Chapter 15: Not Very Difficult
Shen Yanzhou received it.
The surface of the book resembled the hide of some kind of demon beast, faintly yellowed, carrying a hint of antiquity.
The moment he touched it and turned to the first page, a subtle sensation rose in his heart.
The first page of the book before his eyes was exactly as recorded in the original text: a vast expanse of misty mountains and boundless seas, endless and limitless.
In the distance, there seemed to be endless ranges of cloudy peaks, but apart from that, there was nothing else on the page.
Not to mention ordinary people—even a Grandmaster of the Sword Dao would not be able to comprehend any method of sword cultivation from it.
If framed and hung on a wall, it would make quite a fine landscape painting.
“How is it?”
After a moment, seeing Shen Yanzhou seemingly absorbed, Yu Chenyu asked with interest.
Naturally, she possessed other Sword Dao techniques as well, but for Shen Yanzhou to begin cultivation only now was far too late.
Merely tempering his foundations each day would require hours of effort.
Even if he persevered, he would hardly achieve anything in this lifetime.
With his current frail body, there actually were methods for quick improvement… such as the Longevity Life-burning Technique of the Blood Fiend Hall, the Azure Emperor Reincarnation Method of the Qingxu Demon Sect, or the Nine Death Demon God Transformation of the Mountain of Undying.
But each of these techniques was of utmost importance, transmitted only to direct bloodlines.
Even if he managed to access them and begin cultivation, he would be branded a spy of the demonic sects, hunted down by the Chilin Guards and the Bureau of Immortal Supervision.
In the Great Qian capital, once the aura of demonic sect techniques was exposed, the only outcome was being cast into the deepest cells of the Heavenly Prison.
“It seems I feel something.”
Shen Yanzhou replied.
At those words, the pavilion fell silent.
Not only Yu Chenyu, but even Chunchao looked stunned with disbelief.
She prided herself as the most outstanding prodigy of her generation in Qilin City’s Sword Lodge, her talent in the Sword Dao astonishing.
Yet when she encountered this sword technique, she gained nothing, pondering for days before finally returning it to the princess.
And now Shen Yanzhou—how long had he touched it? Less than the time for a cup of tea?
Could it be that the young lord truly possessed extraordinary talent in this field?
Or was he merely bluffing?
Yu Chenyu withdrew the smile from her face, turning solemn as she stared at Shen Yanzhou, no longer interrupting him.
Shen Yanzhou’s gaze rested on the landscape painting before him, his brows slightly furrowed, his appearance one of deep contemplation.
But in truth, his eyes were fixed on his panel.
【Name: Shen Yanzhou】
【Techniques: None】
【Secret Arts: None】
【Realm: None】
【Available Basic Points: 1 (21.11/100)】
【Available Sword Technique: Selfless Heart Sword (Incomplete).
Created on the night of the Withered Sword Monk’s passing, from his realization of life’s constancy, the illusory dream of the void, the endless cycle of reincarnation, year after year unchanged.
Later integrated and deduced by many Sword Dao Grandmasters, until three hundred years ago when a prodigy of the Sword Dao obtained it.
Combining it with the Buddhist Sutras of Past Amitabha, Future Liberation, and Diamond Dispelling, he further deduced and created the One Sword of Selflessness.】
As Shen Yanzhou moved his thoughts, he placed that single basic point into the Selfless Heart Sword.
Instantly, he felt countless memories pouring into his mind.
There was a white-robed swordsman sitting alone atop a snowy peak, fishing among the sea of clouds.
There was also an old sword master, blood gushing from his mouth, painstakingly leaving behind notes stroke by stroke before his study.
And there was a young, spirited swordsman, cloaked, bearing a black sword, traveling the world—storming into a Buddhist pagoda, seizing scriptures, laughing as he departed…
All of these memories ultimately converged into a faint trace of intent.
This thread of intent seemed both real and illusory, blurred and indistinct, yet as though nothing could escape its edge.
It could cleave immortals above, demons below, even sever time and space itself.
Buzz!!!
Shen Yanzhou felt a burning heat at the center of his brow, as if invisible ink spread outward.
That trace of intent seemed to descend from some unfathomable height, pouring directly into his sea of consciousness.
In the next instant, he lifted a finger.
It was as if an unseen wind stirred, yet both Yu Chenyu and Chunchao sensed a sharpness inexplicable.
“He truly grasped the entry level.”
Yu Chenyu’s eyes flickered with surprise, her voice filled with astonishment that even she found hard to believe.
She had personally cultivated this sword art, and knew well just how difficult it was to step into its threshold.
For so many years, she had not progressed the slightest, eventually abandoning it.
Yet in Shen Yanzhou’s hands, in less than the time for a cup of tea, he had already mastered its entry stage.
Such swiftness—if she had not seen it with her own eyes, she would never have believed it.
At the side, Chunchao was equally shocked, her rosy lips gaping wide enough to swallow an egg.
Shen Yanzhou looked once more at his panel.
【Name: Shen Yanzhou】
【Techniques: None】
【Secret Arts: Selfless Heart Sword (Incomplete, Entry 1/4)】
【Realm: None】
【Available Basic Points: 0 (5.11/100)】
As expected, with this cheat, no matter how difficult a technique, he could master it easily—even if it was but an incomplete fragment.
“This sword art doesn’t seem very difficult. I entered it quite easily.”
He smiled brightly at the two before him, each wearing different expressions.
Chunchao felt heavily struck.
Could it be that the young lord’s talent in the Sword Dao far surpassed hers?
Negative emotions from Chunchao +3+3+3+3+3.
Yu Chenyu withdrew her thoughts, reclining lazily once again, her posture both elegant and languid.
She said, “It seems, Zhou’er, that in terms of mental comprehension, your talent is indeed remarkable. But even with entry, continuing cultivation of this sword art is like ascending to heaven. Moreover, it is only a fragment, not complete. You may study it as you see fit.”
Shen Yanzhou’s talent in this regard indeed exceeded her expectations.
But only to this extent.
Long ago, in his childhood, the Demon Suppression King had already secretly destroyed Shen Yanzhou’s spiritual root.
Unless he could find miraculous treasures capable of rebirth and transformation—such as the Immortal Fetus Creation Dew or the Thunder Pool Nirvana Root—otherwise, even if he began bitter cultivation now, it would be difficult to catch up with his peers.
“Your child will remember your guidance.”
Shen Yanzhou was in high spirits.
With the Heart Sword method, he finally possessed a measure of self-preservation.
Although with his current spiritual power, he might only be able to unleash one sword strike, if used unexpectedly, it would be enough to slay a low-ranked martial artist or a Daoist practitioner without much issue.
As his realm advanced and his spiritual power grew, coupled with deeper mastery of the Heart Sword, its power would only become more terrifying.
He never worried about bottlenecks or breakthroughs.
…
After leaving the Emerald Bamboo Courtyard, Shen Yanzhou summoned Elder Mo, boarded a carriage, and headed straight for the Yingchun Pavilion in the east of the city.
As a long-time patron here, Shen Yanzhou was quite familiar, directly arriving at a Heavenly Room and ordering wine and dishes.
He was not worried that Wu Ruyue would refuse to attend.
As a typical sister who doted on her brother, no matter how harshly she scolded Wu Zhongxing with her mouth, she would never stand by and watch Shen Yanzhou send him off for military service in the southern border.
Wu Hong, as Vice Commissioner of the Eastern Palace Martial Treasury, had embezzled under his own charge.
Such a crime—at best would lead to confiscation of family property and exile, at worst to extermination of nine clans.
Wu Ruyue was no fool.
Naturally, she dared not publicize it.
And now, her only savior was Shen Yanzhou.