Chapter 54 – Traceless Sword Technique, Sword Strikes Without a Trace

Heretical Fang Heng’s sword was fast—the fastest Lu Chen had ever witnessed.

So fast that even with prior preparation, Lu Chen could only perceive a blur.

Swoosh!

The Blood Sword swept past, instantly drawing a crimson line across Lu Chen’s cheek as fine droplets of blood beaded forth.

A few strands of hair at his temples were severed by the strike, drifting aimlessly in the air.

Fortunately, Heretical Fang Heng’s blade had merely grazed Lu Chen’s cheek, missing any vital points.

Had it struck true, that single strike would have ended Lu Chen’s life on the spot.

It was only because the one executing this Traceless Swordplay was not Fang Heng himself, but the demonic entity possessing his body.

The speed of the sword technique was roughly half of its original potential.

Otherwise, even with Lu Chen’s preparedness, he would have been unable to evade it.

Yet even so, Heretical Fang Heng had to acknowledge that Lu Chen—achieving this while still at the Qi Condensation Stage—truly possessed the right to be arrogant.

But this alone was not enough…

“You dodged the first strike, but I doubt you can evade the second, or the third!”

Heretical Fang Heng snorted coldly, the Blood Sword in his right hand transforming into a blur as it relentlessly assailed Lu Chen.

Perhaps irritated by Lu Chen’s evasion of his initial strike, his subsequent attacks deliberately avoided vital areas.

Each slash left only superficial yet stinging wounds on Lu Chen’s body.

Though not fatal, these injuries inflicted searing pain, designed purely to torment his opponent.

Faced with a serious Heretical Fang Heng, Lu Chen yearned to counterattack but found no opening.

He could only strive to observe his opponent’s swordplay while evading as best he could.

Witnessing Lu Chen’s disheveled state, Heretical Fang Heng burst into derisive laughter.

“Hahaha! So this is the Dao you speak of—scrambling like a stray dog?”

“Weep! Rage! Then perish… in despair!”

Lu Chen offered no retort to the taunts. He resembled a lone boat battered by stormy waves, barely holding on.

Yet, he was not entirely without opportunity.

His lotus-shaped pupils spun incessantly, meticulously recording every sword stroke Heretical Fang Heng unleashed.

Whether out of boredom or conviction that Lu Chen posed no threat, Heretical Fang Heng eventually ceased his games.

“Brat, some truths cannot be spoken into existence.”

“If Fang Heng is a coward—blessed with talent yet unable to wield it—then you are a foolhardy brute. Though gifted, you lack the reverence owed to those stronger.”

“Remember in your next life: hold your tongue before superiors. Otherwise… you merely amuse them with your folly.”

As the words faded, Lu Chen saw a flash of cold light.

The Blood Sword reflected in his lotus pupils grew larger until it pierced through his throat.

Gazing at Lu Chen’s corpse, Heretical Fang Heng felt no satisfaction, only an inexplicable unease.

He studied the tranquil expression on Lu Chen’s face—something felt amiss, though he couldn’t pinpoint what.

“Impossible. This brat was merely a lowly Qi Condensation Cultivator. He’s already dead—what is there to fear?””Correct, he is already dead, completely and utterly dead…”

Before the gate on the Sword Pavilion Second Floor.

[You have earnestly observed the enemy’s swordsmanship and gained some insight, unlocking a new skill… Traceless Swordplay]

[Due to your inherently high swordsmanship attainment, Traceless Swordplay has been elevated to Proficient…]

[Traceless Swordplay: Proficient 1/2000]

[Effect: An ultimate swift sword technique, traceless and formless, leaving no bloodstains on the blade. At Major Achievement, it can manifest traceless sword shadows]

“…An ultimate swift sword technique.”

Lu Chen sat cross-legged before the Sword Pavilion Second Floor gate, recalling his recent battle with Heretical Fang Heng.

To be precise, the Traceless Swordplay created by Fang Heng wasn’t particularly extraordinary.

He had simply refined every move and stance to its utmost essence, ensuring each sword strike directly targeted vital points while eliminating any superfluous movements.

Not complex, yet extremely efficient.

A man of peaceful disposition who disliked killing had created an ultimate sword technique for slaughter.

This truly demonstrated the unpredictability of worldly affairs.

The reason Traceless Swordplay could achieve ultimate swiftness.

Wasn’t solely due to its refined sword techniques, but also its unique spiritual power circulation.

Every sword strike mobilized the full power of his body, generating terrifying explosive force within extremely short timeframes.

One could imagine that while such sword techniques brought ultimate speed, they would also impose considerable strain on the cultivator themselves.

Therefore, Traceless Swordplay was essentially a technique for swift resolution of battles.

If the enemy couldn’t be defeated within the designated time.

The practitioner of Traceless Swordplay would exhaust their strength before the enemy even needed to strike.

In this aspect, Traceless Swordplay shared many similarities with his Water Dragon’s Roar.

This was also why Lu Chen could immediately elevate this sword technique to ‘Proficient’ level after initially learning it.

“Although Traceless Swordplay is excellent, like my Water Dragon’s Roar, its power relies on one’s own cultivation realm and physical constitution.”

“While Heretical Fang Heng’s mastery of Traceless Swordplay wasn’t as high as the original Fang Heng’s, merely reaching the Proficient level.”

“His Heretical Demonic Body greatly compensated for Traceless Swordplay’s weaknesses, granting him greater endurance than the original Fang Heng.”

“Coupled with his cultivation reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage First Layer, both the quantity and quality of his spiritual power far surpassed mine.”

“Therefore, if I want to defeat Heretical Fang Heng, prolonged combat is absolutely impossible. I must possess one-strike killing capability to achieve victory this time.”

Facing a Foundation Establishment Stage expert like Heretical Fang Heng, could the current Lu Chen achieve a one-strike kill?

Though he couldn’t do it now, that didn’t mean future him couldn’t.

Because his Traceless Swordplay wouldn’t remain at Proficient level forever.

Especially while having a Foundation Establishment Stage Heretical Demon who also practiced Traceless Swordplay as a training partner.

Lu Chen stood up, first applying the three talisman effects of ‘Swiftness Talisman’, ‘Hawkeye Talisman’, and ‘Strength Talisman’ to himself again.

Then he placed the Disciple Token into the depression beside the wooden gate, activating the door.

As the Second Floor gate opened once more, Lu Chen calmly walked inside.

Though a vast gap currently existed between him and Heretical Fang Heng, this gap hadn’t yet grown to the point where Lu Chen felt it couldn’t be bridged.

As long as he cultivated Traceless Swordplay to Realm Breakthrough.

Then, combined with his already Realm Breakthrough-level Water Dragon’s Roar Swordsmanship…He had every opportunity to achieve the feat of overcoming higher-level opponents and challenging those beyond his rank.

But before that, he needed to endure more hardships.

Others learn sword techniques by accumulating practice over time.

But Lu Chen was remarkable—he learned sword techniques… by accumulating near-death experiences!

If combat is the best teacher, then death… is the most profound lesson!

After all, most people only get to experience such a lesson once in their lifetime.

Yet Lu Chen could experience it countless times, ensuring he would never repeat the same mistakes again.

(End of Chapter)