Jian Lin was stunned. She was still in the sword formation, and those two had started fighting.
"Master, why are you hitting him?" Jian Lin shouted, "What about me? You can't just leave me here!"
Neither of them paid her any mind. Instead, the sword intent slowly approached and said in a low, gentle voice, "Young friend, when sword masters duel, observing can also be rewarding. Don't be impatient. Why not sit down and watch carefully? Perhaps you'll gain something unexpected."
What he said made sense. Jian Lin tilted her head to look at the flickering humanoid light cluster and felt a pang of emotion, thinking that this non-human was more considerate than humans.
She followed his advice, sat down cross-legged, and watched the battle intently. To her surprise, she did gain something.
The two were less like they were fighting and more like they were sparring. Jian Xian's moves were beyond her comprehension, but she was familiar with the Ming Yue Sword Technique used by the Demon Lord. Before long, she recognized a move from the third level. She quickly found her own stance and corrected it according to the Demon Lord's example.
The two sparred happily, and Jian Lin was also happy learning by their side.
After the battle, everyone was pleased.
As expected of a Sword Immortal, despite his old age, the old man wasn't even out of breath after fighting the Demon Lord. Stroking his beard, he said with lingering interest, "Your sword technique is interesting. It truly exceeded my expectations. I never thought the Demon Lord, who wields the Xing Tian Sword, would use such a gentle and restrained sword technique, possessing the essence of 'the highest good is like water, and the greatest form is shapeless.' Excellent, excellent."
The Demon Lord landed and stood firm, first bowing to the Sword Immortal. "Thank you for your guidance, senior. This sword technique was created by my father to suppress the violent energy of the Xing Tian Sword. Therefore, the sword technique is gentle and restrained, named the Ming Yue Sword Technique."
"In that case, your father must have been a formidable figure. He was not swayed by the immense power of the Xing Tian Sword. If you were to succumb to your greed, you would surely be backlashed by the Xing Tian Sword, becoming a true demon and bringing disaster to the world," the Sword Immortal said with deep, incisive eyes. "Although you now bear the title of Demon Lord, you are not a true demon. Back in the day, I witnessed a true demon..."
That was a thousand years ago, during the last war against demons. The Sword Immortal had participated in it, fighting alongside the entire Immortal Realm against a Demon Lord who was the true great devil.
The Sword Immortal's thoughts grew more interesting. He paused and then asked, "What was your surname again? Mo. What was your father's name?"
"Mo Qingchen," the Demon Lord replied truthfully.
"Mo Qingchen..." the Sword Immortal murmured, searching his memory. He felt that such an astonishingly talented person should have been someone he'd heard of, but he couldn't recall it for a moment. However, he still said with relief, "The Xing Tian Sword falling into the hands of you and your father is not a bad outcome."
A formidable weapon of great ferocity, now enveloped by a gentle and restrained sword technique, transforming into the well-behaved and polite junior before him. What more could he say?
The Sword Immortal thought more and more that the young man before him was quite good. He asked with great interest, "I see your cultivation has reached the Nascent Soul stage, and your sword technique is unfathomable. Why have you not yet cultivated sword intent?"
Hearing this, Jian Lin could no longer bear it. She called out from within the sword formation, "Master! I am your disciple!"
The Sword Immortal paused. He then remembered Jian Lin, his good disciple. He said with a sheepish smile, "That... how many moves have you changed? Are you satisfied with them?"
Not satisfied, she had only changed less than half. Seeing this, the Demon Lord quickly offered to help. With his assistance, Jian Lin soon finished modifying all the less-than-perfect movements.
Once all modifications were complete, the sword intent redirected all the moves, spinning rapidly and transforming into a beam of light. Guided by the sword intent, the light beam circled Jian Lin and finally disappeared into her brow.
Jian Lin felt a warmth in her brow. At first, she felt nothing. She blinked her eyes and suddenly felt a sense of restless anxiety. She subconsciously raised her wrist and performed the third level of the Ming Yue Divine Sword technique.
Her movements were skilled and standard, without the previous awkwardness and confusion. Jian Lin herself was amazed. Was this the power of sword intent?
It was like Doraemon's memory bread, allowing one to take shortcuts in cultivation.
"Do you feel it? This is sword intent," the Sword Immortal said slowly, explaining to her. "Like a teacher, like a friend, your most trustworthy companion. Do you want to have your own?"
Through their brief interaction, the Sword Immortal could tell that his good disciple had a strong desire for greed. So, he decided to prescribe the right medicine, using his methods to lure her into developing an obsession.
Once she formed an obsession, he wouldn't worry about her giving up halfway. She would then exert all her effort to draw out the sword intent of the He Yi Sword. By then, everything else would naturally fall into place.
The Sword Immortal was indeed a good judge of character. With such a good opportunity, who wouldn't want it?
Jian Lin remembered the Demon Lord had said the same thing. Without much hesitation, she nodded frantically, "Yes, I want it."
"Very good," the Sword Immortal said with a triumphant sly smile, "Then there's no better day than today. Start cultivating from now on. I will teach you a peerless sword technique. You must learn it diligently. Ming Yan, demonstrate it for her."
Jian Lin focused intently and eagerly learned from Ming Yan. To her surprise, this sword technique only had twelve moves. The movements were not complicated and were particularly easy to learn.
What kind of peerless sword technique was this? She must be being tricked by her master. However, Jian Lin still practiced happily.
Jian Lin couldn't tell, but the Demon Lord's eyes could. This sword technique was simple yet profound. He guessed it must be the accumulation and refinement of the Sword Immortal's years of enlightenment. If the old man called it a peerless sword technique, then it must be a peerless sword technique.
The Sword Immortal smiled. He thought the Demon Lord was quite good and told him the truth, "This sword technique becomes more difficult the further you practice it. It is very suitable for my good disciple. Don't tell her, let her practice it herself."
The Demon Lord realized that Jian Lin had boarded a pirate ship. However, since the Sword Immortal wouldn't harm her, and it was a good opportunity to improve her cultivation, he was willing to help the Sword Immortal keep it a secret.
Time passed unnoticed in the cave. With Ming Yan as her sparring partner, and the Sword Immortal and the Demon Lord chatting nearby, Jian Lin had no worries. She cultivated with all her might. When she felt tired and walked out of the sword formation, three days had passed.
She was shocked to hear this and confirmed it several times, marveling at how quickly time had passed. She could cultivate for so long in one go; it was truly amazing.
She closed her eyes and rested for a while. When she opened them, she noticed the Demon Lord was gone and immediately asked with concern, "Master, where did he go?"
Had this old man tricked him to death?
"Don't worry, he went out to get wine. There's a spirit tree in this barrier that produces wine. I told him where it is and asked him to bring some back to nourish my good disciple. Cultivation is truly hard work," the Sword Immortal replied with a smile.
So that was it. Jian Lin was relieved. Seeing that the Sword Immortal was in a good mood, she asked curiously, "By the way, Master, why haven't you ascended yet? Even the Divine Venerables come to visit you. Logically, you should be very powerful!"