After being reborn, all I want to do is run away.

Chapter 112 Four Sword Selections

After Wang Ya went to find Yang Qiqi, Lu Qingshan said to Shen Xu beside him, "I heard that Junior Brother Shen chose the Overlapping Waves Sword Technique in the library."

"It is indeed the Overlapping Waves Sword Technique! But without Senior Brother Lu, I would probably have had to turn back."

"Given Junior Brother Shen's personality, I think you would have barged in on your own even without my help."

"It's quite a coincidence," Lu Qingshan said with some regret. "When I first entered the library, my goal was the Overlapping Waves Sword Technique, but unfortunately I couldn't find it that day. In the end, I had to choose the Azure Origin Sword Technique as a substitute."

Shen Xu said with surprise in his eyes, "That's such a coincidence! My target was the Azure Origin Sword Technique, but I only found the Overlapping Wave Sword Technique!"

"Hahaha... this really is the capriciousness of fate!" Lu Qingshan couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Indeed! Things don't always go the way people expect," Shen Xu sighed.

Lu Qingshan said slowly with a smile, "I didn't expect to find a companion before I left."

"Huh? What do you mean, senior brother?" Shen Xu was immediately confused.

"Junior brother, do you know which state or region of the True Origin Continent the Green Bamboo Mountains belong to, and which superior sect governs them?"

"It should be Xingchuan Domain, one of the Nine Domains of Ningzhou, which is under the jurisdiction of the fifth-grade sect, Tianhe Sword Sect."

"I didn't expect you to know so much about the world outside the Green Bamboo Mountains. May I ask which superior sect the Heavenly River Sword Sect is under?

“It should be the Four Directions Sword Alliance, a fourth-grade sect.” Shen Xu’s voice hesitated slightly, because he knew that Li Xiaoyi was currently in the Four Directions Sword Alliance and was a disciple of the Four Directions Sword Saint.

"If I gave you a chance to join the Four Directions Sword Alliance, would you be willing to go?" Lu Qingshan asked with a smile, knowing that Shen Xu would definitely not refuse.

"Uh..." Shen Xu now understood what the sect leader meant by the opportunity.

He really didn't want to go, not only because Li Xiaoyi was in the Four Directions Sword Alliance, but also because in his previous life the Four Directions Sword Alliance was a sect that the Blood Fiend Palace focused on supporting.

If he goes there, wouldn't he be jumping from one fire pit into an even bigger one?

His original plan was to first go to Qiyao City, the capital of Xingchuan Domain, and then use the inter-domain array there to travel to other domains.

Because the blood tide swept across almost the entire Xingchuan Domain, even the only third-grade sect in Xingchuan Domain, the Seven Luminaries Sect, was forced to flee the domain.

However, he thought again that there were still several years before the blood tide fully erupted, and he could develop at the Four Directions Sword Alliance for a while before escaping Xingchuan Domain.

After all, without sufficient strength, he himself might not have been able to escape Xingchuan Domain, let alone with Uncle Wang and the others with him.

Moreover, the cost of taking the inter-domain array is astronomical. In larger places, there are more opportunities, and he has more chances to earn enough for the travel expenses.

"Junior brother, what's wrong?" Lu Qingshan asked, looking at Shen Xu who was deep in thought.

"It's nothing, I'm just too shocked to hear this news. Could this be the opportunity the sect leader was talking about?" Shen Xu asked, feigning shock.

Lu Qingshan couldn't help but laugh when he heard this: "Haha, when I heard this news, I didn't have such a big reaction as you, Junior Brother Shen."

Actually, you earned this opportunity yourself, junior brother.

"How do you say this?"

"Because the Four Directions Sword Alliance is not a true fourth-grade power, but a power alliance led by an unparalleled expert, uniting several fifth-grade sects and the vast majority of sects in the western part of Xingchuan Domain."

Therefore, apart from internal recommendations, he never recruits disciples from outside. Instead, he selects disciples from various forces within the alliance, with the selection process taking place every ten years. This selection process is also known by various sects as the "Four Directions Sword Selection".

In order to select outstanding disciples from various sects and to set thresholds for the Four Directions Sword Selection, they distributed various martial arts techniques with extremely high difficulty to the various forces within the alliance. Disciples from various sects who mastered those martial arts techniques were qualified to participate in the Four Directions Sword Selection.

The two martial arts techniques that the Four Directions Sword Alliance bestowed upon the Green Bamboo Sword Sect were the Azure Origin Sword Technique and the Overlapping Waves Sword Technique!

After listening to Lu Qingshan's story, Shen Xu immediately understood some things. First, he understood why he hadn't seen Lu Qingshan at the Qingzhu Sword Sect back then; Lu Qingshan must have gone to the Four Directions Sword Alliance.

Secondly, the reason why a sword technique of the human level is placed on the first floor of the library is that it is for selecting geniuses.

He never expected that his choice in his previous life would be the right one, but he just didn't have the talent to master the Azure Origin Sword Technique.

"That's not right! The Overlapping Waves Sword Technique isn't that difficult to learn, is it?" Shen Xu immediately raised a question.

Lu Qingshan replied, "The Overlapping Wave Sword Technique is the most unique among that batch of martial arts. It is not based on the level of mastery, but on the degree of mastery. For example, mastering the five waves of the Overlapping Wave Sword Technique is enough to meet the standard."

"Then why does the sect leader require me to master the Sixfold Waves before he'll give me this opportunity?"

"Haha, the sect leader is just trying to motivate you. If you really master the Sixfold Waves, you can be listed as a Sword Selection Seed. No matter what results you achieve in the Four Directions Sword Selection, you will be included in the Four Directions Sword Alliance."

"But now, Junior Brother, you can be considered a disciple of the Four Directions Sword Alliance, because possessing sword intent also makes you a potential candidate for sword selection!" Lu Qingshan exclaimed with great envy.

"The Four Directions Sword Selection? The Sword Selection Seeds?" Shen Xu had heard about this in his previous life, but he didn't know much about it. He guessed that Lu Qingshan was still in the outer sect when he left.

"Did the sect leader ask you to tell me these things, Senior Brother Lu?" Shen Xu couldn't help but ask.

"How could I dare tell you these secrets without the sect leader's permission? Just think how many disciples would waste a lot of time and energy studying these two sword techniques if this news got out."

"If he has the talent to master these two sword techniques, that would be great. But what will happen if he doesn't? Therefore, this news about Junior Brother Shen must not be leaked, or the consequences could be severe," Lu Qingshan said very seriously.

Upon hearing Lu Qingshan's warning, Shen Xu couldn't help but think of his previous life's struggle to master the Qingyuan Sword Technique. He then solemnly said, "Senior Brother Lu, please rest assured, I understand the seriousness of the matter."

"Now that I know all this, I wonder if Junior Brother Shen would be willing to come with me to witness the Four Directions Sword Selection? It would also be a good opportunity to see just how strong the geniuses from those major powers really are!" As Lu Qingshan said this, his eyes couldn't help but gleam with fervor.

Shen Xu replied with a smile, "Since Senior Brother Lu has extended such a sincere invitation, how could I refuse? Besides, if I don't go, my reward for being the number one disciple in the outer sect will be wasted."

"Haha, I'm relieved to hear you say that, Junior Brother. May I ask what your cultivation level is now?"

"I recently broke through to the ninth level of Qi Cultivation."

"Although I know that Junior Brother Shen's cultivation has improved very quickly, the Four Directions Sword Selection consists of genius disciples from various sects, and there may even be many people at the tenth level of Qi Cultivation. Junior Brother Shen should take advantage of these few months to improve his cultivation."

"After all, even if you become a Sword Selection Seed, you still have to participate in the Sword Selection. The higher your final ranking, the greater the reward. You might even be accepted as a disciple by an elder of the Sword Alliance. On the other hand, Sword Selection Seeds who are eliminated at the beginning probably won't be taken seriously," Lu Qingshan instructed.

"Senior Brother Lu, please rest assured, I know what to do. When will the Four Directions Sword Selection begin?"

"We're setting off this July, but we'll be leaving in May."

In these five months, he not only had to help Yang Qiqi practice swordsmanship, but also had to master the Sixfold Wave technique and try his best to improve his cultivation. Thinking about it this way, time seemed very tight, and it seemed there was no need to go back to Yunlong City.

At this moment, Wang Ya walked over with Yang Qiqi and asked, "What are you two talking about? You seem to be having a great time."

“Some insights into swordsmanship,” Lu Qingshan replied.

"You can laugh like this while talking about this kind of thing? I don't believe it." Wang Ya had a look on her face that said, "Don't lie to me."

"That's right. The first time I entered the library, I had no choice but to choose the Overlapping Waves Sword Technique because I didn't have the Azure Origin Sword Technique, while Senior Brother Lu chose the Azure Origin Sword Technique because he didn't have the Overlapping Waves Sword Technique either."

"So you've both mastered the sword techniques the other desires?" Wang Ya said, covering her red lips in disbelief.

"That should be it!" Lu Qingshan replied somewhat helplessly.

"Hahaha..." Wang Ya burst into laughter.

"Does Senior Brother Shen like the Azure Origin Sword Technique?" Yang Qiqi wondered silently.