Chapter 2: Sword Box · Ten Thousand Swords Manual
Unaware of the turmoil and disturbances from the outside world, Xu Yiyang found himself in a magical space amidst his confusion
Boom! As the wave of true energy surged forward, Xu Yiyang felt a jolt throughout his entire body, accompanied by a deafening roar in his mind. At the same time, an excruciating pain erupted, sweeping over him in an instant
However, at the same time, Xu Yiyang also felt a wave of coolness beginning to radiate, and all the injured and broken meridians started to recover under this coolness
Xu Yiyang felt a surge of joy in his heart, but soon became dejected: "But I am already dead, what use is there in saying these things?"
Subsequently, he fell into darkness once again
The wave of true energy struck the shackles, and Xu Yiyang felt a jolt throughout his body. Although the shackles were invisible, they truly existed, and the wave of true energy was instantly rebounded. Moreover, the force of that rebound was so strong that it actually surged back into the meridians from the dantian
Speaking, Xu Yiyang walked forward. He suddenly mocked himself, thinking that he was already dead, so what was there to be afraid of
Alright, Xue'er, your brother has sustained serious injuries and needs to rest more
Subsequently, a martial arts technique appeared in Xu Yiyang's mind. This technique is called "The Manual of Ten Thousand Swords"
Xu Yiyang was startled and immediately became alert: "Who are you?"
At that moment, a voice interrupted Xu Yiyang's confusion about the scene and sounds: "Kid, I think you've guessed it too; there is no Sword Mansion within you..."
The restored meridians are even more resilient and broader than before
"Xue'er, are you alright..." Xu Yiyang tried hard to sit up, but was pressed down by a hand.
Suddenly, a figure appeared in Xu Yiyang's mind, the same burly man he had seen when he was previously unconscious: "I have expended the last trace of my vital energy, inscribing my divine powers as a memento, to impart to you a set of martial arts!"
The sword box nodded in satisfaction, and then golden light flickered in the mist, with countless mysterious runes appearing and rushing towards Xu Yiyang.
He did not know how much time had passed, but Xu Yiyang suddenly felt a thunderclap explode within him. An unprecedented great power suddenly spread! A sound like muffled thunder erupted within his body, creating a series of echoes in his mind, shaking his thoughts into a state of clarity
The air was thick with dense fog, and occasionally a flash of light would dart past, fleeting and ephemeral. In this world of utter silence, Xu Yiyang stood in a daze, unsure of what was happening around him
A flash of brilliance swept before my eyes, reminiscent of a shooting star. Just as I was about to gaze upon it, that radiance had already begun to fade away.
He sighed, gazing silently at the ceiling. ... He reached into his bosom and pulled out a palm-sized piece of yellow-brown cloth, his thoughts drifting back to two years ago ...
In the midst of self-mockery, the brilliance ahead grew ever closer, and Xu Yiyang was already able to see the objects within the radiance
In that moment, Xu Yiyang felt as if he understood some principle, yet he could never articulate it clearly. Suddenly, he realized why every stage is divided into the three levels of initial glimpse, realization, and peak.
Xu Yiyang calmed down. Although everything before him was too bizarre to comprehend, just as the strange sword box had stated, this was his only opportunity to change his fate. He yearned to become stronger, to take control of his own destiny
The Sword Case interrupted, saying: "In fact, I have always been parasitic within you, relying on slumber to gradually restore my vitality. Just now, due to your fearlessness and sharp intent, I resonated with you, which caused my awakening. Speaking of which, your desperate efforts just now were partly influenced by my emotions, so I hope you do not hold it against me"
In the distant mist, a faint glow is flickering.
He looked around in confusion, only to see Ye Xue'er’s face, which was covered in tears
Xu Yiyang widened his eyes, yet he could not see the light within the thick fog: "You want me to serve you? A sword sheath?"
On that day, he rescued his adoptive father's only daughter, Ye Xue'er, from the cellar in the village where materials from fierce beasts were stored, and unexpectedly obtained that mysterious sword box. He vowed that he would never allow Ye Xue'er to suffer any harm and swore to find the owner of the cloth and take revenge
With a laugh, the faint clouds of worry that lingered in his brow unexpectedly dissipated. In that moment, all the chaotic concerns of the past also vanished into thin air
"As expected, I was never meant to have a sword manor..." Upon hearing this, Xu Yiyang's face turned pale, "So I have been working in vain all along, I..."
Brother Yiyang, you are awake
That night, it felt as if the heavens and the earth were being destroyed. In their despair, Xu Yiyang and Ye Xueer encountered a person who would change their lives forever—the elder of the Sacred Sword Sect, known as the Thousand-Armed Sword Master, Dugu Yin
Draw the sword
Looking at the emblem of the crossed long sword and rose, Xu Yiyang gritted his teeth, his whole body trembling slightly. He could never forget that scene: the cellar was filled with bodies, all bruised and battered, covered in wounds.
Although your qualifications are not the best, the essence of youth still remains... The voice from the sword box was arrogant, "With me here, you can certainly enter the path of martial arts, and your future is limitless"
The sword box suddenly flew up, rapidly spinning before Xu Yiyang's eyes, and eventually transformed into a burly man dressed in dark attire, resembling a black bear: "Who said you were dead? There are people outside trying to save you! What do you think of my proposal?"
One only needs to strive and practice diligently; everything is possible
Xu Yiyang pondered for a moment, then nodded and said: "Alright! I promise you, once I have achieved success in my cultivation, I will definitely help you regain your new life and uncover the reasons behind it"
Xu Yiyang slowly opened his eyes. He felt utterly exhausted, with pain radiating from every part of his body. All memories related to the sword box receded like a tide, as if they were merely a dream
Then, he recalled everything. Could it be that he was already dead? ... So this is what the underworld is like ...
... ...
"Alright, you say, what do I need to do?" Xu Yiyang calmed down.
"Do you think you are dead?" A voice suddenly emerged, drifting from the depths of the thick fog, its source unknown
He and *the illustrated book* Xu Yiyang were taken aback, for the syllables uttered by that young man were familiar to him.
Although it was only a part, Xu Yiyang discovered that this cultivation method was unique. From this, he understood how to most effectively expand his dantian, refine his meridians, and temper his body
He saw, in the vast expanse of the howling wind, a young man standing proudly, with flowing black hair simply tied back and cascading down his back. ... The young man stood with his hands clasped behind him, uttering a peculiar syllable, and then countless beams of sword light erupted from him, filling the sky.
In this way, the spiritual energy drawn in will not dissipate, and after forming a vortex, the immense pressure created allows Xu Yiyang, who is seated at the center of the vortex, to absorb the spiritual energy more rapidly, truly achieving two benefits in one.
A burst of brilliance suddenly shone! In his hand, a swift sword appeared out of nowhere. From the mouth of the sword sheath, it was revealed that this sword is named "Duan Shui," and it is a sharp blade
Understanding certain principles in the obscurity is referred to as seeing one's nature. Perhaps Xu Yiyang's current cultivation is still pitifully low, but this undoubtedly represents a qualitative leap for him
Nowadays, there are cultivation techniques, swordsmanship, and weapons... The path ahead has already shown hope
The pain that envelops the entire body arises from the impact on the meridians. Those meridians, which have endured rigorous trials and have become exceptionally resilient, are unexpectedly fracturing inch by inch
The first wave quickly formed, and Xu Yiyang, undistracted, propelled the surge of true energy, launching an assault against the invisible shackles
"How would I know? Nowadays, I have forgotten too much. I have even forgotten why I am within you..." The sword box spoke with irritation, then with a sly look said, "Hehe, if it weren't for me awakening and expending my energy to grant you a weapon, how could you have the chance to 'unsheathe' it? Kid, as a way to repay me, how about we make a deal?"
With a light chuckle, Xu Yiyang's thoughts shifted, and the swift sword vanished without a trace
"I am already dead; what else can I do for you?" Xu Yiyang asked.
Dugu Yin frowned, disregarding Ye Xue'er, who was pouting in displeasure, and pulled her along as he headed towards the door
This voice was domineering and aloof, yet Xu Yiyang only paid attention to the other person's last words, unable to help but interrupt, saying: "What? You... you said I can cultivate?"
"Brother, you have been unconscious for an entire day. I am fine; Master said that I overexerted myself during the fight and sustained some internal injuries. As long as I rest well, I will be fine." Ye Xueer obediently raised her head and revealed a sweet smile to Duguyin: "Thank you, Master, for saving my brother!"
"Have you been parasitizing within me? Since when did this start?" Xu Yiyang expressed his astonishment
Heavens, have I really broken through? Xu Yiyang suddenly realized that he no longer needed to hesitate about whether to hand the cloth to Ye Xueer
"I am the Sword Box!" That voice was rough and somewhat unruly. "Kid, you are quite weak! Remember this, I, the Sword Box, possess the power to reach the heavens and penetrate the earth. You must serve me well!"
... ...
Dugu Yin happened to pass by and discovered that Ye Xue'er was a genius with qualifications that could be deemed perfect. Meanwhile, Xu Yiyang, whose physical aptitude was quite ordinary, initially intended to ignore the situation. However, unable to resist Xue'er's persistent requests, he had no choice but to bring both of them back to the sect.
Do not move recklessly. Although I have cleaned your wound, it does not mean you can act freely! Du Gu Yin's face was darker than the bottom of a pot
I possess nothing of value, my pockets are cleaner than my face, what kind of transaction can I engage in
At this moment, one should be at the level of realization, which means ...? ... one has become a swordsman at the level of realization. Xu Yiyang was not certain, but he knew that he truly understood much more.
These are all things he did not know before
As he spoke, the figure of the burly man, transformed from the sword box, resembled a divine being, exuding an imposing presence. Suddenly, he burst apart, turning into countless brilliant points of light that collided wildly in his mind. In just an instant, Xu Yiyang felt a surge of information flooding into his consciousness
Xu Yiyang suddenly understood what it meant to temper the meridians. It was this kind of vibration and repair that allowed the meridians to adapt to high-intensity impacts. ... With this thought, Xu Yiyang no longer felt pain; instead, he became invigorated, transforming the spiritual energy of the books into true qi, and then began to surge forward ...
Be careful to put that piece of cloth away, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of Xu Yiyang's mouth. Standing up, Xu Yiyang thought for a moment, extended his hand, and lightly scolded, "Draw!"
Xu Yiyang felt significantly lighter, as the shackles within his dantian had finally been broken
Dugu Yin glanced at her, then looked towards Xu Yiyang, shaking his head helplessly
Sitting cross-legged, he calmed his mind and focused his spirit. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged in, and as the deeper levels of the technique operated, Xu Yiyang suddenly discovered the intricacies within. Previously, this spiritual energy had rushed in like a great river, wild and unrestrained, yet a significant portion was lost. Now, however, this howling spiritual energy, under the guidance of the technique, began to swirl around him, forming a vortex of spiritual energy
The true energy within the dantian quickly filled up. However, this was just the beginning. Following the instructions of the cultivation method, Xu Yiyang began to control the true energy within his body, forming waves that surged outward, striking against the surrounding constraints
Yet the image within that light spot has already been etched in Xu Yiyang's mind
I will transmit to you the cultivation technique, and you will assist me in recovery and rebirth!" The burly man stood before Xu Yiyang and slowly said, "What you see is merely a fragment of my body after it has split.
In that radiance, there floated a long, narrow wooden box, measuring over three feet in length. It was unclear what material it was made of; it was neither metal nor iron, yet bore a resemblance to jade, while also revealing exquisite wooden grain. The box was intricately carved with various strange beasts, exuding an ancient and grand aura, along with a subtle yet imposing presence. On the front of the box, there were two twisting, peculiar characters, the meaning of which was indecipherable.
That is ... ...
A wild laugh emanated from the wooden box: "Death? Kid, you are naturally endowed with strong muscles and a bit of innate yang energy. You just need to cultivate diligently..."
In the entire house, only Xu Yiyang lay alone in solitude.
On that night two years ago, a sky-high blaze erupted from the Wohu Gorge of the Yunhuang Duchy! Upon returning home, Xu Yiyang saw a ground strewn with corpses and the piece of cloth clutched in the hand of his adoptive father, Uncle Yeshan