Sword Dynasty
Episode 4
Do you think this will work?
This round is different.
I knew that this young man is unusual.
But never did I know that he is so unusual.
Has he been a practitioner?
I've spent several hours with him.
If his physical abnormality is undetectable
to a person even like me,
he must be
a grandmaster like Zhao Si
and Bai Shanshui.
However,
it is true that something is wrong with his body.
What's wrong?
His body is of yang hyperactivity and premature aging.
Qi of the five internal organs is hyperactive.
Then,
appoint Jiang Li
and Sun Xing
to practice with him utilizing the spirit vein.
Will it
bother you
if all this work
goes to waste?
With such talents,
it may be possible to cure his yang hyperactivity and premature aging,
as time
moves forward.
This must be much better than
the Queen getting the spirit vein.
That's right.
Poor kid.
He is lucky to encounter us
at this time.
Let's try our best
to help him.
Anyway,
we won't let that woman take advantage of this.
Brothers and sisters,
may you show me
to the masters now?
Ding Ning,
this way, please.
Why are you all standing here?
Martial Uncle.
Jiang Li,
did you forget what Mr. Xue told you to do?
Sorry, I almost forgot.
It was my fault indeed.
I received the order to take you today
to the scripture cave of Baiyang Cave to study.
The decree of His Majesty the King has been delivered.
Baiyang Cave is now affiliated to Qingteng Sword School.
As a result, from now on,
all the disciples of Qingteng Sword School
are now authorized
to study in the scripture cave of Baiyang Cave.
Mr. Xue made it clear that
Ding Ning is allowed
to enter the scripture cave
and study scriptures as you do,
without limitations.
How come?
The scripture cave
is home to all the mental methodology and pithy formula of Baiyang Cave.
Without six months' study,
even a disciple would not get a chance
to enter the cave
and study the scriptures.
However...
Well, special solutions for special cases.
Yes, Martial Uncle.
Ding Ning,
this way please.
After you.
This way.
Eating is prohibited in the scripture cave.
At meal times,
meal boxes will be served outside the Cave.
According to master,
each batch of disciples entering Qingteng Sword School
is allowed to study there for one day.
However, for you,
there is no time limit.
Jiang Li, I…
Also,
to enter places lying ahead
which are connected
by the rope bridges,
special approval
is required.
Jiang Li.
Yes, I am listening.
Since it is a special case with a special solution,
I would like to go back
to Wutongluo from time to time.
You see, my aunt
lives alone there.
I'm afraid she is all alone.
I could offer some help
when I'm back there.
Well, it wouldn't be allowed for anyone else.
But for you,
I may need to ask master
or Martial Uncle for instructions.
This way, please.
Martial Uncle.
You are allowed to choose and study
any scriptures collected in the scripture cave.
As for
your future practice
and personal residence,
Mr. Xue will make proper adjustment
and arrangement
based on your recent performance.
Yes.
Now go ahead.
Well then,
Martial Uncle,
am I allowed to go back to Wutongluo
every day after my practice?
Only for you,
Mr. Xue said that special solutions for special cases.
That being said,
it depends on your practice
and qualification.
Martial Uncle,
do you mean that
I will be allowed to go back to Wutongluo
as long as I make progress quickly enough?
Thank you, Martial Uncle!
Ding Ning.
Yes?
Didn't I tell you that
I need to ask master for instructions?
But all right,
you've mentioned it to Martial Uncle yourself.
Also, Ding Ning.
The scripture cave holds
a great many of ultimate formulas.
Many of these formulas
could be really powerful
and each has its own characteristics.
After all,
the bottom line is that such formulas suit you well.
Therefore, Ding Ning,
you must be really prudent.
Thank you for your advice.
You are welcome.
This way, please.
Ding Ning,
who on earth are you?
How come that you could challenge the rules of Baiyang Cave
over and over again?
At the beginning
of the flowstone plate test,
you picked a wrong one among the five pellets.
Did you do that on purpose?
I just didn't want to waste too much time.
Then you knew from the very beginning that
you would certainly pass the admission test?
And after that,
Mr. Xue, the head of the Cave, gave you so many special approvals.
He allowed you to enter the scripture cave and pick whatever scriptures you like
without giving any suggestions.
Are you Mr. Xue's illegitimate child?
Miss Nangong,
what a wild imagination
you have.
People like you
would be excellent agents at the Jiantian Bureau.
Then it is true that your talents brought you here?
However, with your talents,
you could definitely be admitted to a more prestigious sect.
She may not be the only one
who has such a doubt.
I must remove all the doubts.
Being a practitioner
is not everyone's dream.
At first, I wasn't aware that
I have the potential to become a practitioner
due to my physical problems.
Until one day,
I was informed by Wang Taixu that
by getting admitted to the Minshan Sword Sect,
I will be able to learn the martial arts
to cure my body.
What's wrong with your body?
Qi of the five internal organs in my body is hyperactive and I suffer from premature aging.
Without favorable turns in my life,
I will die soon
once I become a practitioner.
Die?
How soon?
Maybe,
perhaps,
before the age of 30.
You are so young.
Then Mr. Xue will…
As I told you,
I am not Mr Xue's illegitimate child.
He offered special approvals to me,
maybe because
he never thought
my practice will work.
There is another possibility.
He might be curious about my choice.
You see, being a practitioner is one's own choice.
Maybe
I will find
the proper martial arts
that could prolong my life for a few years.
Some practitioners
pursue higher positions
while some others
pursue a chance of survival.
What kind of martial arts
will be Ding Ning's final choice?
Why is this Evil-desire Dispelling Natal Vitality Scripture
under the cover
of common martial arts
lying in the scripture cave
of Baiyang Cave?
This kind of martial arts is extremely powerful.
One can learn this really fast.
Also, it is certain that
this scripture
contains the most powerful martial arts in the entire scripture cave.
The Scripture of Wildfire Sword?
This is your final choice
after choosing for so long?
Are you serious
about your final choice?
Yes, I am.
How much on earth do you know about practice?
Is there any problem?
You've no idea about
these two scriptures.
Did you know that
this scripture is about nothing
but some shallow martial arts？
There is nothing special about it.
Besides, this kind of martial arts
is originated in the land of Lie.
As a native of Heng practicing this kind of martial arts
will not bring you any benefit
and may irritate many big figures.
As for the Scripture of Wildfire Sword,
it contains a set of sword formulas, not very powerful
but extremely complicated and difficult to acquire.
It's not only difficult to learn the movements,
but also tricky when it comes to
the coordination of qi or essential elements of vitality.
Qingteng Sword School also has this sword scripture.
However, none of my senior fellow disciples
ever chose
to practice it.
Do you mean that
the martial arts
and the sword scripture
I chose
will not deliver good results?
This is not just bad.
Couldn't be worse!
Since you are different from us
and that you can study here as long as you want,
why don't you spend more time
reading the contents of each scripture?
You should understand that
not all the disciples of Baiyang Cave
have the opportunity to enter the scripture cave
and choose the scriptures.
You have a higher starting point.
Why don't you cherish it?
But
what does that have
to do with you?
Well indeed, it has nothing to do with me.
I followed you
to see which scripture you chose
just because I was curious.
I was mad this afternoon
simply because
I got really disappointed
when the wonderful show I was expecting turned out
to be a ridiculous performance.
I knew perfectly well
how to practice.
I also knew that you were being nice to me.
However, different scriptures have different effects
on different people.
I'm pretty sure that
these two scriptures
suit me well.
Are you sure?
Absolutely.
You'd better hurry up
and find what you're looking for.
Don't waste your time
on me.
The young man has chosen the martial arts
and sword scripture to practice.
What did he choose?
The Genuine Explanation of the Spiritual Source Doctrine and the Scripture of Wildfire Sword.
How incongruous these two are!
Indeed.
So awesome!
He figured out the truth of mystery!
This is reading minds and introspecting,
sensing qi of the five internal organs,
and opening Qihai.
Wangxu!
Ding Ning has opened Qihai!
He has entered the lower grade of the first realm--the Truth of Mystery Realm.
Getting to know the truth of mystery in half a day?
What a freak!
Excuse me.
Ding Ning,
it is true that you've already opened Qihai?
It is hardly possible.
Getting to know the truth of mystery in half a day.
According to legend,
ever since the first year of the Yuan Wu era till now,
such thing only happened to two freaks:
An Baoshi from the Lingxu Sword Sect
and Jing Liuli from the Minshan Sword Sect.
Even for Fang Xiumu, renowned for his obsession with the art of sword,
it took him dozens of days to know the truth of mystery.
The quickest learner among us
took seven whole months.
From choosing the scriptures,
to getting to understand them
and then to opening Qihai,
Ding Ning, you did all these within half a day!
Half a day has already passed?
How come he could be so fast?
I must go back to Wutongluo.
Ding Ning.
If it is true that you have figured out the truth of mystery
and opened Qihai,
do you have any idea
how long it takes for an ordinary practitioner
to achieve all of this?
My life is shorter than others,
and that's why I must improve the efficiency.
So you chose
the Genuine Explanation of the Spiritual Source Doctrine
because such a kind of martial arts
proves to be the simplest for you
to understand,
and enables you to make
fast progress in your practice.
Like those two from the Minshan Sword Sect
and the Lingxu Sword Sect,
you are a freak indeed.
Excuse me,
I'm kind of hungry.
I want to leave and get something to eat.
I shouldn't have doubted your competence
from the very beginning.
My apology.
Did you have any trouble with your practice?
You would help me?
Everyone has his own way of practice.
What I can offer
is my personal opinions.
I'm not sure if my thoughts
would work for you.
I have trouble with sensing.
You mean sensing the primordial qi of the heaven and the earth?
You fail to sense the existence
of the primordial qi
or the difference between each of the currents of qi,
getting nothing but chaos?
I could feel the existence of the primordial qi,
as well as the difference
between each of the currents of qi.
However, in my perception,
it seems that every current of the primordial qi
is resisting me.
It feels that they are
unfriendly to me.
These two notebooks
contain some original thoughts.
Take your time to read them.
It may prove to be helpful.
Thanks.
You're welcome.
Martial Uncle.
Follow me.
I haven't finished eating yet.
Something is more important than eating.
What is it, Martial Uncle?
This is
the place for your future practice.
You don't have to follow the routine course
as other disciples.
Should you have any doubts
when you practice,
please feel free to consult me
or Jiang Li.
Martial Uncle.
Let's enter the place first.
This is the legendary spirit vein.
Exuded from the spirit vein,
the spirit qi could be inhaled by the practitioner
and thus, entering his body.
It is very beneficial
as it enhances the practitioner's progress enormously.
This is the spirit vein?
But it seems different
from the description in the legend.
It is so small.
Martial Uncle?
Baiyang Cave
became affiliated to Qingteng Sword School
because we irritated the Queen.
How come?
Because the Queen
would like to cultivate a spirit lotus
using our spirit vein, in order to produce an elixir
that helps in making breakthroughs to reach higher realms.
However,
Mr. Xue wouldn't do this.
Consuming a great deal of qi,
the spirit lotus will
eventually exhaust the spirit vein.
Therefore, after realizing
what the Queen intended to do,
master divided the spirit vein
into three branches.
This is a self-sabotaging behavior,
making it impossible for each branch
of the spirit vein
to sustain the growth of the spirit lotus.
You're absolutely right.
However, you must know that
disciples of Baiyang Cave
only do things that we believe
to be right and just.
Small as it is,
the spirit vein
will serve
our disciples.
Martial Uncle,
I want to go home.
I know that you're a quick learner.
But do you really think
that Wutongluo will prove to be more helpful
than sitting on the spirit vein?
I see.
But I could practice here in daytime
and go back home in the evening where I could get some real rest.
Martial Uncle?
Well, silence means approval.
Both owners of these two notebooks
hold a humble attitude toward
the primordial qi of the heaven and the earth.
The primordial qi of the heaven and the earth
becomes vast clouds and rains;
high from the ninth heaven,
it falls to the ground gently
and becomes rivers
which eventually pass hereby.
The shallow water in the pond
is not drawn from somewhere
but a gift from the heaven and the earth.
It turns out that I could absorb the primordial qi of the heaven and the earth.
How come that Ding Ning knew those two books
could help me advance to the True Vitality Realm.
Who on earth is he?
Since Baiyang Cave is already affiliated to Qingteng Sword School,
it is only natural that our disciples go to the scripture cave
of Baiyang Cave to study.
Shrewd as he is,
Xue Wangxu proposed that since the two sects have become one,
their disciples
should also be allowed
to participate in the Sword Sacrifice Trial.
Xue must be aiming
at the award of
the Sword Sacrifice Trial:
The Green Jade Amber.
Master,
will you approve his proposal？
Of course I will.
Should I refuse,
how can I get his spirit vein?
Spirit vein?
Bring my words to Xue,
telling me him that
his proposal has been approved
on one condition that
the three branches of the spirit vein
in Baiyang Cave should be shared by Qingteng and Baiyang.
The qualified shall get access to it.
By then,
it shall be the award for the winner
of the Sword Sacrifice Trial.
For today's Baiyang Cave,
only Jiang Li and Sun Xing
are competent players.
They are quite qualified
for the Sword Sacrifice Trial
in terms of
both age and practical experience.
Since you're worried that our disciples are no match for them,
why don't you
turn them into our people.
Understood.
Jiang Li,
you're qualified to study in Baiyang Cottage,
to this, I have no problems at all.
However, it's been only one day since Ding Ning joined us,
we know nothing about
his personality and moral quality.
That's right.
Is it too imprudent
to do so?
This is master's decision.
Since now,
you are among the three people chosen by master,
therefore, you're already
qualified to practice with the help of the spirit vein.
Why are you still bothering about the other people selected?
After all,
you could only use one branch of the spirit vein for your practice.
Am I right?
This is not about how many branches of the spirit vein we are using.
You must be aware that
using the spirit vein to practice
is the highest award in Baiyang Cave.
When such an approval is carelessly given to
a disciple who just got enrolled,
wouldn't it break all our hearts
if such a person has a devious mind
and becomes rebellious in future?
He is right.
There is no point in discussing the qualification
for using the spirit vein anymore.
Martial Uncle.
Mr. Di, Headmaster of Qingteng Sword School has issued the approval
that disciples of Baiyang Cave
are also allowed to participate in the Sword Sacrifice Trial.
The final winner
will get the Green Jade Amber.
However,
the three branches of the spirit vein of Baiyang Cave
will also
be awarded to the final winner.
Mr. Xue also said that
should you still feel
resentful
or
be unwilling to see any loss in Baiyang Cave,
claim it back
with the swords in your hand.
All right.
Let's stop quarreling.
Hurry up and go on with our practice.
Dry weather, watch out to prevent fire!
Aunt,
I'm back.
How come you're back?
Because I miss you.
Baiyang Cave is a prestigious sect,
didn't you get enough food there?
I came back just for you.
I haven't eaten anything on my way back here.
This is your first day in school,
how come they let you come back home?
I arranged everything well.
The head of Baiyang Cave promised me
that I could come back home at any time.
To visit you.
Martial Uncle,
is it
a joke?
Yesterday I was told that
I was allowed to use the spirit vein for my practice.
One night passed
and you told me that the spirit vein
would belong to the winner of the Sword Sacrifice Trial.
It changes too fast.
At least,
there is still time before the Sword Sacrifice Trial.
You still get to use the spirit vein.
If it changes too fast for you,
then yesterday you should have followed my words
and seized the time and practiced with the help of the spirit vein,
instead of wasting so much time
on travelling between school and home.
I haven't been idle on my way here.
I have been studying the Scripture of Wildfire Sword.
You learned the content
of the scripture
within such a short time?
Yes.
Well,
in this case,
show me what you have learned.
Sure.
It seems that
your way of practice is indeed commendable.
However,
from this day on,
if you ever want to step out of the gate,
I will send a carriage for you to use, which is much faster.
Thank you, Martial Uncle.
Finally, our Baiyang Cave
has got some hope.
Ding Ning,
you are very talented
and diligent.
I would like to give you a present:
the Mohua Broken Sword, the sword of a bosom friend
of That Man's.
This sword suits you well.
Hope you practice more
and become the pride of Baiyang Cave as soon as possible.
The same as practicing martial arts,
the most important thing about a sword is that it should suit you well.
Now that you're learning the Scripture of Wildfire Sword,
then
you may need this sword.
Of course,
you have every right not to use the sword
if you find it is not suitable for you.
Thank you, Martial Uncle.
It is Mr. Xue who gave you the sword.
Say thanks to him
if you really want to thank someone.
The sword is named Mohua.
Every stroke of it
seems to be its last stroke.
Every stroke
seems to be leading to its final end.
Every sparkle of the point of the sword
seems to be a flower that will vanish soon.
I do see myself when I use the sword.
I was fond of learning sword skills.
I had lived by a cold pond for a decade.
One day I beheaded a huge snake, whose blood stained the pond water.
The water looked blood-red until three months after.
After learning sword skills, I got my sword forged.
I was resolved and nothing can change my mind.
I fled and changed my name,
and have been living in the mountain ever since.
You are here.
Someone wants to know the secret that you hold.
Name your price.
OK.
I know the rules of the fish market.
However, this time
is an exception.
I need to know who the buyer is.
Zhao Si.
It has been a decade since the collapse of Lie.
With a couple of broken swords,
what difference could she make?
You care nothing about it anyway,
why don't you do her a favor?
After all, according to the legend,
the Gushan Sword Manual
contains mysterious power that can overthrow a kingdom.
Even the King of Heng is looking for it.
Once the news is released,
do you have any idea
how many kingdoms
will be overthrown?
I'm nobody but an intermediary.
I take no interest in
what happens in the martial art world.
Take your time to think it over.