Chapter 4 : Mysterious Sword Art

When the murderous aura was unleashed Lu Jiang palm dissipated and everyone instinctively kneeled as cold sweat travel down their foreheads.

One second everything was calm but then the next second the labor workers felt an aura envelop their bodies and forcefully sending them on their knees.

This was the first time these labor workers ever felt such immense murderous aura, they couldn't handle it to the point that some started crying while others felt their mind was becoming chaotic, turning them crazy.

As for Jian Zheng he was completely fine as the aura wasn't directed at him. Yet on his face was a grave expression as he was currently dealing with an angry witch.

"Is it true that you lost you virginity to some wretched woman?!" Scarlett became extremely furious as she couldn't believe someone dared to take her darling first time.

A few minutes ago she was dreaming about herself eating up Jian Zheng but when she heard the unpleasant words from Lu Jiang she burst into a fit of anger.

"Scarlett its not what you think, he's just saying things to draw others attention." Jian Zheng tried his hardest to calm down Scarlett. He never would have thought she also have an angry side.

"Besides wouldn't you know if I was doing it with another woman? Isn't it said that a woman nose is most sensitive to another woman scent?" Jian Zheng said as he just came up with this.

"My scent is only filled with your aroma..." Jian Zheng said softly. When Scarlett heard this she calmed down and began giggling like a little girl, "When did you learn to sweet talk?" She chuckled as if she was never angry in the first place.

The murderous aura disappear allowing everyone catch their breath. If the aura didn't go away chances are they all would already be unconscious.

"Anyways let's get rid of this trash." Scarlett eyes then turned cold as the sword began lighting up with battle intent.

Lu Jiang lifted his head from the ground only to see a blade dropping down ready to split his head in two. Frightened he quickly dodged, dropping on his butt.

"Jian Zheng you dare attack me!" Feeling humiliated his cultivation at the Huotian third stage was released.

"Hmph! You dare have any thoughts of my sword?" Jian Zheng sneered as he also released his cultivation at the second stage.

Lu Jiang expected Jian Zheng to drop on his knees but he was then shocked as he saw him standing still with a sneer on his face. Suddenly Jian Zheng released his cultivation that made his face changed, "Second Stage? Bastard you really hid yourself well but don't think you can still beat me with that fiddle cultivation!" Lu Jiang snored as he jumped into the air, his palm becoming covered in black and white lights.

Asura Palm : First Move!

The palm striked out at Jian Zheng with immense power behind it. Seeing this Jian Zheng eyes flashed coldly as he raised his sword to block the attack.

Boom! The palm caused dust to rise from the ground as spider web cracks appear underneath Lu Jiang feet.

As if foreseeing that this would happen Lu Jiang smiled then retracted his cultivation, "This is what happens when trash gets too cocky." He said in a heartless tone as he smirked believing that Jian Zheng was dead.

"And this is what happens to garbage that gets too overconfident." Jian Zheng came out of the cloud of dust shocking the crowd and Lu Jiang.

Spotting Lu Jiang who stood still he slashed his sword downwards. This attack would have only caused slight injuries but Lu Jiang used his two hands to block resulting in his two hands being sliced off.

"Ahhh!" Lu Jiang screamed in pain. If he didn't get rid of his aura at the third stage then at most his hands would have been crippled.

After a few months they would be back to its normal state. Yet now his two hands were cleanly cut off.

His hands fell to the ground as blood splatter all around. Lu Jiang fell to his knees once more as he watch as his life slowly drift away.

"Hmph!" Jian Zheng swing his sword coldly then took out a napkin to wipe it clean, "Your blood is so filthy that it makes my sword uncomfortable." When the crowd heard this they all sucked in a mouthful of air. Jian Zheng already defeated Lu Jiang yet he still insulted the dying Lu Jiang.

"You bastard when my elder brother hear of this your dead! Dead you hear me? Dead!" Lu Jiang screamed out loud causing his life to drift away quicker. Minutes later Lu Jiang fell to the ground dead.

Looking at the dead Lu Jiang, Jian Zheng didn't know what to feel. Ever since he came to the Asura Cloud Sect he has always been bullied by Lu Jiang.

Jian Zheng took a glimpse of the dead Lu Jiang then turned to the two guys who always followed around Lu Jiang, "Go away or do you want to end up like him?" Jian Zheng swing his sword in the air as runes lit up on it, causing the murderous aura to appear again.

"We will go away!" The two boys shouted in fear as their faces became pale. They immediately ran away from Jian Zheng with their tails between their legs.

Jian Zheng then raided whatever he could find on Lu Jiang then hurried away before the elders arrive.

The crowd seeing Jian Zheng leaving couldn't believe what occurred. The infamous Lu Jiang was killed by someone a stage below him? If they told anyone else this they would laugh with disbelief in their tones.

Nevertheless, they were pleased by the results as Lu Jiang have been bullying and robbing them for years.

Soon Jian Zheng arrived at a shop. There he saw a elegant looking red sheath. He immediately bought it with all the spirit stones he got from Lu Jiang before anyone could see his sword.

"Ah! This feels way better!" Scarlett exclaimed feeling pleased by the sheath.

"You like it?" Jian Zheng put on a dazzling smile that made all the girls that passed by blush. If it weren't for his tattered clothes the girls would probably have fainted right then and there.

"Very much!" She smiled feeling enthusiastic by the sheath. "Do know that this sheath can still be destroyed by me though." Scarlett said, worried that if she made a mistake the sword sheath would immediately tear apart.

"I know just treat it as a small gift." Jian Zheng whispered, he knew this sheath wouldn't be able to hold Scarlett for long but he had to have something to placed his sword in since it was too eye catching.

Jian Zheng then left the shop and arrived at a place called Martial Hall. Entering he saw a elder overseeing the place, " Are you getting ready for the outer sect trail young lad?" The elder smiled gentle at Jian Zheng.

"Yes elder." Jian Zheng responded in a respectful tone.

"Good, place your hand on this orb." Jian Zheng then placed his hand on the orb as two lights lit up on it.

"Huotian second stage not bad." The elder nodded his head then gave Jian Zheng a token, "With this you should be able to enter the second level." The elder said in which Jian Zheng nodded.

Walking into the hall he saw a bunch of books placed in and orderly manner. The amount of books were so much that it almost gave Jian Zheng a headache.

"How am I suppose to find anything suitable to me with this much books?" Jian Zheng muttered then began searching.

Two hours later he have already went through dozens of books yet none of them suit his cultivation technique nor his path as an swordsman.

An hour later he found an interesting book that is called The Wonders of Sword Aura.

Jian Zheng raised his eyebrow as he was curious about this book. He heard from Scarlett a little about sword aura but the information wasn't much. Taking the book he opened it and began reading with excitement written on his face.

A Sword Aura is what separates a swordsman from other cultivators. It's said that in ancient times cultivators with a strong sword aura could split apart oceans and snap mountains in two with just their sword and easily kill cultivators without unsheathing their sword.

Not only that, it is known to everyone that a swordsman has a weak defense and strong offense. With a strong sword aura though any sort of attack that comes your way will easily be cut apart like tofu. This is why many swordsman wishes to awaken their sword aura.

There are five sword auras in the mortal realm : The Huotian Sword Aura that represents the beginning.

The Profound Sword Aura that can cause other swords to resonate with yours.

The Spirit Sword Aura that caused your sword to be possessed by a spirit further making it stronger.

As for the other two they were lost in history as no one ever managed to cultivate their sword aura pass the spirit aura after the ancient era ended.

Not only that, there are also people who were born with unique sword auras. These people are called sword geniuses as their sword aura was already at the spirit stage since birth.

When Jian Zheng finished reading an hour have already pasted by. He shut the book closed then closed his eyes as he digested the information he just read.

"Does this mean I'm already at the spirit stage?" Jian Zheng muttered. After all, he already have a spirit in his sword name Scarlett.

"But why can't I unleash my sword aura?" Jian Zheng wondered. He especially said this loud so that Scarlett could hear but she didn't say a word.

This made him curious as Scarlett definitely knew the reason why he couldn't unleash his sword aura, "Maybe I should practice with my sword more." But he didn't question Scarlett as he thought he could figure it out on his own.

After reading a few more books he head up to the second floor as the books on the first floor were basically trash.

When he reached the second floor an elder came blocked his way. Showing him the token giving to him by the elder at the front desk the elder let him pass.

The second floor had less books than the first floor. Jian Zheng could count about a thousand but still, it would take him at least three days to finish reading them which he didn't have time for that since the outer sect trial was only a week away.

Taking up a random book he became excited as it was a sword technique!

Finish reading it Jian Zheng seem to have come to an understanding. This sword technique is name Soaring Cloud Sword Technique.

From what he read this sword technique was based off the clouds in the sky. As for how he could cultivate it he had a basic understanding of how to do so.

Not only that but this technique is a eclipse technique meaning it could go up against techniques that is a stage above it.

Techniques are classified as Elementary, Profound, Exceeding and Eclipse with Elementary being the weakest and eclipse being the strongest.

These techniques are then further placed into four stages : Initial, astute, upper and perfection.

Most people find it difficult to reach the initial stage of their technique so there are hardly any records of anyone reaching the perfection stage which means completion.

Pleased Jian Zheng was about to leave when Scarlett shouted, "Wait! There's a technique hidden somewhere!" Scarlett appeared from out of the sword then ran towards a book that was covered in dust.

"What is this?" Jian Zheng stared at the tattered book that reminded him of his tattered clothes.

"This is definitely a technique that suits me, with it our strength will become unrival." Scarlett said in excitement then pushed the book into his hand.

Jian Zheng shook his head then walked away. He have already lost all sense of time. When he appear at the front desk the elder smiled at him with his gentle eyes.

He examined the Soaring Cloud Sword Book then became shocked, "Are you sure you want to cultivate this technique? If has already been a hundred years yet no one managed to cultivate it."

"I am certain." Jian Zheng nodded his head in approval.

"Alright then." The elder shook his head as if disappointed which confused Jian Zheng.

"Return this book after a month as for this.." The elder then looked at the tattered book then gave it back to Jian Zheng as if he was looking at a piece of trash.

"You can keep it if you want." This made Jian Zheng baffled. He couldn't grasp why the elder felt that way to the book.

Jian Zheng said his goodbyes to the elder then returned to his hut. When he went inside clear excitement could be seen on his face.

He sat down on the floor then opened the Soaring Cloud Sword technique as Scarlett appeared behind his back, laying lazily on him.

He read the book again then closed his eyes as if imagining something. In his mind a cloud was form, this cloud was moving at a quick rate overtaking the other clouds in the sky.

When Jian Zheng opened back his eyes it was already midnight and Scarlett have already fallen asleep beside him.

"Sigh! Your clearly older than me yet you act like a little child." Jian Zheng smiled warmly then pinched Scarlett cheeks feeling amused.

He took her up then placed her on his bed, placing the covers over her then went to his courtyard.

The courtyard wasn't big but it was enough for him to practice with his sword.

Unsheathing his sword he once again recalled what he read and his eyes flashed with determination as a cloud moved pass him quickly in the sky.

Quicken Cloud!

Jian Zheng raised his sword at an unbelievable speed that caused the breeze to scatter about.

Soft Cloud Quivers!

Then he swing the sword downward that caused some sort of soft energy to envelop his blade.

Ding! The sword crashed onto the ground. When it did nothing occurred, even the grass was still intact into the ground. But if someone were to examine underneath the ground they could see that it was a complete mess as everything ten meters underground was destroyed.

Empowered Cloud!

Feeling the ground trembling slightly Jian Zheng knew what happened underground as he then raised his sword which seem to be covered in some white energy.

He could feel that the power of his sword have definitely multiplied when covered by this white energy.

Sheathing his sword he went back inside the hut as he could feel that this sword art have reached the initial stage.

When he went inside he picked up the tattered book then opened it. When he did so a sword light appear from out of the book and pierced his head making his eyes turned red as the black and white phoenix mark that was hidden between his forehead lit up.