Adopt a Righteous Mindset and Do What is Right
Mu Yu revealed his sword for the first time in the tournament. He didn’t need it against his previous opponents who had their guards down. This time, he wanted to do something for the tragic grey-rank disciples and General Manager Xun.
“Get ready to be humiliated,” brayed Xiaohu, not dropping his guard and revealing his cultivation to try and incite fear in Mu Yu.
Xiaohu slashed at Mu Yu, grinning wrathfully at the same time. He intended to take his time humiliating Mu Yu and displaying the difference between a prodigy. Utilising Dustfallen Stance, Mu Yu took off and intercepted Xiaohu’s sword. The clash sent both of them bouncing backwards
Xiaohu expecting his strike to incapacitate Mu Yu, but it didn’t. Upon sensing Mu Yu’s energy intensifying, he questioned, “You’re not at Qi Condensation Realm?”
That was the cue for the gossip about Mu Yu using unorthodox tricks again, albeit some not worried since Xiaohu had Skypine Sword.
“I underestimated you. I wonder how long your little trick will last, though. I used this sword to defeat Foundation Establishment Realm Fifth Layer disciples!” Xiaohu snickered as he enhanced his sword with his energy.
Daoist Qing Song used premium materials and ancient essence from a pine tree to create the sturdy sword. The weapon itself possessed intelligence. He ushered spiritual qi in the vicinity to his sword in addition to their own spiritual energy.
“Skypine Chases the Whistling Wind.”
Skypine Sword vibrated. Xiaohu crossed his hands, calling forth sword qi to form a sword clone on top of it. Finally, he launched the ethereal sword with an ancient aura.
Blue lights emerged as Mu Yu split his flying sword in two, each sword executing a different technique from Dustfallen Swordplay. The invisible energy used the sword clones as a medium. Tranquil sword qi rose as gales blew harder. Mu Yu’s attack consisted of controlled violence.
Once the two sword qis clashed, split leaves danced in the sky until they were shredded. Mu Yu advanced, wielding the sword clone in his hand in smooth motions before performing a straight thrust at Xiaohu. Sword qi blasted in every direction as the two collided. Although it appeared as if Xiaohu had the upper hand, he was conscious of the fact he was just rolling with Mu Yu’s attacks. He struggled against Mu Yu’s technical and unrestrained swordplay.
“Overwhelming Justice Technique.”
Xiaohu blasted a beam of spiritual energy, driving Mu Yu back. Xiaohu flowered his sword in front of him, firing off mighty orthodox qi from his sword each rotation. The blast descended upon Mu Yu, who was in the centre of the attack.
Overwhelming Justice Technique was one of Daoist Qing Song’s masterpieces, embodying the orthodox and aura of justice a scholar exhibited, hence the name.
Mu Yu monitored the energy. He split his sword into four clones to meet the attack head on. The massive boom that swirled dust up had everyone look over.
Mu Yu was sent right to the edge of the ring and only had one sword clone remaining, demonstrating Xiaohu’s sword and technique combination were a force to the reckoned with. Mu Yu swallowed the blood he felt rush up to his throat. Xiaohu started mouth breathing after expending a tremendous amount of his spiritual energy. He was grouchy upon seeing Mu Yu still in the ring.
“Shifu said one should be courteous to others. Your arrogance and cruelty knows no bounds. How did you and justice end up on the same page?” mocked Mu Yu, proud he had nothing to be guilty about.
“Dustfallen Swordplay, one sword, nine techniques. Dustfallen Stance, one step, nine clones. Adopt a righteous mindset and do what is right, and you shall produce nine clones and nine techniques.” When Feng Haochen said those lines with smile, Mu Yu was left baffled. Feng Haochen told him to comprehend it as he went through life. Xiaohu was unable to bring out the full potential of the technique owing to his character. That was the spark of inspiration that made it all click for Mu Yu.
A righteous mindset referred to one’s attitude towards something. Doing what was right implied one should not let their conscience feel guilty. Dustfallen Steps wasn’t just about body movement but also one’s mindset. When one’s mind was at peace, one could carry their body without wobbling. As such, techniques and clones could operate independently.
Mu Yu split Shadow Splitter Sword in two, but he combined it with Dustfallen Stance. Mu Yu cloned himself, each clone equipped with one of the two swords. It was difficult to tell whether he was a phantom or a physical human being. That was the essence of Dustfallen Steps. Each clone would wield a sword independently.
Feng Haochen nodded as a sign of approval. His teaching style was to show the visible form. His disciples needed to grasp that which the eye could not see. Up until then, Mu Yu possessed in-depth understanding of the components but lacked the experience to combine them.
Cheng Yan smiled. “Mu Yu really does have an aptitude for cultivation. He can only wield two clones and execute two techniques for now. I wonder how long it will take for him to control nine clones and nine techniques.”
Feng Haochen expressed, “That’ll be on him. Dustfallen’s dao is not about cultivation but comprehension. Xiang Nan and Ling’er can only produce two swords at present, while Mu Yu can produce four. He’ll catch up to you soon.”
Cheng Yan nodded. “I am eager to see the power of nine clones and nine techniques myself.”
Xiaohu was thrown off at the sight of two Mu Yus; it was the first time he saw anything of the sort. Nobody jumped to conclusions in regards of the nature of the technique as Mu Yu wasn’t any weaker. If anything, he was growing stronger and calmer as the fight went on.
“Whatever sorcery that is won’t change anything!”
Xiaohu belted, crushing the ancient ethereal pine tree behind him and fusing it into his sword. The new addition enhanced his sword considerably, startling those around. The sword qi gradually turned into a glow. Once he struggled to contain the sword qi, he swung, blasting the energy at Mu Yu.
Mu Yu utilised Profound Lightning Strike, Dustfallen Swordplay’s eighth technique. As the name implied, dao begets all life. Lightning takes control.
Their spiritual energy disturbed the spiritual energy in the atmosphere as their spiritual qi pushed against each other as blue sparks scattered. The spiritual energy in the surroundings transformed into lightning. Oxygen struggled to move through the atmosphere. Mu Yu vaulted up and used his sword qi to direct the lightning down. His other clone already had the lightning under control. Mu Yu had complete control over the lightning. Mu Yu slammed a lightning spirit down on Xiaohu’s sword qi, blasting away the malicious qi.
Mu Yu’s attack blasted away Xiaohu’s sword qi, and he collected it for himself before striking Xiaohu with an even more powerful lightning spirit. Meanwhile, Xiaohu spaced out, unable to comprehend why he lost control over Skypine Sword and why his overwhelming sword qi disappeared. By the time he snapped out of it, he was at the mercy of the encroaching lightning attack.
“Green Pine Sect concedes.”
Bai Lang redirected Mu Yu’s lightning spirit attack away from Xiaohu, making the lightning strike the ring. The ring was sturdy enough to withstand attacks from Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators; only Golden Core Realm cultivators would’ve been able to inflict that much damage to it. Bai Lang then placed a hand on the shoulder of Xiaohu, who was out of the ring, with a composed look. Had Bai Lang not intervened, Xiaohu likely would’ve suffered irreversible damage.
“I… I didn’t lose! There’s no way I’d lose to him. Impossible…” muttered Xiaohu, listlessly looking at Mu Yu.
“Shut it,” warned Bai Lang.
Shoulders in a gravity-drawn position, Xiaohu stopped his yapping.
Mu Yu had returned to his usual self and descended from the ring. Skypine Sword was left lying on the ground. At the end of the day, relying on external help was the equivalent of using a crutch. Xiaohu was unable to control the power he borrowed.
A myriad of emotions seized the audience. Disbelief overwhelmed every thought in their minds. Shake their heads and rub their eyes all they want, there was no doubt Mu Yu was the last one in the ring. Not even Bai Lang had anything he could say in Xiaohu’s defence.
Mu Yu saluted Bai Lang. “Senior Bai Lang, if I recall correctly, Golden Core Realm adepts were not permitted to intervene in matches between Foundation Establishment Realm disciples, correct?”
In the majority’s mind: Wow, wow, wow, he won thanks to a fluke and is already acting up?
Glossary
Weapon flowers – The flower that Xiaohu performed is this: https://youtu.be/-Uka6Kh8iEY
Previous Chapter l Next Chapter
