Chapter 27

Chen Zong practiced his sword techniques, disliking being disturbed, and the corner of the training ground was his favorite spot.

Here, several large trees were planted, their leaves as big as palms, dense and lush, seemingly separating this corner from the entire training ground.

The fine steel sword gleamed, each strike piercing the air with a sharp, piercing sound.

Chen Zong first practiced the Residual Image Sword Technique, the Willow Sword Technique, and the Eagle Strike Sword Technique, each for ten rounds, then practiced the True Sword Eight Styles for twenty rounds, and finally practiced the first level of the Light Splitting Sword Technique.

The first level consists of seven sword movements, requiring coordination of hand, body, step, and eye. These seven movements themselves do not possess much power; their main purpose is to mobilize the body's vital energy and blood, running them in a specific way, ultimately bursting forth.

The cultivation of human-level martial arts is just like this.

Chen Zong swung his sword over and over again, repeatedly practicing the seven movements of the first level of the Light Splitting Sword Technique, striving to make each movement perfect and fluid.

"Human-level martial arts are the application of vital energy and blood. Each human-level martial art has its own way of running vital energy and blood, ultimately bursting forth with different power and effects."

"For example, the seven movements of the first level of the Light Splitting Sword Technique are the guiding form of this sword technique, aimed at familiarizing oneself with the way vital energy and blood run. Once thoroughly familiar, one can run vital energy and blood in this way without the guiding form, bursting forth instantly to execute the first level of the Light Splitting Sword Technique."

After three consecutive days of practice, Chen Zong had a thorough understanding of the first level of the Light Splitting Sword Technique, lacking only the physical mastery.

This requires hard practice, which no one can avoid.

"Light Splitting Shadow!"

With a low shout, the seven sword movements were performed fluidly, completed in just two breaths. Vital energy and blood surged, running in a peculiar way, then burst forth.

The sword was drawn!

A sword strike, the light blinding, instantly split into two beams, piercing left and right. Both beams were real, leaving traces in the air, which dissipated after one breath.

"It's still not enough. At least, I need to practice until I can run vital energy and blood with a sword in hand, and execute the Light Splitting Shadow with a single strike to be considered a beginner." Chen Zong thought, "Indeed, it is more difficult to cultivate than foundation-building martial arts."

Continuing to practice, he made his body remember the feeling of running vital energy and blood until his arms were sore and weak.

Returning to his room, after a brief rest, Chen Zong began to practice the Fierce Tiger Technique.

The three Beast Blood Pills were long gone, and without them, the enhancement of vital energy and blood was very slow.

"I need to find a way to obtain more Beast Blood Pills."

After practicing the Fierce Tiger Technique, Chen Zong began to think.

After officially becoming a martial artist, the clan hall's contribution point system was activated.

Contribution points are very useful, allowing the exchange of martial arts cultivation qualifications, weapons, and pills.

One Beast Blood Pill requires ten contribution points to exchange, and those who have just become martial artists and activated the contribution point system usually have zero contribution points.

Logically, Chen Zong, who had refined his vital energy and blood seven times, breaking the Chen family's previous record and setting a new one, should have received focused cultivation from the clan hall. Unfortunately, the Chen family's philosophy is not like this.

Regardless of who it is or how much talent they have, all are treated equally upon entering the clan hall.

The Chen family believes that true tigers will eventually show the might of the king of beasts, while the opposite will be lost in the crowd.

Tigers must experience battles to become kings, and people must be honed to become talents.

Furthermore, Chen Zong had not revealed that he had refined his vital energy and blood seven times; Elder Xing only thought he had refined it six times.

"Whether it's to obtain more Beast Blood Pills or to cultivate better martial arts, it all depends on contribution points."

"Methods to obtain contribution points are not limited to one. If one has sufficient strength, one can hunt demon beasts and exchange them for contribution points with the clan hall. However, for me now, this is clearly premature."

Currently, he had just broken through to the fourth layer of the Vital Energy Realm and had just begun to cultivate human-level martial arts. Both cultivation and strength were in a relatively fast improvement period, making it unsuitable to go out.

"So, the second method is to find some tasks within the clan hall."

"Perhaps, I should go to the main area and take a look."

In the main area, there is a task room that lists various tasks, which any clan hall member can accept. After completing them, they can receive the corresponding contribution points as a reward.

Chen Zong carefully scanned the task board on the wall.

"Find Silver Thread Root. Note: Silver Thread Root is a second-grade herb, which can be exchanged for twenty contribution points."

"Find Golden Luo Flower. Note: Golden Luo Flower is a third-grade herb, which can be exchanged for forty contribution points."

"Find Silver Three-Leaf Ginseng. Note: Silver Three-Leaf Ginseng is a fourth-grade herb, which can be exchanged for eighty contribution points."

Most tasks involve finding herbs.

Herbs are divided into nine grades. A first-grade herb refers to herbs aged between ten and twenty years, a second-grade herb between twenty and thirty years, a third-grade herb between thirty and forty years, and so on, with a ninth-grade herb being between ninety and one hundred years.

Herbs that reach one hundred years undergo a qualitative change, becoming treasure herbs.

Finding herbs often requires entering deep mountains and old forests, taking a considerable amount of time.

Other tasks involve hunting specific demon beasts, obtaining certain parts of their bodies, and bringing them back to the clan to receive contribution points.

Chen Zong temporarily ruled out both finding herbs and hunting demon beasts.

So, there were not many tasks left.

After looking around, Chen Zong finally chose one.

"Apprentice at the Foundry. Based on performance, can earn ten to one hundred contribution points per month."

"Are you sure you want this task?" The task room administrator looked at Chen Zong with a surprised expression.

"Is there anything wrong?" Chen Zong asked.

"Many people have taken this task before, but none lasted a month and were all expelled without earning any contribution points." The administrator said, "I advise you to choose another task."

"Is there a reason for this?" Chen Zong asked again.

"Hehe, the elder in charge of the foundry has a bad temper and high standards, making it difficult to meet them." The administrator laughed.

"Thank you for the information. I want to try." Chen Zong still said, not his style to retreat without trying.

"As you wish." The administrator registered Chen Zong and took out a black iron plate, handing it to him: "This is the apprentice plate for the foundry. Take it to Elder Lie, and he will assign you specific tasks."

"Thank you." Chen Zong took the iron plate and left.

The iron plate was shield-shaped, with a raised "Foundry" character on one side and a hammer pattern on the other.

"How bad is his temper?"

"How high are his standards?"

Chen Zong muttered to himself as he walked briskly to the foundry, which was also in the main area, not far from the task room.

The door of the foundry was black and tightly closed. Chen Zong knocked.

"Who is it?" A voice came from inside, and the door opened, revealing a face that looked honest, about twenty years old, with a suspicious gaze landing on Chen Zong: "Who are you? What do you want?"

"I am a new apprentice." Chen Zong raised the iron plate to indicate.

"Oh, another one brave enough to take this task." As he spoke, the man opened the door fully, letting Chen Zong in: "I am Chen Wuhou, and I've been here for six months."

"He is Chen Qi, and he's been here for three months." Chen Wuhou pointed to another person in the foundry and smiled.

Chen Qi was polishing a long sword and glanced at Chen Zong, expressionless.

"Hello, my name is Chen Zong." Chen Zong introduced himself.

"I have no interest in your name because you will be expelled soon." Chen Qi's tone was arrogant.

"Hehe, don't mind him, he's always like that." Chen Wuhou tried to smooth things over, and Chen Zong just smiled, not caring.

"Brother Wuhou, where is Elder Lie?" Chen Zong asked.

"Wait a moment, Elder Lie is currently forging a sword in the foundry room." Chen Wuhou pointed to the closed black iron door in front.

Chen Zong waited patiently. Chen Wuhou poured him a cup of water and, like Chen Qi, began to polish a sword, while Chen Zong watched.

The swords and knives here were of ordinary iron and fine iron grades, but none were of the precious iron grade.

After about half an hour, the heavy iron door opened, and a wave of heat rushed out, raising the room temperature. Then, a not very tall but extremely strong figure strode out.

This person had a bronze-like complexion, eyes like copper bells, curly black hair and beard, bare arms showing muscles like steel, exuding an indescribable pressure, as if a single glance could suppress and a single finger could crush.

"Elder Lie, this is Chen Zong, the new apprentice." Chen Wuhou put down the long sword and said respectfully to the person who had just come out of the foundry room.

"Elder Lie." Chen Zong took out the black iron plate and handed it to Elder Lie.

"Skinny arms and legs, another useless one. You might as well leave now to avoid making me angry." Elder Lie glanced at the iron plate and quickly sized up Chen Zong, as if trying to see through him, his tone harsh.

"Elder Lie hasn't given me a task yet, how can you know if I am useful or not?" Chen Zong was not afraid at all.

"Hey, you've got some guts, good. Since you want a task, I'll give you one. Do well, and you stay; do poorly, and you leave." Elder Lie seemed amused, his tone fierce: "You have ten days to forge a piece of ordinary iron. If you can, you stay; if not, get lost. Chen Wuhou, teach him the four essentials of forging."

"Yes, Elder." Chen Wuhou responded respectfully.

"Chen Qi, after polishing the swords, take them to the store." Elder Lie said and walked away.

"Indeed, he has a bad temper." Chen Zong thought, not caring, having heard worse.

"Forging a piece of ordinary iron in ten days is impossible. Just to master the four essentials of forging, it takes at least a month. I advise you not to waste your time and to cancel the task at the task room." Chen Wuhou advised.

"I still want to try. Please teach me, Brother Wuhou." Chen Zong said seriously.

"Since you insist, follow me." Chen Wuhou said, leading Chen Zong into the foundry room.

The foundry room was large, with a high temperature. There were three furnaces placed in different directions, but only the largest one was burning fiercely, with two people taking turns to pull the bellows and add wood to keep the fire strong.

"Brother Chen Zong, I will explain the four essentials of forging to you. Once you master them, you can start forging the ordinary iron block." Chen Wuhou led Chen Zong to an extinguished furnace, picked up a piece of iron ore, and began to demonstrate.

(Is the protagonist about to start a secondary profession?)

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