Wave Cutting Blade Technique

On the Martial Arts Field, more than a dozen new disciples sweated like rain as they repeatedly struck the water in ceramic basins.

Broken ceramic shards littered the ground beside them.

In the Wooden Dummy Room, young men stood before wooden dummies, and the dull thuds of palms striking fish skin rang out without end.

Their palms were bruised and swollen, blood seeping from the webs between their thumbs and forefingers, yet every one of them gritted his teeth and persevered.

As time passed, the differences in talent and ability became unmistakably apparent among these young disciples!

Meanwhile, in the training room next door, Zhang Yuan was learning the Wave Cutting Blade Technique under Dong Yuanwei's instruction.

The Raging Whale Gang's Wave Cutting Blade was renowned far and wide. It was said to have been created by the gang's first leader, Dong Zhuohang. After centuries of continual refinement by blade masters, it had become a Martial Skill that Battle Hall disciples had to master.

The Wave Cutting Blade Technique was not only suited for land combat—its power was even greater atop the water.

In one battle against great bandits of the martial world, the Raging Whale Gang had assembled several hundred Battle Hall members skilled in the Wave Cutting Blade Technique into a blade formation. With the force of withered branches before a raging wind, they shattered the enemy formation and claimed a decisive victory.

Normally, a new disciple like Zhang Yuan would first need to train in the Surging Wave Palm for three months, achieve some success, and only then learn the Wave Cutting Blade and Rippling Steps.

But he had surpassed his peers, cultivating the Surging Wave Palm to a level of true mastery in just one month.

That was why Dong Yuanwei had made an exception and personally taught him this blade technique ahead of time.

The Wave Cutting Blade Technique had seven forms in all. Its moves were concise, sharp, and fierce, emphasizing strength and intent.

Thus, mastering the blade moves themselves was fairly simple, but developing blade momentum was not something that could be accomplished in a day.

Unlike when Zhang Yuan had practiced the Surging Wave Palm, Dong Yuanwei did not merely teach him the secrets of the blade technique—he also personally sparred with him.

For five straight days!

This one-on-one method of instruction proved exceptionally effective.

Zhang Yuan swiftly went from an amateur who knew only simple swings, chops, and slashes to crossing the threshold of a true bladesman.

This caused Dong Yuanwei's appreciation for him to grow with every passing day!

"Use a different blade today."

The Battle Hall Instructor handed Zhang Yuan a long saber. "Attack me with everything you have!"

Zhang Yuan was startled.

Because what Dong Yuanwei had given him was a sharpened Goose Feather Saber!

The Goose Feather Saber was the standard battle saber of the Raging Whale Gang. Three feet and two inches long, it had a narrow, straight blade, with a curved tip and a reverse edge. It was a deadly weapon for close-quarters combat.

When Zhang Yuan had sparred with Dong Yuanwei before, they had both used ironwood sabers of the same style.

He had not expected to switch to real, sharpened weapons already!

Zhang Yuan accepted the saber, held it before him in salute, and said, "Please instruct me!"

The next instant, he suddenly stepped forward and raised the Goose Feather Saber in his hand, bringing it down toward Dong Yuanwei's head.

The saber flashed, closing in on the Battle Hall Instructor's face in an instant.

Zhang Yuan had not held back with this strike. As Dong Yuanwei wished, he had poured all his strength into it.

Clang!

The descending saber struck a thick blade spine, only to be blocked by Dong Yuanwei at the very last moment.

Brilliant sparks burst from the collision.

Zhang Yuan's tiger's mouth jolted, and he involuntarily retreated a step.

The gulf in their strength was displayed in all its fullness through that single clash.

Zhang Yuan was not discouraged in the slightest. Instead, his fighting spirit surged, and he immediately swung his saber again at Dong Yuanwei's vital points.

Strike after strike, Zhang Yuan went all out, and there was already a faint hint of flowing blade momentum in his attacks.

Dong Yuanwei, however, only defended without attacking, retreating as he fought and allowing Zhang Yuan to display his abilities.

The more Zhang Yuan fought, the more exhilarated he became, and the blade technique's moves grew ever more natural in his hands.

Yet Dong Yuanwei's constant parries and blocks prevented him from ever truly fighting to his heart's content.

It was as though an invisible barrier stood before him. No matter how hard Zhang Yuan tried, he could not break through it.

This stifling, unsatisfying sensation accumulated bit by bit, pushing his emotions to a certain limit.

"Kill!"

Zhang Yuan suddenly let out a low shout, naturally activating the Divine Nest's second host—the Jade Mantis—and bestowing upon himself the extraordinary ability it granted.

At that very instant, inspiration flashed through Zhang Yuan's mind.

Many questions about the blade technique that he had only half understood suddenly became clear, as though enlightenment had been poured over his head, and answers appeared before him!

Within three breaths, he swung his saber five times in succession.

The first through fifth forms of the Wave Cutting Blade Technique flowed forth in one unbroken sequence, like the Long River surging onward in mighty torrents.

Fierce saber radiance blanketed the sky and covered the earth!

"Hm?"

Dong Yuanwei's expression changed, and a trace of gravity instantly appeared in his eyes.

He no longer met Zhang Yuan's blade head-on. Instead, he suddenly swept backward more than a dozen steps, opening the distance between them.

At the same time, he broke away from their direct clash.

Zhang Yuan's consecutive strikes cut through empty air, and his momentum faltered.

He could not help but stop.

Dong Yuanwei looked at Zhang Yuan and asked in a deep voice, "How did you do that?"

There was a trace of astonishment and doubt in his tone.

Zhang Yuan's five consecutive saber strikes just now had flowed together with the momentum of mercury spilling across the ground. He had clearly grasped the intent and momentum of the Wave Cutting Blade.

Their killing power was more than ten times greater than before, enough to make even a Transforming Force expert like Dong Yuanwei feel a thread of threat.

One had to know that Dong Yuanwei not only possessed deep cultivation, but had also immersed himself in the Wave Cutting Blade Technique for many years.

Whether in experience or strength, he was far beyond anything Zhang Yuan could hope to reach.

Yet Zhang Yuan had studied the blade technique for only five days and had somehow comprehended a portion of its blade intent.

Dong Yuanwei found it utterly unbelievable!

If Zhang Yuan's identity and background had not been investigated so thoroughly, the Battle Hall Instructor would have suspected that he was the illegitimate son of some high-ranking gang figure cast out into the world!

"Uh..."

Zhang Yuan did not know how to answer.

He could hardly say that, in a moment of impulse, he had empowered himself with the Jade Mantis's Intermediate Blade Technique Proficiency and achieved a breakthrough in the midst of battle!

The Divine Nest was Zhang Yuan's greatest secret.

He would not reveal even the slightest trace of it—not even to his own mother.

"I truly never expected this..."

Dong Yuanwei found the answer himself. "You possess such outstanding talent in blade techniques as well!"

As he spoke, the Battle Hall Instructor seemed somewhat listless.

Comparing oneself to others could make a person furious!

Back then, Dong Yuanwei had endured countless hardships and poured in endless effort before he mastered the momentum and intent of the Wave Cutting Blade Technique.

He had become one of the foremost blade masters in the Raging Whale Gang's Linhe Branch.

Now, compared with Zhang Yuan, he felt as though he had lived all these years like a dog.

But sighing was one thing. The Battle Hall Instructor did not feel any jealousy toward Zhang Yuan. Instead, he felt the delight and satisfaction of having unearthed a treasure.

"Again!"

Dong Yuanwei raised the long saber in his hand, his expression becoming incomparably stern.

Earlier, he had put only thirty percent of his focus into sparring with Zhang Yuan. From now on, he would have to raise that to at least seventy percent.

As the saying went, jade could not become a vessel without carving.

Dong Yuanwei decided to turn himself into a sharp carving blade and properly polish this uncut jade that was Zhang Yuan!

Once Dong Yuanwei became fully serious, Zhang Yuan immediately felt mountain-like pressure.

But that pressure did not make him shrink back in the slightest.

Holding his saber, Zhang Yuan saluted Dong Yuanwei once more. "Master, please instruct me!"

Though he had never formally undergone the rites of apprenticeship.

To Zhang Yuan, Dong Yuanwei, who had always taught him with such care, was no different from a true master.

Respect filled his heart, bold spirit rose in his courage, and then he gave it everything he had!