My Virtual Immortal Girlfriend Came to Life from a Mobile Game-Chapter 76 – What? Sword Qi?!

Seeing Old Man Li boast about his skills, Chen Huaian couldn't help but feel a bit expectant.

"Watch closely, young man, this move is going to be awesome!" With that, Old Man Li struck a pose and performed a Tai Chi Sword routine, transitioning from slow to fast and back to slow again.

As expected of an experienced practitioner, his sword technique was indeed impressive.

With Chen Huaian's limited knowledge and appreciation, that was all he could say.

Old Man Li's swordplay was truly graceful, clearly showcasing his deep foundation. The movements were fluid and seamless, and it seemed like they could actually be used in combat. However, it still felt more like a performance.

He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but some movements seemed unnecessary. Removing or changing them might be better. But he wasn't a master, so he didn't dare to criticize.

"So, how was it? Sword enough for you?" Old Man Li stroked his beard, sheathed his sword, and wore a proud expression, ready to hear Chen Huaian's lengthy praise.

"It was great, very sword-like!" Chen Huaian gave a thumbs-up.

Old Man Li was dissatisfied. "What, you think my sword technique is lacking?"

"No," Chen Huaian realized Old Man Li misunderstood but didn't know how to explain, so he scratched his head and said, "Old Man Li, I've been feeling a bit enlightened lately. Could you take a look for me?"

"Sure, but if there's any flaw, I won't hold back."

"Alright, let me borrow your sword."

Chen Huaian took the sword from Old Man Li, focused his mind, closed his eyes slightly, steadied his stance, and assumed the posture of the first chapter of the Azure Lotus Sword Manual, "Crane Stance."

As soon as he began, Old Man Li's critical gaze widened in surprise.

In just a day, this young man seemed like a different person. Not only had his leg healed, but he had transformed from a novice to someone whose movements were unified and effortless. Most importantly, he had grasped the essence—'spirit.'

Modern martial arts are often criticized for being mere showpieces because they imitate the form but lack the crucial 'spirit.'

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True martial arts combine form and spirit.

And 'spirit' is far more important than form.

Why did ancient soldiers practice thrusting repeatedly?

To seek breakthroughs and understanding through countless repetitions.

How to exert force for a more powerful thrust, what angle to penetrate armor more easily, how to overcome obstacles—when these become instinctive reactions, that's when 'spirit' is formed.

From there, one continues to break through and gain insights in battle.

A new recruit mastering the 'spirit' of a thrust could become a centurion or a commander. A warlord is a martial artist who has mastered multiple 'spirit' techniques.

While pondering this, Chen Huaian had already completed the first twelve chapters of the sword manual. Initially, it was just fixed movements, but gradually they flowed into graceful sword moves, thrusting and slashing with ease and precision.

In a trance, Old Man Li seemed to see a white-clad swordsman dancing gracefully, sword in one hand, wine in the other, free and unrestrained like a wandering dragon.

"This... how is this possible?"

Old Man Li was dumbfounded.

This young man wasn't a newbie at all.

He was a master!

No, even the masters he had seen couldn't integrate 'spirit' into so many movements! Many masters became famous by incorporating 'spirit' into just two or three moves.

But who was this young man?

Suddenly, the graceful figure in his vision came to an abrupt halt.

Chen Huaian stood tall, eyes closed, sheathed his sword, left hand on the scabbard, right hand on the hilt.

A breeze blew by.

A sharp aura wafted through the air.

"Like a meteor, white feathers at the waist, the sword blooms like an autumn lotus."

With those words, the sword was drawn.

Clang—!

Old Man Li couldn't see Chen Huaian's sword at all.

He only saw a bright arc of light flash under the sunlight.

The arc shattered into pieces, resembling a blooming autumn lotus.

With the hissing sword song, the petals of the autumn lotus shattered and withered.

And with a resounding 'clang,' Chen Huaian had already sheathed his sword.

Old Man Li stared blankly at Chen Huaian, something stuck in his throat, unable to make a sound, his mind buzzing.

Was that a sword move a young man could execute?

Was that autumn lotus a sword flower?

How much strength and speed did that require?

How many years had been spent honing that sword move?

"Not quite there..." Chen Huaian shook his head, looking at the old poplar tree in front of him.

His original goal was to cut down the tree branch. Although Old Man Li's sword wasn't sharpened, he thought even a child could manage it with such a heavy sword if they aimed correctly, right?

But the branch still swayed in the wind.

"Forget it, the stuff taught in the game, as long as it looks decent, it's fine." Chen Huaian had figured out the principle.

He had previously used that gaming helmet, and through neural mapping technology, he had memorized some of the sword moves in his mind.

That's why he could perform so smoothly today.

Chen Huaian glanced at the time; it was almost nine o'clock. He didn't feel anything, but he hadn't realized the sword moves took quite a while.

"Old Man Li, it's getting late. I need to head to the market, so I'll be off now."

He handed the sword back to the still-dazed Old Man Li, pried open his fingers to secure the scabbard, and then turned to leave.

It was a while after Chen Huaian left before Old Man Li regained his senses.

He didn't say a word, just approached the poplar tree with a serious expression.

His eyes didn't look at the branches but carefully searched the trunk, feeling it with his hands.

Soon, he found a deep sword mark on the thick trunk, as thin as a hair. If he hadn't felt it with his fingers, it would have been nearly impossible to spot with the naked eye.

Old Man Li took a deep breath, his facial muscles twitching, eyes filled with disbelief.

He circled to the other side of the poplar tree.

In a corresponding position, he found another hair-thin mark.

"Sword Qi... it's actually Sword Qi!"

Old Man Li shakily took out his phone and dialed a number.

A rough, brash voice came from the other end:

"Hey, Old Man Li, it's been a while. Have you forgotten your old friend?"

"Old Peng, I have something to tell you, brace yourself." Old Man Li ignored the teasing tone. "I met a young man here who can wield Sword Qi!"

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"What!?"

The voice on the other end shot up several octaves.

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely." Old Man Li traced the sword mark on the poplar tree, his voice trembling. "Right in front of me, I swear, one slash and he cut through the tree trunk!"

"Old Li, stay right there, don't move. I'm coming over from the Demon-Slaying Bureau!"

Meanwhile.

In a small alley behind a hotel.

Lin Lingling limped out, maintaining a calm, expressionless facade, but her twitching face betrayed the pain she was enduring.

"That monster is no easy opponent. Just its aura alone suppressed me, immobilized me, and could fling me away without even touching me..."

Lin Lingling had never encountered such a powerful monster.

At least, not among the ones she had heard of.

"Damn it, at least three ribs are broken! This situation is beyond what someone of my white level can handle. I need to report this to the Demon-Slaying Bureau..."

She hailed a taxi by the roadside, dragging her pain-ridden body into the car.