Chapter 58: Qi Sect Disciple × Sword Sect Disciple √

Because Wang Jingyuan possessed the ability to distinguish between friendly, neutral, and hostile entities, he adopted the most aggressive, straightforward, and brutal approach when "persuading" Feng Qingyang.

Seeing Wang Jingyuan's unconcerned and unblushing threat, Feng Qingyang chuckled. "Want me to go down the mountain? Very well. As long as you renounce the Qi Sect and join my Sword Sect, I will accompany you."

Wang Jingyuan waited for a long time, but no system prompt arrived. He frowned as he looked at Feng Qingyang. "It doesn't matter to me whether I join the Qi Sect or the Sword Sect, but your invitation lacks sincerity. Since your invitation isn't sincere, even if I agree, it won't count."

Linghu Chong and Yue Lingshan were both somewhat startled. Why did Junior Brother Wang actually seem to want to join the Sword Sect?

Hearing this, Feng Qingyang's expression grew slightly more solemn. Although Wang Jingyuan's previous words showed no regard for Yue Buqun, Feng Qingyang simply dismissed it as the brash and ignorant boasting of a youth who didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth.

Therefore, he had extended the invitation to join the Sword Sect, hoping to scare him off. He never expected that Wang Jingyuan seemed genuinely indifferent to the matter of joining the Sword Sect.

Feng Qingyang asked once more, "Are you truly willing to join the Sword Sect? You must think carefully. If you join the Sword Sect, I will teach you the ways of the Sword Sect, and I will go down the mountain to uphold and assist the Mount Hua Sect. But if Yue Buqun wants to purge his sect of traitors, I will not interfere—after all, he is your master."

[Feng Qingyang invites you to join the hidden branch of the Mount Hua Sect—the Sword Sect]

[Do you accept: Yes/No]

"Oh? So you also handle the teaching? It's a deal! A double blessing!"

[Yes]

"Old man, I am now a disciple of the Sword Sect. Whatever trump cards or ultimate treasures you have, bring them all on. That 'Dugu Nine Swords' looks rather nice."

Feng Qingyang looked at Wang Jingyuan with a complex expression. "Do you truly not regret this?"

"I do not regret it."

Feng Qingyang nodded. "Very well, I shall go down the mountain with you."

"Wait!"

"What? Do you wish to go back on your word?"

"Of course not." Wang Jingyuan pointed at the illustrated scrolls behind him. "Although I've hit the jackpot with you, the consolation prize still has to be claimed."

Feng Qingyang chuckled. "Didn't you look down on these methods of breaking the sword techniques earlier? Why are you suddenly taking an interest in them now?"

Wang Jingyuan shook his head. "I still maintain my previous view; these破解 (countering) methods aren't of much use. If it were up to me, I'd prefer to poison the enemy in advance. But the sword techniques of the Five Yue Sword Sects recorded here are truly good things."

Feng Qingyang glanced at Wang Jingyuan. "Do you have paper and brush?"

Wang Jingyuan indeed had paper and brush in his inventory, but he did not take them out. "Copying and rubbing them is far too troublesome. I have a much more convenient solution."

Feng Qingyang asked curiously, "What solution?"

"When it comes to the comprehension of sword techniques, you, senior, are a leading figure in the present age. Looking at these sword techniques from your realm is akin to looking down from a high peak, or viewing the patterns on the palm of your hand. You only need to glance at those sword techniques and tell me the key points. I'll learn them casually and simply transcribe them directly after going down the mountain."

Feng Qingyang glared at Wang Jingyuan. "You certainly have a bold tongue, brat."

Wang Jingyuan, whose status panel remained wide open, was brimming with confidence. "Just teach them. You'll see whether I can learn them or not."

Without bothering to look at the scrolls, Feng Qingyang picked up a long sword from the ground and began to demonstrate and explain the "Three Immortals' Sword of Fatal Series" while executing the forms.

[Feng Qingyang is imparting the "Three Immortals' Sword of Fatal Series" to you]

[Do you learn: Yes/No]

[Yes]

Before Feng Qingyang even finished his explanation, Wang Jingyuan had already drawn his long sword. In an instant, a direct slash, a horizontal sweep, and a reverse lift—three forms executed with the ethereal grace of an antelope hanging its horns by its hooves—were unleashed by Wang Jingyuan all at once.

Linghu Chong and Yue Lingshan were long used to it; they had already accepted the freakish learning speed of Wang Jingyuan's innate talent. No matter what the skill was, they had never seen him require a second lesson.

Feng Qingyang was stunned. How long had it taken him to master this single move back then?

Refusing to believe it, Feng Qingyang turned to the scrolls and began studying the "Five Divine Swords of Mount Song" belonging to the Mount Song Sect. A moment later, he turned back and demonstrated them to Wang Jingyuan.

Just as before, Wang Jingyuan instantly mastered them. With one teaching and the other learning in this manner, the two of them quickly mastered the sword techniques of all the Five Yue Sword Sects.

[Feng Qingyang is imparting...]

[...Yes]

Linghu Chong felt his hands itch and attempted to learn along the way. However, after exhausting his mental energy to master a single set of sword techniques following Feng Qingyang, he felt his mind grow dizzy and muddled. When he forced himself to summon his spirit to learn a second set, he discovered that not only had he failed to learn the second set, but even the first set had faded until he could only recall six tenths of it.

As for Yue Lingshan, given her talent, she could only stand on the sidelines completely bewildered.

By the afternoon, Wang Jingyuan had learned all the sword techniques on the scrolls. When Feng Qingyang saw that Wang Jingyuan could indeed effortlessly learn any sword technique as he claimed, his eyes lit up, and he said to Wang Jingyuan, "I shall teach you one more set of sword techniques. Listen carefully: Returning Sister tends to the Innocent; the Innocent tends to Fellowship; Fellowship tends to Great Possession..."

[Feng Qingyang is imparting the "Dugu Nine Swords" to you]

[Do you learn: Yes/No]

"Oh, even bringing out the 'Dugu Nine Swords'? Generous enough?"

[Yes]

Feng Qingyang stroked his beard and smiled. "You mentioned the 'Dugu Nine Swords' earlier, which shows you had your heart set on this sword technique. Isn't it just right that I teach it to you now? I shall teach this set of sword techniques just like the others—only once. Whether you can master it depends entirely on your own fortune."

"Underestimating me, aren't you? Let alone the 'Dugu Nine Swords', if you knew the True Formula of Divine Swords Defending Thunder, I'd learn that for you to see as well!"

Before long, Wang Jingyuan twirled his long sword. The General Formula, Sword-Breaking Style, Sabre-Breaking Style, Spear-Breaking Style, Whip-Breaking Style, Rope-Breaking Style, Palm-Breaking Style, Arrow-Breaking Style, and Qi-Breaking Style were executed in succession.

It left Feng Qingyang's spirits soaring. Excellent! Simply magnificent! Such a talent in the Dao of the Sword rightly belongs in my Sword Sect! Everything I said before was utter nonsense; if Yue Buqun dares to lay a single finger on this brat, I'll beat his brains out!

Upon mastering the "Dugu Nine Swords," Wang Jingyuan felt that this skill had a deep connection with "How is Mount Zong?" If "How is Mount Zong?" was a set of calculation formulas, then the "Dugu Nine Swords" was the optimal answer ultimately derived by someone running "How is Mount Zong?" and performing massive calculations using the brute-force enumeration method.

The answer provided by the "Dugu Nine Swords" was only the current version, but that did not mean it was the most perfect and ultimate answer. Wang Jingyuan could sense that the "Dugu Nine Swords," much like the "Tianshan Plum-Plucking Hands," could be continuously optimized based on one's own learned martial arts and combat experience.

The version imparted by Feng Qingyang might be Dugu Qiubai's version 1.0, or perhaps version 2.0 incorporating his own insights, but it would definitely not be Wang Jingyuan's final version.

Although not completely flawless, the advantages of the "Dugu Nine Swords" were still immense. The answer was already provided; one only needed to fill in the blanks according to the situation. Skipping the calculation process made the attacks faster than lightning. Moreover, because it was an optimal solution verified through massive trials, every sword strike went straight to the enemy's vital points, eliminating the need for defense entirely.

Having reaped a full harvest, Wang Jingyuan was about to lead the group down the mountain when a thought suddenly struck him. He turned his head to look at Linghu Chong. "Why are you following us?"

Linghu Chong was completely bewildered, as if lost in a fog. "Didn't you say everyone is going down the mountain together?"

"Junior Sister and I came up the mountain of our own accord, but you were sent up here as a punishment. Down what mountain? Honestly stay here and serve your prison sentence. When I'm in a good mood, I might find some spare time to come and visit you in prison."

Linghu Chong was on the verge of tears. "Junior Brother Wang, Junior Sister, don't rush off! Keep me company a little longer!"

"Visiting hours are over. Goodbye and farewell. Remember to reform yourself properly and strive to turn over a new leaf."