Chapter 84 - Wind Control Cliff

“What’s the matter?” a disciple from the Herb Hall asked.

“May I inquire if there are any herbal medicines for soul recovery?” Lin Xuan said with a hint of hope.

“Soul recovery herbs?” The Hundred Herbs Hall disciple looked at Lin Xuan with surprise.

“Such ingredients are quite peculiar and indeed precious.

With your identity, I’m afraid it might be difficult to acquire them.”

Lin Xuan sighed inwardly, realizing that these soul-related medicinal materials were indeed hard to come by.

The disciple pondered for a moment, then hesitantly said, “However, it’s not impossible.

You should check the task area, there seems to be a mission involving the material you mentioned.”

“Really?” Lin Xuan, who had given up hope, suddenly saw a glimmer of opportunity.

He expressed his thanks and then quickly made his way to the task area.

The tasks here were similar to those of the Outer Door Task Hall, but mostly related to medicinal herbs.

Lin Xuan searched but couldn’t find any tasks mentioning soul-related materials.

Puzzled, he inquired with a steward disciple, and learned that there was a Hundred Herbs Hall escort mission, with a reward that allowed one to select any herb from within the hall, including the Soul Resurrection Grass.

However, to Lin Xuan’s disappointment, someone had already taken on the task.

“You don’t need to be too anxious.

This task has been taken before but has always ended in failure.

You may still get a chance,” the steward disciple said.

With no other option, he could only wait.

Lin Xuan, preoccupied with his thoughts, walked away and did not notice a pair of astonished eyes in the crowd.

Those eyes belonged to Ling Ze, who never expected Lin Xuan to be alive, and moreover, that his cultivation had improved.

“How is this possible?

A Hei is a Ninth Rank of Pulse Condensation, yet he could not eliminate a Sixth Order Martial Artist!” Ling Ze’s expression darkened.

“I fear that A Hei’s chances of survival are slim.”

“No, I must eliminate him; otherwise, I won’t be able to rest easy!” Ling Ze felt a faint worry stirring within him.

Suddenly, he remembered Zhang Qian and the pact between Lin Xuan and Zhang Qian.

“Given Zhang Qian’s nature, he will definitely kill him at that time.

I just need to wait patiently,” Ling Ze gradually calmed down.

In the following days, Lin Xuan continued to deeply comprehend the Gale Sword Technique, whilst also practicing the Illusion Thunder Step and Golden Thunder Palm; of course, he did not neglect his Longevity Technique either.

Now the Spirit Veins within him were crystal clear, with spiritual power surging like a great river, and each circulation brought forth a formidable force.

Before he knew it, more than two months had passed, and the day of his duel with Zhang Qian was drawing near.

One morning, as usual, he got up early, first cultivating the Longevity Technique for two hours, then heading to Wind Control Cliff to practice his swordsmanship.

was a treacherous spot on the back mountain, beneath it lay an abyss thousands of feet deep, surrounded by biting, fierce wind.

Though the environment was harsh, it was a great place for practicing the sword, especially suitable for Wind Element techniques.

At this time, dawn had just broken, the mountain was cool and quiet, and Lin Xuan was the only one on the tranquil path.

The closer he got to Wind Control Cliff, the colder the surroundings became, and the wild wind was like a blade, giving the sensation of being slashed when it blew against the body.

Lin Xuan slightly circulated the Longevity Technique, causing the spiritual power within him to vibrate, warding off the blade-like gales.

He reached Wind Control Cliff, drew out the Red Flame Greatsword, and began to practice the Gale Sword Technique.

The sword skill, light and swift as the wind, unfolded slowly in his hands, now cunning, now unpredictable.

The longsword seemed to appear out of nowhere, making it impossible to grasp its trajectory.

In fact, he had already achieved a small success with the Gale Sword Technique.

The reason Lin Xuan came to the Wind Control Cliff every day was to perceive the Wind Realm or the Wind Force.

So, to practice the Gale Sword Technique to great success, one needed to comprehend the Wind Force or the Wind Realm.

Lin Xuan was completely immersed in the swordsmanship; he continuously used his longsword to generate wind power, battling against the surrounding gale and understanding its variations.

Dawn was breaking, and the sun was rising.

A streak of rosy light tore through the clouds, penetrated the layers of obstruction, and shone upon the Wind Control Cliff, like a sharp sword piercing through all things.

The sunshine fell on his face, bringing a trace of warmth.

Lin Xuan suddenly awoke, looking at the sunlight breaking through the clouds, and suddenly felt a moment of enlightenment in his heart.

“The Gale Sword Technique not only contains the essence of the wind but also that of Sword Intent.

I have been so focused on the wind that I’ve overlooked the Sword Intent, falling short of a higher achievement.”

Lin Xuan suddenly had an epiphany.

With the Mysterious Small Sword within him, his greatest advantage lay in Swordsmanship and Sword Intent.

As long as he grasped the Sword Intent within the Gale Sword Technique, he would be able to master the swordsmanship.

As if sensing Lin Xuan’s enlightenment, the Mysterious Small Sword within him continuously chimed clearly, its sound greatly revitalizing Lin Xuan’s spirit and deepening his understanding of the swordsmanship.

“Haha, Brother Lin, you’re here too!” A hearty laughter sounded, “Take my Gale Sword!”

Behind him, the hurried sound of something cleaving the air arose, followed by a flash of light, as if a wild wind was rolling in.

Lin Xuan laughed and thrust out a counter sword strike.

It was the Gale Sword Technique as well, agile and unpredictable.

The sword light flashed, and the two streams of sword light constantly changed, producing a loud noise from their fierce collision.

Each hit carried a strong Wind Blade, scraping the nearby rocks, leaving behind terrifying cracks.

“Brother Lin, your swordsmanship has improved greatly since yesterday!” Luo Qingshan’s voice came through, “Your Gale Sword Technique is even more fierce.

I’m afraid I’m not even comparable to you anymore.”

“Luo Brother is jesting.” Lin Xuan responded, holding the sword handle in his backhand, standing tall and straight like a green pine.

Luo Qingshan looked at the calm young man before him and marveled in his heart.

His cultivation was higher than Lin Xuan’s, and he had been exposed to the Gale Sword Technique earlier than Lin Xuan, but in terms of swordsmanship, the latter far surpassed him, which, while astonishing, also gave him a feeling of powerlessness.

“I heard you are going to have a life-and-death duel with Zhang Qian soon?” Luo Qingshan said, frowning.

Lin Xuan helplessly touched his nose, “You know about it too, Brother.”

“It’s not just me; I’m afraid all the disciples of the Inner Sect know.” Luo Qingshan spoke, “The Life and Death Platform is not something just anyone can use.

One needs to report to the sect and only after the sect approves can it be used.”

“So it is like that,” Lin Xuan murmured, “But will the sect intervene?”

“I don’t know, after all, it’s been a long time since there was a battle to the death in the Inner Sect,” Luo Qingshan said.

“But there’s something I should remind you of, Zhang Qian’s instructor was once among the Ten Core Disciples.

Moreover, it is said that an elder has taken a liking to him.”

Lin Xuan furrowed his brow; he hadn’t realized Zhang Qian had such a complicated background.

Slowly exhaling, Lin Xuan’s eyes emitted two streams of sword light, sharp and unmatched.

“No one can stop my path!” At that moment, Lin Xuan, with his back to the sun and bathed in its radiant light, exuded an imposing aura, like a Heavenly Sword standing steadfast on the mountain peak.

Although it was just a moment, Luo Qingshan’s face changed dramatically.

In that instant, he felt like Lin Xuan was the sovereign of this world, and that aura made him tremble.

“True Sword Force!” Luo Qingshan exclaimed inwardly.

“Hmph, speaking such big words, aren’t you afraid of biting your tongue?

Let me see what capability you have!” Suddenly, a sword light exploded, moving at an unbelievable speed, attacking Lin Xuan.