Jade Shakes the Thousand Mountains - Chapter 26: "Seven Killings" (Minor Revisions, Transitional Edits)

Chapter 26: “Seven Killings” (Minor Revisions, Transitional Edits)

The match ended swiftly.

So swiftly that the Grand Micro Sect disciple still wore his initial confident smile even as his sword slipped from his grasp. The abrupt shift from smiling to stunned left his face stiff, giving him a rather foolish appearance.

Yu Chanyi clasped her sword and said, “I concede to your superiority.”

The disciple remained dazed.

He knew Yu Chanyi’s words were merely polite formalities spoken by the victor to the defeated after a match – nothing but humble courtesy. Because he knew he hadn’t conceded at all. With Senior Brother Duan’s precedent fresh in mind, he hadn’t dared slack off and had exerted his full strength.

Why… had he been defeated so quickly?

Yu Chanyi could see his confusion, but offered no explanation.

With her third inch of Spirit Vein cleared, she was no longer as passive as before, yet she didn’t grow complacent despite experiencing more abundant spiritual power. Yu Chanyi always remembered that she currently faced cultivators who had cleared more Spirit Veins than her, possessed greater spiritual power, and had more combat experience.

She knew her spiritual power was inferior to his. If she carelessly let the match drag beyond twenty exchanges, victory would become difficult.

The longer it dragged on, the more likely defeat became.

She could only seek quick resolution and victory through unexpected moves.

This time, she truly wanted to win.

Finally achieving victory, Yu Chanyi concealed a smile in her eyes: “For the next three days, you’ll have to stay and practice with me.”

Truthfully, Yu Chanyi didn’t know whether the disciple she sparred with today had used his full strength.

She didn’t completely believe his words.

But since his defeat had left him so discomfited, he would surely exert his utmost effort during these three days.

Yu Chanyi smiled happily.

The disciple ultimately revealed a bitter smile resembling tears, then used his Sound Transmission Stone to contact Li Xu, reporting everything that happened at Inexhaustible Sect in detail.

For the following three days, he remained at Inexhaustible Sect, practicing sword techniques with Yu Chanyi.

By the end, even when he began detecting Yu Chanyi’s “quick resolution and victory through unexpected moves” tactics, he still struggled to gain any advantage against her.

Unlike Yu Chanyi’s impeccably steady and flawless execution of every sword move, under her swift assaults he always found himself unable to defend comprehensively. After three days, he remarkably failed to win even once against Yu Chanyi.

“Have you really only cleared two inches of Spirit Vein?” By the end, the disciple’s mentality had completely collapsed.

Yu Chanyi shook her head. Just as the disciple breathed a sigh of relief, her crisp voice rang out: “More than two inches – it’s three inches now.”

“…”

Is there any difference!!!

–

Over the following half year, Inexhaustible Sect no longer remained as deserted as before. The frequent visitors trampled the earthen path at the entrance until it appeared freshly compacted, with various different faces coming and going.

The only commonality was that they were all Sword Cultivators from Grand Micro Sect.

Some were assigned by Li Xu to visit, while others came on their own initiative.

During these six months, the air at Inexhaustible Sect always carried a rich medicinal fragrance.

Yu Chanyi consumed Spirit Gathering Pills and Heart Gouging Pills faster than Wu Xi Lan had anticipated. While Yu Chanyi practiced sword techniques with others outside, Wu Xi Lan stayed in the Medicine Hut, pounding herbs and refining pills.
Wu Xi Lan was beginning to suspect that every cultivator in Flame Province had dual identities one as an alchemist, healer, artifact craftsman, or other specialized roles, and the other uniformly as a Sword Cultivator.

Otherwise, where could Li Xu have found so many sword-wielding cultivators?

The tree in the courtyard greened and yellowed, the clashing of swords echoing from dawn till dusk. Wu Xi Lan cast a sound-muffling Restriction around the Medicine Hut, paying no attention to the activities outside.

Time slipped away effortlessly. The courtyard tree withered and yellowed again, while piles of medicinal dregs accumulated outside the Medicine Hut grew ever larger.

Occasionally, Wu Xi Lan would glance outside. Her junior sister remained engrossed in sword practice, never noticing anything else, yet always visible training in the courtyard. As for that nominal junior brother, she’d occasionally spot him lounging half-dead in the tree, sometimes disappearing for stretches before inevitably returning on his own.

Days repeated in this manner. When autumn began, Wu Xi Lan cleared a new Medicine Field, planting more Spiritual Herbs and Flowers within.

Meanwhile, through sparring matches, Yu Chanyi successively broke through the fourth, fifth, and sixth inches of her Spirit Vein…

She had grown intimately familiar with the tastes of the Spirit Gathering Pill and Heart Gouging Pill. Their slightly astringent bitterness had nearly fused with her Spiritual power, seeping into her bones and blood.

The pain remained, yet the clarity of vision and purified spiritual awareness that followed each agony became something she craved.

Pain would always fade, but strength endured.

Yu Chanyi burned with curiosity about the realm she would reach when all seventy-two inches of her Spirit Vein were fully unlocked.

Yet she refused to rush recklessly. She understood that even with the aid of Spirit Gathering Pills and her unique Ancient Remnants physique, breaking through one inch per month was her body’s absolute limit. Forcing progress would only destabilize her foundation and plant hidden dangers.

Six months into the sparring sessions, the stream of visitors to the Inexhaustible Sect hadn’t diminished it had grown.

Unbeknownst to them, by the sixth month Yu Chanyi had adjusted her sparring strategy: she deliberately extended exchanges beyond thirty moves, pushing herself to the brink while identifying opponents’ flaws near exhaustion, then securing victories through calculated struggle. Otherwise, these matches held no value for her breakthroughs.

The cultivators only sensed that Yu Chanyi’s Spiritual power had grown denser than half a year prior, her movements more composed, and the feeling of being led by the nose ever more pronounced!

As dusk tinged the bamboo grove gray one evening, two Grand Micro Sect disciples walked dejectedly along the path outside the Inexhaustible Sect.

Silence hung between them until one finally broke it: “Don’t you think we shouldn’t have lost so miserably today?”

He continued, “That Yu Chanyi is clearly just a novice cultivator her techniques are simple and unremarkable. How could there be no gaps in her defense?… I specialize in pinpointing weaknesses, but those basic moves shouldn’t be flawless!”

The other exclaimed, “What do you mean ‘just a novice’? I think she’s nothing like a novice cultivator!”

“Her moves are ever-changing and treacherously unpredictable some techniques I’ve never seen before! They appear unorthodox and full of openings, yet when I strike at those weaknesses, I fall right into her trap! The flaws she exposes aren’t real vulnerabilities it’s as if she has none at all! Before I could even locate her true weakness, I was already finished!”

The one who spoke first froze: “Are you talking about… Yu Chanyi?”

The other replied: “I was about to ask you the same thing.”

They simultaneously halted their steps, exchanged a glance, and suddenly realized something terrifying Yu Chanyi employed different strategies against each person she faced!

When did this begin?

At that moment, both felt a chilling sensation surge from their heels, climbing up their spines straight to their skulls.

“She spent six months breaking through six inches of her Spirit Vein…”

“Neither of us has sparred with her more than three times, yet she’s already deciphered our patterns and devised countermeasures tailored to our styles…”

“Then what about her approach to others…”

Their faces gradually paled.

A deathly silence spread between them.

To this day, no one has grasped the style of Yu Chanyi’s sword moves it can only be said her techniques are genuinely versatile, making it impossible to pin down a fixed pattern.

Without understanding Yu Chanyi’s variations, there’s no way to exploit her weaknesses.

They looked at each other and saw in one another’s pupils a fear born from the depths of their hearts a shared dread.

For a Sword Cultivator, if fear takes hold before the sword is even drawn, defeat is inevitable.

When you raise your sword, the first thing you must slay is the fear in your heart this saying has circulated among Sword Cultivators of the Grand Micro Sect for a thousand years. Though its originator among the elders is unknown, its piercing accuracy has made it an unshakable doctrine.

Until they conquer the fear within, neither could hope to defeat Yu Chanyi.

Realizing this, the silence between them stretched even longer.

Suddenly, one of them slapped his thigh: “Damn… We’ve been so fixated on Yu Chanyi, we forgot why we came to the Inexhaustible Sect!”

“Today, did you notice what Wei Shengming was doing?” he asked his companion.

The other shook his head, face ashen: “No.”

They were done for completely distracted by the swordplay.

After a long pause, the first speaker forced out: “It’s… it’s fine. Wei Shengming has been unusually quiet lately. Let’s just say he was playing dead on a tree again today.”

“…Right.”

“Is this how you’ve been slacking off?” Li Xu’s voice cut in abruptly. The two disciples jolted, immediately bowing their heads in apology. “Senior Brother, forgive our incompetence.”

Li Xu studied them, his thoughts darkening as he recalled their earlier conversation. He remained silent for a moment before saying, “Fortunately, you’re not the only ones stationed at the Inexhaustible Sect.”

Lately, Yu Chanyi had consumed the attention of nearly every disciple in the Grand Micro Sect. Some were crushed by their defeats against her, others trained relentlessly to improve, while the rest devoted all their energy to figuring out how to overcome her.

They had all forgotten that their purpose in Flame Province was Wei Shengming.

Wei Shengming remained as elusive as ever. Over the past six months, he had left the Inexhaustible Sect only four times, and each time, his trail vanished shortly after.

The Asura Mark on his neck continued to spread deeper and more horrifically.

Li Xu furrowed his brow.

He had never expected these Sword Cultivator disciples, who were wholly preoccupied with Yu Chanyi, to remember their task of monitoring Wei Shengming. Therefore, after Wu Xi Lan opened up new Medicine Fields, he deliberately sent two junior disciples to assist with the upkeep.

These two junior disciples working in the Medicine Fields were his true eyes, tasked with keeping watch over Wei Shengming.

And it seemed it was time for him to personally visit the Inexhaustible Sect once again.

–

In the Inexhaustible Sect.

Yu Chanyi was holding a broom, sweeping the fallen leaves on the ground.

Although she could use her Spiritual power to clean the leaves effortlessly, she preferred the feeling of holding something in her hands. The texture of the broom was similar to that of a sword, and the rustling sound of sweeping was immensely soothing to her ears.

From the massive wisteria tree in the courtyard, a black corner of clothing hung down. When she swept to that spot, Yu Chanyi glanced upward and knew it was her senior brother hanging himself from the tree again. Over the past six months, she had been so engrossed in sword practice that she often forgot the presence of those around her. It seemed she hadn’t paid much attention to this senior brother of hers in a long while.

Just as she was about to clear her throat and strike up a conversation, her ears caught the sound of footsteps approaching from a distance.

Assuming it was likely someone from the Grand Micro Sect coming to visit, Yu Chanyi set down the broom.

Over the past six months, she had sparred with almost every Grand Micro Sect disciple active near the Inexhaustible Sect. Among them, the only ones who could and had defeated her were Duan Xiaofeng and Li Xu.

This time, it was probably one of them.

But when the footsteps reached the entrance of the Inexhaustible Sect and she saw the figure outside the gate, Yu Chanyi was taken by surprise.

It was neither Li Xu nor Duan Xiaofeng.

It was an unfamiliar face, one that appeared somewhat aged. The man was burly, with a thick beard, dressed in coarse short robes a cultivator who seemed advanced in immortal years.

Yu Chanyi asked, “May I ask what brings you here, fellow cultivator?”

The cultivator glanced at her, squinted, and said, “Don’t you recognize me?”

Yu Chanyi stared at him more carefully.

She racked her brain, and finally, a face matched in her memory.

“It’s you!” Yu Chanyi exclaimed in surprise.

It was that shop owner, the one who had sold her the sword.

Her heart leaped into her throat.

“Good, you remember me.” Yin Hai Wei seemed pleased with her reaction, but his eyes above that thick beard and the deep wrinkles at their corners had long weathered countless storms, revealing no trace of emotion. His voice was deep and calm as he stretched out his hand, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Give me the sword.”

His hands were covered with calluses and blade scars hands that, like their owner, clearly bore the marks of a rugged life.

Yu Chanyi’s expression shifted. Instinctively, she wanted to hide her sword behind her back, but then she remembered she was neither a disciple of the Grand Micro Sect nor had she paid the man a single Spirit Coin. Suddenly losing her confidence, her face fell in hesitation, and she reluctantly handed over the sword.

The moment she gave it away, it hurt more than cutting her own flesh.

Yin Hai Wei took the black sword with its reddish tint, lifted it to catch the last rays of the setting sun, and examined it. Then he held it to his ear, tapped it twice with his finger, and listened carefully to the sound.

After doing this, he carried the sword to the table in the courtyard, sat down, and began scrutinizing the blade over and over.

Yu Chanyi gazed longingly at her sword and sat down nearby, hesitantly asking, “Fellow cultivator, how many Spirit Coins would you accept to sell this sword to me?”

She had grown accustomed to this sword. Even if she hadn’t, Yu Chanyi always developed a special attachment to any sword she had used before.

Just like the peach branches her senior sister had previously brought her though no longer used as swords she still arranged them artfully in a vase, displaying them beautifully on her windowsill. She often nourished them with spiritual power, never willing to discard even a single branch.

“No amount of Spirit Coins will make me sell it,” Yin Haiwei snorted heavily, shooting a sharp glare toward the tree in the courtyard. “That senior brother of yours is a cunning, black-hearted scoundrel, using such underhanded tricks to help you swindle my sword away.”

“I can offer you many, many Spirit Coins. I can find a way…”

Biting her lip, Yu Chanyi was about to plead further when Yin Haiwei snorted again. “I said no amount of Spirit Coins will change my mind. This sword is yours now, and that’s final. I won’t sell it for any price.”

Huh? Was that what he meant by “no amount of Spirit Coins”?

Yu Chanyi froze, not quite understanding.

“The Sword Inheriting Sect sells swords to the highest bidder. When I sell a sword, it goes to whoever treats it best.” Yin Haiwei pulled out a thumb-sized gourd from his pocket, raising his eyes to give Yu Chanyi a knowing look. “You’ve been quite devoted to this sword. You often clean it with fire-washed cloth and nourish it with spiritual power, don’t you?”

Yu Chanyi replied, “Isn’t that what a Sword Cultivator should do?”

“Some Sword Cultivators only seek power from their swords. If a sword fails to deliver the violence they expect, they treat it as scrap iron, discarding it without a second thought. How could they ever care for it?” Her answer pleased Yin Haiwei even more, and a smile hid beneath his thick beard, though it went unnoticed. “But your sword maintenance method… did you learn it from the Sword Inheriting Sect?”

Yu Chanyi held her breath, considering whether answering would cause any trouble, before cautiously asking, “How did you know?”

“Cleaning swords with strong liquor and wiping them with fire-washed cloth that’s always been unique to the Sword Inheriting Sect.”

So that was it.

“But this sword belongs to the Grand Micro Sect. It’s best not to treat it this way.” Yin Haiwei opened the gourd and formed a mystic incantation with his fingers. A chain of clear water droplets flew out from the small gourd, striking the sword like spring water hitting stones, producing crisp, jade-like sounds that were both clear and pleasing to the ear.

“Cleaning with Yingzhou Jade Nectar Spring and polishing with Fenlin Continent Connecting Gold Mud this is the Grand Micro Sect’s way of maintaining swords,” Yin Haiwei explained unhurriedly.

Yu Chanyi watched unblinkingly from the side, as if she could smell the refreshing sweetness of the Jade Sweet Spring Water.

Yin Haiwei then took out a black box and applied an ointment-like substance to the sword blade.

He worked with intense concentration, never once looking up at Yu Chanyi from start to finish, his eyes only on the sword.

After this maintenance session, the sword’s subdued brilliance seemed to shine even more brightly, and Yu Chanyi could sense her sword’s happiness.

Meanwhile, the two Grand Micro Sect disciples standing in the spirit field had held their breath since Yin Haiwei entered the Inexhaustible Sect, stopping their work to exchange puzzled glances.

None of them understood what was happening, all equally confused.

Yin Haiwei was a figure of immense prestige within the Grand Micro Sect.

Though not an exceptionally powerful Sword Cultivator, he was a master swordsmith. With a celestial age of a full thousand years and profound experience, he commanded great respect in the Grand Micro Sect. However, he often disapproved of young Sword Cultivators like them, always maintaining a stern expression and generally keeping to himself.

The Yin Haiwei chatting with Yu Chanyi today felt somewhat unfamiliar to them.

They sent a message to Li Xu via the Sound Transmission Stone to report this incident. Suddenly meeting Yin Haiwei’s gaze directed their way, they quickly ducked their heads and returned to plowing the field with renewed focus.

Yin Haiwei withdrew his gaze.

In front of Yu Chanyi, he demonstrated the entire process of cleansing the sword with Yingzhou Jade Nectar Spring and polishing it with Fenlin Continent Connecting Gold Mud. He then handed the gourd, black circular box, and sword to Yu Chanyi: “Here.”

This took Yu Chanyi by surprise. “All for me?”

“Treat this sword well,” Yin Haiwei said. “I came today to see if my sword has found a worthy owner. To be honest, I was upset when I learned you weren’t a disciple of the Grand Micro Sect. But now it seems entrusting this blade to you is a rather fortunate fate.”

“Thank you.” Yu Chanyi gratefully accepted the sword back. Yin Haiwei observed her discreetly, already gauging her progress in Spiritual power over the past six months.

What a pity she wasn’t a disciple of their Grand Micro Sect.

Yin Haiwei glanced around the Inexhaustible Sect’s surroundings and remarked, “When I saw you wielding the sword in the shop, I knew you were a talented Sword Cultivator. I feared you might waste your gift. I learned from Li Xu six months ago that you were a disciple of the Inexhaustible Sect. I didn’t seek you out immediately because I wanted to see what progress you’d make in these six months. Seeing you today has put my mind at ease.”

“Young fellow cultivator, with your potential, this may be your first sword, but it certainly won’t be your last. When your cultivation advances further, you’ll be able to seek out the blade that suits you best.”

Yu Chanyi fell silent for a moment before asking, “Fellow cultivator… are you very knowledgeable about swords?”

“Heh, I’m a swordsmith who’s lived a thousand years. What sword haven’t I seen? If I don’t understand them, no one dare claim they do.”

What sword haven’t I seen…

Yu Chanyi asked, “What about Yinghuo… have you seen it?”

“I have.”

Yu Chanyi paused, then asked, “What about Lu Wenshu?”

A trace of impatience surfaced on Yin Haiwei’s face. “Young friend, this Yinghuo you mention, and that Sect Leader Lu aren’t they both world-renowned? And this is Flame Province you could grab any random cultivator on the street, and they might know more than I do. Why bother asking an old man like me?”

Yu Chanyi lowered her gaze and changed the question. “What about Seven Killings?”

This time, it was Yin Haiwei’s turn to be taken aback.

“Seven Killings… I’ve seen that too.” Yin Haiwei’s tone inexplicably grew heavier, as if he were stifling a breath he could neither swallow nor exhale. “A fierce sword. It never returns to its sheath without tasting blood. But among fine swords, it’s unparalleled, peerless in this world.”

“Where is Seven Killings now?Yin Haiwei leaned back, his gaze just falling on the tree in the courtyard. “Who knows? I only saw it once, a thousand years ago. After that, no one knew where it went.”

Yu Chanyi instinctively furrowed her brow and followed up, “What about its owner?”

Yin Haiwei abruptly withdrew his gaze from the tree and looked strangely at Yu Chanyi. “Its owner?”

After a moment of hesitation, Yu Chanyi nodded and spoke the name: “Wei Shengming.”

Yu Chanyi was curious about Wei Shengming’s whereabouts, yet too many people had forgotten Wei Shengming.

This in itself was peculiar.

Wei Shengming wasn’t an unknown figure someone once so renowned how could she be forgotten as thoroughly and completely as if she never existed?

Even after a thousand years had passed, it shouldn’t be this way.

Since Yin Haiwei was a cultivator who had lived for a millennium and had once witnessed the “Seven Killings” a thousand years ago…

Then he must have seen Wei Shengming.

Yu Chanyi had an inexplicable intuition perhaps Yin Hai Wei would be among the few people she encountered who could tell her Wei Shengming’s whereabouts.