Chapter 47: Basic Sword Skill

Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Basic Sword Skill

"I’m afraid, Junior Brother Liu, that I only have five stalks of Purple Bamboo Grass today. I was planning to use this as a substitute for the rest."

Inside the Bamboo Garden, Yang Haichen placed a ring on the table and slowly pushed it toward Liu Chen.

"A Storage Ring?"

Liu Chen picked up the ring and examined it. Infusing it with Spiritual Power, he could clearly perceive a small space within, just large enough to hold four or five small containers.

"That’s right, a Storage Ring. They go for three hundred Spirit Stones in the Marketplace."

Yang Haichen felt a little uneasy. ’An acting Peak Master surely wouldn’t be short on Storage Rings. If Junior Brother Liu already has a better one, I probably won’t be getting any Spiritual Cuisine today.’

"You’re too kind, Senior Brother. From now on, don’t go out of your way to find Purple Bamboo Grass."

Liu Chen accepted the Storage Ring. ’If nothing else,’ he thought, ’I won’t have to go back for my sword when it’s time to practice anymore. I can carry it with me at all times.’

"Thank you for your understanding, Junior Brother."

Yang Haichen breathed a sigh of relief. ’Even though a Storage Ring is more expensive than Purple Bamboo Grass, my family has plenty to spare. Taking one is nothing, even ten would be no problem at all. The same goes for other resources.’

Taking something directly from his family was a completely different matter than buying it with Spirit Stones.

"If you can, Senior Brother, could you help me keep an eye out for any Magic that makes Spirit Plants grow faster?"

Liu Chen stated his request directly. After seeing the umbrella take shape, he’d had a bold idea. If he could obtain a form of Magic that made plants grow faster, he could start putting that idea into practice.

"Don’t worry, Junior Brother. Leave it to me."

Yang Haichen thumped his chest and agreed. He might have to think twice if it were any other matter, but for the sake of Spiritual Cuisine, he would do it even if it meant sacrificing his Body Tempering time.

According to his master, this was a Second Grade Spiritual Cuisine. After consuming it, a single Body Tempering session was equivalent to ten of his previous ones. Sacrificing a little time to obtain more Spiritual Cuisine was completely worth it.

"I’ll have to trouble you then, Senior Brother."

After a few more pleasantries, Liu Chen and Yang Haichen parted ways and returned to their own meals.

In the afternoon, Liu Chen first completed two sessions of Body Tempering on his own. Afterward, he practiced his Magic while watching his two junior sisters go through their own Body Tempering.

Once his two junior sisters began their Body Tempering, Liu Chen took out his Bamboo Sword, walked over to the stone wall, and began to practice.

Today, he was practicing the Sword Hanging Technique. It was a form of Swordsmanship specializing in parrying and deflecting force—a Swordsman’s last line of defense, one might say.

Liu Chen was particularly focused as he practiced. Perhaps because he already possessed three unique sword techniques, he gained two hundred Proficiency points with each attempt, reaching the Beginner level in a single session.

After reaching the Beginner level, the Proficiency he gained only increased. An hour later, a flash of sword light was weaving around Liu Chen, forming an impenetrable defense that left no openings for an attack.

[Sword Hanging Technique: Unique]

As the Proficiency notification appeared, Liu Chen stopped. The impenetrable sword light vanished, once again becoming the unremarkable Bamboo Sword in his hand.

’It’s taking less and less time,’ Liu Chen muttered to himself. ’My Talent for Swordsmanship is pretty good, after all.’

He checked the time and began practicing the Point Sword Technique. This technique was typically used for probing or creating a distraction. Its primary focus was speed, like a dragonfly skipping across water; it demanded not only a swift attack but an even swifter retreat after impact.

Another hour passed in the blink of an eye. The Bamboo Sword in Liu Chen’s hand made swift contact with the stone wall; within a single breath, nearly ten marks left by the Point Sword Technique appeared on its surface.

[Point Sword Technique: Unique]

"Whew... I’ve now mastered half of the Basic Sword Skills."

Liu Chen exhaled slowly, his eyes filled with anticipation. ’Once I’ve mastered all the Basic Sword Skills, I’ll have a solid foundation. Then, I can finally test my true Talent for Swordsmanship with the Cyan Lotus Demon-Slaying Sword.’

「Nightfall.」

Liu Chen sat in the kitchen and tossed a lit bamboo strip into the stove. The moment he did, a lamp appeared in his vision. It was an ordinary-looking lamp, and this wasn’t the first time he had seen it.

When his Lamp Burning Technique had reached the Beginner level, the lamp had been lit. Now, as the technique reached Minor Success, the flame on it flared violently, igniting the entire lamp base.

[Lamp Burning Technique: Minor Success, 0/1000]

’The Lamp Burning Technique... the emphasis is on the "burning," not the "lamp." Minor Success is merely the initial stage of control. I need to continue cultivating until I reach Perfection, or even the Unique level, to be able to incinerate anything.’

Liu Chen opened his eyes, and a glimmer of light, like a tiny lamp, flickered within them.

However, the change quickly vanished. Images of every object he had ever controlled with his Spiritual Power—both tangible and intangible—surfaced in his mind. A feeling of profound understanding washed over him, and Liu Chen felt he could now command these objects with even greater skill.

Furthermore, he could now better command the intangible things he had previously only been able to manipulate at short range. In fact, it now felt effortless.

[Artifact Manipulation Technique: Minor Success, 0/1000]

Having two types of Magic reach Minor Success at once was very satisfying, but Liu Chen didn’t let it go to his head. There were still three Realms above it—Great Success, Perfection, and Unique—so he remained level-headed.

The sound of water boiling came from nearby. In the past, Liu Chen would have used wooden buckets to carry it, but this time, he simply pointed a finger. The contents of two pots of hot water immediately formed a boiling orb in midair, floating silently above his head.

’Not bad,’ he thought. ’A pity the range of my control is still limited.’

Liu Chen carefully examined the sphere of hot water. Once he was sure it wouldn’t fall, he headed directly toward the Bamboo Garden where his two junior sisters were.

After delivering the hot water, Liu Chen slowly departed under the gaze of his two junior sisters, who looked both shocked and, at the same time, as if they had expected nothing less.

A life of routine makes it easy to lose track of time, and this was especially true for Cultivators.

In the bamboo grove, flashes of sword light left indelible scars upon the stone wall. The ten Basic Sword Skills shifted and evolved in Liu Chen’s hands, ultimately flowing into a Sword Dance that was both elegant and filled with boundless killing intent.

In the distance, Ji Suyao and Ye Linglong’s eyes were wide. The sounds from their Senior Brother’s practice were particularly distinct today, which was what had drawn them over. They hadn’t expected to arrive just in time to witness what could only be described as an unparalleled Sword Dance.

Both girls came from distinguished families and had practiced Swordsmanship before. They both felt that if they were to face their Senior Brother in a duel, he would probably kill them in a single instant.

Forget about them; even the highly paid instructors their families had hired would likely suffer the same fate. Practical skill aside, the sheer artistry of the Sword Dance was enough to make even a layman stop and stare.

"This can be considered the very peak of mortal Swordsmanship."

Mo Xuan’s soft voice drifted over. Ye Linglong and Ji Suyao quickly looked toward the sound and saw their respective masters standing atop stalks of Cyan Bamboo in the distance.

Noticing their gazes, Mo Xuan and Bai Qiulan descended, landing lightly beside the two girls.

"Greetings, Master..."

Ji Suyao and Ye Linglong hurriedly bowed. Mo Xuan nodded, gesturing for them to be at ease, before his gaze fell upon Liu Chen, his eyes filled with irrepressible delight.

During the Body Tempering Stage, there isn’t much difference between a Cultivator’s Swordsmanship and that of a mortal. However, with Liu Chen’s current level of skill, he need only add Spiritual Power to defeat most Inner Sect Disciples.