Chapter 62: Sword Technique

Perfection?

Fang Shi felt a surge of joy in his heart; indeed, within the Heavenly Sword Gate's classification, sword techniques possess a higher realm.

"I do not know if this is truly perfection."

The Eldest Brother smiled and said, "Use your strongest thrusting sword to attack me, and I will take a look."

"Then thank you, Eldest Brother. Uh, but is it alright that you do not stand up?"

"It is fine; your strength is still far from mine."

Since the Eldest Brother said so, Fang Shi did not stand on ceremony.

He drew his long sword and began to mobilize the spiritual energy within his body.

Whoosh!

The long sword pierced the air, swift as the wind.

The spiritual energy gathered at the sword tip instantly expanded into a wisp of flame at the moment of collision.

Bang!

The Eldest Brother remained motionless; the long sword placed flat on his knees stood upright, emitting a shimmering light.

Without anyone moving, it blocked Fang Shi's single sword strike.

"Not bad, not bad; indeed, this is the power of a perfected thrusting sword."

"Your physical constitution is also acceptable, nearing the limit of the human body, and not far from Qi Refining."

Fang Shi was surprised in his heart; the Eldest Brother's strength was indeed unfathomable.

The burst of his single strike was considered decent even among First-Rank cultivators.

Although a First-Rank monster could block it, it absolutely could not do so with such ease and nonchalance.

"Eldest Brother has keen eyes; I am indeed not far from Qi Refining."

With the foundation laid previously, Fang Shi did not need to eat in the cafeteria for a full month.

He estimated that in a few more days, when the Breathing Method reached Level Four perfection, he would be able to break through to the First Rank.

"Eldest Brother, I have a question: when I practice the thrusting sword, I often feel a lack of spiritual energy; is there any way to improve this?"

The Eldest Brother pondered and said, "You do not need to worry about this problem; once you reach the Qi Refining realm and open your Lower Dantian, it will be resolved."

"Your biggest problem now is that your sword moves are practiced well enough, but your understanding of the sword is too poor."

"Rather than saying you are using a sword, it is more like you are using a blade."

"Often you subconsciously use chopping..."

Hearing the Eldest Brother's guidance, Fang Shi's understanding of the sword deepened by another layer.

The Eldest Brother was right; no matter how well he had practiced the sword technique before, it was merely a method of explosion.

In actual combat, one must also learn how to use the sword; otherwise, it is nothing but a showy trick.

This is the so-called combat experience.

Fang Shi had previously used the sword as a blade, following the experience from before his rebirth.

His usage of the sword could be described as average.

However, today is different from the past.

After listening to the Eldest Brother's explanation, a string of data appeared on his attribute panel.

"You have obtained partial information on Long Sword Weapon Specialization I."

"You have comprehended Long Sword Weapon Specialization I."

"【Long Sword Weapon Specialization I】: When you use long sword-type weapons, hit rate +1."

"You have obtained partial information on Long Sword Weapon Mastery I."

"You have comprehended Long Sword Weapon Mastery I."

"【Long Sword Weapon Mastery I】: When you use long sword-type weapons, damage +2."

"You have obtained partial information on Long Sword Critical Strike."

"You have comprehended Long Sword Critical Strike I."

"【Long Sword Critical Strike I】: When you use long sword-type weapons, critical strike +1."

Long hours of combat, the Eldest Brother's guidance, plus a thirty-fold comprehension bonus.

Everything seemed to flow naturally, without a single bottleneck.

Fang Shi said gratefully, "Thank you for the Eldest Brother's guidance."

The Eldest Brother said indifferently, "This is mainly your own effort; I merely gave you a push."

Fang Shi shook his head: "Even so, thank you, Eldest Brother."

"However, Eldest Brother, I am curious: why does the sword technique not record the level of perfected sword forms?"

"Leaving it to the outer disciples to figure it out themselves,"

"wasting a vast amount of time."

The Eldest Brother smiled: "This, did we not tell you long ago?"

"We outer disciples, the sect will not feed and house us for free."

"Whatever you wish to obtain, including cultivation techniques, must be paid for with some contribution."

"Naturally, the 【Sword Technique】 is also incomplete."

Seeing the surprised look in Fang Shi's eyes, the Eldest Brother added, "However, in reality, it is very difficult to practice the six forms of the sword technique to perfection."

"Generally speaking, most achieve great mastery within a month."

"Therefore, whether it is complete or not does not matter."

"Once you reach Qi Refining and enter the back mountain to kill demonic beasts, you will quickly accumulate enough sect contribution to exchange for the complete version of the 【Sword Technique】."

Fang Shi asked again, "Then what if we can't defeat the demonic beasts?"

The Eldest Senior Brother's expression grew solemn: "If you can't defeat them, you can't defeat them. Cultivating the Dao is a struggle for life against Heaven itself."

"Sword cultivators walk the path of slaughter. If one's cultivation is insufficient and they die, then they die; there is nothing to regret."

"Moreover, all the demonic beasts in the back mountain were captured by senior brothers at the Foundation Establishment Stage; their strength is average."

"If an accident still occurs under such circumstances, it can only mean one is unsuited for the path of cultivation."

Fang Shi fell silent. Over these past few days, he had lived very comfortably within the Heavenly Sword Sect.

He needed to worry about nothing and fear nothing.

He only needed to practice his sword well within the sect.

Coupled with the Heavenly Sword Sect's excellent benefits, he almost believed the sect was truly a paradise where everything was considered thoroughly for the disciples.

In reality, the Heavenly Sword Sect still possessed a cruel side.

The Eldest Senior Brother continued, "Of course, geniuses always have privileges."

"You spent four days bringing the Thrusting Sword technique to perfection; I should give you some reward."

As he spoke, a book appeared out of thin air in the Eldest Senior Brother's hand.

"This is the 'Sword Art,' the next stage Cultivation Technique after the 'Sword Art Manual'."

"But you must remember: do not become arrogant or complacent."

"In the history of the Heavenly Sword Sect alone, there was someone who had never touched a long sword yet brought the 'Sword Art Manual' to perfection within a single day."

"Nine days later, the 'Sword Art' was also perfected; he then comprehended Sword Intent, manifested Divine Sense from his sea of consciousness, and achieved the status of Sword God."

"Compared to that person, you are still far behind."

Fang Shi did not mind; he had seen enough of other people's children since childhood.

His mindset had long been leveled; he only compared himself to himself and never forced himself beyond his capabilities.

However, since the Eldest Senior Brother mentioned this history, Fang Shi took the opportunity to ask.

Ever since reading that notebook of a Foundation Establishment Stage disciple from the Heavenly Sword Sect, he had been truly curious about these histories.

"Eldest Senior Brother, who was that person? What is Sword Intent? And what is Divine Sense?"

The Eldest Senior Brother fell silent, as if pondering something.

Fang Shi also sensed the atmosphere was wrong; after the Eldest Senior Brother stopped speaking, a cold wind seemed to blow through the air.

No! It was truly wind rising!

The temperature of the entire small courtyard plummeted; the air convection caused by the temperature difference subsequently formed the wind.

Fang Shi could even clearly see the dew on the small grass beside the Eldest Senior Brother becoming misty.

What is this? Does mood affect reality?

"This is Sword Intent. This is the realm of meaning," the Eldest Senior Brother said, his tone utterly icy.

"When you master the Sword Art to its extreme, you will feel this power and subsequently master it."

Fang Shi was shocked in his heart. Before his rebirth, he had heard that only legendary experts possessed Sword Intent.

Converted to the world of the Heavenly Sword Sect, that should correspond to the Golden Core Stage.

These past few days, he had also figured out some of the classifications of the cultivation world's levels.

Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, False Golden Core, Golden Core.

Each stage is an ascension.

Based on Qi Refining being the first tier, Fang Shi subsequently deduced that Foundation Establishment is the second tier, False Golden Core is the third tier, and Golden Core is the fourth tier.

The fourth tier corresponds to the legendary.

The Eldest Senior Brother is merely an outer sect Eldest Senior Brother, and the aura on his body is first tier; how could he possess Sword Intent?

Could it be that there is a Rapid-Cultivation Method for Sword Intent within the Heavenly Sword Sect?

Or perhaps this Sword Intent is not that Sword Intent, merely sharing the same name?

The result was that the Eldest Senior Brother's words in the next second overturned Fang Shi's deduction.

"Generally speaking, Sword Intent is a power that can only be mastered at the Golden Core Stage."

"But that is in the outside world. As long as one is a disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect, one can master Sword Intent before reaching the Golden Core Stage."

"In other words, disciples who cannot master Sword Intent before the Golden Core Stage, we of the Heavenly Sword Sect will not accept."

"So, Fang Shi, you must also strive. If you cannot master Sword Intent before the Golden Core Stage, you may simply defect from the sect yourself."

Fang Shi respectfully replied, "I certainly will, Eldest Senior Brother."

In truth, Fang Shi had no confidence. Although the Eldest Senior Brother was joking, Fang Shi knew clearly how his own comprehension abilities came to be.

Once he left this training ground, he was just an ordinary person.

The possibility of comprehending Sword Intent before the Golden Core Stage is somewhat low.

The Eldest Senior Brother smiled with satisfaction, and the temperature in the courtyard began to warm up.

"My apologies, Junior Brother. My grasp of Sword Intent is not perfect; I still need to brew the emotions, so my words just now were a bit cold."

"It's fine, Senior Brother."

As for that peerless person, the Eldest Senior Brother did not mention a single word, and Fang Shi would not seek to make himself look foolish.

"By the way, I see your talent ranks first among this batch of disciples. So, Senior Brother will give you the reward for practicing the Sword Art Manual as well, so you won't have to run over again next time."

The Eldest Senior Brother waved his large hand, and a long sword of earth-yellow color and a fire-red gemstone appeared on the empty ground ahead.

"These two items, choose whichever one you like."

"Senior Brother, what are these?"

"A Earth-attribute Earth Dragon Sword and a Fire-attribute Mid-grade Spirit Stone."

"Which one is better?"

"Both are fine; one is a weapon, the other can satisfy your cultivation for three months after you form your Qi."

"Very well, I choose the weapon."

"Agreed."