Have you comprehended sword techniques?

Qingyun Back Cliff.

Ye Ping's entire mind was immersed in the sword technique he had just comprehended.

After several hours of enlightenment, Ye Ping realized that this sword technique consisted of four distinct styles of Sword Moves, yet they could be combined into a single complete technique.

The first set of sword moves was like spring thunder—rumbling softly, accompanied by a fine, continuous drizzle.

The second set was like summer thunder—booming fiercely, ferocious and terrifying.

The third set was like autumn thunder—silent and soundless, eerily strange.

The fourth set was like winter thunder—a shocking thunderclap, withering all things.

These four sets of sword moves, with Sword Momentum like thunder, each had their own unique characteristics, leaving Ye Ping utterly amazed.

Moreover, at the very beginning, Ye Ping had only comprehended twelve moves.

But as time passed little by little, the number of Sword Moves he comprehended grew.

Now, Ye Ping had already comprehended one hundred and forty-four Sword Moves.

How could Ye Ping not believe that Su Changyu was a peerless Sword Immortal?

"A mere Sword Mark hides such powerful Sword Moves—Senior Disciple Brother is truly a beast."

"I wonder if this result counts as passing."

Ye Ping was shaken inwardly, both amazed by Su Changyu's strength and curious whether comprehending a sword technique in one day would be considered acceptable.

Yet Ye Ping had no idea.

This 'Four Thunder Sword Technique' was detailed into four realms, divided based on the number of Sword Moves comprehended.

Comprehending seventy-two moves was Initial Comprehension.

Comprehending one hundred and forty-four moves was Peak Proficiency.

Comprehending four hundred and thirty-two moves was Great Perfection.

Comprehending one thousand four hundred and sixty moves was Peak Attainment, at which point one could comprehend Sword Momentum and then Sword Intent.

Su Changyu had spent over ten years and had only mastered eighteen moves—that is, Initial Comprehension of the Spring Thunder Sword.

But Ye Ping was different.

In less than half a day, he had fully comprehended the entire Four Thunder Sword Technique and directly stepped into the realm of Peak Proficiency.

This was no longer a question of passing or failing.

If he went out and called himself the Top Prodigy of Ten Kingdoms, it would not be an exaggeration.

Yet Ye Ping was completely unaware. Instead, he rested for a short while, then immediately continued studying the Sword Mark on the ground.

And the Sword Moves Ye Ping comprehended grew more and more numerous.

It continued until late at night.

Ye Ping had comprehended another hundred Sword Moves before he finally felt exhausted.

It was already the Third Watch. Though Ye Ping wished to continue his enlightenment, fatigue ultimately set in, so he got up and went back to rest.

That night.

Ye Ping had a nightmare.

He dreamed that because his talent was too poor, he was expelled from the Qingyun Dao Sect.

Fortunately, in the end, Ye Ping woke up with a start.

After waking.

Ye Ping let out a long sigh of relief.

The dream had been too real.

It left Ye Ping's heart filled with melancholy.

To be honest, being a transmigrator was already miserable enough—finding out three years late that this was a xianxia world was even worse. Now that he had finally managed to join a sect, and a Hidden Sect at that, Ye Ping saw hope.

But if he were expelled from the sect because of his low aptitude, that was a result Ye Ping could not accept no matter what.

"No, no—shouldn't Hidden Sects prefer disciples with poor aptitude? If someone had good talent, would they even need training? Wouldn't it be effortless? Just scratch a Sword Mark and comprehend a peerless sword technique—what need would there be for a teacher?"

But soon, Ye Ping thought he was wrong.

He believed that Hidden Sects did not value aptitude, but rather diligence and perseverance. So he had to work harder and harder.

In one sentence.

A cultivator only had two seasons.

Hard work was the peak season.

Slacking off was the off-season.

With that thought, Ye Ping felt as if he had been injected with chicken blood. After a quick wash, he headed straight for the back cliff.

Perhaps because of the nightmare, Ye Ping skipped breakfast as well and went straight to the Back Cliff to comprehend the Sword Mark.

Until the Wu hour.

A figure appeared on the Back Cliff.

It was Su Changyu.

He walked over carrying a tray, looking at Ye Ping in the distance, a trace of guilt in his eyes.

From yesterday to today, Ye Ping hadn't touched a drop of water or eaten a bite, spending all his time comprehending his own sword path.

This made Su Changyu a bit awkward.

To be honest, he had purely intended to delay Ye Ping's time in the sect, but he never expected Ye Ping to be such a stubborn fool.

He actually went and butted heads with a Sword Mark.

Skipping one meal was nothing, but going a whole day without eating—that definitely wouldn't do.

What if the person ended up staying, but lost his life? How awkward would that be?

So Su Changyu brought food and walked over.

"Ye Ping."

Su Changyu came up behind Ye Ping and called out softly.

In an instant, Ye Ping woke from his epiphany.

"Little Junior Brother greets Senior Brother."

Seeing Su Changyu, Ye Ping immediately showed respect.

"You're diligent in learning, but you still need to eat. I heard you haven't had a single bite from yesterday to today. That won't do. Eat first."

Su Changyu spoke, setting several plates on the ground—two dishes and one bowl of rice, all vegetarian, with no meat in sight.

"Senior Brother's lesson is well taken."

Ye Ping nodded, then looked at the food on the ground. He fell silent for a moment.

Sensing Ye Ping's silence, Su Changyu felt a bit embarrassed, but quickly masked it and said, "Ye Ping, as cultivators, we must not eat greasy or meaty things. As I said before, grains aren't great for the body, and heavy meat isn't good either. That's why our Qingyun Dao Sect has always been vegetarian. Don't overthink it."

Su Changyu explained, worried Ye Ping might notice something off.

This was obviously a lie. The real situation was poverty—pure, scraping-by poverty.

Not that they couldn't afford meat at all, just that they couldn't buy it often. An occasional bit, maybe.

"Senior Brother, I wasn't overthinking. I was just a bit moved."

Ye Ping spoke. He truly hadn't overthought it; he was genuinely touched.

Hearing this, Su Changyu inexplicably felt a pang of guilt. He looked at this fresh-faced Little Junior Brother, and the weight of his conscience grew a little heavier.

But there was no helping it. For the sect's development, he could only let Ye Ping suffer for now. Once the Qingyun Dao Sect advanced to a Third-rank Sect, he'd make it up to Ye Ping later.

That was Su Changyu's thought.

"Eat first."

Su Changyu said no more and let Ye Ping begin.

The latter nodded.

Then he picked up the bowl and chopsticks and started eating.

Before eating, Ye Ping hadn't felt particularly hungry, but the moment he took the first bite, the hunger in his stomach surged, making him swallow several mouthfuls in a row.

A bowl of rice with two vegetable dishes—Ye Ping finished it all cleanly.

In the end, he even poured the vegetable oil into the bowl, forcing down the last few grains of rice.

Washed down with a bowl of nameless hot soup, Ye Ping instantly felt full of energy.

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Full and satisfied, Ye Ping set down his bowl and chopsticks but didn't forget to thank Su Changyu.

The latter watched Ye Ping, who had wolfed down his food, and felt even worse inside.

But he didn't know what to say. Finally, he could only ask casually, "Ye Ping, did you manage to comprehend any sword techniques from the Sword Mark?"

Su Changyu spoke.

It wasn't a deliberate inquiry—mostly just to break the awkward silence, a throwaway question.

But Ye Ping's answer made Su Changyu freeze.

"I did comprehend something, but this Little Junior Brother is dull-witted and didn't grasp the essence. I only understood a little bit of the Sword Moves."

Ye Ping nodded, a bit embarrassed as he said it.

Su Changyu: ???

You're kidding me?

You can actually comprehend Sword Moves from that?

Do you think I've never practiced swordsmanship before?

Su Changyu didn't believe it at all.