specifically gave me this sword because of it?" My emotions surged. Though I had only met Lu Tong once, I never expected the old man to show such care for a junior like me. Not only did he introduce me to Dragon Shadow Villa for training, but he also gifted me such a rare and precious sword.

"Very well, I understand Lu Tong’s intentions. Since he has been so generous, how could I, as your master, not show some token of appreciation?" Jianli chuckled lightly. "After all, I am your Master." With that, Jianli subtly channeled his strength, and thick Dou Qi instantly condensed around his sword hand, forming a dazzling crimson radiance that enveloped the blood-red blade. Then, Jianli lightly brushed his left palm across the sword's body.

The dazzling radiance instantly vanished, as if absorbed by the Demon Sword. Only after the light completely dissipated did the sword return to its original appearance.

"Master, what did you just do?" I asked Jianli with confusion, looking from him to the Demon Sword. It seemed there was no significant change.

"Dragon Infusion." Jianchi and the other four senior brothers exclaimed in shock.

"Dragon Infusion?" I was utterly perplexed. "What is that?"

"Dragon Infusion is a secret technique of Dragon Shadow Villa, trainable only by successive Villa Masters," Jianli said with a faint smile, though fine beads of sweat dotted his forehead, suggesting the maneuver had cost him considerable energy. "You must be very curious how Jianxin achieved his Dragon Shadow, yes?"

"Could it be... that is Dragon Infusion?" I gasped.

"Correct. Dragon Infusion is the origin of the Dragon Shadow. With this sword, you can also deploy the Dragon Shadow Sword Style just like Jianxin," Jianchi stated. "Swords bearing the Dragon Infusion mark belong to the elite disciples of Dragon Shadow Villa. Junior Brother, you received the Dragon Infusion Sword less than a day after entering the sect—Master's expectations for you are exceptionally high. It truly makes one envious."

"..." I stood there stunned for a moment.

"Alright, there’s no need to be envious. Given Xingchen's talent, practicing the Dragon Shadow Sword Style is only natural," Jianli chuckled lightly. "You are a sword genius rarely seen in a century. Having you join Dragon Shadow Villa is a great fortune for me as well. In this world, finding a renowned master is difficult, but an outstandingly gifted disciple is equally rare. We both fit that description. I only hope you won't let my expectations for you go unfulfilled."

"This disciple will certainly study diligently and train hard, never failing Master's expectations." At this moment, I deeply felt the weight of Jianli’s expectations. I couldn't fathom why both Lu Tong and Jianli held such high regard for me, but all I could think of was that I absolutely could not let them down.

"This sword has already absorbed two layers of my Dragon Infusion power. This means that as long as your Dou Qi energy is strong enough, you can directly deploy the second layer of the Dragon Shadow Sword Style: Dual Dragon Illusion."

"Dual Dragon Illusion." The four senior brothers were all deeply astonished. "Master, you..."

"Heh, it's fine. I'll be alright after some recuperation." Only now did I notice how frightfully pale Master's complexion was. "Xingchen, why don't you try out this sword?"

"Yes." I took the Demon Sword. Instinctively, I channeled my Dou Qi onto the blade. Immediately, two golden coiling dragons materialized along the left and right edges of the sword. A surge of dense Dou Qi energy actually flowed back into my body through the hilt. At that moment, the sword in my hand felt as though it had merged with me into one intimate, seamless whole. With a light swing, two golden coiling dragons gracefully flew out from the blade, weaving around my body as if they were two playful fish. I could clearly feel that these two golden dragons, only as thick as my thumb and less than half a meter long, were extensions of my own body. On an impulse, I thought about flying higher, and as if receiving my unspoken command, the two golden dragons slowly drifted upwards, beginning to circle above me like eagles.

"Ah, how magical! They can actually understand my thoughts," I exclaimed.

The four senior brothers and Jianli stared at me with looks of sheer astonishment, as if they had seen a ghost.

"It's Human-Dragon Unity!" Jianli was intensely excited, even the previous paleness of his face flushed with an unusual crimson.

"Inconceivable," Jianchi murmured, his voice trembling. "It took me fourteen years of cultivation to reach Man-Sword Unity, yet Junior Brother has reached the realm of Human-Dragon Unity right upon entering!"

"Impossible, how could this be?" Even the usually steady and composed Eldest Brother was stunned into silence.

"Human-Dragon Unity," Second Brother muttered. "Does this mean Xingchen can directly communicate with the Divine Sense of the Dragon Shadow?"

"It should be correct," Jianchi managed with difficulty. "Is this what they call a genius? This world is truly unfair."

"Hahahaha!" Jianli suddenly threw his head back and laughed towards the sky. "Lu Tong, oh Lu Tong, you’ve truly sent me a wonderful treasure! This boy can absolutely defeat Long Yuan Feixue!"

"..." I stared dumbfounded at my Master and four senior brothers, who were beside themselves with excitement. "Is this Human-Dragon Unity realm really that rare?"

"Of course!" Eldest Brother exclaimed, brimming with excitement. "The Dragon Shadow Sword Style is divided not only into six levels of sword techniques but also six levels of Dragon Shadow Mental Cultivation!"

"What's the difference between the techniques and the mental cultivation?" I was momentarily confused.

"The techniques are the external form," Eldest Brother explained. "While the mental cultivation is the internal spirit. Meaning, the techniques of the Dragon Shadow Sword Style represent power and destructive capability, whereas the mental cultivation represents your control over the Dragon Shadow. In the Dragon Shadow Sword Style, as long as your Dou Qi cultivation reaches a certain intensity, the techniques of the Dragon Shadow Sword Style will naturally improve."

"Like Jianxin," Jianchi added. "With Jianxin's peak advanced Dou Qi cultivation, he can only deploy the second level of the Dragon Shadow Sword Style, the Dual Dragon Illusion. But you must have noticed that during our bout, Jianxin had to manipulate the Dragon Shadow's attack by waving the Frost Condensing Sword. In reality, his control over the Dragon Shadow is still stuck at the first level: Touching the Dragon."

"One is destructive power, the other is control," I murmured. "That’s the difference between the techniques and the mental cultivation."

"That's exactly right," Jianchi confirmed. "The Dragon Shadow Sword Style is divided into six levels, and the techniques are as follows:"

"First Level: Latent Dragon, Do Not Act (Qian Long Wu Yong). At this stage, the Dragon Shadow Sword Style cannot unleash the true power of the Dragon Shadow. All Dragon Shadow Dou Qi must remain hidden within the sword body, no different from ordinary Dou Qi attacks."

"Second Level: Seeing the Dragon in the Field (Jian Long Zai Tian), which is the Dual Dragon Illusion. At this level, the intensity of the Dou Qi is sufficient to materialize the Dragon Shadow into substance, showing its true form so it can be seen—hence, Seeing the Dragon in the Field. This means the dragon has broken free from its hidden, dormant stage and possesses some degree of mobility. However, in terms of destructive power, the Seeing Dragon at this stage is quite weak. Its dragon body is not yet robust."

"Third Level: Traveling Dragon on the Road (Xing Long Fu Dao). If the first stage, Latent Dragon, is likened to a newborn dragon that can only crawl, then by the second stage, Seeing the Dragon in the Field, the dragon has gained rudimentary walking ability. The third level, Traveling Dragon on the Road, is the evolution from walking to running. Both power and speed have reached a certain intensity. At this stage, the dragon possesses initial destructive capability."

"Fourth Level: Soaring Dragon Emerging from the Abyss (Teng Long Chu Yuan). At this level, the dragon has evolved to the point where it can leap and dart about. Its strength is formidable; it can run and jump. In terms of power, the dragon at this point is already very potent. This means the dragon has progressed from rapid running to comprehending jumping and soaring movement capabilities."

"Fifth Level: Flying Dragon in the Heavens (Fei Long Zai Tian). At this stage, the dragon has evolved to be able to fly in the sky, stirring clouds and overturning rain, capable of transforming into myriad forms—a vast divine power. At this point, the dragon can be considered supremely powerful. In terms of destructive power, this level of the Dragon Shadow Sword Style is terrifying. At this level, the might of the Dragon Shadow Sword Style reaches its zenith, unparalleled. And Master’s current cultivation is held at the Flying Dragon in the Heavens stage."

I instinctively glanced at Jianli, only to see him nod with a faint smile, signaling me to continue listening.

"Sixth Level: Overreaching Dragon, Regret (Kang Long You Hui). What this final stage of the dragon looks like, no one knows. Legend says only the very first Villa Master achieved this realm. Before that, the First Generation Dragon Shadow Villa Master was absolutely invincible; no one could survive three moves under his hand. Even the combined forces of the Seven Great Clans and the Three Gangs and Four Factions were no match for him. Yet, such an unrivaled powerhouse was eventually defeated by melancholy and solitude. Finding no worthy opponent, he died of frustration, leaving behind only one sentence: 'Overreaching Dragon, Regret.' No one understood what this sentence truly meant, and later generations simply regarded it as the sixth level of the Dragon Shadow Sword Style, surpassing the fifth."

"Overreaching Dragon, Regret!" I murmured to myself. Why did the terms, from Latent Dragon, Do Not Act to Overreaching Dragon, Regret, sound so strikingly similar to the divination verses of the ancient Chinese I Ching? The six forms of the dragon are described in detail in the Qian Hexagram of the I Ching, almost perfectly mirroring the mental cultivation of the Dragon Shadow Sword Style. What was going on? Was this a coincidence? A thought sparked in my mind: Could the first Villa Master of Dragon Shadow Villa have been a transmigrator like me? Thinking of this, I almost couldn't suppress a loud shout. Perhaps that was the only explanation that made sense. Only this could explain why the Dragon Shadow Sword Style bore so many resemblances to the verses of the ancient Chinese Qian Hexagram.

I distinctly remembered spending considerable effort studying the Qian Hexagram verses when I was researching the I Ching, a mere hobby, a fascination with ancient Chinese metaphysics. Even today, I still recalled the I Ching's description of the dragon's six forms.

The Verse: Qian: Yuan, Heng, Li, Zhen.

The Image: The movement of Heaven is vigorous; thus, the superior man ceaselessly strengthens himself. Latent Dragon, Do Not Act (Yang is below). Seeing the Dragon in the Field (Virtue spreads widely). Day long Qian Qian (Constantly striving, repeating the Way). Or leaping in the abyss (Advancing without blame). Flying Dragon in the Heavens (The Great Man appears). Overreaching Dragon, Regret (Excess is not long-lasting). Using Nine (Heaven's virtue cannot be placed first).

The Judgment (Tuan): Great indeed is the prime source of Qian, which brings forth all things and encompasses Heaven. Clouds gather and rain falls, producing form for all things. Great brightness completes the beginning and end; the six positions achieve their time. Riding the six dragons, it controls Heaven. The Way of Qian transforms, each maintaining its nature and destiny, harmonizing in the Great Harmony, thus benefiting and proving true. Leading all things, the myriad states find peace.

The Ninth Line (Top): Overreaching Dragon, Regret. The Image: Overreaching Dragon, Regret means excess is not long-lasting.

The Fifth Line: Flying Dragon in the Heavens; it benefits the Great Man to see. The Image: Flying Dragon in the Heavens means the Great Man appears.

The Fourth Line: Or leaping in the abyss; no blame. The Image: Or leaping in the abyss means advancing without blame.

The Third Line: The superior man strives ceaselessly all day; if he is cautious in the evening, there is no blame. The Image: Striving ceaselessly all day means repeating the Way.

The Second Line: Seeing the Dragon in the Field; it benefits the Great Man to see. The Image: Seeing the Dragon in the Field means virtue spreads widely.

The First Line (Bottom): Latent Dragon, Do Not Act. The Image: Latent Dragon, Do Not Act means Yang is below.

These six verses of the Qian Hexagram use the six growth stages of the dragon to metaphorically describe the art of conducting oneself in the world.

For instance, Latent Dragon, Do Not Act teaches that when one is weak, one must learn patience, perseverance, concealment, and dormancy. Only by doing so can one avoid being annihilated by stronger foes while still in its infancy. That is to say, when the time is not yet ripe, one must learn to observe the times, patiently build strength, and await the opportunity. I recall a classic divination scene in the movie Investiture of the Gods: King Wen of Zhou and Jiang Ziya divined that the initial line of the Qian Hexagram moved. From the hexagram, King Wen deduced that the Qi of the Great Shang Dynasty was not yet exhausted, meaning it was not time to rebel. Following the guidance of the hexagram, he patiently developed his forces, awaiting the right moment. The resulting verse was Latent Dragon, Do Not Act. Later, everything unfolded exactly as King Wen had divined.

Thinking of this, I could no longer contain my excitement. "Did the First Generation Villa Master leave behind any notes or records?"

"Why are you asking this?" Jianli seemed to notice the unusual look on my face.

“Nothing much, just curious. Since the state of Kāng Lóng Yǒu Huǐ has never been achieved by anyone over the centuries, your cultivation methods must be flawed. And since the first Manor Lord managed to achieve it, he must have left behind his own insights into the mental cultivation. If he truly left any such experiential notes, why not simply follow them?”

“Heh, easier said than done.” Jian Li sighed with a wry smile. “Do you think Dragon Shadow Manor hasn't wrestled with this very problem for all these years? But…”