The Hall Master, Yang Ying, and the young woman returned to the coffee room, each ordering a cup of tea.

Barely seated, the young woman showed a trace of bashfulness, two dimples appearing on her cheeks as she whispered, "I am terribly sorry, I’ve yet to properly introduce myself. My name is Xin Jinyun—Jin like the exquisite brocade, Yun like the white clouds."

Yang Ying murmured, "You share your mother's surname?"

"Yes, I do." The Hall Master nodded from beside her.

Still unfamiliar with them, Yang Ying refrained from asking such a personal question as, "Why did you take your mother's name?"

A silence followed, broken when Hall Master Xin sipped her tea. "Coach Tong's swordsmanship is nearly at the level of a Sword Master. For you to defeat him, your skill must be considerable; how is it that you belong to no school or sect?"

Yang Ying smiled. "I studied swordsmanship with a master for a time, but I never formally became his disciple, hence I have no affiliation."

"Oh? Which master of the sword was it?" Xin Jinyun asked with curiosity.

"Not a master of the sword, but a master of Psionic Energy," Yang Ying corrected.

"A Psionic Master!" Xin Jinyun's eyes flashed with incomprehension. "You mean those masters who wield lightsabers, fly around, and possess superpowers?"

"Wielding lightsabers, flying around..." Yang Ying considered it. "One could put it that way, though psionic power is capable of far more than just that."

The Hall Master, however, wore an expression of recollection. "Since you have learned the swordsmanship of the Psionic Temple from a Psionic Master, why do you still study at civilian martial arts dojos?"

"That is because the swordsmanship of the Psionic Temple is vast and profound, and I have only managed to grasp a portion of it," Yang Ying explained with a chuckle. "I have a genuine interest in learning swordsmanship; what I know now simply isn't enough to satisfy my appetite. I hear that the sword collections of the Psionic Temple are derived from the civilian arts, so I must travel among the common people, absorbing everything like a vast ocean to learn more styles."

The Hall Master frowned upon hearing this, taking another sip of tea. "Young man, let me guess. You don't yet know where your own sword style ranks among the swordsmen of the common world, do you?"

"That is correct." Yang Ying was entirely candid. "It is precisely because I do not know that I came to Wudang Mountain seeking enlightenment, which led me to your hall. I intended to observe the martial arts of the civilian world with my own eyes, but upon seeing the students in your beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes, they fail to meet my requirements."

"The Foundational Swordplay, you have learned that, haven't you?" Hall Master Xin suddenly asked.

"I have," Yang Ying confirmed. "But how did you know the name Foundational Swordplay, Hall Master Xin?"

"When the Psionic Temple created this set of sword techniques, over a hundred Sword Masters and Psionic Masters were involved. It is no secret in the martial world, so I can tell you that one-on-one instruction offers little value to you now." The Hall Master spoke with gravity. "Personal coaching only benefits swordsmen below the Sword Master rank. While I possess some unique maneuvers here, they are best observed, and attempting to practice them might actually prove detrimental."

"And why is that?" Yang Ying was curious.

The Hall Master stated sternly, "The Psionic Temple's Foundational Swordplay encompasses everything; the more you practice, the stronger it becomes—it is the general compendium of all sword arts. There is nothing superior to this level of technique. The only techniques in the civilian arts that could offer you rapid improvement are a select few, supremely high-level styles. To practice the rest would be a waste of energy, yielding less benefit than simply specializing in the Foundational Swordplay—it would be abandoning the root for the branches."

Yang Ying then inquired, "Then why did the Psionic Temple gather so many sword styles?"

The Hall Master explained, "If they did not collect these various sword arts, where would the Foundational Swordplay originate? Moreover, once one reaches the level of a Psionic Master, having deeply cultivated the Foundational Swordplay, they can naturally grasp related concepts. At that stage, they can understand various sword arts upon mere observation, and that is when the Psionic Temple’s vast library of techniques truly becomes useful."

Xin Jinyun, who had been listening to her mother and Yang Ying converse, finding no opportunity to interject, suddenly heard that Sword Masters had participated in creating the foundational swordplay. She inquired, "Mom, if this isn't a secret in the martial world, why have I never heard of the Foundational Swordplay?"

The Hall Master smiled. "This technique was ultimately designed for Psionic practitioners, requiring psionic alignment. Ordinary human bodies struggle to utilize it, which is why it is rarely mentioned. However, the Sword of All Manifestations—does that name ring a bell from when you were a child?"

"Could the Psionic Temple's Foundational Swordplay be the legendary Sword of All Manifestations?" Astonishment flooded Xin Jinyun's expression.

"Precisely." The Hall Master then turned back to the contemplative Yang Ying. "Young man, your name is Yang Ying, correct? If you are intent on observing various sword styles, an opportunity will soon arise. Next month, the Sword Master Association’s qualification examination will be held right here on Wudang Mountain. It will be a grand event, drawing martial arts luminaries from all corners of the globe. The duels alone will keep the schedule packed for weeks. Are you interested?"

"Certainly, Hall Master," Yang Ying replied, recognizing this as a rare chance to witness diverse sword techniques—even if he didn't practice them, it would broaden his horizons.

"Additionally..." Yang Ying continued, "Regarding those select few superior civilian sword styles you mentioned—what are they specifically?" The possibility that these few high-level arts could offer him rapid improvement intrigued him; his journey into swordsmanship had only just begun, and he couldn't simply stop learning now.

"That is what I was about to discuss," the Hall Master said, taking another sip of tea, by now finishing the cup. She signaled for a refill and continued, "While the Psionic Temple embraces diversity and stands supreme, the civilian world still harbors major religious powers with millennia of tradition. Their study of spiritual power predates the establishment of the Psionic Temple."

"Religious powers?"

The Hall Master nodded. "The Psionic Temple is not an organization that compels adherence. Religious forces are free to cultivate their own awakened individuals, provided they remain under the Temple’s oversight."

"Are you suggesting that these major religions also possess superior sword arts?" Yang Ying sat up straighter, asking seriously.

"Indeed." The Hall Master smiled. "In truth, given your current level of swordsmanship, you only need to visit two places. One is Wudang Mountain, representing Daoism, and the other is the Shaolin Temple, representing Buddhism. The Vatican and Jerusalem are extremely guarded against outsiders, so it’s best not to seek trouble there."

Yang Ying asked, "Am I not already in Wudang Mountain?"

The Hall Master clarified, "The true essence of Wudang’s swordsmanship is not found at the foot of the mountain. You must journey deeper into the mountains. On the rear slopes, there is a Tai Chi Temple—there are a few Daoists there who can satisfy your need to study the sword."

Yang Ying nodded. "Very well, I will go look tomorrow."

The Hall Master continued, "Shaolin Temple is different from Wudang. Their specialty lies in the double-bladed sword. After all, double-bladed swordplay evolved from staff techniques, and the Shaolin staff arts were unrivaled a thousand years ago. Today, their fame stems from their mastery of the double-bladed sword."

Yang Ying took a sip of tea, his expression earnest. "This is our first meeting, Hall Master, yet you share such valuable information with me. I surmise you require a favor in return. Please, do not hesitate to ask."