Chapter 8

In the vast expanse of the river, Zhang Ye swam swiftly, his entire body moving like a large fish, each stroke propelling him nearly a dozen feet, and in the blink of an eye, he had swum a hundred feet away.

After reciting the passage "The highest good is like water" from the *Tao Te Ching*, Zhang Ye felt a sense of familiarity with water. When he fell into the river, he felt like a fish, moving freely in all directions, enjoying the feeling of being at ease and unbound.

Swimming to a secluded patch of reeds, Zhang Ye quietly made his way to the shore, turned around, and glanced in the direction of Zhang Fang and Zhang Dashi. He thought to himself with determination, "This time, I almost couldn't get away. It was extremely dangerous. Zhang Fang, Zhang Dashi, you two brats actually wanted to strip me of my cultivation. I'll remember this debt, and when I have the strength, I will repay it tenfold!"

After calming his anger, Zhang Ye set his direction and headed straight for the waterfall, which was over eighty miles away from Sanhe Town.

In this world of savagery, strength is paramount. Since that's the rule, I will become a powerful person and forever escape the fate of being attacked and oppressed by others!

...

*Roar...*

After carefully traveling through the dense forest for two days, Zhang Ye finally arrived at the base of the waterfall.

After two days in the forest, Zhang Ye's clothes were tattered, making him look like a scavenger. Fortunately, the waterfall was hidden in the dense forest, rarely visited by people, so he didn't need to worry about his appearance.

Zhang Ye had been collecting herbs in the mountains since he was young, and he had rich experience in surviving in the wild. In the awakened memories, there were also many survival skills. It didn't take long for Zhang Ye to find a dry cave near the waterfall as his shelter. He used a few stones to partially block the cave entrance and settled down.

Next, Zhang Ye cleared a small platform half-submerged in water at the base of the waterfall for practicing martial arts.

After everything was ready, Zhang Ye opened the incomplete saber manual and began to study the saber techniques within.

The incomplete saber manual contained only one technique, but the requirements for the practitioner were extremely high. After a brief look, Zhang Ye picked up the saber and tried a few moves, shaking his head and thinking, "My foundation is good, but practicing this nameless saber technique is a bit too much for me. It seems I need to practice basic saber techniques for a while, perfecting them to the highest level, before I can start practicing this technique."

Having made up his mind, Zhang Ye put away the incomplete saber manual, picked up the thick-backed saber, and went to the base of the waterfall to practice basic saber techniques.

The waterfall had a drop of several dozen meters, and the water rushed into the pool with a thunderous roar. Although the stream Zhang Ye chose had a slightly smaller water flow, the force of the waterfall was still formidable. At first, even when he used the "Iron Bridge Blocking the River" stance, Zhang Ye found it difficult to stand, let alone practice saber techniques under the waterfall.

After practicing for over ten days, Zhang Ye's "Iron Bridge Blocking the River" stance made a breakthrough. He vaguely grasped the subtlety of finding movement in stillness. His feet were as steady as a rock, and his body moved in a mysterious way, slightly trembling to dissipate the force of the water.

At this point, Zhang Ye finally managed to stand firm under the waterfall.

*Swish, swish, swish, swish—* Zhang Ye continuously slashed, each stroke creating a splash of white water.

Practicing saber techniques in water is completely different from practicing on land. The resistance of water is much greater than that of air, and there are often whirlpools that affect the angle and direction of the saber. It can be said that one stroke in water is more difficult than ten strokes on land.

Slash, retract. Slash again, retract again.

Zhang Ye repeatedly practiced these two simple actions under the waterfall.

"The highest good is like water. Water benefits all things without contention, which is the virtue of humility. Therefore, the rivers and seas can be the kings of all valleys because they are good at being low, so they can be the kings of all valleys. Nothing in the world is softer or weaker than water, yet nothing can resist its strength, which is the virtue of softness. Therefore, softness overcomes hardness, and weakness overcomes strength. Because it has no form, it can enter the tiniest spaces, from which we can understand the value of teaching without words and the benefit of non-action."

The longer Zhang Ye practiced saber techniques in the water, the deeper his understanding of this passage became. Water is the softest thing in the world, seemingly weak and lowly, but it can penetrate mountains and rocks, flood fields, and destroy houses. Nothing can stop it. This profound truth of the universe deeply moved Zhang Ye.

Zhang Ye vaguely felt that if he could practice his saber to the level of "The highest good is like water," his saber techniques would undergo a qualitative leap, making him invincible among the younger generation. He might even become invincible in a country and reach the innate realm.

Slash, retract. Zhang Ye practiced for over two months.

Over two months of practice, Zhang Ye's soft features gradually became more defined. His eyes became sharp like a blade, his movements became as precise as a blade, and his entire person became as sharp and aggressive as an unsheathed blade.

The waterfall's impact on his face, body, and saber could not make him budge an inch.

*Swish!*

Zhang Ye slashed, cutting through the waterfall.

*Clang!*

The saber returned to the scabbard as if it had never moved.

The fluidity and naturalness of his movements were seamless.

"Ha ha, practicing basic saber techniques to this level is already the highest level. Practicing under the waterfall is extremely arduous, but the gains are also great!" Zhang Ye stroked the thick-backed saber in his hand, feeling a sense of pride.

To reach the highest level of basic saber techniques in just two months is something few would believe. But Zhang Ye achieved it through his astonishing willpower and calculation.

Not only did he perfect the basic saber techniques, but he also perfected the "Iron Bridge Blocking the River" stance.

At the highest level, a simple slash of the basic saber technique has immense power. And the "Iron Bridge Blocking the River" stance, once formed, is almost unbreakable unless the opponent's strength far exceeds Zhang Ye's.

Having perfected these two offensive and defensive techniques, Zhang Ye finally had some self-defense capabilities.

"With my current strength, defeating Zhang Dashi, who is at the middle stage of the second level of martial arts, should not be a problem. But to defeat Zhang Fang, who is at the peak of the second level, is still not enough! Moreover, Zhang Fang could enter the third level of martial arts at any time. The strength of the third level far surpasses that of the peak second level. Even if I perfect the basic saber techniques, I am still no match for him! I need more strength, much more strength!" Zhang Ye estimated his strength and knew that while he was now one of the better young men in the Zhang family, he still couldn't compare to those with outstanding talent like Zhang Fang.

If strength is lacking, then work hard to improve. Zhang Ye took out the incomplete saber manual again, determined to master the saber technique in one go.