First Glimpse of the Sword Canon

Days passed, and Shen Hao's cultivation progress steadily improved.

Half a month later, he had smoothly broken through to Late Stage Qi Refining Layer One, only a step away from Perfection of Qi Refining Layer One. Zhang Shan had also broken through to Mid Stage Qi Refining Layer One, and the two grew increasingly close.

That day, the Outer Sect's Deacon Elder suddenly summoned all Outer Sect Disciples to assemble at the Training Ground.

When Shen Hao and Zhang Shan arrived at the Training Ground, the square was already packed with people. The Deacon Elder stood on the high platform, his gaze sweeping over the crowd as he announced in a clear voice, "All Outer Sect Disciples, you have been with the sect for over a month now, and your foundation in the Breathing Technique is stable. From today onward, the sect will teach you the Basic Sword Art. I hope you will train diligently."

As soon as he finished, cheers erupted across the square. For Outer Sect Disciples, the sword art was an extremely precious cultivation method—learning it meant gaining a skill to rely on.

The Deacon Elder raised a hand to quiet them, and the cheers gradually subsided. "The sect's Basic Sword Art is called the Purple Sun Basic Sword Codex. It consists of three forms: Chop, Thrust, and Lift. Though this sword codex is simple, it forms the foundation for all advanced sword arts. If you practice these three forms to perfection, cultivating advanced sword arts later will yield twice the results with half the effort."

With that, the elder nodded to a disciple behind him. That disciple quickly brought out a wooden table, on which lay several hundred thin booklets.

"These are the Purple Sun Basic Sword Codex. Each of you will take one. After receiving it, return to your quarters to cultivate. In three days, the sect will hold an assessment. Those who pass will receive a Basic Flying Sword. Those who fail must train twice as hard until they succeed."

The disciples scattered at once, surging toward the wooden table. Shen Hao and Zhang Shan squeezed in as well, each taking a copy of the Purple Sun Basic Sword Codex.

Back in Room C, Shen Hao eagerly held the Purple Sun Basic Sword Codex in his hands, flipping through it carefully. The characters on the booklet were bold and vigorous, and the opening lines laid out the sword art's essence: "The sword is the lord of all weapons. The Chop breaks finesse with force; the Thrust wins with speed; the Lift overcomes hardness with softness..."

The booklet contained not only textual explanations but also detailed illustrations, vividly depicting the key movements of the Chop, Thrust, and Lift forms.

Shen Hao studied intently, committing every movement key point to memory. He knew that mastering the sword art came down to practice making perfect—only by honing the basic moves to perfection could he unleash the sword art's true power.

He took the sword codex and walked to the open space in front of the house. At that moment, the sun was setting, its afterglow spilling across the ground, coating the earth in a golden halo.

Following the illustrations in the sword codex, Shen Hao assumed the starting stance for the Chop. Though he had no flying sword, he could substitute with a wooden one. He found a branch as thick as an arm inside the house and used it as a wooden sword to begin practicing.

The Chop was simple in motion—raise the wooden sword high, then bring it down sharply. But this seemingly straightforward move contained many nuances: the angle of the arm's force, the rotation of the wrist, and the adjustment of the body's center of gravity all had strict requirements.

Shen Hao practiced the Chop over and over. At first, his movements were clumsy; the wooden sword came down crooked and chaotic, lacking any form. But he didn't lose heart. Instead, he carefully compared his actions to the illustrations in the sword codex, correcting his posture.

Before long, his movements grew increasingly precise. When the wooden sword came down, it carried a gust of wind, making a "whoosh" sound.

Zhang Shan was also practicing in the open space next door. His talent was better than Shen Hao's, and he grasped the movements faster. But seeing Shen Hao's diligence, he dared not slack off and trained even harder.

Night deepened, and moonlight flowed like water. Fine beads of sweat seeped from Shen Hao's temples, and a dull ache spread through his arms. Yet he didn't stop, continuing to practice the Chop.

He knew that a weak foundation would lead to a shaky structure. Only by mastering the basic sword art to perfection could he pass the assessment three days later and earn his own flying sword.