"Ordinarily, yes. But as I’ve said, I’m referring to those born into true nobility. And when I say nobility, I’m not talking about some county-level or Prefecture City-level nobles... I mean the powers that stand at the very pinnacle of the Great Zhou. Without a Sword Heart, it’s certainly difficult to grasp ten Sword Intents before the age of twenty on one’s own. But if they use external aids, like a treasure such as the Sword Enlightenment Stone, it’s not impossible."
The old man smiled faintly. "Don’t be impatient, Disciple. You will understand once I’ve finished speaking."
Hearing this, Zhuang Zheng didn’t question him further, waiting for the old man to continue.
"Once the previous conditions are met, you find an Innate Sword Heart. Before that Innate Sword Heart comprehends Sword Intent, you use your own ten Perfect Sword Intents to trigger their Sword Heart. Using a Secret Technique, you inject your ten Perfect Level Sword Intents into their body, allowing you to cover their Sword Heart. The Sword Dao talent of that Sword Heart will then be transferred to the young noble."
Zhuang Zheng now understood why the old man said the conditions were exceptionally harsh.
To comprehend ten Perfect Sword Intents before the age of twenty without a Sword Heart was already an extremely difficult feat.
That was to say nothing of finding an Innate Sword Heart and seizing their Sword Dao talent.
Any Innate Sword Heart, once revealed, would inevitably attract the attention of the Sword Sects from the North Sea Lineage. How could they be so easily controlled and plundered?
"What does any of this have to do with Senior Brother Lin?"
Confusion filled Zhuang Zheng’s eyes. Senior Brother Lin didn’t have a Sword Heart and was already over twenty. His only option was to devour marks, a path that was simply too difficult.
"If someone’s Cultivation of Swordsmanship is the same as even one of the ten Perfect Level Sword Intents a Sealer used to cover a Sword Heart, once they cultivate their Sword Dao Dharma Aspect, they will be able to vaguely sense the Sealer’s existence. And devouring the Sword Dao Mark of a Sealer is far, far simpler than devouring an ownerless Sword Dao Mark from the world."
"A Sealer must face the covetous eyes of Sword Dao geniuses who later cultivate a Dharma Aspect. This is an unjust acquisition, a transgression punished by fate. Therefore, any true Sealer will choose to cultivate ten extremely rare or secret family Swordsmanship styles to avoid exposing their identity."
The old man smiled faintly. "As I’ve said, in an extreme case, your Senior Brother Lin might have such outstanding Sword Dao talent that after forming his Dharma Aspect, he discovers the existence of a Sealer. The Sealer would also sense him. And even if only to prevent the secret of their stolen Sword Heart from being exposed, they would suppress or even assassinate your Senior Brother Lin."
"Uhh..."
Zhuang Zheng rolled his eyes. ’The chances of Senior Brother Lin encountering such a situation are smaller than the chances of me becoming the Sect Leader of the Profound Celestial Sect.’
’Looks like I don’t have to worry about Senior Brother Lin, then. His strength has been advancing by leaps and bounds, which must be due to his own opportunities and talent, coupled with the meticulous cultivation from the Lin Family.’
’What I should be thinking about now is how to remind Senior Brother Zhao to be wary of the person who gave him the Foreign Bone.’
Leaving the Martial Arts Hall and bidding farewell to his master and senior brothers, Lin Yan headed for home.
As for his horse, he had left it at the Martial Arts Hall. The hall now had servants specifically in charge of feeding the horses.
For the number one Martial Arts Hall in Guangping County Town, stables were now standard.
As he walked, he saw that the streets on both sides hadn’t changed much. Most of the signs on the shops where ordinary people bought their daily necessities were the same; on the contrary, it was some of the pharmacies that had new signs.
As he neared the entrance to his alley, Lin Yan didn’t hesitate. He had been away for less than two years, not long enough to develop that bittersweet apprehension about returning home.
Lin Yan had just reached the alley entrance when he saw his younger brother standing at the courtyard gate. Catching sight of his figure, the boy first froze, then immediately broke into a run towards him. Before taking off, he glanced back and shouted into the house, "Mom, Big Brother is really back!"
His younger brother’s voice had barely faded when the figure of his Fourth Aunt, Li Min, appeared at the courtyard gate. She wore a brand-new lotus-pink jacket, a Red Gold Beaded Hairpin tucked in her hair, and her eyes crinkled with a wide smile. Behind her, his Fourth Uncle, Cai Wanlong, clad in a dark brown silk robe, also came into view.
"It really is Lin Yan! Sister-in-law, come quickly!"
Li Min called back towards the courtyard. Lin Yan, for his part, didn’t refuse his little brother who was leaping at him, letting the boy wrap him in a bear hug.
"You’re so old now, but you’re still acting like a child."
Lin Yan had just started to speak when he felt his little brother’s body tremble and heard him sniffling. In the end, he could only sigh helplessly and pat his brother’s shoulder.
"Big Brother, I missed you."
A few moments later, the younger brother pulled away from Lin Yan, his eyes red.
"You missed me, and now I’m back, aren’t I? Alright, so many people are watching. Don’t get snot all over the place."
"It’s not snot!"
Lin Mo protested, reaching up to touch his nose. When he found it was dry, he realized his big brother was teasing him.
Lin Yan could understand his younger brother’s excitement. The two of them had grown up together, and in his brother’s heart, he played a role far greater than just "Big Brother."
Leading his younger brother to the courtyard gate, Lin Yan greeted Li Min and her husband.
"Fourth Uncle, Fourth Aunt."
Then, his gaze shifted into the courtyard, where he saw his aunt standing in a fluster, her expression a mixture of excitement, happy surprise, and a touch of bewilderment.
’She’s gotten thinner since I left.’
"Aunt, I’m back."
Lin Yan stepped forward, set down his travel bag, and respectfully knelt.
"I have been away, and I have made you worry for your nephew."
As Liu Family listened to Lin Yan’s words, tears instantly rolled down her cheeks. She quickly reached out to help him up:
"Get up, quickly. Yan’er, you’re an important person now."

Comments

Loading...