Chapter 20: The Flowing Cloud Sword

"I… although I couldn't see anything wrong with it, I felt it was quite good — perfectly executed! I wonder, Miss Wu Xuan, did you notice any issues?" Tang Yan deflected the question back to Wu Xuan.

Wu Xuan shot Tang Yan a sideways glance, then said in a crisp voice: "You have clearly put in hard work with your practice lately. There are no more flaws to speak of — what you lack now is only refinement. Given time, you will certainly reach full mastery. The fastest way to bring your techniques to full mastery is through constant tempering — sparring with a partner is an excellent way to improve."

Tang Yan agreed with the first half of Wu Xuan's words well enough, but the further she went, the more a bad feeling crept over him. Was she really going to make him a sparring partner?

"Alright, alright — since Miss Wu Xuan has begun her lecture, I won't linger any longer. I wouldn't want anyone thinking I'm stealing techniques. Farewell!"

"Stop right there!" Just as Tang Yan tried to slip away, Lin Dongxue called out immediately: "What's this, Young Master Tang? Trying to run? Didn't I just say I wanted you as my sparring partner?"

"Well… I'm only at the eighth grade of the Primary Realm. Miss Lin's strength is nearly at the Profound Realm — why would you bother sparring with a small fry like me?" Tang Yan said with a pained expression. "Besides, I have no masochistic tendencies. Why should I be your sparring partner?"

At Tang Yan's words, Lin Dongxue and Wu Xuan both froze. Had this guy gotten his head stuck in a door? How many people in Yun City would kill to be Lin Dongxue's sparring partner? And this fellow actually wanted to refuse?

Still, Tang Yan's words weren't entirely without logic, and the two women found themselves momentarily at a loss for a rebuttal. After a brief pause, Wu Xuan said: "How about this — Young Master Tang temporarily serves as Dongxue's sparring partner, and we'll pay you a certain fee in return. What do you say?"

"How much?" Tang Yan perked up immediately.

"Money-grubber!" Seeing Tang Yan's reaction, Lin Dongxue let out a cold snort and said: "Here's the deal — I'll spar with you using only strength below the Yellow Realm. If you can hold out for one hour, I'll give you a mid-tier first-grade pill. How's that?"

A mid-tier first-grade pill? The great Alchemist Tang had no interest in pills whatsoever, and shook his head. "I have no interest in cultivation, but I have a great deal of interest in silver. How about this — if I can hold out for one hour, or force you to use Yellow Realm strength, you pay me ten thousand silver notes. Deal?"

At Tang Yan's words, Lin Dongxue's brows shot up in indignation, and she said mockingly: "You think you can actually force me to use Yellow Realm strength? Fine, I'll agree to your terms — just don't go running off when you get beaten. Come on then!"

"Miss Wu Xuan, might I borrow your sword?" Tang Yan said with a smile.

Wu Xuan's cheeks flushed faintly at the request. She unsheathed her sword and tossed it over: "Here — I'll take the opportunity to observe Young Master Tang's swordsmanship as well."

Tang Yan caught Wu Xuan's sword. The blade was slightly wide and felt heavier than expected in his hand. He was mildly surprised — just what was Wu Xuan's cultivation level, that her weapon was noticeably heavier than an ordinary sword?

"Thank you, Miss Wu Xuan." Tang Yan offered his thanks, though his mind was already turning over a thought: if he could be Lin Dongxue's sparring partner, why couldn't he make this girl his sparring partner instead?

The more he thought about it, the more sensible it seemed. A spark of delight lit up in Tang Yan's heart. After a moment's consideration, he decided to use this bout with Lin Dongxue to hone the Tang Clan's signature technique — the Flowing Cloud Sword.

After all, as the sole heir of the Tang Clan, it would be embarrassing if he weren't even proficient in the clan's own martial arts. Moreover, in Tang Yan's memories, Old Master Tang had once said that the Flowing Cloud Sword was a fine sword art — it was only because the technique had some missing portions that its grade remained low.

Tang Yan had a good memory. With a brief moment of recollection, he ran through the Flowing Cloud Sword's moves in his mind.

"Watch out!" Lin Dongxue had long wanted to give Tang Yan a good thrashing. With a sharp cry, she flicked her slender sword and charged straight at him.

Sensing Lin Dongxue's aura, Tang Yan confirmed she was indeed using only the strength of the eighth grade of the Primary Realm. He smiled inwardly and raised his sword to meet her.

Tang Yan's mind was constantly probing the Flowing Cloud Sword for its flaws. Dividing his attention, he appeared flustered and scrambling against Lin Dongxue's fierce assault.

Yet there was not a trace of fear in Tang Yan's eyes — if anything, a faint excitement flickered within them. This kind of high-intensity sparring was enormously beneficial for repairing the sword art's techniques. What looked like a barrage of dangerous attacks was, in fact, helping Tang Yan identify and fill every gap in the art.

Wu Xuan, watching from the side, saw Tang Yan's flustered state and smiled with amusement, fully expecting to enjoy the spectacle of him getting beaten.

But as time passed, the amusement in Wu Xuan's eyes gradually faded, replaced by wave after wave of puzzlement.

Tang Yan had been completely suppressed by Lin Dongxue from the start, barely able to defend himself. Now fifteen minutes had gone by — by all rights, Tang Yan should be showing clear signs of defeat. Yet after all this time, how was his condition still the same as it had been at the very beginning?

Meanwhile, Tang Yan's excitement was only growing. This Flowing Cloud Sword art was riddled with flaws — many passages had been altered, and several moves in the middle were outright missing. Given a little more time, he could absolutely restore this sword art to its complete form!

Before long, Wu Xuan's eyelid twitched, her expression filling with disbelief.

She could see it clearly — Tang Yan, who had been scrambling helplessly from the very start, was gradually steadying his footing!

A wildly absurd thought arose in Wu Xuan's mind: was Lin Dongxue the one doing the sparring for Tang Yan?

On the field, Lin Dongxue felt boundless shame at having failed to defeat Tang Yan after so long. Her anxiety mounted. She bit down hard, and the full power of the ninth grade of the Primary Realm erupted from her — the pressure on Tang Yan instantly transformed, and in a flash he was back to the precarious situation he'd faced at the very start.

A single realm is like a mountain between them — the gap between the ninth and eighth grade of the Primary Realm was no small thing. Just as both Wu Xuan and Lin Dongxue were certain Tang Yan was about to lose, the aura of the sword in Tang Yan's hand suddenly shifted.

Though his strength remained at the eighth grade of the Primary Realm, the moves that had once seemed plain and clumsy were now flowing with seamless fluency, and the sword's edge carried noticeably more force!

Another fifteen minutes passed. Tang Yan, who had previously been utterly unable to fight back, gradually turned the tide and began launching counterattacks.

The one in the fight is blind; the bystander sees clearly. Wu Xuan, watching from the side, wore an expression of profound gravity.

Having spent years in Yun City, she was familiar with the techniques of the various great families. The sword art Tang Yan was using was unmistakably the Tang Clan's signature martial art — the "Flowing Cloud Sword." Yet in both technique and power, it far surpassed anything she had witnessed from it before!

Could it be that this young man wasn't merely practicing the sword art — but actually perfecting it? For a moment, Wu Xuan's gaze as she watched Tang Yan became extraordinarily complex.

There was astonishment in it — and a touch of wariness as well.

Without anyone noticing, a full hour had passed, and Tang Yan showed not the slightest sign of defeat.

Flames seemed to shoot from Lin Dongxue's eyes as she ground her teeth in fury. This fellow was truly a killjoy — no matter how strong you are, couldn't you at least consider my feelings? I've already used the full power of the ninth grade of the Primary Realm and still can't bring you down — are you deliberately trying to humiliate me in front of Sister Wu Xuan?

This time, it really couldn't be blamed entirely on Tang Yan. Under normal circumstances, Tang Yan would certainly have let Lin Dongxue save face.

But at this moment, he was completely absorbed in the Flowing Cloud Sword!

This technique flowed with natural ease — smooth and unrestrained as drifting clouds and flowing water. Compared to the Miaoman Sword Art, both were graceful and nimble, but the Flowing Cloud Sword was more natural, unforced, and unobtrusive — like white clouds drifting lazily across a blue sky, carrying not a trace of sharpness, yet capable of killing without a sound.

The deeper Tang Yan threw himself into it, the more complete his moves became. After deflecting another incoming strike, Tang Yan let out a great shout. The sword in his hand seemed to transform into a drifting cloud — pervasive and all-encompassing — pressing down upon Lin Dongxue from every direction.

Feeling the overwhelming force of Tang Yan's sword intent, Lin Dongxue's beautiful face turned fierce, her eyes wide.

Even with her strength raised to the ninth grade of the Primary Realm, facing this sword art of Tang Yan's, she felt a strange sensation — as though there was no way to break through it.

She bit down on her silver teeth, and Lin Dongxue's sword intent shifted once more as a far stronger aura surged forth.

The Yellow Realm!

Wu Xuan's beautiful eyes settled on Tang Yan. Though Lin Dongxue breaking out Yellow Realm strength was technically against the rules, she was filled with boundless anticipation — could Tang Yan, at the eighth grade of the Primary Realm, actually hold his own against the Yellow Realm?