Extreme Talent

After everyone received their wooden blades, they naturally recalled the Head Escort's blade techniques, and quite a few began pondering how to swing their blades.

"Not bad. A few of them can even get a move or two right."

Escort Huang glanced at Fang Yong, Sun Qi, and several others, unable to help nodding.

"Others are dancing like demons and monsters, who knows what they're even gesturing at."

Qian Dele and the other Strong men who felt that gaze immediately turned red with embarrassment.

When the escorts looked at Jiang Ping again, they found that this young man, the most heroic-looking of them all, stood motionless with his blade in hand. Rather than copying the gourd by drawing the ladle, he seemed lost in thought.

"Mm, better wait until Head Escort Liang formally teaches them."

"..." Qian Dele.

Hey! Was there really any need for such a double standard?!

Is this the advantage of standing out? I don't have to worry about being rebuked by my seniors.

Jiang Ping, coming back to himself, thought inwardly. His brows relaxed considerably.

He had not been lost in thought. He had been carefully recalling the Head Escort's blade techniques in his mind.

In fact, the moment he gripped the wooden blade, a strange feeling had risen within him.

Jiang Ping was certain that this was the first time he had ever held such a blade, yet the instant his hand closed around it, it felt as though he had handled one hundreds or thousands of times before.

Innate Saber Saint Body?

He did not know.

However, when he simulated the Head Escort's Flying Snow Saber in his mind, his Destiny had indeed changed somewhat:

[Flying Snow Saber Entry Level (3/300): Practice a hundred times daily, and master it within a year.]

The Head Escort's blade was too fast. Naturally, I couldn't see it clearly, but I remembered his footwork and the points where he exerted force through his wrist. Then I recalled and imitated them in my mind.

Jiang Ping thought to himself.

He had not swung his blade even once in reality. Merely by simulating it through memory, it was as if a Little Person Practicing Saber had appeared in his mind, swinging a blade. Before long, he had learned the moves.

The change in proficiency on his Destiny already explained everything.

Not only had Jiang Ping completely learned the blade art's forms, he had already begun improving them.

Every move and stance of the Flying Snow Saber was now like muscle memory, deeply engraved into his body.

At that thought, his gaze suddenly turned strange, and he muttered inwardly, Could my Martial Dao comprehension be even more heaven-defying?

After all, what child learned the blade without actually practicing? Who could improve so quickly just by recalling and rehearsing it in their mind?

"Alright."

At that moment, the Head Escort's voice rang out. "You've all explored on your own for long enough. Even the two best among you only got two or three forms right. Now, practice with me."

With that, Liang Sheng explained and broke down the moves while demonstrating them. The others followed along, swinging their blades in a hazy, half-understanding manner.

Escort Huang moved through the crowd, helping correct their movements.

After practicing three times, everyone stopped to rest.

Escort Huang also began discussing everyone's blade practice. "Most of you still have imprecise movements and are prone to mistakes. Jiang Ping."

"Hm?" Jiang Ping, who seemed to have been wandering off again, abruptly raised his head. It seemed he had been singled out once more.

"You've made rather a lot of mistakes. You need to work harder," Escort Huang said.

The moment those words left the escort's mouth, Jiang Ping felt many strange looks directed his way.

It was not that he wanted to make mistakes. He had been dividing his attention, focusing on the Little Person Practicing Saber in his mind. He was testing whether his comprehension was truly that outrageous.

Of course, he could not possibly say such a thing aloud. It would be far too easy to frighten them.

The result, however, was gratifying. Jiang Ping was certain that his Extreme Talent did not seem to lie in the Nourishing Life Technique, but in Martial Dao skills:

[Flying Snow Saber Entry Level (15/300)]

Merely through the "Little Person Practicing Saber" in his mind, his blade art had already begun showing results.

In other words, Jiang Ping did not actually need to sweat and toil in reality. He could turn brainstorming alone into gains.

Such heaven-defying comprehension!

"Alright!" Jiang Ping nodded obediently, his expression devout.

Seeing his sincere attitude, Escort Huang was quite satisfied and added, "If there's anything you don't understand, you may come ask me directly."

"Alright." Jiang Ping nodded again like a chicken pecking rice, making quite a few people feel sour.

"Escort Huang treats Jiang Ping far too well, doesn't he? With us, he's either sneering coldly or criticizing us harshly," Sun Zheng said quietly, feeling that he had been treated unfairly.

"Who told him to have reached the second level of the Nourishing Life Technique? He'll most likely become an escort at the Escort Agency." Qian Dele saw things clearly. Escort Huang's attitude depended on how outstanding they were.

After all, teachers all liked exceptional students.

After speaking of the "Poor Students," Escort Huang mentioned the outstanding ones as well, such as Fang Yong and Sun Qi.

"These people already have standardized forms. They no longer need to listen to the Head Escort's explanations and can practice the blade on their own," Escort Huang said slowly.

The few who had been praised looked calm, but their eyes still unconsciously revealed a touch of pride.

Fang Yong and Sun Qi in particular exchanged a glance, secretly competing with one another.

One was first in Fist Force, while the other had surged from behind to take third place. Neither would yield to the other.

"However, you must not become complacent. Blade arts are unlike the Nourishing Life Technique. Seeing results will take a great deal of time. You need to persevere. First learn to link the forms smoothly, then practice diligently and grasp the mysteries of the Fast Saber."

Escort Huang offered another reminder.

"Continue."

Not long after the break, the Head Escort rose and spoke. The people sitting on the ground could only pick up their wooden blades and continue practicing.

Jiang Ping, meanwhile, remained immersed in his own brainstorming.

"No, it's still not smooth enough. Too slow, too slow, too slow! Faster, faster, faster—faster!"

He could actually make the forms flow smoothly, but once they did, they felt unnatural to him, far removed from the Head Escort's Fast Saber in his memories.

Simply put, if he wanted speed, he would make mistakes. If he wanted smoothness and accuracy, his blade art would slow down.

"Practice again, again, again!"

The Little Person Practicing Saber Jiang Ping had imagined in his mind swung its blade madly, chopping again and again. Soon, he found the rhythm, and its speed grew faster and faster.

[Flying Snow Saber Entry Level (15→20/300)]

[Flying Snow Saber Entry Level (20→30/300)]

[Flying Snow Saber Entry Level (30→66/300)]

[...]

Time flowed by, and in the blink of an eye, it was mealtime. The two escorts hurried away.

During that time, Jiang Ping had advanced at a startling rate. His blade art progress had already passed one-third, terrifyingly fast.

Yet in reality, Escort Huang called him out again.

After all, while he divided his attention, continuously gaining insight and improving in his mind, he still had to follow the Head Escort's step-by-step breakdown of the forms on the surface. Making mistakes was only to be expected.

That caused quite a few people who envied him to sneer inwardly.

"This person has achieved something in the Nourishing Life Technique, but I never expected his comprehension to be so lacking." Sun Qi's mood improved greatly.

"Nothing to fear." Fang Yong gave him a brief glance before ceasing to pay attention.

"What are you thinking about, youngster?" Liu Wensheng was nearby and could see clearly. This fellow did not seem to be practicing seriously; he appeared distracted.

"I'm thinking about blade art." Jiang Ping answered honestly, but Liu Wensheng wore an unconvinced expression and did not ask further.

After lunch.

Jiang Ping practiced the Nourishing Life Technique as usual, only returning to the dormitory to rest after exhausting himself.

Improving his blade art could certainly increase his strength, but Martial Dao cultivation was the proper path. Becoming a Martial Artist was his foremost goal.

Besides, comprehending blade art through brainstorming saved him more energy.

Still, the mental drain was considerable. Combined with the exhaustion from training, Jiang Ping lay in the dormitory and fell deeply asleep after contemplating the blade art only a few times.

Perhaps because he had slept too much in the afternoon, Jiang Ping did not go to sleep early when he returned to the dormitory after training that night. He continued comprehending the Flying Snow Saber.

Since no one else was in the dormitory, he sat by the bed, brainstorming while holding the wooden blade and making gestures with it.

The blade art he had comprehended in his mind had been carved into his bones. The blade in his hand was swift and fluid, its body crisscrossing through the air and producing low hums as it rubbed against the wind.

His progress was equally swift. His blade art progress had already passed two-thirds by the time his roommates returned one after another, and only then did he stop.

It was not that he feared exposing anything. He was simply afraid the wooden blade might injure someone; after all, the dormitory was still far too cramped.