67: Chapter 066: Superior Water Swordsmanship 67: Chapter 066: Superior Water Swordsmanship Sorrowful as autumn, melancholy as clouds.

Zhou Lingyi’s spiritual eyes also filled with regret and a shade of dejection, compared to Zhou Yuntian, Zhou Yan’s realm now fell short by an immeasurable distance, yet Zhou Yan’s bold spirit was beyond Zhou Yuntian’s reach!

One, a peerless genius of ten years ago, and the other a genius of today, but the status of the two were nearly on par.

It was impossible to imagine just how much more substantial Zhou Yan’s status would be than Zhou Yuntian’s after another ten years?

From being a good-for-nothing at the Sword Beginning realm, to becoming a formidable warrior who could fight on par with those at the Second Level of Sword Intent in just one month!

He won people’s genuine respect and acknowledgment, making them kneel and admit their wrongs…

that’s the true spirit of boldness!

Zhou Lingyi knew, she would definitely regret all her past behaviors for a lifetime, and she would never forgive herself.

“Zhou Yan…”

Suppressing the guilt and endless regrets gnawing at her heart, she uttered two difficult words.

“You all can cultivate in my courtyard; my demands for Primordial Energy are not high, since the Tao that I’ve comprehended has a unique way of absorbing Heaven and Earth Essence Qi.

Thus, for me to occupy such a large area is truly a waste,” Zhou Yan calmly said as he glanced at Zhou Lingyi.

“Mm…

thank you.”

Zhou Lingyi’s words choked with emotion.

She was a prideful woman; there were many things she knew in her heart but found too difficult to express.

“After we come out of the Sword Origin Pool and stabilize our position within the Great Zhou Family, you and Zhou Lingyao can move in together.

I’ll also ask Elder Xing to accompany you, and then you can bring over some family members from the Canglan City.

With me around, everyone will be safe now,” Zhou Yan contemplated and eventually decided to accept Zhou Cangmu’s advice, no longer dwelling on the petty squabbles of his small family lineage.

“Thank you…

thank you…”

Zhou Lingyi didn’t know what else to say, she could only repetitively murmur her thanks.

This experience made her deeply understand one thing—if it were not for Zhou Yan, even after joining the Great Zhou Family, their fate would have been nothing but humiliation or death.

The very person they had calculated against ended up saving them…

“Zhou Momo, your injuries, they’re all right now, aren’t they?” Zhou Yan asked caringly.

Zhou Momo was startled, then with a flustered and overwhelmed reaction hurriedly replied, “Good, all good, no problems now.”

“That’s good.

Later on, I’ll have someone distribute a set of better Spirit Armor to each of you.

No matter what, you shouldn’t find yourselves in a situation like today ever again.

From now on, in the Zhou Family, don’t be timid or fearful; I’ll be backing you all in everything,” he said.

“Mm…

Brother Zhou Yan, thank you, I’m sorry…”

“All right, let’s go too.”

After a few words, Zhou Yan saw many disciples eager to greet him, wishing to avoid further trouble, he turned and left first.

…

The courtyard of the central district was indeed a place with overwhelming Spiritual Energy.

Breathing in the air here made one feel light and somewhat transcendent.

Zhou Yan, feeling the atmosphere and the encirclement of the Sword Array, gradually found tranquility in his heart.

Looking at the ancient pines, at the carefree clear spring, an unspeakable antique aura proliferated in such an environment.

Even his own heart became serene and silent as he looked on.

Previously, having exhausted all his energy, he was merely on par with the combat power of the Sword Intent Second Layer Heaven.

This made Zhou Yan deeply understand his own inadequacies in strength.

So now, having arrived in the courtyard, he sent the girl Zhou Yi—who was there solely to serve and protect him—to take care of a series of matters involving the family members, and he then began to contemplate by himself.

Zhou Yi was a genius girl at the Third Level of Sword Intent, whose strength was not inferior to Zhou Ting, but Zhou Ting had been previously assigned to Zhou Yuntian to facilitate his cultivation and to manage some of his affairs.

However, due to the scarcity of resources for true disciples, and with Zhou Yuntian having taken away too many disciples, currently there was only Zhou Yi left unassigned who possessed strength at the Sword Intent Three Heavens Realm.

Zhou Yi was very happy to receive news from the Family Head.

The first time she came, she observed Zhou Yan over and over again, seemingly curious as to how someone of his realm had managed to defeat Zhou Yang and even match Zhou Yuntian blow for blow.

However, she did not express these thoughts and happily went off to carry out his orders upon receiving them.

At this moment, Zhou Yan, gazing at the courtyard’s ancient pines, found his mind continuously revisiting that punch, that sword strike.

The first move of the Xingyi Dragon Form, he had already achieved Great Perfection without a doubt.

The power of the True Blue Dragon Swordsmanship, could only reach its true peak strength when he achieved the Sword Intent Realm.

As for the second move, up until now, Fist Intent was imprinted in his mind and inescapable, yet the swordsmanship still lacked even a hint of integration.

“Even if I treat the sword as a fist, when I strike with it, it still doesn’t carry that domineering Emperor Qi, as if I’m the sovereign of Heaven and Earth.

What exactly is wrong?”

Zhou Yan pondered for a long time but still couldn’t find the right direction.

He split Fist Intent into various basic elements and then carefully analyzed each one to see if there was any Tao that connected with other meanings.

However, after such sensing and enlightenment, the True Desolate Dragon Sword Technique that was put together was no longer swordsmanship.

“Still not right!

Ahhhh—”

Zhou Yan clenched his fists, feeling some annoyance and irritation in his heart.

Every time, when he reached the limits of his comprehension, this situation would arise!

Under such circumstances, he had no choice but to give up enlightenment and turn to comprehend other things.

Bi Shui Lian Tian Sword Technique, Bishui Sword Heart Method, Extreme Autumn Sword Technique, Affectionate Sword Dao, and Lifeless Sword Dao…

Zhou Yan had comprehended each of these swordsmanship to Great Perfection, and now there was nothing left to comprehend, so he arbitrarily combined these sword techniques, casually playing around with comprehension.

Yes, he was indeed playing around with comprehension at this time, just to use up the capacity for enlightenment at the moment so that he could continue to comprehend the True Desolate Dragon Sword Technique after drinking some liquor.

Zhou Yan felt that he was just missing an opportunity, and as long as he grasped that key point, he would be able to successfully enter the second form of Xingyi Dragon Form Swordsmanship.

Thinking this, he subconsciously combined and integrated all the swordsmanship he had learned previously.

Suddenly, an indescribably refreshing feeling kept rushing over him, and Zhou Yan only felt a bright revelation before his eyes, a sense of sudden enlightenment striking his heart fiercely.

In that instant, the four completely different sword techniques actually merged together!

Their first moves manifested a transformation and derivation like a Sword Tao Formation, a fusion of sword techniques, producing a strange self-transition, much like a Medicine Sword Practitioner refining medicine; various different materials coming together caused a reaction!

This scene gave Zhou Yan the feeling of finding a bright village beyond the dark willows.

“Directly understanding the end result is naturally extremely difficult, so what if I start from the beginning?

What if I start by grasping the process from the very start and gradually combine it with the comprehension of the results?”

Zhou Yan thought of this, and his mood suddenly became even more excited, and he was almost certain that he had found the right direction.

…

Two hours later, Zhou Yan’s body began to emit a faint, inexplicable halo.

At the peak of the Second Level of Sword Qi, due to the baptism and tempering of a large amount of soul energy, he had another moment of sudden enlightenment and entered the entry phase of the Desolate Dragon Sword Technique.

His realm naturally reached the Third Level of Sword Qi.

This time, the Qi Jie of his Qi Column grew a tiny bit longer, although there were still four Qi Jie, but each section had increased by at least a millimeter!

Zhou Yan was also secretly shocked by all this.

It seemed that with every improvement in realm, his Qi Jie would change and become even more mysterious and inexplicable.

“Swordsmanship is indeed unfathomable and endless.

These four kinds of swordsmanship were fused by me into an extremely impressive set of swordsmanship.

In it, there are also some of my contemplations and insights on Xingyi Swordsmanship, combined with the derivations from the Jiuyin Jiuyang Heart Method and the Bishui Sword Heart Method, which have also been of great effect…”

Zhou Yan came back to his senses, recalling the all-new set of Great Perfection swordsmanship he had realized, and he couldn’t help feeling a bit odd.

Unintentional comprehension had also merged those sword techniques into one!

“Since it is more powerful than those sword techniques, in the future, I will delve more into this set of swordsmanship…

Hmm, Little Xue, what do you think we should name this sword technique?”

Zhou Yan thought for a moment.

This comprehended sword technique possessed autumn’s desolation as well as water’s gentleness, and it contained the most remarkable ‘swift’ meaning from the Extreme Autumn Sword Technique, as well as a deep-seated secret of speed from the Bi Shui Lian Tian Sword Technique.

“Brother Zhou Yan, Master always says that cultivation must reach the state of ‘Superior Water.’ I think it should be called ‘Superior Water Sword Technique.’ This sword technique may not compare to Brother Zhou Yan’s Dragon Swordsmanship, but it has an almost Tao Rules-like secret of speed, truly a swift sword that kills without blinking!”

Little Xue thought for a moment and immediately suggested.

“Yes, speed is my weakness.

Previously, that Zhou Yuan put a sword to my neck.

If not for you, I would have been beheaded.

This time, while I was comprehending, I thought many times about his method of drawing the sword and finally gained some insight, which led to this sword technique.

But that was just a thought.

After all, most of my attention was on the comprehension of the Desolate Dragon Sword Technique, and I didn’t expect that without intending to, I would realize this sword technique.

Even I find it somewhat unbelievable.”

Zhou Yan sighed with a mixture of feelings.

“This shows that Brother Zhou Yan’s comprehension ability is getting stronger.”

Little Xue said with a smile.

She appeared very cheerful, and Zhou Yan knew it was because he truly hadn’t died from the soul energy depletion.

Little Xue was glad that she hadn’t been separated from him and that her master Feng Lingqing might have hope of being saved.

“You, you’re quite the smooth talker, aren’t you, you little maid?

Well then, this swordsmanship I’ve comprehended will be called Superior Water Sword Technique from now on.”

Zhou Yan touched Little Xue’s head with his thoughts, and she closed her bright shining eyes in enjoyment.

“Young master, are you still practicing here?

Would you like to go to the Book Collection Pavilion?”

Zhou Yan came to his senses and, having sighed in relief, found Zhou Yi, who had been waiting for a long time, already standing there respectfully.

“Yes, that would be good.

Lead the way.”

“Alright, young master, this way please.”

Zhou Yi appeared to be only eighteen or nineteen, but her actual age was at least in her mid-twenties.

However, in front of Zhou Yan, she behaved as obediently as a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old maid.

A Sword Intent Realm maid…

It was unimaginable.