Three Talents Slash

Lin Zhao shook his head slightly. "No hurry. The heavy snow has blocked the roads, and the forests around Black Wind Cave are dense, the ravines deep. No one can say whether this is a trap laid by the Wild Jackal Gang—they are skilled at abducting people to lure the fortress lord into the snare, then rob us of our armor and weapons.

Old Zhang is a blacksmith they urgently need. To preserve his smithing craft, he will surely submit for the time being. He should be safe in the short term. First, have the steward send Tiezhu two dou of millet and half a jin of cured meat to calm him down. Then send three sharp Estate Guards, disguised as famine refugees, to scout near Black Wind Cave. Find out the layout of their lair, how many armed lackeys they have, and Diao Kui's true strength. Then we'll make our plans."

His fingers tapped lightly against the ebony sword sheath on the table, his voice gradually turning cold. "Ever since my late father died for the country in Liaodong, these bandits and routed soldiers north of the river have actually dared to run wild at Lin Family Fortress. The tree wished for peace, yet the wind would not cease. If we do not show them some methods, they will forget the name of the Black Dragon Lin Family!"

"Uncle Zhao, go back and rest first. Tomorrow morning, teach me real swordsmanship—just in time to test the 'Cold Moon' sword Tiezhu forged."

The candlelight in the study flickered, casting Lin Zhao's eyes into depths like the sea. A faint, terrifying pressure seeped from them.

It was unlike the inborn nobility of a great family's heir. Rather, it resembled the fangs inadvertently revealed by an ancient black dragon lying dormant in the Great Ming Exotic Beasts Illustrated Record—calm, yet concealing savage force.

As Zhao Tieying looked at him, he inexplicably felt as though he were being watched by a northern goshawk—a sharp martial aura that only those whose inner force had just taken shape could emit.

His gaze swept across the ink painting on the wall behind the youth. In the painting, a black dragon coiled around Lin Family Fortress, a flaming pearl held in its jaws, its eyes sharp as frost. It was the Lin Family crest, "Black Dragon Holding Pearl."

"The Young Master's Mystic Dragon Breathing Technique has truly broken through to the Second Tier." Zhao Tieying was secretly astonished.

In Lin Zhao's gaze just now, he had actually seen the shadow of the Black Dragon General, Lin Yuanshan—a steadiness tempered through countless trials, not the recklessness of youth.

He clearly remembered that when the old thousand-household officer first practiced the Mystic Dragon Breathing Technique, it had taken him three months merely to reach the threshold of a Sword-Wielding Martial Trainee, a year to advance to Quasi-Martial Master, three years to condense a Qi Seed and become a Martial Master, and eight years to reach the realm of Grandmaster Warrior.

Yet Lin Zhao had only been exposed to the Breathing Technique for two months. It had taken him half a month to get started, and at first Zhao Tieying had thought the Young Master's talent ordinary at best—merely above average.

Who could have expected that over these past two months, Lin Zhao's progress would advance a thousand miles in a day? His proficiency had steadily risen every day, and he even showed signs of overtaking those who had started before him.

Zhao Tieying could not puzzle it out despite thinking it over a hundred times. In the end, he could only attribute it to the Young Master's diligence. For more than sixty days, Lin Zhao had risen at Mao Hour each day to practice breathing, trained with weights at Chen Hour, and drilled Basic Sword Forms at Wu Hour. He had never slacked off for a single day. Such drive was beyond even the most hardworking scouts in the northern border army, let alone the sons of military families.

"Young Master, the martial path requires proper tension and relaxation. Do not rush for speed and end up damaging the foundation of your meridians," Zhao Tieying finally could not help but remind him. He bowed and withdrew into the shadows of the study, gently closing the door behind him.

Lin Zhao gripped the "Cold Moon" sword on the table. The deer hide wrapped around its sheath felt rough beneath his hand. Looking at the Proficiency Panel that appeared in his mind, he let out a soft sigh. "I had wanted to live peacefully by Wulong Pond, to be a small fortress lord guarding a few poor fields. But in these times, without enough strength, one cannot even sleep peacefully."

The day after the New Year, before dawn.

The long night north of the river had yet to fade. Heaven and earth lay in inky darkness, with only a few stars glimmering faintly between the clouds.

The tenant farmers and servants within Lin Family Fortress were still lost in dreams, yet four tallow lanterns had already been lit on the Training Ground. Under their dim yellow glow, the snow reflected a cold sheen.

Lin Zhao wore a twenty-jin Refined Mountain Pattern Armor, its armor plates giving off faint clacks as they struck together. His right hand tightly gripped the "Cold Moon" sword.

The sheath was made of ordinary ebony but wrapped in a layer of Mystic Frost Fox Fur for grip. The blade had been forged from refined iron ore mined from Anvil Mountain and tempered three times by Old Zhang. Though it was not hundred-forged Fine Steel, cold light still flowed across it, and it was exceptionally sharp. He had named it "Cold Moon," both because its sword light was bright as frost and because it quietly carried his longing for his modern homeland.

Zhao Tieying stood across from him and slowly drew the sword at his waist. The words "Shadowless" were engraved upon its blade in seal script. Its tassel was made from a northern wolf's tail, rising gently in the night wind with an edge of sharpness.

"The sword skill I shall teach today was taught to me long ago by a retired old swordsman when I served in the Imperial Guard. This skill originally had no name. I practiced it for over twenty years, and following the principle of heaven, earth, and man—the Three Talents—I named it Three Talents Slash."

"This Three Talents Slash is no ordinary sword move, but a profound method of exerting force. Whether one uses a sword, a saber, a long spear, or even a farmer's pitchfork, one can wield it so long as one comprehends its secrets. It is divided into three realms: the most basic Shocking Force, the advanced Binding Force, and the supreme Spinning Force. The higher the realm, the harder it is to control one's inner force and body, and the slower it is to comprehend."

"It contains three techniques for exerting force. The most basic is Shocking Force, which relies on the trembling of the arm muscles to transmit power and can split hard timber. The advanced Binding Force requires inner force to wrap around the weapon; it can deflect an enemy blade and break armor. The supreme Spinning Force requires inner and outer power to become one, causing the weapon to spin at high speed. Even refined iron can be severed. I have cultivated it for more than twenty years, tempering my inner force each day, yet I have only touched the threshold of Binding Force. But even half-mastered Binding Force rivals the finest sword skills in the martial world. Thus, the achievement of this skill depends entirely on one's comprehension. If one's aptitude is mediocre and one stops at Shocking Force, it is merely crude kung fu. But if one can grasp Spinning Force, it becomes a legendary supreme art capable of splitting mountains and shattering stone. Back then, that old swordsman once used Spinning Force to cut through a Tatar iron war cart!"

Lin Zhao smiled bitterly upon hearing this. "Even a master like you, who has slain Tatars on the northern frontier, has only reached the realm of Binding Force. Aside from the old swordsman who created it, is there truly anyone in this world who can reach Spinning Force?"

Zhao Tieying patted his shoulder, his tone carrying a trace of gratification. "Do not rush, Young Master. Among the younger generation, anyone who can touch the threshold of Binding Force is already as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns. Back then, Lord Lin also stopped at the realm of Binding Force, yet with this sword skill, he slew seven Japanese pirate warriors in a row on the anti-pirate battlefield and became one of the foremost experts of the Yingtian Garrison."

Lin Zhao slowly nodded, determination flashing through his eyes. Others might need to rely on comprehension, but he possessed the Proficiency Panel. Even a task as difficult as climbing to heaven could be ground out bit by bit through daily practice. Sooner or later, he would reach the threshold of Spinning Force.

Before his words had faded, Zhao Tieying had already focused his mind and calmed his breath. His aura surged sharply. His formerly relaxed muscles instantly tightened, his body moving so quickly it nearly left an afterimage. His arm trembled at a peculiar frequency as inner force traveled down it and into the "Shadowless" sword.

"Buzz—buzz—buzz—"

The long sword let out a clear ringing cry. Three streaks of cold light suddenly split from the blade, and a fierce Three Talents Slash tore through the air, cleaving toward the ironwood post at the center of the Training Ground!

"Crack!"

With a crisp sound, the bowl-thick ironwood post split into three pieces. The cut surfaces were smooth as mirrors, and even the wood chips flew with uncanny uniformity. This ironwood was hard as iron; an ordinary Ring-pommel Sword could at most leave a pale mark upon it. Yet now it had been effortlessly split apart like tofu.

Zhao Tieying sheathed his sword in one fluid motion, as though that earth-shattering strike had never occurred. Only the lingering echo of the sword's cry remained on the Training Ground, gradually fading into the night sky.

Lin Zhao's heart surged at the sight. He had once tried chopping that ironwood post with a saber; the blade had chipped, yet the post had remained completely unharmed. Now Zhao Tieying had split it with a single stroke using only the most basic Shocking Force!

This was the true power of a Martial Master—the might of an Upper Grade sword skill!

"This is the skill I want to learn!" Lin Zhao clenched the "Cold Moon" sword, his knuckles whitening from the force. His eyes were full of yearning. With such swordsmanship, combined with the inner force of the Mystic Dragon Breathing Technique, he would finally possess the strength to protect himself when facing bandits and exotic beasts in the future.

At the sight of his expression, a trace of pride crossed Zhao Tieying's aged face. He had used only thirty percent of his inner force just now. If he went all out and used Binding Force, he could even cleave through the double-layered cotton armor worn by Martial Masters. But that would damage the sword too badly, so he would never use it lightly unless life and death hung in the balance.

"The secret to exerting Shocking Force just now was too fast. You likely did not see the details clearly. I will demonstrate it once more—slower this time. Watch the tremor of the muscles and the transmission of force carefully." Zhao Tieying knew well that even a genius of the sword path would struggle to see through such a profound technique at a glance. Much less the Young Master, who had only just entered the realm of Sword-Wielding Martial Trainee and still had clumsy control over his inner force.

Lin Zhao hurriedly nodded. Zhao Tieying's sword had been too fast just now. He had only seen the sword light, not the rhythm of his arm muscles trembling, nor had he been able to make the Proficiency Panel record the sword skill.

He understood clearly that the panel could only help him accumulate proficiency and improve after he had initially grasped a technique. It could not make him soar to the heavens in a single step and become a genius. The basic comprehension still had to come from himself.

For the next two hours, Zhao Tieying repeatedly demonstrated the motions for exerting Shocking Force. From sinking the force in the shoulders, storing power in the waist and abdomen, to trembling the arm and transmitting inner force to the sword tip, he explained every detail with extreme clarity, even describing the frequency of muscle tremors and the rhythm of breathing one by one.

Lin Zhao, meanwhile, held the "Frost Condensation" sword and imitated the sword-swinging movements again and again. Sword practice was, by nature, a process of "repetition, correction, and comprehension." Even the slightest deviation in applying force would either fail to produce Shocking Force or injure his own arm.

Zhao Tieying was exceedingly patient. He watched every swing Lin Zhao made, stepping forward to correct him the moment he noticed the slightest mistake. "Sink your shoulder more—do not rely on brute strength. Let inner force drive the movement!" "Your waist and abdomen must exert force as well, or the power will never reach the sword tip!" Sometimes, he even adjusted Lin Zhao's posture hand by hand, helping him find the sensation of muscle tremors.

Over these past few days, Lin Zhao had temporarily set aside even his practice of the Mystic Dragon Breathing Technique and devoted himself wholly to Three Talents Slash. He only hoped to touch the threshold of Shocking Force as soon as possible and make "Three Talents Slash" appear on the Proficiency Panel.

He had already prepared himself mentally. Since even his talent for the Breathing Technique was merely above average, learning such an Upper Grade sword skill would naturally require even more long-term tempering. It could not be rushed.

Thus, they practiced until dawn on the third day. As the east began to pale like a fish's belly, Lin Zhao swung his sword once more toward the ironwood post.

This time, the "Cold Moon" sword in his hand suddenly began to tremble, weakly but with a steady rhythm, rising and falling like human breathing. Power traveled down his arm to the sword tip, and the blade actually let out a faint buzzing hum.

Joy rose in his heart. He abruptly stopped, focusing his mind on the unfamiliar yet distinct force upon the blade. This was not brute strength, but a trembling force capable of penetrating through the sword itself!

"It's Shocking Force! Though it is still weak, this is undeniably the true secret to getting started!"

Almost at the very instant he comprehended it, a new line of text silently appeared on the Proficiency Panel in his mind:

[Three Talents Slash (Shocking Force Realm): Beginner (1/100)]