Chapter 4 - 004: A Flash of Inspiration
The Wind and Thunder Sword was so named because this martial skill could harness the force of wind and thunder between heaven and earth. Once unleashed, the sword was as swift as the wind, coiling with thunder serpents, bringing death or injury to any enemy it encountered.
All three present were extremely familiar with the Wind and Thunder Sword. Naturally, they knew whether what Liu Ruoning was displaying was the Wind and Thunder Sword or not.
At this moment, what Liu Ruoning was performing was indeed the spell of the Wind and Thunder Sword, but it was greatly different.
The sword was as swift as the wind and thunder, that much was correct, but the wind was too strong, and the thunder serpent… this was not a thunder serpent, it was a thunder dragon!
The clouds in midair changed with the wind, the thunder dragon roared up and down, the dragon’s roars echoed, deeply shocking everyone present.
Lu Chenghui’s eyes were wide open. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing, his eyes turned red and he was somewhat choked up.
“After so many years, the Wind and Thunder Sword has finally displayed its true power again. Founding master of the Shangyuan Sect, our sect’s revival is in sight.”
Changyue Real Man, with the same disbelief on his face, nodded in shock and said, “I never thought that the Wind and Thunder Sword could explode with such power. Even among heaven-level martial skills, it is top-notch, it really is… What?”
Upon saying this, Changyue Real Man suddenly snapped back to reality, turned around abruptly, and looked at Lu Chenghui, “Was the Wind and Thunder Sword originally a heaven-level martial skill?”
Lu Chenghui nodded, and said with a gratified smile, “The Wind and Thunder Sword was originally called the Dayan Wind and Thunder Sword. It was a cultivation method created by the founding master of the Shangyuan Sect. But the Dayan Wind and Thunder Sword was too hard to comprehend. Over the long years of inheritance, no one could understand it anymore. It’s a joyous event, our Shangyuan Sect has produced another prodigy.”
A look of surprise crossed Changyue Real Man’s face and he asked, “Then… what about Ruoning’s marriage…?”
“With such talent, why talk about marriage? Tomorrow… no, later I will send someone to inform the Sword Servant Sect to cancel this engagement.”
“Thank you, Sect Master Senior Brother!” Excitement flashed across Changyue Real Man’s face, and he quickly expressed his gratitude.
Lu Chenghui waved his hand and said, “No need to thank me, all of this was earned by Ruoning herself.”
Gou Shengtian, who was standing nearby, was listening to their conversation. The corners of his mouth twitched uncontrollably. How did such a promising marriage proposal fall apart?
The Dayan Wind and Thunder Sword, oh, it was the Dayan Wind and Thunder Sword, a high-level heaven-class martial skill. Among the minor sects in the Nether State, only a handful could muster such a high-level heaven-class martial skill.
Gou Shengtian was still in a state of disbelief.
“Impossible, with Liu Ruoning’s talent, how could she suddenly comprehend the Dayan Wind and Thunder Sword? There must be a trick here.”
Lu Chenghui frowned and glanced at Gou Shengtian, saying in a deep voice, “Junior Brother, now that Ruoning has grasped the Dayan Wind and Thunder Sword, the Shangyuan Sect will surely do all it can to cultivate her talent. You should stop talking about the proposal.”
“But…” Gou Shengtian’s expression tightened.
“But what?” Changyue Real Man glanced at Gou Shengtian. “Senior Brother just said that any disciple who comprehends a heaven-class martial skill has to be fully cultivated. So, is my disciple not a Shangyuan Sect disciple?”
“Junior Sister, you know that’s not what I meant!” Gou Shengtian hurriedly explained.
Changyue Real Man snorted coldly and looked meaningfully at Gou Shengtian, “Senior Brother, some things lose their charm when spoken clearly. Why are you so eager to promote this marriage?”
The color drained from Gou Shengtian’s face. He was about to speak when Liu Ruoning suddenly sheathed her sword and came before the three elders, asking respectfully, “Sect Leader, Master, Great Elder, was the martial arts I practiced the Wind and Thunder Sword?”
Lu Chenghui nodded, then shook his head, laughing as he said, “No, what you practiced is not the Wind and Thunder Sword…”
Liu Ruoning was startled, her face turned pale and she looked horrified. She turned her eyes to her master, Changyue Real Man.
Changyue Real Man laughed, “Can’t you calm down for a moment?”
Only then did Liu Ruoning react. All three of them had strange expressions on their faces. Although they were not angry, she couldn’t help but feel a bit aggrieved. Could she really calm down in such a situation?
“What you practiced is the Dayan Wind and Thunder Sword!” Lu Chenghui said meaningfully.
“What?” Liu Ruoning exclaimed in surprise, asked with perplexion, “What is the Dayan Wind and Thunder Sword?”
“That’s a long story!” Lu Chenghui’s grin broadened even further, “Let me ask you, how did you master the Dayan Wind and Thunder Sword?”
Liu Ruoning had already ascertained by now that the martial skill her Junior Brother had imparted to her was indeed a skill of their sect, she calmed down immediately feeling somewhat a little embarrassed, “Master, actually, I didn’t master the Dayan Wind and Thunder Sword.”
“Not you?” Lu Chenghui and the others chorused in shock, their eyes wider still.
“Who then?” wondered Lu Chenghui fretfully, considering everyone on Changyue Peak, there was possibly no one more hopeful than Liu Ruoning at mastering the Dayan Wind and Thunder Sword.
Changyue Real Man and Gou Shengtian knew the situation quite well, they watched Liu Ruoning with peculiar curiosity.
Liu Ruoning felt the gravity of the situation and didn’t dare to act carelessly, she hurriedly said, “It’s Junior Brother Yang Zhen, he taught me.”
“What?”
Upon hearing Liu Ruoning’s words, the three were shocked. They all drew a sharp breath synchronously, their actions perfectly in sync, and then looked at each other, all with the same look of disbelief on their faces.
Yang Zhen, a dull-witted person who was notorious throughout the Shangyuan Sect, hadn’t been able to learn the Wind and Thunder Sword even after more than half a year’s study. how could he possibly have mastered the Dayan Wind and Thunder Sword?
However, Liu Ruoning seemed to be telling the truth. Lu Chenghui then asked solemnly, “How did he master it?”
After pondering for a moment, Liu Ruoning said earnestly, “Junior Brother said… said he suddenly had an epiphany!”
Lu Chenghui: “…”
Gou Shengtian: “…”
Changyue Real Man: “…”
All three suddenly had the impulse to hit somebody.
“Ridiculous, what does ‘suddenly had an epiphany’ mean?” Lu Chenghui laughed and joked, “if an epiphany could let you master an upper-level Heaven-level martial skill, does that mean that two epiphanies would allow one to break through to the Celestial Being Realm?”
Saying this, Lu Chenghui couldn’t help laughing at his own joke of ‘two epiphanies’, he then asked at once, “Where is he now?”
Changyue Real Man and Gou Shengtian also focused their gaze on Liu Ruoning. If just like Liu Ruoning said that Yang Zhen had mastered the Dayan Wind and Thunder Sword after having an epiphany, then this young man’s talent would be something terrifying indeed.
Gou Shengtian wasn’t willing to believe that Liu Ruoning wasn’t the one who mastered the Dayan Wind and Thunder Sword, as it made him quite disgruntled. But it was indeed a great joyous event to the Shangyuan Sect, to have a high-level Heaven-level martial skill amongst them. He felt very pleased about it.
The three were all waiting for Liu Ruoning’s answer, but she hesitated for a long time, umming and ahhing, uncertain of how to proceed.
Gou Shengtian frowned and said, “What’s with all the hesitating? Where exactly is Yang Zhen?”
Liu Ruoning looked stunned for a moment, then sneaked a glance at her seniors, bit her lower lip and shyly said, “Junior Brother… He…”
“Where is he?” Lu Chenghui asked curiously.
“He went to relieve himself!” Liu Ruoning managed to say through clenched teeth.
Lu Chenghui and the others were dumbstruck upon hearing her words.
After a while, Lu Chenghui, somewhat bemused, said, “Let’s go back first. Arrange for Yang Zhen to meet me in the main hall when he returns.”
Having said that, Lu Chenghui turned to leave and called out, “Ruoning, come with me. For the matter of the canceled marriage, it would be better if you were present.”
Upon hearing this, Liu Ruoning was overjoyed and quickly followed him.