CHAPTER 263: CHAPTER 214: DUGU NINE SWORDS, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COMPLETED!

In Yingze City, at the Wendeng Academy’s base.

Zhou Yan, Zhou Jiao, Zhou Wen, Zhou Hui, Zhou Hao, the Zhou family sisters occupy a small courtyard by themselves.

The strength of the five sisters is astounding, effortlessly advancing to the fourth round of the ’Jian Province Competition,’ reaching the group stage, to some extent, they can breathe a sigh of relief, as they are guaranteed a spot in the top 20.

"Just hope for a better grouping, and not end up with those three."

Eldest sister Zhou Yan is nominally the eldest, but among the sisters, aside from her beauty being indisputably ranked first, she is the most timid and lacks ambition, not even thinking about facing the top three prodigies, only hoping to secure a stable advancement with a chance to win more prize money is already satisfactory.

Fourth sister Zhou Hui, slim and tall, snorts, "Big sister has no ambition! Even if Yan Chuan, Wang Zhengyi, and Liu Qifeng are strong, aren’t they each strong individually? If we join forces with the Plum Blossom Sword Formation, we might be just as good!"

"Come off it!"

Little sister Zhou Hao, chubby and sullen, hangs her head, but her mouth is sharp, "Yan Chuan is a great master in swordsmanship, his swordsmanship is countless times superior to ours! Whether the Plum Blossom Sword Formation works in front of him is questionable. Wang Zhengyi is even simpler, if he throws a boulder weighing thousands of pounds, how are we to block it? And that Liu Qifeng’s inner strength is endless, always entangling others, and he specializes in finding flaws. We’ve used the Plum Blossom Sword Formation several times, and he might have already spotted its flaws."

Can’t beat them!

No way to beat them!

"Not necessarily!"

"Liu Qifeng might not be."

Eldest sister Zhou Yan winked at fourth sister Zhou Hui, jokingly said, "That Liu Qifeng chased from the Mountain and Sea Realm to the Zhou Family’s Castle, and from Peng State to Jian Province, endlessly gifting elixirs and fine wines, deeply infatuated. If on the stage, the fourth sister uses her charms a bit, wouldn’t Liu Qifeng be right in our hands?"

Second sister Zhou Jiao, petite and delicate as her name suggests, isn’t interested in the competition or the grouping, but perked up when the eldest sister gossiped about Liu Qifeng, "It’s said that a fierce woman fears a persistent man, fourth sister, tell us, what do you really think?"

"Can’t go three sentences without mentioning Liu Qifeng!"

"You got me there!"

Zhou Hui rolled her eyes, yet didn’t resist the topic.

The sisters thoroughly veered off course, from originally discussing the competition and its grouping, to unknowingly veering towards Liu Qifeng and Zhou Hui’s feelings.

Subsequently, the topic of feelings extended to Zhou Yan, Zhou Jiao, and even third sister Zhou Wen, where in matters of love and mate selection, the four sisters had much to say, except for the youngest Zhou Hao, who wasn’t enlightened yet and showed no interest, instead she went off to tinker with making some tasty food.

Inside the room.

The four sisters were chatting animatedly.

Suddenly—

"Ah!"

Suddenly from outside came a scream from Zhou Hao—

"Little sister!"

The four were startled, drawing their swords and rushing out. Under the starlit night, three black-clothed men appeared as if from nowhere, scaling the walls into the courtyard, with little sister Zhou Hao laying on the side, unknown if alive.

The few sisters, with deep affection, were momentarily enraged—

"Die!"

...

In Yingze City, at the Taikang Academy’s base.

Yan Chuan created the ’Dugu Nine Swords,’ and today didn’t go to the Cangwu Department’s Collection Room, but returned to his small courtyard to meticulously organize and ponder this supreme divine skill—

...

[Task Four]

[Research Project Name: Dugu Nine Swords (Difficulty: Geng ★)]

[Inspiration: 100]

[Completing the task will yield ’Experience +50000,’ ’Spiritual +50000’.]

...

"Dugu Nine Swords!"

"Finally achieved!"

Yan Chuan rejoiced immensely.

This time, the process of developing the ’Dugu Nine Swords’ wasn’t actually long; the first night after the ’Jian Province Competition’ started, following the completion of the ’Purple Mist Divine Skill,’ Yan Chuan simultaneously established the tasks for ’Dugu Nine Swords’ and ’Wave Riding Micro Steps’ at the seventh level ’Geng level.’

It was the night of February 24.

Today is March 9.

In total, it’s only been sixteen days, just half a month, which is far shorter in comparison to the eight months for ’Yijinjing’ or even over a month for ’Xingyi Boxing.’

But it shouldn’t be calculated this way.

The development of ’Dugu Nine Swords’ was built upon Yan Chuan’s rapid progress over half a year, and in the premium setting of the ’Jian Province Competition.’

Supported by Yan Chuan’s martial arts foundation and accumulation.

And the inspiration fed back to Yan Chuan from the thoughts of the many spectators at the ’Jian Province Competition.’

Martial arts research!

Moving rapidly!

In normal times, under usual circumstances, it could take three to five months to complete the ’Dugu Nine Swords,’ but at this stage—

Heavenly time, geographical advantage, human harmony!

Half month achievement, it’s joyous and worth celebrating!

...

"The return to no wrong, no wrong leads to unity, unity leads to great gain, from first to third, third to Geng, Geng to Gui, the intersection of Zi and Chou, interaction of Chen and Si, interaction of Wu and Wei, wind and thunder bring changes, mountain and pool bring changes, water and fire bring changes, Qiankun collide, Zhen and Dui collide, Li and Xun collide, three becomes five, five becomes nine... "

Yan Chuan swiftly organized the sword manual of ’Dugu Nine Swords,’ starting from the general outline, bit by bit comprehending its essence.

This swordsmanship takes its general outline from the ’Zhou Yi,’ and the first form ’General Decision Form’ contains the highest realm within, incorporating various changes used to perform the general formula, totaling three hundred and sixty transformations. In combat, this can serve as a basis, integrating the intent of the other eight forms within it, achieving the level of nine swords returning to unity.

"Break Sword Style!"

"Breaking Saber Form!"

"Gun Breaking Form!"

"Breaking Whip Style!"

"Breaking Rope Style!"

"Breaking Palm Formation!"

"Arrow Breaking Style!"

"Qi Breaking Style!"

Yan Chuan sat cross-legged, recalling the eighteen martial arts he encountered over the years in his mind, especially various martial arts witnessed in the ’Jian Province Competition,’ categorizing them under the ’Eight Forms,’ all reappearing in his mind.

Starting with swordsmanship—

From his ’Five Mountains Swordsmanship,’ ’Quanzhen Swordsmanship,’ ’Ancient Tomb Swordsmanship,’ to the myriad sword techniques witnessed and learned recently, one by one he recalled them, thinking in his heart how to counter each with ’General Decision Form’ leading ’Break Sword Style.’

This is: Studying past exam questions!

Studying the ’Dugu Nine Swords’ has only one method—

"Enlightenment!"

Learning this set of swordsmanship emphasizes the word ’enlightenment,’ and not rote memorization. As long as one understands the sword intent of these nine swords, there is nothing one cannot accomplish, nothing one cannot penetrate, even if all changes are forgotten, it doesn’t matter. In combat, the more one can forget, the less constrained by the original swordsmanship one becomes.

This is quite similar to ’Tai Chi Boxing,’ emphasizing intent over form!

However, the concept of ’enlightenment’ is profound and mysterious. How to achieve enlightenment, and how to increase the success rate of understanding and sudden realization?

There’s a method to this as well.

The key lies in—

"Broadness!"

Constantly witnessing the martial arts of various schools, whether it be fist, foot, saber, or sword, trying to counter them according to the theories of ’Dugu Nine Swords’ and the guidance of ’General Decision Form.’

An old saying goes: Read a book a hundred times, its meaning will naturally appear.

Another ancient saying states: The tactic of studying past exam questions is number one under the heavens!

And in studying the ’Dugu Nine Swords,’ ’enlightenment’ cannot be forcefully sought, ’broadness’ is what one can control.

Constantly witnessing!

Constantly pondering!

Constantly summarizing!

In studying ’Dugu Nine Swords,’ start by applying formulas.

After formulas become second nature.

Practice over and over, solving problems over and over, constantly thinking and deriving.

Eventually.

Rediscover clarity.

Of course, there is also the possibility of being dull for a lifetime, never achieving understanding. This is also normal as divine skills require a certain destiny, the same divine skill can be mastered instantly by some, while others never succeed regardless.

Can’t be forced!

But this set of ’Dugu Nine Swords,’ even if only the formulas and rigid rules are learned, as long as it is used, it possesses power, proving far superior to the beggar’s version of ’Dai Sect’s Martial Arts.’

Comprehension!

Broadness!

This is what the average person needs to have to study the ’Dugu Nine Swords.’

But Yan Chuan.

Doesn’t need it.

"I have ’Mutual Teaching and Learning,’ by fighting with others, constantly explaining and receiving feedback, then breaking through with ’Dugu Nine Swords,’ even if rigid and orthodox, but by knowing oneself and the enemy, I can handle most situations."

Yan Chuan chuckled lightly.

He closed his eyes, intending to continue delving into ’Dugu Nine Swords.’

Suddenly.

At that moment.

"Ah!"

A scream suddenly echoed, immediately followed by a few cries, "Die!"

"That direction—"

"It’s Wendeng Academy!"

Yan Chuan was startled, he moved upon hearing, crashing out of the window, rushing straight towards the Wendeng Academy’s base—

When one is in trouble, help comes from all sides!

We mustn’t shy away from our duty!

...

"Both of you, I’ll repeat it once more, our target this time is just the Zhou family sisters, grab and go, dead or alive, do not get involved in a prolonged battle."

"The Zhou family sisters are strong in the ’Plum Blossom Sword Formation,’ when we rush in, do not give them the chance to form the formation, engage as soon as we meet, take down one first, the remaining four won’t be able to establish the formation and will be easier to handle."

Feng Guan, dressed in black with his face covered in a black cloth, stood alongside two friends from the same ’Ranmian God Sect,’ all similarly attired, sneaking around outside the Wendeng Academy’s base.

Dai Qing had some reservations, "Leader Xiong warned us repeatedly not to act rashly, isn’t it unwise to make a move like this? Maybe we should at least inform Leader Xiong?"

"Informing? Forget it!"

"What else would Leader Xiong do but let us wait foolishly?"

"Wait some more?"

"If we wait any longer, the opportunity would pass, do you really think that if we keep waiting, the Zhou family sisters would still be quality ’sacrifices’ available for us?"

Feng Guan sneered, patiently reassuring Dai Qing, "Brother Dai, the Zhou family sisters in the Wendeng Academy are the perfect target, the five sisters, all prodigies, and with their connected bloodlines, using them as ’sacrifices’ will surely have unexpected effects, really, trust me!"

Dai Qing, along with Kang Bo Lei beside him, exchanged a glance, finally pushed past their concerns, Feng Guan was originally a follower from the ’Mianran God Sect’ in Peng State, following Xiong Ji to Jian Province a few years ago, building success from scratch, spreading the glory of ’Mianran God’ to the Nine Counties of Jian Province.

In terms of the sect’s secrets, Feng Guan was far more knowledgeable than them.

Sisters united?

Sacrificial effect enhanced?

Perhaps, he’s worth listening to.

Immediately.

The three sneaked over the walls and into the courtyard, and just happened to see the youngest of the Zhou family sisters, Zhou Hao, alone, busy in the kitchen with food.

"Heaven is on our side!"

Feng Guan rejoiced.

The three rushed into the kitchen—

"Ah!"

Zhou Hao, caught off guard, was no match for four hands, and in one round was subdued, Feng Guan, most skilled in grappling and acupoint techniques, sealed Zhou Hao’s acupoint leaving her immobile, tossing her to the ground.

Right after—

"Die!"

Females’ voices yelled out, Feng Guan turned to see Zhou Yan, Zhou Jiao, Zhou Wen, Zhou Hui charging out.

"Meeting again!"

Feng Guan’s gaze fell on the leader, eldest sister Zhou Yan’s face, seeing her dazzling appearance with hints of endearing clumsiness, move one’s heart, Feng Guan grinned from under his mask, without further ado, he launched an attack.

...