9 Yin to 6 pulses, do you change it?

Seizing the momentum generated by his palm strike, Song Qingshu skillfully maneuvered in mid-air, evading the swirling sword auras unleashed by the five monks below. He cunningly exploited the brief lulls in their breath adjustments, capitalizing on the opportunity to employ the formidable "Flying Dragon in the Sky" technique from the eighteen palms of the dragon. Soaring high above, he brought his palms crashing down upon the startled monks, inflicting severe internal injuries upon contact.

A stroke of luck favored Song Qingshu as he realized these adversaries possessed limited internal strength. After each sword strike, they required precious seconds to recover and regulate their breath. Although their synchronized sword formation provided some cover, they were at a disadvantage due to their elevated position. Song Qingshu's palm strength exceeded theirs twofold, allowing him to exploit the gaps he had identified. While the five monks suffered grave injuries, Song Qingshu himself was not unscathed, his blood churning within him. He swiftly concealed his discomfort and focused on secretly adjusting his breath.

"Cease!" Zen Master Ku Rong finally turned around. His countenance bore a striking dichotomy, with one half as smooth as a baby's and the other marked by the ravages of time. "To wield the eighteen palms of the dragon, are you, perchance, Bei Qiaofeng?"

"Your Excellency, I have long admired the renowned Nanyuan King Xiao's prowess. How dare I compare myself to him," Song Qingshu replied sincerely. He spoke the truth, for even the same Kang Long had regrets. If executed by Xiao Feng, the three-fold wave of the Jianglong he created would have unleashed palm strength at an unstoppable speed, leaving only one path of evasion. The opportunity he had just exploited, employing the Flying Dragon in the Sky technique, could have shattered the hand bones of the five monks, rather than merely inflicting severe internal injuries.

"You are correct. Your mid-air leap of several feet bears the mark of Wudang's unique Ladder Yunzong technique. And the agile ground movements you displayed resemble the legendary snake-shaped turning raccoon technique from the Jiuyin Scripture," Ku Rong remarked solemnly, his palms pressed together. "Your Excellency possesses such a multitude of exceptional skills at such a young age. It is truly a rarity in this world."

Song Qingshu expressed his admiration, "Master, your breadth of knowledge is truly impressive. My intentions in coming here hold no malice. I merely wished to witness the renowned Dali Six Meridian Sword." Inwardly, he sneered, knowing that if they hadn't witnessed his martial prowess, he would likely have been captured and subjected to humiliation. In this world, appearances may deceive, but strength ultimately commands respect.

"Since Your Excellency has achieved your objective, I shall not hinder you any further. Please proceed as you wish," Zen Master Ku Rong's expression remained impassive as he assumed the role of a gracious host.

Zen Master Ku Rong had already discerned that Song Qingshu possessed knowledge of the upcoming congregation of the Nine Yin Scriptures. He must have been acquainted with the legends surrounding this ancient scripture. If offended, the esteemed status of the Nine Yin Scriptures in the martial arts world would likely surpass even the revered six-channel magic sword of their noble school. Sensing the weight of this proposition, Song Qingshu employed a persuasive tone, offering an enticing exchange—the coveted Nine Yin Scriptures for the six-channel magic sword. He assured them that his intention was merely to peruse its contents, not to abscond with it. After all, the Nine Yin Scriptures did not belong to him, so he held no personal attachment to it.

The monks exchanged glances, their eyes betraying the stirring of greed within. The Nine Yin Scriptures, alongside the Shaolin School's Yi Jin Jing, the Nine Sun Magic Techniques, and Heimuya's Sunflower Treasure, were collectively renowned as the four most formidable martial arts treasures of their time. In the past, the Central Plains Wujue had risked everything to secure the Nine Yin Scriptures, engaging in a three-day, three-night sword duel at Huashan...

Legend had it that Kumozhi had employed the three devastating finger techniques—twisting flower finger, multi-leaf finger, and non-corruption finger. The monks couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions. And now, Song Qingshu's proposition had even stirred ripples within the heart of Zen Master Ku Rong.

"The son is unaware that the Tubo King Dalun Ming, Kumazhi, recently harbored rebellious intentions. In order to prevent the Duan-style unique skill from falling into the hands of traitors, I, as the abbot, have burned the sword manual. I'm afraid the son will be disappointed," Ku Rong disclosed, his ten years of Zen practice allowing him to swiftly regain composure and withhold further information.

"I am already aware of this," Song Qingshu remained unfazed, a smile playing upon his lips. "However, haven't the venerable monks also learned the art of swordsmanship? I believe you could recreate the sword manual in silence..."

Witnessing the lingering hesitation among the monks, Song Qingshu decided to fan the flames and inquired, "How would you compare your internal strength to mine, masters?"

After a moment's contemplation, the abbot truthfully admitted, "Your internal strength far surpasses mine. Even compared to this old man, it is no small feat."

Ku Rong shook his head, "Since there is no need for pretense, this young man's internal strength slightly exceeds mine."

"Isn't it peculiar, masters?" Song Qingshu's smile widened. "Considering my young age, my practice of internal strength would undoubtedly pale in comparison to everyone present. How is it then that my internal strength surpasses all the esteemed masters?"

"Could it be the influence of the Nine Yin Scriptures?" The monks couldn't help but voice their curiosity and concern.

"Yes, the Jiuyin Scripture contains an Yijin-forging Mind Method, which allows the learner to cultivate internal skills at an accelerated pace, explaining the young man's remarkable internal strength," Song Qingshu deliberately paused, keenly observing the expressions of those present before continuing, "I noticed that each master here has been practicing swordsmanship in a specific vein. I speculated that it might be due to insufficient internal strength to cultivate all six channels. Am I correct in my assumption?"

"Yes, the internal force required to wield the Six-Medition Divine Sword surpasses human capabilities, so we have chosen to focus on cultivating a single vein," Ku Rong responded with a neutral tone.

"Clearly, the true essence of the Six Meridian Sword can only be fully unleashed. Although the masters' sword formations are exquisite, they inevitably contain subtle flaws and gaps during rotation... If you were to acquire the Nine Yin Scriptures, enabling you to swiftly cultivate supreme internal strength, you would undoubtedly master the Six Vein Divine Sword with proficiency... All I request is a glimpse of the sword manual, and I promise to return it within the time it takes for a single stick of incense," Song Qingshu earnestly proposed, his words resonating among the monks.

"Master Uncle, since this young man shows such sincerity, why not allow him the duration of a stick of incense to peruse the manual?" Bencai turned to Zen Master Ku Rong, seeking his guidance. The other four monks present shared the same sentiment. While there were countless capable individuals and wanderers in the world, committing the obscure Six-Medition Excalibur to memory within the span of a single stick of incense seemed beyond human reach.

Ku Rong fell silent for a prolonged moment before finally lifting his gaze to meet Song Qingshu's eyes. "Son, you have attained mastery in martial arts and have few peers your age. Why, then, do you seek the Dali-style six-channel divine sword?" Although he doubted Song Qingshu's ability to memorize the Six-Medition Excalibur in such a short time, he knew that there were no free lunches in this world. The other party possessed the extraordinary Nine Yin Scriptures, and it was implausible that he would merely take a passing glance. There must be a covert method to learn the Six Meridian Sword.

Song Qingshu offered a wry smile and sighed, "Not to mention those esteemed martial arts seniors, but even among my own generation, how does the master think my martial arts fare against the renowned King Xiaofeng of the Khitan South Academy?"

Zen Master Ku Rong hesitated briefly, shaking his head slightly. "King Xiaofeng swept through the martial arts world of the Central Plains, igniting a storm of unparalleled skill. With his Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms, he dominated the realm, leaving an indelible mark. Although your martial arts are impressive, when compared to the nearly invincible King Xiaofeng, I fear you still have some ground to cover."

"What about Zhang Wuji?" As Song Qingshu uttered the name, thoughts of Zhou Zhiruo and his affection for her flooded his mind, causing him great distress.