Cultivating for Immorality: I Evolved Martial Arts into the Immortal Path – Chapter 82

Chapter 82: A Laughingstock

“This sword technique…”

Qi Xiuliang’s face was full of shock as he tightly gripped the martial arts manual.

It was as if what he held in his hand wasn’t a sword technique manual, but some kind of rare and precious treasure.

He looked up at Chu Liang, his voice trembling with excitement: “Brother Chu, how did you obtain this sword technique?”

Chu Liang calmly replied: “I picked it up in the mountains.”

“Ah?”

Picked it up in the mountains?

This short answer stunned Qi Xiuliang for a moment.

The reason for his shock and excitement was because Chu Liang hadn’t lied to him. This martial arts manual was indeed more powerful than the 《Sinking Water Sword》, having already transcended the framework of fixed moves and pointed directly to the essence of swordsmanship.

This was definitely not an unranked martial skill!

The sword technique manual in his hand was very likely the only ranked sword technique in the entire county town!

As a swordsman, how could he not be excited?

This martial arts manual, for any swordsman in the county town, could be considered a tremendous opportunity.

Qi Xiuliang subconsciously assumed that Chu Liang must have paid a huge price, most likely having gone through numerous hardships and managed to get it from the prefectural city.

But Chu Liang simply said: “I picked it up in the mountains.”

His tone was too casual, as if he had just picked up a stray cat or dog.

Even with Qi Xiuliang’s temperament, he was momentarily at a loss for words.

He swallowed, thought for a while, and then asked dryly: “Brother Chu, you really picked it up?”

“Pretty much.”

“This… what do you mean by ‘pretty much’?”

Qi Xiuliang was stunned again.

Chu Liang smiled: “Brother Qi, you know, I used to be a hunter, making a living by hunting in the mountains.”

Qi Xiuliang nodded: “Yes, I know.”

“A few years ago, I went into the mountains to hunt and encountered a crazed ape.” Chu Liang slowly recounted, “The ape attacked me, so I killed it with an arrow, and then I found this martial arts manual in its stomach.”

“Found a book in an ape’s stomach?”

Qi Xiuliang’s eyes widened involuntarily.

This was a stroke of incredible luck!

Without someone with great fortune, it would be impossible to encounter such an opportunity.

In the library, there were similar descriptions in the books that recorded the lives of first-rate experts.

Some experts were originally unremarkable, but by chance, they obtained something that ordinary people couldn’t, and thus embarked on a different path.

For example, some were forced by their enemies to jump off a cliff, but not only did they survive, they also discovered the legacy of their predecessors at the bottom of the cliff.

There were also those who found first-rate martial skills in caves behind waterfalls, and those who were exiled to deserted islands overseas, but unexpectedly discovered divine weapons on the islands.

All kinds of stories, fascinating.

Qi Xiuliang had heard them from storytellers in restaurants before, and had also seen them in books in the Martial Alliance Library, but this was the first time he had met someone who had such an encounter.

“Brother Chu, since you obtained such a rare book, why didn’t you cultivate it yourself?” Qi Xiuliang glanced at Chu Liang’s saber and couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret. It was a pity that Chu Liang had already chosen to practice saber techniques.

Of course, in his eyes, Chu Liang hadn’t been practicing saber techniques for long and probably hadn’t even mastered the basics.

It was still not too late to switch to swordsmanship now.

“My vision was limited back then. I thought it was just an ordinary, unranked sword technique, so I didn’t practice it.” Chu Liang smiled. “After entering the martial arts hall, I browsed through many martial skills and my perspective broadened, and only then did I realize the value of this sword technique.”

“Brother Chu, it’s not too late for you to practice swordsmanship now.”

Qi Xiuliang expressed that Chu Liang was still young and had a long way to go.

But Chu Liang just smiled and shook his head: “I’ve already mastered the basics of saber techniques, and I prefer the art of killing and attacking, so I’ll continue on the path of saber techniques.”

“You’ve already mastered the basics?”

Qi Xiuliang was stunned.

He calculated the time and realized that Chu Liang had only been in the county town for a little over a month. He had mastered the basics so quickly.

This…

This was probably what a genius was like!

For a genius, no matter what happened, it was reasonable.

Qi Xiuliang took a deep breath, stood up solemnly, took a step back, and said to Chu Liang: “Brother Chu, please accept my bow!”

“Why is this?” Chu Liang was slightly surprised.

“Brother Chu, you saved my life and imparted this opportunity to me. Such great kindness, I, Qi, will never forget!”

“I saved Qi Lin, not you.”

Chu Liang felt that he hadn’t done anything to save Qi Xiuliang’s life.

But Qi Xiuliang always believed that if Chu Liang hadn’t appeared that night, their entire group would have been exhausted by the wolves and their bones would have been left to rot.

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He insisted on bowing deeply to Chu Liang, his expression exceptionally sincere.

Chu Liang didn’t stop him.

If he did, Qi Xiuliang would inevitably have a lingering feeling of indebtedness.

After bowing, Qi Xiuliang said: “Brother Chu, I’ll go back to the Black Sword Martial Arts Hall, bring all my belongings, and then join the Autumn Blade Martial Arts Hall.”

“Brother Qi, you have to think this through.” Chu Liang smiled. “You, a sword learner, joining the Autumn Blade Martial Arts Hall, it will inevitably make you a laughingstock.”

“It doesn’t matter!”

Qi Xiuliang had made up his mind.

This 《Pine and Bamboo Sword Technique《 was more suitable for him than the 《Sinking Water Sword.》

He had only read it once, but he felt that he had gained a lot of insights and made considerable progress in swordsmanship.

He had never experienced this feeling before.

It was as if this sword technique was tailor-made for him!

He naturally didn’t come to the Autumn Blade Martial Arts Hall to learn saber techniques. He just wanted to interact more with Chu Liang and perhaps spar with him frequently in the future.

Qi Xiuliang asked Chu Liang to keep the 《Pine and Bamboo Sword Technique《 safe for him and hurriedly left the Autumn Blade Martial Arts Hall.

He returned to the Black Sword Martial Arts Hall, packed his belongings, and bid farewell to his many friends.

“Take care, everyone!”

Qi Xiuliang’s tone was solemn as he stood by the door and cupped his hands.

“Brother Qi, are you really going to the Autumn Blade Martial Arts Hall?”

His friends had complex expressions, most of them didn’t understand.

They thought Qi Xiuliang was going to the Dragon and Snake Martial Arts Hall, but when they asked him just now, he surprisingly wasn’t even going there anymore, but directly to the Autumn Blade Martial Arts Hall.

A sword learner going to a saber-focused martial arts hall, what was this about?

“Brother Qi, there are no masters who teach swordsmanship in the Autumn Blade Martial Arts Hall!”

“Old Qi, you might as well go to the Dragon and Snake Martial Arts Hall. At least that Hall Master is also a specialist in swordsmanship.”

“Brother Liang, you’re not going to learn saber techniques, are you?”

Qi Lin was the most anxious among them.

With a worried look, he was concerned about Qi Xiuliang’s future path and repeatedly tried to persuade him to stay: “Brother Liang, the other masters in our martial arts hall also know a little about swordsmanship. You don’t have to leave just like that.”

“No need to persuade me!”

Qi Xiuliang’s tone was firm.

He looked at everyone and said loudly: “Everyone, I’m going to the Autumn Blade Martial Arts Hall to take Chu Liang as my master and learn swordsmanship from him. Rest assured, I’ve thought this through carefully.”

“What?”

Hearing this, Qi Lin was dumbfounded.

“Take Chu Liang as your master?”

“But Chu Liang learns saber techniques! How could he know swordsmanship?”

Everyone was stunned.

Some even suspected that Qi Xiuliang had lost his mind.

Qi Lin couldn’t help but say: “Brother Liang, you… why don’t you think it over again?”

“My mind is made up!”

Qi Xiuliang’s expression was calm, telling everyone not to persuade him any further.

Carrying his belongings and holding his sword, he turned and strode away, leaving the Black Sword Martial Arts Hall where he had practiced martial arts for many years.

The autumn wind was bleak, and fallen leaves danced all over the city. His figure gradually disappeared in the cold wind.

Not long after he left, the news spread throughout the entire martial arts hall.

“Qi Xiuliang went to learn swordsmanship from that Chu Liang?” Hearing this news, even Qi Yue was taken aback.

“Miss, it’s true. He’s already left.” Manager Wang Luo said.

“What madness has gotten into him again?”

“He’s not mad.” Wang Luo shook his head. “I was watching when he left. His eyes were very calm.”

“So what if he’s calm? Calm eyes don’t mean he’s not a madman!”

“Miss, aren’t you going to call him back?” Wang Luo asked. “After all, this matter is related to Master Qi Hai. With Qi Xiuliang’s departure, outsiders will inevitably gossip, saying that our Black Sword Martial Arts Hall forced a disciple to leave.”

“Forced? He left on his own. What does it have to do with my Black Sword Martial Arts Hall?”

Qi Yue’s voice was cold. She waved her hand and said: “He’s asking for trouble. Let him be! I want to see what world-shaking sword technique he can learn from that Chu Liang!”