Extreme Talent

After receiving their Wooden Blades, everyone naturally recalled the head escort's Blade Art, 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 the others, then could not help nodding.

"Others, meanwhile, are dancing like demons and monsters. Who knows what they're even waving around?"

Qian Dele and the other strong men immediately flushed red when they felt those eyes on them.

When the escort looked toward Jiang Ping again, he found that this most heroic-looking young man was holding his blade without moving at all. Rather than copying the gourd by drawing the ladle, he seemed to be lost in thought.

"Hmm, better wait for Head Escort Liang to teach them properly."

"..." Qian Dele.

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

So this was the advantage of standing out—no need to fear being rebuked by one's seniors.

Jiang Ping came back to himself and thought this inwardly, his brows relaxing.

He had not been daydreaming. He had been carefully recalling the head escort's Blade Art in his mind.

In truth, the instant he grasped the Wooden Blade, a strange feeling had arisen within him.

Jiang Ping was certain this was his first time holding such a blade, yet the moment he gripped it, it felt as though he had touched it hundreds, even 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 Beginner (3/300): Practice a hundred times daily, and master it within a year.]

The head escort's blade was too fast for me to see clearly, but I remembered his footwork and the points where his wrist exerted force. Then I recalled and imitated them in my mind.

Jiang Ping thought inwardly.

He had not swung his blade even once in reality. Relying solely on memory and simulation, it was as if a little person practicing saber had appeared in his mind, swinging the 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 moves, he had already begun improving them.

Every move and form of the Flying Snow Saber now resembled muscle memory, deeply etched into his body.

At that thought, his gaze suddenly turned strange as he muttered to himself, Could my comprehension of the Martial Dao be even more heaven-defying?

After all, what child learned saber techniques without actually practicing, instead making rapid progress merely by recalling and rehearsing them in their mind?

"Alright."

At that moment, the head escort's voice rang out. "You've all had enough time to feel your way around. Even the two best among you only got two or three forms right. Now, follow me and practice."

After saying that, Liang Sheng explained and broke down the moves while demonstrating them. Everyone followed along, swinging their blades in a muddled fashion.

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

After practicing three times, everyone stopped to rest.

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

"Hm?" Jiang Ping, who seemed to have been lost in thought, abruptly raised his head. It seemed he had been called out again.

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

The moment the escort spoke, Jiang Ping felt many strange looks fall upon him.

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.

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

The results, however, were gratifying. Jiang Ping was certain that his Extreme Talent seemed not to lie in the Nourishing Life Technique, but in Martial Dao techniques:

[Flying Snow Saber Beginner (15/300)]

Merely through the "little person practicing saber" in his mind, his Blade Art had already begun to bear fruit.

In other words, Jiang Ping did not actually need to sweat and toil in reality. Through mental storms alone, he could turn thought into gains.

Such heaven-defying comprehension!

"Alright!" Jiang Ping wore a devout expression and nodded obediently.

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 chick pecking at rice, making quite a few people feel sour inside.

"Escort Huang's attitude toward Jiang Ping is way too good, isn't it? Toward us, he's either mocking us or criticizing us," Sun Zheng whispered, feeling that he had been treated unfairly.

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

After all, teachers all liked outstanding students.

After discussing the poor students, Escort Huang mentioned the outstanding ones, such as Fang Yong and Sun Qi.

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

The praised few looked calm, but their eyes still unconsciously revealed a trace of pride.

Especially Fang Yong and Sun Qi. The two exchanged a glance, secretly competing with each other.

One had the highest Fist Force, while the other had risen from behind to claim third place. Neither accepted the other.

"However, you must not grow complacent. Blade Art is different from the Nourishing Life Technique. It takes a great deal of time to see results. You must persevere. First learn to link the forms together smoothly, then practice diligently and comprehend the mysteries of the Fast Saber."

Escort Huang gave them another reminder.

"Continue."

Not long after resting, the head escort rose and spoke. Everyone sitting on the ground had no choice but to pick up their Wooden Blades and continue practicing.

Jiang Ping, meanwhile, remained immersed in his own mental storm.

No, it still isn't smooth enough. Too slow, too slow, too slow! Faster, faster, faster—faster!

He could actually make the forms flow together 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, practice again, practice again!

The little person practicing saber that Jiang Ping had imagined in his mind swung wildly, chopping again and again. Before long, he found the rhythm, and its speed grew faster and faster.

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

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

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

[...]

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

During this time, Jiang Ping had progressed at a breakneck pace. His Blade Art progress had already passed one-third, terrifyingly fast.

Yet in reality, he was called out by Escort Huang again.

After all, while dividing his attention, continuously comprehending and improving in his mind, he still had to follow the head escort's step-by-step breakdown of the forms on the surface. Mistakes were unavoidable.

This made quite a few people who envied him sneer.

"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 slight glance, then paid him no further attention.

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

"I'm thinking about Blade Art," Jiang Ping answered truthfully, but Liu Wensheng wore an unconvinced expression and did not ask further.

After lunch.

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

Although improving his Blade Art could increase his strength, Martial Dao cultivation was the proper path. Becoming a martial artist was the primary goal.

Besides, comprehending Blade Art through mental storms saved him more energy.

However, the mental drain was also considerable. Combined with the exhaustion from training, Jiang Ping lay in the dormitory and fell deeply asleep after comprehending the Blade Art only a few times.

Perhaps because he had slept too well that afternoon, Jiang Ping did not fall asleep early after returning to the dormitory that evening after training. He kept comprehending the Flying Snow Saber.

Since no one was in the dormitory, he sat by his bed, stirring up mental storms while holding a Wooden Blade and gesturing with it.

The Blade Art he had comprehended in his mind had been carved into his bones. The blade in his hand moved swiftly and smoothly, crisscrossing through the air as it rubbed against the wind and gave off low hums.

Likewise, his progress was extremely fast. 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 hurt someone. The dormitory was too cramped, after all.