Cultivation Techniques

The morning sun lit up the shadowy old neighborhood.

Chen Yiming got out of bed, put on his brand-new training clothes, and washed up. He even fixed his hair, making himself look neat and sharp.

Today was his first day reporting to the academy. He usually paid little attention to his appearance, but he tidied himself up to make a good impression on the senior disciples.

After checking himself in the mirror, Chen Yiming went downstairs to leave.

Breakfast was already on the table in the first-floor living room. Chen Yingying sat on a stool, reading a book.

Breakfast was made from leftovers they had brought home last night. Their parents were still asleep, so Chen Yingying had gotten up early to heat the food for him.

"Where are Mom and Dad? I haven't seen them."

Chen Yiming glanced at his younger sister and asked casually.

"They're still asleep,"

Chen Yingying replied in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

Chen Yiming pulled up a stool and began eating breakfast.

Having such a sweet, thoughtful sister put him in a good mood and gave him quite an appetite. He polished off most of the leftovers.

Before leaving, he told Chen Yingying to let their parents know he had gone to report to the academy when they woke up. Then he rode off on his bicycle.

The East City Branch of the Praying Mantis Snake Sword Academy was not far from Chen Yiming's home. He reached the courtyard gate in less than ten minutes.

It was only seven thirty, still well before the group training session at nine.

The padlock on the gate was already open, and the swish of sword practice came from inside. Chen Yiming pushed the gate open and saw Senior Brother Wang doing his morning training in the open yard.

Wang Bowen did not stop when someone came in. He did not even glance over, but continued his training.

The muscles throughout his body tensed and relaxed in turns. Each thrust of his sword seemed to send a peculiar rhythm flowing through him. It was as though an invisible force pressed against his body, and every move was meant to break free of it.

Chen Yiming recognized the technique as Mantis Snake Swordsmanship.

The little figure in his mind automatically broke the sword technique down into basic moves, letting him see through every form at once.

Only after completing the entire sequence did Wang Bowen lower his sword and greet him.

"Not bad. You're here early."

"Good morning, Senior Brother Wang," Chen Yiming said.

Wang Bowen picked up a cup from beside the wall, took a drink, and steadied his breathing.

"Since it's still early, I'll tell you how to practice Mantis Snake Swordsmanship."

Chen Yiming was delighted. He hurried to bring over a stool for Wang Bowen.

Wang Bowen glanced at him, apparently pleased by how considerate he was. He sat down and continued.

"You watched me for quite a while. Did you understand the sword technique I was using?"

"Do you mean Mantis Snake Swordsmanship is made up of combinations of basic sword moves?"

Chen Yiming answered uncertainly, voicing what his instincts told him.

Wang Bowen's eyes lit up. "Exactly. It looks like I won't need to teach you how to practice it. You can learn it yourself from the murals on the wall. I'll tell you what cultivation techniques are really about."

"The martial arts techniques available today are essentially combinations and refinements of basic moves. That might make you wonder: if the moves aren't all that complicated, what happens when an opponent figures them out in a fight?"

"Please explain, Senior Brother Wang," Chen Yiming said.

Wang Bowen flexed his biceps, showing off his physique.

"In a fight, what really decides the outcome is how strong your body is. Moves only help you make the most of that strength. So the purpose of a cultivation technique is to train the body."

At Wang Bowen's words, Chen Yiming thought of Liu Qingqing. She knew several techniques and executed every move with exquisite precision, but her physical strength was clearly lacking. By Wang Bowen's reasoning, she must have taken her training in the wrong direction.

"Each form of Mantis Snake Swordsmanship brings together the strength of a particular part of the body, then uses the resulting force to temper it."

Chen Yiming understood. He put it into his own words.

"I get it. Practicing a technique means bringing our physical strength together and using that force to temper and strengthen our bodies. The moves mainly teach us how to do that, not how to look impressive."

Wang Bowen looked as though he had found a kindred spirit. He patted his chest, which strained against his clothes.

"That's right. The first stage of cultivation, the Apprentice Realm, is all about tempering the body. If my body is stronger than yours, it doesn't matter how fancy your moves are if they can't get through my defenses. I only need to hit you once."

Wang Bowen had been unusually gifted with muscle since childhood. Even boys two or three years older than him could not match his strength in a fight. After joining the academy, his aptitude for sword techniques was average, but his body improved faster than anyone else's. He ranked second among the Core Disciples, making him the academy's second senior brother.

Chen Yiming asked another question. "Senior Brother Wang, I understand tempering the body now, but how is physical strength measured? And what comes after you temper your body to its limit?"

Wang Bowen frowned and said slowly, "I shouldn't be telling you this yet. But since you asked, I'll give you a rough explanation."

"By the martial arts world's standards, the body undergoes nine transformations in the Apprentice Realm. After the third, blades and spears can't pierce it. After the sixth, it's hard as iron. After the ninth, neither water nor fire can harm it. Beyond that is Master's level, and I don't know much about it."

Nine invisible shackles protected the human body. Each one broken brought a transformation, and after the ninth, the body reached its natural limit.

Chen Yiming wanted to ask more, but Wang Bowen cut him off.

"That's all you need to know about cultivation for now. Go through the technique once, and I'll give you some pointers. After that, it's up to you."

Chen Yiming nodded, walked to an open space, and drew the wooden sword from his back.

He closed his eyes and calmed himself, trying hard to recall Wang Bowen's movements. At once, a little figure appeared in his mind, practicing Mantis Snake Swordsmanship.

Every move of Mantis Snake Swordsmanship broke itself down and imprinted itself on his mind, repeating at lightning speed. In an instant, he understood the technique completely.

When he opened his eyes again, he knew exactly how to practice Mantis Snake Swordsmanship. Confidence surged through him.

Let's give it a try.

Chen Yiming steeled himself.

He began with a simple opening move. As his foot struck the ground, a counterforce traveled upward from his sole, gathering at his waist and abdomen.

His upper body twisted instinctively. The force he had built up surged into his arm, and he thrust his sword, releasing it through the tip.

Before he could consider whether he had done it right, it happened.

More than a meter in front of Chen Yiming, the force blasted the air aside with a sharp bang.

The sound was as loud as a firecracker. If that force struck an ordinary person, it would likely tear their flesh apart.

Chen Yiming thought back to the hole he had punched in his front door. Simply stacking force made an impressive bang, but it probably could not match the destructive power of spiraling force.

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