Fellow Daoist! That scoundrel has written a new book again.

Chapter 428 Enlightenment in a Dream

While Elder Qian's ranking on the small list is important, the lost fourth layer of sword intent in the Falling Leaf Sword Technique is equally important.

Before it had even completely darkened, Zhu Wuyao couldn't wait to get dressed and head to the Sword Testing Realm.

Elder Liao naturally noticed the fluctuations that occurred when she emerged from the barrier.

Just then, I had nothing to do.

Elder Liao's mind stirred slightly, and he was also a little curious—was the masked person Han Ge mentioned really Zhu Wuji?

Therefore, he followed behind Zhu Wuji.

Although Zhu Wuyao possessed a wide range of divine senses, he was unable to sense the movements of Nascent Soul stage cultivators.

Fortunately, he wasn't reckless in his actions, and even when no one was watching, he maintained the style of "Zhu Wuji".

Elder Liao was quite surprised.

Could it be that this blockhead has finally come to his senses?

Having managed to break through the barrier and conceal himself, he wasn't there to go down the mountain for food, drink, and fun, but rather to compete for a ranking on this sword-testing platform.

But on second thought, Elder Liao realized it wasn't that surprising.

Zhu Wuji had always wanted to compare himself to Zhu Wuyao of the Star-Picking Tower. His desire to explore the secret realm stemmed from his resentment, not from genuine improvement.

I've come here for two consecutive days, a stark contrast to my usual lazy and lethargic demeanor.

It seems this obsession runs quite deep...

I just don't know how good he is.

Seeing Zhu Wuji receive his number and line up to enter the Sword Trial Realm, Elder Liao revealed himself and stepped forward to carefully examine the rankings on the small list.

The list contains over six hundred people.

As the master of a peak, Elder Liao can use the token in his hand to find out who the person using the alias is.

But when I flipped through the pages from bottom to top, I couldn't find Zhu Wuji's name.

Huh?

Could I have guessed wrong?

Elder Liao then turned to look through the overall rankings. Apart from the peak masters of the same level, the supreme elders and sect leaders of a higher level, all those below him could be identified by aliases.

He flipped through the pages from bottom to top, as always.

I had to scroll down to the 9,300th place before I found Zhu Wuji's alias, Da Xue.

Hmm? It seems like there's been progress.

Although the ranking was still appalling, placing him at the bottom of Pinglan Mountain, Elder Liao nodded slightly. After all, such progress was already quite remarkable for Zhu Wuji.

It seems that the matter of the "Silent Taoist Priest" has deeply moved him.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Zhu Wuyao has already entered the Sword Trial Realm.

Unbeknownst to her, Elder Liao was paying close attention to her ranking.

The familiar swordsman has reappeared.

Right now, Zhu Wuyao's biggest concern isn't her ranking, but rather the next level of the Falling Leaf Sword Technique. Although she obtained half of that move in her dream, she can't figure out how she acquired it.

A swordsman's swordsmanship, at the beginning, is like a child wielding a stick.

It is riddled with flaws and is an eyesore.

Just like every novice swordsman.

Through continuous battles, practice, failures, and reflections, he began to develop his own sword-wielding habits and a unique understanding of swordsmanship, until his swordsmanship became so refined that he had few rivals.

When a swordsman's swordsmanship reaches its peak and he has no rivals in the world, he believes that his swordsmanship is close to perfection.

Just as Zhu Wuyao said.

Although she knew the Falling Leaf Sword Technique, it was incomplete when she first encountered it, but before she had seen the next level, Zhu Wuyao did not realize the deficiency in her own swordsmanship.

Seeing the light reveals the darkness, encountering warmth makes one realize the cold, and seeing the vastness makes one aware of one's own shallowness.

Zhu Wuyao put away his disdain.

He began to seriously observe the "crude and vulgar" swordsmanship of the swordsman in front of him.

If this is the beginning of a swordsman's sword-making journey...

She took out her sword and began to practice, following the swordsman's movements.

As he slashed downwards and then parried upwards with his sword, Zhu Wuyao's eyes showed a different expression, as if he were somewhat surprised—

This sword technique is like a piece of unpolished jade.

Precisely because it is not perfect, it has countless variations. It depends on how the sculptor uses the carving technique to create the jade.

Every action has countless possible directions to take.

She turned to look at the swordsman before her.

If there are different levels of talent in swordsmanship, then the first set of swordsmanship a person creates when they first enter the path determines the upper limit of their swordsmanship, which should be limitless.

"I really underestimated you..."

Zhu Wuyao glanced at the swordsman, then at the sword in his hand.

She was competing with a sword prodigy, testing their future potential. No wonder it's said that the Sword Trial Realm isn't about strength, but rather talent and comprehension.

The swordsman clasped his hands in a salute, signaling the start of the second round of exercises.

Zhu Wuyao drew his sword and engaged him in combat.

Her thoughts were quite different from last time. Last time, she was thinking about how to end the battle as quickly as possible and how to kill the swordsman in front of her to win.

This time, however, she saw herself as a novice swordsman.

Try to forget what you've learned in the past ten years or so.

The swordsman before them was a childhood playmate with whom they compared swordsmanship. Their purpose was to spar, not to win or lose; they were companions, not mortal enemies.

What Zhu Wuyao didn't know was—

Before entering the Qingyun Sect, each disciple was given a tip by their master and friends.

"Victory should be achieved gradually."

However, many of them are not direct disciples of the elders, and they know what to do but not why. They only know that the slower they win, the higher their ranking seems to be.

But Zhu Wuyao was different.

She had never heard of this trick before, but she immediately understood the true meaning behind it.

But this is not enough to set them apart from true geniuses.

Zhu Wuyao could guess for himself that those prodigies could also learn from their master.

Given Elder Liao's diligence, he might have told Zhu Wuji about it. But putting aside the fact that Qianxiang's memory preservation was not meticulous enough, Zhu Wuji was already very proud of himself, so even if he had heard what Elder Liao said, he might not have remembered it.

Perhaps they'll think instead—

"Others may take their time to win, but if I kill the swordsman quickly, wouldn't that make me stand out? I might even be looked at more favorably by the Sword Testing Realm."

Zhu Wuyao borrowed his identity; he was not a disciple of the Qingyun Sect itself.

Many things that are taken for granted and understood by everyone can only be learned through one's own understanding and catching up.

As for how to imitate the "first set of sword techniques for children," it's quite simple; it's just about returning to basics.

When attacked, defend; when an opening arises, strike.

Many exquisite sword techniques and skills are actually later creations.

Within the Sword Trial Realm, Zhu Wuyao was taking each move seriously, while outside the Sword Trial Realm, Elder Liao kept a close eye on the rankings.

The name "Heavy Snow" initially rose in popularity faster than Elder Liao could even flip through the pages!

It wasn't until 15 minutes later that the ranking finally slowed down to around 930, and it would take a while before it jumped up another place.

Yesterday's figure was 9,300.

Nine hundred and three today.

What... what on earth happened?!

Elder Liao looked bewildered as he carefully recalled what Zhu Wuji had done the previous day.

A guess gradually emerged in my mind.

Legend has it that a few generations before the Qingyun Sect, there was a sword cultivator who roamed the world and attained enlightenment in a dream. While sound asleep, he dreamt of the Spring and Autumn Period, with leisurely clouds floating in the sky and no distractions in his mind. When he awoke, spring flowers had withered and snow was falling heavily. His heart was still and free of dust, and he had gained enlightenment on swordsmanship.

Elder Liao recalled the rumor and glanced down at the name "Heavy Snow".

Could it be... that this person attained enlightenment in a dream!