World's No. 1 Swordsman-Chapter 538: Sword Art From the Ancient Era!

After three days of seclusion for rest, half a day of assembly, and twelve days of exchanging sword techniques with the elders and disciples of Xinghai Sect, Wang Sheng finally prepared to enter seclusion for cultivation.

Even if he wished to focus only on cultivation, he still had to follow the proper schedule. After all, he had just become an administrative elder, granting him a small measure of authority. He had to give the sect something in return.

Wang Sheng didn't hold back when it came to the Dao of the Sword. He guided many disciples in their cultivation and exchanged techniques with several elders skilled in swordsmanship.

The sect wasn't the only one that benefited from it. Wang Sheng also gained insights, though not in equal measure.

Without a complete Dao of the Sword inheritance that exceeded the immortal arts they had learned elsewhere, most cultivators would choose to walk more paths than just the path of the sword.

Cultivators more commonly practiced several sword techniques while also studying spells, formations, and other disciplines. The more refined and diverse their ways to control and defeat enemies, the better their chances of survival in a world where the strong preyed on the weak.

Wang Sheng could not guide them much in overall cultivation. After all, he was still half a step away from the True Immortal Realm. Still, in comprehending the sword, just one phrase from him could enlighten them greatly.

Now, half a month later, his residence had been moved to the main peak, just beside Linyuan's. He was quite near the sect master's place of seclusion, too.

Wang Sheng mentioned that he did not require a personal attendant. Hence, Linyuan instead assigned one of his female disciples to clean and maintain his courtyard on schedule.

With everything settled, Wang Sheng had a long conversation with Linyuan. He then declared that he would begin an absolute seclusion to seek a breakthrough.

An absolute seclusion meant that, even if he were suffocating, he still wouldn't reemerge unless he had broken through. It was a declaration of resolve—a way to drive himself forward.

Wang Sheng also worried that Linyuan, with all his free time and curiosity, would come over every few days to ask questions. Fortunately, during such seclusion, cultivators were not to be disturbed unless the sect was in critical danger.

The old man no longer had hope to make further breakthroughs. He had six or seven thousand years left, and even with alchemical pills, it would be difficult to stretch his remaining lifespan to ten thousand.

Unlike him, Wang Sheng still had a long path ahead of him. He had eaten far less rice in his entire life than Linyuan had used Immortal Stones. Cultivation was his true duty and priority.

Just before he began his absolute seclusion, Lishang came to see him. She was in human form again, naturally with Linyuan accompanying her.

As soon as she saw Wang Sheng, she said, "I apologize for introducing myself as Xuni before. At the time, it was inconvenient to meet you as the sect's vice sect master. Please forgive me for deceiving you, Elder Pi."

"You're too courteous, Vice Sect Master. May I ask why you have come today?"

Lishang briskly replied, "I heard from my master that you plan to go into absolute seclusion to break through to the True Immortal Realm, so I hurried over to meet you and to give you this."

From her sleeve, she took out a longsword wrapped in silk and set it before Wang Sheng.

He brightened instantly. Without polite hesitation, he lifted it and unwrapped the silk. His eyes reflected its cold gleam.

The sword was excellent. It was nearly four chi long and two cun wide. Moreover, it had a semi-broad blade, making it suitable for one-handed wielding or two-handed cleaving. Its blade also shone with a translucent luster like carved ice, yet it was immeasurably durable and sharp enough to slice hair.

Its spine was made of an unknown dark-gray metal and engraved with nine azure dragons. The hilt it was attached to was eight cun long, ensuring it was easy to grip while also not hindering movement.

Beside him, Lishang softly remarked, "Its main material is ten-thousand-year-old Sunken-Ice Iron, mixed with three portions of extremely precious Radiant Star Dust and one liang of Spirit-Breath Soil. A former sect master's Golden Immortal friend bestowed it upon us when our sect was founded. Since we didn't have any suitable materials to forge a treasured sword for you, we offer you this sword instead."

"Thank you, Vice Sect Master! Please extend my thanks to the sect master as well!"

Linyuan smiled. "Young Friend Pi, why not display a refined sword technique to complement the treasured sword?"

Embarrassed, Wang Sheng replied, "Unfortunately, I don't have any."

He was about to sheathe the sword when Lishang rose from beside the stone table.

"Why don't we spar, then? I'll seal my cultivation, and my master will protect the area."

Linyuan looked at Wang Sheng, who nodded readily.

"Well... alright." The old man stood and began arranging an array while Wang Sheng gestured for Lishang to follow. The two rose into the air one after the other.

He wished to witness her sword art, which originated from the Ancient Era. Moreover, though she wasn't a pure sword cultivator, she had demonstrated tremendous skill during her spar against Li Tianyao.

Both calmed their breathing. Lishang restrained her aura until it matched Wang Sheng's. Clearly, she also wished to witness the power of his sword heart.

Wang Sheng asked, "Vice Sect Master, why not return to your original form? I observed a while back that your sword art was fierce, but it felt forced and lacked sustained force. After examining it carefully, I believe it's because you purposely took human form, which affected its true power. Since we're sparring in the Dao of the Sword, and I'm not an outsider, you might as well use its full strength and broaden my horizons."

A hint of amusement showed in Lishang's gaze. "Noticing such a detail is no easy feat. Still, I'd rather stay in this form. Otherwise, your Dao Dao Heart may take a blow."

Wang Sheng laughed. "The outcome of a battle does not determine the height of one's Dao; it only determines the strength of one's art."

"If you put it that way, then I'd rather fight without restraint as well."

Convinced, a soft green glow rose around her as she reverted to her half-serpentine form. She unsheathed another serpent-marked immortal sword and hovered quietly in the air.

Wang Sheng felt his spiritual sense jolt.

Refusing to be careless, he immediately unleashed his sword heart and made it slowly merge with the longsword in his hand. His aura momentarily sharpened and then faded completely.

The heart guides the sword, and the sword rests within the heart. The sword sings again and again, its light blending into dust.

Lishang softly praised, "Such a powerful sword heart."

She then shot forward, making Wang Sheng's eyes widen.

She's way too fast!

Lishang's thrust was over thirty percent faster than when she had restrained herself to the True Immortal Realm and fought Li Tianyao. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

She delivered a simple, straightforward stab, yet Wang Sheng instinctively resorted to his Seven-Star Footwork. Fourteen starlight dots flared behind him as he barely dodged the strike.

The two crossed, and he swiftly counterattacked. With three chi of sword radiance flaring out of his immortal sword, he unleashed the full power of his Taiyi Golden Immortal Sword Art.

Lishang's serpentine tail swayed lightly. She twisted through the air in strange, sudden turns, leaving afterimages as she circled and attacked Wang Sheng with countless sword phantasms from every angle.

Wang Sheng dismantled the incoming strikes immediately. His movements remained free and fluid, his sword heart crystal clear. With his left hand, he formed a sword finger and drew circles in the air.

His Dual-Polarity Sword Intent deflected Lishang's every sword phantasm. However, his counterattacks could not catch up to her bizarre tailwork. For now, he could only unleash waves of sword energy and, using his sword to command qi, form a sword energy formation based on the Taiyi Golden Immortal Sword Art.

Sword energy crisscrossed in the sky. Afterimages flickered again and again as the two figures chased and shifted positions with incredible speed. Wang Sheng was already using the full strength of his Dual-Polarity Sword Intent, yet Lishang's ghostlike tailwork and piercing sword strikes still placed him in a bitter struggle.

If he wished to win easily, he only had to use his Sword-Controlling Art. At the same cultivation realm, it had no equal. Lishang was fast, but she definitely couldn't outrun Flying Haze.

However, a youthful fighting spirit stirred in Wang Sheng. Lishang's challenging presence roused his will to fight. Hence, he placed the outcome of this battle on his Dual-Polarity Sword Intent alone.

No matter how fast Lishang was, she still had to approach to strike. All he needed was one perfect moment to meet her sword head-on and launch a decisive counter.

Within a short time, the two had exchanged countless blows in the sky, drawing the attention of many disciples in the sect.

Even Yao Xingzi, who stood in a pavilion, watched them with a complicated expression. The room he was in only had a simple meditation cushion and a large character for the "Dao" character on the wall behind him. While observing the rapidly shifting battle, he sighed several times.

Meanwhile, Linyuan looked helpless. He had just had the depressing realization that he had absolutely no confidence in winning against his disciple or Wang Sheng.

Despite having lived for so long and reaching the end of his lifespan, younger cultivators at different cultivation realms could now defeat him. The thought made life feel gray, early death preferable, and cultivation not worth the effort.

Amid their fierce clash, Wang Sheng also had a sudden realization. He closed his eyes, which had been fixed on Lishang's movements, and rapidly slowed to a complete stop.

As the saying went, experts watched the technique, amateurs just watched the spectacle. Wang Sheng's sudden halt could have looked as though he was defying gravity, but in truth, it was a masterful display of footwork control.

His sudden stop made Lishang's eyes grow brighter. She split into dozens of overlapping phantasms and attacked him from every direction.

Use stillness to control movement!

Wang Sheng suddenly opened his eyes. He did not dodge. Sword radiance burst from his immortal sword, and he swiftly unleashed dozens of sword phantasms.

A soft metallic note rang out. The sea of sword phantasms vanished. Wang Sheng, who appeared to be slashing forward, actually steadily held his sword behind him, blocking a thin immortal sword pointed at his shoulder.

Had it pierced him, it would only have lightly wounded him.

Wang Sheng flicked his wrist. Lishang flashed backward, and he turned around with calm confidence. He had already figured out how to break her technique.

"Only a few can counter that attack." Lishang smiled faintly. Her eyes glowed with admiration. "Do you have other sword techniques?"

"I do." Wang Sheng planted the immortal sword in front of him and held it with both hands. "I have a set called Dragon Slayer. Please give me some pointers."

"I do not like the name," Lishang whispered, "but you may use your full strength."

Wang Sheng smiled faintly and tapped the sword lightly. He gripped it with both hands, treating it like a greatsword.

He stepped forward, shot through the air like an arrow, and swung his sword horizontally. A long arc of sword radiance surged forward, bringing forth waves of force that rolled like a storm.

The onlookers were stunned.

Wang Sheng's wide-open yet overwhelming attack forced Lishang's tailwork to its limits. She immediately switched to a different technique, which made the scales on her serpentine tail turn golden. Golden light wrapped around her immortal sword. She slowed down a little, but the power of her attacks increased significantly.

At that moment, Wang Sheng realized that her sword art from the Ancient Era was actually an ancient secret art that was rooted in her talent.

Such an art was beyond the realm of simple swordsmanship. It could only be called an innate divine ability.

This was why Lishang was as strong as a Heavenly Immortal in combat.

This was the first time Wang Sheng had faced such an opponent. He had the urge to unleash the Heavenly Tribulation Sword Intent, but he held himself back. Instead, he clashed with her head-on using his Thirty-Six Dragon-Slaying Strikes, refusing to yield an inch.