Chapter 9

"Alright then!"

Ye Mo thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.

He was also considering the risk of leaving Mo Ling alone in the cave. After all, there were more than just the two of them on the island; there were other surviving martial artists and even unknown beasts. Mo Ling had a few inches of the precious Seventh Rank Crimson Blood Vine on her, and leaving her alone in the cave was not reassuring.

It would be safer for the two of them to go together.

Moreover, Mo Ling was the Lady of Donglai, and the martial techniques and cultivation methods she practiced wouldn't be too shabby. After being treated with his healing herbs, she should gradually start to recover. Cutting down spirit trees with two people would be faster than with one.

He was a bit worried about Mo Ling's physical condition, but with time being tight, he couldn't worry too much.

"Let's take advantage of the fact that there are no sea demon beasts on the island yet and cut down more spirit trees. The earlier we build the spirit tree fence, the safer this cave camp will be."

Mo Ling got up and said.

Ye Mo tied the Green Edge Sword to his waist, pulled a burning branch from the campfire to use as a torch, and walked out of the cave.

Mo Ling held her sword, Mo Mei, in her jade-like hand and followed Ye Mo out of the cave.

After seeing Mo Ling come out, Ye Mo gestured for her to lead the way, as he didn't know where the spirit trees were.

Mo Ling didn't waste words. She looked at the mountains behind her and the jungle in front, determined the direction, and then quickly walked into the jungle.

Ye Mo followed Mo Ling all the way.

"Here it is! This is where I found that Crimson Blood Vine."

In less than half an hour, Mo Ling stopped and looked around the dark jungle.

Ye Mo couldn't help but look ahead. In front of them was a relatively sparse old forest with about thirty trees, each about ten zhang tall and as thick as a thigh. At first glance, these trees were greener than the others nearby.

"These trees are spirit trees. Judging by their size, they are the lowest rank, first-stage spirit trees. Spirit trees grow extremely slowly. Ordinary soil is not suitable for their growth; they can only grow in places with abundant spiritual energy. A spirit tree this thick must have grown for at least several hundred years!"

Mo Ling's eyes sparkled.

"These dozens of trees don't look much different from other trees. Are they as hard as iron?"

Ye Mo became curious about these trees.

As he approached, he noticed that the bark of these trees had very shallow patterns. If you didn't look closely, it would appear smooth, but the patterns were very neat and uniform.

"First-stage spirit trees are as hard as iron. Ordinary iron swords find it extremely difficult to cut them. However, your Green Edge Sword is a high-quality weapon made of tempered steel, sharper than ordinary iron swords. My Mo Mei Sword is an exquisite treasure, extremely sharp, and even harder than spirit trees."

"By the way, what martial arts are you practicing? Are there any techniques suitable for cutting down spirit trees?"

Mo Ling suddenly thought of an important question.

She still didn't know Ye Mo's strength.

"I practice the 'Wave Cutting Technique'!"

"What is the 'Wave Cutting Technique'? I've never heard of it! I've heard of the most common martial arts practiced by common martial artists, like 'Tiger Fist,' 'Eagle Claw,' and 'Mantis Fist,' which are sold on the street! You're a common martial artist, why don't you practice Tiger Fist?"

Mo Ling looked at Ye Mo with confusion.

"The 'Wave Cutting Technique' is the lowest-grade martial art, costing only fifty copper coins. When I was eight, I went to work and earned little money, so I could only buy this to learn. Later, I never changed it. I guess there are far fewer people practicing the 'Wave Cutting Technique' than 'Tiger Fist' or 'Eagle Claw,' so it's not very famous. My martial technique only has two moves."

Ye Mo helplessly touched his nose.

The third move of the 'Wave Cutting Technique,' 'Wave Stacking Slash,' is an upgraded version of the first move, 'Wave Breaking Slash.' These two moves are essentially the same, and he hadn't even learned the third move yet.

"How can you be like this? You only practice two moves of martial techniques, that's too easy. Forget it, I'll cut down the spirit trees, and you can watch and guard, making sure no beasts come near!"

Mo Ling looked at Ye Mo with great disappointment, her phoenix eyes wide open.

Now she understood completely. Ye Mo was practicing the lowest-grade martial art, so low that she had never even heard of it. Moreover, the 'Wave Cutting Technique' was so poor that it only had two moves.

Even the 'Tiger Fist,' as bad as it was, had thirty-six hands and one hundred and eight moves, taking many years to master.

With just two moves of the lowest-grade martial technique, how strong could Ye Mo be?

It seemed there was no hope. Cutting down spirit trees and defending against sea demon beasts would have to rely on her alone.

"Alright!"

Ye Mo saw Mo Ling's extreme disappointment.

He said nothing and stepped back a few paces.

He had been busy practicing martial techniques or working for a living since he was young, so he had hardly ever fought other martial artists. He wasn't too sure whether his strength was strong or weak among martial artists.

Mo Ling, as the Lady of Donglai, had learned the highest-grade martial arts and was likely much stronger than him.

"Feather Spirit Slash, First Form: Fluttering Feathers!"

Mo Ling held the slender Mo Mei Sword and slashed at one of the spirit trees.

A cold light flashed.

"Clang~~!"

A clear metallic sound, like cutting steel, echoed. The Mo Mei Sword left a faint mark on the spirit tree and was repelled.

Mo Ling was surprised. She couldn't even cut through the spirit tree with one slash, only managing to break a little of the bark.

"Is it because I'm injured and lack strength? But it can't have decreased that much. I'm a mid-stage martial artist, and I've practiced high-grade martial techniques, mastering the entire set of moves to the point where they can be used effectively!"

Mo Ling's face turned grim.

"Feather Spirit Slash, Second Form: Heartless Falling Feathers!"

She didn't believe it and continued to slash at the spirit tree.

After a full incense stick's time, using different moves, she had only managed to cut a one-inch deep notch, and her expression became increasingly dejected. At this rate, she wouldn't be able to cut down a single spirit tree in one night, let alone build a spirit tree fence and a cave camp.

"Finished! I can't even build a spirit tree fence to defend against sea demon beasts. It seems I'm going to die on this island. I can't accept it! I haven't found my grandfather, and I haven't even started cultivating. How can I die on this wretched island?"

Mo Ling was extremely dejected, her lips tightly pressed together, her eyes red, almost on the verge of tears.

Ye Mo had been watching from the side, his eyes twitching.

He noticed that Mo Ling's moves were only at the "fluent" level for a few, while the rest were at the "poor" level. To put it bluntly, Mo Ling's sword techniques were "very weak."

"Sigh, I'll have to do it myself!"

Ye Mo sighed inwardly, stuck the torch in the ground nearby, and drew the Green Edge Sword from his waist, slashing at the middle of the spirit tree.

"Wave Breaking Slash—!"

A fierce cry.

Bang!

Wood chips flew.

The Green Edge Sword in Ye Mo's hand whistled through the air, almost perfectly slicing into the spirit tree, following its grain and leaving a deep, one-inch cut.

"It can be cut! This spirit tree is indeed incredibly hard, even comparable to the shell of that young demon crab. Although spirit trees are extremely hard, they can still be cut down inch by inch."

Ye Mo thought to himself.

Thinking of the threat of the young demon crab, Ye Mo increased his strength and continued to slash at the same spot.

After a short while, after dozens of slashes,

"Crack~ Crack~!"

"Boom—!"

A thick first-stage spirit tree was cut down, slowly falling with a loud crash, scattering branches and dust in the jungle.

"It takes about twenty to thirty 'Wave Breaking Slashes' to cut down a spirit tree several inches thick! If I keep cutting like this, my 'Wave Breaking Slash' will become a 'Wood Breaking Slash.'"

Ye Mo shook his wrist, feeling a bit sore.

Fortunately, he practiced the 'Wave Breaking Slash' thousands of times every day, so cutting down spirit trees wasn't too difficult.

"Cut down? So fast! What level are your martial arts moves?"

Mo Ling was completely shocked.

Using the lowest-grade 'Wave Cutting Technique,' Ye Mo had managed to cut down such a thick and hard spirit tree in just a short while, which she found unbelievable.

"I've practiced the first move of the 'Wave Cutting Technique' for ten years, ten million times!"

Ye Mo said.

"You practiced such a simple chopping move ten million times? A move practiced to the level of 'turning the mundane into the miraculous'!?"

Mo Ling was stunned.

According to the levels of martial arts moves, practicing a move ten thousand times is considered "poor," a common level. Practicing a move one hundred thousand times is considered "fluent," a minor achievement. Practicing a move one million times is considered "masterful," a first-class level. Practicing a move five million times is considered "peak," a super-first-class level. Practicing a move ten million times is considered "turning the mundane into the miraculous," the level of a grandmaster.

Martial arts moves are about proficiency.

The more proficient, the greater the power.

Most martial artists practice their entire lives to reach the "masterful" level, as martial arts have many moves, ranging from dozens to hundreds. Practicing all moves to the "fluent" level would take at least a dozen years of hard work.

No martial artist would practice the lowest-grade martial arts moves to the "turning the mundane into the miraculous" level.

Her 'Feather Spirit Sword Technique' had over a hundred moves, and she had practiced each move only a few thousand times, with the best move practiced ten thousand times to the "fluent" level. The total number of times she had practiced all moves was only a few million.

Compared to Ye Mo's move reaching the "turning the mundane into the miraculous" level, her sword moves were much weaker.

Mo Ling was shocked, her phoenix eyes looking at Ye Mo as if she were seeing a grandmaster. Although this grandmaster only had one move at the "turning the mundane into the miraculous" level.