Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan
Meng Fan's two interventions made Yang Shi realize he was no match for Meng Fan, not by a long shot!
In fact, at this moment, he didn't find Meng Fan terrifying, but rather the Sword Pavilion.
A mere Menial Disciple, who had only entered the Sword Pavilion for a few short days, had undergone such an earth-shattering transformation.
If it wasn't for the Sword Pavilion's influence, he wouldn't believe it!
"Admit defeat and get lost." Meng Fan gave Yang Shi a cold glance before lowering the wooden sword from his throat.
Yang Shi turned and left, no longer insisting on challenging Meng Fan.
Unbeknownst to Meng Fan, at this moment atop the Training Hall's attic, a pair of elders playing chess were observing him.
"Qi Refining first level, and he's thrashing someone at the fifth level of Qi Refining. It's been a long time since our Shu Mountain Sword Sect has seen such an exceptional talent, hasn't it?"
"Below the sixth level of Qi Refining, the gap isn't that significant. If one's sword technique is proficient, fighting above one's level isn't difficult."
"But we can't deny that there's a significant gap between the first and fifth levels of Qi Refining!"
"Indeed, he's quite impressive, but it's a pity he has a Mixed Spiritual Root, which limits his potential."
"What does a Mixed Spiritual Root matter? This youngster has only made two moves, and both times he precisely exploited his opponent's weaknesses.
Especially when facing the first sword strike, he saw right through the opponent's sword technique.
This proves his enlightenment is incredibly astonishing, and he may very well compensate for the deficiencies of a Mixed Spiritual Root!"
"We can't rule out that possibility, but it's difficult! By comparison, I still value Li Xuerou more, a girl with an Excellent Spiritual Root, who outshines others in every aspect!"
"Comparing an Excellent Spiritual Root with a Mixed Spiritual Root, you really have the nerve to say that."
***
Meng Fan didn't rush back to the Sword Pavilion; taking the rare opportunity to be out, he decided to explore a bit more.
Shortly after, he arrived at the Sword Art Hall of the Shu Mountain Sword Sect.
The Sword Art Hall, also known as the Sword Testing Hall, was essentially a place for practicing sword techniques.
The Training Hall, containing a minor Spirit Gathering Array, was a sacred place for cultivating techniques and improving one's cultivation level.
The Sword Art Hall, on the other hand, was where disciples of the Shu Mountain Sword Sect practiced and tested their swordsmanship.
Testing the sword meant sparring!
However, this place was different from the practice field; the sparring in the Sword Art Hall was meant to stop at the point of contact, a mutual exchange of sword techniques.
It was a form of sparring, or rather, instruction.
Over time, it even became a place where lower-ranked disciples learned swordsmanship from their seniors.
Of course, sometimes this required some form of compensation.
Upon arriving at the Sword Art Hall, Meng Fan was pleasantly surprised.
Compared to the Training Hall, he preferred the Sword Art Hall!
Here, the disciples were all practicing and comparing their sword skills, and Meng Fan felt as if he had opened the door to a new world.
With Sword Dao Transcendence, he was like a fish in water here.
After entering the Sword Art Hall, Meng Fan observed various sword techniques.
To the average person, the multitude of sword techniques would be overwhelming, making it impossible to learn anything unless one seriously studied a particular technique.
But Meng Fan was different. With his supreme talent, Sword Dao Transcendence, he possessed a terrifying aptitude for seizing the essence of swordsmanship.
Each sword technique practiced by the disciples appeared to Meng Fan as pristine and flawless beauties, completely transparent to him.
He was frantically absorbing this sword knowledge.
Meng Fan sat quietly in a corner, watching the disciples practice their swordsmanship.
One technique after another was rehearsed and deduced in his mind.
He could see the flaws and weaknesses in the disciples' sword techniques, and then he perfected and repaired them in his own mind.
This was outrageous!
Even a senior with profound swordsmanship could master only a few techniques, at most a dozen or so, which was already remarkable.
Someone like Meng Fan, who could grasp any sword technique at a glance and master it upon further understanding, was truly one of a kind in the entire world.
No, not one of a kind – he was the only one!
Meng Fan sat in the corner for two hours straight.
In the Sword Art Hall, it was hard not to notice such an oddity.
Everyone came to the Sword Art Hall to practice or test their swordsmanship.
While it was common for some to observe and learn from others' techniques, sitting in a corner and watching non-stop for two hours was quite unusual.
Especially for a female disciple practicing in front of Meng Fan, who was becoming upset.
She mistook Meng Fan's constant gaze as being directed at her, which made her uncomfortable.
Even more so, she thought Meng Fan was a lecher, taking the opportunity to sneak peeks at her.
A brief glance was one thing, but two hours was quite another – what young lady could tolerate that?
Unable to bear it any longer, she approached Meng Fan and said coldly, "You, stand up!"
"Me?" Meng Fan pointed at himself, surprised as he stood up.
Why was someone suddenly calling him out?
He was quite puzzled!
"Do I look pretty?" the woman asked, staring coldly at Meng Fan.
This question left Meng Fan a bit bewildered.
What was this all about?
"Pretty," he replied politely, since she had asked. After all, it was his first time at the Sword Art Hall, and he didn't want to cause trouble, so he was very cooperative.
"Even if I'm pretty, you have no right to stare at me for two hours straight. That's rude!" the woman said, her expression icy.
Uh…Meng Fan's eyes widened.
Could this really be a misunderstanding?
A simple misunderstanding?
He awkwardly explained, "Miss, you've misunderstood. I wasn't looking at you; I was watching everyone practice their swordsmanship."
The woman scoffed, "Watching everyone practice? Then why did you have to sit behind me for two hours straight?"
How could he explain this?
It seemed that no matter what he said, it would be hard to clear up the misunderstanding.
Caught in the corner, trouble descended from the sky.
"Miss, you really have misunderstood. I wasn't watching you; I was just observing everyone's sword practice."
Denial three times over, but it still didn't seem very convincing.
"Excuses are just a cover-up. Since you claim you were watching everyone practice, then after watching for so long, you should practice yourself. Let's spar and see what you've got!"
She was determined to teach this lecher a lesson!
Meng Fan replied somewhat helplessly to the woman, "Miss, there's really no need for this."
The woman sneered, "Feeling guilty? You say you weren't peeping at me, that you were watching everyone practice their swordsmanship. Then surely you must have seen me practicing too. Just demonstrate the sword technique I was practicing, and I'll believe you!"
A bitter smile appeared on Meng Fan's face.
Actually, this wasn't difficult!
"Alright," Meng Fan agreed, without refusal.
Since it was an easy issue to resolve, there was no need to be stubborn and let others misunderstand him.
"If I can demonstrate the sword technique you were just practicing, you'll have to apologize and admit you misunderstood me," Meng Fan said with a helpless expression to the woman.
"No problem. I want to see how long you can keep up your charade," the woman said, her face full of mockery.
In her eyes, how could this sleazy man possibly execute her sword technique?
Her technique was extremely difficult to master, and even with dedicated practice, it would take at least ten days and nights to grasp the basics.
Even if this guy had really been watching her practice, there was no way he could have learned it.
Her demand was purely to make things difficult for Meng Fan, to embarrass him!