Blade's First Cry

Li Wen habitually walked to a corner, where it was relatively quiet and had fewer distractions.

He picked up a standard-issue refined steel quick-blade; it felt slightly heavy in his hand, and the cold touch instantly focused his mind and calmed his breath.

He did not rush to swing the blade, but first closed his eyes to concentrate, carefully reviewing the twenty-six move diagrams of the Tiger Guard Blade Art, as well as every subtle movement from his past practice.

With the improvement in comprehension following yesterday's soul fusion, the images recalled now were vastly different from before.

In the past, practicing the blade was more like clumsily and forcefully mimicking the outward form of the moves.

When the blade slashed out, he only knew its "shape," but did not understand its "intent."

Why exert force in this way? How does the center of gravity shift with the blade's momentum? What is the significance of the subtle adjustments at the transitions between moves?

These questions, once vague or never deeply explored, were now like lit stars, clearly reflected in his mind.

The blade techniques in his memory now appeared to him extremely rough, stiff, lacking any trace of agility; executing them always carried an indescribable discomfort, like dancing while weighed down by heavy shackles.

Li Wen understood in his heart that for martial techniques like the blade art, entry-level might rely on hard practice to gain proficiency, but at higher realms, comprehension becomes the decisive factor.

Those lacking comprehension often remain trapped at the peak of perfection for life, unable to grasp that crucial secret technique, failing to step onto the transcendent starting point of body, mind, and technique unity.

How many martial artists in Qingshi County had wasted away like this, only breaking through with long experience and accumulated effort when their vitality began to decline, but by then the optimal timing was already lost.

And beyond the Unity Realm, the even more profound "Momentum Realm" demands a level of comprehension so harsh it is unimaginable.

"Hoo..." Li Wen let out a light breath, his gaze becoming focused and sharp.

He hesitated no longer, twisting his wrist so the quick-blade slanted toward the ground, then his figure suddenly launched into motion!

The first move, "Tiger Roars in the Mountain Forest," began!

The blade wind erupted, but unlike before, this time the roar of the blade carried a newfound sense of power.

Li Wen could clearly feel the resistance of the blade edge cutting through the air, and the transmission of force as his soles gripped the ground.

As the blade's momentum reached its peak, about to transition into the second move, "Fierce Tiger Descends the Mountain," a slight stir arose in his heart. Instead of following the script rigidly, he naturally lowered his center of gravity further based on his body's shift and downward trend, and his wrist made an extremely subtle inward rotation, making the chopping strike like a waterfall cascading upside down, the force instantly concentrated and burst forth, its sharpness far exceeding usual!

This small adjustment was smooth and natural, like an antelope hanging its horns, leaving no trace, yet it brought a completely different effect!

Joy surged in Li Wen's heart, as if he had opened a new door.

He became more and more absorbed in practice, no longer confined to the memorized framework of moves.

With every swing of the blade, he could clearly "see" the shortcomings in the technique, countless inspirations bursting forth in his mind:

This transition is a bit sluggish—what if the wrist angle is adjusted by half a degree? That move takes too long to gather power—can the force be instantly released through the waist and back? Where in the flow of power is there unnecessary waste?

His blade art was transforming at a visible rate.

What was once a somewhat stiff and rigid routine of techniques now seemed to have a soul injected into it, becoming smooth and flowing, filled with an indescribable "vitality."

The blade light was no longer a dull silver flash, but seemed to have its own trajectory of life, sometimes like a tiger pouncing on prey, wild and violent; sometimes like a serpent flicking its tongue, tricky and cunning; sometimes like wind sweeping fallen leaves, continuous and unbroken.

The transitions between moves were perfectly smooth, with almost no pause.

Fast! Accurate! Ruthless! More importantly, there was that "spirit" born from understanding, not brute force!

[Tiger Guard Blade Art Experience +1]

[Tiger Guard Blade Art Experience +1]

The proficiency prompts on the panel pulsed steadily like flowing water.

This astonishing change quickly caught the attention of nearby classmates.

"Shh..." The first to notice was Wei Wu, who was not far from Li Wen.

He was holding a practice sword, absentmindedly going through basic sword stances.

When his peripheral vision caught Li Wen's blade light, he first froze, then subconsciously stopped his own movements, widening his eyes to look closely.

His mouth fell open unconsciously, almost able to fit an egg inside.

"This... this is Li Wen?" A storm of shock raged in Wei Wu's heart.

A few days ago at the physical test, he was still that clumsy guy swinging the blade with brute force, whose technique, though somewhat accomplished, felt heavy and sluggish.

How come today... the blade art seemed reborn? Not only faster and smoother, but more importantly, that elusive charm!

Before, he could at least tell that Li Wen's blade realm was a notch above his own, but now... Wei Wu's gaze grew confused; he found he could no longer gauge the depth of Li Wen's blade art at all!

Those fluid movements, that restrained sharpness, gave him a feeling of invisible pressure. How had this former grind king suddenly seemed to have an epiphany?

Soon after, another girl who usually paid more attention to Li Wen also noticed the anomaly.

"Wei Wu, look at Li Wen!" She lightly nudged the still-dazed Wei Wu, her voice carrying a hint of amazement. "His blade today... it seems alive?"

Her voice drew the attention of a few more classmates farther away. Everyone stopped their movements one after another, their gazes all turning toward Li Wen in the corner.

"Whoa... it really is different!"

"Yeah, it really doesn't feel like it was practiced by the same person..."

"So much more agile, and way stronger too? How long has it been?"

"Yesterday he wasn't like this... strange."

"Tsk, could this be what they call explosive accumulation?"

Murmurs rose and fell, their gazes filled with shock, envy, and confusion.

That Li Wen, who only knew how to bury his head in hard training, seemed to be rapidly transforming in a way they couldn't understand.

Amid the low chatter, a steady, mountain-like gaze quietly fell on Li Wen.

It was none other than their martial arts teacher—Wang Hu!

Wang Hu was tall and burly, with a square face, thick brows, and tiger-like eyes. Even in ordinary training clothes, he couldn't hide his iron-blooded, hardened aura.

At this moment, a clear flicker of surprise crossed his resolute face, quickly turning into deep gratification.

Unlike other teachers who only valued talent or family background, Wang Hu had genuinely cared for and appreciated Li Wen over the past two years—despite his poor family and mediocre talent.

For no other reason than Li Wen's almost obsessive diligence! He was always the first to arrive at the training hall and the last to leave.

Rain or shine, good condition or bad, that persistence and determination had deeply moved Wang Hu.

He had privately guided Li Wen many times, even bending the rules to give him extra training resources or sparring time. In his heart, Li Wen was a promising piece of material, lacking only opportunity and time.

Now, watching Li Wen's completely reborn blade art, seeing him immersed and flowing freely, gradually entering a state of mastery, Wang Hu felt as if he were witnessing a dusty, unpolished jade being carefully carved to reveal its own radiance.

His gaze softened, and the corner of his mouth curled into a faint smile unnoticed by others.

Immersed in the world of blade art, Li Wen was completely unaware of the gazes and murmurs around him.

Intention, blood and qi, techniques, movements—at this moment, they reached an unprecedented harmony and unity.

His spirit was highly focused, as if the entire world had shrunk to just him and the blade in his hand.

Chop, slash, lift, thrust, block, parry... The twenty-six forms of the Tiger Guard Blade Art flowed through him freely, without a single hitch.

The doubts that had long accumulated in his mind, under the enhanced comprehension and practice, melted away like ice and snow, transforming into the driving force behind the blade's smooth execution.

Unknowingly, he had already practiced it over a dozen times in one breath.

When the final form, "Tiger Guards the Pass," ended with the blade drawn before his chest, Li Wen felt a warm sensation spreading through his entire body, a wonderful clarity permeating his limbs and bones.

At the same time, the familiar pale blue light panel appeared as promised, clearly floating in his vision:

[You have continuously practiced the Tiger Guard Blade Art. Blade art experience has greatly increased!]

[Skill: Blade Art · Advanced (Mastery 0/100)]

Done! Advanced blade art, Mastery!

An immense surge of joy instantly filled his heart.

Li Wen leaned on his blade, breathing lightly, his chest swelling with an indescribable sense of pride.

Did this breakthrough come fast? It did, incredibly fast. But Li Wen knew it wasn't solely the work of soul fusion or "Absolute Focus" in a single day.

More importantly, it was the result of two and a half years of relentless, monotonous practice.

It was that sweat and persistence, bit by bit, that had solidified his foundation, honing every shred of muscle memory to its peak, providing the richest soil for today's epiphany.

So-called explosive accumulation, a natural progression—this was it!

"Hah..." He let out a long breath, a relieved and satisfied smile spreading across his face.

Just then, a low, powerful voice rang out, carrying undisguised praise:

"Good! Steady footwork, blade following the body, intent and force in sync! The twenty-six forms executed in one breath, like a fierce tiger patrolling its mountain! Not bad, Li Wen—this is the hallmark of Tiger Guard Blade Art reaching Mastery!"

Wang Hu had somehow approached, his eyes blazing as he looked at Li Wen, his face full of approving smiles.

His voice was loud and forceful, clearly carrying across the corner of the training hall, making it perfectly audible to the classmates still watching Li Wen.

Teacher Wang's affirmation made Li Wen's breakthrough feel even more real and stunning.

"Thank you, Teacher Wang!" Li Wen sheathed his blade, clasped his fists, and performed a standard martial arts salute. His attitude was respectful, his eyes clear, without a trace of arrogance from the teacher's praise.

Looking at the still-humble youth before him, the appreciation in Wang Hu's eyes deepened.

He patted Li Wen's somewhat thin shoulder firmly—though the boy seemed a bit more upright than yesterday, long-term resource scarcity still left his frame lean.

"Excellent! Keep this spirit and this drive to delve deep!" Wang Hu's voice carried encouragement and expectation.

"The path of martial arts is long; talent and effort are both indispensable. You've already grasped the key point and found your own rhythm. Keep going, and you might even take another step forward before the college entrance exam! I believe in you!"

His tone was sincere, clearly happy from the heart for this hardworking student's breakthrough.

"Yes!" Li Wen straightened his back and replied in a low, firm voice. A warm current surged in his heart.

Every extra bit of guidance Teacher Wang had given him over the past two years, every "a little more practice," every encouraging look—he remembered them all.

"Teacher Wang, your care for me—Li Wen will repay it one day!" he vowed solemnly in his heart.

After a few more words of encouragement, telling him to take it step by step and consolidate his gains, Wang Hu turned and continued patrolling the training hall to guide other students.

Watching Wang Hu leave, Li Wen's thoughts raced swiftly.

The joy of his recent breakthrough was certainly intense, but it also made him see more clearly the vast gap between himself and true geniuses.

Yet the flame in his heart did not dim because of this—instead, it burned even brighter!

"What is the true foundation of power in this world? It's not the temporary level of one's physical body!"

Li Wen's gaze swept quietly across the people in the martial arts room.

It landed on Wei Wu—that classmate who excelled in cultural courses but had nearly given up on martial arts.

His physical body level was 7.2, a full 1.1 levels higher than Li Wen's, who had just broken through to 6.1 yesterday!

But what about his martial technique realm? He probably hadn't even reached Minor Success in basic swordsmanship. Empty blood and qi, with combat power that was utterly mediocre.

Other classmates from well-off families generally had physical body levels above 7.5.

But because their technique realms mostly lingered around Minor Success or Major Success at the advanced level, in front of a martial artist who had truly mastered "Secret Techniques," they were nothing more than sandbags with a bit more strength and speed.

This also confirmed what was written in the books:

"In front of an expert at the Unity Realm, as long as the opponent's technique hasn't reached the Unity Realm, a higher physical body level just makes them a living target with a bit more power and speed—easily killed."

"And the key to improving one's technique realm lies in understanding and insight—in comprehension!"

Thinking of this, Li Wen's inner confidence grew like bamboo shoots after spring rain, unstoppably thriving.

With his experience from his past life's game and a deep understanding of the potential of the [Scholar]'s core skill "Absolute Focus," he knew very well the terrifying boost that raising the [Scholar] level would bring to "Absolute Focus"—higher comprehension! Stronger control over the physical body!

And this was the most critical factor for improving technique realm! It even provided a massive boost to understanding and cultivating techniques!

Physical body levels could be piled up quickly with resources, though resources were still a huge problem before him.

But compared to the threshold of technique realm, which required extremely high comprehension and long-term tempering, the threshold for raising physical body level was relatively "lower"—as long as one had "enough" resources.

"So my true advantage lies in the speed of improving my technique realm! With [Scholar] on my side, this is my greatest trump card!"

Li Wen's gaze became utterly resolute, and for the first time, he felt a sure sense of victory about the future.

As long as he could keep accumulating Scholar experience, raising his Scholar level, and amplifying the effect of Absolute Focus, his comprehension and learning ability would continue to skyrocket!

Breakthroughs in technique realm would come faster and faster, forming a positive cycle.

As for physical body level... he would find a way to catch up.

And once a higher technique realm formed an overwhelming advantage over those of the same rank, it might allow him to seize more opportunities and resources to fuel his physical body's growth!

"Cough, cough..." Just as he was thinking, a slight dizziness and some muscle soreness hit him.

After more than a dozen intense rounds of practicing the Major Success-level blade technique, and still in the excited state of his recent breakthrough, his stamina and blood qi consumption were far greater than usual.

He didn't force himself to continue practicing the blade. Instead, he gently leaned it against the wall.

He walked to the bench in the corner of the martial arts room set aside for rest, sat down, picked up an energy drink, and took small sips to replenish his fluids and energy.

The sunlight outside streamed through the tall glass windows, warmly spilling over Li Wen's quietly recovering figure, casting a long shadow behind him—and within that shadow, it seemed an unstoppable force was brewing, ready to break free from its cocoon.