“If you wish to practice the Heavenly Secret Swordsmanship, you must first master the Minor Heavenly Cycle Sword,” Chen Daotang said, drawing his blade slowly. “I shall demonstrate it for you!”
“Is there no manual?” Li Muzhan asked.
“It’s better if you practice with me for two days before looking at the manual. This set of swordplay is too intricate; studying the manual first can easily trap you. Trust my judgment!” Chen Daotang shook his head.
Li Muzhan nodded. “I appreciate your trouble, Senior Brother Chen.”
“Why so formal with me?” Chen Daotang waved his hand and began his slow demonstration.
Li Muzhan watched intently, etching every move into his mind, intending to study and ponder it later.
Chen Daotang performed the form once, then a second time. After the two repetitions, he resheathed his sword, his demeanor calm. “Well, how much did you grasp?”
Li Muzhan smiled. “I think I’ve nearly memorized it. Senior Brother Chen, this technique is quite complex.”
Chen Daotang chuckled. “So you realize the difficulty? This is just the Minor Heavenly Cycle Sword. There is also the Major Heavenly Cycle Sword, the Heavenly Manifestation Divine Sword, the Big Dipper Divine Sword, then the Falling Star Divine Sword, and finally, the Heavenly Secret Sword.”
He sighed and shook his head. “The Major Heavenly Cycle Sword has ten times the moves of the Minor one. The Heavenly Manifestation Sword is another ten times that, and the Big Dipper another ten times still. Then the Falling Star Divine Sword—that’s a total of one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six forms! As for the Heavenly Secret Sword, it has no set forms at all, which is why it’s so incredibly hard to master!”
He looked at Li Muzhan. “I can only teach you the Minor Heavenly Cycle Sword. You’ll have to learn the Major Heavenly Cycle Sword yourself; I can’t manage it—it’s too complicated for me to bear.”
“Are there no others in the sect practicing the Heavenly Secret Swordsmanship?” Li Muzhan asked.
“None, as of now,” Chen Daotang replied, shaking his head. “The senior who originally mastered the Heavenly Secret Sword eventually suffered a Qi deviation and went berserk. The shock of that was too great for everyone!”
Li Muzhan slowly nodded.
Chen Daotang continued, “The Heavenly Secret Sword was already impossibly convoluted, and no one could master it. Then one person finally succeeded, only to fall into madness. How could people not be afraid to practice it? Besides, the thirty-six Meridians each possess immense power; mastering the Heavenly Secret Sword isn't an absolute necessity.”
Li Muzhan smiled. “I see. Everyone must be terribly curious about how far I can progress, then?”
“That’s why I urged caution,” Chen Daotang affirmed. “Everyone is waiting to see you make a fool of yourself. In the past, others have been just like you, wanting to practice the Heavenly Secret Sword, but not a single one persevered to the end. They all switched to other branches halfway through.”
“Did Senior Brother Chen also intend to practice the Heavenly Secret Swordsmanship originally?” Li Muzhan asked.
“I did…” Chen Daotang shook his head and laughed. “Youthful arrogance—I thought I was the cleverest person alive, that if others failed, I surely wouldn't. In the end, I mastered the Minor Heavenly Cycle Sword, but when I started the Major Heavenly Cycle Sword, I couldn't handle it and had to switch paths. I’m advising you not to follow my old road!”
Li Muzhan paused in thought, then nodded. “I want to try. Even if I switch paths midway, it’s better than not learning at all. More skills never weigh a person down.”
“That’s true enough,” Chen Daotang conceded. “The Minor Heavenly Cycle Sword technique is complex, yes, but its power is undeniable. It's stronger than other sword techniques at the same level. I relied on it to navigate the Stone Forest… However, mastering it takes far more effort. You might spend the time others take to master two techniques just to perfect one of these.”
Li Muzhan smiled. “I am prepared, Senior Brother Chen. Rest assured.”
“Very well, try practicing it,” Chen Daotang decided, resolving to assist Li Muzhan. He had never encountered someone with such comprehension; perhaps there was hope for mastering the Heavenly Secret Sword after all. If the Heavenly Secret Sword could truly be mastered, it could surely restore the Mingjing Sect to its former glory and dominate the martial world.
In the days that followed, Li Muzhan settled down to diligently practice the Minor Heavenly Cycle Sword.
The key to the Minor Heavenly Cycle Sword lay in its internal cultivation method; every sword move was paired with a specific method for circulating vital energy. The two complemented each other, demanding the practitioner split their focus, or else merge the internal energy method seamlessly with the swordplay, allowing the Qi to flow wherever the sword moved.
The former requirement was extremely demanding, while the latter required a specific level of mastery; neither could be achieved overnight. Li Muzhan understood that this technique was designed for those with truly unique aptitudes; without the capacity for dual focus, it was unsuitable. With that talent, practice yielded double the results with half the effort, progressing almost as fast as with ordinary swordplay. Without that talent, however, practice became doubly difficult, and even with frantic effort, the results might fall short of expectations. Therefore, those lacking the innate talent were better off switching to something else—the Heavenly Secret Swordsmanship was simply not for them.
As he began the Minor Heavenly Cycle Sword, Li Muzhan felt as if he were swimming with the current, experiencing a profound sense of familiarity, like greeting an old friend after a long absence. His progress was meteoric.
He immersed himself in the sword forms, and time slipped by. A month flew past in a blur. During this month, he remained secluded, effectively in closed-door cultivation, and no one disturbed him.
After a month, the Minor Heavenly Cycle Sword was nearly perfected.
The Minor Heavenly Cycle Sword was far more intricate than the Great Sorrow Sword, yet upon deep scrutiny, the Great Sorrow Sword revealed infinite layers of profoundness the more he practiced it. The Minor Heavenly Cycle Sword, however, lacked such depth; once mastered, it was mastered, with nothing left to excavate. He preferred the Great Sorrow Sword; while the Minor Heavenly Cycle Sword seemed infinitely profound, achieving mastery brought no new sense of wonder, no further surprises.
He went to find Chen Daotang, only to be told the Senior Brother had descended the mountain. He sought out Elder Zhao, only to find him gone as well. Li Muzhan sensed something was amiss and went to find Li Ye next.
Li Ye’s small courtyard bordered his own, separated only by a single wall. If their relationship were closer, they could have spoken daily.
He knocked on her door. Li Ye’s slightly husky voice called out, “Come in!”
Li Muzhan pushed the door open. Li Ye was clad in a pale white uniform, her long sword whirling, the flashes of steel enveloping her so tightly they seemed impermeable. Seeing him enter, Li Ye froze mid-swing, then turned her head. “Why are you here?”
“Has Junior Sister Li been well?” Li Muzhan approached with a smile.
Li Ye pointed the tip of her sword at him and huffed, “Do you want a spar?” Her fitted uniform accentuated her graceful yet spirited posture.
Li Muzhan chuckled. “Junior Sister Li wishes to test her skills? Very well, I am happy to oblige!”
“Enough talk, let’s fight!” Li Ye huffed, thrusting her blade forward. With a ‘chick’ sound, the tip instantly arrived at Li Muzhan’s chest.
Li Muzhan flicked his finger lightly. A soft, sustained ‘ding…’ echoed. The long sword was deflected. Influenced by the force transmitted through the blade, Li Ye’s body moved uncontrollably forward. Li Muzhan gently pushed her and then retracted his hand.
Li Ye flushed a deep red with a small ‘teng’ sound, lowering her eyes to glance at her tautly heaving chest before glaring up at him furiously. If she hadn't been holding a sword, she would have charged him. Fortunately, Li Muzhan’s palm hadn't touched her body, but even so, she was overwhelmed by shyness and anger, feeling utterly furious and cursing him internally.
Li Muzhan shook his head, smiling faintly. “Junior Sister Li, your mind is distracted; your practice suffers.”
“You…” Li Ye ground her teeth, glaring hatefully. “Fine! You’re a man, are you intent on bullying me?!” A wave of helplessness washed over her. She had practiced desperately, only to find the gap between them had not closed, but widened, filling her with the despair that she would never surpass him.
Li Muzhan smiled. “They say shame fuels courage. Junior Sister Li, you should redouble your efforts!”
“Are you only here to bully me?!” Li Ye bit out, then composed herself, pretending nothing had happened, secretly marking down the debt to settle later.
Li Muzhan sighed helplessly. Their enmity seemed to deepen with every encounter. “I wanted to ask if something has happened in the sect?”
“What do you mean?” Li Ye frowned.
Li Muzhan led the way to a small pavilion and sat down. Li Ye followed, refusing to be outdone, and sat opposite him. “What have you heard?”
“Senior Brother Chen has left the mountain,” Li Muzhan said.
“Senior Brother Chen?” Li Ye scoffed. “What’s so strange about him leaving? Those who managed to break out of the Stone Forest can descend whenever they wish, unlike our current situation.”
Li Muzhan shook his head. “Senior Brother Chen holds a high position; he wouldn't leave lightly.”
Li Ye didn't argue, frowning in thought. Chen Daotang’s status was indeed unusual. Because he cultivated the Way of Utmost Sincerity, his conviction was firm, and his talent exceptional. His cultivation was unfathomably deep, making him one of the top masters in the sect, usually stationed within to maintain order, rarely leaving. The last time he personally intervened was when a major incident arose, swiftly resolving the dispute between the Qinghe Sword Sect and the Tianyuan Pavilion with clean efficiency. He wouldn't personally handle trivial matters.
She pondered for a moment, then looked up at Li Muzhan.
Li Muzhan smiled. “It seems Junior Sister Li doesn’t know either.”
“Hmph, who said I don’t know!” Li Ye retorted crossly, pouting. “Do you think I’m as ignorant as you?”
Li Muzhan smiled. “Then enlighten me?”
“Why should I tell you?!” Li Ye sneered.
Li Muzhan shook his head. “Then you truly don’t know. Never mind, I’ll ask someone else.”
“Hmph, if I had to guess, it’s about the Purple Star Hall,” Li Ye stated coldly.
Li Muzhan’s eyebrows twitched as he looked at her. Li Ye added, “You haven’t heard of the Purple Star Hall, have you, country bumpkin?”
Li Muzhan smiled. “A country bumpkin I may be, but what exactly is the Purple Star Hall?” He genuinely had never heard of it. Major sects were usually named as Sects, Clans, Pavilions, or Mansions; Halls were rare, and the Purple Star Hall held no prominent place among the great known factions.
Li Ye felt a small surge of triumph. Although his martial arts were formidable, his worldly knowledge was lacking, which would lead to trouble in the martial world. Her confidence partially restored, her mood lifted slightly. “Then I’ll tell you. The Purple Star Hall is a faction that rose to prominence in the last decade. Every disciple they produce is a master, and they are all extremely mysterious.”
“Extremely mysterious?” Li Muzhan repeated.
“They all wear masks,” Li Ye pursed her lips. “They look quite frightening, just putting on airs!”
Li Muzhan mused, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “Why wear masks? Because they can’t show their faces. Their identities must be quite interesting.”
“It’s just posturing!” Li Ye insisted.
Li Muzhan shook his head. “If their cultivation is profound, they wouldn't engage in such childish behavior; there must be a deeper reason… Furthermore, even the most formidable internal methods can’t be mastered overnight. The Purple Star Hall’s cultivation must be exceptional, and an exceptional method cannot remain obscure!”
“Well, that’s true,” Li Ye admitted, pouting slightly. “What are you implying?”
“This Purple Star Hall is very interesting,” Li Muzhan murmured, tapping his chin, lost in thought. “They must harbor some astonishing secret.”
“What’s so great about that?” Li Ye huffed. “Groups like them appear every few years, like shooting stars—rising fast and vanishing just as quickly.”
Li Muzhan nodded. “That is often the case, but why would Senior Brother Chen descend the mountain to seek them out?”
“It seems one of our sect’s senior brothers was harmed by them,” Li Ye replied.
Li Muzhan’s eyes narrowed slightly. “They dare to kill our people?” The Mingjing Sect wasn't just any faction; with thousands of years of heritage, it stood tall like a massive mountain range, unshakeable by ordinary forces. How could a common faction dare to provoke them?
“Senior Brother Chen might have gone to deal with them!” Li Ye offered.
Li Muzhan nodded. “I see. Junior Sister Li, please continue your practice. I’m leaving now.”
He turned to go, waving a hand behind him. Li Ye glared at his retreating back, stomped her feet a few times in frustration, then began furiously swinging her sword, venting her inner turmoil.