Chapter Five: The Five Elements Sword Technique

A sleepless night.

As dawn broke, Lin Cheng rose from bed and stepped into the courtyard. As usual, he split firewood. After last night’s transformation, he found himself as light as a swallow, brimming with inexhaustible strength.

Creak.

The door to the main house opened. Lin Cheng’s mother, Wang Susu, stepped out with a gentle smile, carrying a washbasin, ready to fetch water. Dressed in a plain gray linen dress, she looked up and, seeing Lin Cheng chopping wood, hurriedly set down the basin and approached him. She took his hands, concern in her voice: “Where did you and Xiao Hu go yesterday? Why did you come home so late?”

“Mother, we’re not children anymore… we won’t get lost…”

“We were delayed by something on the way back yesterday,” Lin Cheng replied with a sheepish grin. “When we finally got home, it was already late, so we didn’t want to disturb you and Father.”

At that moment, Lin Cheng’s father, Lin Zhen, also emerged from the house. Seeing Lin Cheng, he chuckled and scolded lightly, “You little rascal, where did you run off to again yesterday?”

Lin Cheng laughed, scratching his head. “Sorry to make you worry. Oh, right… Father, Mother, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you…”

“What is it, Cheng’er? You haven’t gotten into trouble, have you?” Wang Susu asked anxiously. Lin Zhen also turned his gaze to Lin Cheng.

“No, it’s not that… Yesterday, the village chief asked me and Lin Hu to go to Qingyang Town to buy supplies, and it happened to be the day when the immortal masters from Qingyang Sect were recruiting disciples. Lin Hu and I tried out, and… well, we were both chosen by the Qingyang Sect. Father, Mother, I want to pursue cultivation…”

His gaze was resolute as he looked at his parents.

“To be chosen by an immortal master to learn the ways of immortality… that’s wonderful!” Lin Zhen clapped Lin Cheng on the head, laughing heartily. “Your mother and I are overjoyed—we couldn’t be happier for you, and yet you’re stammering about it!”

Wang Susu touched Lin Cheng’s cheek, her face alight with happiness. Lin Cheng felt a wave of reluctance. He knew that joining Qingyang Sect meant leaving his parents behind.

“Cheng’er, I’m not a capable man; I’ve spent my life in this small mountain village and can’t give you better opportunities. But a young eagle must eventually fly on its own to reach wider skies. As for your mother and me, you needn’t worry. Just visit us whenever you can.”

Though his father spoke with such warmth, Lin Cheng could feel his parents’ reluctance, and his own nose tingled with emotion.

——

“Lin Cheng… Lin Cheng…” The boisterous voice of Fatty Lin came from not far off. Soon after, Lin Hu arrived at the entrance to the courtyard, pushing the gate open in a hurry, followed by a crowd of villagers, young and old.

At the front stood an elderly man, perhaps in his seventies, stooped with age and a head of gray hair, but his eyes shone brightly even now. Supported by Lin Hu, he came before Lin Cheng’s family.

“Lin Zhen, your son is a fine one!” the old village chief declared, his wrinkled face alight with excitement. “Do you know that Lin Cheng’s been chosen by the immortal masters of Qingyang Sect?”

“We’ve just heard the news ourselves, Chief,” Lin Zhen replied with respect.

The old village chief took Lin Cheng’s hand, beaming. “Lin Cheng, I’ve watched you grow up and always knew you’d make something of yourself. When you get to Qingyang Sect, you must work hard at your cultivation, and don’t let your parents down. If you’re bullied there, just come home—this will always be your home.”

The neighbors and villagers all added their own words of advice to Lin Cheng and Lin Hu, earnest and heartfelt. Surrounded by the crowd, the two boys could only nod and respond as best they could.

…

It was only after seeing everyone off that they finally caught their breath.

On the peak of the hill behind Lin Family Village, the two lay on their backs in the grass, hands behind their heads, gazing up at the sky. The sunlight was warm, caressing their faces as a gentle breeze blew. The moment was peaceful and beautiful.

Lin Hu, legs crossed and eyes closed, looked thoroughly content. “Madman, in a few days we’ll be heading off to Qingyang Sect. I wonder what it’s like there. I bet it’s full of beautiful girls…”

“Is that all you ever think about?” Lin Cheng chewed on a blade of grass, savoring these rare days of calm. If he hadn’t embarked on the path of cultivation, he might have simply grown old here with his parents.

“A real man should set his sights far and wide… That’s what my old man keeps telling me. Once we get to Qingyang Sect, I’ll be counting on you to look after me,” Lin Hu said, stretching lazily.

Watching the birds soar across the sky, Lin Hu sighed, “I always dreamed of riding a sword through the heavens, going wherever I pleased… But with my incomplete spiritual root, there’s no hope for me in this life.”

Lin Cheng turned to look at Lin Hu, his tone earnest. “Fatty, if you really can’t cultivate in the future, I’ll take you flying across the world on my sword.”

“Madman, you’re making me emotional. If I were a girl, I’d marry you!” Lin Hu exclaimed, throwing his arms around Lin Cheng in a bear hug.

“Ugh, get off! You’re giving me goosebumps all over…” The two roughhoused on the hillside, not heading home until sunset.

——

Late at night, under a sky strewn with stars.

Inside his room, Lin Cheng sat cross-legged, eyes closed, immersed in the world within his body. He watched the golden ocean of energy in his dantian and began circulating the Five Elements Sword Art.

At once, invisible spiritual energy rushed toward him, forming a vortex that swirled around his body. According to the description of the Five Elements Sword Art, one could break through realms by refining sword essence—transforming the energies of the five elements into sword essence, tempering the body, and increasing strength. Every improvement in the physical body further refined the Five Elements Sword Body. Once mastered, and combined with his innate sword physique, he could stand above all swords, the king to whom all blades submit.

Following the method for transforming sword essence, Lin Cheng began his cultivation. As more and more spiritual energy was absorbed, a single drop of golden liquid slowly appeared in his dantian. Though small, it contained a power dense and formidable.

He didn’t stop, continuing to focus and refine the energy.

An entire night slipped quietly past.

Gazing at the six drops of sword essence suspended in his dantian, a smile curled at his lips. With sword essence at hand, he figured he could now attempt to cultivate the so-called Five Elements Sword Body.

Stretching, he leapt from bed and pushed open the door.

Blinding sunlight greeted him. He drew a deep breath of fresh air and was about to step out when—

“Brother Cheng, something’s wrong… Brother Hu is fighting at the village entrance!”

An urgent shout came from outside the courtyard.

What!

Lin Cheng rushed to the gate. There he saw a skinny but spirited youth, panting as he ran up—Lin Yi, who had always tagged along behind Lin Hu since childhood.

“Come on, let’s go see!” Without another word, Lin Cheng grabbed Lin Yi and hurried toward the village entrance.

——

By the time they arrived, Fatty Lin was already sprawled on the ground, his face battered and bruised.

A burly young man stood with one foot planted on Lin Hu’s back, surrounded by seven or eight other youths. Arms crossed, they looked on, mocking Lin Hu as he lay underfoot.

“Lin Hu, thought you were tough, huh? Not so tough now, are you? How does it feel to be under my boot? Hahaha!” The youth pressed harder, laughing arrogantly.

Lin Cheng’s rage ignited the moment he saw the scene.

“Zhang Bao, damn you!” With a furious roar, Lin Cheng clenched his fist and charged forward. His fist shimmered faintly with true energy.

Zhang Bao sneered with disdain as Lin Cheng rushed in. “Perfect—today I’ll deal with you both.”

He charged at Lin Cheng, looking even more imposing due to his greater height.

Bang!

Their fists collided.

To everyone’s shock, Zhang Bao was sent flying like a broken kite, crashing heavily to the ground.

Lying there, his body trembling, Zhang Bao didn’t realize his right fist had split open. He stared at Lin Cheng in disbelief—he had already awakened his spiritual root, yet he wasn’t even a match for one punch.

As Lin Cheng walked toward him, step by step, Zhang Bao was finally afraid.

“Don’t—”

…