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

### Chapter 424: Allow Me to Show You Why Xu Yan is the Sword God "I want to see what qualifications you have to be called the Sword God!" Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha's eyes turned cold. In an instant, the sword in his hand emitted a fierce cold gleam, channeling the power of the Laws of Heaven and Earth. Layers of sword light overlapped, transforming this domain into a field of sword light in mere moments. "Let me show you what the Sword Dao of the Undying Realm truly is." The power of the Laws of Heaven and Earth converged, and sword lights continuously emerged, enveloping the entire world. Each sword light intertwined with the Laws of Heaven and Earth, forming an immense sword network. At this moment, Xu Yan was entirely enveloped within the sword network. "The consumption is rather large. I need to find a place to recover and reflect on the gains from this battle." Boom! Boom! The Mountain and River Sword Dao unfolded as the divine technique "Mountains and Rivers in the Sword" appeared. At this moment, Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha was already within his own Mountains and Rivers in the Sword domain. Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha raised an eyebrow. Why is this happening? Each of those sword lights was executed by his own sword technique, yet in the blink of an eye, they had become the enemy's force? Such bizarre occurrences are unheard of! At this moment, Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha was shocked, almost breaking into a cold sweat; it was too strange and terrifying! However, the figure remained too indistinct, affecting the time limit; the opponent quickly regained composure, narrowly avoiding a fatal strike in the critical moment. At this crucial moment, Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha's eyes changed drastically, showing a horrified expression. "If I were a warrior solely practicing the Sword Dao, how should I defend against this strike?" Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha felt a sense of awe; as he raised his hand, the powerful force of an Immortal Heavenly Venerable was unleashed, blocking the sword light's onslaught. It was as if he could only wield a sword, swinging and hacking aimlessly, lacking both the sharpness and variability of a true sword. Startled, Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha hastily threw away the sword! At that instant, Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha felt his mind buzzing, his entire body trembling, as if his warrior's spirit had vanished and a desire to bow down emerged within. "Slash!" Xu Yan snorted coldly to himself. "Very well, today I will let you, this pitiable frog at the bottom of a well, witness what the Sword Dao truly is. Allow me to show you why Xu Yan is the Sword God!" This strike couldn't hurt Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha. Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha returned to his domain, pretending as if nothing had happened, yet his heart weighed heavily. The Mountain and River Sword Dao emerged again, and in an instant, layers of sword light stacked upon each other. Each sword light seemed imbued with intelligence, each wielding a different sword technique, and together they formed a murderous sword array. The power of the Laws of Heaven and Earth also descended, transforming into myriad phenomena of mountains and rivers. Going to the Nether Abyss is not a matter of urgency. Naturally, his opponent didn't possess the strength to breach the defense of his Yin-Yang Immortal Sword. As a god of the Sword Dao, he is rightfully so! Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha had to concede that Xu Yan was qualified to be called the Sword God! The originally sword-light-covered world, including Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha, was suddenly as if it had intelligence and revolted, redirecting its murderous intent towards Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha. "I am an Immortal Heavenly Venerable. How can I be influenced, how can my will be shaken?" The world changed, resembling a battlefield. On the battlefield, only Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha remained, facing terrifying attacks! Xu Yan smiled coldly. At that moment, Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha almost felt a pang of jealousy; if he had pursued such a formidable Martial Dao, he might have been unbeaten in the Undying Realm. At a certain point, he took a deep breath. However, this strike did injure the opponent! "The strength is still a bit lacking. If this figure were fully materialized, even an Immortal Heavenly Venerable might instinctively bow down. "Xu Yan, I must admit, your talents are monstrous, your power frightening, but ultimately too weak. If you were an Immortal Heavenly Venerable, I would not be your match and would be slain by you. "Why is this child's Martial Dao so incredibly strong?" Though he was not a pure Sword Dao practitioner, he had nevertheless practiced the Sword Dao. Yet facing this strike, he felt his own Sword Dao heart trembling, a sense of bowing arising. Even the specter of death! In the nick of time, a low roar, and his form twisted, flying diagonally back, while fully exerting a palm strike towards the cold gleam! His palm throbbed with pain! At this moment, he had to confront a stark reality: even if he struck personally, he couldn't harm Xu Yan! "That's enough!" Finally, he regained clarity, emerging from that almost reverent state. Before him appeared a chilling gleam, the bone-piercing cold seeping into his heart. But, rather than vanish, it melded into the world, becoming identical to the environment. Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha's pupils contracted, his form involuntarily shaking, revealing a look of shock at the sudden battlefield scene. At this moment, he even discovered the divine sword in his hand trembling and struggling, and with a careless move, the sword's tip turned back, nicking the back of his hand! He remains an Immortal Heavenly Venerable, with substantial power among Immortal Heavenly Venerables; even if unable to perform sword techniques, he could wield other martial arts. Previously confident of victory, he now found himself in a passive position. Amidst the mountains and rivers manifested, alongside a figure of saintly grandeur, the mighty image influenced Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha's mind, and Xu Yan seized the moment to make a decisive move! Eighteen Leaves Tian Zun sneered and spoke. The sword injury was not severe, yet the unknown trace of Sword Dao power weighing on his heart was the real concern. No matter what methods or secret arts he employed, he couldn't eliminate this trace of Sword Dao power. A scene from the intense battle depicted powerful combatants simultaneously raising their swords against Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha. And this strike carried the shadow of all life. Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha's body flew backward, eyes widening in terror, seeing Xu Yan holding a sword with a regretful expression; his heart shivered, feeling a sense of survival after a narrow escape. Only with the power of an Immortal Heavenly Venerable could he encase this trace of Sword Dao power, uncertain if he could permanently seal it away. Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha's heart trembled with shock. Xu Yan pondered for a moment before deciding to find a place to compose himself. He gestured lightly, unleashing an indomitable Sword Intent that reignited the dimmed sword light into a blinding gleam. At this moment, four words floated into his mind! When Xu Yan executed this strike, he felt his Divine Essence being consumed rapidly, as the wondrous intent of the Sword Realm drained as well, causing Sword Intent to surge relentlessly. "Your sword is my sword. The fierce sword lights you've painstakingly executed are now mine to utilize, perfect for deploying a sword array to let you, this frog at the bottom of the well, see." Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha couldn't imagine if an Immortal Heavenly Venerable practicing Sword Dao could resist such a strike. "The Sword God Xu Yan!" A sword pierced through his palm, and pain seared through his shoulder immediately afterward. Yet, he dared not be careless. The more Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha fought, the more astonished he became, horrified to find that despite his strength, he couldn't break Xu Yan's defense. The mysterious Sword Wheel kept regenerating, no matter how powerful his attacks were, it remained indestructible. Thus, an inconceivable event occurred before him, an Immortal Heavenly Venerable! At this moment, in the depths of Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha's heart, a hint of dread lurked! "In the world of Sword Dao, I am the ruler. Even as an Immortal Heavenly Venerable, you are unworthy to use the sword before me. You do not qualify!" "Is that so?" "But now, even with the strange ability to control the force of my sword techniques, it changes nothing; I am not purely a sword practitioner!" Boom! "This person's power is indeed formidable, and with my current strength, it's impossible to kill him!" The might of wielding the power of an entire realm gradually unfolded as he calmed down. Xu Yan was intrigued. Such an astounding spectacle sent shivers down his spine! It's like comparing a three-year-old child wielding a wooden sword to a true Sword Great Grandmaster. "Why does Xu Yan's Sword Dao have an unfathomable quality? Why does each strike seem to possess a distinct intent of slaughter?" Blood gushed out, yet he avoided a fatal blow. He considered himself a strong practitioner of the Sword Dao, but upon seeing Xu Yan's Sword Dao, he was shocked to realize he seemed like an amateur, not having even touched the threshold of the Sword Dao. "Hmm?" ### New Terms Translated: 1. **八葉天煞 (Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha)** - Translated as "Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha". This name contains "Tian Sha", which refers to a type of malevolent star in Chinese astrology, representing a formidable and ominous presence. 2. **墯巫天窟 (Nether Abyss)** - Translated as "Nether Abyss". The term "墯巫" refers to a fallen sorcerer/witch, signifying a mystical and possibly dangerous place. 3. **不化劍意 (Indomitable Sword Intent)** - Translated as "Indomitable Sword Intent". The literal translation is "Unyielding Sword Intent", but "Indomitable" better captures the relentless and unbreakable spirit suggested. 4. **慧劍境 (Wisdom Sword Realm)** - Translated as "Wisdom Sword Realm". This term implies a state of enlightenment or advanced understanding and mastery of Sword Dao. 5. **山河萬象 (Myriad Phenomena of Mountains and Rivers)** - Translated as "Myriad Phenomena of Mountains and Rivers". It denotes the vast and varied manifestations of sword energy, reflective of natural grandeur and diversity in combat. 6. **心生拜服 (Desire to bow down)** - Describes the overwhelming impression and respect generated by superior skills, conveying the power of Xu Yan's presence and technique. 7. **井底之蛙 (Frog at the bottom of a well)** - This is a common Chinese idiom used to describe someone with a narrow perspective, reflecting Xu Yan's disdainful view of his opponent’s limited understanding of the Sword Dao. ### Explanation: - **八葉天煞 (Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha)**: The translation remains direct but encapsulates the mystical nature associated with the character. "Eighteen Leaves" suggests a complex, perhaps ritualistic significance. - **墯巫天窟 (Nether Abyss)**: This place name resonates with mysterious and potentially malevolent connotations, hence the selection of "Nether." - **井底之蛙 (Frog at the bottom of a well)** indicates someone with limited vision or understanding, suitable within the context to emphasize Xu Yan's superiority in Sword Dao mastery. - The repeated emphasis and transformation of "剑神 (Sword God)" stresses Xu Yan's superior proficiency and divine level mastery, emphasizing his unmatched status in Sword Dao to his opponent, who recognized and conceded to Xu Yan's elevated ability. Xu Yan looked at the layered sword light with delight instead of fear. Surrounded by this radiance, it felt as though the sword light was not targeting him, but rather, it was wielded by him. "A frog in a well that hasn’t even stepped over the threshold of the Sword Dao, merely relying on his realm and brute force to perform techniques. It may appear vast and unending, its swordsmanship seeming sharp, but in my eyes, it's nothing but a joke." Xu Yan sighed inwardly, acknowledging that Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha's strength was formidable. The sword light remained visible, densely packed. As far as the eye could see, the fierce cold gleam turned the world into a prison of swords, capable of slicing a person into countless pieces in an instant. Waving his hand, Xu Yan began to temper his Sword Dao, thoroughly displaying every insight he possessed. "Arrgh!" Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha roared in his mind, continuously employing techniques to condense and refine his spiritual soul, trying to awaken from this state of reverence! Xu Yan sneered. "Impossible, what is this!" Even the Myriad Phenomena of Mountains and Rivers vanished without a trace. Although Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha managed to escape, a trace of indomitable Sword Intent still embedded itself within his body. Unable to shatter the mysterious Sword Wheel, Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha could not harm Xu Yan in the slightest. Xu Yan furrowed his brows slightly, "After all, my strength is still somewhat lacking. I couldn't fully assimilate it, and the conjured battle wasn't realistic enough!" This is an inconceivable event. "As a non-immortal realm warrior, dying under my sword techniques is something to be proud of!" "The Tian Sha Earth Shadows, are they as persistent as the lingering souls? Sooner or later, I will destroy you all." At this moment, Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha's gaze was filled with arrogant coldness. Just as Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha attacked, the area behind the sword-wielding masses seemed to turn into a hazy state, and a vague figure suddenly appeared. Xu Yan stepped forward, and in a single thought, all the sword light suddenly eluded Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha's control. The deadly sword light that had targeted Xu Yan abruptly reversed, enveloping Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha instead. As he finished speaking, Sword Intent emerged, Mountains and Rivers merged into the world. The sword light, despite being his own sword power, was unsustainable and had grown dim at this point. In an instant, amidst booming sounds, scenes of terrifying battles appeared between heaven and earth. These scenes were extremely vague, yet shockingly intense. Xu Yan smiled calmly. Xu Yan took a deep breath. Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha’s fists swung fiercely, his aura soared like a rainbow. With each wave of his hand, the power of heaven and earth poured forth, collapsing one sword light after another, even tearing an opening in the Mountains and Rivers within the Sword. "Such strength is perfect for honing my Sword Dao!" All the sword light vanished in an instant, every ounce of Sword Intent disappeared in a flash. "If the sword techniques can be controlled by him, then I simply won't use them. As an Immortal Heavenly Venerable, can I really be harmed by this Xu Yan brat?" Moreover, every sword light seemed to contain a terrifying Sword Intent. Upon reaching the completion of the Wisdom Sword Realm, even an Immortal Heavenly Venerable couldn't resist him if they've cultivated any sword techniques. My own sword has betrayed me? The blinding sword light, originally birthed from his techniques, had now spiraled out of control, turning back to attack the very practitioner who wielded them. "Who is this person, to have such a profound impact on the warriors of Tai-Cang?" It was as though he was a sage in Martial Dao, someone all who saw would revere! In Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha's eyes, Xu Yan was undoubtedly doomed. This figure, however indistinct, possessed a presence akin to a Martial Dao saint, commanding respect with an overwhelming existence. At that moment, Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha's heart was once again filled with dread; his heart trembled as he roared and raised his hand to strike fiercely. Just a little more! A hair's breadth more, and he would have been slaughtered by Xu Yan's counterattack! He turned and fled frantically, disappearing instantly into the skyline. An Immortal Heavenly Venerable, driven to retreat in disarray! Xu Yan sighed, Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha was too powerful, he couldn’t kill him! "In the past, I used this Connecting Heaven Sword Net technique to slay an Immortal Heavenly Venerable head-on. You, a mere child, no matter how mystical your techniques are, or how refined your escape art is, under my sword net, death is certain!" "What is this Sword Dao, and why is it so unfathomably profound?" Currently, the battle appearing within the Myriad Phenomena of Mountains and Rivers was something Xu Yan had seen while traversing the wilderness and incorporated into the phenomena. Eighteen Leaves Tian Sha took a deep breath, calming his trembling heart. No matter how refined his escape arts were, or how fast his techniques, as he had now fallen into the Connecting Heaven Sword Net technique, even the most refined arts and fastest techniques couldn't escape his sword net. Occasionally, he found opportunities to strike at Xu Yan, only for the Yin-Yang Sword Wheel to deftly defuse the attacks. The power from those strikes, instead of diminishing, returned to bolster the sword light's strength. However, beyond the single strike, what truly manifested within the Myriad Phenomena of Mountains and Rivers was that towering figure of sanctity! "Even as an Immortal Heavenly Venerable, can you resolve my indomitable Sword Intent? If you cannot, in time, your true identity will inevitably come to light!" "What kind of Sword Dao power is this? This Xu Yan, this child, is terrifying. What Immortal Heavenly Venerable can kill him? Targeting Xu Yan might be a grave mistake?" At this moment, he thought Tian Qishi's decision to target Xu Yan could indeed be an error! ### New Terms Translated: 1. **劍之刑獄 (Prison of Swords)** - Translated as "Prison of Swords." Literally conveying the image of a domain where the sword light serves as bars, this term captures both the destructive and confining qualities of the sword field. 2. **天煞地影 (Tian Sha Earth Shadows)** - Translated directly as "Tian Sha Earth Shadows." This refers to a group or faction associated with malevolence and persistency, likely a formidable enemy Xu Yan mentioned destroying, embodying the persistent malevolent presence. 3. **接天劍網 (Connecting Heaven Sword Net)** - Translated as "Connecting Heaven Sword Net." This technique suggests an expansive, encompassing network of swords, symbolizing a net that reaches heavenly vastness and demonstrates immense sweeping force, alluding to its ability to subdue other formidable techniques or entities. 4. **太蒼 (Tai-Cang)** - Translated as "Tai-Cang." A reference to a place or sect within the novel's world that aligns with Xu Yan's context as a significant locale or affiliation. 5. **武道聖者 (Martial Dao Saint)** - Translated as "Martial Dao Saint." The term implies a figure of high spiritual or martial authority; a sage whom others would revere simply by their presence. ### Explanation: - **劍之刑獄 (Prison of Swords)**: Retains the connotation of a domain entirely composed of sword light, which aligns with its destructive capability. - **天煞地影 (Tian Sha Earth Shadows)**: Perhaps better understood through understanding the character's affiliation as a persistent antagonistic force, maintaining the ominous nature in its translation. - **接天劍網 (Connecting Heaven Sword Net)**: Provides the sense of an inescapable and all-encompassing force, upholding its original description. - **武道聖者 (Martial Dao Saint)** highlights a figure of great reverence and skill in martial practices, to whom others naturally bow or hold in high esteem, pivotal in establishing the immense awe and respect central to the narrative's martial hierarchy.