The chessboard reflected a transformed humanoid figure, holding a sword, and began practicing what should be the "Water Splitting Sword" moves. Jiang Yichen also watched with focused attention.
Jiang Yichen was no Martial Arts Prodigy and did not have the ability to remember things at a glance. Fortunately, this set of Water Splitting Sword Technique was practiced in its entirety three times, so even if Jiang Yichen were slow, he had memorized it move by move.
Water Splitting Sword, this sword technique was completely different from the Water Soft Sword Technique that Jiang Yichen had previously cultivated.
The Water Soft Sword Technique focused on softness and slowness, with speed in the middle, like flowing water without form, continuous and unending. Once the offensive was launched, it could keep the opponent in a state of constant parrying, and when a Flaw was revealed, it would strike to incapacitate.
If the Water Soft Sword Technique focused on its external form, the Water Splitting Sword Technique focused on Internal Energy, like a surging and roaring river, achieving a continuous and stable Internal Energy, with an offensive that was sharp and peerless.
The Essence of the Water Splitting Sword lay in four points.
Spring Return Chant, using the sword as a medium to gather the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth from outside the body, channeling it into the Meridians throughout the body, condensing it in the Dantian, and transforming it for one's own use. It could restore a considerable amount of essence, Qi, and spirit in a short time, and even when exhausted, Qi-deficient, or mentally fatigued, one could quickly regain the strength to fight again.
Heavenly Illusion Sword, condensing Qi into a sword. At close range, it could manifest several Sword Shadows to Disturb the Enemy's line of sight. At a distance, it could rapidly strike out several illusory water Sword Qi in the same direction, leaving the enemy unable to avoid it.
Heavenly Will Art, stimulating Sword Intent to increase the circulation of Qi Force through the Meridians of the body. In a short time, it improved physical agility and accelerated reaction speed. Combined with other Killing Moves, it could unleash even more Sword Qi offensives in an instant.
Bone Splitting Sword, slashing out two Sword Qi with opposing vortices, possessing the power to destroy meridians and break bones.
It must be said that for the current Jiang Yichen, the Water Splitting Sword Technique not only made up for many of his shortcomings but also increased his methods to respond to the enemy. No wonder Murong Jing and Liu Menghen both said that there would be a great Opportunity here; it was indeed true, and his gratitude toward the two naturally only increased.
Therefore, Jiang Yichen was overjoyed after obtaining this manual and did not immediately choose to go down the cliff, but instead spent two days on this cliff Platform studying the Water Splitting Sword.
During these two days, Jiang Yichen also viewed the manuals for the other five weapons one by one.
He originally thought that learning more wouldn't hurt, but apart from the Dagger he carried, he didn't have the axe, blade, Emei Thorn, or staff. Just looking without practicing meant he couldn't learn and apply them on the spot, so he couldn't familiarize himself with them, and the Poison Kill Dagger was too sinister and vicious, which Jiang Yichen could not learn.
Later, guided by the principle that greed leads to poor digestion, he focused on consolidating and practicing the Water Splitting Sword Technique more.
During these two days, the Little Brown Horse was also very bored, as the Platform was too small to gallop, and it was afraid that those wolf cubs were still guarding the cave, waiting for it to deliver itself. The only consolation was that the food was still good, but it was getting less and less, so it could not let its master stay any longer.
Urged by the Little Brown Horse, Jiang Yichen calculated the time. Since he disembarked from Gusu, ten days had passed, and only half the time remained, so he had to speed up his journey.
"Companion, can you get down from this place?" Jiang Yichen stood at the edge of the cliff, glancing sideways at the Little Brown Horse, speaking with a provocative tone.
The Little Brown Horse did not know if it understood or just caught the meaning, but it stood up, lifted its front hooves to kick, and neighed, as if saying, "Want to have a race?"
To Jiang Yichen's surprise, the Little Brown Horse actually moved first, its four limbs coordinating as it slid downward without any fear.
Jiang Yichen had been worried before about what would happen to the Little Brown Horse if only he could get down.
That was truly amazing, my companion!
Flying to keep up with the Little Brown Horse's rhythm, the man and horse moved by flying over eaves and crawling on walls. For the few cliff trees that appeared on the Little Brown Horse's sliding route, Jiang Yichen spared no effort to slash and level them with Sword Qi. Fortunately, those cliff trees were small and did not have tangled roots.
Although the path down the cliff felt long, in the end, the man and horse reached the bottom of the cliff without any real danger, and only a cup of tea's worth of time had passed.
The edge of the cliff bottom bordered Biluo Lake, and fortunately, there was some place to settle, otherwise, Jiang Yichen and the Little Brown Horse might have been fed to the water as soon as they reached the bottom.
Standing here, one could already see that crossing the Lake Water would lead to the central island, which was where the Great Peach Tree was rooted.
Jiang Yichen estimated that it was at least a li away, and it was another test of Physical strength. Although he could swim across, the speed would inevitably be very slow, and the consumption of Strength would likely be greater, and getting his body wet would also be a trouble.
Looking back at the Little Brown Horse, who knew this companion would lift its head again, ignoring Jiang Yichen's gaze, and enter the water to swim forward, as if saying to him, "Hurry up, brother, stop looking, or do you want to race again?"
Jiang Yichen was between laughter and tears, but he was not willing to fall behind, so he followed.
Jiang Yichen's speed was naturally much faster than the Little Brown Horse's. Using his Lightness Skill to skim over the water, he created ripples and splashes on the lake surface, quickly putting distance between himself and the Little Brown Horse.
Jiang Yichen's Lightness Skill was not bad, but his Physical strength was a big problem. Over a distance of one li, he could not stop to perform the Spring Return Chant on the water, so he could only grit his teeth and persist.
Compared to the constant stumbling of the previous few days, today's departure was relatively smooth. Without any accidents, Jiang Yichen and the Little Brown Horse arrived at the Biluo Lake island one after another.
What surprised Jiang Yichen was that although it was early morning, there were already other people on the island, men and women, in twos and threes, old and young, some fishing, some admiring flowers, and some playing.
However, they seemed to have no interest in the arrival of the man and horse, at most giving them a "seen it" look. Even though one came running from the lake surface and the other swam from the water. To some, it seemed they were accustomed to it and found it nothing strange. To others, they simply didn't want to be curious and cause trouble.
Jiang Yichen was happy that no one bothered him; otherwise, he really wouldn't know how to explain his experiences over the past few days, or whether he should explain them at all.
What disappointed Jiang Yichen was the Biluo Lake Great Peach Tree. Apart from being truly large—the trunk was large, the branches were large, the flowers were large, the roots were large, and it had roots exposed on the ground like a banyan tree—there was nothing else strange about it.
If he were to investigate why this peach tree was so large, he could only think of "gathering the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth, collecting the essence of the sun and moon," otherwise, he would have to suspect the world itself.
Fortunately, when he first saw the peach tree that day, although he was attracted by the beautiful scenery created by Heaven and Earth and had his soul hooked, he did not rush over recklessly, thus avoiding losing the watermelon while picking up sesame seeds.
Without delaying too long, Jiang Yichen and the Little Brown Horse rested for a while and then wanted to leave. When they reached the wooden bridge at the exit of the island, they saw an old man with white hair and a peach-colored face blocking the way.
"Is there anything this old man needs help with?" Jiang Yichen asked with a cupped-fist salute.
"Is this the Young Hero's first time in Jiangning?" the old man asked in return.
"Yes," Jiang Yichen replied.
"Then is this also the Young Hero's first time at this Biluo Lake?" the old man asked again.
"Yes," Jiang Yichen replied again.
"Does the Young Hero have a sweetheart?" the old man continued to ask.
"A sweetheart?" Jiang Yichen was stunned.
"It means a girl you like." Seeing Jiang Yichen's pause, the old man guessed that Jiang Yichen did not understand the meaning of "sweetheart" and explained further.
"A girl I like..." Jiang Yichen fell into deep thought instead. Was it Xin'er, Yan'er, or Huniu on the island? Or Sister Ruolan? Jiang Yichen seemed to only know these girls.
"Hehe, forgive this old man for being abrupt. This old man dares to delay the Young Hero for a moment, as I would like to speak a few words with you." Seeing Jiang Yichen's tightly furrowed brows, obviously not understanding his meaning, the old man stepped forward, bowed, and spoke again.
"You are too polite, this Little Ke is willing to listen." Jiang Yichen came back to his senses, but not knowing what the old man was talking about, he dismounted out of politeness and returned the bow.
"Does the Young Hero know that this Great Peach Tree is said to have been rooted here in Biluo Lake for a thousand years? Its towering and lush form must be unique in the world, and it is the most magnificent wonder in Jiangning Commandery, so this Great Peach Tree is also known as the Peach Immortal Tree."
"Does the Young Hero know what these peach blossoms symbolize? Love. Thus, whenever the peach blossoms are in full bloom, many young men and women come here to pray for their marriage, or to let the Peach Immortal Tree witness the happy union of a Beauty and her partner."
"This old man was fortunate to have an Opportunity with the immortal tree when I was young, and since then, I have stayed with it, accompanying it for over eighty years. Borrowing the spirit of the immortal tree, I bless the couples who tie the knot here, and I am jokingly called the Peach Immortal Old Man by the world."
"It is now the third month of spring, which is the season when peach blossoms are in full bloom. This old man sees that the Young Hero's arrival here was an accident, but it is also a kind of fate. That I can meet the Young Hero and that the Young Hero can stop for me is also due to fate. When I first saw the Young Hero, I felt that you must be new to the world, and after a few words, it is indeed true. Here, Young Hero, please do not blame me for speaking too much, I only have one sentence to gift you." The old man said slowly.
"Please speak, old man," Jiang Yichen replied.
"When the flower is ready to be plucked, pluck it; do not wait until there are no flowers and break an empty branch."
After the words were finished, Jiang Yichen was a bit confused by the old man's series of words, and the last sentence was even more incomprehensible, leaving him not understanding why.
"Love?" For Jiang Yichen, who was new to the world, this was obviously more obscure and difficult to understand than any Martial Arts Manual, not to mention that he could not understand what love was at all at this time.
"The Young Hero just needs to remember this sentence. The Peach Immortal Tree will bear fruit at the end of summer and the beginning of autumn each year. If the Young Hero is free then, you are welcome to come back and taste it." The old man did not care that Jiang Yichen was resting his chin on his hand and deep in thought, and said with a smile.
"Thank you, old man." Jiang Yichen replied with his mouth, but his thoughts had not yet returned. When he looked forward again, the old man was no longer in front of him. Looking around, there was no trace of the old man left.
✦✦✦