Even Elder Lin had never learned top-tier sword techniques like the "Myriad Swords Art" and the "Heavenly Sword"!
Elder Lin felt quite helpless about this.
The Shu Mountain Sword Sect, being a prestigious sect, often kept its best techniques hidden.
These top-tier sword techniques were only available to the sect master’s lineage or those who had made significant contributions to the sect.
Clearly, Elder Lin had neither qualification.
Meng Fan sat cross-legged on the ground, immersed in the ocean of sword techniques, completely focused.
Myriad Swords Art!
Heavenly Sword!
One Sword to Open the Heavens!
Each of these three sword techniques was more profound than the last, completely broadening Meng Fan's horizons.
Previously, Meng Fan thought that the third move of his self-created "Myriad Swords Returning to Me," called "Heaven and Earth Are Heartless," was the pinnacle of sword techniques.
Now he realized he had been a frog in a well!
Though "Heaven and Earth Are Heartless" was strong, it was still inferior to the "Heavenly Sword" and even more so to the "One Sword to Open the Heavens."
Of course, this also had something to do with Meng Fan's cultivation level in sword techniques.
Although Meng Fan had a deep foundation in sword techniques, his cultivation level was still too low, only at the level of Sword Momentum.
If the realm of the sword was the sky, then Sword Momentum was undoubtedly the well.
Saying he was a frog in a well was no exaggeration!
The path must be walked step by step, and food must be eaten bite by bite.
After witnessing the sword techniques of such high-level masters, Meng Fan understood that he couldn't afford to become arrogant.
In truth, he still had a long way to go!
***
After two full hours, Meng Fan opened his eyes and stretched his neck.
He had barely managed to digest these three sword techniques, but only the parts he had comprehended.
Given his realm, it was impossible to fully absorb such high-level sword techniques just by looking at them.
To comprehend even one-tenth of them was already astonishing!
"You finally woke up?" Elder Lin said with a bitter smile as he saw Meng Fan open his eyes.
The word "finally" made Meng Fan realize that he might have been in deep thought for quite some time.
He instinctively glanced downward; the first floor of the Demon Locking Tower was empty.
Lin Jinghong and Li Fanchen were nowhere to be seen.
Meng Fan felt a bit helpless; he had just had a moment of enlightenment and couldn't help but enter a state of deep contemplation.
"Master, who won between the sect master and the Ghost King Sect's clan master?" Meng Fan stood up and asked Elder Lin.
Elder Lin smiled and said, "Of course, the sect master won. How could that brat Li Fanchen be a match for the sect master?"
Hearing this, Meng Fan also breathed a sigh of relief.
As a disciple of the Shu Mountain Sword Sect, he was naturally happy to hear that their sect master had bested the Ghost King Sect's clan master.
This meant that the Shu Mountain Sword Sect had suppressed the Ghost King Sect!
"Master, do you think the sect master will find out that we snuck in here? If he does, will he punish us?" Meng Fan asked cautiously.
His master bringing him to the Demon Locking Tower was clearly against the sect rules, and he wasn't foolish enough not to realize it.
Elder Lin shook his head and said, "Whether the sect master has found out or not, only he knows."
Although he said this, Elder Lin was very clear in his heart that the sect master must have noticed.
However, the sect master was always lazy and couldn't be bothered with such matters, leaving all the sect's affairs to the Grand Elder.
As for such a minor issue, he certainly wouldn't bother reporting it to the Grand Elder.
Seeing that Elder Lin wasn't worried, Meng Fan also relaxed.
"So, what did you gain from watching this battle, despite the risk?" Elder Lin asked Meng Fan.
Meng Fan smiled and said, "Master, I gained a lot and didn't waste your efforts!"
This was indeed the truth.
Even without mentioning anything else, just the "Heavenly Sword" and "One Sword to Open the Heavens" were enough to benefit Meng Fan immensely.
Meng Fan even thought he could incorporate these two sword techniques into his "Myriad Swords Returning to Me" to improve his own sword technique.
Myriad Swords Returning to Me!
Meng Fan intended to integrate various sword techniques into this one move, making it increasingly powerful.
"It's good to have gained something. Actually, even I benefited a lot from watching the sect master's sword techniques. Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to learn any of the techniques the sect master used!" Elder Lin said, feeling a bit melancholic.
As a sword cultivator, he naturally wanted to learn the strongest sword techniques, but not everyone had the qualification.
Meng Fan quickly said, "Master, I vaguely comprehended the 'Myriad Swords Art' and the 'Heavenly Sword' from the sect master's techniques. After I comprehend the Sword God Stele, I'll perfect these two techniques and then discuss and study them with you!"
Since Elder Lin was interested in these two sword techniques, Meng Fan naturally wouldn't hide them.
But he had to wait until after he comprehended the Sword God Stele, as his current understanding of the Heavenly Sword was still limited. He believed that after comprehending the Sword God Stele, he would achieve a qualitative improvement.
Elder Lin looked at Meng Fan in shock and said, "You mean you just watched the sect master use his sword and were able to comprehend the 'Heavenly Sword' and the 'Myriad Swords Art'?"
Elder Lin already knew that this disciple of his was incredibly talented, but being able to learn a sword technique just by watching it was beyond belief.
It was simply impossible!
Moreover, these were not ordinary sword techniques but the most treasured techniques of the Shu Mountain Sword Sect.
Meng Fan humbly said, "I only comprehended a little. After I comprehend the Sword God Stele, I should be able to perfect them."
Even so, Elder Lin found it unbelievable!
He had always regarded Meng Fan very highly, yet this disciple still managed to surprise him.
What kind of disciple had he taken in?
A reincarnated Sword Immortal?
"By the way, Master, earlier when the sect master used his sword, the Ghost King Sect's clan master Li Fanchen also used a sword technique. It seemed to be on par with the sect master's. Do you know what that sword technique is called?" Meng Fan continued to ask.
He had comprehended a sword technique from Li Fanchen but didn't know its name, which was frustrating.
If he were to name it himself, it wouldn't feel right.
In some aspects, Meng Fan was a bit of a perfectionist.
Elder Lin's knowledge did not disappoint Meng Fan.
Without hesitation, Elder Lin said, "That is the most terrifying sword technique of the Ghost King Sect, called 'One Sword to Open the Heavens,' created by the Sword Emperor Du Gu Wujie hundreds of years ago."
Mentioning Du Gu Wujie, Elder Lin's eyes suddenly lit up!
His tone was filled with obvious reverence as he continued, "Du Gu Wujie, though a member of the demonic Ghost King Sect, was given the title of 'Emperor,' which shows his status. Hundreds of years ago, he was known as the number one person in the world!"
Seeing Elder Lin's expression, Meng Fan couldn't help but smile wryly.
He was all too familiar with that look in Elder Lin's eyes; it was the same look die-hard fans on Earth had when talking about their idols.
He hadn't expected his master to have a tendency to idolize someone.
However…
One Sword to Open the Heavens.
That name was indeed fitting.
It felt just right!
Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan