327 - Made-Up Martial Arts, Have You Really Mastered Them, Disciple?

### Chapter 327: The Dreamlike Elephants, Path of the Wisdom Sword (慧剑之路) Several elders of the Tai-Miao Sect (太緲宗) immediately turned pale; in just a few years, Xu Yan's strength had grown to such an extent. Who among the prodigies of the Spiritual Domain could match him? The Guardian Elder's expression also turned grave as she sensed a strong feeling of threat. "Attack!" The remaining elders could no longer worry about losing face for the Tai-Miao Sect by ganging up on a lone opponent. They all launched their attacks toward Xu Yan. Tai-Miao Sect disciples scrambled back in a hurry, knowing that if they were caught in the crossfire, they would surely suffer grave injuries, if not death. They were all astonished. How old was Xu Yan anyway, to possess such terrifying power already? "Xu Yan is amazing!" "Yeah, and he's so handsome and strong!" "Right, I thought Junior Brother Yu was already an exceptionally fine young man, but compared to Xu Yan, there's still a big difference!" "Junior Brother Yu is far behind; he lacks masculine dominance. Look at Xu Yan, so imposing, overbearing, and powerful, commanding a true dragon with a wave of his hand!" Hearing the discussions among their peers, the male disciples of the Tai-Miao Sect turned green with envy. Especially the mentioned "Junior Brother Yu," who looked utterly miserable! The tumultuous battle shocked the entire Tai-Miao Sect. Could it be that people from the Wan Shi Alliance (萬世盟) were attacking Tai-Miao Sect? Ya Rong moved swiftly to the battlefield, her expression drastically changing. Xu Yan? At this moment, Ya Rong was a martial artist who had condensed the spirit of Heaven and Earth. "Call Xin Mengrou out; I need clarity. Where are Du Yuying and Yun Miaomiao? Did your Tai-Miao Sect engage in some unspeakable act?" Xu Yan spoke coldly. In an instant, eighteen dragons transformed into eighteen gigantic swords, their layers of sword light wrapped around the Tai-Miao Sect elders, encircling them. He's here looking for someone?! Ya Rong was a bit helpless. Du Yuying and Yun Miaomiao were involved in the secrets of her master Xin Mengrou, so not even these elders were aware of their presence when they joined the Tai-Miao Sect. "Stop!" Ya Rong moved to Xu Yan's side. "The people you're looking for, I'll take you to them." Xu Yan raised an eyebrow, and the sword formation disappeared. He recognized this Tai-Miao Sect woman from the Great Battle at the Thousand Martial Hall (千武殿) mountain entrance, where she had observed from a distance. "Ya Rong, you..." The Guardian Elder was shocked by Xu Yan's power, also frowning at Ya Rong. "Xu Yan's acquaintances are with the master," Ya Rong sighed. The Guardian Elder was puzzled. Why didn't she know? However, since Ya Rong was the master's disciple and always handled matters for the master, those people must have unusual identities. "But Xu Yan..." The Guardian Elder thought about Xu Yan's audaciousness, not only breaking through the Tai-Miao Sect's rule of not allowing outsiders but also knocking away an elder. This was direct provocation! "I mentioned at the mountain gate that I came to visit old friends, but your gatekeepers claimed I, Xu Yan, came to block your Tai-Miao Sect's mountain gate. You can't blame me for that!" Xu Yan interrupted her. Even though he ascended into the Tai-Miao Sect's gate, ultimately, it was the sect's responsibility. Of course, Xu Yan realized that even if the gatekeepers had asked him about his purpose, they wouldn't have found Du Yuying and Yun Miaomiao, and he would've stormed in anyway. A conflict was inevitable. The Guardian Elder hesitated, planning to summon the gatekeeping martial artists, but Xu Yan dismissed the idea of confrontation, looking at Ya Rong instead. "Where are they? Lead the way, or let them come to see me." He had two aims: To see old friends and to investigate Xie Lingfeng's whereabouts. "You..." Ya Rong intended to have Xu Yan wait while she reported to her master, but then changed her mind. "Come with me," she said, turning to lead Xu Yan to the Tai-Miao Sect's summit. "Ya Rong... ?" The Guardian Elder's expression shifted. The summit was a core area of the Tai-Miao Sect, forbidden even to ordinary elders, let alone an outsider. Nonetheless, her expression froze and then relaxed. Xu Yan's brow arched—was someone communicating with her telepathically, perhaps Xin Mengrou? Along the narrow, winding mountain path, as he ascended towards the summit, he saw elegant courtyards, homes of powerful Tai-Miao Sect members. Approaching the peak, the more flowers lined the path, vibrant and alluring, their hues mixing and vanishing in the mist, an ethereal and dreamlike beauty. "You may proceed," Ya Rong halted. "Below the summit, there are two elegant courtyards, the residences of the people you're looking for." "Alright!" Xu Yan nodded, showing neither fear nor suspicion of a trap. His strength was his confidence, and if his power were insufficient to manage potential dangers, he had his master's divine jade talisman as backup. The further Xu Yan ascended Tai-Miao Peak, the more surreal it felt, the sensation of unreality strengthening. "Hmm?" Xu Yan paused, glancing at a certain spot on the mountain; something felt unusual. "Is this a Tai-Miao Sect secret place?" Lacking the desire to investigate further into Tai-Miao Sect secrets, he continued upward. Before him appeared two courtyards. Beautiful flowers blossomed within, and standing before the gates were two elegant ladies—none other than Du Yuying and Yun Miaomiao. The years apart had only made the two women more stunning. Yun Miaomiao, in particular, was even more captivating than when she was at the Wushuang Pavilion (无双阁), seemingly constantly stirring one's heartstrings. "Young Master Xu!" Du Yuying beamed, her face blushing. "Young Master Xu!" Yun Miaomiao's voice resonated, reaching directly into the soul, tantalizingly strumming the heart. "Miss Du, Miss Yun, it has been a long time." Xu Yan smiled, stepping forward, only to freeze suddenly. Something was amiss! He took a deep breath, his eyes deepening with seriousness, casting his divine intent over the scene, yet all he observed seemed perfectly fine. "Young Master Xu, come quickly," Du Yuying said eagerly as she approached to lead him into the courtyard. But Yun Miaomiao also moved quickly towards him; the two stared at each other midway, seemingly arguing, yet quarreling telepathically. Their expressions grew cold, animosity evident as their confrontation intensified. "Young Master Xu knew me first; naturally, he should talk with me first!" "Hmph, Young Master Xu once visited my Wushuang Pavilion, and I warmly entertained him. He should talk to me first now." The two seemed ready to duke it out for Xu Yan's attention! Frowning, Xu Yan studied his surroundings closely. It felt as though he had fallen into some illusion, some dream. But everything his divine intent and sight captured was real; the courtyard was real, but the women seemed false? "Not right. What kind of means is this?" Xu Yan was taken aback, realizing this wasn't any ordinary martial attack but an illusion, a dreamlike one possibly akin to enchantment? Yet it wasn't pure enchantment; it seemed to rely on the real environment to create a deceptive fantasy. Xu Yan ignored the women's quarrel and the vivid spectacle of their battle, focusing instead on the dreamlike vision. "Illusions, confusion, state of mind... One must shatter the dream to reclaim reality. My state of mind is still lacking if a moment's negligence ensnared me in a fantasy. "The Heart Sword Realm (心劍境)—where my heart becomes the sword, everything and anything can be a sword; illusions can become my sword. "But ultimately, I realized my rebuttal only after entering the dream; how can I disregard these illusions and fantasies? "My master said the Wisdom Sword Realm (慧劍境) is where the Wisdom Sword severs heart demons, severs emotional ties, severs the past self... It cuts through all delusions, all the unknowns. "With a heart possessing the Wisdom Sword, one becomes pure, seeing everything as oneself, unconfused, unadulterated..." Xu Yan began to comprehend; at that moment, a flash of wisdom burst in his mind, as though he understood how to cultivate the Wisdom Sword Realm. Once in the Wisdom Sword Realm, any fantasy, any illusion, would merely be an illusion, with no place to hide in his heart. At this instant, Xu Yan casually sat down cross-legged, observing the two women's battle, the elegance of their tattered attire, every move enchanting the world with tempting allure. Illusions may not be real, but they can depict the most beautiful scenery in the world, arousing the heart, awakening within, what one admires most, or the worst, most dreadful side. Xu Yan did not rush to escape the dream, instead choosing to glean insight from this experience, further clarifying the path of Wisdom Sword cultivation. This was an opportunity. ### New Terms and Translations: 1. **Xu Yan (许炎)** - Kept as Xu Yan; there's context about his extraordinary strength. 2. **Tai-Miao Sect (太緲宗)** - Translated directly as Tai-Miao Sect, a prominent sect. 3. **Wan Shi Alliance (萬世盟)** - Translated as Wan Shi Alliance; it indicates a large organization. 4. **Guardian Elder** - Describes the role within the sect. 5. **Heart Sword Realm (心劍境)** and **Wisdom Sword Realm (慧劍境)** - Direct translations from the context of cultivation levels related to Xu Yan’s journey. 6. **Ya Rong (雅蓉)** - Directly translated to maintain character continuity. 7. **Wushuang Pavilion (无双阁)** and **Thousand Martial Hall (千武殿)** - Maintained original names to reflect their standing as prominent places in the narrative. ### Explanation: - The **Heart Sword Realm** and **Wisdom Sword Realm** indicate realms of cultivation focused on the sword as a metaphor for mental and spiritual power. - The sect and organization names were preserved in a translated form that reflects their significance in the story. - This passage emphasizes illusions and the journey of self-awareness, with Xu Yan seeking clarity on personal and broader relational dynamics within the sect. After gaining insight into the Wisdom Sword Realm (慧剑境) cultivation path, Xu Yan realized that once he achieved perfection in the Heart Sword Realm (心劍境), he could attempt to break through into the Wisdom Sword Realm. The profound and mysterious Wisdom Sword Realm was no longer distant and unreachable but rather something he could cultivate into. At this moment, Xu Yan felt a surge of excitement within his heart. His journey to the Tai-Miao Sect was not in vain! No matter who was behind this dreamlike illusion or their intentions, it was all inconsequential. What mattered was that he had come to an understanding and found the path to the Wisdom Sword Realm. On the summit of Tai-Miao Peak, Xin Mengrou was puzzled. What was Xu Yan doing, simply sitting down as if watching a show? Moreover, had he discovered the illusion? "Where's the flaw?" Xin Mengrou pondered, looking toward Du Yuying and Yun Miaomiao beside her. She speculated that their behavior and attitude might have revealed a flaw. With a fleeting thought, the illusion seemed to become even more real. The two women, previously engaged in battle, moved toward Xu Yan, as if requiring him to make a choice. "It's time to end this," Xu Yan murmured, raising his hand and bringing down a sword slash without any hesitation or uncertainty. With a single strike, the two women instantly shattered. Xin Mengrou raised an eyebrow, thinking how decisive Xu Yan was; wasn't he afraid they were real? Moreover, his action was so calm, devoid of any hesitation, as if these beautiful women were mere skeletons, stirring no compassion in him. Xu Yan took a step forward, and the mountains and rivers appeared underfoot. The illusion shattered like a bubble, and although the scene before him seemed unchanged, it was no longer an illusion but reality. The two elegant courtyards remained, yet Du Yuying and Yun Miaomiao were absent. Instead, he saw two familiar faces: Cui'er and Wushuang. "Young Master Xu?!" Cui'er rubbed her eyes in disbelief, her cheeks soon flushing as she ran over. "Young Master Xu, it's really you! I haven't seen you in ages; I've missed you so much!" Cui'er was overjoyed, even forgetting about informing her mistress. The young maid had changed slightly, becoming more beautiful and far stronger. She had reached the Greater Heavenly Being Realm (大天人之境). Although she was only at the initial stage, given Cui'er's current age, such cultivation progress wasn't bad, akin to some average prodigies. Wushuang pursed his lips, surprised Xu Yan had come to the Tai-Miao Sect and was permitted to ascend to this place. "This guy, renowned as the number one prodigy in the Spiritual Domain, remembered these two girls here. He certainly seems to appreciate old relationships," Wushuang mused internally. "I wonder how his master is doing," Wushuang thought, reflecting that Xu Yan's master, that mysterious expert, must be beyond mighty, possibly of unmatched strength. "Cui'er," Xu Yan smiled, asking, "Where is Miss Du?" "The mistress is at the summit, with the Ancestor Grandmother," Cui'er replied, clutching her clothes as she was about to invite Xu Yan into the courtyard. However, seeing his gaze turn towards the summit, Xu Yan spoke, "I shall go find Miss Du, and you probably know Xie Lingfeng's whereabouts?" Without waiting for Cui'er to respond, Xu Yan took a step, heading straight to the summit. Cui'er was taken aback, and Wushuang was equally surprised, inwardly cursing Xu Yan, suspecting his visit was to inquire about Xie Lingfeng's whereabouts, deeming him oblivious to the affection of beauties. "Rumors say Tai-Miao Sect's Xin Mengrou is exceptionally powerful. I, Xu Yan, have come to seek advice!" Xu Yan declared as he soared towards the summit on the back of a roaring golden dragon, a long sword in hand. Sword intent rippled through the air, the fierce aura of annihilation targeting the summit! Though the earlier illusion sparked inspiration and led to Xu Yan understanding the path of Wisdom Sword cultivation, he wasn't someone to take a provocation lying down. Even if Xin Mengrou hadn't acted directly, her use of illusions was still a challenge to him. On the summit, Du Yuying and Yun Miaomiao jolted from their cultivation state, looking at the golden dragon soaring through the sky and the proud young man standing atop it. While they were overjoyed, they couldn't help but worry. They glanced toward the Ancestor Grandmother, whose face they couldn't see, nor her expression, intensifying their anxiety. "They say Xu Yan is arrogant, and he sure is!" Xin Mengrou's voice, ethereal like a dream, echoed. Petals drifted down from the summit, each petal carrying the power of the Laws of Heaven and Earth (天地法則). Such an array of petals drifted down like raindrops, elusive, with overwhelming killing intent. "So strong!" Xu Yan felt a chill in his heart. Xin Mengrou was, besides Wu Tiannan, the strongest opponent he had encountered. Though Wu Tiannan's exact strength was unknown, since Xu Yan hadn't seen him fight, he remained wary of him, suspecting hidden power. Roar! The golden dragon bellowed, its majestic presence shaking the air. Xu Yan raised his hand, slashing a sword that cut through the light, like the wheel of life and death spinning, sword intent surging. Swish! Swish! Petals shattered, sword lights constantly fragmented, while the once-mighty golden dragon had been wounded, filled with holes. Boom! The golden dragon shattered, and the sword light dimmed, yet the petals continued to rain down. Suddenly, rocks and vegetation beneath Xu Yan transformed into fierce swords, rising to meet the petals, their numbers growing to unleash a torrent of ten thousand swords. ### New Terms and Translations 1. **Greater Heavenly Being Realm (大天人之境)** - Translated directly as Greater Heavenly Being Realm, denoting a high level of martial cultivation achieved by Cui'er. 2. **Ancestor Grandmother** - Translation reflects a respectful title, highlighting her elder status and authority within the sect. 3. **Laws of Heaven and Earth (天地法則)** - Translated as Laws of Heaven and Earth, indicating the mystical power wielded in the narrative. ### Explanation - The **Greater Heavenly Being Realm** indicates an advanced level of cultivation, contextualizing Cui'er's growth as significant. - Xin Mengrou’s ability to summon petals infused with the **Laws of Heaven and Earth** underscores her formidable power, consistent with the mystical and martial elements of the narrative.