Morning Martial Arts Practice

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

Dawn had barely broken when the clear, far-reaching peal of bells began echoing throughout Hundred Flowers Valley.

Lin Lin woke to the sound of the bells.

After a night's rest, coupled with the powerful restorative effects of the Hundred Flowers Heart Clearing Pill, Lin Lin felt refreshed and invigorated, in better condition than ever before.

Perhaps the sound of him getting up had carried outside. Ru Yu and Ru Shuang, the two maids who had been waiting by the door, knocked and called out, "Young Master, would you like to wash up? Madam has instructed that you still need to attend Morning Martial Arts Practice shortly, so you must make preparations early."

Lin Lin froze slightly at her words.

"Morning Martial Arts Practice?"

After thinking for a moment, Lin Lin, who had been planning to wash up and go practice martial arts, finally recalled what it was about.

The disciples of Hundred Flowers Valley were divided into several ranks: Official Disciples, Elite Disciples, True Inheritor Disciples, and Elders of Affairs.

Upon entering the sect, one became an Official Disciple. Those who had achieved success in their studies and could graduate to roam the martial world became Elite Disciples. To become a True Inheritor Disciple and learn more powerful martial arts, or advance further to become an Elder of Affairs, one had to make tremendous contributions to the sect.

Lin Lin was currently an Official Disciple of Hundred Flowers Valley, still in the learning stage.

Thus, he needed to attend the sect-organized Morning Martial Arts Practice. In the mornings, he also had to study subjects such as martial arts, precautions for traveling the martial world, local customs from different regions, medicinal herb identification, and poison discernment. Only the afternoons were his free time.

However, since he had previously been confined to reflect on his mistakes, these studies had been suspended.

Now that his punishment had ended, he naturally had to resume the standard learning routine of an Official Disciple of Hundred Flowers Valley.

"Understood. Come in."

Lin Lin answered the two maids waiting outside.

He washed up with the hot water Ru Shuang brought, then put on the Hundred Flowers Valley disciple uniform Ru Yu handed him.

It was a sky-blue silk robe adorned with sunflowers.

Lin Lin glanced at his reflection in a bronze mirror polished as smooth and lustrous as glass. He stood tall, with sword-like brows and starry eyes. Though his skin was somewhat dark and rough, leaving him far from the ethereal image of a jade-like gentleman unparalleled beneath the heavens, he was still an exceptionally valiant young swordsman.

"Not bad."

Nodding in satisfaction, Lin Lin picked up his sword and headed out.

Morning Martial Arts Practice was held at the broad Martial Arts Practice Square in the Middle Section of Hundred Flowers Valley. The purpose of holding it every day was to ensure that every disciple in the sect maintained a basic amount of training.

At the same time, Morning Martial Arts Practice allowed less advanced disciples to learn from fellow disciples around them whose sword practice had progressed more quickly, observing how others trained their swordsmanship.

As Lin Lin walked in that direction, he saw many fellow disciples gathering there as well.

There were Official Disciples like him, dressed in sky-blue disciple uniforms embroidered with sunflowers, as well as Elite Disciples wearing black robes embroidered with lotuses.

Besides them, some youths in light gray cloth garments embroidered with ears of rice had also joined this Morning Martial Arts Practice.

These people were all Outer Sect Disciples of Hundred Flowers Valley.

Young people whose aptitude and comprehension were not exceptional but who possessed a heart for martial arts could become Outer Sect Disciples after passing certain tests if they wished to join Hundred Flowers Valley.

Because they had to handle many miscellaneous tasks in Hundred Flowers Valley each day, such as sweeping, hauling, and planting crops, they were also called Servant Disciples.

While Official Disciples could freely study relatively basic subjects such as sword techniques, internal cultivation methods, and martial-world common knowledge, Outer Sect Disciples needed to accumulate enough Sect Contribution before they could apply to the sect elders to learn them.

With such an enormous disparity in treatment, compounded by the vast gap in talent, Outer Sect Disciples generally were not regarded as true fellow disciples by those of Official Disciple rank or above. Their status was only slightly higher than the maids and servants Lin Lin's mother, Zhang Fei, had bought.

Before long, Lin Lin arrived near the front of the Martial Arts Practice Square.

Several dozen youths dressed in the same sky-blue robes as him stood scattered about there.

Lin Lin had not arrived last, since there were over two hundred Official Disciples from his generation.

Lin Lin's arrival also stirred up a small commotion. Quite a few Official Disciples who knew him began huddling together and whispering among themselves.

Although Lin Lin could not hear what they were saying, it was not hard to tell from the teasing, mocking expressions on their faces that they were discussing how he had been sent to Yin Wind Gorge to reflect on his mistakes for a month.

Clearly, there would be no kind words coming from these fellow disciples.

Lin Lin remained fairly calm about it. After all, his former self had indeed been a laggard who never sought to improve, loved playing and causing trouble, and was often punished by his elders.

If he went over and argued with these fellow disciples now, it would not improve his reputation in the slightest.

Only by letting these fellow disciples see his changes in the future—see him becoming outstanding—would he deliver the best retort to all their gossip and slander.

As time passed, all the Official Disciples had arrived and formed neat square formations.

The Outer Sect Disciples stood farther away, likewise arranged in orderly rows.

The Elite Disciples in black robes stood at the front of the Outer Sect Disciples' ranks.

These Elite Disciples had not originally needed to attend Morning Martial Arts Practice. Those who had come specifically had accepted Sect Missions and received Sect Contribution, and were responsible for demonstrating Morning Martial Arts Practice to the Outer Sect Disciples, guiding them in sword practice through both word and example.

Clang!

Seeing that the several thousand people in the Martial Arts Practice Square had more or less all arrived, the bell rang again.

The slightly disordered formations in the square swiftly became orderly, and those still speaking in low voices fell silent.

A young man in a pure white robe appeared atop the high platform in the Martial Arts Practice Square. He was Cui Hao, the Chief Senior Brother of all Hundred Flowers Valley. His martial talent was unmatched among his peers throughout the valley, and he was also the designated next Valley Master of Hundred Flowers Valley.

The Outer Sect Disciples could observe the many Elite Disciples of Hundred Flowers Valley as they practiced swordsmanship, while this batch of Official Disciples, including Lin Lin, could directly observe Senior Brother practicing his swordsmanship at close range.

If they were lucky, they might even encounter the Elder of Teaching Skills, Ji Yun, personally explaining martial arts to them.

"Morning Martial Arts Practice, begin!"

At that moment, a cool male voice spread throughout the entire Martial Arts Practice Square.

Then the Senior Brother of Hundred Flowers Valley was the first to unfold his sword stance, beginning to practice Hundred Flowers in Disarray, the introductory sword technique known by every disciple of Hundred Flowers Valley, whether inner or outer sect.

Standing amid the crowd, Lin Lin began practicing as well.

At first, the sword-dancing rhythms of the many disciples throughout the Martial Arts Practice Square appeared disorderly. Yet as time passed, a peculiar atmosphere seemed to envelop the entire square.

Everyone's sword rhythms gradually synchronized. Their chaotic thoughts seemed to settle as well, and all of them immersed themselves in their swordsmanship, their movements becoming neat and uniform.

At this moment, many disciples with only average attainments in swordsmanship felt a flash of realization rise in their hearts.