Seeing Li Xiaotian's confused expression, Gu Wentian smiled and continued.
"Yes, Zhan Tian has only one strike. It was the first strike unleashed by our ancestor after breaking through to invincibility. However, since it is difficult for descendants to achieve this, our ancestor divided the single strike into thirteen strikes for future generations to cultivate."
"Our ancestor once said that if someone could merge these thirteen strikes into one, they would completely master the Great Dao of the Saber. At that time, even without achieving invincibility, they would at least be a top-tier expert beneath the invincible level."
"Thirteen strikes into one! Top-tier expert!"
Li Xiaotian's eyes widened abruptly, his heart filled with shock, as if he was re-understanding the Zhan Tian Saber Technique.
He originally thought the Zhan Tian Saber Technique was merely a skill with formidable offensive power, but he never expected it to hold such a profound underlying principle.
"Heh, of course, to merge the thirteen strikes requires certain prerequisites for one's own strength. You must know that to unleash the thirteenth strike, your strength must be sufficiently powerful, otherwise, you will suffer backlash from the saber technique."
Gu Wentian chuckled and continued to speak.
"The true meaning of our ancestor's words is that when someone can merge the thirteen strikes into one, they will be able to glimpse the mysteries of the invincible realm through the saber technique, which will correspondingly bring about considerable improvement to their own cultivation."
Li Xiaotian nodded. These were things he could understand. A saber technique created by an invincible expert, if fully comprehended by someone, would undoubtedly allow them to experience the feeling of the ancient Gu family ancestor when he unleashed that strike.
This would enable them to grasp the mysteries of the invincible realm, thereby feeding back into their own cultivation.
"Therefore, when you can unleash the thirteenth strike, you can try to fuse them one by one. This will not only deepen your comprehension of the Zhan Tian Saber Technique but also allow you to better unleash its power. What you are currently executing is merely the superficial aspect of the Zhan Tian Saber Technique."
Gu Wentian spoke unhurriedly, pointing out the flaws in Li Xiaotian's saber technique. Although he knew Li Xiaotian was not on the path of the Great Dao of the Saber, Li Xiaotian's talent surprised him immensely, stirring his desire to mentor him and see if Li Xiaotian could achieve the unification of the thirteen strikes.
It was worth noting that since the ancient Gu family ancestor passed down the Zhan Tian Saber Technique, no one in their Gu family had ever managed to merge all thirteen strikes into one.
Over tens of thousands of years, their Gu family had produced many talented prodigies, but the deepest comprehension of the Zhan Tian Saber Technique had only reached the point of merging ten strikes, with no further breakthroughs possible.
"Separate first, then merge!"
Li Xiaotian's eyes flickered, as if he had discovered a new continent. Although he could not yet unleash the thirteenth strike, what Gu Wentian told him today undoubtedly pointed him in a clear direction.
Originally, after breaking through to the Hegemon realm, Li Xiaotian had planned to learn some new offensive skills. However, now that he knew his understanding of the Zhan Tian Saber Technique was merely superficial and that there was a higher level of comprehension to be attained, he abandoned that thought.
Since he had already learned it, it was better to strive for perfection. He understood the principle of not biting off more than one can chew.
"Senior, then what was that strike you just made?"
With this thought, Li Xiaotian asked.
"Five strikes merged into one. It's rather embarrassing to say, but I, having wasted ten thousand years of time, understood the fusion of five strikes in ancient times. However, I have been stagnant ever since."
Gu Wentian laughed self-deprecatingly, a trace of darkness flashing in his eyes, before continuing.
"I suppose it is related to my realm never breaking through. My current realm cannot support me to attempt the fusion of six strikes."
Five strikes merged into one! Li Xiaotian's eyes flickered. This was not weak. The single effortless strike Gu Wentian had just made to neutralize his seventh strike was enough to prove the power of his saber technique.
Afterward, both of them ceased their moves. Li Xiaotian earnestly sought guidance on the mysteries of the Zhan Tian Saber Technique, and Gu Wentian, without complaint, pointed out Li Xiaotian's misconceptions and shared some of his own insights.
At the same time, in the capital of Great Qin, early in the morning, squadrons of personnel departed from the capital, heading to various parts of Yan Province to take over the operations of cities.
Everything proceeded smoothly, with all major sects fully cooperating with the handover of city authority.
At this moment, in all the cities taken over by Great Qin, the populace was in an uproar, with celebrations erupting in every street and alley.
Meanwhile, those from the Desolate Hall and other factions watched this scene with confusion and bewilderment.
They had expected Li Xiaotian to threaten various forces and forcefully subjugate them to Great Qin.
However, it now appeared that no sect offered any resistance or non-cooperation. On the contrary, some sects even actively assisted Great Qin's personnel in maintaining the cities.
Especially the Zhan Sect, Miao Sect, and other first-rate sects, which had almost all dispatched their experts to fully cooperate with Great Qin's people.
"What's going on?? What happened? Have Zhan Tianxia and the others gone mad? Their territory has been taken by Great Qin, and they are still cooperating amicably?"
In the Desolate Hall, the Hall Master, Huang Wuya, roared, his face contorted with ferocity.
Unifying Yan Province was his dream and his goal since he awakened.
Yet now, Great Qin, which he considered a thorn in his side, had achieved it!
"Wuya! Calm down! Don't forget your status!"
Just as Huang Wuya was losing his temper, Huang Wudi rebuked him with a frown, his eyes filled with displeasure.
"As the Hall Master of the Desolate Hall, how can you lose control so easily over trivial matters?!"
"Senior Brother! You don't understand! You don't understand the grievances between the Desolate Hall and Great Qin's Li Xiaotian. Yan Province must not fall into Great Qin's hands! They are simply unworthy!"
Huang Wuya roared, unable to calm down. His eyes flashed with ferocity, and he then addressed the experts in the hall.
"Go! Send people to stop Great Qin! Have them cause trouble in secret and instigate conflict between Great Qin and those ancient sects!"
"Enough!"
Huang Wudi shouted loudly, his gaze fixed on Huang Wuya, and a terrifying aura instantly permeated the entire grand hall.
If Li Xiaotian were present at this moment, he would surely be filled with doubt, for Huang Wudi's aura was significantly stronger than before, and he even exerted a slight oppressive force on Huang Wuya, who was at the Hegemon level.
"How long will you continue this tantrum? Haven't you embarrassed the Desolate Hall enough?! The master of a hegemonic sect, yet you persistently oppose a nascent power like Great Qin, and contend with that insignificant ant, Li Xiaotian!"
"If you had won from the start, it would be one thing, but what about you? You have lost time and time again! You have made a spectacle of yourself for the entire world to see! You have turned the Desolate Hall into a laughingstock among all the major powers!"
Huang Wudi's eyes were filled with fury, staring intently at Huang Wuya, causing the latter to constantly retreat, his face pale.
"Even now, you show no remorse and still wish to commit foolish acts?! Because of your stupidity, I lost our Desolate Hall's Enforcement Elder. If you continue to be foolish, tell me, who will be next? You, or me?!"
At this moment, Huang Wuya had long lost the dignity of a Hall Master. He looked at Huang Wudi with a mixture of fear and resentment.
From childhood, he had always been suppressed by Huang Wudi; in terms of cultivation talent, reputation, and opportunities, the latter was always superior to him!
This had led to his fear and resentment of Huang Wudi – fear because of the immense pressure the latter exerted on him, and resentment because the latter was always stronger than him!