Day after day passed, and life in the valley was orderly and fulfilling.
Lin Qin had mostly recovered from his injuries, and his Saint Power had returned to seventy or eighty percent. He began doing more strenuous recovery exercises. Instead of slow punches, he took up the greatsword that had been with him for so long.
He didn't immediately practice complex combat techniques. Instead, he returned to the very beginning—the most basic sword swings.
"Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" "Whoosh!"
The greatsword cut through the air with a steady, powerful sound. Standing in the middle of the valley, he repeated the most basic movements again and again: chopping, slashing, thrusting, and sweeping. But unlike before, each swing now did more than train his muscles and Battle Qi. He focused his mind on sensing the subtle interplay between the blade cutting through the air, the wind around him, and the earth beneath his feet. He felt how power rose from his heels, passed through his waist and abdomen, flowed into his arms, and finally gathered at the tip of his sword.
He wove his insights into the "transmission of force" and "stable foundations" aspects of the mysteries of the Earth Element into these most basic exercises. The sword swings looked simple, but for him, they were a form of cultivation that helped him reorganize and reinforce his entire system of power.
Aileen's progress was just as clear. She no longer focused on increasing the power of her magic. Instead, following Lin Qin's advice, she spent more time "communicating" with the clear pool in the valley. She sat by the water for long stretches, stirring its surface with her hand and feeling the ripples spread and fade. She guided streams of water around her fingertips, sensing their flexibility and their ability to seep into things.