Practicing the Blade

But things were different now. He was Ning Fengzhi's disciple, and his status in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was noble. Not only did he have Ning Haiyan, a Soul Saint bodyguard and fighter, but the sect also had dedicated physicians, Healing Type Soul Masters, cooks, and more. They could reduce the aftereffects brought on by his high-intensity training to a minimum, allowing him to train boldly and without worry.

Taking a notebook from his Storage Ring, Xu Yang looked at the training plans he had made for the various possible types of Soul Masters he might become before awakening his Martial Soul. Though they were still immature, they were nevertheless the fruit of his hard work.

Flipping the notebook to the latest page, Xu Yang began planning according to the characteristics of his own Martial Soul.

"First of all, cultivating soul power absolutely comes first. I need to meditate for at least two hours every day to increase my soul power, and gradually transform the soul power in my body into Sun Soul Power. This is the foundation!"

"Then comes physical training. Running, push-ups, squats, swimming, pull-ups—all of these can be arranged. This kind of high-intensity cultivation will also need at least two hours."

"But this kind of physical training is definitely not a long-term solution. I have to develop a method of using Soul Power Body Tempering. I'll leave that to you, Uncle Ning. It'd be too much of a waste not to use such a good tool man!"

Thinking of making Ning Haiyan bury himself in researching a soul power body-tempering method, Xu Yang could not help but laugh, "Hehe." There was no helping it. He was only a tiny Soul Master, after all, without enough knowledge or experience. How could his understanding of soul power be as thorough as a Soul Saint's? If he could use him, he might as well.

"After that comes learning combat techniques. Aside from applying my Martial Soul, I also want to learn blade techniques and Archery Skill. These two are simple enough. I only need to focus on practicing them every day, so they shouldn't take too much time."

Learning blade techniques and Archery Skill was something Xu Yang had considered long ago. It was not merely to add to his ways of fighting enemies, but also because of Chen Xin's existence.

Sword Dao Chen Xin had allowed him to see that something as profound and mysterious as Sword Intent existed even on Douluo Continent. It was clear that the path of technique could also be walked.

Besides, he was currently in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, with Chen Xin, this Sword Dao grandmaster, present. That could spare him many detours. If he worked hard, he might even be able to learn Seven Kill Swordplay. He might even be able to simplify and evolve swordplay into blade techniques. When that time came, perhaps he could even venture into Slaughter City.

As for why he was not practicing the sword and was practicing the blade instead, it was simply because practicing the blade and Archery Skill was easier. There were not so many twists and turns. He only had to practice.

Just like that, Xu Yang spent a full hour recording all the thoughts in his mind into the notebook.

He would not have known if he had not looked, but once he did, even he was startled. There were actually three full pages of plans. After a rough calculation, if he trained completely according to the contents of the notebook, he would still owe twenty hours every day.

"Mm! Looks like the plan still needs some changes!"

Using his pen to cross out many of the unimportant cultivation items in the plan, he picked and chose until only four categories remained: soul power, Martial Soul, technique, and physical fitness. The rest could wait until he had time later.

Closing the notebook, Xu Yang planned to go find Ning Haiyan and start practicing the blade first.

Ning Haiyan's Martial Soul was the Blazing Flame Blade, and he himself had received guidance from Chen Xin. His blade techniques were also at a superb level, more than enough to teach a beginner like Xu Yang.

It just so happened that it was dark now. Because of the characteristics of Xu Yang's Martial Soul, he used most of the daytime to cultivate soul power, so he could only train at night.

After hearing Xu Yang's request, Ning Haiyan fell silent. He had not expected that Xu Yang, a genius, would not properly study his own Martial Soul, but would instead think of coming to him to learn blade techniques. Had his head been kicked by a donkey?

"Well... Young Master, you should focus on learning the techniques of a Power Attack System Soul Master. There's no need to waste time on blade techniques! If the Sect Leader finds out, this subordinate won't avoid a scolding," Ning Haiyan advised earnestly.

"It's fine. I'll talk to Teacher myself. You just need to teach. I'll bear any responsibility myself! If you won't teach me, I'll find someone else in the sect." Xu Yang shook his head and looked at Ning Haiyan with a solemn expression. He was absolutely going to learn blade techniques today.

"Then all right! It's just that on the Sect Leader's side..."

"I'll tell him tomorrow morning!"

"Sigh! Young Master, follow me!"

Seeing that Xu Yang was so determined, Ning Haiyan let out a long sigh, then turned and led Xu Yang toward the Training Field not far away.

After arriving at the Training Field, Ning Haiyan tossed Xu Yang a Wooden Sword from a nearby weapon rack, then said seriously, "Since Young Master wants to learn blade techniques, from now on you must strictly follow my requirements. Even if you complain of hardship or exhaustion, you cannot stop."

"Of course!"

"I just don't know whether Young Master wants to learn my Blazing Flame Blade, or only the most basic blade techniques—enough to know how to use one."

"Basic blade techniques. The simpler, the better!"

Hearing this answer, Ning Haiyan let out a breath of relief in his heart. If he was only learning basic blade techniques, he felt it was still acceptable. If Xu Yang truly wanted to learn his Blazing Flame Blade Technique, then he would have to consider reporting it to the Sect Leader and letting the Sect Leader decide.

He did not want a genius to be ruined in his hands just because he neglected his proper path.

"Since you want to learn the simplest blade techniques, I'll teach you three moves. All blade techniques across the entire Douluo Continent evolved from these three moves."

"These three moves are: downward chop, horizontal sweep, and upward slash. As long as you can use these three moves skillfully, you can be considered able to wield a blade!"

As he spoke, Ning Haiyan swung the Wooden Sword in his hand and chopped downward, then swept horizontally, and finally slashed upward. The three movements flowed in one breath, exceptionally smooth, giving the feeling that this was exactly how it ought to be.

Wasn't this just Mountain Cleaving Strike and sweeping through an army?!

Xu Yang forcefully suppressed the urge to complain in his heart, gripped the blade in his hand tightly, and began practicing by copying Ning Haiyan's movements. Unexpectedly, the moment he chopped down, Ning Haiyan called for him to stop and helped correct his mistakes.

"Young Master, move your right hand back a little more. That makes it easier to exert force!"

"Don't forget footwork and body movement. In any Soul Master's battle, footwork and body movement are the key to victory. Simply swinging your blade is useless; it will only let people dodge easily!!"

"You're using too much strength. When you strike, you must leave at least thirty percent of your strength for yourself so you have a chance to change moves. Like this, you'll only let the enemy seize an opening."

"Pay attention to mobilizing your soul power. Don't use purely physical strength. Without soul power, what use is it no matter how powerful your blade technique is!"

"..."

Ning Haiyan's training was extremely strict. Every time Xu Yang made a mistake, he would immediately call for a stop, correct Xu Yang's errors, and personally demonstrate from the side, striving to make every slash Xu Yang made reach a perfect state.

Xu Yang also learned with great seriousness.

Just like that, one taught and one learned, continuing until around ten o'clock at night, when Ning Haiyan needed to rest, and only then did they stop.

Xu Yang also made the rare choice to sleep early. He had not forgotten that he had to rise early the next day to see whether he could use the "Morning Light" Soul Skill to draw in Eastern Purple Qi.