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 Gu Yang out of the Training Ground and to a nearby pavilion to register his information as a Trial Disciple.

After registering, the two wandered around the pavilion.

"From now on, if you want to exchange points for anything, you'll come here too. The Weaponry and the small Pharmacy are behind it. One is for exchanging weapons and leather armor, while the other is for pills."

"Thank you, Instructor Wang." Gu Yang replied politely, while committing the two locations Wang Qi had indicated to memory, intending to come and take a look on his own next time.

After leaving the cluster of pavilions, Wang Qi's task was more or less complete.

Unfortunately, this time his experience guiding a newcomer 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 one of his doubts. "Instructor Wang, why isn't there a single disciple in that Training Ground?"

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

"Once you've cultivated at the Blood Condensation stage for a while, you'll understand. This stage differs from the earlier Qi Cultivation and Strength Training stages. You can only grind away at it with time. If you want to speed up your cultivation, 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 for cultivation at 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 there.

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

Could it be that the training was compulsory?

Thinking of that possibility, Gu Yang asked outright.

Wang Qi shook his head. "The Martial Academy will not force Trial Disciples to go out for training, but it does not permit disciples to leave on their own. Therefore, whenever the Martial Academy organizes an outing, 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 further.

As they continued onward, they soon saw Hong Tao again.

After Wang Qi left, Gu Yang followed Hong Tao into the Cultivation Room once more.

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

Sabers, swords, hammers... How was he supposed to choose when he knew nothing about any of them?

Gu Yang raised his eyes toward Hong Tao. A thought flashed through his mind, and 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's three weapon techniques are the Edgeless Sword, the Life-Slaying Saber, and the Army-Breaking Hammer. Each is the foundational Martial Technique of an advanced cultivation art from Canglong Island. If you must choose from these three, I recommend the Killing Blade Technique. This technique has a most extraordinary origin."

After saying that, Hong Tao gave Gu Yang another meaningful glance and said mildly, "Of course, even after cultivating a weapon technique, do not abandon the three basic Martial Techniques you learned before—especially what you comprehended from them. That is the support that can let you ascend to the heavens in a single step."

Hearing Hong Tao's final words, Gu Yang's heart gave a jolt.

Just what had he fused from those three Martial Techniques into the Azure Dragon Dance, for Qin Hu and Hong Tao to attach such importance to it?

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

As for the weapon technique...

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

For things he did not understand, it was better to heed the advice of the advanced martial artist before him. Whether in strength, insight, or experience, he was inferior to Hong Tao. What reason did he have to refuse?

Besides, among sabers, swords, and hammers, the weapon he favored most was also the long saber.

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

As for hammer techniques, though they were similar in that regard, heavy hammers had no edge and could easily be restrained by an enemy's methods in certain special situations. Thus, Gu Yang ruled them out immediately.

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

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

Among those thousand-plus weapons, the long saber Hong Tao selected for Gu Yang was one of the very best in quality.

That was the advantage 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 good, it was expensive!

The long saber was about five feet long, forged entirely from fine steel. Its hilt was wrapped in red cord, while its bright silver blade was covered in dense patterns. It was worth a full twenty points!

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

Gu Yang's heart bled even as excitement surged through him.

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

Afternoon sunlight spilled into the Cultivation Room, leaving scattered patches 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, chop, sweep, pick, hack, and snap.

At the same time, these nine movements could be combined with one another to produce eighty-one basic variations.

Practicing this saber technique meant practicing the sequences of these movements and variations, along with the corresponding methods of exerting force.

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

With a stern expression, Hong Tao instructed Gu Yang in the saber movements while explaining the next stage of the plan.

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

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

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

Only then did that day's cultivation come to an end.

At this moment, Gu Yang was alone 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 emerged.

Skill: Blood Nourishing Stance · Major Accomplishment (1/400); Azure Dragon Dance · Minor Accomplishment (96/1000); Life-Slaying Saber · Entry 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 train hard to reach the pinnacle of the technique...