Chapter 3, The Mind Sword Body Technique

Having originally gained fame through the sword and entered the path through martial arts, these three sword techniques—the Disrupting Sword Technique, the Controlling Sword Technique, and the Mastering Sword Technique—though obscure and difficult to comprehend, still provided him with some understanding. The greatest challenge, however, lay in the fact that the true energy within him, which could be described as robust in his original world, was utterly insignificant here. The four experts around him, deeply engrossed in their self-cultivation, emanated an aura that was intimidating, and one of them seemed to practice an extremely Yin internal force, which made him feel as if he were plunging into an ice cellar.

Observe the nose with the eyes, the heart with the nose, close the eyes and meditate, entering the tranquil realm of the ancient well. Even with a talent as unrestrained as the wind and clouds, mastering this most fundamental sword technique took him a month of meditation. Upon awakening from his contemplation, he opened his eyes, and the radiance of a half-inch sword pierced forth from them. With his left hand, he executed the sword techniques from before his ascension, while his right hand wielded the rebuttal sword, engaging in a duel of mutual combat, countering each other's moves. The outcome was evident; the rebuttal sword technique, being ranked as the ultimate swordsmanship in the mundane world, was indeed justified. Each slight collision of the two swords altered the trajectory of the sword path. No matter how perfect the sword move, under the ever-changing rebuttal sword technique, flaws would inevitably emerge, leading to a decisive strike.

The techniques of Sword Rebuttal, Sword Control, and Sword Mastery are regarded as the ultimate skills of the sword path in the secular world. However, here, after becoming familiar with the mental techniques of the Intent Sword Body Method, Feng Yunwuji discovered that there were at least three thousand individuals in the arena who possessed exceptional sword skills, among whom several had already achieved mastery in Sword Control

Parrying Sword, a pure technique of swordsmanship. The left side of the character "驳" represents a horse, implying speed, while the right side features two "X" shapes, indicating dual swords. A practitioner of Parrying Sword engages in the technique of clashing dual swords against each other to alter the direction of the sword's trajectory. This is fundamentally the most basic martial skill in the study of advanced swordsmanship.

Feng Yunwuji gazed at the somber sky, where thick dark clouds lingered year-round, casting a vast shadow upon the earth, even shrouding the land in a layer of darkness. Striding past the attendant, Feng Yunwuji said indifferently, "Indeed." He then vanished from the attendant's sight

The Nine Transformations of Life and Death is an extremely demanding martial art, requiring practitioners to undergo nine trials of death. With each trial, their martial prowess doubles, and so on. However, to practice this technique, one must completely destroy their existing cultivation, which is utterly intolerable for some powerful individuals who have already reached a certain level of mastery. For Fengyun Wujie, although his internal strength is profound, this profundity is only relative to the world before his ascension. Here, anyone can extinguish his life as easily as crushing an ant, thus he finds himself able to let go.

Finally, even the attendants at the temple gate were startled, each one rising from the ground and rushing towards the center of the whirlwind

The Spirit Will Sword Body Great Method, First Layer of Heaven, is divided into three levels: Sword Dispute, Sword Control, and Sword Mastery. For Fengyun, these three are merely legendary sword techniques, and in the context of the Spirit Will Sword Body Great Method, they represent only the lowest level of attainment

Practicing this technique is not an easy task; severing all seven meridians and eight vessels of the body can almost be said to render one a useless person, making it impossible to cultivate martial arts further. Anyone with even a slight understanding of martial arts would not believe in this set of techniques. Over the course of hundreds of billions of years, the number of individuals who have practiced this technique has certainly not exceeded two digits. Most people, upon encountering the first step of this technique, which can hardly be considered the first layer of mental cultivation, immediately retreat. However, Fengyun Wujie still chose this technique. According to his understanding, the more stringent and peculiar the cultivation conditions, the more astonishing the power of such techniques once mastered. Most people, upon encountering the first step of this technique, which can hardly be considered the first layer of mental cultivation, immediately retreat. However, Fengyun Wujie still chose this technique. According to his understanding, the more stringent and peculiar the cultivation conditions, the more astonishing the power of such techniques once mastered.

As a true martial artist, a resolute spirit is inherent to his nature. Fengyun Wujin is precisely such a martial artist. He persistently drives the operation of this mental technique, and when the true energy within his body circulates according to this technique for one complete cycle, Fengyun Wujin feels a tremor throughout his body. Subsequently, all one hundred thousand pores on his body open wide, and an immense amount of primordial energy from the universe rushes into his body through these pores. Overjoyed, Fengyun Wujin channels all this primordial energy into his body, operating it according to the mental technique. He continues to tirelessly promote the operation of this mental technique, and when the true energy within his body circulates according to this technique for one complete cycle, Fengyun Wujin feels a tremor throughout his body once more, and again, all one hundred thousand pores open wide, with a vast amount of primordial energy from the universe flooding into his body. Elated, Fengyun Wujin channels all this primordial energy into his body, operating it according to the mental technique.

I had thought it would take you a year to emerge from within, but unexpectedly, you have come out so quickly said the attendant on the right, facing away from Fengyun Wujie with an indifferent tone

However, Fengyun Wujie was unaware that a massive whirlwind had formed in the square of the temple due to him, and it was showing a trend of growing even larger.

The practice of sword control techniques demands a very rigorous level of internal energy and is highly depleting of true energy. Therefore, one must possess exceptionally strong internal energy before engaging in the study of sword control techniques. Unfortunately, the mental methods of the Intent Sword Body Technique do not include any skills for enhancing internal energy, suggesting that the founder assumed that those who practice this set of mental methods are already martial artists of a certain caliber.

On the adjacent bluestone slabs, four cultivators were seated in meditation, completely absorbed in their self-cultivation, indifferent to the arrival of Feng Yunwuji.

The first transformation of life and death is determined by the heart method, and at this point, it can be considered perfected. What remains to be done is merely to increase the purity and quantity of the true energy within the body. After the first transformation, there is an additional passage of text, seemingly the heart method to be practiced after establishing a foundation. Fengyun Wujie did not hesitate to operate this heart method within his body. However, to his great surprise, after initiating this heart method, the originally agile true energy within him suddenly became stagnant, and its operating speed dropped to one-thousandth of its original rate. A breath condensed in his chest, nearly suffocating him. However, to his great surprise, after initiating this heart method, the originally agile true energy within him suddenly became stagnant, and its operating speed dropped to one-thousandth of its original rate. A breath condensed in his chest, nearly suffocating him.

After waiting for half a day, Feng Yunwuji finally found a vacant bluestone slab beneath a giant banyan tree that stood several dozen feet tall, and then sat down on the bluestone slab

The martial artists around Fengyun Wujie were startled by the loud noise beside him, each one opening their eyes in shock as they watched the whirlwinds formed by the natural energy of heaven and earth being drawn into the body of the young man beside him. As the range of the whirlwinds expanded, even some highly skilled martial artists were awakened, realizing that the external natural energy was being absorbed by a vortex resembling a black hole. The number of people standing in the square continued to increase, yet those still seated numbered less than three thousand. As the range of the whirlwinds expanded, even some highly skilled martial artists were awakened, realizing that the external natural energy was being absorbed by a vortex resembling a black hole. The number of people standing in the square continued to increase, yet those still seated numbered less than three thousand.

The square outside the temple resembles an endless plain. The square is composed of numerous slabs of bluestone, and there are as many people as there are slabs. However, every day, some people rise from the bluestone slabs and walk down the mountain, while others come up from the foot of the mountain and sit down on the slabs.

Half a year later, Fengyun Wujie finally stepped out of the dark underground passage. Bowing his head as he crossed the threshold of the temple, at the moment he raised his head to see the light of day again, Fengyun Wujie felt as if he had been in another world.

Finally, as the true energy within his body was completely exhausted, Fengyun Wujie endured the heart-wrenching pain and began to circulate the first phase of the Nine Transformations of Life and Death's profound technique in his mind. The first phase of this technique, which governs life and death, is extremely esoteric. Merely reciting this mental mantra in his mind alleviated much of the physical suffering he was experiencing. Soon, the miraculous effects of the first phase became evident. The severed tendons and broken meridians seemed to be infused with a surge of vitality, as new flesh buds sprouted from the broken ends. The flesh buds at the two severed points intertwined, and before long, one of the severed tendons was reconnected. The process of reconnection was still excruciatingly painful. Until this moment, Fengyun Wujie finally understood why the Nine Transformations of Life and Death was described as having extremely harsh conditions by both its founder and the texts, yet without detailed explanations. The pain experienced during this foundational phase was something that ordinary people would find hard to endure, and this suffering, in comparison to the subsequent stages of cultivation, was merely child's play.

The space within the square is limited, which does not allow for extensive practice during training; therefore, the only way to practice is to do so within one's thoughts.

The first step in practicing the Nine Transformations of Life and Death is to disperse one's energy, severing the seven meridians and eight vessels throughout the body, allowing the internal true energy to dissipate. Following the first step of the mental method, there is a note from the founder: In this step, six out of ten may survive, and it carries significant risks. Those lacking firm willpower should not attempt to practice this profound skill.

How is it going? Have you decided on the martial arts you wish to study

In the ancient times, every martial arts secret, when cultivated to a certain level, possessed the power to astonish the heavens and weep the spirits. No form of martial arts could compare to the original "Heart Sutra of Demon Extinction" that he created.

Feng Yunwuji possesses extraordinary talent, endowed with an innate ability to remember everything he sees. In the underground corridors of the Sanctuary, there are as many as 100,000 recorded martial arts secrets. Even with his mental capacity, it is impossible for him to memorize them all completely. Therefore, he selectively chose to note down the techniques that emanated a powerful aura from the inscriptions. Upon rough estimation, there are still several thousand of them, which is nearly his limit. The stronger the technique, the heavier the burden on the mind; the greater the number, the more it depletes mental energy. Upon rough estimation, there are still several thousand of them, which is nearly his limit. The stronger the technique, the heavier the burden on the mind; the greater the number, the more it depletes mental energy.

After much deliberation, Fengyun Wujie ultimately chose the most powerful technique, the "Nine Transformations of Life and Death".

Fengyun Wujie understood that being able to act like a servant indicated a high level of restraint, and naturally, their martial skills would not be lacking. In comparison, after completing the first level of the mental technique, Fengyun Wujie remained the weakest, far inferior to any of the others. Although he understood that this was a common phenomenon for newly ascended individuals, Fengyun Wujie still felt some dissatisfaction, which further fueled his motivation to advance.

Another month has passed, during which he sat in silence, without speaking or moving. Throughout this month, the seven meridians and eight vessels within him finally connected completely. As the last segment of the meridian joined, a faint yet miraculous stream of true energy emerged within him. Although this true energy was very weak, as fine as a thread, it was exceptionally pure, many thousands of times purer than the demon-slaying true energy he had originally practiced.

In the square, the numerous martial artists looked on in astonishment at the young man at the center of the whirlwind. Through their sense of breath, they clearly felt that this young man's martial arts cultivation was not high; the only explanation could be the extraordinary power of the techniques he possessed.

The second layer of the heart method, Sword Control. The technique of Sword Control is also known as "Controlling the Sword with Qi," which is the legendary skill of the Sword Immortal. By controlling the sword with Qi, one can strike the enemy's head from a thousand miles away. This is not merely a legend; at least Feng Yunwuji has already come into contact with this sword technique. The character "驭" (to control) has the left component "马" (horse), indicating the swiftness of the sword's flight, while the right side, resembling an "X" with an additional stroke, signifies that one sword is controlled by Qi. Essentially, the technique of Sword Control is still a method of two swords interacting to alter the trajectory of the sword, except that one sword has been replaced by Qi to change the sword's path.

Ah! Fengyun Wujie howled in extreme pain, his voice resonating through the nine heavens, echoing in the square. Countless threads of blood seeped from his pores, even from his eyes, nose, and ears, blood essence oozing out. This extreme suffering, even though he considered himself a tough man, was unbearable. In just a moment, a pool of blood had already accumulated beneath him

The purer the vital energy, the greater its power; this is almost common knowledge among martial artists

Upon completing the first layer of the heart method, Fengyun Wujie suddenly realized that those individuals he had originally sensed were emanating an aura that was less than one-thousandth of their actual power. Among the tens of thousands present, there were actually more than ten thousand people from whom Fengyun Wujie could not sense any vitality, as if they were akin to the dead