Rainbow Light Blade Art

After leaving the blade art selection room, Li Wen felt his heart still beating slightly faster.

The virtual secret key to the peak blade art Rainbow Light Blade Art was like a scorching ember, branded onto the light-screen communicator on his wrist—and even deeper into his heart.

Rather than immediately losing himself in fantasies, he first turned back toward the martial arts classroom of Class 21.

The afterglow of the setting sun plated the empty classroom in a layer of warm gold.

He silently packed up his schoolbag and personal belongings—the somewhat dog-eared copy of High-Energy Mathematics Fundamentals, and the notebook recording his cultivation insights into the Fracture Edge Gold Sha Method.

Once he had finished packing, Li Wen hurried once more toward Qingshi No.3 High School's library, the building that represented its finest educational resources. His destination was the peak technique section deep within.

Standing before the heavy Alloy Gate, he swiped open the authorization for the [Top Technique Comprehension Room]. The door slid soundlessly apart, and the instant he stepped inside, Li Wen immediately sensed an entirely different atmosphere.

The room before him was not especially spacious, but it had been arranged with extraordinary care.

The walls were not made of ordinary paint or metal, but of a matte, dark composite material that absorbed light and noise to the greatest extent possible, creating an environment of absolute quiet and focus.

The floor was laid with a special energy-absorbing material with a certain elasticity. Walking on it felt like stepping onto solidified water; it could cushion the impact of violent movements while remaining utterly silent.

There were no windows in the room. Its light came from soft strips perfectly embedded in the ceiling, evenly bright without being the least bit glaring.

The most eye-catching feature was the enormous wall directly ahead, which at that moment resembled a deep night sky.

In the center of the room stood a quiet alloy weapon rack. Only a few antique-style cold weapons of different forms rested upon it, each gleaming like new, their edges casting intimidating cold glints beneath the soft light.

An almost imperceptible hum filled the air. It came from powerful biological force-field generators and the air circulation and purification system, ensuring that the room's temperature and oxygen levels remained ideal for martial arts practice.

The entire space carried a sense of quiet solemnity, where high technology and ancient martial techniques blended perfectly together. It naturally inspired reverence.

Li Wen drew in a breath of icy, pure air, suppressing a trace of nervousness along with the greater curiosity and excitement in his heart. Then he walked to the center of the room and stood still.

Almost the instant he settled into place, the night-sky-like wall in front of him suddenly lit up.

Hum—

A holographic projection of such breathtaking clarity instantly condensed. The image of a Middle-Aged Man dressed in a fitted blue martial outfit, his expression cold and stern, appeared before him.

He stood tall and straight, as if a volcano on the verge of eruption were contained within his body. Merely standing there without moving, he radiated an invisible, razor-sharp Blade Intent.

His right hand closed loosely in the air, and a narrow-bladed quick knife with an ancient design and flowing lines appeared in his grasp. The blade was dark and dull, yet beneath the projection's light, it flowed with a profound luster.

"Phew..." Li Wen could even "see" the tiny pores on the image's face and each stiff bristle of his beard. Such realism made him marvel again at the formidable resources of the peak cultivation room.

The Middle-Aged Man's gaze seemed to pierce through the boundary of the projection and fall upon Li Wen. His voice was steady and powerful, ringing clearly through the silent chamber.

"Hello, student. The blade art I will demonstrate this time is the peak blade art Rainbow Light Blade Art. This blade art takes the essence of a single streak of rainbow light; when the blade emerges, it is like a startled rainbow suddenly appearing—swift beyond compare. It consists of eight times eight, sixty-four forms in total."

Once the introduction ended, Li Wen instantly gathered his entire mind. His eyes shone brightly as he stared with complete concentration at the Middle-Aged Man and his blade.

"To cultivate Rainbow Light Blade Art, the foremost priority is to comprehend its spirit and rhythm rather than rigidly cling to its form. Listen as I explain the essential principles and methods of force generation for each form..."

The Middle-Aged Man did not hurry to begin demonstrating. Instead, like a grandmaster of martial arts personally giving a lesson, he began with the first form, "Long Rainbow," and proceeded one form after another.

He explained every detail: the core Artistic Conception of each move, the key points of power transmission, the minute changes in muscular exertion, the tricky techniques behind tricky angles, and how to use the surging momentum of Qi and blood to unleash the greatest possible might.

His explanations were easy to understand, yet they cut straight to the marrow. Every word was a pearl.

This lecture lasted more than an hour.

Li Wen felt as though he had returned to the classroom, but he was even more absorbed than during lessons.

Drawing upon every shred of his focus and the foundation of his Advanced Blade Art Mastery, he crazily absorbed and comprehended this unprecedentedly exquisite knowledge.

In particular, the passive skill [Once Proven, Forever Proven] of the [Scholar] profession operated silently, like an indestructible recording device, precisely branding those complex and profound key points into the depths of his consciousness without missing a single detail.

He could feel his understanding of the path of the blade expanding at breakneck speed.

"Very well. That concludes the detailed explanation of all the essential principles of Rainbow Light Blade Art. Next, I will formally demonstrate the sixty-four blade forms. Watch carefully."

As the Middle-Aged Man's words fell, his wrist gave a slight shake.

Hiss!

A nearly perfect blade flourish—one Li Wen had thought existed only in legends—bloomed before his eyes with astonishing clarity.

Blade light flowed, cold enough to pierce bone. It tore through space in an instant and vanished in the next. The effortless smoothness of it made Li Wen's scalp prickle. This was the basic foundation of a true master.

"Watch closely. First form—Long Rainbow!"

With the Middle-Aged Man's low shout—

Whoosh~!

Fast! Fast to the absolute limit!

Li Wen only felt that the dark blade light in the projection's hand had, at the very instant it moved, flashed directly from its starting point to its endpoint.

He could not see even the slightest warning, nor any continuous trajectory of blade light. All that remained was an afterimage his visual nerves had been too late to process.

So fast! A tempestuous sea surged within Li Wen's heart, and his pupils constricted instinctively.

This speed had completely surpassed the limits of his reaction at the Advanced Mastery realm. The Tiger Guard Blade Art he had learned before looked before it like a toddler, still learning to walk, swinging a stick.

Then came the "Second Form—Rainbow Shadow."

Whoosh~!

The blade light appeared again, still swift as a ghost.

This time, the angle was even trickier and stranger, like a shadow beneath sunlight suddenly pouncing. Li Wen could still only catch the two lingering cold blade glints at the start and end points.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Each form was faster than the last! Each strike more cunning than the last!

The quick blade in the Middle-Aged Man's hand seemed to transform into a truly intangible streak of light chasing a rainbow shadow, weaving despairing speed and killing intent within that limited space.

Every slash carried the sharp hum of air being cut apart, along with an unstoppable, fierce momentum.

The blade light was sometimes as vast and surging as a great river; sometimes as sinister and unpredictable as a venomous Snake flicking its tongue; sometimes as ceaseless as wind and rain... every kind of subtle wonder pushed imagination to its utmost limit.

Li Wen watched until his vision blurred and his mind reeled. He felt as if his brain's processing power had been utterly squeezed dry, unable to keep pace with that inhuman rhythm at all.

Even his body tensed instinctively, fine sweat beading on his forehead. The demonstration of all sixty-four forms seemed to take only an instant, yet also felt like the torment of an endless age.

"That demonstration was performed at the speed Rainbow Light Blade Art is meant to possess. It is normal that you could not see it clearly. Do not rush, and do not become restless."

As if he had seen through Li Wen's shock and trace of discouragement, the Middle-Aged Man's voice rang out again, carrying a hint of reassurance.

"Next, practice with me. I will slow down and break it apart step by step to guide you."

Hearing this, Li Wen was like a drowning man clutching driftwood. He let out a long breath, and his tightly strained mind finally relaxed somewhat.

The lingering luck and worry in his heart about "getting started in two days" also dispersed by more than half—thank goodness for that!

If the lesson had truly ended after that kind of demonstration, then forget entering the art in two days; he might not even touch the threshold after two months.

No matter how strong Absolute Focus was, it could not make up for the fatal flaw of being unable to see the movements at all.

He quickly walked over to the weapon rack in the corner. Sure enough, among the weapons of various shapes was a Standard Quick Blade almost identical to the one held by the projected Middle-Aged Man.

It was icy and heavy in his hand, with an excellent center of balance. The blade was long and slender, its edge flowing with a dim, cold sheen.

With the blade in hand, Li Wen's heart steadied somewhat. He returned to the middle of the room and stood facing the projection, assuming the opening stance of Rainbow Light Blade Art according to the Middle-Aged Man's instructions.

"First form—Long Rainbow!"

The projected Middle-Aged Man's movements slowed, like a patient teacher clearly breaking the action down into several frames.

How the arm should rise, how the wrist should turn inward, how the center of gravity should sink before suddenly driving forward, how force should travel from foot to leg, pass through the waist and back, flow into the shoulders and arms, gather at the wrist and fingers, and finally erupt at a single blade tip like a Startled Swan...

"Feel carefully. Guide the Qi and blood along with the movement, then erupt it at a single point."

Li Wen's movements were somewhat raw and stiff, but his gaze was resolute as he meticulously imitated every detail.

Supported by the foundational bodily instincts of [Advanced Blade Art Mastery], which had long since seeped into his bones, and aided by [Once Proven, Forever Proven]'s clear reproduction of the principles explained earlier, Li Wen's learning progress far exceeded what ordinary people could imagine.

He did not need to rack his brains recalling key points. He could instinctively adjust his center of gravity, and his force-generation path became much smoother.

Within his mind, the projection's slow movements continuously compared and verified against his own. Muscle memory was rapidly taking shape.

"Second form—Rainbow Shadow..."

The projection continued guiding him. Its explanations remained detailed, and its movements remained clear and slow.

Again and again...

Time quietly slipped away amid absolute concentration.

Outside, the melodious afternoon dismissal bell faintly penetrated the soundproof barrier of the silent chamber.

Li Wen seemed not to hear it. Every bit of his attention was focused on the blade in his hand and the guiding figure before him.

Sweat had long covered his temples, and his breathing had grown deep, but his eyes only shone with increasingly startling brilliance.

With [Once Proven, Forever Proven] guarding him, his memory of the forms he had already learned was incomparably clear.

Even though nearly two hours had passed since he learned the first form, "Long Rainbow," the moment his thoughts touched it, every detail of that first form would be reconstructed in his mind with perfect precision, without the slightest blur or deviation.

This was his unique advantage.

Had it been another student, after being force-fed such dense and complicated moves, their mind would likely already be a muddled collection of blurry fragments mixed with incorrect information, requiring enormous amounts of time to sort out and correct again.

Li Wen, however, avoided this enormous loss of cognition.

The light of the setting sun completely vanished beyond the horizon, dyeing the sky a deep blue-violet.

Inside the silent Top Technique Comprehension Room, only the Middle-Aged Man's steady commands intertwined with Li Wen's somewhat heavy breathing, brought on by continuous focus and physical exhaustion.

Finally—

With a soft hum, the Middle-Aged Man's calm voice sounded. "Sixty-fourth form—Piercing Sun... close the stance!"

When Li Wen followed the gourd's outline to draw the ladle and completed the final fixed stance, sheathing his blade, a faint vibration from his wrist made him stop. The Middle-Aged Man's projection had not vanished, but remained quietly standing there.

Li Wen, however, looked as though he had just been dragged out of water, his entire body soaked through with sweat, the hair at his forehead clumped together.

Nearly four hours of extreme study under intense mental concentration and physical expenditure had almost drained all his strength. His lungs heaved like bellows, each breath carrying a burning sensation.

"The essential principles and foundational movement guidance for all sixty-four forms have been completed." The Middle-Aged Man's voice remained utterly even.

"Further improvement requires unceasing practice and comprehension of the spirit and rhythm of rainbow light. This guidance session has ended. The student may choose to exit or review it again."

An option asking whether to continue appeared on the light screen.

"It's over..." Li Wen let out a long breath. The tightly drawn string within him finally loosened, and intense exhaustion immediately followed.

He wiped the sweat from his face, yet an excited flame burned in his eyes.

He had succeeded!

The first step, and the most critical foundational stage, had finally allowed him to cram all sixty-four complex and profound forms of Rainbow Light Blade Art into his mind through the heaven-defying [Once Proven, Forever Proven].

Every key point was incomparably clear, waiting for him to chew over and digest it.

The road ahead would be water grinding stone—activate [Absolute Focus], repeatedly drill the "sixty-four great mountains" lodged in his mind, and gradually polish them into his body's instinct!

Getting started in two days? He could already see the gates of hope.

Without leaving immediately, Li Wen chose to exit guidance mode but did not turn off the projection. He left the Middle-Aged Man beside him in a slow-motion demonstration state as a reference.

After regulating his breathing briefly, he tightened his grip around the quick blade again and attempted to practice from the first form on his own, relying on his memory and understanding.

His movements were still slow, and the transitions remained somewhat sluggish, but the most important framework and force-generation path were largely correct. This greatly boosted his confidence.

After repeatedly practicing several of the forms he had initially memorized, the fierce hunger in his stomach and the fatigue of his body finally overcame his urge to continue. He checked the time; it was almost past dinner.

"Time to eat and head home. I'll restore my energy and fight again tomorrow."

Li Wen neatly sheathed the blade, returned the practice weapon to the rack, cast one final glance at the projection standing still as a mountain, then turned and left this Top Technique Comprehension Room filled with possibilities.

The instant he stepped outside, the cold air refreshed his mind.

The sweat on his forehead felt faintly cold in the night breeze. Li Wen tightened the strap of his crossbody schoolbag and strode toward the cafeteria.

At dinner, Li Wen unusually asked the cafeteria auntie for an extra serving of meat and vegetables to replenish the energy he had consumed.

After wolfing it down, he quickly headed for the bus stop by the school gate.

Sitting on the bus, neon lights outside the window rapidly slid backward. Li Wen closed his eyes to rest, while his mind replayed the key points of the sixty-four forms of Rainbow Light Blade Art like a high-speed projector.

The advantage of [Once Proven, Forever Proven] appeared once more. Not a single trace of those complex routes was blurred.

By the time he got home, the clock hand already pointed to eight in the evening.

Pushing open the door, he found that his parents had still not returned from work. Li Wen went directly back to his room.

The instant he entered, he did not delay at all. Final exams were approaching, and the Flying Star Class selection was imminent. Raising his Flesh Rank was urgently necessary.

And tonight was the crucial night in his plan: taking that precious Qi-Blood Potion and using [Absolute Focus] to make an all-out push for proficiency in the Fracture Edge Gold Sha Method.

He placed the Level 1 Blood Qi Potion, whose stopper could be bitten off with his teeth for immediate consumption, at the most convenient spot on his desk beforehand.

Then he stood in the small open area at the center of the room and assumed the starting posture of the Fracture Edge Gold Sha Method.

"Phew..." Li Wen drew a deep breath, his eyes instantly becoming incomparably sharp. "Activate—Absolute Focus!"

Hum!

The lv3 [Absolute Focus] skill took effect instantly.

All surrounding stray thoughts, sounds, and light were blocked out. His entire world held only the surging Qi and blood within his body and the cultivation route he already knew by heart.

The thirty percent increase in comprehension was like installing a super engine into his brain.

In this state of extreme focus, Li Wen felt his body begin to calibrate itself like a precision instrument.

In the past, he had merely struggled to maintain standard movements. Now, he was almost pursuing an instinctive kind of perfection.

Minute muscular adjustments, corrections to joint angles, the coordination between breathing and movement rhythm... all became clear and controllable beneath the scrutiny of Absolute Focus.

But an even greater change occurred within him.

Driven by his increased comprehension, his understanding of the cultivation method's essence deepened rapidly. Those points where Qi and blood had been wasted and had held him back,

those nodes where circulation had not been smooth enough, those inefficient paths of energy conversion, were being analyzed and optimized at an unprecedented speed under the thirty percent comprehension boost.

His Qi and blood no longer charged about violently. Under the precise guidance of his consciousness, they became more condensed and orderly.

The energy conversion rate of each unit of Qi and blood rose at a visible pace. His body became like a greedy black hole, efficiently absorbing the sparse energy particles wandering through the space around him.

Time lost all meaning in this self-forgetful cultivation.

An hour... perhaps longer?

Li Wen maintained the standard posture without moving a muscle. Pain and determination intertwined on his face, yet he seemed to have completely blocked out the pain signals from his body, focusing only on the ever-optimizing, increasingly efficient torrent within him.

Finally!

The skill's powerful effect abruptly stopped, like a high-speed train slamming into an invisible wall.

"Urgh..."

Li Wen gave a muffled groan. His face instantly turned pale as paper, while his lips lost all color and became an eerie bluish purple.

It felt as if every bone had been pulled from his body. His legs buckled, and he bent halfway over, both hands gripping his knees tightly to keep from collapsing onto the floor.

Beads of cold sweat the size of soybeans burst from his forehead, temples, and back like floodwaters released through opened gates.

His vision repeatedly darkened, while in his ears echoed the mad pounding of his own heart within his hollow chest.

Every breath came with a searing stab of pain in his lungs, and his throat was so dry it felt ready to crack apart.

A full three to five minutes passed before his soul seemed to struggle back from distant emptiness into his body.

The suffocating sensation eased slightly, his frantic heartbeat began to settle, and his trembling limbs recovered the tiniest bit of strength to support him.

Li Wen struggled to raise his head, his bloodshot eyes fixed dead on the desk.

There, the amber Level 1 Blood Qi Potion waited quietly.

His body was like a desert parched by a long drought, yearning for sweet rain; every cell in him let out a silent roar.

He practically crawled to the desk on all fours, bracing himself against one of its legs.

His right hand trembled as he grabbed that bottle of life-giving medicine.

Pop—

He bit down savagely, and the hard stopper flew out at once.

Without the slightest hesitation, Li Wen threw back his head and poured the icy, viscous liquid, carrying a faint rusty sweetness, straight into his mouth.

Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!

He swallowed with every ounce of strength he had.

A surging, warm energy slid down his throat in an instant.