Li Family Sword Style: Three Techniques

A craftsman who wishes to do his work well must first sharpen his tools.

On his way to the training ground, Ling Mu made a detour to his aunt Liu Ruoying's residence, planning to swallow his pride and borrow two hundred Cangyun Coins from her to buy a suitable weapon from the Simulation System's shop.

To his surprise, upon learning that Ling Mu needed the coins for cultivation, Liu Ruoying was overjoyed. Without a second word, she took out five hundred Cangyun Coins and pressed them into his hand.

This nephew had been spiraling into self-abandonment for years, and it had always been a thorn in Liu Ruoying's heart. Now that he was willing to start cultivating, she was naturally delighted. She told him outright that if he needed anything, he only had to ask, and his aunt would give him all the help she could.

Ling Mu clutched the five hundred Cangyun Coins, a little dazed. After all, this was nearly a year's worth of his previous allowance. Such a fortune had to be carefully planned.

He skillfully opened the Shop System, and under Granny Yodel's usual inquiry, exchanged all five hundred Cangyun Coins for shop gold coins. Then, after carefully comparing the items in the list, he spent a full four hundred gold coins to buy a longsword—his first weapon since crossing over.

The sword was named Shadowless Sword, forged from meteorite iron, swift as lightning, leaving no shadow and cutting off all trace—hence its name.

"Well, that was quite the splurge. Now I have a weapon, and I've maxed out my Spiritual Talent. Time to see what I can do."

Arriving at the training ground, Ling Mu was brimming with confidence that he would pass Ling Yue's assessment and smoothly enter the academy.

The Cangyun Empire revered martial prowess. Cultivators held an extremely high status within the empire, and the sect master of the premier sect, the Cloud Mist Sect, wielded power that even surpassed the imperial family. In other words, whoever held power in the Cangyun Empire had to answer to the Cloud Mist Sect.

Under this prevailing trend, every major city had its own academy, responsible for selecting outstanding cultivation talents. For example, Qinglan City boasted two major cultivation academies: Cangyun Academy and Qinglan Academy.

Cangyun Academy was a standard academy established by the empire in all major cities, carrying forward the empire's martial spirit and training excellent cultivators. Anyone who graduated from it and reached the Core Formation Realm could secure an official position within the imperial system.

Qinglan Academy, on the other hand, was founded single-handedly by Qinglan City's lord, Ling Yu Bai. As a powerhouse at the Nascent Soul Perfection Realm, he had made indelible contributions to Qinglan City's rise. While the academy's goal was also to select talent, unlike Cangyun Academy, whose graduates were invariably branded with the empire's mark, Qinglan Academy did not force its graduates to join any faction—as long as they did not threaten Qinglan City.

Thus, Qinglan Academy naturally became the exclusive academy of the Ling Clan and its followers, producing a crop of exceptionally talented young experts, such as Ling Yue and Lin Qingzhu, who had once studied there.

This was also why Ling Mu chose to join an academy as his first step into cultivation—it was the best way to rapidly improve his strength at this stage. After all, the previous Ling Mu had wasted far too much time. Though he now had the Simulation System's help, learning through the system was still the fastest way to see results.

"Let's start with the Three Sword Techniques of the Ling Family Sword Style. Let's see if adding five points to Spiritual Talent really makes my comprehension skyrocket."

Ling Mu drew the Shadowless Sword from his waist, took a lunge step, and began practicing the sword techniques.

The Ling Family Sword Style was renowned for its exquisite moves and blinding speed, created by the Qinglan Sword Immortal, Ling Yu Bai. The complete set consisted of ten techniques.

The first three were basic sword techniques—the most ordinary lunge and straight thrust, knee-lift and horizontal slash, and spin and back cleave. These three moves were the foundation of all sword techniques under heaven. No matter how a sword style evolved, trace it back to its roots, and you would always find the shadow of this thrust, this slash, and this cleave.

In the Ling Family Sword Style, these three techniques emphasized speed and precision. The sword's intent arrived before the blade. Once mastered to perfection, one was virtually invincible before the Core Formation Realm.

The fastest in Qinglan City to master these three techniques to perfection was Ling Yue, who took one month. Next was Lin Qingzhu, who spent half a year. Most Ling Clan disciples needed a full year to grasp them.

The midday sun was always merciless. Ling Mu stood alone on the training ground, thrusting, slashing, and cleaving without pause. The essentials of the techniques had been ingrained in his memory since childhood. Now, as he trained anew, all he could do was practice relentlessly.

The effect of the five-point Spiritual Talent was immediate. Many of the subtle details in the three sword techniques that required deep comprehension came naturally to Ling Mu, and he quickly fused them all together.

In just half a day, he had already cultivated sword intent. This unbelievable speed thrilled Ling Mu. If he could take one more step and release his sword intent externally, he would reach the Perfection Realm of these three basic techniques.

At this rate, even Ling Yu Bai would be stunned speechless.

"Is this what I'm like after investing in talent?" Ling Mu felt his confidence skyrocketing. A domineering aura—"System in hand, I own the world"—welled up within him.

Yet, two more days passed, and Ling Mu still could not release his sword intent externally. He swung his sword again and again, his sword intent brimming, but he could never break through the shackles of his own body.

"I've fully comprehended the three sword techniques, and my sword intent has reached its peak. But I feel like something's missing. I'm just one step away from the Perfection Realm. What am I lacking?"

As time wore on, Ling Mu grew increasingly impatient. Even Lin Qingzhu's visit to check on him did nothing to ease his anxiety. But he had no other choice—he could only swing his sword, swing, and swing again.

Just as Ling Mu was drenched in sweat, trouble came knocking.

"Oh, isn't this the Second Young Master? What are you doing at the training ground instead of having fun with the top girls at Twin Phoenix Tower?"

The grating words pulled Ling Mu out of his training. He turned his head and saw two youths watching him with mocking eyes.

"Ling Zhan, Ling Bo. Do I need to report to the two of you what I'm doing here?"

After searching his memory, Ling Mu recognized the pair. They belonged to a powerful branch of the Ling Clan, always following Ling Yue's lead, and often sneered at Ling Mu behind his back.

"Of course, the Second Young Master doesn't need to report to us. But the training ground is an important place for clan disciples to practice and spar. Since the Second Young Master is so devoted to romance and pleasure, why come here to take up resources meant for other disciples? If others see this, they'll inevitably gossip."

The two's words were full of contempt and mockery for Ling Mu, showing no respect for the main branch's Second Young Master. This was largely due to the Cangyun Empire's custom of valuing strength above all. In their eyes, even if you were the son of the clan head, you were nothing but a waste addicted to women.

"You're saying I'm wasting resources meant for other clan disciples, which basically means you think I'm weak. How about this: the two of you have a match with me. If I lose, I'll never set foot in this training ground again. If I win, the two of you have to run a lap around this training ground on your hands. Deal?"

Ling Mu hadn't wanted to waste words with them, but a sudden flash of insight struck him. Perhaps what he was missing to break through to releasing sword intent was actual combat. These two had delivered themselves to his doorstep—how could he let them go?

"This..."

Ling Mu's response instead put Ling Bo and the other in a bind. After all, Ling Mu was the clan head's own son. Taunting him with words was one thing, but actually laying hands on him? They didn't have the guts.

"What's the matter? The two of you were so quick to speak up for the clan disciples just now, but now you don't have the courage to accept the challenge?"

Ling Mu saw their hesitation and fanned the flames. No matter what, he wasn't letting these two sparring partners slip away today.

"Hmph, ridiculous. We're just worried that swords have no eyes, and it wouldn't be good if we accidentally hurt the Second Young Master."

Ling Bo and the other were still just teenagers. How could they withstand such provocation from Ling Mu? Their blood boiled, and all caution was thrown to the wind.

"No need to worry, brothers. In a formal clan spar, no matter the outcome, no one will be held accountable. That's a rule my father set, and I naturally abide by it."

Ling Mu looked at them calmly, longsword in hand, his eyes carrying three parts battle intent, three parts provocation, three parts confidence, and one part condescension.

When had they ever seen Ling Mu like this? A spoiled brat who hadn't trained in ten years, a useless waste who spent his days in pleasure houses—and now he was making Ling Bo and the other feel like they were facing a master. How could they stand it? With the hot-headedness of youth, goaded by Ling Mu, they threw all caution to the wind.

"Fine! Then we'll take you up on that, Second Young Master. We hope you keep your word." Both of them were red-faced, clearly furious.

"I, Ling Mu, am a man of my word. Come on, you two make the first move."

With a sweep of his longsword, Ling Mu extended his left hand in a provocative gesture.

"Ahhh!" Ling Bo and the other could no longer hold back. They drew their swords and charged at Ling Mu.