Chapter 63: Instant Kill, the True Secret Sword

Everyone turned their eyes to Zhou Yan, only to see him standing calmly in the posture of an owl, then gripping his sword in a reverse grip with his right hand.

Was this the stance of “Green Sickle”?

The students stirred with unease.

Although Luo Xuan was somewhat puzzled, she still gave a crisp command, “Begin!”

Yan Yong let out a thunderous shout, raising his sword high with both hands, and drove hard off the ground to lunge forward, his gaze locked onto Zhou Yan’s right hand.

Green Sickle was an assassination technique, yet Zhou Yan dared to use it in open combat. Zhou Yan, you’re still too inexperienced…

Swish!

His thought was left unfinished as his vision blurred.

With terrifying speed, Zhou Yan’s feet tapped the ground in quick succession, his figure flickering across several meters to appear directly before him.

What!?

Yan Yong’s eyes widened in shock; instinctively, he slashed downward with all his might.

But Zhou Yan’s gaze was cold, and before Yan Yong’s attack was fully executed, Zhou Yan had already side-stepped and twisted away.

He moved as if he could foresee Yan Yong’s timing and the path of his sword.

To the onlookers, it seemed as if the two had rehearsed this: as Yan Yong’s sword fell, Zhou Yan slipped precisely to his right side.

Then, in an instant, came the blindingly swift reverse sword—Green Sickle!

A crisp sound.

The two passed by each other.

Zhou Yan straightened with an air of nonchalance, while behind him, Yan Yong stood frozen in place.

Luo Xuan calmly announced the result, “Decapitation. Zhou Yan wins.”

She paused, then asked, “Yan Yong, it's best of three. Do you wish to continue?”

Yan Yong was silent for several seconds, then shook his head. “I concede.”

That afternoon, Yan Yong and Luo Zhiming both withdrew from the academy.

*

That evening, Luo Xuan, Luo Ke, and Zhou Yan gathered in the training hall.

Luo Xuan regarded the properly standing Zhou Yan, her gaze flickering as she spoke, “Zhou Yan, your Green Sickle today against Yan Yong already demonstrated the beginnings of ‘perception.’ You’re ready to learn another secret sword technique.”

“Another secret sword technique…” Zhou Yan’s eyes brightened. He had already guessed from Luo Xuan’s words that the Nanming Secret Sword comprised more than just the ‘Swallow’s Tempest’ aerial technique. But since Luo Xuan hadn’t spoken of it, he hadn’t pressed the matter.

Now that she brought it up, excitement welled within him.

Seizing the opportunity, he asked a question he’d long been curious about, “Xuan, just how many moves are there in the Nanming Secret Sword?”

Luo Xuan hesitated briefly before deciding to answer, “There are four secret techniques. The academy usually teaches them based on a student’s progress. The ‘Swallow’s Tempest’ you learned is both a secret technique and not one—it was actually removed from the main forms of the Nanming Sword due to its difficulty and is simply an aerial sword maneuver…”

“The reason I had you learn that move first is because, aside from being a lethal technique, its aerial nature greatly improves your body’s coordination in regular practice.”

“In comparison…” Luo Xuan’s expression grew serious. “The other three secret techniques, which I haven’t taught you yet, are the true killing swords.”

She explained simply, “The three secret techniques are: Raven’s Fury, The Poisonous Zhen, and The Reborn.”

Then she glanced at Zhou Yan. “Today, I intend to teach you the Poisonous Zhen, the ‘deceptive sword’ of the Nanming Sword.”

“The Poisonous Zhen…” Zhou Yan repeated. “Zhen—the legendary poisonous bird?”

“That’s right, that very ‘Zhen’,” Luo Xuan replied calmly. “As I just said, the prerequisite for learning this secret technique is the swordsman’s gift for ‘seeing through’ the opponent’s attack.”

She paused. “Just as you saw through Yan Yong’s move today.”

With that, Luo Xuan led Zhou Yan to the center of the training hall.

Gripping a wooden sword, she pointed it toward Zhou Yan, “Attack me, in any way you wish.”

“Alright!” Zhou Yan knew that without summoning his fusion gear, his basic skills alone would never threaten her.

So, without hesitation, he darted forward in a sparrow-step, thrusting his right hand at Luo Xuan from a cunning angle.

Yet at the very moment his wooden sword stabbed forward, as if rehearsed, Luo Xuan’s figure vanished abruptly.

To the right!

Zhou Yan reacted instantly, swinging his sword in a horizontal sweep.

But his timing was off, and he missed the initiative. His right hand was instantly pinned.

A wooden sword lightly touched his throat.

He turned slightly and saw the blind spot to his right.

Luo Xuan was standing extremely close, her right hand in a reverse grip, the wooden sword pressed to his throat, while her left hand reached under her right arm to pin his sword arm steadily.

Her eyes were cold as she softly spoke, “See through the opponent’s attack, then burst back with a sparrow-step to their blind spot, delivering a deadly strike from where they least expect—that is the secret sword, Poisonous Zhen.”

“A brilliant move,” Zhou Yan couldn’t help but praise.

Luo Xuan withdrew her sword lightly and explained, “Many masters of the Nanming Sword Academy will choose this killing technique as the first to teach students. It’s actually easier to master and more practical than Swallow’s Tempest, and in combat, its sudden execution often secures a swift victory.”

“But my father warned me when he taught me this move: if someone relies too heavily on it without truly acquiring the awareness to ‘see through’ their opponent, at best they’re just a gambler. Against a true expert, gamblers only meet a swifter end. That’s why I’ve waited until now to teach you.”

Her expression was earnest.

Zhou Yan nodded in understanding.

Seeing that he took her words seriously, a smile played at Luo Xuan’s lips as she began instructing him in the technique.

Without hesitation, Zhou Yan entered his state of spiritual ignition.

…

In less than half an hour,

[Nanming Secret Sword: Poisonous Zhen (Initiate Level)]

As Zhou Yan executed flawless blind-spot strikes from both left and right, the system, as well as Luo Xuan, confirmed he had mastered the basics of this secret sword.

In truth, Zhou Yan found the principle rather straightforward. It was simply a special combination technique—merging “overloaded sparrow steps” with “Three Hawk Strikes” and other unconventional attacks from rare angles.

As long as one’s body was up to the task, with sufficient practice, even without immediately seeing through an opponent’s moves, it could still be used effectively.

What’s more, with his spiritual ignition state, learning was effortless.

Luo Xuan, seeing Zhou Yan still full of energy, was satisfied. “Well done. The reason I taught you this move on short notice is not just because you’re ready, but also because with the exchange meeting the day after tomorrow, you’ll need something reliable at your side.”

Zhou Yan nodded with a smile. “In that case, why not teach me the remaining two moves as well, Xuan?”

But Luo Xuan shook her head. “Bite off more than you can chew, and you won’t master any of it. Focus on perfecting this move and refining your body. The other two require far greater physical strength and control—learning them now would only burden you.”

In truth, Zhou Yan didn’t feel burdened at all. His physique was improving rapidly, and spiritual ignition further aided his training.

This was a time of swift growth for his skills.

But he didn’t argue further.

In a few days, once Luo Xuan was convinced of his readiness, she would teach him the remaining techniques as well.

All he needed to do was keep getting stronger.

***