5 Chapter 4: Swordsmanship at the Realm of Integration

"The Great Tao fifty, heavenly surplus forty-nine, thus leaving one. Hence, every living creature in the world has a thread of life!"

At sixteen: Your master died, you, as a Ninth-grade Martial Artist, have fully inherited everything of the Everlasting Observance.

To become a Ninth-grade Martial Artist at the age of sixteen is almost the most talented record in the history of this small border town, you are highly anticipated. Many elders think that you might be able to break through to the sixth level before thirty. At this time, a Qilin from Zhang Family in the town showed his talent, was noticed by a high-ranking master of a big sect, taken as a disciple, and gifted with spiritual medicine to help the head of the Zhang Family to break through the realm.

At this time, you also broke through to the Eighth Grade Martial Artist. However, you did not flaunt, but humbly focused on your cultivation.

Sixteen years old: With the breakthrough of the head of the Zhang Family, the appearance of an Eighth-grade Martial Artist immediately broke the balance of the small town's power. Zhang's family started to exert pressure on all sides. You, as the most potential martial artist, have been targeted by the Zhang Family.

However, when you showed your Eighth Grade martial artist prowess, the people of the Zhang Family chose to back off. They not only decided not to infringe upon your interests anymore, but they also agreed to share some additional benefits with you.

Knowing their background, you chose to share this small city with them.

Twenty-three years old: After the Zhang Family had obtained enough resources, they finally had their second Eighth Grade Martial Artist. With two Eighth Grade Martial Artists, they were somewhat reluctant to share the additional benefits, and so they attempted to test you. After the show of power, the Zhang Family temporarily retracted their sword. You took the opportunity to seek more resources.

Facing such a situation, the Zhang Family naturally refused to admit defeat. While they obey on the surface, they secretly sent a message to the genius who had joined the Tie Sect.

Twenty-four years old: Although your realm had not improved, the 'Yin Wood Sword Skill' you have practiced from an early age had reached a small level of achievement.

Twenty-five years old: The genius from the Zhang Family who had joined the Tie Sect broke through to Seventh-grade, after hearing news from home, he quietly entered the small city, then the three of them teamed up to ambush you.

You were outnumbered and although you killed the head of the Zhang Family, you were hit in the vital organs by a Seventh-grade Martial Artist and died from your injuries.

"Life Ends Here"

Pei Xuanjing looked a bit gloomy, this time he was an Eighth Grade Martial Artist almost from the beginning.

Unexpectedly, he resolved the targeting of the Zhang Family and was not chased for years.

However, maybe it was because of this smooth sailing that made him lose some sense of crisis. When facing the ambush of the Zhang Family, he had no chance to escape and died on the spot.

Summing up this simulation, Pei Xuanjing learned two things:

First, no matter what, never relax and always remain vigilant against any power.

Second, the Zhang Family is ambitious, if there is a real conflict, never show mercy, you must eliminate the future trouble completely.

"The simulation ends, you can choose to keep one of the following rewards."

"First: martial arts realm at twenty-five"

"Second: cultivation experience of 'Yi Wood Skill' at the age of twenty-five"

"Third: mastery in the realm of 'Yin Wood Sword Skill'"

For this simulation, his realm did not improve, so the first choice was not particularly meaningful.

In the future, it's likely that the Zhang Family will take action. If he possesses a martial skill, he can truly display his strength.

So, he chose the third option without hesitation, mastering the realm of the 'Yin Wood Sword Skill'.

When he made his choice, all the usage techniques, swordsmanship changes about the 'Yin Wood Sword Skill', merged into his mind.

The martial arts moves in the world are divided into six levels according to different levels of mastery: beginners, small success, integration, enlightenment, skilled, and mastery.

Generally speaking, anyone who can cultivate a martial arts technique to a skilled level can maximize its power.

As for the last level, besides the creator of this martial arts technique, only those who can have their own way in this martial arts technique and create a new way can reach it.

Pei Xuanjing has his own understanding of this. It is just like the Emperor's Long Fist, in addition to Zhao Kuangyin, only the Qiao Gang Leader can play the greatest power, but in the hands of most people, it is only a beginner's basic skill.

Now, with his integrated realm of Yin Wood Sword Skill, he fears that a general eight-grade martial artist will not be his opponent.

......

Early morning, on the martial arts practice field in the backyard of Everlasting Observance.

Pei Xuanjing was dressed in a practice suit, holding a Pine Pattern Ancient Sword in hand practicing.

There was a crisscross of sword qi, flashing light. In the light of the dawn, the Pine Pattern Ancient Sword in his hand was chilling, and the sharp sword qi left seemingly chaotic, but actually orderly sword marks on the rocks of the practice field.

After he stopped, Mr. Xu, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately ran over with a towel in his hand.

Pei Xuanjing returned the Pine Pattern Ancient Sword to its sheath, then took the towel, wiped his sweat as he started to speak:

"Has something happened in the city recently?"

"There's no major event happening in the city recently."

Mr. Xu took the ancient sword and carefully carried it, followed behind Pei Xuanjing, answering Master Guan's question.

Pei Xuanjing nodded, then asked seemingly casually, "What about the Zhang Family?"

Mr. Xu thought about it and replied, "There's nothing happening there either. It seems that after the incident a few months ago quieted down, the Zhang Family has started to return to its old ways."

Here, it seemed that Mr. Xu had remembered something, and then continued, "Even the prodigal sons of the Zhang Family are a lot more well-behaved, they hardly make trouble anymore. The people around are saying that now that Zhang Family has a young genius who has joined a big sect, they have started to pay more attention to the family's behavior."

"Oh?" Pei Xuanjing was somewhat surprised, but he quickly understood the reason.

Presumably, the head of the Zhang Family is about to break through, so Zhang Family is now hiding and waiting, just waiting for the head of the family to break through, then come out and stir up some trouble!

Since the other party is about to break through, then he will wait for them to come!

After that, Pei Xuanjing instructed Mr. Xu to find out about some things, to see if there were people willing to sell things like notes left by martial artists.

In this place where martial arts is prosperous, there are countless martial artists, maybe there are some poor households, who in desperation, sell those things for a living, right?

So, Pei Xuanjing returned to his life of reading books and practicing martial arts.

However, this kind of life didn't last long, the news of the Zhang Family's head breaking through soon came.

But what he didn't expect was that the first force the head of the Zhang Family visited after his breakthrough was his Everlasting Observance.