Chapter 12

In the bright sunshine, on the training ground, groups of disciples gathered separately.

"Has your practice of the Tiger Roar Technique over the past ten days been satisfactory?" Chen Chuyun's voice remained as cold as ever, her eyes like autumn water sweeping over the crowd, pausing for a moment on Chen Zong's face.

Chen Wu, Chen Shaoye, and others, including Chen Che and Chen Yan, raised their questions and received answers.

"In this class, I will explain sword techniques," Chen Chuyun said after answering the questions. "The Residual Image Sword Technique, the Willow Breeze Sword Technique, and the Eagle Strike Sword Technique—some of you may have already practiced them, while others are just beginning."

"Regardless, I hope you will listen attentively."

Chen Chuyun always had a cold demeanor. If it weren't for that night when Chen Zong saw the intense passion in her eyes, he would have thought she had only one expression.

"The Residual Image Sword Technique involves the sword transforming into residual images. When you strike, you must use your arm to lead your wrist..."

Chen Chuyun clearly had a deep understanding of the Residual Image Sword Technique. Her concise and straightforward explanation made everything clear, especially to Chen Zong, who combined it with his own understanding and gained deeper insights.

When explaining the subtleties, Chen Chuyun would also demonstrate with her sword.

Her sword was crystal clear, with wave-like patterns on the blade, making it look even sharper. Compared to the iron sword Chen Zong held, it was far superior.

Every sword practitioner yearned for a good sword, and Chen Zuoyi and others looked at her with intense desire.

After explaining the Residual Image Sword Technique, Chen Chuyun moved on to the Willow Breeze Sword Technique, followed by the Eagle Strike Sword Technique. Chen Zong and others were shocked to discover that Chen Chuyun had reached the Perfect Realm in all three sword techniques.

After explaining the three sword techniques, there was still half an hour left.

"Any questions?" Chen Chuyun scanned the crowd.

Her explanation was so thorough that everyone was still digesting it, and naturally, there were no questions.

"Next, I will teach you a sword technique," Chen Chuyun continued, and everyone's eyes lit up with anticipation.

"This technique is called the Basic Eighteen Forms." Chen Chuyun demonstrated the technique. As she practiced, except for Chen Zong, the other six were somewhat disappointed. It was different from what they had expected, but Chen Zong watched attentively.

"The Basic Eighteen Forms include chopping, pointing, thrusting, lifting, and sweeping—eighteen movements. It is not a foundational martial art and does not have much power, but it will help with sword practice. It's best to practice it whenever you have free time." Chen Chuyun demonstrated the Basic Eighteen Forms several times.

"Teacher, I have a question," Chen Zuoyi said, meeting Chen Chuyun's gaze. "I heard that reaching the Perfect Realm is not the end. What realm is above the Perfect Realm?"

Chen Zong was taken aback.

The Perfect Realm is not the end of martial arts?

There are higher realms?

"Indeed, there are higher realms above the Perfect Realm," Chen Chuyun said after a moment of thought, her cold voice seeming a bit more distant. "Above the Perfect Realm is the Subtle Realm."

"Subtle Realm." Everyone repeated it softly.

Chen Zong felt a burning passion in his heart, his heart beating faster than usual.

"Subtle Realm..." The two words were filled with magic.

"Think no more about the Subtle Realm for now," Chen Chuyun's cold voice snapped everyone back to reality. "No one in the entire clan has reached it."

"If there are no more questions, this class is over." Chen Chuyun said, though the class was supposed to last two hours, the actual schedule was up to the teacher. "Chen Zong, follow me."

Watching Chen Zong and Chen Chuyun leave, Chen Zuoyi and others looked unhappy.

...

In an independent courtyard, the yard was ten meters long and wide. This was Chen Chuyun's residence in the clan.

"Teacher, can all martial artists live in such a small courtyard after becoming a martial artist?" Chen Zong asked.

"Only the top ten can." Chen Chuyun's answer was brief, and Chen Zong was shocked. Her words implied that Chen Chuyun was among the top ten in the entire clan. "Let's not talk about trivial matters. Have you reached the Minor Success Realm in the three sword techniques?"

"I have." Chen Zong nodded.

"Practice." Chen Chuyun's voice was urgent, her eyes burning with passion.

Chen Zong immediately drew his sword and practiced each of the three sword techniques.

"Good, good, good!" Three consecutive "goods" showed Chen Chuyun's excitement. Her eyes, usually cold like autumn water, were now burning with a fiery passion, almost as if she wanted to consume Chen Zong. "Chen Zong, are you willing to learn sword techniques from me?"

Chen Zong was slightly taken aback. From Chen Chuyun's eyes, he saw a deep passion for the sword, which greatly moved him.

"Do I need to become your disciple?" Chen Zong asked.

"No, I just want to witness the rise of a sword genius." Chen Chuyun's eyes remained burning.

"I am willing." Chen Zong answered solemnly.

"Good, I have an empty room here. Do you want to live here or stay in your original place?" Chen Chuyun said directly.

"Teacher, I will stay in my original place." Chen Zong did not hesitate, not wanting to cause Chen Chuyun any extra trouble.

"As you wish, but you must come here to practice sword techniques for three hours every day." Chen Chuyun did not insist on Chen Zong moving in but required the practice time, which Chen Zong had no objection to.

Until now, besides his father giving him some guidance, he had relied on his own efforts. Having a skilled practitioner willing to guide him in sword techniques was something he had long desired.

"Let's start now." Chen Chuyun was decisive. "Practice the Basic Eighteen Forms."

Chen Zong was puzzled.

"Mastering the Basic Eighteen Forms will significantly help in practicing other sword techniques," Chen Chuyun said with certainty.

Chen Zong immediately began practicing. He remembered Chen Chuyun's demonstration clearly. At first, his movements were slow and not quite right, but Chen Chuyun would give pointers. By the second round, he was mostly correct, and by the third round, his speed increased.

By the tenth round, his body moved with the sword, each movement fluid, and the sword light surrounded him as if he had practiced it a thousand times.

"Indeed, a sword genius." Chen Chuyun's gaze seemed to melt steel.

After the twentieth round, Chen Chuyun stopped him and led him to a corner of the courtyard. There stood a door-shaped wooden frame with wooden beads of various sizes hanging from it, the largest like an egg and the smallest like a soybean, arranged in a line.

"Sword practice has four essentials, which are the foundation of sword techniques." Chen Chuyun's voice was strong, each word like a sword. "Speed, stability, accuracy, and ruthlessness!"

"Only speed can catch the enemy off guard and make them unprepared, making it impossible to defend."

"Only accuracy can ensure every strike hits the mark without deviation."

"Only stability can prevent mistakes and allow for ease of movement."

"Only ruthlessness can defeat the enemy and overcome obstacles."

These four short sentences made Chen Zong tremble as if struck by lightning, his pupils dilating and then contracting sharply, a storm brewing in his heart.

"Regardless of which sword technique you practice, the ultimate goal is to protect yourself and defeat the enemy, and it all depends on these fundamentals."

"Starting now, you will bind ten-pound iron plates to your arms, which can only be added to, not removed, to practice the speed essential." Chen Chuyun picked up the neatly arranged black iron plates, which were ten times heavier than regular iron plates of the same size, suitable for weight training.

After binding the iron plates to his arms, Chen Zong did not feel much, but he knew from his experience with weight training that the longer he carried the weight, the more noticeable the burden would become.

"Practice thrusting the wooden beads to train accuracy."

"When your sword can hit the smallest wooden bead at will, you will have made some progress." As she spoke, Chen Zong saw a blinding flash, and a tiny point appeared in the center of the soybean-sized wooden bead, which remained perfectly still. Chen Zong drew a sharp breath, his heart racing.

In an instant, Chen Chuyun drew her sword, thrust, and sheathed it, so fast that even with his enhanced vision, he could only see a flash of sword light. If she were an enemy, he wouldn't even know how he died.

Most importantly, that swift thrust not only hit the center of the soybean-sized wooden bead but also did not break it, showing that Chen Chuyun's control over her strength was astonishing.

That single thrust fully demonstrated what speed, accuracy, and stability meant.

"Such a simple thrust, though simple, surpasses countless sword techniques," Chen Zong thought, his heart burning with passion. "If I can integrate it into my sword techniques, making them faster, more accurate, and more stable, wouldn't their power increase greatly?"

Chen Zong's reaction pleased Chen Chuyun.

Talent is one thing, but passion is also essential for sword practice.

"Start with the largest wooden bead." Chen Chuyun stepped back, giving him enough space.

Chen Zong took a deep breath, walked to the egg-sized wooden bead, and stood at a distance, his eyes fixed on the bead, slowly adjusting his stance until he felt it was the best position to strike.

Holding his breath, with only the egg-sized wooden bead in his sight, he twisted his body and thrust his sword.

For Chen Zong, who had reached the Minor Success Realm in the True Sword Eight Forms, this was not difficult. Moreover, during the twenty days he lived in the Wind Roaring Forest, he had practiced thrusting fish and chopping branches, which also improved his accuracy.

One thrust, and the wooden bead shattered.

Chen Chuyun nodded slightly.

Sheathing his sword, he locked onto the second-largest wooden bead, adjusted his stance, and thrust.

After shattering the third-largest wooden bead, his thrust toward the fourth-largest bead missed.

"Your sword is not fast enough or accurate enough," Chen Chuyun said bluntly, though she thought Chen Zong's first attempt was quite good, she did not want to overpraise him and risk fostering arrogance. "Practice for an hour."

Chen Zong also felt his sword was not fast or accurate enough. Even hitting the largest wooden bead required some preparation, and he was not yet proficient.

His goal was to reach the level where he could hit the bead at will and control his strength precisely, like Chen Chuyun.

He practiced repeatedly until his arms ached and he needed a break, then moved on to practicing stability.

To practice stability, he held the sword handle and extended it forward, forming a straight line with his arm, with a ten-pound iron ball hanging from the end of the sword.

At first, there was no pressure, but as time passed, Chen Zong felt his right arm being pulled forward, starting to hurt as if it were about to tear, but he gritted his teeth and persisted.

After five minutes, Chen Zong felt his arm lose sensation and had to rest. Chen Chuyun gently massaged his right arm, gradually restoring sensation, making him feel warm and comfortable, and he recovered in a few minutes.

"Continue." Chen Chuyun said like a strict teacher.

After practicing several times, he tried thrusting the wooden beads again.

"Today's practice ends here. Come back tomorrow." Chen Chuyun said.

"Teacher, farewell." Chen Zong bowed formally, though he had not become her disciple, he was deeply grateful for Chen Chuyun's guidance.

Walking out of the courtyard with a light step, Chen Zong felt the sunlight was particularly bright today.