Chương 223: A Sword; The Sovereign of the Myriad Weapons!

A few days passed quietly. Long Feng's life was the most peaceful it had ever been since he left the Long clan. He would wake up in the morning, make a pot of tea for both of them and later cook up something for breakfast, which he learned from old man Solitude. Then they would go to the farm behind the cottage and work a bit, either weeding or killing insects or harvesting crops or planting new ones, they did different things everyday.

Then old man Solitude would chop his wood while Long Feng cooked lunch which they would eat. At the beginning, old man Solitude wouldn't stop complaining about Long Feng's cooking as he kept making weird colourful things instead of the food. Long Feng was helpless about that, as he had never learned to cook before. But after a while, he slowly got better at it. Now, his cooking skills was already very good. Anyone who ate his food would be shocked and admit that he was excellent at it.

Then old man Solitude would continue chopping wood while Long Feng would clear the surroundings and bathe in the river. In the evening, he would cook dinner while old man Solitude relaxed on an old wooden chair, 'receiving fresh air' as he put it. And they would go to bed after dinner, falling asleep instantly from the day's exhaustion. Long Feng slowly forgot about cultivation, forgot the Dao concept, forgot about the hundred continent meeting. He simply enjoyed the peaceful life he was living.

Sometimes he would even take the job of cutting the wood while the old man rested. A week passed since he arrived. By now, Long Feng was completely engrossed in this lifestyle. But today when he woke up, he thought Yan jian and Li Yue'er. They should have returned to the Long clan by now to wait for him. Then he suddenly felt his inner energy spiralling out of his control. Before he could react, his energy completed a full revolution in his body and returned to his Dantian without his control.

And then his aura rose, breaking through from rank seven to rank eight Yang realm! Long Feng sat there in shock as he failed to understand what just happened. He woke up from sleep and suddenly achieved a breakthrough? It must be remembered that he hadn't cultivated even once in the past week. Yet he somehow… broke through? Before he could think too much about it, old man Solitude called out from outside.

"Kid, aren't you feeling well? Who's going make breakfast?" Long Feng jumped to his feet and rushed out"I'm coming old man!" He replied. This past week had completely washed away his last bit of caution around this old man. They had become very familiar with each other. Long Feng has slowly realized that this old man was a perverted old man. He behaved completely like a normal mortal old man who was at the end of his lifespan, but sometimes, his temparament would suddenly transform completely.

He would suddenly seem like a powerhouse of his era. He was so unbelievable that Long Feng finally stopped overly respecting him. Even his name was shortened to just Old Man. Later in the afternoon when they were both sitting under the sun, Long Feng suddenly decided to speak.

"Old Man, I remember that you sent for me during the Yihua clan's competition. You didn't seriously summon me over to teach me how to cook as farm right?" This thought had been bothering him for a while now. What exactly did the old man summon him for that he completely turned him into a worker?

'he didn't seriously call me to become a servant right? Not that I don't like this lifestyle but…' Old Man Solitude smiled brightly"Of course not. If you didn't just remind me, I also completely forgot that I called you over. I thought that little boy Yao brought a helper for me" he grinned, showing his yellow teeth. Long Feng was speechless at old man Solitude's explanation. He actually forgot? He thought he was brought as a helper? Was this a joke?

Seeing Long Feng staring at him helplessly, old man Solitude laughed.

"Look at you! Relax kid. Although I really did forget, you reminded me in time."

"So… what did you call me for? I have to leave soon. The hundred continent meeting will begin in less than two months" Long Feng perked his ears and laid rapt attention.

"Right. The hundred continent meeting. Kid, training begins tomorrow." Old Man Solitude yawned and lazily rose to his feet.

"I'm tired. I'm going to take a nap" he wobbled over to the cottage and walked in. A few minutes later, his loud snore slowly spread out through the door. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. Long Feng's lips twitched at the snoring sound. He could never get used to this. But old man Solitude's words made his face to brighten.

"Training! I wonder what kind of training that will be. It will be great if he can help me reach the spirit realm in the next half a month!" Saying this, Long Feng smiled brightly, his eyes filled with expectation. The day ended and Long Feng went to sleep, the training plan thrown to the back of his mind. The next morning… Long Feng woke up and stretched his arms. Then he walked out of the room, ready to begin cooking breakfast when he paused by the door.

Outside, old man Solitude stood under the rising sun, his back straight and his posture filled with power. Long Feng didn't know why but he suddenly had a feeling that something was different about old man Solitude today.

"You're awake! Good. Come over" old man Solitude's deep voice echoed. He sounded nothing like the frivolous old man from before. Long Feng remembered about the training today and he couldn't help but break into a grin as he rushed over to stand before old man Solitude. The old man stared at him for a minute before opening his mouth,"You use the sword as your weapon?" He asked in a solemn tone. Long Feng couldn't help but focus and become serious too under the influence of the old man's tone.

"That's right senior. I use the sword" he replied calmly.

"Take it out" Long Feng didn't hesitate to take out the Origin Spirit Sword from his void ring and held it before his chest. Old Man Solitude glanced at the sword slightly,"Not a bad sword. But to keep it within your storage space… that's wrong!" Long Feng raised his brow curiously. He didn't understand what old man Solitude meant.

"A true swordsman moves with his sword in every situation. It never leaves their side. Why do you think sword sheaths exist? The sword is the identity of a swordsman, their Dao. It must always be on you!" Old Man Solitude explained with a stern tone. Long Feng immediately understood what he was saying. It was true that he had never thought of that. He always kept his sword in his void ring and didn't really bother about this.

"Keeping your sword in your storage space will make you unable to ever form a connection with it. And a swordsman must form a strong connection with their sword. That alone can raise your sword skills to a new level. Remember that!" Old Man Solitude spoke with the same stern tone, his expression serious.

"Yes senior!" Long Feng nodded. He would have to get a suitable sword sheath soon to place the Origin Spirit Sword into and strap it to his waist.

"Good. Now… show me your sword concept!" Long Feng immediately let his rank seven sword concept energy to surge out. His hair and clothes began to flap as a piercing sharp energy appeared around him. But old man Solitude was far from impressed. If anything, his expression actually darkened.

"You call this sword energy? Pathetic!" His words caused Long Feng to feel shocked and lost. This was the concept energy he comprehended painstakingly over a long time. It wasn't easy to reach this stage. But old man Solitude called it pathetic?

"Kid, your understanding of the concept of sword Dao is pathetic! At this rate, you won't even be able to comprehend a sword intent!" Old Man Solitude added, his voice stern and loud. Seeing Long Feng's confusion, he continued solemnly,"Kid, The sword is the Emperor of all weapons! The sword holds the respect of ten thousand soldiers! It can slash, stab, cut, slice, parry, and hack! The sword is the most flexible weapon! The sword has the most powerful offense of all weapons and similarly great defense.

Yet, it is easy to control. Any dimwit who wields a sword would think he is a swordmaster? Such a blasphemy to the majesty of a sword!" His words made Long Feng to freeze. His mind was reeling as old man Solitude's words rang in his ears repeatedly. He had never thought about any of these. He simply used the sword because he liked it, and called himself a swordmaster when he comprehended a concept. But he never thought, Was he really a swordmaster? Was he truly wielding the sword correctly?

Or was he just a random person who picked up a sword, swinged it a bit and thought of himself as an expert?

"Your understanding of the sword is lacking! This your sword energy is weak, fragile and blunt!" Old Man Solitude's words pierced into Long Feng's soul, enlightening him on his path. Long Feng looked up, his eyes bright as stars as he fell to his knees before old man Solitude"Please teach me senior!" He said the from the bottom of his heart. Long Feng was innately very prideful. He wouldn't kneel to any man except his parents and his teacher and the heavens.

But right now, he kneeled and asked old man Solitude to teach him! Old Man Solitude shook his head"I can teach you what I know, but before then, you'll have to answer one question. Are you willing to become a swordmaster?!" He asked solemnly with a grave expression. Long Feng lowered his head and let this question sink into his mind. He thought back to when he saw a sword for the first time, he was inexplicably drawn to it.

He later found that rusty old sword in the Treasury of the Long clan, the sword which turned out to be Wu Kong, his first master. And then he began to use the sword. The sovereign sword which his father gave him was his first sword and he comprehended sword concept with it. But he never truly understood that sword, never developed any connection to it. And then it got too weak for him. He began to use the Origin Spirit Sword untill now. Yet he still had no connection with it.

He truly has very pitiful understanding of the sword. He slowly raised his head and his expression was determined.

"Please… Teach me!" He repeated softly. Old Man Solitude's stern face finally gave way to a faint smile.

"Good kid. Rise. A swordsman never kneels to anyone! The pride of the sword doesn't accepts that! Remember this!" He warmly reminded and helped Long Feng to his feet. When Long Feng looked at Old Man Solitude now, the old man suddenly seemed completely different. He still gave off no aura, same as before, but Long Feng suddenly had a feeling that there was a terrifyingly powerful sword energy hiding within Old Man Solitude's frail body. It was like he himself was a sword, sharp, straight and unyielding!

"Kid, tell me. What is a Sword?" Old Man Solitude smiled and asked faintly. Long Feng pondered a bit before speaking"Junior doesn't know. Please enlighten me senior!"

"A sword… is a weapon meant for slaughter! It is a weapon that commands respect wherever it is, a weapon that stands unrivaled among hundreds of weapons. It takes lives, yet it can also protect lives. It all depends on the wielder of the sword." Old Man Solitude slowly explained. His voice always has an inexplicable respect and solemnness whenever he spoke about the sword. Long Feng had already confirmed his thought and was sure that old man solitude… was a very powerful swordmaster! As for how powerful exactly?

He didn't know.

"The sword has it's own laws just like every other weapon. There are different variations of the sword; short sword, broad sword, heavy sword, thin sword and more. But all of these were derived from the one King of swords, the Longsword. That is the sword I used, and I can see that is also your choice of sword."

"Now listen carefully. The Longsword… signifies unparalleled offense and speed! Pure speed coupled with insane offensive skills that can render any and all defense as non-existent! A swordmaster doesn't need defense. The best defense is offense. Peerless attacks and speed that will make ghosts weep. That is the peak of the Longsword!" Old Man Solitude's tone was deep and solemn as he said this. One could almost see the fanatic respect in his eyes when he spoke of the Longsword.

"But those aren't all. This final thing is one that not just the Longsword but all variations of the sword requires. That is the Heart of a Swordsman." Old Man Solitude paused, his words seemingly as heavy as a mountain. Long Feng listened to every word spoken with rapt attention, deepening his understanding of the sword greatly.

"The Heart of a Swordsman is a mysterious concept. No one can truly say they understand it. But all swordsman must possess this to truly be called a swordmaster."

"There's a saying; A swordsman can be defeated, can lose his life, can lose his sword, his everything, but can never lose his heart! This sword heart is the life of a swordsman. You won't understand this right now because you don't have this heart. I don't know if you will one day, but until then, just remember this." Long Feng nodded severely"Yes… Teacher" He couldn't bring himself to call him senior again after old man Solitude impacted so much knowledge to him.

In Long Feng's heart, old man Solitude was his teacher for life, equal to Lord Yi Ming. Old Man Solitude simply smiled and didn't bother about the name.

"The three things I mentioned, Offense, Speed and the heart are the foundations of a Swordsman. Now I will explain the 'heart' for you based on my own understanding" Long Feng immediately paid 200 percent of his attention to Old Man Solitude's voice, unwilling to let a single word pass him.

"The Unyielding will of a Swordsman, a will that wouldn't bend to anyone or anything, even the heavens. This will constitutes what we know as the Sword heart. Then the Confidence of a swordsman. Not arrogance. Confidence. Confidence in your strength, your ability, confidence that you can survive any adversity, any situation and become stronger from it. But for some people, this may differ. Some people fuel their sword heart with their hatred, or rage, or other emotions.

I also don't use confidence because it has a fatal downside. If you lose against an opponent of similar strength or age, then your confidence would waver and a crack will be left on your sword heart." Old Man Solitude paused to let Long Feng take in what he just said before he continued"There is the pride. This is wholly different from arrogance. Everyone has his own pride so I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. And finally, Principles.

Every swordsman has principles that he won't cross, like slaughtering innocents, killing mortals and such. It's different for everyone and some swordsmen don't even have such principles, having no qualms in doing anything they wish. I personally think of that path as a wrong path. The sword itself is a weapon guided by laws. Having no principal yourself could lead you down the wrong path." Old Man Solitude finally paused and took a deep breath.

"I've said so much kid. Now, let me show you what I'm saying"