Sword-Swinging Training

In a secluded courtyard on the Back Mountain stood Chen Xin's residence. For the vast majority of Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples, it was also a forbidden area.

After bringing Chen Yuan back, Chen Xin turned to look at him and said solemnly:

"Yuan'er, although you are still young, only six years old, since you have taken me as your teacher, I will demand strictness from you. You may cry, but after you are done crying, you must continue training according to my requirements."

Perhaps feeling that he had been too stern, Chen Xin softened his tone and spoke with a trace of pride about the Seven Kill Sword's power:

"The Seven Kill Sword of my Chen Clan is the continent's number one offensive Martial Soul. Its sword intent is innate, allowing it to directly unleash sword qi. Combined with the Killing Character Art, which enhances sword qi and increases its power, it is invincible and can break through anything. Few on the continent can rival it!"

Chen Yuan listened with a face full of longing, seemingly immersed in Chen Xin's words. Then he asked:

"Teacher, how should I train?"

Hearing this, Chen Xin waved his hand, and one black shadow after another shot out from the Storage Soul Tool in his hand, finally embedding themselves upright in the ground.

Chen Yuan looked over and saw that the black shadows were iron swords. There were seven in total, arranged from smallest to largest, and none of them had been sharpened.

Chen Xin explained:

"To unleash truly powerful sword qi, you need at least the Soul Power of a Soul Elder. Before then, you must train your strength and learn how to swing a sword. From now on, you will use these iron swords for training."

Looking at the iron swords, Chen Xin continued:

"These iron swords weigh one catty, two catties, four catties, eight catties, sixteen catties, thirty-two catties, and sixty-four catties respectively. You will begin with the one-catty iron sword and swing it every day..."

At this point, Chen Xin pondered for a moment before saying in a deep voice:

"Three hundred times!"

Chen Xin stared directly at Chen Yuan, his gaze growing sharper.

"I do not want you to swing carelessly. I want you to gather the strength of your entire body into every swing. This training must be measured in years. The final goal is not to satisfy me, but to make you strong. Do not think that a few months of training will make you stronger. True strength comes from persistent perseverance!"

Chen Yuan did not argue. He did not need much encouragement from Chen Xin; he already had the determination to grow stronger. As long as it benefited him, he was willing to do it.

"Teacher, I understand. I'll begin training now."

After saying that, Chen Yuan ran over and pulled out the first sword. This one-catty sword could be considered a shortsword, but since he was only six years old, it suited him perfectly.

Standing in an open area, Chen Yuan first adjusted his stance. He planted his legs in a forward-and-back lunge, gripped the sword with both hands, raised it over his head, and swung.

Again and again, Chen Yuan swung his sword. He remembered Chen Xin's requirement: gather the strength of his entire body into each strike. He was doing his best to achieve it.

Chen Yuan began training the moment he said he would, and this self-discipline surprised Chen Xin quite a bit. After the surprise came satisfaction, and he nodded imperceptibly.

Then, with a cold expression, Chen Xin continually pointed out the incorrect ways Chen Yuan exerted force while swinging his sword and helped him correct them.

Chen Yuan adjusted himself over and over. Soon, when he swung his sword again, he clearly felt the difference. His feet rooted themselves to the ground, driving the force through his entire body—from his calves to his thighs, then his waist, back, and arms—all of it gathering into that single sword strike.

Whoosh!

This strike felt completely different. Even the sound of the blade cutting through the air was exceptionally forceful.

Chen Yuan's spirits rose. He carefully savored this state as his entire body heated up, as though it were about to ignite. Seizing the moment, he followed that sensation and swung again.

Every strike was so powerful, and his body grew hotter and hotter. The feeling was wonderful, as if he could cut through anything.

But before long, that burning state seemed to consume him completely. His body began to grow noticeably sluggish, and Chen Yuan panted rapidly, gulping in air.

Even so, he did his best to regulate his breathing and keep it from becoming disordered. To do so, he greatly extended the interval between each swing, giving himself enough time to recover.

Later on, it took several minutes, even more than ten minutes, before Chen Yuan could swing his sword once. When sweat blurred his vision, he felt as though his arms weighed a thousand pounds.

Because every swing had gathered all the strength in his body, Chen Yuan felt obvious numbness throughout his body, and it was becoming difficult to control.

But as long as his body could still move, Chen Yuan had no intention of stopping, because he was still far from meeting Chen Xin's requirements.

106... 107... 108...

Chen Yuan counted silently in his heart. When he reached the 108th swing, all his exhaustion erupted at once. His body swayed, and he collapsed to the side.

In an instant, Chen Xin flashed to Chen Yuan's side and caught him steadily, a satisfied smile on his face.

For his first sword-swinging training session, he had persisted through 108 swings without uttering a single complaint or cry of fatigue. That was already very impressive.

His failure to continue was only because he had reached the limit of his stamina, and Chen Xin had no intention of being harsh with him.

Picking Chen Yuan up, Chen Xin walked toward the room prepared for him. Chen Yuan was clearly exhausted, and in this state, he had to be forced to rest.

At the same time, Chen Xin gave orders for the prepared medicinal broth to be delivered as soon as possible. A medicinal bath would speed up Chen Yuan's recovery; otherwise, he would be weak all over for the next three to five days.

When Chen Yuan woke up, it was already afternoon. Though he still felt somewhat weak, he was much better than before.

Soaking in a wooden tub, Chen Yuan recalled everything. He had practiced swordsmanship until he fainted, and he knew nothing of what happened afterward.

But from the rich fragrance of the medicine, he could guess what had happened. Chen Yuan did not immediately get out. Instead, he remained in the tub and said softly:

"Such simple sword swings can train my entire body. Not bad at all. I must keep this up in the future..."

Only after the medicinal broth had completely cooled did Chen Yuan leave the tub. After drying himself, he changed into the clean clothes that had long been prepared at the side. The fabric was soft, comfortable, and breathable.

At the same time, Chen Yuan noticed a note on the table nearby. He walked over and picked it up. The handwriting was bold and vigorous, seeming to carry a sharp sword intent. It had been left by his teacher.

It said that Chen Xin had gone to accompany Ning Rongrong. It told Chen Yuan to eat by himself after waking up, spend the remaining time today cultivating through Meditation, and follow the same schedule tomorrow: sword practice in the morning, a medicinal bath in the afternoon, and Meditation at night.

Chen Yuan let out a long breath. It seemed his life would be very fulfilling from now on.