Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality

Chapter 180: Chapter 162: Still Buns

「The day after his return from Bichun Lake.」

Xiao Mo was practicing with his sword on the Wendao Platform as usual.

He had expected the Hundred Generations Book to have his fourth life ready soon, but a full day had passed with no word.

SWISH!

Xiao Mo thrust his sword forward.

His blade tore a large hole through a nearby training dummy.

“Not bad.”

Just as Xiao Mo relaxed his Sword Stance, a woman’s voice once again drifted down from the courtyard wall.

Xiao Mo looked up to see the veiled woman sitting atop the tiled wall, her eyes watching him with a calm indifference.

Jiang Qingyi leaped down from the wall and walked over to Xiao Mo. “You have a fine talent. I didn’t expect you to have already fully grasped everything I taught you yesterday.”

“What Fairy Jiang taught yesterday was detailed and easy to understand. This is nothing much,” Xiao Mo replied, taking out the Grass Character Sword Intent. “The Sword Manual I promised you.”

Jiang Qingyi glanced at the Grass Character Sword Intent in Xiao Mo’s hand. Without a word, she accepted the Sword Manual decisively and began flipping through it, page by page.

After about the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, Jiang Qingyi closed the manual. She then drew another from her robes and handed it to Xiao Mo. “This is called the Wind Shadow Sword Technique. Take a look. If you aren’t satisfied, I can exchange it for another.”

Xiao Mo accepted the Wind Shadow Sword Technique. As he opened it and began to read, he was instantly captivated.

Although Xiao Mo was only a Cultivator in the Qi Cultivation Realm, his experience with the Grass Character Sword Intent allowed him to sense the ferocity of the Wind Shadow Sword Technique.

The two Sword Techniques had a common characteristic.

Both were designed to maximize offensive power to the absolute limit.

In fact, the two Sword Techniques could even complement and enhance one another.

“Well? Would you like to exchange it for another?” Jiang Qingyi asked.

“There’s no need. I am very satisfied with this Sword Technique,” Xiao Mo said, accepting it. His respect for Fairy Jiang deepened.

’She definitely didn’t choose this randomly. She picked it specifically because of its compatibility with the Grass Character Sword Intent.’

“As long as Your Majesty is satisfied.”

Jiang Qingyi’s tone remained completely level, like a master lecturing a disciple.

“Now, I will explain to Your Majesty what the Sword Dao is.

The Sword Dao consists of nothing more than three components: Sword Techniques, Sword Qi, and Sword Intent.”

“What are Sword Techniques?” Jiang Qingyi picked up the Peach Wood Sword and made a simple thrust. “This can also be called a Sword Technique.”

As she spoke, she began to move, her Peach Wood Sword flowing through the first form of the Grass Character Sword Intent in a display that was both fluid and breathtaking. “This, too, is a Sword Technique. Think of them like writing. Each individual brushstroke is a technique, and the complete ’character’ formed by those strokes is also a technique.”

Xiao Mo nodded.

Jiang Qingyi continued, “By using Sword Formulas to channel the Spiritual Power within your body or from the outside world, you can grant your Sword Techniques true power.”

With that, Jiang Qingyi executed another simple thrust. A marble paving stone in the distance instantly shattered. “That is a single strike from the Wind Shadow Sword Technique.”

“Once you have mastered your Sword Techniques, you will naturally begin to form Sword Qi.” Jiang Qingyi pressed two fingers together and pointed lightly toward Xiao Mo’s cheek. A single strand of his hair drifted slowly to the ground. “That is Sword Qi.”

“As for Sword Intent, when your Sword Qi becomes dense enough, you can form Sword Intent.”

Jiang Qingyi merely glanced at Xiao Mo, yet he felt as if a mountain were pressing down upon him.

“Sword Intent contains a person’s insights into the Sword Dao. It can be as sharp as a blade’s edge or as heavy as a mountain. Since every person walks a different Sword Dao, their Sword Intent will also be unique.”

Jiang Qingyi withdrew her Sword Intent, and Xiao Mo let out a heavy sigh of relief.

“A Sword Cultivator can spend their life learning a single Sword Technique, or they can learn many. There is no way to compare which is superior. In my view, however, it is better to draw from a breadth of knowledge, integrating all Sword Techniques to make them your own.”

Jiang Qingyi asked Xiao Mo, “Have I made myself clear, Your Majesty?”

“I think I understand the gist of it,” Xiao Mo nodded. “But if I may ask, Fairy, is there a hierarchy among Sword Techniques, Sword Qi, and Sword Intent?”

“There is not,” Jiang Qingyi answered decisively.

“In this world, there is a Sword Cultivator who has mastered countless Sword Techniques. He can overcome any and all arts with his techniques alone.”

“There is another Cultivator who roams the Demon Race’s World. He was once a Confucian Scholar, and his Sword Qi is hailed by the denizens of that world as the greatest in existence. When he draws his sword, his Sword Qi stretches for a thousand miles.”

“Take, for example, a certain female Sword Cultivator…” Here, Jiang Qingyi paused and glanced at Xiao Mo. “A single trace of her Sword Intent can sunder mountains, part seas, and achieve Heaven-Opening.”

“So that’s how it is.”

Xiao Mo truly hadn’t known any of this.

“You can practice the Wind Shadow Sword Technique and the Grass Character Sword Intent simultaneously. You don’t need to completely master one before starting the other. Training them together will not hinder your cultivation; in fact, it will broaden your understanding of the Sword Dao.”

“Thank you for your guidance, Fairy.”

“There is no need for such formalities, Your Majesty.” Jiang Qingyi turned her head away. “For today, just practice the Wind Shadow Sword Technique. Study it for two hours, and then I will test you.”

After speaking, Jiang Qingyi knelt on a cushion not far away and closed her eyes to meditate.

Meanwhile, Xiao Mo was on the other side, memorizing the Wind Shadow Sword Formulas and practicing the Sword Techniques.

「Two hours later.」

Just as Xiao Mo was lost in his practice, a flash of light from a sword tip stabbed toward the center of his forehead.

Startled, Xiao Mo raised his Peach Wood Sword to meet the attack.

Xiao Mo could sense that she had clearly suppressed her Realm, matching his own at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer.

But even so, after just four exchanges, the woman flicked the sword from Xiao Mo’s hand. Her own Peach Wood Sword was already at his throat.

“Again.” Jiang Qingyi tossed her Peach Wood Sword to Xiao Mo. With an outstretched hand, she summoned the sword he had dropped into her own grasp.

Another full two hours passed.

Xiao Mo lost count of how many times his sword was sent flying, or how many times her Peach Wood Sword had pointed at his throat, heart, and other vital points.

But during their final exchange, something clicked for Xiao Mo. He parried Jiang Qingyi’s blade and thrust his own sword toward her heart.

A flash of surprise passed through Jiang Qingyi’s eyes. She changed her Sword Technique, dodging Xiao Mo’s strike while simultaneously slashing at his waist.

Xiao Mo turned his sword to block, the force of the impact making the webbing of his hand go numb.

But at this very moment, Xiao Mo broke through to the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer.

“Your Majesty’s talent is truly impressive. I didn’t expect you to have a Realm Breakthrough just like that,” Jiang Qingyi said, satisfied.

“It is all thanks to you, Fairy.” Xiao Mo wasn’t using the Concealing Breath Technique on her; there had been no need to hide his Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer Realm from her, after all.

“Let’s stop here for today. Your Majesty should get some rest.”

“It’s already noon. If you wouldn’t mind, Fairy, would you care to join me for a meal?” Xiao Mo asked, just to be polite.

“Very well,” Jiang Qingyi nodded.

“Then what would you like to eat, Fairy?” ’I can’t believe she actually accepted,’ Xiao Mo thought, surprised she hadn’t politely refused.

Jiang Qingyi thought for a moment. “Steamed buns, I suppose.”

“Steamed buns again?” Xiao Mo asked, stunned for a second.

“Mm,” Jiang Qingyi nodded. “Steamed buns again.”