Chapter 7: Cheer Up Junior Sister

As Xu Yinglian continued to learn from Senior Sister An, he discovered that the Seven Kills Sword Technique was excessively fierce.

Every move was offensive, with absolutely no defense.

Take the opening move "Pine Tree Welcomes Guests" as an example:

The general principles of Shushan Swordsmanship mention that "Pine Tree Welcomes Guests" involves the Flying Sword tracing an arc towards the opponent, with the sword body and the sword path offset by about one-sixth of a Pythagorean angle (which is 15 degrees), the purpose being to flexibly respond to various situations.

If the opponent chooses to defend, the Flying Sword can at any time adjust its angle to launch a probing thrust.

If the opponent also attacks, the Flying Sword can take advantage of the situation to horizontally pivot the blade and counter the opponent's Flying Sword;

One could attack or defend, advance or retreat—this was the essence of the starting move.

But within the Seven Kills Sword Technique, Su Jian had boldly transformed it into "Sword Path Integration," meaning the sword tip and the sword path were in complete alignment.

If the opponent defended, one would manipulate the Flying Sword to flit around, rapidly changing direction, until breaking through the opponent's Flying Sword entanglement, and directly stabbing at the opposing Sword Immortal!

If the opponent attacked, one would fully energize the Flying Sword, charging at full speed, and before the opponent's Flying Sword could reach oneself, land the first strike on the opposing Sword Immortal!

Xu Yinglian could even imagine how Su Jian had considered this move when he first created the Seven Kills Sword Technique:

"What, tentative attacks? Just kill the opponent straight away, why bother probing at all!"

"Senior Sister," he hesitated for a long time, but still asked, "Shouldn't 'Pine Tree Welcomes Guests' include some considerations for defense?"

"This is called seizing the initiative," An Zhisu explained with a smile. "When both parties wield swords, you launch an all-out attack with your Flying Sword from the start. Shocked by your assault, six out of ten will choose to defend."

"Once they defend, you can press and beat them. Most of the moves in the Seven Kills Sword Technique teach you how to break through your opponent's defenses."

"So 'breaking through defenses' is a strong point of our Seven Kills Sword Technique."

"What if the opponent doesn't defend?" Xu Yinglian asked again.

"If the opponent doesn't defend and counterattacks, you clash with them," An Zhisu said, still smiling.

"Again, the vast majority of these people will not dare to engage you head-on, and halfway through their attack, they will turn their swords and retreat to defense. Then it circles back to the first scenario."

"What if the opponent continues to attack?" Xu Yinglian wanted to make sure.

"Then it comes down to who has faster sword speed," An Zhisu stated calmly. "Master once said, 'Among all swordsmanship, only speed is unbreakable.'

"So the mental method for Seven Kills Sword Technique has reached the peak in accelerating the Flying Sword."

"Regardless of Cultivation Realm, regardless of the Flying Sword's Grade Rank, just looking at the airflow path of the swordsmanship, our Qingluo Peak's Seven Kills Sword Technique is the fastest in all of Shushan Swordsmanship."

After thinking for a while, Xu Yinglian said with a smile:

"So that means if the opponent can't beat us in a quick attack and falls into our advantage by defending, doesn't that make the Seven Kills Sword Technique invincible?"

"Silly junior brother," An Zhisu shook her head. "Our Qingluo Peak's swordsmanship is known for its speed in all of Shushan."

"So when you face them in battle, they will definitely not compete with you in attack but will act after you."

"The Seven Kills Sword Technique must dominate the attack. As long as you suppress the opponent's swordsmanship, it is the Seven Kills, and often within a few breaths, the fight can end swiftly and neatly. But what if you can't suppress them?"

"Once your swordsmanship Cultivation is inferior to the opponent, and once your momentum is exhausted and your Sword Path is spent, it's their turn to counterattack."

"That's why the second line of the Incantation states 'No control is the Seven Kills'; the focus is on absolutely not being suppressed by the opponent."

"This Seven Kills Sword Technique, with all its moves—I'll perform it for you to observe closely."

An Zhisu put her hands together in sword-fingers, pointing forward, and the Frostfall Sword flew through the air, piercing the opposite rock wall as if cutting tofu, with stone chips cascading down.

"This is Pine Tree Welcomes Guests."

As she moved her sword-fingers again, the Frostfall Sword followed suit, twisting and performing each move in turn:

"This is Heart-Moves-As-Desire."

"This is White Rainbow Piercing the Sun."

"This is Drinking Alone Under the Moon."

Xu Yinglian watched in silence, seeing Senior Sister An's clothes flutter as if she were a colorful butterfly. The Sword Light danced, vibrant and shining.

As sudden as Yi shooting down the nine suns, or as swift as a convoy of emperors' dragons soaring.

Arriving like thunder and quelling fury, departing like the river sea congealing into clear light!

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He watched, utterly enchanted, unsure whether it was the splendid aura of the Immortal Sword or Senior Sister An's valiant and stunning figure that captivated him.

Caught up in the thrill of her sword dance, An Zhisu couldn't help but sing out in a clear voice:

"O flying light, flying light, heed my word!"

"Draw upon the fervent blood in my heart, the proud bones in my chest, to forge a three-foot Flying Sword."

"Its cry like the roar of a dragon, its flash like purple lightning."

"Cleaving foes in all fields, spirit soaring to the Nine Heavens."

"The soul sealing off the azure skies, blood filling the Netherworld."

"Demons and immortals present their heads, gods and Buddhas be laid to rest!"

"I hear of the Eastern Emperor Demon Realm, yet its distance unknown."

"Where might Suming lie? When will I truly see An Zhisu?"

"With my sword, I shall enter, and slash through the heavenly chasm."

"Meng Zhang, who guards the soldiers, shall not live, Ling Guang, bearer of light, too cannot escape."

...

As her song slowly came to an end, the Sword Light neatly sheathed itself.

Ling Yunpo clapped his hands in praise:

"Well sung! Senior Sister, your song carries the spirit of a hero, truly humbling your junior brother here."

Blushing, An Zhisu said:

"It's not my creation. It was a song our master sang while tapping his cup with chopsticks after drinking. I just thought it sounded nice, so I remembered the lyrics and melody."

"Good lyrics, great melody, but Senior Sister sang it even better!" Ling Yunpo laughed heartily.

An Zhisu grew even more shy, and with an attempt to assume the air of a Senior Sister, she interrupted him:

"Enough chatter. Did you pay attention to the sword moves I just demonstrated?"

"Oh no." Ling Yunpo said awkwardly, "I was so focused on watching Senior Sister that I forgot to watch the Flying Sword. That was my mistake."

"I'll perform it for you again." An Zhisu sighed, giving him a helpless glare as she once again summoned the Frostfall Sword.

——————

While Ling Yunpo practiced for several days, Qiu Changtian, not having the nuisance of a junior sister to deal with, also enjoyed a few peaceful days.

But the Synchronization Value of the Invincible Character Setting kept sliding, prompting the Kunlun Mirror to issue several alerts.

No choice but to go out and show off to someone.

Using the Kunlun Mirror, he loaded Qiu Changtian's image template and then teleported his body to Golden Ridge in Kunlun during the early morning.

Qiu Changtian left his cave dwelling and went to find his junior sister Xu Yinglian.

Xu Yinglian's cave was located slightly below the southern peak of Golden Ridge. In front of the entrance was a clearing where numerous cranes often strolled about, waiting for Xu Yinglian to feed them.

Walking down the path for a few dozen steps, he reached the entrance to his junior sister's cave.

There stood Xu Yinglian, dressed in white, gracefully practicing her swordsmanship in the clearing. In her left hand, she held the sword manual of the Kunlun Sword Technique, while her right hand made sword gestures. The crimson Feather Jia Sword traced hot arcs across the sky with each movement.

"Junior Sister!" Qiu Changtian greeted her with a smile.

"Senior Brother." Xu Yinglian replied with a mild salute, managing a smile though her eyes and brows betrayed an indelible gloom.

Qiu Changtian could tell that her fixations seemed to have deepened.

According to the Ziwei Master, if this continued, she might very well develop a Heart Demon.

That won't do! Although I often need to brush up the Synchronization Value with my junior sister to maintain the Invincible Character Setting... I cannot let it harm her!

It seems I must find a way to encourage her, to invigorate her spirit.

So Qiu Changtian put away his smile, watched her focused on her swordplay for a few minutes, then suddenly, with a tone of disbelief, exclaimed in shock:

"Can it be, Junior Sister? After so many days of practice, just this?"

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