The haunted house at 18 Shigang Lane was only a kilometer or two from his new home. Early in the morning, Chen Shouyi came here with his wooden sword.
It was quiet here, and no one would disturb him.
Without a doubt, it was the best place to practice.
As soon as he began practicing his sword today, Chen Shouyi could clearly feel that something was different from before.
His mind seemed to focus more easily. He didn't need to strain to concentrate; he naturally slipped into a state of intense focus, free from distraction, his thoughts still as a tranquil pool.
Every sword thrust and movement looked much like usual, yet carried a concentrated, razor-sharp edge.
After practicing for a few minutes,
he suddenly thrust straight at a nearby camphor tree.
A sharp whistle rang out. The sword tip stopped abruptly, less than a couple of millimeters from the trunk.
A miniature sonic boom blasted a cloud of dust from the bark. Apart from that, a tiny, inch-long slit had appeared on its surface, several times finer than a hair. It was all but impossible to notice unless you looked closely.
Chen Shouyi withdrew the wooden sword and walked over.
He reached out with his right hand, fingers curled like a claw, and grabbed the bark. To his present strength, the tree's tough bark was no sturdier than a sheet of paper. With a ripping sound, he tore away a large chunk, bark and trunk together.
He examined the bark in his hand, and soon a trace of surprise appeared on his face.
"The slit is actually three centimeters deep!"
Before, his Sword Qi had reached no more than two centimeters.
"Could this be the effect of the second-optimized Entering Tranquility to Refine the Self?"
Compared to the earth-shaking