The elegance of sword control
The earth-shattering shock brought by the complex array had not yet subsided; the air was still filled with the invigorating, rich energy mist and the faint fragrance of newly sprouted spiritual plants. The crowd in the square was still immersed in the afterglow of the array's power, and their gazes toward Ling Yao were filled with almost devout worship.
When Ling Yao's clear, cold voice rang out again, uttering the last demonstration item—"sword"—everyone's heartstrings tightened once more, yet the anticipation was completely different from the previous three times.
sword?
This term is not unfamiliar in this world. A knight's two-handed greatsword, a mercenary's sharp scimitar, an assassin's poisoned dagger... they are weapons of slaughter, symbols of power, extensions of iron and blood. Almost everyone subconsciously believes that what Ling Yao is about to display must be some kind of earth-shattering, terrifying sword technique that can cleave through the void.
Considering her identity as a visitor from the East, perhaps she possesses the legendary, lightning-fast, sword-wielding martial arts? Or perhaps she can even fly on a sword and roam the skies?
An atmosphere of excitement and tension filled the square. Judge Silas and his entourage, in particular, gripped their weapons almost reflexively, their muscles tense, as if facing a formidable enemy—they subconsciously assumed that this "sword" would be the ultimate display of aggression!
However, Ling Yao's next move shattered everyone's expectations once again.
She didn't draw any gleaming weapons, nor did she adopt any imposing stance. She simply raised her right hand slightly, her index and middle fingers together, forming a sword-finger shape.
Then, amidst the puzzled gazes of the crowd, she slowly "spit out" a three-inch-long, crystal-clear sword from her clasped fingertips, as if it were formed from the purest crystal or ice.
The small sword was as thin as a cicada's wing, almost transparent. Inside, however, there seemed to be countless tiny runes, extremely fine and complex, flowing endlessly, radiating a chilling sharpness, yet strangely restrained and not dazzling.
"Uh... what is that?"
"Toys? Models?"
"It looks so small... what can it do?"
Before the doubts could fully arise, Ling Yao flicked her wrist slightly.
The crystalline little sword seemed to come alive, silently detaching from her fingertips, hovering in the air, trembling slightly, and emitting a clear, almost inaudible sword cry.
Sword control!
Although it was just a small sword, the ability to manipulate objects out of thin air and control them as if they were extensions of one's own arm had already transcended the realm of ordinary magic, carrying an indescribable and profound Daoist charm.
Just as everyone was speculating whether the mini flying sword was going to pierce wooden boards or peel apples, Ling Yao's gaze swept to a corner of the demonstration table—there were several scraps left over from the previous demonstrations of pills and talismans, including a piece of hard obsidian, a piece of tough monster leather, and a small piece of dry twig.
"The way of the sword is not limited to killing."
As soon as Ling Yao finished speaking, the floating, crystalline sword moved!
It transformed into a streak of light that was almost impossible to see with the naked eye, first shooting towards the incredibly hard obsidian that was often used to test the sharpness of weapons!
Everyone held their breath, expecting to witness a breathtaking, earth-shattering piercing scene.
However, the expected explosion did not occur. The stream of light, like the most skillful embroidery needle, darted and swirled rapidly around the obsidian, so fast that only a hazy blur of light and shadow remained! Stone dust fell in a flurry, but instead of shattering, it was sliced off with unimaginable precision!
In just a few breaths, the light stopped, and the small sword floated in the air once more.
The obsidian had been completely transformed—it had been sculpted into a lifelike image of an oriental fairy with flowing robes! The fairy had a gentle face and an elegant posture, with even the fine lines of her hair and sash clearly visible, as if she were about to ride the wind and depart at any moment!
"..."
The entire room fell silent.
Everyone gaped, their eyes wide, as if they had witnessed the most incredible thing in the world!
Carving with a sword...? To carve such exquisite works of art from the hardest obsidian in such a short time? What terrifying speed, strength, and control that would require?! It's a million times harder than splitting a boulder in two with a single sword stroke!
"By the goddess above... this..." A famous sculptor clutched his heart, nearly fainting with excitement, "This is a miracle! A skill that only a god could possess!"
Before people could recover from the shock of the stone carving, the stream of light moved again!
This time, it shot towards the tough piece of monster hide. The hide unfolded in mid-air by an invisible force, and the small sword moved lightly across its surface like a butterfly flitting among flowers. Each stroke left a mark of varying depth, imbued with strange energy.
In an instant, a miniature yet complete protective array was "drawn" onto the leather! The array's lines were fluid, and its energy flowed freely, clearly indicating a finished piece of magical leather! Moreover, judging from the complexity of the array and the energy fluctuations, its quality far surpassed that of ordinary enchanters' works!
"Enchantment?! Enchanting the tip of a sword?!"
"Directly inscribing energy circuits? How is that possibly controllable?!"
The alchemists and enchanters felt their worldview being utterly crushed once again.
The light shifts again! This time, the target is that withered branch.
Amidst the puzzled gazes of the crowd, the small sword spun rapidly around the withered branch, its tip tracing mysterious paths. Then, something astonishing happened—the bark of the seemingly lifeless branch miraculously regained its greenish-blue luster, and a tiny bud even sprouted at its tip!
Although it could not truly bring the dead back to life, the burst of vitality that erupted in that instant was real and undeniable!
"Life...life energy? A sword can imbue something with life?!" The priests and druids were utterly bewildered. This completely defied common sense! A sword is a symbol of destruction; how could it possibly contain life?
Three demonstrations, each one a lightning-fast event, yet each one defied expectations!
Under Ling Yao's control, that small flying sword did not exhibit destructive power, but rather an ultimate control that was almost like the "Tao"—it could be carved from the hardest stone, painted from the toughest stone, and even brought to life from the most withered stone!
This goes beyond the realm of "swordsmanship"; it's practically interpreting the rules of the world!
Just as everyone was immersed in this ultimate art of "control", an accident occurred.
Suddenly, a piercing scream and a cry of alarm came from the side of the stands!
"Son! My son! What's wrong?! Quick! Call the pastor!"
A commotion erupted in the crowd as a chubby, aristocratic boy collapsed to the ground, clutching his throat with both hands, his face turning purple, his eyes rolling back, and his body convulsing violently! Beside him lay a box of exquisite candies, with a round, exceptionally hard-looking amber candy rolling to the side.
It was obvious the child was choking! And the situation was extremely critical! The child's breathing was very weak, and he was about to die! The child's mother was terrified, and the people around were in chaos. It would take time for the priest to get through, and low-level healing spells would have little effect on this kind of physical asphyxiation!
"Get out of the way!"
A cool, low shout rang out, not loud, but instantly drowning out all the noise.
It's Ling Yao!
Her eyes narrowed, and the small, crystalline sword that had been floating in the air vanished instantly!
The next moment, it appeared as if it had teleported to the front of the suffocating boy's throat!
"What is she trying to do?!"
"Murder?!"
Judge Silas almost jumped up!
However, the small sword, imbued with terrifying sharpness, did not pierce the boy's throat. Its tip, with unimaginable precision and stability, gently touched the area just below his Adam's apple!
There was no bleeding, not even a scratch!
Only a barely perceptible, extremely refined sword aura pierced through the skin and muscles, striking the amber candy stuck in the trachea with perfect precision!
puff!
A very faint muffled thud.
The hard candy was instantly shattered into extremely fine, harmless powder!
At the same time, Ling Yao gently patted the boy's back from a distance, a gentle force penetrating his body.
"Cough! Cough cough cough!" The boy suddenly arched his back and coughed violently, gasping for fresh air. The purple color on his face quickly faded, and tears and snot covered his face, but clearly—he was saved!
The whole process happened in less than the time it takes for one heartbeat!
Fast! Accurate! Steady! Ruthless!
The entire square fell into absolute silence once again.
Everyone was stunned by this sudden, yet incredibly brilliant and unbelievable "surgery"!
Using a flying sword... for first aid? To avert a suffocation crisis?
What terrifying precision, control, and courage this requires! The slightest deviation could have unimaginable consequences!
The boy's mother was stunned for several seconds before rushing forward to hug her son, whom she had lost and found again. Overjoyed, she burst into tears and thanked Ling Yao incoherently, "Th-thank you! Thank you! My savior!"
With a flick of her wrist, Ling Yao sent the crystalline sword flying back to her fingertip like a swift returning to its nest after completing its mission. It slowly merged into her body and disappeared. She didn't even glance at the mother and child, as if she had merely flicked away an annoying fly.
She surveyed the entire audience, her gaze calmly sweeping over the still petrified spectators, especially the deathly pale-faced Judge Silas, who looked as if he had seen a ghost. She spoke in a detached tone:
"The sword is the king of all weapons."
"It can vanquish evil spirits, sever cause and effect, carve all things, and... save people from suffering."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it resonated like a great bell, striking deep into everyone's hearts.
"The one who wields the sword does not wield its sharpness, but rather his mind."
"When the heart is at its finest, even the smallest detail can be discerned. When the heart is at its most benevolent, even the sharpest blade can be brought back to life."
After saying that, she fell silent.
The square remained deathly silent.
But everyone's gaze has changed.
Looking at the girl in plain clothes on the stage, at her calm and serene face, they felt as if they were seeing not a person, but a towering mountain of unfathomable depth, containing endless wisdom and power.
Elixir, talisman, array, sword.
All four exhibits were mind-blowing and awe-inspiring!
They all point to a completely new, vast, and grand system called "Eastern Metaphysics"!
This is not heresy or false doctrine.
This is... the gateway to a new world!
Snap.
Something fell from someone's hand to the ground.
Immediately afterwards, a thunderous applause and cheers, as powerful as a landslide and a tsunami, instantly engulfed the entire central square of Rockefeller College!
This time, there was no more doubt, only respect!
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