Chen Ye nodded and took off the black iron sword from his back.
He took a deep breath and, following the Dharma Method taught by Li Yanfeng just now, attempted to channel his spiritual power from his dantian, circulated it through the specific meridians outlined in the "Cyan Wave Sword Control Technique," and then slowly injected it into the iron sword, attempting to control the iron sword with spiritual power.
But this iron sword was indeed heavy.
Even when spiritual power was infused into it, the response was several times slower than a normal flying sword.
There was no help for it; currently, Chen Ye didn’t have enough Spirit Stones to purchase another First Tier Upper Grade Flying Sword.
In the Martial Arts Arena, Chen Ye stood still, and after much effort, the body of the iron sword let out a low hum, the tip of the sword trembling slightly, yet there was still no sign of it lifting off the ground.
Li Yanfeng watched from the side, his eyebrows furrowing slightly without being noticeable.
No matter how prepared he was mentally, Li Yanfeng couldn’t help feeling disappointed.
He cleared his throat, about to give some advice, suggesting Chen Ye switch to a lighter sword artifact or start from the basics with the Object Control Technique.
But he saw Chen Ye gritting his teeth, and once again his spiritual power surged, and the iron sword stuck in the ground finally emitted a clear sword hum. The sword body shook violently and actually wobbled three inches off the ground.
Li Yanfeng shook his head and said in a deep voice: "Steward Chen, the Dao of Sword Control lies in Heart and Sword Unity, Spirit Follows Intent. Forcing activation like this scatters your spiritual power and does not consolidate Sword Intent; how can you achieve success this way? Forget it, just watch closely, and I will demonstrate the meaning of ’Cyan Wave’ for you!"
With that, Li Yanfeng was about to take out his own sword from the Storage Bag.
But upon second thought, in order to allow Chen Ye to feel it more directly, why not just use his sword artifact?
He walked forward, reaching out for the seemingly unassuming iron sword in Chen Ye’s hand, saying casually: "Let’s use your sword artifact, so you’ll have a good look..."
However, as soon as his hand touched the simple iron sword handle, his expression froze!
"Hmm?!"
Li Yanfeng felt a weight far beyond his expectation coming from the sword’s handle, and instinctively he increased his strength to lift the iron sword from Chen Ye’s hand.
Li Yanfeng, an Instructor of Flying Sword at Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer, naturally could lift it.
It was just that at first, he hadn’t predicted the iron sword’s weight.
"Hmm? This iron sword must weigh over a hundred pounds, doesn’t it?" Li Yanfeng’s eyelid twitched. "Isn’t this a standard Low Tier Magical Artifact from the Spirit Treasure Sect..."
The iron sword indeed originated from the discarded products of the Spirit Treasure Sect’s failed refining.
Chen Ye explained: "I once reforged this sword twice, and on the second reforge, it weighed exactly one hundred pounds, with fifteen pieces of Sinking Gold mixed in."
"Sinking Gold?"
Li Yanfeng was astonished.
He’d heard of the name Sinking Gold; it was notoriously heavy! Just one piece weighed five pounds!
Don’t underestimate this iron sword at a hundred pounds; it might seem insignificant.
But once transformed into a high-speed flying sword...
The power within it might make any opponent despair!
Li Yanfeng took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart, and said in a deep voice: "Steward Chen, try controlling your sword again, let me take a closer look."
Chen Ye complied and once again activated his spiritual power.
This time, he was more confident.
Because...
[Cyan Wave Sword Control Technique: Minor Achievement: 1/100]
"Rise!"
With a "clang" sound, the heavy iron sword, previously clumsy, now exhibited a touch of nimbleness!
Li Yanfeng nearly bit his own tongue, able to control a flying sword weighing over a hundred pounds. This guy might be able to step into the first layer of Cyan Wave within seven days.
He remembered that True Man Bai Li achieved one layer in five days!
"Taoist Friend Chen, your talent in Sword Dao is indeed unexpected; it’s just a pity..."
Li Yanfeng stopped mid-sentence, realizing it was inappropriate, and corrected himself by saying,
"It’s much stronger than my unfilial daughter! Humph, back when she practiced the Cyan Wave Sword Control Technique, it took her a month just to get started!"
Chen Ye, uninterested in getting involved in other’s family matters, simply clasped his hands with a smile:
"Not at all, it’s just because I’ve used this sword every day before and became proficient with practice."
Seeing Li Yanfeng switch to addressing him as Taoist Friend,
He decided to capitalize on it: "Instructor Li, neither of us are Sect Disciples now, so there’s no need for the formal address. Since you’re older, I shall call you Brother Li in the future!"
Having hoped that Li Yanfeng would impart all his knowledge these days, naturally, the closer the relationship, the better.
Moreover, although his status wasn’t high, you had to consider who you’re comparing to.
A Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer Flying Sword Instructor’s combat strength far exceeded his peers, plus he had good connections!
Li Yanfeng also felt an increased fondness for Chen Ye.
He was immersed in the path of the flying sword and as an instructor by nature favored cultivators like Chen Ye, who showed potential in learning the flying sword.
Thus, intuitively understanding his intention: "Indeed, forming friendships through flying swords, excellent, excellent!"
Unknowingly, dusk had fallen.
Li Yanfeng, noticing it was getting late, said: "We’ll end today’s guidance here, younger brother, your talent is admirable. If you have free time, we can often spar over swordsmanship, which will be beneficial for both of us."
At this moment, he already regarded Chen Ye as an equal companion in Sword Dao, rather than just a steward who came for guidance.
"As it is my wish, I dare not ask." Chen Ye clasped his hands with a smile. "Thank you, Brother Li, for today’s guidance."
Then they parted ways.
Li Yanfeng flew his sword back home to Purple Cloud Peak, still deeply moved by the day’s events.
Li Qiuyun saw her father return home and seemed more relaxed than usual, so she curiously asked: "Father, was there some happy event today? You seem to be in a good mood."
Li Yanfeng stroked his beard with a smile: "Do you still remember the fool I told you about a few days ago?"
"Is it... the one who exchanged a lot of spirit stones for contribution points?"
Li Qiuyun hesitated.
Exchanging a hundred spirit stones for seventy contribution points was indeed a bit of a loss.
There were plenty of elderly cultivators in the sect who want to return home and would dispose of their contribution points for spirit stones before leaving.
If one were to search slowly, a hundred spirit stones could definitely be exchanged for eighty-five contribution points.
This creates a fifteen-point difference back and forth.
"Yes, who would have thought that person’s talent in flying swords was no less than those prodigies within the sect! But unfortunately, his cultivation is a bit low, he’s a bit older; his aptitude in cultivation might be lacking. Currently, he’s a Spirit Plant Master at Herb Peak."
The more Li Yanfeng spoke, the more he sighed.
An herb peak steward?
It couldn’t be...
Could it really be such a coincidence?
Li Qiuyun discreetly wiped sweat from her palm.
Li Yanfeng was still marveling at Chen Ye’s sword-dao talent, completely unaware of his daughter’s peculiar expression.
He changed the subject, suddenly remembered something, and looked at Li Qiuyun with a scrutinizing gaze:
"Speaking of which, Qiuyun, where have you been these past few nights? Going out early and coming back late, your whereabouts were uncertain. Could it be... you’re secretly running off to help that Spirit Plant Steward take care of his two beloved children?"
Upon hearing this, Li Qiuyun reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, her pretty face turning red with urgency, she quickly defended:
"Father! What are you talking about! Your daughter... your daughter was going to visit familiar sister disciples to share cultivation insights, not to help some Spirit Plant Steward!"
"Oh? That’s good. But remember! Stay away from that Spirit Plant Steward; so old, constantly looking for young female cultivators like you to amuse with, surely with no good intentions!"
Li Yanfeng snorted coldly, displeased, and with a flick of his sleeves, left.
Before leaving, he didn’t forget to sigh:
"But my younger brother Chen, also a Spirit Plant Master, and yet he never forgets to cultivate the way of the flying sword, diligently striving..."
However, when Li Qiuyun heard this, she was taken aback.
Chen... Steward Chen?
Could it be Uncle Chen?
There are usually forty or fifty stewards stationed at Herb Peak, and accumulated in various parts of Yan Kingdom, there’s more than three or four hundred.
From time to time, stewards from various parts come back to the sect for debriefing...
So many stewards, could it really be such a coincidence?