Chapter 659 Moonlit Whisper, A Silent Destruction
Northern had a grasp of the first technique of Moonlit Whisper, called Single Draw Path.
It was a standalone technique that stood as both the foundation and the peak of the Moonlit Whisper.
When Bairan explained this to him, Northern could actually picture evidently why it was so. He had, after all, seen how devastating the technique could be.
It could open a carnival of sword techniques and also close it with a peak manifestation of a blade's cruelty.
It all depended on its wielder.
Moonlit Whisper was originally researched by warrior-scholars who studied how moonlight interacted with water ripples.
It emphasized minimal movement with devastating precision, treating the sword not as a weapon, but as a conductor of natural forces.
Bairan explained that the genius minds behind the entire sword style had aimed to create beauty rather than the crude nature of sword styles that existed back in his era.
Northern was still unsure of many things, including what he meant by his aura. But he followed up nicely, and a lot of times, Bairan's story behind each explanation always linked and made too much sense to be made up—not by Bairan of course, but the forces of whatever had delivered Bairan's soul to him.
Single Draw Path was a linking sequence to evoke the true nature of the sword; it was like a prologue to the story of subtle, resplendent destruction that the sword had to tell, and an epilogue to close it on a good and satisfying note.
A note that severed reality. Such a dangerous and terrifying style it was... the Moonlit Whisper.
Having grasped a perfect understanding of the Single Draw Path, Northern had a clear path to evoking the next technique.
With Bairan's guidance, it was achievable, although not easy.
"The Moonlit Whisper is a style that encompasses three main techniques. I explained before, Single Draw Path is like the opening and closing, then for the main body, the true devastating cruelty of the sword style, there is:
"Silent Ripple Cut, Midnight Mirror, and Scholar's Reversal."
"Then the closing is Single Draw Path too?" Northern helped him finish in the manner of a question.
With a responsive nod, Bairan finally drew Dark Mortal from its sheath, the dark surface of the blade reflected eerily beneath the blue light of the Void Palace.
Lightless rays cascaded on the blade, causing it to gleam with a stunning malevolence. A darkly beautiful visual for a sword of its kind.
Bairan looked at Northern and turned slightly away, making sure he was not directly facing his Master; however, he positioned himself well enough for Northern to see from the side.
"I will show you all three sword techniques, firstly one after the other, then afterward, I will combine them and show you their true power."
He paused and looked at Northern.
"But I will only do it once."
Northern's gaze sharpened, his entire being focused on Bairan's form. The void summon's warning had an underlying gravity that made the air in the Void Palace feel heavier than usual.
Bairan's stance shifted, almost imperceptibly.
"First, Silent Ripple Cut."
The movement that followed was so subtle that Northern's eyes struggled to track it.
Dark Mortal moved in a near-invisible circle, yet the air around it trembled. Ripples of force spread outward, warping the ethereal glow of the Palace into trembling rings.
Northern felt his danger sense spike, a tensed recognition and warning of an almost unstoppable destruction settled over him, immediately causing the void force that shrouded his form to shudder, wanting to expand.
It took a conscious effort to stop it.
Without pause, Bairan transitioned.
"Midnight Mirror."
Dark Mortal became perfectly still, its black surface catching the Palace's light in impossible ways.
For a moment, Northern's perception wavered—Bairan's form seemed to shift, as if viewed through disturbed water. The blade's stillness created a paradox of motion that made distance itself seem uncertain.
"And finally, Scholar's Reversal."
This technique was different.
Bairan's posture relaxed, almost seeming distracted, yet Northern felt an immediate tension in the air.
Dark Mortal moved in what appeared to be random patterns, like brush strokes in the air, but each movement carried a deadly purpose that Northern could sense but not quite understand.
Then, without warning, Bairan's demeanor changed entirely.
"Now, witness them as one."
What followed made Northern's breath catch in his throat.
The three techniques flowed together like water joining a stream, each one enhancing and amplifying the others.
Silent Ripple Cut's ripples twisted and bent under Midnight Mirror's warped light, creating a storm of distortion. Scholar's Reversal wove through it all, threading chaos into something impossibly precise.
The air itself seemed to sing with the poetry of violence, yet not a sound could be heard.
When Bairan finally stilled his blade, the silence that followed felt heavier than any noise could have been.
"This," Bairan said quietly, "is the true form of Moonlit Whisper. Not three separate techniques, but one continuous flow that mirrors the interaction between moonlight and water."
He turned to face Northern fully.
"If we were to add the Single Draw Path to what you just witnessed, what do you think will be born?"
Northern's mind raced, processing what he had witnessed.
The individual techniques were devastating enough, but their combination... it was like watching someone conduct an orchestra of destruction with a single instrument.
Then when one added the opening and closing influence of the Single Draw Path... this was the greatest form of sword style that Northern had ever set his eyes upon.
He could kill his enemy without them even realizing it!
The realization of such a destructive style mortified Northern's soul. He felt a cold sensation bite on his skin, beneath his clothes.
It was fear.
When last had he felt like this...? He could not remember. But to fear a demonstration of the sword like this...
Caused a wry smile to appear on Northern's face.
His eyes settled on the sword king, glowing with a dangerous resolve.
"Bairan!"
The sword king's expression was skeptical as he responded.
"Yes, Master..."
"I am going to destroy and remake your sword style! I have an idea of what true Chaos should be!"