Chapter 1777 - 455: Do You Want to Become Stronger?

Chapter 1777: Chapter 455: Do You Want to Become Stronger?

After an unknown duration, Tu Hu (Hard) slowly woke up.

He sat up abruptly.

He realized he was situated on a lush green hillside, with a stream gently babbling in the distance, and nearby exotic plants emitting a hazy glow.

The Spiritual Energy here was abundant, with a breeze carrying a sweet, grassy aroma, each breath making him feel completely at ease.

"Where is this...?" Alarm bells rang in his heart, and he decisively summoned the team channel.

Tu Hu: Can you hear me, what’s happening?

Little Milk Bottle: Brother Hard! You’re still alive, you disappeared in a flash just now.

Floating with the Wind: Holy crap, Brother Hard, I heard you traveled to the Goblin Tribe as a chieftain, how many years have passed there, are there advanced goblins yet?

Tu Hu: Stop joking, I don’t know where I am either, it looks pretty safe around here, how’s it on your end?

Rock: "We’re still in the great hall, figuring out how to rescue you, why don’t you decompose yourself back to the city?"

Faced with inquiry, Tu Hu glanced around and immediately said:

"No rush, I’ll explore the situation first, perhaps this is my opportunity."

"Okay, you decide, stay in touch and report at any time."

After a brief exchange, Tu Hu steadied his mind.

Standing up, his eyes were quickly drawn to a carefully tended garden below the hillside.

An elderly man dressed in simple linen clothes stood with his back to him, bent over tending to several Spirit Plants exuding a vibrant life force, his actions natural as if he was one with this land.

Just as Tu Hu intended to advance, the elder seemed to sense him, slowly stood up straight, and turned around.

His visage was lean and clean, hair and beard both white, eyes clear as a spring without any muddiness, merely standing quietly with no imposing aura, yet making Tu Hu feel as if facing a boundless starry sky, a silent mountain.

With a quick decomposition, the elder’s information flooded into Tu Hu’s mind:

[Cang Xuan (Shadow)]:

Hunting Level: Level 20.

Target Introduction: Warrior of the Dream Weaving Clan, carrying parts of the original memories, created to compensate for regrets.

...

At this point, the elder’s gaze landed on Tu Hu, not surprised by his appearance, simply smiling slightly, with a voice warm as jade:

"You have awakened."

Before he finished speaking, the elder’s figure flickered slightly, Tu Hu saw him blurred before his eyes, the linen-clad figure silently standing in front of him.

A mere step away, he could clearly smell the fresh scent brought by the elder.

So fast!

Tu Hu felt a chill, clearly this wasn’t a Level 20 technique.

Suppressing his doubts, he curiously asked:

"Senior, did you know I would come?"

Cang Xuan shook his head:

"I didn’t know who would arrive, but since you are here, it is fate."

Before Tu Hu could ponder, Cang Xuan suddenly changed the topic, directly asked:

"Do you want to become stronger? I’ll teach you."

"Huh?" Tu Hu was totally confused, opened his mouth but almost didn’t react.

Is it really this straightforward?

If this was a storyline of meeting a reclusive master, wouldn’t there be tests of character, setting up numerous challenging obstacles?

This old man is way too proactive.

"Do you want to learn?" The elder asked again, his tone as calm as asking whether to have a cup of tea.

"Yes."

Tu Hu nodded decisively, adhering to the mindset of a player that "turning down a fortuitous encounter makes you a fool."

Whatever underlying significance there might be, he’ll learn first, at worst he could return home to visit Brother Di Zhao.

"Good." Cang Xuan’s face showed neither approval nor joy, as if just completing a simple confirmation process:

"From now on, I’ll teach you to train swords."

With that, Cang Xuan retrieved an Iron Sword from an unknown place:

"Watch closely."

Finishing speaking, he took a half-step forward, moving his arm and Iron Sword from down to up, sketching out the simplest upward lift motion.

The motion was slow, even somewhat clumsy, without any flashy effects or the sharp sound of tearing air, like one any beginner swordsmanship child could perform.

"Do it like this." Cang Xuan stood with the sword, his gaze calmly fixed on Tu Hu.

Tu Hu was stunned, muttering inwardly:

"Is that it?"

But he still complied, taking the Iron Sword tossed by the elder, mimicking the upward lift motion.

Even faster than the elder.

"No." Cang Xuan shook his head:

"Your sword lacks emotion, infuse your feelings into the sword."

"Wait, I have to infuse emotion when practicing swordsmanship?" Tu Hu was dumbfounded.

"Correct, try again."

Tu Hu slightly frowned, adjusted his posture, and tried once more.

"Still not right, your heart is too agitated, feel the strength within your heart, continue ten thousand times."

Tu Hu: ...

If not for the hidden opportunity, upon hearing the demand for ten thousand repetitions, he might’ve smashed his dog-head.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the absurdity and impatience inside, began to repeat the grueling upward lift over and over.

Believing this might be the procedure to unlock the hidden opportunity reward.

Once completing the task, he will obtain the fortune to change his destiny.

Eventually able to organize a large-scale Warband with his brothers.

For the sacrificial power, I endure!

The following three days, Tu Hu spent in this monotonous repetition.

From initial agitation and complaints, to later numbness and mechanical movements, he almost didn’t feel any progress.

No matter how he tried to force anger and annoyance into the sword, no matter how vigorous and powerful, Cang Xuan continued to watch silently on the side, uttering "No" that extinguished any residual hope.

Just as he felt himself turning into a heartless sword-wielding machine, Cang Xuan appeared again.

With a distant grab, the training Iron Sword slipped from his grasp, returning to Cang Xuan’s hand.