Chapter 5 Chapter Four: On the Sword in Huashan
"Qi sword is like".
This golden lacquer plaque hung high on the front beam of the "Ziqi Donglai Hall", each character is equivalent to the height of a person's body and waist, and it is far better than the burned "Guiyuan Hall" of the Qingcheng Sword Sect. The plaque of "Bashu Wushuang" is even bigger.
--certainly.The world discusses swords, and Huashan is the most respected.
The headquarters of the Huashan School is the "Zhenyue Palace" located under the east slope of the West Peak of Huashan Mountain.In front of the main hall of this palace, there is a jade well with green water. Since the Tang Dynasty, there have been various magical legends, and a "Jade Well Tower" was built, which was originally a scenic spot for tourists and monks.Later, the Huashan sect chose this blessed land and built a palace behind the building as the main altar for practice, and no outsiders were allowed.
The Taoists of Huashan School not only practice the Taoism of Quanzhen Inner Alchemy, but also practice martial arts and swordsmanship. The most majestic building in "Zhenyue Palace" is naturally the main hall "Hua Temple" on the front, and the statue of "Xiyue Emperor" is enshrined inside. Compare.
However, the main altar of Huashan Martial Arts is the "Ziqi Donglai Hall" located at the east end of the palace. It is an important place for the leadership of the Huashan Sword Sect to manage affairs, and it is also the place where the most elite "Taoist disciples" of Huashan practice swordsmanship. Dojo.
Like the "Guiyuan Hall" of the Qingcheng School, one of the walls of the "Ziqi Donglai Hall" is also lined with many wooden name plates, which are the names of the leaders and senior disciples of the sect, but the number is more than that of the Qingcheng School. The number has more than doubled—the Huashan School is at its peak, and there are forty-four people in this generation who can enter the hall and become "disciples of Taoism".
Among the name tags of the forty-four people, the top ten are particularly clearly separated from the bottom thirty-four.These ten disciples with the highest seniority and cultivation base are collectively called the "Ten Prestige of Huashan", and they have the qualifications to act as teachers and models, and they will be the successor pillars of the Huashan School in the future.
At this moment, in the "Ziqi Donglai Hall", Yang Tailan, one of the "Ten Prestige Instruments", was pacing back and forth restlessly on the stone floor paved with gossip patterns.
Like all Huashan disciples, Yang Tailan already wore a sword at his waist.
The three little Taoist priests who escaped from the "Jianxing Pavilion" rushed back to the "Zhenyue Palace" to report the news.At this moment, from the main entrance of "Ziqi Donglai Hall" to the gate of "Zhenyue Palace", there are Huashan disciples with swords guarding every less than ten steps.The dignified atmosphere is unprecedented in the three hundred years of the Huashan School.
Yang Tailan, who was dressed in Taoist robes, was under forty years old, tall, with long arms and quick steps.In terms of martial arts, he is definitely among the top five contemporary disciples, but he is often defeated by his too impatient temper.
"Don't walk around." Zhang Tailang, who is also one of the "Ten Prestige Instruments", said with a frown.He just sat in the chair, put the long sword across his knees, and didn't seem too worried.On his left, Sima Taiyuan, the chief of the "Ten Prestige Instruments" and the current major disciple of the Huashan School, closed his eyes, folded his hands into a seal on his dantian, and seemed to be entering meditation.
"The matter of the Wudang faction seems to be true..." Yang Tailan stopped pacing, but still pinched her knuckles with both hands.
"But..." Song Taiyou, one of the younger "Ten Prestige Instruments" on the other side, said: "I just heard about their going to Qingcheng and Emei not long ago. Why did they come here again so soon?"
Song Taiyou's words caused all the disciples in the hall to whisper to each other.
Senior brother Sima Taiyuan didn't open his eyes, but said, "What's going on, we'll find out in a while. What are you in a hurry for?"
His voice was not particularly loud, but it made all the juniors quiet down.Regardless of Sima Taiyuan's steady face and deep and powerful voice, he faintly reveals the demeanor of Huashan's next generation leader.
"We are Huashan School." Sima Taiyuan said again. "There is no enemy that cannot be dealt with. But don't get confused. The heart is the rudder of Qi, and Qi is the rein of the sword. When the mind is disturbed, the sword will be disordered."
This is the most basic of Huashan Kendo.All the juniors were a little ashamed when they heard this.
At this time, several people entered the lobby from the back room.Sima Taiyuan and other disciples immediately stood up and saluted solemnly.
The ones who came in were naturally those whose nameplates on the wall were ranked higher than the "Ten Prestige of Huashan".
First of all, there are four uncles of the "Zongzi generation": Huang Zongxuan, Zhao Zongchen, Cheng Zongzhi and Cheng Zongxin brothers, who are the "Four Refining Masters" of Huashan today. The title of "Refinement Master" is second only to the head of the sect. It was originally a Taoist title, but in the Huashan Sword Sect, it is equivalent to the guardian of the teacher - the status is similar to that of the deputy head of the Wudang Sect.
Then there are two elders of the "Xiangzi generation" who are the only surviving Huashan School, Jin Xiangren and Li Xiangsheng.Both of them are over seventy years old, their sword skills and martial arts have long been inferior to before, but in terms of seniority, they are grand master uncles who are disciples of the present generation, so they are naturally highly respected.
Like the disciples and grandchildren below, the two of them held long swords in their hands.Since foreign enemies invaded, they also had to join in the confrontation—one day they were Huashan swordsmen, and they remained the same until the moment they died.
The last one to enter the hall was naturally Liu Zongwu, the head of Huashan Sword Sect.
Liu Zongwu's majestic body was dressed in a dark purple cassock robe, a square scarf on his head, five long beards that were very chic, and an extraordinary appearance.However, there was a horizontal scar on the bridge of the nose, and he was more powerful than a Taoist priest who practiced alchemy and practiced like a wolf.
Liu Zongwu's Taoist name "Yingwuzi", nicknamed "Jiuxian Shenjian" in martial arts, is the direct disciple of Xiaoyu, who was the head of Huashan, and his status and martial arts inheritance are too orthodox.
Next to Liu Zongwu, there was a young Taoist priest, holding the special sword "Yu Ke Jian" for the head of Huashan in both hands, and followed him closely.The engraved silver guard and hilt of the long sword are in the shape of a flying crane, and the wood of the hilt is dark black, which is an extraordinary thing with a long history.
Liu Zongwu walked to the front seat of the "Ziqi Donglai Hall", waited for the two uncles to take their seats before sitting down.His four "refinement master" juniors also sat down one by one.The "Ten Prestige Instruments" and other "Taoist Disciples" in the hall are still standing.
Liu Zongwu looked impatient and urged his disciples to report quickly.
"Report to all the teachers." Zhang Tailang bowed his head and said: "The disciple has repeatedly asked the junior brother who has clarified the return... There is indeed only one person on the other side."
"Wudang?" The uncle Huang Zongxuan next to him asked anxiously.
"This... is not sure. The other party has not reported their name."
"Alone?" Liu Zongwu said angrily. "Just for one person, all Huashan disciples have to be on such unprecedented alert?"
"But, the master..." Yang Tailan stepped forward and said, "Chen Taikui is dead."
Only then did Liu Zongwu make a "that's right" expression.
His junior brother Zhao Zongchen sighed slightly and shook his head, thinking: this senior brother, his martial arts is indeed very high, but he is not good at cultivating morality, and he doesn't care about the importance of things. Back then, the master chose this head, maybe it was the wrong choice ...
"Then what about people?" Liu Zongwu asked majestically.
"It seems to be coming up the mountain..." Zhang Tailang reported.
At this moment, a person rushed in from the opened door of "Ziqi Donglai Hall".
It is Luo Taiqi who is in charge of the supervision of the "Jian Xing Museum" under the mountain.His burly body was drenched with sweat, and he stumbled in.
Everyone in the hall stared at him.But Luo Taiqi was out of breath and couldn't speak for a moment.
Needless to say.
The people he brought up the mountain appeared immediately.
The fluttering figure in the white robe walked to the center of the gossip map on the ground step by step without hurrying.The curved sword with the "卍" gauntlet is still slanted behind his back-he is the first person to bring a weapon up the mountain without approval in the more than 300 years since the Huashan School established the mountain.
Behind him followed Wang Shixin and the other fourteen or five young people, all of whom looked panic-stricken, looking left and right at the Huashan masters in the lobby who were wearing real swords.Even if they don't have much martial arts skills, they can clearly feel the murderous aura in the hall.
These young people originally wanted to worship under the Huashan sect's gate. For many years, their dream was to set foot in this "Purple Qi Donglai Hall", but now it suddenly came true.
——but unexpectedly in such a way.
Several Huashan disciples who were originally guarding the door of "Ziqi Donglai Hall" also entered, guarding behind these visitors.Outside the main gate, there were also hundreds of disciples guarding the "Zhenyue Palace".Each of them held the hilt of their sword nervously at their waists.All you need is an order.
The white-robed man was surrounded by powerful enemies, but his face was calm and composed, as if he was just a tourist visiting the Dao Palace.He raised his head and took a brief look at the plaque that read "Qi Jian Yiru", and then looked directly at Liu Zongwu who was sitting in the front seat.
Everyone in Huashan saw the Tai Chi symbol on his chest, and there was no doubt about it.
Huang Zongxuan looked at this person's face.He looks very young, like the late twenties, but he has a leisurely attitude that young people don't have. The real age must be older than his appearance, but he is only in his early thirties, which is much more than here. "Teaching disciples" are even younger.
Everyone in the martial arts world knows that since the ancestor Zhang Sanfeng, only one member of the Wudang sect is qualified to wear a pure white Taoist robe, which symbolizes the realm of "Infinity".
Coupled with this age, it further confirmed the identity of this man.
"Yao Lianzhou, the head of the Wudang School, came to Mount Hua today to discuss the sword with the princes."
When he spoke, he didn't bow his hands to salute, he didn't even bow his head slightly, his face was calm, it seemed that he was just talking casually.
——But everyone present knows what the phrase "discussing the sword to prove the Tao" means.
All the swordsmen in Huashan looked at Yao Lianzhou, and then at the group of young men behind him.It is true that none of them were carrying weapons, and judging from their clothes and expressions, they did not seem to be Wudang disciples, so they really did not understand why they followed.All the swordsmen didn't pay attention, and all their eyes were on Yao Lianzhou.
For an expatriate to dare to come up to the head of the Huashan sect to challenge alone—and actually be able to walk in here—this is something that no one in the Huashan sect has ever imagined in their life.And this person is the absolute No. 1 person in the Wudang sect who has become famous and ambitious in recent years.The Huashan disciples looked at Yao Lianzhou with a feeling of unreality.
Only Liu Zongwu was not shaken by the words "Master of Wudang" at all, but just sneered.
"Lunjian? Hehe, you came to my mountain gate and killed my disciples, but you didn't even send a letter of challenge first. The head of Wudang doesn't even know the simplest martial arts rules, just like a wild dog who likes to bite people. Dog, what a joke."
Yao Lianzhou had already explained the reason for killing Chen Taikui to Luo Taiqi at the "Sex-seeing Pavilion" before, and now he didn't bother to repeat it again.
"Boring rules won't make people stronger, so there's no need for them." Yao Lianzhou said flatly.
Huang Zongxuan frowned greatly: Huashan and Wudang sects, after all, are famous sects all over the world, how can it be proper for two sects to talk like this?Liu Zongwu's words did not have the slightest demeanor of a master of Taoism.
He then spoke on behalf of his elder brother, "Master Yao, although your sect has returned to vulgarity, both of us and our Huashan sect are based on the Quanzhen way. It can be said that the relationship is very deep. Why hurt this harmony? Master Yao killed our sect's disciples, Is there any misunderstanding? If we can make it clear, we can avoid unnecessary disputes between the two factions."
Huang Zongxuan's words were clearly intended to give Yao Lianzhou a step down.All Huashan disciples were not angry when they heard this, but Master Huang is the head of the "Four Refining Masters", and his words carry a lot of weight, so they did not dare to object.
"There is no misunderstanding." Yao Lianzhou didn't appreciate it. "If he wants to kill me, I'll kill him. Isn't that what people who practice swords should be like?"
As soon as this remark came out, the crowd in the "Ziqi Donglai Hall" was raging.Huang Zongxuan's face was even more ugly.
"It's good to say, 'If he wants to kill me, I'll kill him.'" Liu Zongwu laughed, his eyes were full of anger. "You are so bold, you came up to my 'Zhenyue Palace' alone! Have you ever thought that if I give an order at this moment, hundreds of disciples will draw their swords and you will definitely die?"
"Of course I've thought about it. But you can't die, you'll know after trying." Yao Lianzhou's bright eyes were like frost. "If you Huashan faction like this, it's okay."
This is the most disturbing part of Yao Lianzhou: his appearance is so handsome and elegant, but at any time it can make people feel like a sword without a scabbard.
He looked around at the people in the "Ziqi Donglai Hall", and said slowly: "I came here after a long journey, not to listen to such nonsense. When I said that I want to 'discuss the sword to prove the Tao', I proved myself The way." He pointed to Wang Shixin and other young people behind him. "That's why I brought these people to witness."
The audience was silent.
"Your way?" Liu Zongwu gritted his teeth.
"'Fist comes out of Shaolin, sword returns to Huashan', this sentence has to be changed from today on."
Cheng Zongzhi, one of the "refinement masters", sneered: "Do you want to change it to 'Sword Returning to Wudang'?"
"Wrong." Yao Lianzhou shook his head. "Fist and sword will respect Wudang from now on. But I'm just looking for your Huashan sect first."
He held out a finger, pointing upwards.
"What I want to prove is the invincible way of the Wudang School."
"Sect Master." A person immediately stepped out from among the Huashan disciples.It was Sima Taiyuan, the chief disciple of the "Ten Prestige Instruments". "Please allow me to 'discuss swords' with Master Yao."
Just now when Sima Taiyuan was sitting, he couldn't see his figure, but now standing, he is more than a head taller than all the juniors, with broad chest and shoulders, waist like a strong bear, and palms as wide as fans.The sword in his hand is also much longer than the standard Huashan saber of other people, with a total length of four feet and seven inches including the hilt, and just looking at the scabbard, one can tell that the blade is also extraordinarily wide.
This is Sima Taiyuan, who is 42 years old. He has been taught by the head Liu Zongwu for more than 15 years. His martial arts are the best among his peers.What's more rare is that he is also successful in learning, and his temperament and affairs are much more stable than his master. It has long been determined that he will take over the position of head within ten years.
The leaders of Huashan had already heard that He Zisheng, the head of the Qingcheng faction, who was famous for his sword, was defeated by the sword of Ye Chenyuan, the deputy head of Wudang;Sending a second-level disciple to play is just a meaningless sacrifice, it is better to send the strongest from the beginning.
Liu Zongwu and the four junior brothers looked at each other, and then turned to ask the two senior uncles with their eyes.The old swordsman Jin Xiangren and Li Xiangsheng who sat next to him, who hadn't spoken until now, nodded for the first time.
"Tai Yuan, let Sect Master Yao know why people in the martial arts world say 'the sword returns to Mount Hua'!" Liu Zongwu waved his hand and ordered.
Sima Taiyuan nodded and stepped out of the arena. He first bowed to the head master, the two senior uncles, and the four senior uncles before facing Yao Lianzhou.
Although Sima Taiyuan was older than Yao Lianzhou, there was a gap in generational status.But seeing him looking directly at Yao Lianzhou, there was no trace of excitement or nervousness on his face, and he was not overwhelmed by the title of "Master of Wudang".All the juniors applauded secretly when they saw it.
The Huashan School is Quanzhen Taoism, which belongs to the Inner Alchemy School. It does not rely on talismans, nor does it rely on external medicines.This inner alchemy technique, combined with the "intelligence" of martial arts, created the unique Huashan swordsmanship in the world.
Yao Lianzhou looked at Sima Taiyuan's burly figure; that big sword that ordinary people had to use both hands to move; that extraordinary demeanor...
Yao Lianzhou smiled for the first time since setting foot on Mount Hua.
——That smile is very similar to what Jing Li often shows.
Sima Taiyuan drew his sword slowly, revealing the seven-star cold spots inlaid on the wide sword one by one.After drawing the sword, he gently tossed the scabbard aside.Junior brother Zhang Tailang followed suit.
Luo Taiqi, who was huddled in a corner, was the only Huashan disciple in the hall who had seen Yao Lianzhou make a move, but he had never seen him use a sword—he had just seen Yao Lianzhou kill Chen Taikui in an instant with "Tai Chi", and he still had lingering fears.
——This time...will he still use his bare hands? ...
Luo Taiqi looked at Yao Lianzhou in fear, only to see that Yao Lianzhou seemed to be really thinking about it.Then he really stretched out his left hand.
But not towards Sima Taiyuan.It's the people behind Wang Shixin.
"Look carefully." Yao Lianzhou said without looking back: "What you saw here today, you will tell everyone you know in the future. And your descendants."
Wang Shixin nodded vigorously.
——Not everyone in the world is lucky enough to witness history with their own eyes.
Then, Yao Lianzhou drew his sword.
The curved sword with the "卍" character guard on his back, the hilt protrudes obliquely from the left shoulder.Sima Taiyuan has long been paying attention, and has been wondering if Yao Lianzhou is left-handed?
But Yao Lianzhou stretched out his right hand.
His right arm stretched to the left, crossed in front of his face, and grasped the hilt of the sword above his left shoulder.
—Did you draw your sword backhand?
Sima Taiyuan had already raised his sword to prevent the opponent from drawing the sword from his shoulder and slashing immediately.
But Yao Lianzhou didn't draw his sword immediately.His right hand moved the hilt of the sword from the upper left to the lower left of his body, over the shrunken left shoulder.The scabbard was turned upside down in an instant, and the hilt was on the left waist.
——This weird movement, swift and smooth, fully shows how soft his body's muscles, bones and joints are.
Yao Lianzhou's left waist was filled with cold light.
unsheathed.
Sima Taiyuan has been guarding against the opponent's sword path, cutting from top to bottom from the left shoulder.But Yao Lianzhou's extraordinary skill made Jian Lu suddenly come from the middle and lower lanes.Sima Taiyuan suddenly changed his posture.
Yao Lianzhou draws his sword very fast.
In an instant, Jian Guang turned from bottom to top, reaching Sima Taiyuan's face.
At the same time as Sima Taiyuan raised his sword, his head and face also flashed sideways to his left rear——
The sound of metal clashing.
A few broken eyebrows fluttered in the turbulent sword wind.
——If it wasn't for the sideways dodge, Sima Taiyuan would have lost a right eye.
Yao Lianzhou's curved sword continued to swing to the right side after the blow was completed.Only then did the watching Huashan masters see: Yao Lianzhou's right hand is not holding the sword hilt, but is clasping the iron ring on the hilt with his fore and middle fingers!
——With the strength of two fingers, he pulled the whole sword out of the sheath, and used the force of inertial acceleration to send out this swift sword slash!
Sima Taiyuan's right eyebrow was almost scratched by the opponent's sword tip, and a piece was cut off, but the flesh was not injured, all because of that extraordinary reaction.Although he was almost blind, his mind was not shaken at all, and his breathing was not disturbed at all.
——This is the most important.Using breath to drive sword moves is the foundation of Huashan Martial Arts.
His stomach tightened.A sign of perseverance.
The four-foot-long sword changed from a parry to a forward stab, and it went straight to Yao Lianzhou's face.This is the "Yuanheng swordsmanship" "Dragon Striking the Waves" - the same move as Chen Taikui's, but the speed and strength of the sword are far superior to that of the younger brother, and it is performed with such a huge long sword. There is a tearing sound in the air!
Yao Lianzhou's face disappeared before the sword tip.
Yao Lianzhou had already calculated Sima Taiyuan's counterattack sword path, and took a step forward with his right leg obliquely to the right. His body quickly became shorter, and the top of his head was lower than Sima Taiyuan's belt. His legs were spread out almost in a straight line, and his body was grabbed like an arrow. Sima Taiyuan's left side is the strange snake step of "Wudang Xingjian".
At the same time, Yao Lianzhou shook his right wrist, and the curved sword flipped around the axis of the two fingers worn on the iron ring at the head of the hilt. Immediately after the five fingers grabbed it, it became a sword held in the backhand, and the blade was slashed at Sima Taiyuan from the outside to the inside. Left waist!
This backhand sword slashing method is also a strange move that violates the general principles of swordsmanship, so it is extremely difficult to guard against.But Sima Taiyuan's eyes were clear, and he caught the angle of the sword.It was too late for normal parrying or retreating, he took advantage of the forward thrust of "Swimming Dragon Hitting the Waves", and turned his body sideways for half a circle like a spinning top.The sharp edge of the curved sword only scratched the robe around his waist.
Sima Taiyuan did not simply dodge.Taking advantage of this turn, he snatched behind Yao Lianzhou, drew his long sword in a semicircle, and made a "black snake play the wind", vertically from bottom to top, and lifted Yao Lianzhou's back!
This move shows that Sima Taiyuan is really a top-notch expert: Yao Lianzhou is low at the moment, and when ordinary warriors see it, they will condescend and chop down from the top without thinking; If you want to stand up and resume your standing posture, you will naturally use your sword to protect it when you stand up; Sima Taiyuan used this downward and upward movement of the sword, but the opponent did not expect it, and it was too late to lower the sword to the shield .
——A real master makes a move like playing chess, taking into account the opponent's subsequent moves.
Seeing that as long as Yao Lianzhou's body rises up, he will send himself to the edge of this trick of "Black Snake Playing the Wind".
Yao Lianzhou didn't rise up, but fell even lower.
His body fell to the ground, and his whole body fell down—but in fact, when he fell very close to the ground, he only supported the ground with his left palm in front of his chest.Sima Taiyuan's sword was already very low, but it passed over him.
Yao Lianzhou used the power of this left palm to support her whole body and rotate on the ground.The backhand sword edge slashed out again with the power of the rotation, the blade was only a few inches off the ground, following an angle and route that no one in Huashan had seen before, it slashed at Sima Taiyuan's left ankle like cutting grass!
Sima Taiyuan's huge body is surprisingly dexterous. The move of "Black Snake Playing the Wind" is old, and he couldn't dodge it so quickly, but he forcefully exerted force on his feet, jumped up on the ground, and the soles of his feet just dodged the sword cut!
Yao Lianzhou's body rotation has not stopped yet, he pressed his left palm against the stone floor and exerted force, his head and feet rose up, his left leg kicked out with the force of the rotation, Sima Taiyuan could no longer dodge in mid-air, this time The leg kicked him between the left ribs fiercely, kicking the whole person upside down!
Sima Taiyuan landed on his back, rolled twice before knelt down.He let out a long breath, and it seemed that there was nothing serious - the Huashan School's qigong was so good that he could bear Yao Lianzhou's kick.
But when he knelt down, he felt something strange, the sole of his left foot felt a chill.Looking at it, it turned out that Yao Lianzhou's backhand sword just now had cut the soles of his shoes and socks, and now his bare feet were sticking to the cold stone ground.
Yao Lianzhou had also stood up, her right hand quickly changed into a forehand holding the sword, and it was hanging down obliquely, without any stance.
Only then did everyone see the appearance of Yao Lianzhou's saber: the long, narrow and slightly curved blade was half a saber and half a sword, the outer curved side was fully open like a knife, reaching to the tip of the sword; the inner curved was a thick body The back of the sword is not sharpened until six or seven inches from the front end, and becomes a double-edged sword point no different from a normal straight sword. It can be said that the front part is a sword and the back part is a knife.Liu Zongwu waited for a closer look to understand why Yao Lianzhou's sword cut so fiercely. It turned out that the blade and the moves were all integrated with a long knife.
——People of the Huashan School have never seen such a strange shape of a sword: the shape of this sword was created by Yao Lianzhou himself, and he ordered the craftsmen in the Wudang School to make it.Although he also taught the secret of using this curved sword to some elite disciples, so far he is the only one in Wudang Mountain who knows how to use it, so he has never appeared in the martial arts.This unique weapon, Yao Lianzhou simply and directly named it "Single Back Sword".
Although Sima Taiyuan lost a leg, but in the first round just now, his confidence has increased.Yao Lianzhou's sword moves were indeed weird and extremely fast, but the three sword slashes all ended up passing Sima Taiyuan's skin, which proved that Sima Taiyuan could adapt to the speed of his sword.
——This battle definitely has a chance of winning.
The "Taoist disciples" of Huashan in the hall all watched with blood boiling.They all know that once this duel starts, no matter what the result is, the war between the Huashan faction and the Wudang faction has already begun-even if Yao Lianzhou is successfully killed in the "Ziqi Donglai Hall" today, it will still be the same with the whole Wudang faction in the future. There will be countless vicious fights and killings; but if today, a second-generation disciple of the Huashan faction can defeat the majestic Wudang master, the impact on the morale and fighting spirit of the two factions will be immeasurable.
——But now it seems that Sima Taiyuan does have the strength to fight.
Of course, Sima Taiyuan also knew how much expectations he had from his sect.This pressure did not affect his mind in the slightest.He's totally focused on "how to win".
He thought: just now, he fell into a passive situation continuously, all because of Yao Lianzhou's sudden and weird sword-drawing and slashing skills, which took the opportunity.
The best way to bring the situation back is naturally to attack first.
——What's more, with the advantage of height and sword length, he should have been the main attacker!
Sima Taiyuan's palm, which had been secretly holding the sword, slipped and turned into the end of the hilt.Master Liu Zongwu saw that he knew which set of sword techniques the disciple was going to use, and secretly approved of it.
Wang Shixin and a dozen other "witnesses" were sweating profusely.Their martial arts are too mediocre. When masters like Yao Lianzhou and Sima Taiyuan confront each other, their quick moves are all in a blink of an eye, and their eyes can't catch them.
——But the cold killing intent from the two swords cutting through the air can be felt on their skin from a distance.
Wang Shixin stared hard, trying not to blink.He was afraid that if he blinked, he would miss something that he would never have the chance to see again in his life.
Although he is not good at martial arts, seeing Sima Taiyuan gradually raising the long sword, he also expected that he was about to attack.
Even Wang Shixin could see it, so how could Yao Lianzhou not know?But judging by his appearance, it seemed that he had no intention of fighting Sima Taiyuan first, and his expression seemed to say, "It's you who attacked this time".
Sima Taiyuan didn't mean to hide it either.His belly bulged and he took a deep breath.
launch.The tall and strong body rushed forward.Initiate "borrowing" in the head, imagining a huge rock cracking and rolling down from the cliff of Huashan Mountain.Riding on the unreal terrifying momentum and energy, the whole body attacks.
The four-foot-seven-inch long sword was held high, over the top of the head, and stretched to the back.
Exhale.
Sima Taiyuan's right hand held the end of the hilt, using the entire weight and length of the sword, as if using a leather whip, swung the long sword out from behind, and slashed at Yao Lianzhou head-on!
——This is one of Sima Taiyuan's most proud sets of Huashan swordsmanship "The Great Return of the Sword".This sword technique turned out to be a saber technique, and not from the Huashan School, but from Tongji Zhenren, the head of Huashan School in the previous generation, who made friends with a famous person from the Kongtong School, and exchanged for a set of Huashan sword techniques.Master Tongji learned this saber technique at first, just to commemorate this friendship, but later he realized its power more and more, and integrated it with Huashan school's mental method and qigong to form this set of "Great Return of the Sword".Because the attack is fierce, ordinary long swords can't bear its strength at all, so the Huashan School stipulates that when using this sword technique, it must be matched with a special heavy iron sword.But Sima Taiyuan's saber was thicker than the prescribed epee, so of course it would be no problem to use it.
Sima Taiyuan's move "Collapse Rock Slash" fully coordinated his body, steps, hands, and mind. Coupled with his innate figure, coupled with the luck of swallowing and spitting, that heavy and long sword seemed like a real sword. Turning into a soft whip, and slashing through the air with the sound of cracking silk, it is indeed worthy of the four characters "Qi Jian Yiru" on the top of the head!
Yao Lianzhou's starry eyes saw the sword slashing head-on, and the corners of his mouth slightly twitched.
——This sword is finally worth seeing.
His body took two steps backwards at a treacherous speed, his neck, chest, and abdomen contracted abnormally softly, and the sharp point of the long sword passed vertically only two inches in front of him.
"Collapse Rock Slash" failed, and Sima Taiyuan's mind, which was originally as calm as still water, aroused a trace of doubt for the first time.
——how could it be so fast? ...
This is the first time Yao Lianzhou only dodges but does not attack.All the disciples in Huashan saw it, and they cried out inwardly.
——but only this once.
Sima Taiyuan didn't wait for this "Bengyan Slash" to make him old, he crossed his feet, turned half a circle to the right, and drew the sword horizontally, changing the move into a sideways backhand slash——
But the backhand sword was only halfway through, and Sima Taiyuan felt a pinprick-like chill in his right elbow.
He squinted and saw that Yao Lianzhou's "single-backed sword", the tip of the sword was pointed directly at his elbow, and it happened to seal the horizontal cut.If Sima Taiyuan continued to strike, his long sword would not reach the opponent's body, and his elbow would be sent to the opponent's sword point first.
——What Yao Lianzhou used was the unique skill of "chasing shape and cutting veins" in the "Wudang shaped sword" that Ye Chenyuan used when he fought against He Zisheng that day.
Sima Taiyuan's "Great Return of the Sword", every move was exhausted, it was difficult to stop the move halfway; but he was born with superior arm strength, abruptly retracted the horizontal chop, and changed his gait again, this time to the left Turning around, he slashed with his forehand in the opposite direction, trying to cut Yao Lianzhou's left shoulder.
Yao Lianzhou used "chasing and cutting off the pulse" again, this time pointing to Sima Taiyuan's right wrist vein.Sima Taiyuan was forced to take another move, but returned without success.
Sima Taiyuan knew very well that this set of "Great Return of the Sword" has strong vigor and speed, the only weakness is that the movement of accumulating energy before each move is a little too big.Yao Lianzhou's volley technique is exactly his nemesis. This set of "Great Return of the Sword" has been completely broken, and it is meaningless to continue to use it.
His sword style changed suddenly, from slashing and slashing to using the elasticity of the wrist to strike with the tip of the sword. This is Huashan's another set of swordsmanship "Xingling Sword" with a very different style.The way of hitting is to use only three inches of the front tip of the sword, light and dense, continuous attack, although the strength is not strong, it is very difficult to defend.
But every time he tapped, Yao Lianzhou's "Wudang-shaped sword" could still get the best angle, accurately cut Sima Taiyuan's wrist or the fingers holding the sword, and forced the long sword away.
Sima Taiyuan knew that he couldn't do it again, and the sword's momentum changed again.This time he used the "Huashan Flower Sword", mixed with a lot of false moves and feints, and used a lot of chaotic rhythms, trying to make Yao Lianzhou go wrong.
Yao Lianzhou's eyes were burning like a torch, and he seemed to have a very accurate premonition, completely ignoring those false moves.As soon as Sima Taiyuan launched a real attack, "Zhou Xing Jie Mai" was launched again, and this "Foil Sword" was also smashed to pieces.
Sima Taiyuan became anxious.My heart also began to be chaotic.He changed nine Huashan sword techniques in succession: the "Yue Ning Sword Technique" with rounded sword path; the "Flying Bird Piercing Forest Sword" with walking and jumping; The styles and tactics are completely different - Huashan swordsmanship is so rich and varied, no wonder it has won the title of "Sword Master" since ancient times.
But no matter how his swordplay changed, in Yao Lianzhou's eyes, it was just a simple route, angle and timing.Then there should be an accurate "cutting the pulse".It was like being able to read Sima Taiyuan's mind.
The two had already exchanged four or fifty moves, and the two swords never touched, as if they were facing each other across the air.But in the eyes of all the swordsmen in Huashan, they all saw it:
The chief disciple of Huashan School is being played with.
Sima Taiyuan gradually felt chilled.He felt that Yao Lianzhou's skill and mental reaction were getting faster and faster in the first fight against the enemy. Many times, Sima Taiyuan couldn't even make a half-stroke, but with a movement of his shoulder, Yao Lianzhou's volley had already come.
——How fast is he... really? ...
——Could it be... this is the legendary "Yaoxuan Sword" that surpasses "Hi" and "Suddenly"? ...
Sima Taiyuan recalled the three swords that were drawn across his skin at the beginning of the fight.
— Not that I dodged fast enough at all.It was his sword that deliberately didn't use full speed!
Before Yao Lianzhou could defeat Sima Taiyuan's sword, he had already defeated his will.
Yao Lianzhou had indeed deliberately slowed down his sword speed from the very beginning, in order to let Sima Taiyuan use Huashan sword techniques one by one, and then break them one by one - on the surface, he was only using the method of intercepting the first opportunity to make Sima Taiyuan Every move was in vain, but all Huashan masters present could see that if Yao Lianzhou increased his speed, Sima Taiyuan's arm would have been hit by countless swords.
Seeing that the eleven sets of the most advanced Huashan swordsmanship used by the disciples of our school were easily broken by a single set of "Wudang-shaped sword", all the Huashan masters present felt unprecedentedly shocked.
At this moment, the smile on Yao Lianzhou's mouth disappeared.
——I have seen enough.
"Single-backed sword" suddenly changed.Instead of using the "Wudang-shaped sword", the blunt back of the middle part of the sword overlaps Sima Taiyuan's seven-star long sword.
Sima Taiyuan exhaled, trying his best to flick the "single back sword".But as soon as he spit out the strength of the sword, the strength was absorbed and attracted by the "single-backed sword". The Tai Chi in the center of the floor of the Eight Diagrams is built, and the black and white crushed stones are flying.
The two swords stood still. The "single-backed sword" still suppressed the seven-star long sword underneath.
Yao Lianzhou said with a sigh: "At the end, I won't let you see the 'Tai Chi Sword', doesn't it seem too good?"
Sima Taiyuan panicked and exerted all his strength, wanting to parry the "single-backed sword" pressing on it, and drew back the seven-star long sword.
But at the moment when he sent out this aggressive force, Sima Taiyuan felt that the power was like entering the void, and the opponent's sword was as light as nothing.
Yao Lianzhou's "single-backed sword" subtly guides Sima Taiyuan's power, turning that upward thrust into an arc to the side. The "single-backed sword" is like sticking to the long sword, never throwing it or holding it up, leading it to circle continuously between the two of them.
"Tai Chi Sword" and "Energy Transformation" method!
——People who practice "Taijiquan", in order to be able to achieve ingenious "transformation strength", must first practice the extremely sensitive and accurate "listening strength" skill: through the contact of the body, limbs or even any part, sense the movement of the enemy's movement strength Strength and direction, so that it can be eliminated, and even borrowed to feed back the opponent, making the opponent unable to advance or retreat, the more force the opponent is, the more he is controlled.The "listening strength" of boxing relies on the touch of the body's skin, which is already very difficult; but to extend the ability of "listening strength" to swords and dead objects is an extremely advanced and difficult martial art.In the Wudang School, even Ye Chenyuan, the deputy head, has not yet reached the level of perfection in his "Tai Chi Sword" technique—otherwise, if he challenged the Qingcheng School that day, his "Tai Chi Sword" would not have been so easily defeated by He Zisheng. The trick "shaking the scales" was broken, so it fell into a hard fight.
And Yao Lianzhou is in another realm completely.
Sima Taiyuan was very anxious, and the sword in his hand kept exerting all his strength in various ways and directions, trying to get out of the control of the "single back sword".But every time he exhaled and exerted strength, he was still silently absorbed and borrowed, and the long sword was always led by the "single-backed sword", constantly stirring and turning in circles.
——Sima Taiyuan felt that the long sword in his hand was trapped in a whirlpool of mud.
姚莲舟运这“太极剑”，双足未离地半步，腰、胯、腿各关节甚柔软地圆转，全身带动右手的剑招。那转圈动作并不很快速，连王士心都能够看得真切，感觉比什么舞蹈都要优雅。
两剑粘搭着不停在搅动，渐渐越转越快，剑圈也越转越小。
司马泰元冷汗淋漓。看着剑圈不断缩小，他全身也感受到一股不断加强的无形压力。
他平生未见过“太极剑”。但是剑士的本能清楚告诉他：你已经败了……
刘宗悟也看出了。
他身后捧着“羽客剑”的小道士，手上只剩下剑鞘。
剑圈迅速往中央收缩。
最后变成“点”。
万劲齐发之时。
姚莲舟第一次轻嘶吐气。
“单背剑”猛绞。司马泰元的右手齐腕而断。
那断掌仍握住长剑，飞到半空中。姚莲舟回剑运劲猛斩，击在长剑的剑格护手上，长剑受此蓄劲已久的斩击，带同断手如箭向右上方飞射，轰然穿破了“紫气东来堂”的瓦顶而去！
司马泰元抱着涌血的断腕，悲叫翻滚开去。
姚莲舟仍保持着那横斩的姿式。斜指而出的“单背剑”刃身兀自在弹动。那穿破的屋顶，照射下来一道带着万千微尘的阳光，投落在姚莲舟身上，映得那袭白袍发光。
——那姿态美得仿佛不属尘世。
这形象，永远烙在王士心的心头。
已然握“羽客剑”在手的刘宗悟，来不及出手救助爱徒，脸容愤怒得比他的道袍更紫。
他猛一吐气，五绺长须无风自动，坐着的身体全无预备的先兆，就向前弹射出去！
刘宗悟手中翔鹤形剑柄、刃身泛着淡青光华的“羽客剑”，与人化成一体，挟着狂潮暴浪的“借相”气势，直线疾取站在“紫气东来堂”中央的姚莲舟！
剑未至，先有一股强烈的气，激得姚莲舟的白袍鼓动。
华山剑派最高秘技·“飞仙九势”。第三势“破浪势”。
——在王士心等人，甚至部分华山弟子眼中，刘宗悟的身法，快得一团模糊，猛得如涛奔岸。
“羽客剑”刃锋，瞬间及至姚莲舟脸前。
姚莲舟已迅速把“单背剑”剑尖倒转向下，左掌按在剑身的钝背上，在头顶成一斜角招架之形，两腿张开马步沉下，以“武当势剑”的招式，正面迎接这“破浪势”！
——当今武林两大掌门的决战，就在这不说一句的情形下开打了。
——正如姚莲舟先前所说，此一战随时决定，天下剑派谁属第一！
两剑闪电交锋。
“羽客剑”那强猛的剑刃，与“单背剑”相击，斜斜向下刮削而过，星火灿然，落到姚莲舟的身体左旁。
姚莲舟这招式，是“武当势剑”里“以角破直”的秘诀，应付敌人的直劈，虽是用得其法，但面对刘宗悟这等级数的猛击，其实甚为凶险，只要那斜架剑的角度误差了一点点，或是臂腕的力量稍欠了一些，随时连剑带人被斩开。姚莲舟这架剑破势，却是准确得恰到好处，将刘宗悟的“破浪势”卸到一边。
刘宗悟对华山绝学“飞仙九势”，虽然是信心十足，但也未至于低估对手——大弟子司马泰元刚才已经用一只手掌作代价，给师父换来一窥姚莲舟实力的机会。刘宗悟预先就设想这第一剑“破浪势”未必伤得了姚莲舟，早预定了后着。
此刻“羽客剑”一垂落，他立时用左掌扳住握剑的右腕扶助，把剑刃横向抽回来；同时他脑海里幻想的浪潮，从前冲变成倒后吞卷回去，剑锋水平挟这“借相”之势，抹往姚莲舟的左大腿。这式抹剑更隐隐带动四周的空气倒吸，正是“飞仙九势”里紧接“破浪势”的第四势·“吞云势”！
刘宗悟这两势之间，转接全无停凝的痕迹，恍如一招，显见其“飞仙九势”的功力何等精纯，无负他“九现神剑”的称号。“飞仙九势”的每一剑，劲力都能带动附近的空气，势道劲力之猛烈，完全体现了“气剑一如”的最高境界！
眼见“羽客剑”横卷来下路，姚莲舟却是不闪不避，原已倒转的弯剑顺势下刺，使一招“武当势剑”的“定海针”。
那剑尖垂直刺下，电光石火之间，竟是准确无误地刺在“羽客剑”的剑脊上，将其抹剑的劲力消去！
——在如此高速的战斗中，以剑尖刺中敌人的剑身，堪称神技。
姚莲舟竟然使出这么难度高超的消法，刘宗悟也是愕然。他原本设想，对手必然垂剑下格，自己的“吞云势”就可紧接上挑，化为“飞仙九势”的第八势“射日势”，如箭直取咽喉；但“羽客剑”竟被姚莲舟猛力刺中，剑上的劲道中断，再也接不上“射日势”。
刘宗悟毕竟仍是“以气御剑”的大行家，肚腹一股残气吐出，借气生劲，手中剑再次活起来，改变成从中路刺出，以第七势“擎电势”，挟着破空裂帛的锐音，取姚莲舟的下腹——
这“擎电势”的直线刺剑却不知为何，出到一半时就变了弧线，偏离原来的剑路，斜斜刺去了姚莲舟右侧的空虚处。
刘宗悟一看，却见姚莲舟的“单背剑”，已然搭在他的“羽客剑”之上。“擎电势”偏歪，正是剑劲被对方导引所致。
“太极剑”·“引进落空”之技。
一如先前对付司马泰元，姚莲舟的弯剑，又再粘着刘宗悟的剑，绞转而进！
刘宗悟空岂未听闻过武当派“太极化劲”控制对手的威力？刚才更已经亲眼见过一次，深知决不能让姚莲舟的“太极剑”完成这“乱环”之势。他短促地一吸一呼，再鼓起气劲，腕臂猛地一振，“羽客剑”的剑身如化为竹枝般，自行鼓荡弹动，要用这弹劲将弯剑震开！
——这一招跟何自圣以“雌雄龙虎剑”的“抖鳞”，破叶辰渊的“小乱环”，异曲同工。
——但他不是何自圣。他的对手也不是叶辰渊。
这弹剑的力量虽又短又速，照样被姚莲舟的“太极剑”吸卸于无形，“单背剑”依旧粘着“羽客剑”，在二人之间转出一个接一个的圈环。
仍抱着淌血的手臂趟在地上呻吟的司马泰元，看见这可怕的剑招又再出现，不禁发出一声恐惧的呻吟。
刘宗悟只感这连绵不断的剑圈，令他握剑的手腕关节承受极强的压力。
在华山学剑逾四十年，他从未尝过像现在一般，手中三尺青锋完全失控的状况。
——这就是……“太极”吗？ ...
眼看掌门又陷入了和司马泰元刚才一模一样的险境，华山派上下焦急不已，一个个手握剑柄。
这“太极剑”每次在姚莲舟手上一施展，只要招势完成，就似乎再无脱出的可能。
切身感受着的刘宗悟；感受过的司马泰元；亲眼目睹的华山众人；旁观的王士心那十几人……他们或焦急，或愤怒，或恐惧，或兴奋，但心头都一致地出现一个形容词：
——“无敌”。
武当派剑法虽名扬天下，但全部仅只四套（不包括“太极拳”演化成的“太极剑”），合称“武当四剑”：
武当行剑
为武当剑士的入门剑法，与其他门派的主流剑术一样，善用剑的轻灵细巧特性，讲究出剑的速度与角度。“武当行剑”出击迅捷而取角难防，其要诀就在于一个“行”字，也就是步法。
“武当行剑”步法特色乃是全取“蛇步”，也就是如蛇行般，不以直线进击或退守，而以“之”字形的三角曲步，既避开敌人正面的锋芒，同时斜向抢往其侧面较弱的方位反击，寓守于攻。
“武当行剑”因为身步移位极多，亦甚适合以寡敌众时游斗之用，因此是武当初阶剑士必修剑法，以提高自保能力。
武当势剑
与“武当行剑”刚好相反的剑法，讲究刚猛剑劲与坚实桩步，以正面挡受或斩击，破敌人之势，运剑时绝不退半步，不动如山。此种战术要求甚高的内劲，发招时腕臂腰马合一，而且要具有迎头破势的大无畏心法与精神，因此是更上一层楼的武当剑法。
由于“武当势剑”讲究硬接敌剑，剑士需要使用特别铸造剑脊较厚的武当长剑，或是如“坎离水火剑”、“静物双剑”、“单背剑”这些质材特殊的好剑，否则剑身无法抵受重击。
“武当势剑”的常用情况，是已经被众敌人围入死角；战斗地形狭小不可大幅走动；或是要保护受伤的同门，不容退避闪躲之时。
武当飞龙剑
“武当行剑”与“武当势剑”糅合而成的更高级剑法。以“行剑”的迅疾剑招，配合“势剑”之刚猛心法，不再取曲折的“蛇步”，而是长距离以直线的跳跃步猛攻，势如飞龙在天，从半空居高下击，倍增剑劲。
因为“武当飞龙剑”往往是用全身之力跳跃出击，有去无回，可说是一种赌博性的舍身剑法。不是战况紧急不容保留，就是在面对比自己高强的对手时，不得已用“死中求生”之法拉回均势，故在武当派内又有“绝剑”之称。
武当形剑
“武当四剑”中的最高级剑法：洞察对手的出招动作甚至意识，己方后发先至，以巧妙角度截击对方攻击而来的肢体（例如握剑的腕脉、手臂），阻截其攻击，甚至令对手肢体自行送到剑锋上，即所谓“追形截脉”。
“武当形剑”以心法为重，没有固定的招式。“追形”者，就如镜子里的反映，时刻因应对手的动作而动，如水无形。“形剑”全是以攻为守的截击之法，无一招消极防御。
要做到准确的“追形”，要求瞬间的眼力和判断力，非得具有丰富实战经验不可，只有高级弟子才可能习练有成。
此以攻止攻之法，固然立于不败之地，唯一缺点是需要极集中观察对手，所以只适宜单打独斗，不合群战之用。
Notes:
Notes: