Chapter 289 — The Fourteen Techniques of the Dao Sword
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 4 of 4
"This can be checked precisely against the Taixuan Arithmetic Classic. " Shen Mu's heart stirred. He had already comprehended seven or eight parts in ten of the Taixuan Arithmetic Classic, so the Dao Sword's first form was not difficult for him.
Before long Shen Mu had thoroughly comprehended the Dao Sword's first form and turned to look at the second sword mark.
The Dao Sword's second form: five qi and three primes knit their excellence; where they rise, cloud chariots interweave!
What this sword mark held was the ternary and quinary systems—three primes and five qi. The principles in this move constructed the sun, the moon, and the earth: the five qi paying homage to the Origin!
This move was not difficult for Shen Mu either; in the time of one incense stick he comprehended it, then went on to the third sword mark.
The Dao Sword's third form: five-hued auspicious clouds spread their canopy; in the three heavens, immortal cadences ring clear.
This move likewise involved the three primes and five qi, only more profound, with transformations of the three primes and five qi appearing. It took Shen Mu well over an hour to comprehend this move thoroughly.
The Dao Sword's fourth form: silently turning the cycle of the heavens, beholding the myriad forms spread out like stars, shifting onward. The principles it held were already extremely complex, involving the principle by which three beget the ten thousand things; to unravel the mystery of this move with the Taixuan Arithmetic Classic alone was already exceedingly difficult.
By the time Shen Mu had unraveled the mystery in this sword mark, he found that the setting sun was about to sink into the sea.
It was late; the red sun rested on the water, washing the island in red light.
"I may not be able to unravel the fifth chapter of the Dao Sword!
" Shen Mu's expression turned grave. Each form of the Dao Sword was harder to learn than the last, the principles it held ever deeper; to learn them all within fourteen days was simply impossible. He might not even be able to master the fifth!
He could only choose to comprehend the sword intent first and take that away with him. As for the sword techniques of the other chapters, he had no time to learn them; whatever he could comprehend, he would comprehend.
With this thought, Shen Mu looked at once to the fifth sword mark.
The Dao Sword's fifth chapter: the jade cavern gathers in the ten thousand transformations; above Kunlun's ridge, wind and moon shimmer. He applied himself to comprehending it, but the principles hidden in the sword intent were already hard to grasp. Though he had comprehended seven or eight parts in ten of the Taixuan Arithmetic Classic, some of these principles were not contained in it; presumably they were hidden in the Xuannü Arithmetic Classic.
The Dao Lord sat nearby, serene and settled in meditation, seemingly unaware of hunger. When Shen Mu grew hungry he left the stone wall and went to find Ling Yuxiu and Si Yunxiang.
The two girls had already cooked a meal; after questioning him and hearing that it was the Dao Lord, both were greatly startled and dared not be unruly. On the third day, Fan Yunxiao came seeking them by boat.
At the sight of the Dao Lord he burst into loud weeping and knocked his head on the ground before him several times. The old Dao Lord opened his eyes and glanced at him, then said calmly, "You have joined the Nether Demon Cult? I was right about you after all—your heart is indeed crooked.
Go.
I will not kill you. " Fan Yunxiao wailed and wept, wiped his tears, and sailed away.