Hundred Sword Art - Bonus Chapter for Alliance Leader "I Am Su Changyu and Golden Crow of the Ten Prime Ministers"

The next morning, the sun shone brightly.

As usual, Chu Liang got up slowly and washed up. He combed his hair into a mature style and put on a handsome outfit.

He was going to meet Senior Sister Jiang at noon.

He made his way to Pagoda Peak and followed yesterday's route to Water Curtain Cave. Yet the White Ze cub had not appeared at all along the way, leaving Chu Liang somewhat puzzled.

But the moment he reached the cave entrance, he heard Jiang Xiaobai scolding it inside.

"I only changed that mattress yesterday, and you already chewed it up! Chew it again! Next time, see if I don't beat you!"

There was also the White Ze cub's soft, whimpering "Awoo, awoo."

Chu Liang sent his divine sense inside for a furtive look and saw that the mess in the cave from yesterday had completely vanished, restored to its original state. Jiang Xiaobai sat cross-legged on the bed without a care, blazing with anger.

The White Ze cub stood on its hind legs beside her, head tilted back, balancing a brick on its nose.

Fresh bite marks could indeed be seen on the newly replaced bed.

Well, well. So this divine White Ze beast also tore up the house.

Chu Liang could not help but laugh. Then he cleared his throat and said, "Senior Sister Jiang, I'm here."

"Ah, come in," Jiang Xiaobai called.

When Chu Liang entered the cave again, he saw her standing tall and graceful, wearing a tasseled gown with her hair arranged in an exquisite bun. Under the cool light around them, she seemed like an otherworldly fairy who had lived hidden in the mountains for a thousand years.

The speed of that shift in temperament, in the blink of an eye, was truly jaw-dropping.

"This..." Chu Liang glanced at the White Ze cub. It immediately flung away the brick and bounced toward him.

"Hm?" Jiang Xiaobai frowned.

"Awoo..." The White Ze cub instantly stopped, then went to stand against the wall in punishment, looking utterly aggrieved. It even used its two hooves to pick up the brick and place it back on its nose.

It was the very picture of obedience.

Chu Liang smiled. "What could be so serious? It's only a child."

"If you don't study seriously in a moment, you'll get the same treatment." Jiang Xiaobai gave him no face at all.

The White Ze cub's huge eyes rolled twice as it slanted a glance at Chu Liang, and a trace of anticipation actually appeared in them.

Well then.

Did it really want its buddy to stand in punishment with it?

Chu Liang immediately changed the subject. "Why does Shushan's guardian divine beast listen to Senior Sister Jiang so well?"

"Actually, I don't know either..." Jiang Xiaobai said. "Ever since I was very little, Baby White Ze often came to play with me. You could say it grew up alongside me. Just like how you know why it's close to you?"

Chu Liang shook his head.

He truly did not know that.

If it was about having top-tier talent, Jiang Xiaobai counted, but he was nowhere close; if it was about being kindhearted... then surely there were far too many people like that.

"Maybe it only plays with good-looking people," Chu Liang finally said.

"Indeed." Jiang Xiaobai did not deny it in the slightest.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Jiang Xiaobai went straight to the point. "Today, I plan to teach you the Hundred Sword Art. You know it, right?"

The Hundred Sword Art?

Of course Chu Liang knew it.

It was one of the most basic sword arts in the Shushan Sect. Yet though basic, it was by no means weak, and its potential for growth was enormous.

From a hundred to a thousand, from a thousand to ten thousand—if one cultivated it into the Ten Thousand Sword Art, it would be a supreme divine ability on the same level as the Heavenly Sword Art.

"Thank you for the trouble, Senior Sister Jiang." He rose and faced Jiang Xiaobai solemnly, showing her the same respect he would show his master.

"The essence of the Hundred Sword Art lies in transforming qi into swords, merging qi and sword as one."

Jiang Xiaobai first explained the incantation and hand seals corresponding to the Hundred Sword Art.

Once any divine ability was cultivated to profound heights, it could be cast at will, techniques stirred by thought alone. But beginners still had to proceed step by step.

Only by using both mouth and hands could one achieve twice the result with half the effort.

As Chu Liang watched Jiang Xiaobai explain with such focus, her hair gently swaying, her eyes bright, her skin glowing softly in the light, he could not help becoming slightly lost in thought.

When Jiang Xiaobai finished, she saw Chu Liang seeming to space out. Her brows drew together. "Hey?"

"I was listening." Chu Liang immediately came back to himself.

"Then repeat what I just said." Jiang Xiaobai's gaze turned unfriendly.

Chu Liang proceeded to repeat every key point she had just explained, including all the extra detailed explanations, without missing a single word.

Jiang Xiaobai was slightly surprised after listening. "Your memory is exceptional... Hmph, you're also quite good at splitting your attention. You really are suited to practicing the Hundred Sword Art."

"Thank you for the praise, Senior Sister Jiang." Chu Liang looked perfectly composed, as if nothing had happened.

"In short, you've memorized all the key points of the Hundred Sword Art. There is one more important thing: don't blindly pursue quantity. It's best to accurately control every sword shadow before seeking to increase their number. A Hundred Sword Art that moves as the heart wills is stronger than a Ten Thousand Sword Art that is numerous but chaotic," Jiang Xiaobai added.

"I'll remember it." Chu Liang nodded.

"Shushan disciples generally take around seven days to master the Hundred Sword Art. Since I'm teaching you personally, naturally my standards must be higher. I'll give you three days," Jiang Xiaobai continued. "If you master it within three days, I'll teach you another divine ability next time. If you still haven't learned it after three days, there will be no next time."

"That would be excellent." Chu Liang was delighted to hear this.

He had thought it would be a one-shot deal. Now there was a chance it could become long-term instruction, so of course he welcomed it.

Next, following Jiang Xiaobai's earlier guidance, he made his first attempt. He raised his flying sword bracelet, formed a hand seal, and circulated his true qi.

"Split light, sweep shadows, move and halt as the heart wills! Go!"

Ssshhh, ssshhh, ssshhh, ssshhh, ssshhh—

In an instant, the flying swords split into a hundred sword shadows, dazzling to the eye. Chu Liang closed his eyes and stirred his thoughts.

Clatter, clatter...

The flying swords in the air fell one after another, their sword shadows turning into nothingness in the blink of an eye.

"That's not right." Before Jiang Xiaobai could offer guidance, Chu Liang himself sensed what had gone wrong. "I can't possibly divide my divine sense across every single sword. One person cannot have a hundred wills. Instead... every sword should have its own will, and I only need to give them orders."

"They are not dead flying swords. They are a living army."

"Split light, sweep shadows, move and halt as the heart wills! Go!"

Ssshhh, ssshhh, ssshhh—

Sword shadows blossomed once more. This time, the hundred sword lights surrounded Chu Liang in perfect order, as though arrayed in formation.

"Go!" Chu Liang raised his hand seal, and the flying swords immediately galloped through the sky. Their air-tearing cries merged into one.

With the slightest movement of his fingers, they sometimes arranged themselves in a straight line, sometimes into a V formation.

As Jiang Xiaobai watched Chu Liang's already mature Hundred Sword Art, her pupils could not help widening. She was more than a little surprised.

Ordinary Shushan disciples generally began with one sword becoming two, then ten, then a hundred. First came a gradual process, and only then did they slowly grope their way toward the essentials.

There were certain crucial points she had intended to explain only after Chu Liang had failed a few times and gained some understanding. That would have been the most efficient approach. Yet Chu Liang had nearly succeeded from the very start; after failing only once, he had comprehended everything on his own.

She had originally thought the three days she gave Chu Liang were already an exceedingly harsh condition.

Though she herself had only needed one day to master this basic Hundred Sword Art, she was, after all, the legendary Immortal Spirit Body. Her breathtaking talent could not be compared with ordinary people.

Her thought had been that if he could master it within three days, then he was a promising talent. It was only a pity that the master he followed was so exasperating... In that case, it would be only natural for her to lend a hand to a fellow disciple with potential. If he could not, then the Shushan Sect did not lack mediocre people, and naturally there would be no need for her to waste her time.

But what was Chu Liang supposed to be?

If ordinary disciples took seven days, core disciples took three, and genius disciples took one...

Then how long had he taken?

Two attempts!

That was simply too outrageous. If his earlier behavior had not truly seemed unfeigned, Jiang Xiaobai would even have suspected that he already knew this divine ability and was merely tricking her here.

Chu Liang commanded the sword shadows and drilled them for quite some time before finally recalling the flying swords with a hint of excitement. Then he opened his eyes. "Senior Sister Jiang, I think I understand a little now."

Heh heh.

Was that really just a little?

Jiang Xiaobai smiled. "You really are... quite clever."

"If I've made any progress, it's all because Senior Sister Jiang taught me well." Chu Liang smiled.

Was he clever?

He had once seriously considered that question. When he had been younger, he had once believed that he truly was smarter than most, but...

Later, he found that he was merely average.

After all, he had only placed third in the entire province.

Thank you to "I Am Su Changyu and Golden Crow of the Ten Prime Ministers" for becoming this book's sixth Alliance Leader. Many thanks. I also forgot to say earlier: Happy May Day holiday, everyone.

I don't have a holiday. I have to work overtime and race against the clock to save my dwindling manuscript reserve.