Sword Skill Refinement

The first rays of dawn pierced through the thin mist, spilling golden light onto the open ground before Room C. Shen Hao stood at the center, gripping the pitch-black Basic Flying Sword, faint ripples of Spiritual Energy swirling around him. His cultivation had now firmly reached Late Qi Refining Third Layer, and the Spiritual Energy in his Sea of Qi was far denser than before. The moment he activated his sword technique, a thick layer of pale blue light enveloped the blade—several times stronger than when he was at the early stage of Qi Refining.

He held his breath and focused, eyes half-closed, replaying the three sword techniques of the Purple Sun Basic Sword Codex in his mind—Chop, Thrust, and Lift. These moves seemed basic, but they were the very foundation of the sword path. Only by mastering them to perfection could he derive more refined techniques. Shen Hao took a deep breath, flicked his wrist, and the flying sword cut through the air with a sharp whistle, slashing toward the Green Stone ahead.

This time, he wasn't relying on brute arm strength alone. Instead, he channeled Spiritual Energy from his Sea of Qi through his Meridians and into the sword. The energy merged with the blade, accelerating the chop. The sword edge tore through the air, no longer producing a dull whoosh but a piercing hum. A flash of Sword Light, and a deep gash appeared on the Green Stone, with fragments of gravel raining down.

Then, Shen Hao shifted his stance, lowered his center of gravity, and drove his waist and abdomen into a sudden burst of power, thrusting his arm forward. For this thrust, he concentrated all his Spiritual Energy at the sword tip. The flying shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, leaving only a blur in its wake, aimed at the exact same spot on the Green Stone. A crisp ding rang out as the tip sank half an inch into the stone—a testament to the force behind it.

He withdrew the sword, spun his body, and gently turned his wrist, lifting the blade upward in a sweeping arc. For this lift, he deliberately slowed the pace, making the trajectory unpredictable. It seemed soft, but danger lurked within. Spiritual Energy flowed through the blade, now condensing, now dispersing, adding a layer of elusive nuance to this basic move.

Once. Twice. Three times...

Shen Hao lost himself in refining the sword techniques, unaware that the sun had already climbed high. He infused every move with his understanding of Spiritual Energy, feeling the harmony between energy and technique. He realized that as his cultivation improved and his Meridians were tempered, his control over the sword moves grew stronger. The same chop that could only split a thin wooden plank at the First Layer of Qi Condensation, and a thick board at the Second Layer, could now—he was confident—cleave a millstone-sized boulder.

"Senior Brother Shen, you're up early."

A cheerful voice came from the side, interrupting his practice. Shen Hao sheathed his sword, resting the tip on the ground, breathing heavily with fine sweat beading on his forehead. He turned to see Zhang Shan holding a white steamed bun, munching away with relish, his bright eyes fixed on Shen Hao in admiration.

"Junior Brother Zhang, you're here too." Shen Hao wiped his sweat and offered a faint smile.

Zhang Shan hurried over, his gaze landing on the still-glowing flying sword. He clicked his tongue in amazement: "Senior Brother Shen, your sword techniques are getting incredible! Just now, when you chopped, the light on your sword was almost solid—even denser than what I saw during the Inner Sect Disciple drills."

Shen Hao chuckled and slid the sword fully into its sheath. "Just a bit of insight. By the way, there are only ten days left until the Inner Sect Preliminary Assessment. You need to step up your training too—don't slack off."

At the mention of the assessment, Zhang Shan's eyes hardened with resolve. He nodded firmly. "Mm! I'll give it my all! Thanks to you, Senior Brother, I broke through to Early Qi Refining Second Layer a few days ago. If I push a little harder, maybe I can reach Mid Stage Qi Refining Second Layer before the test!"

"Good for you." Shen Hao patted his shoulder, his eyes full of encouragement. "Your foundation is solid. Steady progress, and you'll get what you want."

They chatted a bit more about the finer points of sword technique practice, then Zhang Shan took his bun to a nearby patch of ground and began clumsily rehearsing basic sword moves. Shen Hao watched his earnest effort, a smile tugging at his lips, before turning back and drawing his sword once more.

He knew there were no shortcuts in mastering the sword codex. Only through endless refinement and repeated insight could he perfect the techniques—and stand out in the upcoming Inner Sect Preliminary Assessment.

The sun grew hotter, casting a golden halo over Shen Hao's upright figure. His sword moves became smoother, sharper, each chop, thrust, and lift carrying an unyielding edge, weaving dazzling arcs of Sword Light across the open ground.