CHAPTER 246: CHAPTER 245: TWIN SWORDS COMBINE_1

"This is just a love poem. I can’t see how it has anything to do with swordsmanship."

Ling Chen read the poem once, then shook his head. From these four lines alone, he could discern nothing.

"Is that all? Try it again with Sword Intent," Xu Ruoyan said, shaking her head.

Hearing her words, Ling Chen also activated his Mountain and Water Sword Intention, injecting a trace of his Sword Intent into the Martial Arts True Meaning Picture. After a while, he indeed made a new discovery.

In Ling Chen’s mind, these extremely profound and grandiose phrases appeared:

"Blood drenches the Long Sword, slaying thousands strong,

My Sword Heart commands the Spiritual Edge along.

Yin and Yang, divided, yet their places hold true,

Encountering Feng Yun, a dragon breaks through."

These four lines, like four Treasure Swords, were forcefully thrust into Ling Chen’s mind.

"So, can you see the swordsmanship incantations within it?" The light in Xu Ruoyan’s beautiful eyes brightened. Seeing Ling Chen’s abnormal reaction, she could already guess the result, but she still asked to confirm.

"I see them."

Ling Chen’s complexion was slightly pale. The master of this Martial Arts True Meaning Picture was probably no ordinary individual. These few sentences contained an extremely sharp aura. If not for his Sword Intent, he might have been injured by this aura.

"What kind of swordsmanship is this?" Ling Chen asked with some surprise.

"This swordsmanship is called the Yin-Yang Sword Song. What you saw was the ’Yang’ part, which men cultivate. What I saw before was the ’Yin’ part, which women cultivate. Together, the two parts form the complete Yin-Yang Sword Song," Xu Ruoyan explained seriously.

"When separated, the power of these two swordsmanship parts diminishes greatly. However, if a man and a woman cultivate it together, their Twin Swords joining in harmony, this swordsmanship is likely unrivaled in the world."

A glint also appeared in Xu Ruoyan’s eyes.

Upon hearing this, Ling Chen looked surprised. "To unleash the true power of this swordsmanship requires a man and a woman to cultivate it together. Such a precious swordsmanship... Miss Xu, why aren’t you looking for someone close to you to practice with, instead of seeking me out?"

"The cultivation requirements for this swordsmanship are extremely high. The two practitioners must be deeply connected, reaching a realm of mutual understanding."

Xu Ruoyan glanced at Ling Chen. "After much thought, it seems you’re the only one who meets the conditions. Only you can help me cultivate this swordsmanship. Of course, whether or not you cultivate it is entirely up to you. If you choose not to, I can naturally find someone else."

Hearing this, Ling Chen smiled bitterly. It seems Xu Ruoyan knew my true identity all along and was just pretending not to. Only I thought I could keep her in the dark.

Ling Chen pondered for a moment, then nodded. "I’ll practice it. However, this is solely for us to jointly cultivate this swordsmanship. It doesn’t mean we have any other ties."

"Of course."

Hearing Ling Chen’s words, which clearly drew a line, Xu Ruoyan’s pretty face turned considerably colder. "Do you think I want any ties with you? You’re merely a tool for me to cultivate this Yin-Yang Sword Song. Once the swordsmanship is mastered, I naturally won’t need you anymore."

"Just consider me a tool," Ling Chen said faintly.

He didn’t want to get too deeply entangled with Xu Ruoyan. Even though he did have some feelings for her, he could only suppress them.

Until he uncovered the truth behind the calamity of the Divine Intent Sect and avenged the Blood Sea of hatred, Ling Chen wouldn’t even think about romantic entanglements. Such things would only dull one’s edge and fighting spirit.

So, even if Ling Chen liked Xu Ruoyan, he had to push her away. This way, it could also be considered a form of protection for her. After all, in his current state, he could barely protect himself, let alone anyone else.

"Then let’s not waste time. Let’s begin."

Xu Ruoyan seemed somewhat numbed by anger. Her pretty face had completely returned to its usual icy frostiness, her beautiful eyes seemingly devoid of any emotion.

Without further words, Ling Chen began to circulate his energy according to the cultivation methods recorded in the Martial Arts True Meaning Picture.

Across from him, Xu Ruoyan had also sat down cross-legged and was similarly circulating her energy.

According to the cultivation technique’s records, a current of wind-like energy soon stirred in Ling Chen’s Dantian, rapidly spreading through his meridians. With a thought, a clear diagram of the energy circulation path appeared in his mind.

WHOOSH!

Ling Chen’s body flitted, landing in the open space before him. He spun and moved rapidly, comprehending the profundities within this swordsmanship.

Meanwhile, Xu Ruoyan also wielded her Cloud and Water Sword. Her steps seemed slower but were graceful and elegant. As she performed the sword steps, she looked as if she were dancing.

Suddenly, Ling Chen let out a soft cry. His body abruptly blurred, leaving a trail of afterimages behind him as he moved at high speed within a range of several chi.

At this moment, Xu Ruoyan also noticed Ling Chen’s strangeness, her heart filled with extreme astonishment at his actions. In that instant of her surprise, Ling Chen suddenly grabbed her jade-like hand.

Before Xu Ruoyan could ask anything, her body was pulled along by Ling Chen, and they began to move rapidly together.

Gradually, a trace of shock appeared in Xu Ruoyan’s beautiful eyes. She discovered that Ling Chen’s movement trajectory was increasingly aligning with the incantations of the Yin-Yang Sword Song, perfectly matching the artistic conception of the swordsmanship’s verses.

Watching that increasingly fast figure, Xu Ruoyan suddenly understood that Ling Chen was likely not as simple as he appeared on the surface. For him to progress from nothing to such a cultivation realm in just one short year, there were probably many unknown secrets involved.

Under the moonlight, in the courtyard, two figures, a man and a woman, moved with great speed.

Viewed from afar, the sword techniques they wielded were incomparably wondrous. Moreover, each move and stance complemented the other, as if they were perfectly in sync.

Suddenly, two streams of sword qi surged skyward. Ling Chen and Xu Ruoyan, who were on the surface of the pond, shot upwards. SPLASH! Two water columns slowly formed into a Giant Dragon and a Phoenix, spiraling upwards, straight towards the heavens.

Ling Chen’s voice resounded in mid-air as his Sword Momentum shifted.

"The wind sways the Big Dipper, its handle near to breaking;

Rain overflows the Tianhe, its waves now freshly waking!"

The Giant Dragon behind him also ascended with immense power, swallowing clouds and exhaling mist.

Xu Ruoyan’s body also soared into mid-air.

"Startling gales send lotus dancing on the mere;

Dense rain slants down, the wind itself turns chill and drear."

Behind her, a Phoenix cried out softly, its call echoing clearly in the courtyard.

Their swords intertwined.

They gazed at each other, their eyes unwavering.

The Dragon and Phoenix dissipated. A light rain began to fall over the entire courtyard.

Pedestrians near the restaurant also felt raindrops on their heads and couldn’t help but look up at the sky.

"It’s raining."

"It was fine just a moment ago. How did it suddenly start raining?"

"And it’s only raining here. Look, over there it’s still fine."

The passing pedestrians were utterly bewildered, not knowing what to make of it.

In the sky courtyard, the two descended from mid-air, landing softly.

"This swordsmanship is truly extraordinary. I never thought we’d master it in such a short time," Ling Chen remarked with some emotion. He then looked at Xu Ruoyan. In the night rain, her dress was drenched. An alluring, noble aura emanated from her. Reflected in the falling raindrops, she appeared both beautiful and mysterious, like a phantom of the night.