Chapter 65: Six Path Heavenly Tribulation

Jiang Yan did not underestimate this security guard, because the other’s aura appeared calm on the surface, yet was inwardly restrained and steady, as if a fierce beast lay dormant within his body.

Jiang Yan took out his student card.

The guard picked up the card, swiped it on the gate’s card reader, and then returned it to Jiang Yan.

“You may proceed.”

Jiang Yan entered the Martial Skill Library.

The Martial Skill Library resembled a library or similar repository, organizing books of different grades across four floors.

The first to third floors contained Martial Skills below the Heavenly Grade.

The fourth floor held those above the Heavenly Grade.

In principle, to prevent students from overreaching and pursuing high-grade Martial Skills, which could lead them astray, each student was only eligible to enter the fourth floor upon reaching their third year or achieving a certain credit threshold.

But Jiang Yan was different—his privileges allowed him unrestricted access to the fourth floor.

The fourth floor had another access gate, guarded by an old man with white hair and a beard.

Since classes had not yet started, and the requirements for the fourth floor were high, there was no one else here.

It was unclear how long the old man had been guarding this place. Before Jiang Yan arrived, his eyes had been narrowed, and he lay on a chair, possibly asleep.

As if sensing someone’s arrival, the old man opened his eyelids and quietly looked at Jiang Yan, saying, “Hand over your student card.”

Jiang Yan produced his student card again.

The old man took it and swiped it at the gate.

“Hmm, these privileges… so you’re the top scorer in this year’s College Entrance Exam recruited by Divine Capital Martial University?”

The old man returned the card to Jiang Yan, casually mentioning it.

Jiang Yan accepted it and replied, “This Junior is Jiang Yan. If there’s no mistake, that person would be me.”

“Heh, go ahead. Reaching Innate Perfection at this age is rather unusual.”

Jiang Yan was not surprised that the other had seen through his realm at a glance. It was often said that powerful individuals favored guarding Scripture Pavilions—this old man was likely one such existence.

“However, I still advise you not to aim too high. Touching Cultivation Methods above the Heavenly Grade too early may hinder your cultivation progress.”

“Thank you for the reminder, Senior.”

Jiang Yan listened but did not fully heed the advice, proceeding through the gate as he pleased.

The old man watched Jiang Yan’s back, saying nothing.

Whether Jiang Yan took it to heart was his own affair—it had nothing to do with the old man.

The fourth floor’s layout was completely different from the lower three floors. There were no physical books to peruse.

All Martial Skills were recorded on various magnetic cards. Dozens of devices resembling gaming pods were arranged here. By inserting a magnetic card, one could immerse themselves in learning the contents.

Jiang Yan did not need much.

One Saber Technique Martial Skill.

One movement Martial Skill.

One body-tempering Martial Skill.

Jiang Yan walked up to one of the machines, fiddled with it for a while, and figured out how to use it.

Inserting his student card into the slot on the right side of the machine, the electronic screen interface above changed.

On the screen, various Martial Skills were listed.

Grade and type were clearly categorized.

Yellow, Mysterious, Earth, Heavenly, Meteor, Yaoyue, Shi Heng.

Jiang Yan had no worries about Martial Skill Grades being too high and hindering his cultivation. He went straight to the point and selected the “Shi Heng” category.

The interface changed, prompting Jiang Yan to choose a type.

Among the many categories, Jiang Yan found the Saber Technique Martial Skill classification.

Shi Heng Grade Martial Skills:

《Resplendent Saber Chasing the Sun》

“Taking the great sun as essence, chasing the sun in motion. As long as the blazing sun does not extinguish, the saber soul remains unceasing.”

…

Note: Must at least master Blade Momentum to learn.

《Rakshasa Soul-Burning Saber》

…

Note: Must at least master Blade Momentum to learn.

…

Jiang Yan flipped through the options, feeling as if he might develop a case of choice paralysis.

Suddenly, the suffix of one book caught his eye.

Six Path Heavenly Tribulation Slash (by Cangyuan Saber Saint)

“Huh, isn’t this the work of that famous Saber Saint? I never expected his Martial Skill to be available here.”

Jiang Yan clicked to view the Martial Skill introduction.

Six Path Heavenly Tribulation Slash

“Six strikes of heavenly punishment, stealing opportunity from the heavens. When the saber emerges, tribulation descends; both man and god are condemned.”

“This saber embodies the might of heaven!”

(Note: Must at least have mastered Blade Momentum to learn)

Indeed, for saber technique Martial Skills at the level of Shiheng, Blade Momentum was the most basic requirement, and this threshold alone deterred the vast majority of Martial Artists from attempting to learn it.

Coincidentally, Jiang Yan met this requirement.

Just from these textual descriptions, Jiang Yan couldn’t tell which one was more powerful, but hearing how strong Cangyuan Saber Saint was, he figured the Martial Skill created by the venerable master wouldn’t be weak either. Since Jiang Yan was already suffering from choice paralysis, he simply selected Six Path Heavenly Tribulation Slash.

Soon, the large machine in front of him shuddered and spat out a magnetic disk.

Jiang Yan took the disk and walked over to a nearby Martial Skill Capsule, inserting the disk into the slot.

Quickly, the capsule door opened.

“Welcome to the Martial Skill Simulation Capsule.”

Jiang Yan lay down inside and closed his eyes.

Soon, he felt something cold press against his forehead, and his consciousness quickly grew hazy.

In the blink of an eye, Jiang Yan arrived in an unknown realm.

In the void ahead, a passage of text materialized out of thin air.

“Six strikes of heavenly punishment, stealing opportunity from the heavens. When the saber emerges, tribulation descends; both man and god are condemned.”

“This saber embodies the might of heaven!”

Six Path Heavenly Tribulation Slash consists of six moves:

First Move: Thunder Strike: Nine Heavens Shatter

Second Move: Flame Burn: World-Ashing Blaze

Third Move: Wind Erosion: Formless Slash

Fourth Move: Ice Seal: Frozen Prison

Fifth Move: Starfall: Heaven-Falling Strike

Note: The first five moves have no fixed order.

Final Move: End Convergence.

After the text was listed, a video clip began playing before him.

The scene took place above the Starry Sky.

A man stood holding a saber, facing millions of Insect Race creatures charging toward him, blotting out the sky like an apocalypse, their menacing forms resembling a living hell. The dark Starry Sky resembled an extinguished lamp, radiating an eternal, decaying darkness.

The man raised his saber, and in that moment, light emerged from the source of darkness. The silent Starry Sky was ignited by thunder, and from the heavens above, Saber Qi covering the entire Starry Sky cascaded downward.

The screen turned completely white.

Jiang Yan squinted his eyes, faintly hearing the words spoken by the man.

“Thunder Strike: Nine Heavens Shatter!”

…

“Could that man be the legendary Cangyuan Saber Saint?”

Jiang Yan admitted he was awestruck by that slash—a tremor from the depths of his Soul, evoking an involuntary sense of yearning.

No wonder Cangyuan Saber Saint had become the idol of countless saber cultivators.

That slash was truly cool, wasn’t it?

Jiang Yan continued to observe the next video.

Second Move: Flame Burn: World-Ashing Blaze

Third Move: Wind Erosion: Formless Slash

Fourth Move: Ice Seal: Frozen Prison

Fifth Move: Starfall: Heaven-Falling Strike

…

All the remaining moves except the final one were displayed in the videos. Jiang Yan felt a bit regretful, guessing that Cangyuan Saber Saint had likely never demonstrated this move before the world.

“If the first five moves are already this powerful, how incredible must the final move be?”

After the video demonstrations ended, lines of text began to appear before him once more.

“It’s the Cultivation Method mantra for Six Path Heavenly Tribulation Slash.”

Jiang Yan carefully studied and committed these words to memory.

System Log updated.

“You are observing the Cultivation Method mantra, your memory has improved.”

“You are observing the Cultivation Method mantra, your Comprehension Ability has slightly improved.”