Hitting People Like Throwing Sand

In the martial arts of his past life, there was a piece of jargon: "Striking a man is like hanging a painting."

This meant that when a punch landed, the target's body would be firmly "hung" against the wall, as if it were a painting.

It was a phrase used to describe a master of exquisite pugilism.

However, Zhao Cheng now felt that this "hanging a painting" concept was far too low in purity.

Truly formidable pugilism should be like "scattering sand."

This meant that when a punch landed, the target's body would instantly disintegrate into a cloud of dust, just like a handful of sand.

Whether in terms of practical effect or visual spectacle, it was completely maxed out.

The only drawback was that he wasn't the audience; he was the prop used for the show.

Returning his consciousness to reality, it took a long time for Zhao Cheng to finally recover.

It wasn't because of the agony of a gruesome death; if he were to be precise, he had died so cleanly that he hadn't even had time to feel any pain.

He was simply stunned!

This kind of power, this kind of pugilism—in a certain sense, it was incomparably beautiful.

In reality, he hadn't lacked opportunities to watch videos of sword masters sparring.

The way of the sword flourished here, and there was no shortage of competitions, large and small.

But watching through a screen versus experiencing it personally were two vastly different things.

That sense of oppression, that sense of power—no amount of words could describe even a ten-thousandth of it.

Regaining his composure, Zhao Cheng looked at the Panel Log.

Log:

In the first hour, you practiced swordsmanship with focus, Sword Proficiency +3, 17th Basic Swordsmanship 6th Revised Edition increased to lv8.

In the second hour, you practiced swordsmanship with focus, Sword Proficiency +3.

In the third hour, the Blood Moon appeared, you rushed to the Heavenly Phoenix Pavilion, you explored the Heavenly Phoenix Pavilion, encountered Fist Art Master (White) x1, you hacked the Fist Art Master to death. During the process, you began to have an epiphany, your attributes increased, your swordsmanship improved, your realm improved, you completed self-awakening, you obtained various loot.

You rushed to Moyun University, you explored Moyun University, encountered Fist Art Master (Blue) x1, Fist Art Apprentice (White) x15, you locked eyes with the Fist Art Master, you were blown apart.

You died. Your cause of death: the water is too deep, young man, you can't handle it.

Simulation Settlement: In this simulation, your dungeon exploration rate was extremely low, Simulation Point +1.

As expected, the simulation settlement is related to my subconscious. The description style is exactly how I speak, Zhao Cheng thought.

And that Big Muscle Guy was only of Blue quality...

The Fist Art Master had brought Zhao Cheng an unprecedented sense of oppression.

Just from the opponent's height of over three meters, one could tell how terrifying his strength truly was.

Yet, a giant like that was only of Blue quality.

Of course, deep down, Zhao Cheng knew this rating was reasonable; it was only because he had just been blown apart that he had overestimated the Fist Art Master.

Though, the opponent was indeed very strong.

This monster was not something Zhao Cheng could challenge at his current level.

Going to see what a boss looks like at level one and getting blown apart by it was perfectly logical.

This also gave Zhao Cheng a rough understanding of the power levels in the simulation world.

The water in that world was indeed very deep.

If Blue quality was already this fierce, one could only imagine how terrifying Purple or even Gold would be.

As for Red, that world likely didn't have any.

Generally speaking, Purple was the limit of the world. For a simulation world to have a Gold was already an anomaly among anomalies. As for Red, shallow waters could not give birth to a True Dragon.

Even in reality, out of over a dozen Gold traits, there was only one Red, and that was a case of the Red existing before the Gold.

As for the reverse, perhaps the number would need to be multiplied tenfold to create the soil for a higher trait to be born.

Thinking this, Zhao Cheng looked at his Panel. Not much time had passed in reality, but the changes to his Panel were significant.

Panel
Source Point: 2.8
Simulation Point: 9
Realm: Quietude +1 (58%) (Heart-to-Heart) (Converting 30%)
Traits:
???: Heaven Rewards Diligence, all effort yields a harvest; Panel; ???
Sword Seed (Damaged) 13% (Red): Sword level cap +3, moderate increase in affinity for swords, moderate reduction in proficiency required for sword improvement
Vitality: 1.5 (1.0)

Strength: 6.1 (5)

Agility: 6.5 (5)

Constitution: 5.5 (5)

Spirit: 7.5 (5)

Skills: 17th Basic Swordsmanship 6th Revised Edition lv8 (lv8) (26/700) (Conversion in progress 30%)

Simulation Count: 0

Shop

Source Point dropped from 8.8 to 2.8; emptying the Source Point Shop cost 3 points, and two simulations cost 3 points.

Quietude was strengthened once, becoming +1, and the progress increased by 6%. However, the conversion is not yet complete; only the transformation at the spiritual level has finished.

Of the five-dimensional attributes, only Spirit increased by 0.3. However, over the following period, as the realm conversion completes and the effects of Quietude +1 are fully integrated, his five-dimensional attributes should see a sudden, significant surge.

The greatest improvement is in his swordsmanship; jumping from lv4 to lv8 saved Zhao Cheng three to five years of grinding effort. More importantly, there is still huge room for further improvement.

After two simulations, he has been reborn!

However, the greatest growth is in the confidence within Zhao Cheng's heart. Previously, relying solely on Heaven Rewards Diligence, he wasn't sure how far he could actually go on this path.

After all, human life is limited, and for those who practice martial arts, if their realm is too low, their spirit and vitality will begin to decline after the age of thirty-two.

His time is not abundant.

But now, Zhao Cheng can be certain that he will definitely be able to go incredibly far, even standing at the peak and surpassing it.

This confidence currently belongs to the Panel; if the Panel were to suddenly disappear, he might lose that confidence. But one day, when he has traveled far enough and stands high enough, even if the Panel were to vanish, he would still be full of confidence.

At that time, his confidence will stem from his own experiences and the insights gained from the various trials on his life's journey.

As for now, his path has only just begun!

It was already late, so Zhao Cheng did not continue to study the Panel, but instead went straight into Settlement through breathing, then went to sleep.

Staying up late affects morning practice. Before, he couldn't help it, but now that the novelty has worn off, he can endure it.

At six o'clock in the morning, Zhao Cheng got up on time and practiced swordsmanship.

With lv8 swordsmanship, his consciousness has mastered it, but his body has not.

In reality, he lacks that extraordinary talent for the sword, so he can only separate his breathing visualization from the sword techniques. Although this is less efficient, it has the advantage of being error-free.

Zhao Cheng estimates that once his swordsmanship conversion reaches 90%, which is the lv7 level, he will be able to perform breathing visualization while practicing the sword.

As for now, his mind is capable, but his body is not.

After practicing swordsmanship, his swordsmanship conversion increased by 1%, and his realm conversion increased by 7%. Afterward, he met Zhao Xiaoxiang, who had just woken up. After greeting her, he headed straight to school, buying breakfast on the way and eating as he walked. By the time he entered the school, he had almost finished it.

A new day has begun.