’Could this be some kind of Illusion Technique?’

Yang Jing guessed inwardly, but Sima Peng was just a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. It was impossible for him to cast an Illusion Technique so flawless that Yang Jing couldn’t see through it.

After a moment of thought, he decided to leave the matter for Canyuan True Monarch to worry about.

In any case, Sima Peng was already in chains, locked in the Flying Boat’s brig along with the other captured scions of Noble Families. He couldn’t pull any tricks.

Because the Flying Boat was carrying important prisoners, Yang Jing directly ordered the Array Master on board to head for the Northern Army Governor’s Mansion.

After escorting these noble sons to the dungeons, Yang Jing received a message from Canyuan True Monarch, summoning him for an audience.

Not daring to delay in the slightest, Yang Jing immediately went to Canyuan True Monarch’s residence. Guided by a Daoist Child, he entered a Quiet Chamber. He discovered that besides Canyuan True Monarch, there was another Nascent Soul True Monarch in the room, sizing him up with great interest.

"This is Profound Vermilion True Monarch, an Elder of the Taixu Sword Sect and an old friend of mine."

Canyuan True Monarch said to Yang Jing with a warm smile.

After Yang Jing used Thunder Escape, the evaluation of him by all the spectating Nascent Soul True Monarchs rose to a new level.

For a Cultivator, the ability to preserve one’s life is paramount. No matter how great one’s Talent, it must be allowed to mature before it can be realized.

With Thunder Escape in his arsenal, Cultivators of his generation could neither defeat him nor escape from him. Even if a Golden Core Cultivator were to attack, he had a sixty to seventy percent chance of getting away, greatly increasing his chances of survival.

"You kid, you really know how to hide your strength. To possess a technique like Thunder Escape and have no desire to show off... If you hadn’t run into Sima Peng this time, who knows how long you would have kept it hidden."

Canyuan True Monarch said.

"This disciple is humbled."

Yang Jing replied.

"That Water Dragon Magical Sword technique you used—did you create it yourself?"

Profound Vermilion True Monarch asked.

Yang Jing bowed to Profound Vermilion True Monarch before speaking.

"That is correct. This disciple created this Sword Technique, which I’ve named the Water Dragon Sword Scripture, by referencing the Fire Dragon Sword Scripture and the Supreme Nine Transformations of the Dragon Scripture, both of which I obtained by a fortuitous encounter."

"The younger generation is truly formidable. Formidable indeed," Profound Vermilion True Monarch said with emotion. "Years ago, our sect’s Elder Song also had a sudden inspiration. He felt that our Taixu Sword Sect’s Nine Dragons Sword Scripture was too esoteric—even disciples at the Golden Core Realm found it difficult to grasp. So, he decided to forge a new path and create a preliminary Sword Scripture for the Nine Dragon Sword Mantra to serve as a guide. That was how the Fire Dragon Sword Scripture came to be. I heard his descendants have been continuously revising and editing this Sword Scripture. To think that you, by yourself, have accomplished what took the Song Family generations to achieve."

Yang Jing quickly replied with humility.

"This disciple was only able to achieve this small feat by standing on the shoulders of giants."

Profound Vermilion True Monarch burst out laughing.

"Now I see why old Canyuan thinks so highly of you."

Yang Jing could only offer an awkward smile in response.

"Young Yang, your Celestial Waterfall Sword is full of Spiritual Essence. I am willing to trade a Secret Technique for refining a Lifebound Flying Sword in exchange for your Water Dragon Sword Scripture. Are you willing?"

Canyuan True Monarch, sitting to the side, repeatedly gestured with his eyes, urging Yang Jing to accept.

Yang Jing hesitated for a moment before saying: 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"True Monarch, this Sword Scripture is, after all, derived from the Fire Dragon Sword Scripture. It would not be right for me to dispose of it as I see fit."

Profound Vermilion True Monarch’s eyes lit up.

’Yang Jing had dared to defy the power of the Noble Families, capturing all those scions who had been abducting Female Cultivators. From that, he could already tell that Yang Jing was an honest and upright man. But he hadn’t expected him to be so principled. His character was truly outstanding.’

"You can rest assured about that. Although the Fire Dragon Sword Scripture is a secret tradition of the Song Family, the Taixu Sword Sect also has the original text in its collection. Senior Brother Song created it so that the sect’s disciples could better cultivate the Nine Dragons Sword Scripture; he naturally wouldn’t be possessive about it."

Yang Jing nodded. ’Of course, I knew that the Fire Dragon Sword Scripture was also passed down within the Taixu Sword Sect. I just wanted to leave a good impression on this Nascent Soul Master.’

He held out the Jade Scroll inscribed with the Water Dragon Sword Scripture with both hands.

Profound Vermilion True Monarch took the Jade Scroll and immediately became engrossed in the new Sword Mantra. When he saw the finer points of the Sword Scripture, he couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

"A fine Sword Technique. Truly, a fine Sword Technique."

Having cultivated the Nine Dragons Sword Scripture, he had a commanding perspective and could naturally spot some of the oversights within the Water Dragon Sword Scripture. If Yang Jing were a disciple of the Taixu Sword Sect, he would have loved to bring out the Nine Dragons Sword Scripture for him to study.

Profound Vermilion True Monarch spent nearly the time it takes for an incense stick to burn marking each of the oversights and adding his own commentary before returning the Jade Scroll to Yang Jing.

"Study it well. The future of our Six Sects rests on the shoulders of your generation."

Yang Jing took the Jade Scroll and looked at it. He found that not only did it contain many detailed annotations, but also an additional text: a method for refining a Lifebound Flying Sword called the Sword Qi Canon.

"Thank you, Profound Vermilion True Monarch."

He bowed deeply and solemnly.

’Profound Vermilion True Monarch was clearly just looking for an excuse to gift him this Sword Qi Canon.’

"Haha, when one encounters a junior as overflowing with talent as you, who could resist giving a helping hand? Besides, the Five Elements True Spirit Sect’s methods for refining Flying Swords are truly unsophisticated. For a talent of your caliber to be cultivating such an inferior technique is like a beautiful piece of jade willingly soiling itself. It’s a real shame."

As he spoke, he also offered Yang Jing guidance on some of the difficult aspects of the Sword Cultivator’s path.

Yang Jing made a copy of the Jade Scroll containing the Water Dragon Sword Scripture.

"I have no way to repay Senior Sister Song for the kindness she showed me when she gifted me the Sword Scripture. I must ask the True Monarch to pass this Sword Mantra to her on my behalf as a form of repayment."

Only after Profound Vermilion True Monarch accepted the Jade Scroll did Yang Jing turn to Canyuan True Monarch and recount all the strange phenomena he had witnessed during his Magical Combat with Sima Peng.

Canyuan True Monarch frowned, a hint of confusion in his eyes. He too had never heard of the methods Sima Peng employed. He had, of course, traveled to the Central Continent before, and his experience far surpassed Yang Jing’s.

But even on the Central Continent, there were no techniques as bizarre as this.

"His transformation might be related to this technique."

As Yang Jing spoke, he respectfully presented a Jade Scroll with both hands. This was the Mingfei Joyful Method he had found on Yan Xiangzhi.

Canyuan True Monarch took one look at the Jade Scroll and immediately said:

"This is not an orthodox technique of the Mystic Sects, nor is it a Secret Technique of the Four Demon Sects."

After speaking, he handed the Jade Scroll to Profound Vermilion True Monarch.

Profound Vermilion True Monarch frowned as he examined the Mingfei Joyful Method. After a long while, he spoke with some hesitation.

"Why does this technique somewhat resemble the Cultivation Techniques of the Divine Dao?"

Back then, the Six Sects had waged a war to "attack the mountains and destroy the temples," slaughtering the Evil Gods of the Western Continent and, in the process, destroying and banning all sorts of Divine Dao Cultivation Techniques. However, it was inevitable that some Divine Dao techniques would have their merits, so the patriarchs of the Six Sects extracted some valuable parts and incorporated them into their own legacies.

The expressions of the two True Monarchs immediately turned grave.

The Western Continent was a landmass that had been forcibly integrated into the Nine Heavens World. Even after tens of thousands of years, some remnants of its original world lingered. The fact that Demons were innately more likely to awaken various Divine Techniques was just one aspect of this.

But more than Demons, this Continent showed a greater affinity for all manner of Divine Beings.

If not for the suppression of the Dragon Veins, all sorts of Wild Gods and Fur Gods would have long since run rampant and become a disaster. Even so, in some remote places not covered by the Dragon Veins, pest-like Wild Gods would still emerge.

"This technique is extremely well-structured. It’s impossible for those nascent Wild Gods and Fur Gods to have created such a Secret Technique."

Canyuan True Monarch said.

"Could it be that an Evil God is lurking in the Northern Domain? Or is it a remnant from the war to attack the mountains and destroy the temples?"

Profound Vermilion True Monarch considered the two possibilities.

"True Monarch, if this technique were to spread, I fear countless Cultivators would be swayed by evil thoughts, plunging the entire Western Continent into chaos. We must ban this technique."

Yang Jing said to Canyuan True Monarch.

Canyuan True Monarch nodded grimly. He knew full well that some Cultivators would do anything to advance their Magical Power. The Mingfei Joyful Method offered such a convenient way to raise one’s Cultivation, and on the surface, it appeared to have no negative consequences. It would undoubtedly tempt countless people to practice it.

"If this were just an ordinary Replenishing Technique, it wouldn’t be so bad. But if it’s connected to an Evil God, it’s possible that during the process of Absorption and Replenishment, the Evil God could be siphoning off Essence Qi."

If an Evil God could siphon Essence Qi through it, then every time a Cultivator practiced this technique, they would be feeding its Divine Power. In that case, unless the technique was banned, it would be nearly impossible to ever destroy that god.

As the Northern Army Governor, Canyuan True Monarch had a deep understanding of just how troublesome Divine Beings could be.