A Day to Get Started, the Strange Senior Sister!

Hearing Liu Chu say that the simplified Combat Technique was not difficult to cultivate, Yang Wenhuai could not help but freeze.

He very much wanted to tell this disciple of his: although the Combat Technique had been simplified, reaching mastery was still exceedingly difficult!

But after thinking it over, he swallowed the words. They might make Liu Chu arrogant and complacent.

"Heh heh, although the Combat Technique has been simplified, only the number of moves has been reduced. If two opponents are evenly matched and locked in a prolonged battle, it indeed becomes easier for others to familiarize themselves with its moves and spot its weaknesses than with martial techniques that have more moves."

"But that does not mean its power has weakened. On the contrary, several one-strike kill moves have been added. They are even sharper and more ruthless, designed to kill the opponent within a few moves!"

Yang Wenhuai explained carefully, rather proudly.

Upon hearing this, Liu Chu recalled how he had defeated his opponents in three moves during both sparring sessions, as well as how he had killed the two blade-wielding robbers in the Black Market in an instant.

"So that's how it is. It seems that after mastering the Combat Technique, my grasp of its essence is quite solid..."

Liu Chu was secretly delighted.

According to Yang Wenhuai, the Combat Technique excelled at killing opponents within a few moves.

Then his experiences of defeating—or even killing—his opponents like thunder striking surely proved that he had already grasped the essence of the Combat Technique deeply!

"Master, do you have any movement martial techniques?"

After obtaining the blade technique, Liu Chu set his sights on movement techniques as well.

In truth, both the Dragon-Tiger Combat Technique and the Dragon-Tiger Blade-Breaking Technique contained footwork, but it was only meant to support combat and was extremely rudimentary.

"Don't bite off more than you can chew!"

Yang Wenhuai frowned. "For ordinary external martial artists, cultivating even one martial technique already leaves them unable to attend to anything else. You have obtained two already—how can you further divide your attention?!"

Liu Chu naturally understood this principle. With a respectful expression, he promised, "This disciple naturally understands. When cultivating the Combat Technique, I do so only after completing my daily stance training, so it will not affect my cultivation of the Dragon-Tiger Nourishing Practice."

He continued, "Besides, now that the Combat Technique has reached mastery, reaching perfection cannot be achieved through diligence alone."

In truth, Liu Chu's Combat Technique was already close to perfection. That was why, even after acquiring the blade technique, he was still not satisfied.

Once the Combat Technique reached perfection, there would be nowhere further to advance.

Naturally, he would then have more time to cultivate the blade technique and movement techniques.

His schedule had more than enough room for it; this was not biting off more than he could chew.

Yang Wenhuai nodded slightly upon hearing this. "What you say does make some sense. To bring the Combat Technique to perfection requires extraordinary comprehension. Otherwise, it is incomparably difficult; diligent cultivation and bitter practice alone cannot break through."

How many people exhausted their entire lives yet could not cultivate a single technique to mastery, let alone perfection!

Liu Chu had already cultivated the Combat Technique to mastery. In fact, he could pause its cultivation and study other techniques. As for perfection, he should not demand too much!

"However, though your reasoning is sound, I have no more martial techniques here for you to choose from."

Yang Wenhuai shook his head.

"No more..."

Liu Chu was slightly stunned. His gaze swept across the bookshelves in the study, where a few scattered volumes sat, their paper covers old and yellowed.

"These are all ordinary books—human acupoints, meridians, and the like. Aside from that, there are some accounts of the martial world."

Yang Wenhuai said irritably, "Cultivation techniques are precious beyond measure. This one Dragon-Tiger Nourishing Practice of mine is enough to open a martial arts hall and reap both fame and fortune. How could I possibly have so many techniques for you to pick from?"

"Enough. Go cultivate this blade technique first. Do not fail to even reach minor accomplishment in the blade technique and waste your decent comprehension!"

Yang Wenhuai said no more. He waved Liu Chu away and drove him from the study.

Yet Liu Chu inwardly grumbled, If you have no extra techniques, why tell me not to bite off more than I can chew...

Still, he only grumbled inwardly.

"With twenty taels of silver in tuition, I can cultivate the Dragon-Tiger Nourishing Practice, the Combat Technique, and the blade technique, with medicinal soup to drink besides... I've actually made a huge profit!"

Liu Chu was still quite content.

He returned to the inner courtyard and began reading through the blade technique.

With the foundation laid by the Dragon-Tiger Nourishing Practice and the Combat Technique, coupled with his entry into the Ninth Grade Skin Refining Realm, Liu Chu could already understand cultivation manuals on his own. He no longer needed someone to guide him step by step to get started.

"Eh, the Dragon-Tiger Blade-Breaking Technique can actually be learned so easily?"

Liu Chu took a large ring-hilted saber from the weapon rack. After cultivating for merely one day, he was astonished to discover that he had already gotten started with the blade technique!

"Although my doubled comprehension lets me cultivate martial techniques faster than ordinary people, it should not be this fast... It seems this is because of the mastered Combat Technique."

After pondering for a moment, Liu Chu found the answer.

The Dragon-Tiger Combat Technique had originally been simplified from the Dragon-Tiger Blade-Breaking Technique, and the two had many things in common.

As Liu Chu cultivated the blade technique, he unconsciously applied the Combat Technique. To his surprise, everything flowed exceptionally smoothly.

After only one day of cultivation, he had gotten started with the blade technique.

Attribute Panel:

Host: Liu Chu

Comprehension Enhancement Multiplier: 2x (Sacrifices available: ten Treasure Fish / one hundred taels of silver; lifespan: three years)

Dragon-Tiger Nourishing Practice (Minor Accomplishment 42%)

Dragon-Tiger Combat Technique (Mastery 66%)

Dragon-Tiger Blade-Breaking Technique (Beginner 1%)

"The Combat Technique is not far from perfection now!"

Liu Chu was delighted. "Once my blade technique reaches minor accomplishment, the Combat Technique will most likely enter perfection smoothly as well!"

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, Liu Chu sensed an unusual gaze. Raising his eyes, he saw a young woman in white training clothes practicing in the inner courtyard while occasionally glancing his way.

"Why does this woman keep looking at me, and why is there something strange about her gaze...?"

Liu Chu had noticed it earlier, but had thought it was merely an illusion.

After all, although he was fairly handsome, he was not so handsome that a young woman would fall in love at first sight upon meeting him and keep sending him flirtatious glances.

But after observing her for an entire day, he had completely concluded that she really did keep sneaking glances at him—and there seemed to be hostility in her eyes.

"Could I have offended her?"

Liu Chu was utterly baffled.

Logically, given his former status, he and a martial artist who had broken through into a rank belonged to entirely different worlds. There should have been no chance for much interaction, much less offense!

"Junior Brother, practicing the blade technique?"

Just as he was puzzled, Chen He suddenly came over and greeted Liu Chu with a smile.

He then added, "Oh, right. I haven't congratulated you on breaking through into a rank yet. Want to have a drink tonight? This senior brother will treat you."

"Senior Brother has patiently taught me how to cultivate. How could I possibly let you spend money? It should be this junior brother's treat."

Liu Chu hurriedly replied politely.

But Chen He shook his head. "Junior Brother has only just entered the Skin Refining Realm and has not yet earned any silver. This time, it is better for this senior brother to treat."

He patted Liu Chu's shoulder. "When you earn silver later, you can treat me in return."

Liu Chu had to admit that this Senior Brother Chen He truly knew how to conduct himself. He considered Liu Chu's purse without forgetting to preserve his dignity.

"Then many thanks, Senior Brother."

Liu Chu stopped standing on ceremony. Although he still had thirty taels of silver on him, it was all borrowed, and he was not well off.

"By the way, Senior Brother, do you know who that Senior Sister is?"

Liu Chu suddenly raised his chin toward the young woman in white training clothes and asked Chen He.

"Her..."

Chen He raised his brows, wearing an ambiguous grin. "She is Senior Sister Luo, Luo Qingyue. What, are you interested in Senior Sister Luo?"

Liu Chu shook his head and spoke frankly. "I just feel that Senior Sister Luo keeps secretly looking at me!"

"You brat! Are you joking with me?"

Chen He blinked, his expression strange. "That is Senior Sister Luo, one of the only two Eighth-Rank Tendon Refining Realm martial artists in our Dragon Tiger Martial Arts Hall!"

"Eighth-Rank Tendon Refining Realm?!"

Surprise appeared on Liu Chu's face as he thought to himself, Could it be that I really imagined it?

Logically, he could not have had much interaction even with Skin Refining martial artists, much less a Tendon Refining martial artist.

Yet at that moment, Chen He suddenly looked enlightened and clicked his tongue in wonder. "I remember now. Senior Sister Luo really might be secretly sizing you up..."