Swordbound Chronicles

Escape in the Rain.

In the midst of the heavy rain, as dawn began to shine in the sky, there were two shadows running hurriedly on the edge of the Fairy Cliff. They, Yuan Fen and Yi Zan, no longer paid attention to their drenched bodies. All they thought about was running as far and fast as possible to leave the Fairy Cliff and reach the Cloud Sword Sect.

Many small cuts and scratches dotted their skin as they broke through the bushes to find the fastest way to Cloud Sword Sect. For more than two hours, running, the Cloud Sword Sect came into view.

The Cloud Sword Sect was actually a mini city surrounded by buildings housing the sect's disciples. In addition, there were five small hills behind where the disciples were trained and where the peak master and master of the Cloud Sword Sect lived.

They separated themselves; Zuo Yi Zan moved towards Green Peak, while Yuan Fen headed towards the most remote part of the back. This part was usually not chosen as a place to live by the sect disciples who were less prominent than other areas.

Yuan Fen lived in a simple hut that he called home.

Yuan Fen quickly cleaned himself up, changed into his dirty and muddy disciple worker clothes, and got ready to work on cleaning the sect library area. However, he felt uncomfortable, scared, and nervous as he still remembered the cold gaze of the handsome man from the Elf Race.

She shuddered at the thought of the Elf beheading her earlier.

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The days passed without any notable events.

On the third day, after the feeling of fear slowly began to subside, Yuan Fen suddenly felt a strong urge to learn the Sword Technique demonstrated by the Elf named Suma Chen.

"Why not? I have a high level of intelligence now, so why not try that Elf Sword Technique instead of constantly thinking about the horror of that demon beheading?" Yuan Fen thought.

With his eyes closed, he began to fully concentrate and imagine every sword move displayed by Suma Chen during the battle that night.

Yuan Fen felt like he was watching an image of that event on a monitor screen, like watching a recording on a computer. He kept repeating and absorbing the scene, marveling at his memory's ability to play out the battle scene in slow-motion detail.

"Good, it seems I've memorized and understood this fighting technique," Yuan Fen said when he opened his eyes from his brief meditation. Using a tree branch, he began to mimic the movements of the Snow Lotus Pure Heart Sword Technique.

"There are 17 moves with three changes that can be applied in this Technique," Yuan Fen muttered as he practiced stabbing, beheading, attacking, and even defensive moves. After an hour, he successfully completed all the moves in the Snow Lotus Pure Heart Sword Technique, Trenta's high-level Earth-level Sword Technique. His body was drenched in sweat.

Actually, although there were still weaknesses in the execution of this Sword Technique, such as Qi ability, fighting strength, dodging flexibility, as well as the use of ice elements in the Snow Lotus Pure Heart Sword Technique, what Yuan Fen had demonstrated was outstanding. After all, this was a high-grade Earth Technique. Only great sect leaders possessed Earth grade battle Techniques, let alone Trenta grade.

 This Yuan Fen dreamed of becoming a court disciple in the Cloud Sword Sect. He greatly admired the appearance of sword knights and chose to join the sect, although only as a worker disciple. However, as an ordinary person, his limitations were obvious, especially in terms of cultivation.

Yuan Fen's intelligence was considered low. And to be a cultivator required a high level of intelligence.

Cultivators had to memorize many nerve points in the body, as well as understand complex blood flow and meridians. Mistakes in directing Qi to certain areas can have serious consequences, even endangering lives. A cultivator must understand and memorize these things carefully.

However, without realizing it, Yuan Fen had been gifted with mental energy abilities when he was hit by a lightning strike in the Fairy Cliff Forest. He had yet to fully realize this potential, but the mental energy ability was a very valuable first step. It would allow him to practice in creating talismans, inscriptions, and even creating illusions.

Many cultivators and individuals out there desperately wanted mental energy abilities, which would allow them to become Symbol Masters. Becoming a Symbol Master means being able to create talismans, inscriptions, and much more that can increase one's wealth and power.

The cost of obtaining the services of a Symbol Master is very high and can drain one's wealth. Back to Yuan Fen's state, the potential mental energy within him was like a child sleeping comfortably inside him, waiting to be awakened.

Several months passed, and during that time, Yuan Fen remained diligently cleaning the Cloud Sword Sect library courtyard, all the while dreaming about becoming an inner court disciple and learning many things. He knew that when he had enough contribution points, he could exchange them for Cultivation techniques from the library, just like the disciples he was watching now were doing.

What the boy didn't know was that the Snow Lotus Pure Heart Sword Technique was actually the highest grade Earth class sword technique, which was Trenta. Therefore, in his daily duties, Yuan Fen always tried to establish a good relationship with the inner court disciples, even with just a friendly greeting or good morning.

He realized that maintaining a good relationship could be very beneficial in the future if he was accepted as an inner court disciple. Having friends was better than having enemies.

Every day, after completing his routine tasks, Yuan Fen also continued his breathing cultivation practice according to Yi Zan's teachings, when he returned to his residential cottage. He dreamed of reaching the Mortal Cultivation realm 5 to be qualified to become a Cloud Sword Sect disciple.

Besides practicing the Breathing Technique, Yuan Fen was still practicing the 9 Palm Splitting Ocean Punch according to Yi Zan's teachings. And if one were to approach the cottage where Yuan Fen lived while he was practicing, they would hear as if the roar of waves was heard around the cottage. Of course, this would confuse them as the area was far from the sea, and they would wonder why there was a loud sound of waves.

"I spent an entire month practicing this 9 Ocean Splitting Palm. Even if Yi Zan saw me, he would definitely be envious. All the moves and changes I made were so different and felt more perfect than what Yi Zan taught me.

It feels like my intellect has improved some of the moves Yi Zan taught me, so as a result when I execute these 9 Palms, it becomes not only very beautiful, but also a more dangerous technique than when Yi Zan taught it to me," Yuan Fen thought.

Until one afternoon, Yuan Fen felt something change in his body. All his muscles and bones moved slowly and made a loud noise. The sound was similar to the sound that occurs when tree branches break. In a not-so-loud sigh, Yuan Fen let out some sort of unpleasant aroma from his mouth.

"Mortal Realm 4!"

A voice suddenly sounded in Yuan Fen's hut, followed by the appearance of a petite 9-year-old girl wearing the robes of a Cloud Sword Sect disciple.

"Congratulations, worker brother! You have been promoted to become a higher realm practitioner. If you put in more effort, then in the next two months you can participate in the recruitment of new court disciples within the Cloud Sword Sect!" The girl's voice greeted Yuan Fen.

Yuan Fen was happy to hear the girl's voice, his chest thumping. He had been looking forward to the girl's arrival for several days. Was there any new news about their last trip in that Elf and demon battle forest? Yuan Fen's face looked puzzled.

Continued