The Blade's First Cry

Li Wen habitually made his way to a corner, where it was relatively quiet and there were fewer distractions.

He picked up a standard-issue fine-steel saber. It felt a little heavy in his hand, and its icy touch instantly calmed his mind and focused his thoughts.

He did not rush to swing it. Instead, he closed his eyes and concentrated, carefully reviewing the twenty-six forms of the Tiger Guard Blade Art, along with every subtle movement he had made while practicing.

After the improvement in his comprehension following yesterday's soul fusion, the images that came to mind now were vastly different from before.

In the past, practicing the blade had been more like clumsily and forcefully imitating the outward shape of the movements.

When he swung the blade, he knew only its "form," not its "meaning."

Why exert force this way? How should his center of gravity shift with the blade's momentum? What was the significance of the subtle adjustments between forms?

These questions, once vague or never even considered, now shone in his mind like stars brought to life.

The blade techniques in his memories looked incredibly crude and stiff to him now, lacking the slightest hint of fluidity. Performing them had always felt awkward, as though he were dancing in heavy shackles.

Li Wen understood. With martial techniques such as blade arts, one might reach Initiation through diligent practice and familiarity, but at higher realms, comprehension was what determined one's progress.

Those with insufficient comprehension often remained trapped at the peak of Perfection for their entire lives, unable to grasp the crucial Secret Technique and enter the extraordinary starting point of the unity of body, mind, and technique.

Many Warriors in Qingshi County had wasted their time this way. Only when their vitality began to wane did they manage to break through with the help of their extensive experience and accumulated knowledge, but by then, they had already missed their best opportunity.

And beyond the Unity Realm, the even more profound Force Realm demanded a level of comprehension so high it was almost unimaginable.

"Whoo..." Li Wen exhaled softly, his gaze growing focused and keen.

He no longer hesitated. With a turn of his wrist, he angled the saber toward the ground, then abruptly launched into motion!

He began the first form, "Tiger's Roar in the Mountain Forest"!

A gust of blade wind rose. Unlike before, the saber's whistle now carried a strength it had never possessed.

Li Wen could clearly feel the blade cutting through the resistance of the air, as well as the force traveling through his feet as they gripped the ground.

As the blade's momentum ran its course and he was about to transition into the second form, "Fierce Tiger Descends the Mountain," a thought stirred in his mind. Rather than follow the form by rote, he responded naturally to the shift in his body's center of gravity and its downward momentum, lowering his center of gravity further,

while his wrist made an extremely subtle inward rotation. This made the downward slash sweep like a waterfall suspended upside down, its force instantly gathering and bursting forth. Its cutting edge was far sharper than usual!

The tiny adjustment flowed naturally, like an antelope hanging its horns on a tree—leaving no trace to follow, yet producing a completely different effect!

Li Wen's heart leapt with delight, as though he had opened the door to a new world.

The more he practiced, the more absorbed he became, no longer shackled by the rigid framework of memorized forms.

With every swing, he could clearly "see" the flaws in the movements, and countless inspirations burst forth in his mind:

This transition was a little stiff. What if he adjusted his wrist angle by half a degree? That form took too long to build up power. Could he unleash it in an instant by drawing on the strength of his waist and back? Where was force being wasted as it flowed through his body?

His blade art was transforming at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The routine, slightly rigid and stiff, seemed to have been given a soul. It began to flow like a winding stream, brimming with an indescribable "vitality."

The blade's gleam was no longer a lifeless flash of silver. It seemed to follow a path of its own, now like a fierce tiger pouncing on its prey, wild and violent; now like a nimble snake flicking its tongue, treacherous and elusive; now like a gale sweeping through fallen leaves, unbroken and relentless.

The forms flowed into one another with effortless grace, hardly pausing at all.

Fast! Precise! Ruthless! More importantly, they now carried a "spirit" born of understanding, not brute force!

[Tiger Guard Blade Art experience +1]

...

[Tiger Guard Blade Art experience +1]

...

The notifications of his rising proficiency on the status panel appeared in a steady stream.

This astonishing change soon caught the attention of the students nearby.

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

He was holding a practice sword, halfheartedly going through the motions of some basic sword forms.

When the corner of his eye caught the gleam of Li Wen's blade, he first froze, then unconsciously stopped moving and stared wide-eyed.

His mouth fell open, almost wide enough to fit an egg.

"Is... is that Li Wen?" Wei Wu's mind roiled like a storm-tossed sea.

At the physical assessment a few days ago, he had still been clumsily swinging his blade with brute force. His blade art had reached Minor Accomplishment, but his movements were heavy and sluggish.

How was it that today... his blade art looked completely transformed? Not only was he faster and smoother, but he had a quality that was nearly impossible to imitate!

Before, Wei Wu could at least tell that Li Wen's blade art was a level above his own. But now... Wei Wu's gaze turned bewildered. He found himself completely unable to gauge the depth of Li Wen's blade art!

Those fluid movements and restrained sharpness filled him with an invisible pressure. How had the former study man suddenly become so enlightened?

Next, another girl who usually paid close attention to Li Wen noticed something was amiss.

"Wei Wu, look at Li Wen!" She gently nudged Wei Wu, who was still standing there in a daze. Her voice held a hint of amazement. "His blade... it looks alive today!"

Her voice drew the attention of several students farther away. One after another, they stopped what they were doing and turned to look at Li Wen in the corner.

"Whoa... he's really different!"

"Yeah, it feels like a completely different person is practicing..."

"He's so much more nimble, and so much better, too! How long has it been?"

"He wasn't like this yesterday... how strange."

"Well, well. Is this the legendary result of years of accumulation finally bursting forth?"

The murmurs rose and fell, and the students' gazes brimmed with surprise, envy, and confusion.

Li Wen, who had only ever buried his head in hard practice, seemed to be transforming at a pace none of them could understand.

Amid the quiet murmuring, a steady gaze, as solid as a mountain, silently fell upon Li Wen.

It was their martial arts teacher, Wang Hu!

Wang Hu was tall and powerfully built, with a square face, thick brows, and tiger-like eyes. Even in an ordinary Training Suit, he could not hide the aura of a battle-hardened man.

At that moment, a clear flash of surprise crossed his resolute face, then gave way to deep satisfaction.

Unlike those students who valued nothing but talent or family background, Wang Hu had sincerely cared for and admired Li Wen, a poor student of ordinary talent, over the past two years.

There was only one reason: the almost obsessive diligence Li Wen showed! He was always the first student in the class to arrive at the Martial Arts Room and the last to leave.

Whether the wind was howling or the rain was falling, whether he was in good condition or not, his perseverance and determination had deeply moved Wang Hu.

He had given Li Wen private instruction many times, even making an exception to give him a little extra training resources or sparring time. In his heart, Li Wen was a promising talent who lacked only opportunity and time.

Now, watching Li Wen's blade art undergo such a transformation, watching him immerse himself in it, wielding the blade with effortless ease and steadily entering his stride, Wang Hu felt as though he were witnessing a dusty uncut jade being carefully polished until it began to shine with a brilliance all its own.

His eyes softened, and the corner of his mouth lifted in a smile few would notice.

Immersed in the world of blade arts, Li Wen was completely unaware of the gazes and murmurs directed his way.

At that moment, intent, vitality, forms, and movements reached a harmony unlike anything he had ever experienced.

His mind was utterly focused, as though the entire world contained only him and the blade in his hands.

Chop, slash, lift, thrust, parry, block... The twenty-six forms of the Tiger Guard Blade Art flowed from his hands with exhilarating ease, without the slightest hindrance.

The doubts he had long harbored melted like snow beneath the sun as his heightened comprehension guided his thoughts and practice, becoming fuel for the smooth flow of his blade art.

Before he knew it, he had practiced more than a dozen times in one go.

The instant he finished the final form, "Tiger Crouching at the Pass," and brought the blade back to his chest, Li Wen felt warmth spread through his body and a wondrous sense of clarity fill every limb.

At the same time, the familiar pale-blue panel appeared as expected, clearly floating in his field of vision:

[You have continuously practiced the Tiger Guard Blade Art, greatly increasing your blade art experience!]

[Technique: Blade Art · Advanced (Greater Accomplishment 0/100)]

Success! Advanced Blade Art, Greater Accomplishment!

Overwhelming joy filled his heart in an instant.

Leaning on his saber, Li Wen breathed lightly, his chest brimming with an indescribable pride.

Had this breakthrough come quickly? It certainly had—so quickly it was almost unbelievable. But Li Wen knew that it had not come solely from his soul fusion or a single day of "Absolute Focus."

More importantly, it was the result of two and a half years of tedious practice, day after day, without ever slacking off.

Those drops of sweat and that persistence had laid a solid foundation, tempering every trace of muscle memory to its utmost. They had prepared the richest soil for today's sudden enlightenment.

That was what it meant to build up strength over time and let success come naturally!

"Whoo..." He let out a long breath, a look of relief and contentment on his face.

Just then, a deep voice, full of strength and undisguised praise, rang out:

"Good! Steady footwork, the blade following the body, intent and power moving together! All twenty-six forms linked in one breath, like a fierce tiger patrolling the mountains! Well done, Li Wen. This is exactly what marks the Tiger Guard Blade Art's Greater Accomplishment!"

At some point, Wang Hu had walked over. He watched Li Wen with a bright gaze and an approving smile.

His powerful voice rang clearly through one corner of the Martial Arts Room, reaching every student who had been watching Li Wen.

Teacher Wang's praise made Li Wen's breakthrough moments ago seem all the more real and astonishing.

"Thank you, Teacher Wang!" Li Wen sheathed his saber, clasped his hands, and gave a proper martial salute. His manner was respectful and his gaze clear, without the slightest trace of arrogance at his teacher's praise.

Looking at the still-humble young man before him, Wang Hu felt even more admiration.

He gave Li Wen's somewhat slender shoulder a hearty pat. Though Li Wen looked a little more upright than he had yesterday, years of scarce resources had still left him thin.

"Excellent! Keep this spirit and this drive to study!" Wang Hu's voice brimmed with encouragement and expectation.

"The martial path is long, and it takes both comprehension and effort. You've already grasped one of the key points and found your own rhythm. Keep at it, and you may well make another breakthrough before the college entrance exams! I believe in you!"

His words were heartfelt. He was clearly happy to see his hardworking student break through.

"Yes!" Li Wen stood straight and answered in a deep voice, warmth surging in his heart.

He remembered every extra lesson Teacher Wang had given him over the past two years, every time he had told him to "practice a little longer," every encouraging look.

Teacher Wang, I, Li Wen, will repay your kindness one day! he vowed solemnly in his heart.

After offering Li Wen a few more words of encouragement and reminding him to progress gradually and consolidate his gains, Wang Hu turned and continued making his rounds through the martial arts classroom to instruct the other students.

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

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

Still, the flame in his heart did not dim. It blazed all the brighter!

"What is the true foundation of strength in this world? It isn't a temporarily high Flesh Rank!"

Li Wen's gaze quietly swept across everyone in the Martial Arts Room.

It fell on Wei Wu—the student who excelled in academic subjects but had all but given up on martial arts.

His Flesh Rank was 7.2, a full 1.1 levels higher than Li Wen's 6.1 after his breakthrough yesterday!

But what about his martial skill? He probably hadn't even reached Minor Accomplishment in basic swordsmanship. He had vitality to spare, but his combat ability was mediocre.

Some other students from well-off families had Flesh Ranks of 7.5 or higher.

But since their skill levels generally remained around Advanced Minor Accomplishment or Advanced Greater Accomplishment, before a Warrior who had truly mastered a "Secret Technique," they were little more than punching bags with greater strength and speed.

This also bore out what the book said:

"Before an expert of the Unity Realm, anyone whose technique has yet to reach the Unity Realm is nothing more than a living target with greater strength and speed, no matter how high their Flesh Rank. They can be killed with a casual strike."

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

At the thought, Li Wen's confidence sprouted like spring bamboo shoots breaking through the earth, growing stronger beyond restraint.

With his past-life gaming experience and his deep understanding of the potential of the Scholar's core skill, "Absolute Focus," he knew exactly how terrifyingly the skill's effects would increase as his Scholar level rose: greater comprehension and finer control over his body!

Those were the most crucial factors in improving one's skill! They would also greatly enhance his understanding of cultivation methods and the efficiency of his training!

Flesh Rank could be raised quickly by piling on resources, though those resources were a huge problem for him at the moment.

But compared with the threshold for improving one's skill, which required tremendous comprehension and years of practice, the threshold for raising one's Flesh Rank was relatively "low"—as long as one had "enough" resources.

"So my real advantage lies in how quickly I can improve my skill! With the Scholar class, this is my greatest trump card!"

Li Wen's gaze grew utterly resolute. For the first time, he felt completely certain of victory in the future.

As long as he continued accumulating Scholar experience and raising his Scholar level, the effects of Absolute Focus would grow, and his comprehension and learning ability would keep soaring!

His breakthroughs in skill would come faster and faster, creating a virtuous cycle.

As for his Flesh Rank... he would find a way to catch up.

And once his higher skill level gave him an overwhelming advantage over others at the same level, he might be able to seize more opportunities and resources to improve his physique in turn!

"Cough, cough..." Just as he was thinking this, a slight dizziness and a dull ache in his muscles came over him.

After more than a dozen high-intensity repetitions of his Greater Accomplishment-level blade art, and in the exhilaration of his recent breakthrough, he had used up far more stamina and vitality than usual.

He did not force himself to keep practicing. Instead, he gently leaned the saber against the wall.

He walked over to the bench set aside for resting in the corner of the Martial Arts Room and sat down. Then he picked up an energy drink and took small sips, replenishing his fluids and energy.

The sunlight outside the window streamed through the tall panes of glass, casting a warm glow over Li Wen as he quietly recovered. A long shadow stretched out behind him, and within it, it seemed that an unstoppable force was gathering, poised to break free from its cocoon.