5
1025 Words
“What about the ‘White Lightning Step’ Technique? You learned the first stage of it, didn’t you?”
The first stage of the ‘White Lightning Step’ Technique allowed a cultivator to move almost instantly to any point within a radius of one mile. Orune, who’d mastered the third stage, could’ve travelled a distance of almost a hundred miles. Back when he’d taken Hadjar from the Wastelands, thanks to the mysteries that he’d comprehended, he’d been able to increase this distance to an almost unimaginable degree. Crossing half of Darnassus in just a few moments had been no more difficult for Orune than taking a single step. It was unbelievable, but that had been the true strength of the great swordsman.
“Orune put the ingredients needed to master the first stage into the same scroll where he sealed a part of his consciousness,” Hadjar explained. “The magic seal was attuned to break at the same time as the Sword Spirit’s mark was destroyed. Orune believed I could-”
“I still can’t believe he was that powerful… He could’ve taken over the seven Empires if he’d wanted to.”
“Perhaps,” Hadjar didn’t dismiss the idea outright.
They dismounted and came up to the veil that Rekka had already disappeared behind.
“You didn’t say what happened to you in the last five years, barbarian.”
Hadjar stared at his friend. After a few seconds, the islander nodded and followed Rekka inside the veil. Hadjar looked up at the starry sky. He hoped that Orune had found what he’d been looking for at his forefathers’ house — peace. The veil closed behind Hadjar.
***
It was their last day on the Mountain of Elements. They sat on a cliff and looked over at the jungle. Or rather, Hadjar did. Orune didn’t share what he saw.
“I taught you everything I could, disciple. In time, you’ll become much stronger than me.”
Hadjar remained silent.
“You grasped the Blue Wind Sword County... s**t, couldn’t you think of a better name?”
They both laughed.
“You also mastered the first stage of the ‘White Lightning Step’ Technique. Something even the most brilliant scions of aristocratic families would take two centuries to do, you managed to pull off in only forty years.”
“All thanks to you, Master.”
The great swordsman sighed wearily.
“But where you’re going, Hadjar... Nothing will help you: none of the Techniques you inherited from others, nor the ‘White Lightning Step’... not even the True Kingdom of the Blue Wind Sword.”
“They won’t?”
Orune nodded.
“True power, Hadjar, always comes from yourself, from how aware of the visible and invisible of this world you are. One day, you’ll have to create your own Techniques that will be perfect for you. What you’re using right now was created by others for others.”
Hadjar had been thinking about this for a long time now. Probably since the chained dragon Traves had told him, back in that underwater cave many decades ago, that Techniques were just insignificant husks, not true power, and that one day, Hadjar wouldn’t need any Techniques. And the only way to reach these lofty heights of cultivation was through the creation of your own Techniques.
“To create a Sword Technique, Hadjar, you need to have a foundation on which to build it. You don’t have that yet. So, I’ll give you the last of my knowledge. It would be useless to most, but not to you. When the time comes, use it. Learn other cultivators’ styles, pup. Create your own foundations based on theirs. If you pull it off, you’ll grow stronger. If not, you’ll die a quick and easy death.”
Before Hadjar was left alone on the Mountain of Elements, he learned the secret of how a cultivator could become a mortal. When the time came, he would have to strip himself of power and become a mortal again in order to fill the gaps in his cultivation and lay the foundations to create his own fighting style.
***
Hadjar entered the Forbidden City without knowing that he was being watched from the darkness by inhuman eyes.
Chapter 942
“E
verything was restored quickly here,” Hadjar noted, surprised.
The last time he’d seen the garden of the Forbidden City, it had looked no better than the battlefield outside the city. But now, just six months later, the famous garden, one of the Forbidden City’s main attractions, was once again breathtakingly beautiful.
After walking along the stone-paved paths, Hadjar reached the Palace. He noticed that the number of guards at the main gate and patrols in general had increased. Everyone who wore the emblem of the guard corps considered it their sacred duty to cast a look of disdain and dislike at Hadjar. It wasn’t pure hatred, but it was still a little unpleasant to experience.
“Senior Lieutenant Geran!” Six guards at the massive gates stood at attention and saluted her.
“Oh, she was promoted,” Einen grunted.
Hadjar was still surprised by the fact that a member of the aristocratic Geran family, who were famous for building forts and castles, was serving in the rather unremarkable guard corps. It was definitely a great honor to guard the Forbidden City and the Imperial family, but…
Hadjar glanced sideways at the two Divine level swords in Rekka’s hands, which were causing her to gradually wither as a cultivator. These parasites were draining her power and… He suddenly stumbled. Until recently, Geran had looked sickly, but now her energy body was just as good and as strong as a Spirit Knight’s at the advanced stage. By the High Heavens! Something was fishy here.
“Lord Baligor rewarded us for our success.” Rekka shrugged.
“Success?” Hadjar asked. As he passed the six guards, he gave them a slight nod and was glad to see the anger in their eyes. “I’m not sure that our foray into the jungle of Karnak could ever be called successful and-”
- Writer
