Chapter 34: Sword Energy Soaring Through the Sky

However, Qingxi understood well that such a bold idea was not yet within reach. He turned his attention to the description of this ultimate technique.

[Ultimate Technique: Sky-Piercing Sword Qi]
[Grade: Black Iron]
[Note: Upon mastering this technique, one can unleash semi-transparent sword energy, similar to the Silkblade, but far more powerful—it can slice through steel with ease. From lowest to highest, it evolves from beam, to sheet, to blade, to cicada wing form. When perfected, it rivals true sword qi.]

"Isn’t this just a souped-up version of the martial technique 'Silkblade'? System, give me back my Five Elements Origin!" Qingxi raged inwardly.

"Once used, it cannot be refunded," the system assistant replied, prideful as ever. Were it not intangible, Qingxi would have given it a piece of his mind.

Left with no choice, he began to practice this ultimate technique. Guided by the assistant, Qingxi instantly grasped the meridian routes. Forming his fingers into a sword, he pointed ahead. With a sharp hiss, a pillar of energy pierced through a stone wall half a foot thick.

Pale moonlight streamed through the newly made hole, casting a bright spot onto the tiger-striped floor.

“Amazing!”

“I can’t believe it’s this powerful!”

Qingxi stared in shock, mouth agape. This was only the initial beam form—should he reach the final cicada wing stage, the power would be unimaginable.

Excited, he leapt from the upper story, treading the silvery moonlight, and stood beneath the pine at the front of his residence. Fingers sword-shaped, he unleashed Sky-Piercing Sword Qi again and again.

Though this was his first time acquiring an ultimate technique—even if only of the lowest Black Iron grade—Qingxi practiced with utmost focus, pouring all his energy into it.

With countless repetitions, he entered a state of flow. The sword energy, at first a mere beam, gradually flattened, soon evolving into a sheet.

“Sky-Piercing Sword Qi!”

He slashed downward with his hand. A sheet of sword energy, half a meter long, palm-wide, and half a centimeter thick, tore through the air and shaved off a block of stone weighing several hundred pounds.

“The second form: sheet. Equivalent to small mastery of a martial technique, but the power rivals great mastery of ordinary techniques. Worthy of Black Iron grade.”

Qingxi marveled in secret, growing fonder of this ultimate skill.

Unwittingly, he practiced through the entire night.

At sunrise, purple energy rose from the east.

He lifted his eyelids, gazing at the fleeting violet light of dawn. Inspiration struck, and he unexpectedly entered a passive state of enlightenment.

In that moment, his comprehension soared twentyfold. Countless lines danced before his eyes; sudden understanding washed over him.

Blessed with insight, he formed his fingers into a sword and lightly slashed forward. A blade of semi-transparent energy, fifteen centimeters long, three centimeters wide, and a mere millimeter thick, burst forth, flashing past the massive boulder.

The unleashed sword qi, with peerless force, split the ten-thousand-pound rock clean in two.

With a resounding crash, the two halves toppled, making the earth itself seem to quake.

“Sky-Piercing Sword Qi... third form, blade!”

“Its power surpasses even fully mastered ordinary techniques, amplifying vital energy more than twice over. Clearly, the Five Elements Origin was well spent!” Suddenly, Qingxi realized he could not escape a certain law.

Hearing Qingxi’s muttered words, the system assistant replied with pride, “This is a technique deduced by this system. Among all Black Iron grade ultimate skills, it ranks among the very best. Should you master the final form—the cicada wing—it will rival the sharpness of Sword Dao Vital Qi.”

“This ultimate technique is that formidable?” Snapping out of his enlightened state, Qingxi was astonished by the assistant’s claim.

In his past life as a hardcore reader, he knew full well what Sword Dao Vital Qi meant—only true sword masters could wield such power, shattering mountains and splitting rivers with a slash.

That Sky-Piercing Sword Qi could reach such heights was truly extraordinary.

“Naturally it is. The more you practice this ultimate skill, the closer you come to the fourth form—cicada wing. Then you’ll possess an attack power on par with sword masters, with a clear advantage against peers,” the assistant praised endlessly.

Qingxi found himself eagerly anticipating what was to come.

“It seems I must hasten the collection of Five Elements Origin. That way, I can not only improve my spiritual roots, but also derive more powerful ultimate skills and quickly grow stronger.”

Facing the rising sun, Qingxi practiced the technique again and again, determined to master its final form.

As he trained relentlessly, three figures approached on foot in the distance.

Leading them was a man with silver hair and an imposing gaze—Ouyang Changfeng.

The other two were a pair of siblings, Qingfeng and Mingyue.

Just returned from the mountains, Ouyang Changfeng looked at Qingxi in mild surprise.

"Wasn’t he supposed to be at Tiger Roar Forest? He’s back already... Wait, sword qi! No, it’s not a complete form, but an embryonic sword qi—yet already so close to the real thing."

At that moment, Ouyang Changfeng caught sight of Qingxi, who, with a flick of the hand, sent a blade of energy slicing through a boulder, cleaving it in two. Disbelief flashed in his eyes.

"And his aura... Foundation Establishment, twenty-fifth cycle! Where did he get so many Qi Condensing Pills?"

"Could it be that Qiu Yingying found Qingxi, gave him the pills, and taught him the sword qi technique?"

Thoughts raced through Ouyang Changfeng’s mind, rapidly deducing possibilities. At his side, the Qingfeng and Mingyue siblings were no less shaken.

Just days ago, Qingxi was only at the peak of the tenth level, barely matching the siblings in strength. Now, he had broken through to the twenty-fifth cycle and even formed embryonic sword qi.

Such talent was downright terrifying.

The more the siblings considered it, the harder it was to calm their hearts.

“My disciple, you’ve actually mastered embryonic sword qi? Did Qiu Yingying find you? And what about your cultivation—how did you advance so quickly?” Ouyang Changfeng couldn’t suppress his curiosity any longer.

Qingxi stopped, turned to face the three, and bowed respectfully. “Master, you’ve finally returned. I’ve been waiting for you all day. What did you just say? Why would Senior Sister Qiu Yingying seek me out?”

Ouyang Changfeng was taken aback, then countered, “Qiu Yingying didn’t find you? Then how did you master embryonic sword qi? And your rapid advancement—where did you get the pills?”

Qingxi was left puzzled by these questions.

He had no idea why Qiu Yingying would look for him; as for the rapid advancement, he explained, “Over the past two days, Senior Brother Nie Yu from Pill Peak and I went to Tiger Roar Forest. By chance, we found a group of wounded disciples from the Scarlet Flame Sect, taught them a lesson, and obtained many spiritual herbs and Qi Condensing Pills, which allowed me to reach the twenty-fifth cycle.”

He gave this explanation to conceal the system’s existence.

In his view, since Nie Yu was unlikely to mention this to Ouyang Changfeng, a slight modification of the story would neatly tie up both sides.

“You two have unbelievable luck,” Ouyang Changfeng remarked without suspicion.

Disciples of the Scarlet Flame Sect often crossed the border to plunder resources in Tiger Roar Forest—something everyone in Lingyuan Sect knew well.

“Could it be that Qiu Yingying secretly followed Qingxi, deliberately injuring those disciples to give him a chance to profit?”

“It seems Qiu Yingying is working hard to win people’s loyalty. My disciple Qingxi, you’re truly fortunate.”

Ouyang Changfeng filled in the gaps with his own assumptions, arriving at what he considered a most reasonable explanation.