In truth, most disciples wanted to learn Sword-in-Chest when they first joined.
Yu Xiu was no exception.
But his Root Bone and aptitude were lacking, so in the end he could only practice Sword-in-Hand.
As the transmission elder put it, Sword-in-Hand and Sword-in-Chest were both sword paths. In the end, they would reach the same destination by different routes; neither was better than the other.
Yu Xiu didn't know whether that was really true. Either way, he had no choice.
But now, with [Fate: God-Communicating] as his cheat, Sword-in-Hand was actually the better path for him.
Only then could his comprehension improve faster and his lifespan increase more.
Cultivators might be powerful, but their cultivation did little to extend their lives.
He'd heard that even the Main Sect's experts at the Four Great Passes could live for only three hundred years at most.
Then let me see the magic of having a cheat!
Yu Xiu held his sword and took up his stance. In an instant, the three-foot sword seemed to come alive in his hand, its cold light flashing in clusters.
He wasn't practicing the Flawless Realm cultivation art, the Tide-Rising Sword Art or the Indeterminate Sword Art.
Nor was he practicing sword techniques such as the Three Winters Sword, the Wild Goose Returning Sword, or the Drifting Wind Sword.
He was practicing the most basic cultivation art and sword technique.
This basic cultivation art and sword technique was the method used before one entered the sect. It trained the external body—the muscles, bones, and skin—building strength while honing swordsmanship. One practiced until swordsmanship became instinct, flowing out naturally. This was the foundation of the Sword-in-Hand path.
Once the body was strong enough, one could enter the first Ascending Dragon Pass: the Flawless Realm.
What did Flawless mean?
The body grew strong, and its vital essence and blood qi flourished, all contained within the physique. Then, with that abundant vital essence and blood qi, one gave birth to inner qi, and finally stepped into the second Ascending Dragon Pass: the Qi Circulation Realm.
Before entering the Flawless Realm, Yu Xiu had practiced sixteen basic sword techniques, and mastered them all.
His body was naturally strong, but not perfectly tempered.
That was because he hadn't brought any of the sixteen techniques to perfection. No matter how many he practiced, what he hadn't mastered remained beyond his grasp.
That was the limit of his cultivation.
At least, it had been before.
Now, things were different.
He had a panel.
Whether he'd mastered something, whether it was perfect—he could see it all at a glance.
"No, that's wrong. My practice is off. The proficiency hasn't increased!"
"No, still wrong!"
"Then, what about this?"
"That's it! The proficiency's moving!"
As cold light flashed, Yu Xiu immersed himself in swordsmanship, constantly reflecting and correcting himself...
With 9 points of comprehension, he wasn't especially gifted among the Outer Court disciples, but neither was he dull. That was more than enough for practicing a basic sword technique.
The prerequisite was finding the right direction and not taking a wrong turn.
That was the hardest part of the path of cultivation.
But for Yu Xiu, who had a panel, it was the easiest.
Perhaps half an hour passed before delight spread across Yu Xiu's face.
Basic Sword Technique, First Form +1
I did it!
The first form of the basic sword technique had reached perfection.
[Basic cultivation art, Sword Technique, First Form: Great Mastery (100/100)]
[Basic cultivation art, Sword Technique, First Form: Perfection (Sword Sense +1)]
Sword Sense? What is that? Yu Xiu had no time to investigate. He stared unblinkingly at the comprehension and lifespan stats instead.
They changed.
[Comprehension: 10 (9+1)]
[Lifespan: 16/85 (84+1)]
One point of comprehension and one year of lifespan!
The basic sword technique alone can give me one point of comprehension and a year of life!
This...
Wouldn't he take off?!
Reaching ten thousand comprehension is just a matter of time.
The Qingwei Sword Sect had no shortage of basic sword techniques.
His comprehension had increased by one, too. Perhaps it was just his imagination, but Yu Xiu felt his mind had grown a little clearer, and many things seemed much simpler.
Sword Sense! He turned his thoughts back to Sword Sense, but subjectively, he couldn't detect any difference.
But when Yu Xiu started practicing the second form of the basic sword technique, he suddenly understood.
His understanding of the sword seemed to have improved!
This had nothing to do with comprehension. His realm was different now. He seemed to be able to sense, faintly, the direction a sword technique should take—though nowhere near as clearly as the panel showed him.
So, from the very beginning, cultivation can't be rushed for quick gains. You have to build a solid foundation!
Once all the basic sword techniques reached perfection, one could naturally sense whether a technique was truly perfect.
But without a panel, no one knew whether they'd reached perfection. It was invisible and intangible.
So, when they got close enough, many cultivators assumed they'd already reached perfection.
Perhaps it was because his comprehension had increased by one and reached 10, or perhaps it was because he had Sword Sense along with the panel. Either way, when Yu Xiu practiced the second form of the basic sword technique, everything felt effortless.
The sound of the wind being split, the sword's ringing, the cold light, the sword gleam—they filled the Bamboo Cottage.
Just two quarters of an hour later, Yu Xiu was delighted again.
The second form of the basic sword technique is done!
Basic Sword Technique, Second Form +1
[Basic cultivation art, Sword Technique, Second Form:: Perfection (Sword Sense +1)]
He looked at the comprehension stat.
[Comprehension: 11 (10+1)]
[Lifespan: 86 (85+1)]
His eyes lit up.
Good. Neither his comprehension nor his lifespan had decreased.
They were still increasing by one point and one year.
There was no sign of diminishing returns.
Eleven points of comprehension makes a difference!
He could feel it clearly. Many sword techniques and cultivation arts he'd thought were perfect now seemed, on reflection, to have room for further improvement.
No rush. My comprehension can still increase. It can keep increasing!
If bringing the basic sword techniques to perfection could grant one point of comprehension and one year of life, then what would happen if he perfected a Flawless Realm cultivation art or sword technique?
With 11 points of comprehension, he could already vaguely sense imperfections in the Flawless Realm arts and techniques. What about 20 points of comprehension? 30?
Grow, grow, keep growing.
He wanted his comprehension to surpass 20.
He sank completely into sword practice, without feeling the least bit tired.
He was now in the late stage of the first Ascending Dragon Pass, the Flawless Realm. His body was powerful, his vital essence and blood qi abundant, and his strength immense. He could lift a thousand catties with one arm.
Practicing basic sword techniques was naturally effortless, without putting any strain on him.
Basic Sword Technique +1
[Basic cultivation art, Sword Technique, Third Form: Perfection (Sword Sense +1)]
Comprehension +1
Lifespan +1
Basic Sword Technique +1
[Basic cultivation art, Sword Technique, Fourth Form: Perfection (Sword Sense +1)]
Comprehension +1
Lifespan +1
Basic Sword Technique +1
[Basic cultivation art, Sword Technique, Fifth Form: Perfection (Sword Sense +1)]
Comprehension +1
Lifespan +1
The more Yu Xiu practiced, the more invigorated he felt. With 14 points of comprehension, plus Sword Sense, he seemed not to need the panel anymore. He could tell the moment he practiced a basic sword technique whether it had reached perfection.
Of course, that was because he'd already brought nearly all sixteen basic sword techniques close to perfection. Most of them had reached Great Mastery 99, with only the final point remaining.
Now, he was simply filling in the gaps.
As more and more flaws were corrected, Yu Xiu could clearly feel his physique growing stronger again.
The abundant vital essence and blood qi stored within him didn't seem to be depleted much by sword practice. On the contrary, they seemed even more abundant.
It was as if he had strength without end and vital essence he could never exhaust.
Especially the sword in his hand—it seemed to have gained a spirit, growing ever more unpredictable and dangerous.
As cold light suddenly flared, the sword's edge was already upon him.
The three-foot blade seemed to transform into a blue dragon, its momentum unstoppable.
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