Man and a Sword (2)

The scene shifted again. Flames engulfed everything, consuming the remnants of a once-thriving city. Corpses littered the ground, their lifeless forms sprawled amidst the charred ruins of houses. The air was thick with the stench of death and smoke, and the crackling of fire was the only sound that remained.

In the center of the destruction, Lin Canjian lay on the ground, his robes tattered and stained with blood. Wounds covered his body, and his breathing was labored. The proud figure he once was seemed a distant memory. Standing above him was Zhao Feng, his twisted smile illuminated by the flickering flames. His saber hung loosely at his side, dark energy swirling around it, the wails of trapped souls faintly audible.

Zhao Feng's voice dripped with malice. "Could you have anticipated this day? The day that you, the great Sword King Canfeng, would be sprawled across the ground before me?" His laugh echoed, filled with derision and triumph.

Lin Canjian raised his head slightly, his gaze steady despite the pain. His voice was hoarse but carried a sharp edge. "No matter how many innocent lives you take or how many evil techniques you cultivate, no matter what realm you reach… you will always be a weakling."

Zhao Feng's smile faltered, his expression darkening into a frown. "You still dare to act this way in your current state? Do you truly not realize the predicament you're in?" He gripped his saber tightly, the energy around it intensifying. "Looks like I'll have to teach you some humility."

He raised the saber, the cries of the souls trapped within it growing louder as the blade shone with sinister light. The air seemed to tremble under its power as Zhao Feng swung it downward, aiming to end Lin Canjian's life once and for all.

But just as the strike was about to land, Lin Canjian's body glowed faintly. In an instant, his nascent soul burst forth from his broken form, radiating an ethereal light. Zhao Feng's saber struck only air as the nascent soul shot skyward, escaping the destruction.

Zhao Feng screamed in rage, his eyes following the glowing soul as it sped toward the horizon. "LIN CANJIAN!" he roared, his voice echoing across the burning ruins.

The scene changed again. Lin Canjian's nascent soul drifted into the Southern Region, weak and flickering. With the last of his strength, he descended into the heart of a mountain, the oppressive energy of the Southern Region masking his presence. Slowly, he carved out a hidden chamber, etching formations into the stone walls and embedding remnants of his sword intent into the very foundation of the cave.

The cracked sword hilt appeared on a pedestal at the center of the chamber, its faint glow a testament to the legacy he had left behind. As the last rune was etched into place, Lin Canjian's nascent soul dimmed further, entering a deep slumber.

The vision faded, and Xu Yan was back in the chamber. The cracked sword hilt rested before him, its presence now carrying far more weight. Xu Yan exhaled slowly, his thoughts heavy. 

A faint glow began to form. Slowly, the shape of a soul-like figure emerged, and Xu Yan immediately recognized the man he had seen in the visions—Lin Canjian. His expression carried a mix of weariness and calm, and his voice resonated with quiet authority.

"You've seen my life now," Lin Canjian said, his gaze steady. "And you should understand what I'm asking of you."

Xu Yan crossed his arms. "And you should have seen mine," he replied. "My ideals might not align with yours. Not to mention, I walk the demonic path now, much like Zhao Feng."

Lin Canjian's lips curled into a faint smile, and he shook his head. "I've lived long enough to know the world isn't divided into black and white. Even if I wouldn't make the same choices in your position, I trust in your character. Ambition tempered by a bottom line is rare, even in righteous cultivators. You're no Zhao Feng."

Xu Yan raised an eyebrow. "What exactly do you want from me?"

Lin Canjian's expression grew solemn. "In exchange for helping you, I ask a simple favor."

Xu Yan chuckled bitterly. "A favor? Senior, I'm just a Qi Refining cultivator. What could I possibly do for someone of your caliber?"

Lin Canjian let out a small laugh, shaking his head. "An ordinary Qi Refining cultivator wouldn't have passed my trials. I'm simply asking you to consider it, should you ever have the strength. Think of it as a gamble on my part."

Xu Yan hesitated for a moment, then gave a small nod.

Lin Canjian's spirit softened, and he continued. "If you ever have the power, I want you to visit the Central Region and find the Meng Family. Look for a woman named Meng Zhiqing. Tell her… tell her that I, Lin Canjian, am sorry for breaking my promise to her and to our child. And if you can, give this to the child."

A necklace appeared in midair and floated into Xu Yan's hand. He examined it briefly, noting its intricate design.

Xu Yan asks, "What about the girl who came with me? Mei Qing."

Lin Canjian's eyes glimmered with approval. "Her temperament is to my liking. Though she lacks your resolve, her potential cannot be denied. The Azure Sky Sect being a vassal of the Celestial Radiance Sect only solidifies my choice. I will entrust her with my sword and train her to be my successor. This is my way of repaying the Celestial Radiance Sect for sheltering me."

Turning back to Xu Yan, Lin Canjian's tone grew serious. "As for you, I cannot shape your path. You are carving your own. But I will leave you with the culmination of my life's comprehension of the sword—the Boundless Sword Technique. It is incomplete, but what I can pass on is enough for you to achieve mastery if you persevere. Are you willing to learn?"

Xu Yan nodded firmly. "I am."

Lin Canjian smiled faintly. "Good. Watch closely." He lifted his hand, and the energy in the room began to shift.

"This is the first part of the Boundless Sword Technique," Lin Canjian said. "Mastering these three moves will give you lesser mastery. Pay attention."

He demonstrated the first move, thrusting forward with precision. "Thrust. This motion teaches control and accuracy. The sword must always follow your heart, never falter."

He paused before sweeping his sword in a wide arc. "Sweep. This motion builds fluidity and adaptability, teaching you to manage multiple angles of attack or defense with minimal effort."

Finally, Lin Canjian raised the sword high. "The last move," he said, his voice firm. "Cut. This teaches power—not just in the sword but in your intent. You must believe you can cut down anything in your path." He swung the blade, slicing cleanly through a nearby pillar.

Xu Yan's eyes widened slightly as the pillar crumbled. Lin Canjian turned to him. "These moves may seem simple, but without mastering the basics, there is no foundation for greatness."

Xu Yan nodded slowly, his expression contemplative.

Lin Canjian continued. "Middle mastery is when you hone every aspect of the sword to its extreme. Extreme strength. Extreme speed. Extreme control." He demonstrated, his movements blindingly fast and filled with force. Xu Yan watched in awe, absorbing every motion.

Finally, Lin Canjian hesitated. "The last stage of this technique is incomplete. Attaining this would be considered greater mastery. I believe it would be called Unity. The sword becomes an extension of you, and you, an extension of the sword. No division. No hesitation. This is the path of the true sword."

Xu Yan felt his understanding expand, as if the world had shifted slightly.

Lin Canjian chuckled softly. "Don't worry. I've used my remaining power to engrain the fundamentals of the technique in your mind. You'll have to work on it yourself from here."

His figure began to fade. "I trust you with all that I've said. And please, look after my last disciple, Mei Qing."

Xu Yan bowed deeply. "Thank you, Senior. I won't forget your teachings or my promise."

Lin Canjian nodded one last time, his spirit dissipating into fragments of light. Some of that light flowed into the necklace, embedding a faint glow within it.

As the chamber dimmed, Xu Yan felt a sudden force pulling him away, and in the next instant, he was no longer in the room.