Chapter 6

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Chapter 6: Splitting Wind Sword Technique

"Temple Master, can I learn this skill that leaves handprints on stones?" Wang Yu looked at the stone lock nearby and instinctively asked the Taoist.

"Oh, you have good eyes. That is Iron Refining Hand, a powerful hand technique, but it’s not suitable for you. You are too young; this external skill can strain your bones and affect the growth of your hands. Plus, it requires soaking in medicinal liquid, which is very painful," the Taoist first nodded, but then shook his head.

"Then can I learn Martial Brother Dongyue’s Vajra Stick Technique?" Wang Yu said, feeling a bit disappointed, and tentatively asked again.

"Come closer so I can check your bones," the Taoist thought for a moment and instructed.

Wang Yu obediently took two steps forward, allowing the Taoist to examine him.

After a moment, Taoist Chongyun frowned, "Your bones are ordinary, and your energy is somewhat weak. The Vajra Stick Technique is fierce and powerful, not suitable for you. It’s better to learn a lighter sword technique."

"A sword technique is fine. I hope the Temple Master can teach me," Wang Yu said, feeling quite disappointed about not being able to learn Iron Refining Hand, but he had no objections to the stick or sword technique. After all, he could only stay in this world for a month; learning anything should not make much difference.

The Taoist nodded, took a few steps to the weapon rack, picked up a lightweight wooden sword, and said to Wang Yu:

"The skill I am best at is actually hand-to-hand combat, followed by staff techniques, and I can only say I know a little about swordsmanship. However, the Splitting Wind Sword Technique that I will teach you, though simple, has a remarkable history. In the past, there were even people who used this sword technique to slay several demon beasts."

"What is a demon beast?" Wang Yu couldn’t help but ask.

"Oh, I forgot you come from a remote place, so it’s normal for you not to know what a demon beast is. Dongyue, can you explain it to Qiu Ye?" After a short surprise, the Taoist signaled Dongyue to come over.

Hearing this, Dongyue hurriedly ran over and started to explain to Wang Yu:

"Junior Martial Brother Qiu Ye, everyone who lives in Yellow Stone City knows about demon beasts. They are actually a special kind of wild animals, possessing unique abilities that ordinary animals don’t have. Some have extremely tough skins, some are enormous, and others can breathe fire or ice. Any ordinary person who encounters them would surely be doomed. Demon beasts are rarely found in groups; only skilled hunters or martial artists, like our Temple Master, can deal with them." After saying a few words, Dongyue started to flatter Taoist Chongyun.

"Being able to breathe fire and ice… doesn’t that mean they are monsters?" Wang Yu thought in surprise.

"I can’t call myself a great master. I will demonstrate the Splitting Wind Sword Technique first. Qiu Ye, you look and then decide if you want to learn it." After sending Dongyue to continue practicing with the staff, the Taoist lightly instructed Wang Yu and walked to the center of the Martial Arts Field, positioning the wooden sword in front of him.

Wang Yu instinctively held his breath; now was a great opportunity to see if the Taoist truly had supernatural abilities. He had to see it clearly.

He saw the Taoist step forward twice, move his arm, and thrust the wooden sword straight ahead. Then, he stepped to the right and made another thrust…

Wang Yu watched the Taoist without blinking, feeling that the Splitting Wind Sword Technique was actually quite simple. No matter how the movements and steps changed, it always came down to a straight sword strike. Aside from looking clean and swift, he really couldn’t see anything remarkable about it. It was even less impressive than the martial arts performances from the Blue Star Hua Country.

"Whoosh"

The wooden sword suddenly slipped from the Taoist’s hand and flew two yards away before it stuck at an angle into the ground. This did startle Wang Yu a little.

"The final move of the Splitting Wind Sword Technique, the released sword, is a last-ditch effort against an enemy. If you fail to defeat them, you’ll be left unarmed and vulnerable. It’s best to avoid using it unless absolutely necessary," Taoist Chongyun said calmly to Wang Yu after walking over and pulling the wooden sword from the ground.

"Temple Master, is that it for the Splitting Wind Sword Technique? Are there no more moves?" Wang Yu couldn’t help but ask.

"Hehe, are you thinking this sword technique is a bit too ordinary? The Thirteen Moves of the Splitting Wind Sword aren’t very advanced, but they have one advantage that other sword techniques lack: their potential is very high. The same moves can be completely different in the hands of different people. The key to this sword technique is speed. I purposely slowed down before so you could see clearly. Now, I will speed up several times; watch closely."

Taoist Chongyun seemed to notice Wang Yu’s disappointment. With a chuckle, he bent his legs slightly, and his body shot forward like an arrow. At the same time, the wooden sword blurred in his hand, making a whooshing sound.

"Puff"

The Taoist’s body appeared again by a small tree at the edge of the Martial Arts Field, and his wooden sword pierced halfway through the trunk.

Wang Yu’s eyes widened, and he gasped.

Not far away, Dongyue, who had been peeking over, also opened his mouth wide and couldn’t close it for a while.

Taoist Chongyun’s wrist shook slightly as he easily pulled the wooden sword from the tree and turned to Wang Yu, saying calmly:

"The Splitting Wind Sword Technique seems very simple, but it is not easy to learn. It requires a lot of practice to master. The faster you go, the stronger it becomes. To begin, you should be able to perform all thirteen moves in one breath without getting tired, and to reach a basic level like me, you need to pierce a wooden post with the wooden sword."

Wang Yu ran a few steps to the small tree and touched the flat sword hole on the trunk. After confirming that it was indeed a brand-new hole, he pressed down his excitement and respectfully said to the Taoist:

"Temple Master, this Splitting Wind Sword Technique is amazing! I want to learn this sword style."

"I want to learn this sword style too! It’s much more impressive than the Vajra Stick Technique," Dongyue shouted from the side.

"You haven’t even practiced the Vajra Stick Technique well, so why learn a sword style? Keep practicing the stick! Qiu Ye, come with me." Taoist Chongyun frowned and scolded Dongyue for a moment before taking Wang Yu to the other side of the Martial Arts Field to teach him the Splitting Wind Sword Technique step by step.

The Splitting Wind Sword Technique was indeed very easy. From the postures to the power techniques, even the rhythm of breathing, Taoist Chongyun spent most of the morning teaching Wang Yu all seven initial moves. After reminding him to "practice strength in your arms and legs," he turned gracefully and left.

For the next little while, Wang Yu practiced sword techniques alone, but after dozens of thrusting movements, he was drenched in sweat, and his entire arm felt sore and swollen, so he had to stop helplessly.

At that moment, he vaguely felt like he had been tricked by Taoist Chongyun. With his current physical condition, he couldn’t even practice the Splitting Wind Sword Technique, let alone any other martial art.

"Junior Martial Brother Qiu Ye, you seem a bit weak today. Let’s stop here for now. In a few days, I will get you something good to help you out, and then we can practice properly," Dongyue said with a smile as he approached.

"Good things? What does Martial Brother mean by that?" Wang Yu asked, intrigued.

"Haha, you will find out when the time comes. You are my junior brother, and as your senior brother, I will take care of you. If it weren’t for this thing to help me, I wouldn’t have been able to master the Vajra Stick Technique so quickly," Dongyue said, patting his chest, looking mysterious, but his expression seemed a bit sneaky.

Wang Yu looked on, feeling somewhat doubtful.

For the next two days, Wang Yu took some time each morning and evening to practice the Splitting Wind Sword Technique. Unfortunately, his body was quite weak, and after practicing for a short time, he could only stop, gasping for breath. As a result, he couldn’t even master the first form of the Splitting Wind Sword Technique.

Frustrated, Wang Yu decided not to practice sword techniques for the next few days. Instead, after cleaning the temple and looking at the Cloud Pattern in the White Cloud Sutra, he ran around the small mountain where the temple was located and actually found a few unusual flowers and plants that he suspected were not from Blue Star, secretly picking some to show Dongyue.

Unfortunately, Dongyue said that these flowers and plants were ordinary and seemed to have no value. Since he was not a botanist, he couldn’t be sure if these strange flowers were unique to this world. He could only try to remember their appearance and names, planning to return to Blue Star and have someone draw them for a professional to identify.

Additionally, Wang Yu cautiously asked Dongyue about true energy and internal martial arts techniques. The other person looked completely confused, which made him lose all hope. It seemed that while martial skills in this world appeared impressive, they were not as profound as he had imagined.

The fifth day at noon.

After finishing his pickled vegetable bun, Wang Yu stood in the square in front of the grand hall, hesitating about whether to go to the Martial Arts Field to practice the Splitting Wind Sword Technique, when a young Taoist walked in through the front gate. He had sharp eyebrows and big eyes, fair skin, and looked to be in his twenties. Behind him, he carried a dark iron rod, and in each hand, he held two large bundles.

Wang Yu was momentarily stunned, then quickly moved forward in realization and respectfully asked:

"Are you Senior Brother Qingfeng?"

"Who are you? Where is that tired fellow Dongyue?" The young Taoist frowned and asked upon seeing Wang Yu dressed as a Taoist boy.

Before Wang Yu could respond, Dongyue suddenly bounced out from a side room like a ball, happily shouting:

"Elder Martial Brother, this is the new Junior Martial Brother Qiu Ye. I’ve been waiting for you for a long time. Did you bring the things my father asked you to deliver?"

"For this little thing, I took quite a long detour. Junior Martial Brother Qiu Ye, right? I thought Master wouldn’t accept any new students anymore. Since you’re here, you should work well in the temple. I will go to see Master first." The young man tossed one of the large bundles to Dongyue, said a few cold words to Wang Yu, and then ignored them both as he headed straight for the grand hall.

"Don’t worry, Junior Martial Brother Qiu Ye. Elder Martial Brother always speaks like this, but he has a warm heart under his cool exterior. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have helped me bring so many things from home. Come to my room, I have good things to show you," said Dongyue with a big smile, tightly hugging the package.

"Could it be the nourishing item that Martial Brother Dongyue mentioned last time?" Wang Yu perked up at his words.

"Haha, it’s good that Junior Martial Brother knows, come quickly," Dongyue replied, excitedly heading towards his room with the package, and Wang Yu curiously followed him.