Killing Blade Technique

Seeing that Gu Yang still refused to speak, Wang Qi could not help but let out a long sigh. He then led him out of the Training Ground and into a nearby pavilion to register his information as a Trial Disciple.

After registering his information, the two of them wandered around the pavilion.

"If you want to exchange points for anything in the future, you will come here as well. The Weaponry and Small Pharmacy are behind us. They are where you exchange for weapons and leather armor, and pills respectively."

"Thank you, Instructor Wang." Gu Yang answered politely, committing the two locations Wang Qi had indicated to memory and planning to come take a look himself next time.

After leaving the cluster of pavilions, Wang Qi's task was considered complete.

Unfortunately, his experience guiding a newcomer this time had been abysmal. He had not gained the slightest benefit.

The two headed together toward Hong Tao's small Cultivation Room. Along the way, Gu Yang finally voiced a doubt that had been lingering in his heart. "Instructor Wang, why isn't there a single disciple in that Training Ground?"

"They have all gone outside the city to train. If they stayed in the city all the time, where would they get points to exchange for pills to cultivate?" Wang Qi replied matter-of-factly, his eyes fixed straight ahead.

"You will understand after cultivating in the Blood Condensation stage for a while. This stage differs from the previous Qi Cultivation and Strength Training stages. You can only grind away at it with time. If you want to increase your cultivation speed, you must take Qi and Blood Powder."

"Qi and Blood Powder..." Wang Qi had mentioned this medicine more than once already. Gu Yang understood that Qi and Blood Powder had to be extremely important to cultivation in the Blood Condensation stage.

However, he did not ask Wang Qi about it. He would definitely visit the Weaponry and pharmacy later, and he could learn about it clearly there.

What surprised him even more was that all those Trial Disciples had actually left the city. Not a single one had remained in the Martial Academy.

Could it be that the trial was compulsory?

Thinking of that possibility, Gu Yang asked directly.

Wang Qi shook his head. "The Martial Academy will not force Trial Disciples to go out and train, but it does not permit disciples to leave on their own. Therefore, when the Martial Academy organizes an outing for training, disciples generally will not choose to refuse. After all, if they do not go, they can only remain in the Martial Academy."

"Oh, thank you." Gu Yang nodded and did not ask any further questions.

They continued onward, and before long, they saw Hong Tao again.

Wang Qi left, while Gu Yang followed Hong Tao back into the Cultivation Room.

"You should already understand the situation of Trial Disciples. Trial Disciples must learn a weapon technique. The Martial Academy teaches the sword, saber, and hammer. Which weapon do you wish to learn?" Hong Tao asked directly as soon as the two sat down cross-legged.

Saber, sword, hammer... How was he supposed to choose when he knew nothing about any of them?

Gu Yang raised his eyes toward Hong Tao. With a thought, he replied, "This disciple knows nothing about weapon techniques. I hope Dean Hong can offer guidance."

"Haha, interesting." Hong Tao's laughter echoed through the entire Cultivation Room, making Gu Yang's ears buzz.

"The Martial Academy has three weapon techniques: the Edgeless Sword, the Killing Blade Technique, and the Army-Breaking Hammer. Each is a foundational Martial Technique for one of Canglong Island's advanced cultivation methods. If you must choose among these three, I recommend that you learn the Killing Blade Technique. This technique has an extraordinary origin."

After saying that, Hong Tao gave Gu Yang another meaningful look and said lightly, "Of course, even after you begin cultivating a weapon technique, do not abandon the three foundational Martial Techniques you learned before. Especially what you comprehended from them—that may be what lets you ascend to heaven in a single step."

Hearing Hong Tao's final words, Gu Yang's heart could not help but skip a beat.

What exactly had he fused the three Martial Techniques into when he created Azure Dragon Dance, for both Qin Hu and Hong Tao to value it so highly?

He had originally planned to set Azure Dragon Dance aside for now and focus fully on Stance Training and the weapon technique he was about to choose. Now, however, it seemed he could not let go of any of them. He had to keep all three in hand.

As for the weapon technique...

Though he hesitated slightly, Gu Yang ultimately followed Hong Tao's advice and chose the Killing Blade Technique.

For matters he did not understand, it was better to heed the advice of the advanced martial artist before him. In strength, vision, and experience alike, he was inferior to Hong Tao. What reason did he have to refuse?

Besides, among the saber, sword, and hammer, the long saber was what he favored most.

The saber was the courage of all weapons. It emphasized using force to break ingenuity, making it most suitable for someone like him with Innate Giant Strength.

As for hammer techniques, they were much the same in that regard, but a heavy hammer had no edge. In certain special situations, it could easily be restrained by an enemy's methods, so Gu Yang ruled it out immediately.

After Gu Yang chose the Killing Blade Technique, Hong Tao promptly took him into the Weaponry to select a fine steel long saber.

The enormous Weaponry stood three or four stories tall, packed with towering weapon racks and more than a thousand weapons.

The long saber Hong Tao selected for Gu Yang was among the very best in quality even among those thousand-plus weapons.

That was the benefit of being a "genius." Gu Yang did not believe every Trial Disciple received the same treatment when first selected, with Hong Tao personally helping them choose.

But because it was so fine, it was expensive!

The long saber measured around five chi in length and was forged entirely of fine steel. Its hilt was wrapped in red cord, while its bright silver blade was covered in dense patterns. It cost a full twenty points!

Converted into silver, that was a full twenty taels—exactly twice as expensive as the saber he had swung in the Training Ground.

Gu Yang's heart bled even as he brimmed with excitement.

Though he would have to repay the money later, what young man could refuse a weapon of his own?

The afternoon sunlight spilled into the Cultivation Room, leaving specks of light across the Black Steel Rock floor.

At this moment, Gu Yang was practicing the Killing Blade Technique stroke by stroke according to Hong Tao's instructions.

The Killing Blade Technique had only nine basic movements: thrust, slash, lift, hook, cleave, sweep, flick, chop, and rebound.

At the same time, the combinations of these nine movements gave rise to eighty-one basic variations.

What this saber technique trained were the routines of those movements and variations, as well as the corresponding methods of exerting force.

"The Killing Blade Technique, as its name implies, is a saber technique tempered through slaughter. Therefore, I will give you twenty days to familiarize yourself with it. Twenty days later, I will arrange for someone to send you into the mountains, where you will experience the true meaning of this saber technique through slaughter."

Hong Tao wore a stern expression. As he instructed Gu Yang in the movements of the saber technique, he also told him the next step of his plan.

Gu Yang had no objections to Hong Tao's arrangements. He merely nodded calmly, then brought his saber down in another heavy chop.

Time flowed on, and an entire afternoon passed in the blink of an eye.

By the time the sun sank behind the western hills, Gu Yang had finally memorized every movement and variation of the saber technique.

Only then did he end that day's cultivation.

At this moment, only Gu Yang remained in the dim Cultivation Room. Hong Tao had left after teaching him the saber technique.

Gu Yang planted his long saber against the ground and lightly closed his eyes. Starlight flickered before him, and two lines of text immediately appeared.

Skill: Blood Nourishing Stance Accomplishment (1/400); Azure Dragon Dance Accomplishment (96/1000); Life-Slaying Saber Level (1/100)

Talent: Vitality Surge, Power Surge, Mighty Ox Strength.

Without realizing it, the Life-Slaying Saber had already reached Entry Level and become a skill. From now on, he only needed to study diligently and practice hard to reach the pinnacle of the technique...