Old Soldiers Never Die (Please Bookmark and Keep Reading)

Zhong Ming had high expectations for this lesson.

In his view, most of the people at the Sword Testing Platform were veterans of Dragon Stream Peak. Although their cultivation was not particularly high due to lacking spiritual root talent, most of them had studied the sword for two or three years, even five or six.

"Having cultivated for so long, they must have gained their own insights, right?"

Yet after watching for only a short while with that thought in mind, his brows furrowed deeply.

These people's swordsmanship was hard to put into words.

Most of the "veterans" of Dragon Stream Peak had only reached Stage 2: Proficient in swordsmanship. Very few had attained Stage 3: Mastery.

As for Stage 4: Minor Accomplishment, there was not a single one.

"How could their realms be so low..."

Before he finished the thought, Zhong Ming stopped. He had already realized something.

"It isn't that they're weak. It's that my Heaven Rewards Diligence is too powerful."

One reaped what one sowed. The saying sounded simple at first, but putting it into practice was incomparably difficult.

When most people cultivated, they did not know whether they were cultivating correctly, much less what lay ahead. As a result, after a day of cultivation, their technique progress would often increase by only one or two points.

And that was already considered good.

If they practiced incorrectly, not only would their technique progress fail to advance, it would even regress.

More tragically, if they turned mistaken moves into habits, their swordsmanship realm would remain stuck where it was, making it difficult to improve even a single step for the rest of their lives.

It was like ranked matches in his previous life. Certain bad habits could leave someone forever trapped between Gold and Silver.

Beyond all those difficulties, there was another troubling matter. After Stage 3, immortal techniques such as the Dragon Creek Breathing Art and Dragon Creek Swordplay could no longer be improved through simple hard work alone. Beyond cultivation, one also had to comprehend and seek Fortuitous Encounters.

The fourth stage, Minor Accomplishment, of immortal techniques could actually also be called secret teachings.

Only by comprehending certain profound secret teachings within an immortal technique could one be considered to have attained Minor Accomplishment.

This was also the main reason why disciples of so many famous orthodox sects did not remain in their sects once they reached a certain realm, but instead went out to gain experience.

—Tempering oneself amid the mortal world was both a way to temper the heart and to seek the Fortuitous Encounter that would allow one's technique to break through.

"Every step is a pitfall, every place shrouded in mist. For most cultivators, cultivating techniques and swordsmanship is like feeling their way through boundless darkness. In such circumstances, it seems only natural that they grow slowly."

"Sigh, wanting to learn something from others was just wishful thinking on my part... Hm?"

Just as Zhong Ming shook his head and prepared to abandon his original idea, intending to find a secluded place to cultivate, the sound of an argument suddenly drifted over from afar.

Turning to look, Zhong Ming discovered that disciples from other peaks, like himself, found Dragon Stream Peak's sparring partners too weak.

"What is going on with your Dragon Stream Peak? Is there not even one strong person here? I spent Merit Points to come here."

Zhong Ming narrowed his eyes at those words. Just as he was considering whether he would win if he stepped forward, a cold snort suddenly rang out from nearby.

"Weak? Cough, cough... Since you think we of Dragon Stream Peak are weak, I'll be your opponent."

Accompanied by coughing and speech, a man with one arm, one eye, and a body thin as firewood walked from the corner onto the Sword Testing Platform.

His frail, windblown appearance made He Bin of Green Fragrance Mountain frown even more. "Can you even do this..."

Before he could finish, He Bin froze.

After stepping onto the platform, the man placed his lone arm on his sword hilt and looked at He Bin with his remaining eye.

"Buzz!"

The moment he assumed the stance for drawing his sword, a solemn killing intent enveloped the entire Sword Testing Platform, lowering the temperature there by two or three degrees.

Even the surroundings were affected. Under the gaze of that one eye, He Bin fared even worse.

He felt as if endless killing intent, like icy rain, had suddenly drenched both body and soul.

At that moment, he even felt as though a sword had been laid across his neck. That extreme killing intent and chill made him too afraid to move in the slightest.

The one-armed man shook his head in disappointment at the sight. "So this is what Green Fragrance Mountain's disciples are like. Your cultivation is decent, but your temperaments are far too weak."

"I'm not weak!"

Those words seemed to enrage He Bin, and with a wave of his hand, he released a cloud of poisonous mist.

"Sizzle..."

Yet before the poisonous mist could begin to spread, a flash of sword light suddenly flickered before He Bin, cleaving him off the Sword Testing Platform before he could finish casting his spell.

"And you still say you aren't weak. Cough, cough..." Shaking his head, the thin man said helplessly, "Don't you know that we sword cultivators of Dragon Stream Peak attack with the greatest speed and ferocity? When I was slowly making my way onto the platform, you should have already put up a shield and secretly released your poisonous mist. Only then would you have had a chance of fighting me."

"Waiting until you face me before casting your spell, cough, cough—you had no chance at all. If I let you finish casting, then I've practiced this sword for nothing..."

After reprimanding and offering the other party some guidance, the one-armed man prepared to leave.

But after taking just one step, his eyes narrowed. He instantly turned his head and looked toward... beneath a tree.

Upon discovering that the person seated there was one of his own fellow disciples, and a youth at that, Qi Hong relaxed his brows.

Still, he walked over to Zhong Ming and said, "Little fellow, it's rude to stare at me like that."

"My apologies, Senior Brother." Zhong Ming cupped his hands in salute and apologized, then flattered him as well. "Senior Brother's swordsmanship is extraordinary and has left me deeply impressed, so I became a little too absorbed in watching. I hope Senior Brother can forgive me."

After all, he was secretly learning from him, so his attitude was very good.

And his words were not entirely flattery. Though the other man had only drawn one sword—

"That was... intent. Unlike my Heaven, Man, and Sword, his body, heart, sword, and that ultimate killing intent had all fused into one. It made every one of his strikes seem like a sword poured out with all his strength..."

After all, he had seen only one strike, and from far away. Zhong Ming had understood only a few things, but even those had brought him gains and stirred his heart.

"It really works."

While Zhong Ming was exhilarated, Qi Hong had noticed the token on his body, causing his brows to rise.

"You're this generation's Class A disciple of Dragon Stream Peak?"

"Yes."

Zhong Ming's admission improved the other man's attitude somewhat.

"With eyes like those, you're quite good." After praising him, Qi Hong pondered for a moment before speaking directly. "Seeing how excited you are, you must be quite satisfied with my Dragon Stream - Sword Drawing Technique. Do you want to learn it?"

"Of course. I hope Senior Brother will instruct me." After speaking, Zhong Ming thought of something and added, "This can count as paid instruction. I can pay spirit stones."

Waving a hand, Qi Hong said casually, "Forget the spirit stones. You are Dragon Stream Peak's future. Besides, the better your results in the Seven Peaks Grand Competition, the more resources Dragon Stream Peak will receive. A cripple like me can also be given better arrangements."

Zhong Ming said, "Uh... Senior Brother is not a cripple."

"Cough, cough..." With a bitter smile, Qi Hong said bleakly, "Demonic Evil Power entered my body and damaged more than half my meridians. Someone like me has no future left to speak of. If I'm not trash, then what am I?"

"Forget it, let's not talk about that. Are you ready to receive my instruction?"

Zhong Ming said, "Of course."

"Buzz..."

The instant Zhong Ming agreed, a terrifying, solemnly murderous, incomparably strange and chilling force suddenly pressed down upon him.

At the same time, Qi Hong's lone eye turned toward Zhong Ming.

A savage, terrifying smile appeared on his face.

"Little fellow, let me say this first—my instruction will not be so easy..."

Under that gaze, Zhong Ming's body stiffened.

At that moment, he understood why that cultivator from Green Fragrance Mountain had been so helpless.

"This is not merely his intent. The power of something evil is mixed into it as well!"

That mad, strange force stimulated Zhong Ming, making him instinctively assume the stance for drawing his sword.

"Buzz!"

The instant he assumed that stance, a feeling of reassurance and tranquility enveloped Zhong Ming's body and mind.

When practicing the Dragon Stream - Sword Drawing Technique, Zhong Ming often hypnotized himself. It had already become a habit. Now, the moment he assumed the sword-drawing stance, his self-hypnosis began instinctively.

That state of mind, which feared nothing, caused Zhong Ming to stop being affected by Qi Hong's strange aura.

Even the solemn killing intent in the surroundings was scattered somewhat by Zhong Ming's presence.

This left Qi Hong stunned.

He had wanted Zhong Ming to witness the strength of demons and monsters, and to experience the brutality of real combat, but Zhong Ming's performance shocked him.

"I remember this generation of disciples only entered the sect eight days ago, didn't they?"

"How did he nurture such intent in only eight days? And this sword-drawing stance of his... Mastery?!"