Qingyun’s rear cliff.
Ye Ping’s entire mind was focused on the sword art he had just comprehended.
After several hours of contemplation,
Ye Ping had gained sudden insight into this sword art. It contained four different styles of sword moves, yet they could be combined into a single sword art.
The first set of sword moves was like spring thunder, rumbling in waves amid a fine, endless drizzle.
The second set was like summer thunder, booming and resounding, fierce and terrifying.
The third set was like autumn thunder, silent and soundless, incomparably eerie.
The fourth set was like winter thunder, a heaven-shaking thunderbolt that left all things withering.
These four sets of sword techniques had sword momentum like thunder, each with its own distinctive traits, leaving Ye Ping utterly amazed.
Moreover, at the very beginning, Ye Ping had only comprehended twelve moves.
But as time passed bit by bit, the number of sword moves he comprehended grew greater and greater.
By now, Ye Ping had already comprehended one hundred and forty-four sword moves.
How could this not make Ye Ping believe that Su Changyu was a peerless Sword Immortal?
“Within a single little sword scar, such powerful sword moves are actually hidden. Eldest Senior Brother is truly a badass.”
“I wonder if this result counts as passing.”
Ye Ping was shaken to the core. On one hand, he marveled at Su Changyu’s power; on the other, he was also very curious whether comprehending an entire sword art in one day counted as a passing result.
However, what Ye Ping did not know was this:
This “Four Thunders Sword Art” was divided in detail into four levels of attainment, and these divisions were based on the number of sword moves comprehended.
Comprehending seventy-two moves meant one had just glimpsed the threshold.
Comprehending one hundred and forty-four moves meant one had reached practiced perfection.
Comprehending four hundred and thirty-two moves meant one had achieved great mastery and perfection.
Comprehending one thousand four hundred and sixty moves meant one had reached the pinnacle; at that point, one could comprehend sword momentum, and from there comprehend sword intent.
Su Changyu had spent more than ten years, and even now he had only mastered eighteen moves—in other words, he had merely glimpsed the threshold of the Spring Thunder Sword.
Ye Ping, however, was different.
In less than half a day, he had comprehended the entirety of the Four Thunders Sword Art, and had directly stepped into the realm of practiced perfection.
This was no longer a question of whether he had passed or not.
Even if he went out and proclaimed himself the number one prodigy of the Ten Kingdoms, it would not be excessive.
Yet Ye Ping was completely unaware of this. Instead, after resting for a short while, he continued to observe the sword scar on the ground.
And the number of sword moves Ye Ping comprehended continued to increase.
All the way until late at night.
Only after Ye Ping had comprehended another hundred sword moves did he finally feel tired.
It was already the third watch. Although Ye Ping still wished to continue seeking enlightenment, exhaustion ultimately overcame him, so he got up and went back to rest.
That night,
Ye Ping had a nightmare.
He dreamed that because his aptitude was too poor, he was expelled from the Qingyun Dao Sect.
Fortunately, in the end, Ye Ping woke with a start.
After waking,
Ye Ping let out a long breath.
The dream had been too real.
It filled Ye Ping’s heart with melancholy.
To be honest, transmigrating was already tragic enough. Learning three whole years late that this was a world of immortals and cultivation made it even more tragic. Now, after finally managing to enter an immortal sect—and a hidden sect at that—Ye Ping had seen hope.
But if he were expelled from the sect because his aptitude was too poor, Ye Ping absolutely could not accept that outcome no matter what.
“No, no, that’s not right. Shouldn’t hidden sects like disciples with poor aptitude the most? If someone’s aptitude is good, would they even need guidance? Wouldn’t anyone with hands be able to do it? If one can comprehend a peerless sword art from a random sword scar, then what’s the point of having someone teach them?”
But very quickly, Ye Ping felt that he had been thinking about it wrong.
He believed hidden sects did not value aptitude. What they valued was diligence and perseverance. Therefore, he had to work hard, work harder, and work even harder.
In a word:
For cultivators, there were only two seasons.
Working hard was the busy season.
Not working hard was the off-season.
At this thought, Ye Ping’s entire body seemed to be injected with chicken blood. After a simple wash, he headed straight for the rear cliff.
Perhaps because he had had a nightmare, Ye Ping did not even eat breakfast. He went straight to the rear cliff and began comprehending the sword scar.
All the way until noon.
A figure appeared at the rear cliff.
It was Su Changyu.
He came over carrying a tray. Looking at Ye Ping in the distance, there was a trace of guilt in his eyes.
From yesterday until today, Ye Ping had not drunk a drop of water or eaten a single meal, and had been comprehending his sword Dao the entire time.
This made Su Changyu feel somewhat awkward.
To be honest, he had purely done this to stall Ye Ping’s time in the sect. But who would have thought Ye Ping would be such a stubborn fool?
He had really locked horns with a single sword scar.
If he skipped one meal, that would not be much. But going an entire day without eating definitely would not do.
If they managed to keep the man but lost his life, how awkward would that be?
So Su Changyu came over with food.
“Ye Ping.”
Su Changyu arrived behind Ye Ping and called out softly.
In an instant, Ye Ping woke from his state of enlightenment.
“Junior Brother greets Senior Brother.”
Upon seeing Su Changyu, Ye Ping immediately became respectful.
“Though you are eager to learn, you still need to eat. I heard you haven’t eaten a single bite since yesterday. That won’t do. Eat first.”
Su Changyu spoke, placing several dishes on the ground. There were two vegetable dishes and a serving of rice, but they were all vegetarian, without any meat to speak of.
“Senior Brother’s lesson is correct.”
Ye Ping nodded. Then, looking at the food on the ground, he fell silent for a brief moment.
Sensing Ye Ping’s silence, Su Changyu felt a little embarrassed, but he quickly concealed the expression and said,
“Ye Ping, we cultivators must not eat meaty or fishy things. Just as Senior Brother said before, coarse grains are not too good for the body, and heavy meat and fish are also bad for the body. That is why our Qingyun Dao Sect has always eaten vegetarian food. Do not overthink it.”
Su Changyu explained, worried that Ye Ping might notice something amiss.
Of course, those words were false. The truth was that they were poor—pitifully poor.
It was not that they were so poor they could not afford meat at all. It was just that they could not buy it often, only a little from time to time.
“Replying to Senior Brother, I did not overthink it. I’m just somewhat moved.”
Ye Ping spoke. He truly had not overthought it; he was simply rather touched.
Hearing this, Su Changyu inexplicably felt even worse. Looking at this handsome and refined little junior brother, the guilt in his heart somehow grew a bit heavier.
But there was nothing to be done. For the development of the sect, they could only let Ye Ping suffer a little. Once the Qingyun Dao Sect advanced to a third-rank sect, they would compensate Ye Ping more then.
This was what Su Changyu thought.
“Eat first.”
Su Changyu said no more and had Ye Ping eat first.
The latter nodded.
Then he picked up the bowl and chopsticks and began to eat.
Before eating, Ye Ping had indeed not felt very hungry. But the moment he took the first bite, hunger surged instantly from his stomach, making Ye Ping unable to stop himself from swallowing several more mouthfuls.
A bowl of rice with two vegetarian dishes—Ye Ping ate everything clean.
At the end, he even poured the vegetable oil into the bowl and forcibly finished the last few mouthfuls of rice.
Paired with a bowl of some unknown hot soup, Ye Ping instantly felt full of energy.
“Many thanks, Senior Brother.”
After eating and drinking his fill, Ye Ping put down the bowl and chopsticks, but he did not forget to thank Su Changyu.
Su Changyu, meanwhile, looked at Ye Ping, who had eaten somewhat ravenously, and felt even worse inside.
But he did not know what to say. In the end, he could only ask casually,
“Ye Ping, did you comprehend any sword art from the sword scar?”
Su Changyu spoke.
It was not that he was deliberately asking. Mainly, he wanted things to seem less awkward, so he asked offhandedly.
But Ye Ping’s answer stunned Su Changyu.
“I did comprehend something, but Junior Brother’s aptitude is dull. I did not grasp its essence, and only comprehended a tiny bit of sword moves.”
Ye Ping nodded and said with some embarrassment.
Su Changyu: ???
Are you messing with me?
You can actually comprehend sword moves from this?
Do you think I’ve never practiced the sword?
Su Changyu did not believe it at all.