Chapter 46: Xuanhe Sword Technique, Power Surge 

With his beloved sleeping soundly in his arms, Lu Chengfeng closed his eyes, silently absorbing all the knowledge of the Xuanhe Phantom Sword Technique. He didn't want to waste a single moment.

As he steadily digested the memories tied to this sword technique, Lu Chengfeng began to grasp a deep understanding of this Xuanhe Peak masterpiece.

The Xuanhe Phantom Sword Technique was a complete martial inheritance encompassing inner energy cultivation, swordsmanship, and footwork, a vast and profound set of teachings. If it were placed in the martial world, this single inheritance would be enough to establish a prestigious sect.

This technique was divided into three core parts: Xuanhe Inner Art, Thousand Shadows Footwork, and Phantom Sword Technique.

"The Xuanhe Inner Art develops inner energy that grants the body agility like a crane, making one light-footed and spiritually attuned, with an added effect of extending one's lifespan."

"The Thousand Shadows Footwork is renowned for its mysterious, shifting, and rapid movements. When combined with the Xuanhe Inner Art, it brings lightness skills to a frightening level. Among the five major inner peaks, Xuanhe Peak's lightness technique is unmatched."

"As for the Phantom Sword Technique, it pursues the ultimate truth between life and death in a single stroke. It's designed to kill in one strike, embodying the philosophy of life and death with each slash, earning it a reputation as a peerless, lightning-fast sword technique throughout the martial world."

Lu Chengfeng silently absorbed Elder Li Guan's decades of understanding of this technique, processing the elder's distilled insights into swordsmanship with remarkable speed.

"This Xuanhe Peak elder had honed his swordsmanship to the twenty-fourth level, reaching the level of phantom sword intent. By unifying body, mind, and spirit, his true energy could manifest, allowing him to slay without even drawing his sword."

"The path of sword mastery ascends from techniques, to sword energy, and finally to sword intent. Each stage has nine levels, and every step grows more challenging."

"Breaking through from techniques to sword energy alone stops countless individuals who lack talent. No matter how hard one trains, they can only perfect sword techniques if their aptitude falls short, never manifesting sword energy."

"The leap from sword energy to sword intent, on the other hand, turns away ninety-nine percent of practitioners. Without exceptional talent and insight, eighteen levels mark the limit."

"Without my gift, understanding sword intent would have been almost impossible for me."

Reflecting on the complexity and profundity of the Xuanhe Phantom Sword Technique, Lu Chengfeng realized that even attempting to understand it alone would take at least six months just to begin grasping its basics.

The night passed quietly. After dressing with Luo Suyi's attentive care and having breakfast, Lu Chengfeng set off for the Bewitching Marsh.

...

In the blink of an eye, over a month had passed, and the sect's efforts to clear the beast tide were nearing completion. Most of the monsters that had escaped from Dragon Trap Abyss had been eradicated, with only a few stragglers still lurking in the depths of the marsh.

Lu Chengfeng and Tan Xiong's team had managed to slay a demon beast roughly every two or three days, and over this period, they had killed twelve such creatures, amassing significant sect merits.

But what drew everyone's attention most was Lu Chengfeng's rapid advancement in swordsmanship. In just over a month, his skills had progressed at a shocking rate, advancing by two full levels.

He had brought his mastery of the Bixiao Sword Manual to the fifteenth level, manifesting a two-foot sword energy that rivaled Duan Li and Xu Changge's prowess. Additionally, his experience in hunting monsters had grown significantly.

To the others in his team, Lu Chengfeng appeared nothing short of monstrous, with his strength visibly increasing by the day. By now, he was on par with senior disciples at least seven or eight years his senior.

His rate of progress left everyone stunned.

At this point, their hunts in the Bewitching Marsh were nearly finished. Tan Xiong had targeted a Winged Tiger, a creature with horns that could command demon winds, making it particularly challenging.

After a relentless three-day pursuit, they finally cornered the beast in a narrow ravine, blocking off all exits and trapping it completely.

Tan Xiong led the charge, his copper staff striking through the air with a sound like thunder, forceful and domineering as he aimed at the monster's head.

Duan Li and Xu Changge attacked from the rear, keeping the beast off balance.

Meanwhile, Lu Chengfeng and Lu Lingxi flanked it, biding their time and looking for an opening. After many encounters, they had developed a rhythm, and their teamwork had become second nature.

"Roar!" The black-furred tiger had sustained multiple wounds across its body, and thick, dark blood was seeping from its injuries, dripping onto the ground and sizzling as it corroded the earth beneath.

The days of pursuit had left the Winged Tiger severely injured and utterly exhausted, its strength fading fast.

It was intelligent enough to understand its dire situation. With a desperate surge, it gathered its demonic winds and lunged leftward, ignoring Tan Xiong's incoming strike.

Such beasts, especially in desperation, were ferociously dangerous. Many true disciples had suffered grave injuries or even lost their lives to a monster's final strike.

Lu Chengfeng watched the Winged Tiger barrel toward him, its foul-smelling wind and bared fangs rushing his way.

Yet he remained calm, his body shifting slightly as he dodged the beast's lethal attack with precision.

Stepping sideways, he raised the Cold Cicada Sword, which let out a high-pitched hum like the wings of a cicada, a streak of cold light flashing through the air.

Slash!

The sword entered just above the tiger's right ear, tearing away a large piece of flesh as blood sprayed out.

"Roar!"

The tiger let out a guttural cry of pain and fury, its eyes—dark gold—bleeding as it glared at him with murderous intent.

Despite its injuries, it lunged again, hell-bent on ripping Lu Chengfeng apart.

"Demon, meet your end!" Tan Xiong's copper staff came crashing down, striking the tiger's spine with overwhelming force.

With a crack, the beast's body went limp, collapsing to the ground as dirt flew.

Buzz!

Seizing the opportunity, Lu Chengfeng thrust his sword forward, a comet-like arc flashing as he drove the blade straight through the tiger's eye.

Half the sword embedded itself in the beast's skull, penetrating deeply into its brain. Lu Chengfeng activated his inner strength, sending sword energy surging through the blade before twisting it mercilessly.

"Roar!"

The Winged Tiger roared in agony, its massive frame convulsing violently for a full quarter of an hour before finally falling still, lifeless.

Lu Chengfeng had withdrawn his sword and positioned himself at a cautious distance, watching as the beast took its final breath.

"What precision in your swordsmanship! Your judgment and confidence are astounding!" Tan Xiong turned, looking at Lu Chengfeng with undisguised amazement.

"Lu Shidi, your skills in swordsmanship, lightness technique, and combat have reached an extraordinary level. If I hadn't witnessed it, I would never believe this is only your first month hunting demon beasts."

"With this terrifying rate of improvement, it won't be long before you surpass me."

The other three gathered around, their expressions complicated as they looked at Lu Chengfeng. To be an inner peak disciple meant being talented—everyone carried their own pride.

Yet, in front of Lu Chengfeng, they suddenly felt so ordinary. The stark difference between him and themselves was difficult to ignore.

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