Chapter 119: Reversed Seven-Star Sword Formation

That night, over a hundred figures spent quite some time around the open space in front of the palace.

Most of the disciples who had gone up the mountain after the resurgence of the primal qi were only at the Spirit Convergence Realm. Since their attainments in the Dao of the Sword were not particularly profound, all they could truly understand was the exquisite sword techniques and daring strikes of those engaging in the duels. They marveled at their swift reactions and precise judgment in responding to each move.

Some of the second-generation sect members with deeper cultivation and stronger attainments in the Dao of the Sword, however, were able to faintly perceive the sword intents that continuously clashed between both sides.

To be frank, it was somewhat embarrassing. Many of the sect's second-generation members had yet to comprehend a complete sword intent even to this day. After all, they were also once disciples. Worse, not only did they have only a few second-generation members, but their aptitude and insight varied greatly as well.

A decade ago, it was already considered fortunate that someone was even willing to climb the mountain and seek a master. Naturally, the Shu Sword Sect now placed great emphasis on the same qualities that ancient sects had prioritized when recruiting disciples—temperament, aptitude, insight, and talent.

A few of the standout third-generation disciples gained a lot from simply observing the elders temper the sword intent of a sword cultivator from the Wudang Mountains. They very much wished their sword intent was the one being tempered instead, though.

Naturally, the one who benefited most was Wang Sheng, who had been facing the gauntlet of duels nonstop. At the Wudang Mountains, Yuan Pu Zhenren had imparted a great deal of theoretical knowledge about the sword realms to him. Now, after digesting those theories, he was being granted an excellent opportunity to accumulate practical experience.

To further temper himself, Wang Sheng even deliberately stirred his own desire for victory. He strove to win every battle and gave his all in every fight. Moreover, he did not bite off more than he could chew. He focused solely on honing the Seven-Star Sword Intent, the one he was most proficient and had the greatest confidence in.

Rather than trying to cultivate two sword intents at once, it was better to fully refine one to perfection. Only then would he have a better chance of reaching the seventh layer of the Seventy-Two Swords trial.

By midnight, there had been over a thousand clashes of blades and several hundred collisions of sword intents. In thirty-two consecutive matches, Wang Sheng won not a single one. Fourteen barely counted as draws.

By the end, he had wrung out every last bit of his essence, qi, and spirit. Even the hand wielding his sword was trembling uncontrollably.

According to the Shu Sword Sect's method of sword cultivation, it was when one's true essence was depleted and their body utterly exhausted that it became easiest to attain insight and breakthroughs.

Hence, in the latter half, when Wang Sheng's true essence was running dry, the Daoist masters still went all out, pushing him into a rather disheveled state.

There were seven or eight truly high-level experts among the elders. From them, Wang Sheng sensed Sword Momentum—third realm of the six sword realms——and also came into contact with three or four entirely distinct sword intents.

Naturally, the true expert in the Dao of the Sword was still the forefather of the Shu Sword Sect. They had left behind all the sword intents preserved within the Seventy-Two Swords. Who knew what kind of godlike figure they must have been.

Seeing that Wang Sheng had already reached his limit, one of the elders finally said gently, "That's enough sword practice for today. At noon the day after tomorrow, we'll continue our exchange here."

Wang Sheng clasped his hands around the sword hilt and gave a cupped-fist salute. "Thank you, seniors. I'll be taking my leave now."

The moment he relaxed, waves of comprehension surged into his mind. He was about to return to quietly meditate and absorb it all, but his leg gave out, dropping him to one knee. Startled, the crowd of Daoist masters and disciples rushed over immediately.

He was the hope of the entire Shu Sword Sect. They couldn't afford to let the elders wear him out on the very first day!

"It's fine. I just need a moment. I'm alright, really," Wang Sheng quickly reassured.

Hence, one of the Daoist elders commanded, "Everyone, step back. Do not disturb Daoist Master Fei Yu's comprehension of the Dao of the Sword."

The disciples hastily retreated once more.

Wang Sheng felt it would be embarrassing to keep kneeling, so he braced himself on his longsword and slowly rose to his feet. Taking one step at a time, he made his way to his residence behind the mountain.

He might no longer look upright and proud, but the onlookers could still clearly feel his unyielding determination.

After Wang Sheng had left, a gray-haired elder sighed. "What a pity. Why isn't that treasured sword one of our sword sect's blades? I feel like heading over to Yuan Pu and snatching Fei Yu from him."

"Don't be so hasty. We're just getting started." A middle-aged Daoist master chuckled. "If Fei Yu can truly help our sect reclaim the Sword-Controlling Art, we should have our sect master come out of seclusion to present him with a lifetime achievement award and grant him an honorary eldest disciple title."

"We should also consider the feelings of the inner sect disciples," another elder countered. "This matter can be discussed later."

Finally, a Daoist elder instructed, "Let us all stay in the great palace tonight and cultivate here. We must seriously deliberate how to help Wang Fei Yu refine his sword intent. I truly believe that the Sword-Controlling Art that our forefathers had passed down finally lies right before us."

The Daoist elders all nodded in agreement. Soon, the disciples in the area dispersed.

The next duel was now even more anticipated.

***

Back in his quarters, Wang Sheng wanted nothing more than to collapse onto the bed and sleep soundly. However, as the Shu Sword Sect's Daoist masters had said, he was most likely to attain insight and comprehension now.

He forced himself to walk to the wooden chair by the window, sat cross-legged, and opened his Crane-Spirit Treasure Pouch.

He didn't have the strength to handle the Qi-Nurturing Stones. Setting up a Qi-Nurturing Formation would require nearly half a day even with detailed instructions, especially for a first attempt. Hence, he instead took out two bottles of pills.

One was full of Primal-Qi Accumulation Pills—which were essentially an upgraded version of Primal-Qi Absorption Pills. Just three of these were enough for an early Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator to rapidly replenish their true essence. They were fairly inexpensive consumables.

The other bottle was full of Meridian-Tempering Pills. It could expand a cultivator's meridians, accumulate essence, nurture the spirit, and consolidate the cultivation realm of those in the Foundation Establishment Stage. Since it could directly improve qi circulation, it was an extremely valuable pill for Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators.

Wang Sheng wasn't sure whether it had been the mistress or Mou Yue who had arranged this, but somehow, he had ended up with eight bottles, each containing ten pills.

It was probably Mou Yue since the mistress wouldn't trouble herself with such details. She had most likely just casually given Mou Yue an order.

Wang Sheng took out two Primal-Qi Accumulation Pills and one Meridian-Tempering Pill. He then tilted his head back, swallowed them, and wrapped them with his true essence. They quickly dissolved, transforming into two streams of medicinal qi that spread through his meridians. A gentle warmth rose in his lower abdomen.

Gradually, Wang Sheng entered a state where he forgot both himself and the world around him. In his mind, there was only sword after sword.

The sword intents that the Daoist masters had used earlier that night turned into countless sword phantasms, flowing gently in his mind. Wang Sheng watched them one by one, giving rise to various insights.

Wang Sheng drew nourishment from the sword intents and used them to water his own Seven-Star Sword Intent. He used thirty-two entirely different sword intents to beat his own, refining and repairing the flaws in his Seven-Star Sword Intent.

Slowly, he forgot even those sword intents. His thoughts drifted back to that snowy night on the Wudang Mountains. Wielding only a wooden sword at the time, he repeatedly practiced his newly mastered Seven-Star Sword Formation, leaving forty-nine shallow footprints in the snow.

Again, and again.

The one-man formation was filled with endless transformations. Moreover, it carried within it countless truths and principles of heaven and earth.

What exactly did the Shu Sword Sect's Daoist masters mean by perfection?

Did it refer to the ultimate form of a sword intent? Weren't all sword intents meant to be refined, sharpened, and perfected endlessly? Did true perfection actually exist?

In the snowy field, Wang Sheng stood quietly, looking up at the seven bright stars in the sky. Though he had lowered his sword, the stars continued to shift. It was on that night that he grasped the essence of the Seven-Star Sword Formation—that he realized how to unleash its true power.

The seven stars of the Big Dipper revolved endlessly around Ziwei—the central star—their positions serving as the seven key stances of the Seven-Star Sword Formation. He shifted constantly along those seven points, each move aimed directly at Ziwei. Wang Sheng froze.

That was the Seven-Star Sword Formation?

He stood still for a long time. As if struck by sudden understanding, he then began to rapidly dismantle and reassemble the formation in his mind, breaking it down to its most basic forms. Thanks to how intimately familiar he was with every single move, deconstructing the entire formation posed no real difficulty. It simply drained him.

𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

He sat there, brow tightly furrowed. The version of himself in that snowy memory also stood still, staring at the sword moves before him in deep contemplation.

What if his original understanding had been incomplete? What if what he had grasped back then was only one phase of the Seven-Star Sword Formation, and he had yet to truly understand the full scope of the Seven-Star Sword Intent?

The Big Dipper revolved around Ziwei, but it didn't seem to do so with the intent to have attacks directed at it. After all, Ziwei had been revered in ancient times as the ruler of the heavens. It was even known as the Emperor Star.

Wang Sheng vaguely remembered reading somewhere that in the pre-Qin era, the Big Dipper had also been called the Nine Sovereigns. In addition to the main seven stars, there were two others known as the Left and Right Assistants. Together with Ziwei, the nine made up what was known as the Dipper Pole.

Up until now, he had always placed himself among the Seven Stars, attacking the Emperor Star with his sword. What if he stood in the position of the Emperor Star, commanding the Seven Stars and wielding the Assistants? What would the sword formation become then?

What would it... become?

The wild thought completely overturned the understanding that he had held for so long; it shattered the very foundation of his approach to the Seven-Star Sword Formation.

At that moment, he heard a sword cry. A surge of brilliant light burst from his Seven-Star Sword Intent.

In the vision in his mind, a blazing sword of light fell from the heavens into the hands of the young man training alone in the snow.

One by one, the sword moves began to reorganize themselves. The formation completely changed, yet it still fully incorporated the Seven-Star Footwork. This time, it wasn't just his footwork that transformed, but also his sword and the directions from which he struck.

The Reversed Seven-Star Sword Formation!

At last, after who knew how long, a deep sense of satisfaction welled up in his heart. Wang Sheng suddenly opened his eyes and stood tall. A sword cry unlike any he had heard before echoed from within, and waves of qi burst out of him.

"Senior Sister, I finally understand! Senior Sister! The Seven-Star Sword Formation can also—huh?"

He turned around and looked at the empty room. Scratching his head, he laughed sheepishly. He then grabbed the treasured sword and rushed out of the attic.

This is no time to rest! I have to practice my swordsmanship!