Chapter 28

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The four essentials of blacksmithing: light, heavy, quick, and slow.

After listening to Chen Wuhou's explanation, Chen Zong basically grasped them.

"These are all the essentials. The rest is up to your own practice," Chen Wuhou said. "When you have practiced enough, you can start forging ordinary iron blocks."

After saying this, Chen Wuhou turned and left. He had his own tasks, and whether Chen Zong could master them was no longer his concern.

"Thank you, elder brother," Chen Zong politely said, thinking to himself. In essence, the four essentials of blacksmithing were about controlling one's body to master the application of strength. Of course, it was easy to say, but the difficulty lay in the execution.

The human body is incredibly intricate, composed of countless minute structures. To fully master one's body is almost impossible.

Chen Chuyun taught Chen Zong the basic eighteen forms and the training of the three-character mantra of speed, accuracy, and stability, which essentially trained control over the body and mastery of one's strength.

After being transformed by the mysterious sword tip and undergoing repeated conscious training, Chen Zong had exceptional control over his strength.

First, he simulated the process in his mind, then grabbed the iron hammer to try it out.

The iron hammer was very heavy, weighing fifty pounds, but for Chen Zong, who possessed a thousand pounds of strength, it was not a problem. However, the difficulty lay in using it for a long time, as insufficient endurance would make it hard to sustain.

On the first day, Chen Zong did not start a fire but repeatedly pondered the four essentials of blacksmithing, delving deeper and deeper, trying to understand and master them in his own way.

Afterward, he left, went to the dining hall for a meal, and then headed to a corner of the training ground to practice his sword techniques.

The first level of the Light Splitting Sword Technique, with its seven consecutive movements, caused the blood and qi to surge, as if about to split in two. With one slash, two sword lights left clear traces in the air.

He practiced repeatedly.

As he practiced, Chen Zong couldn't help but think about the four essentials of blacksmithing.

Especially after cultivating the three sword techniques to the subtle realm, Chen Zong gradually developed his own insights into martial arts cultivation.

"Regardless of the martial art or the method of cultivation, the fundamental lies in the control and application of strength."

"Practicing the sword is like this, and blacksmithing is also like this."

As he thought, Chen Zong's eyes brightened, and the mysterious sword tip in his mind space trembled slightly. One insight after another emerged, but his body did not stop, still repeatedly practicing the seven movements of the first level of the Light Splitting Sword Technique.

Again and again!

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration seemed to pass through his mind, like a cloud parting to reveal the moon. Chen Zong paused, sheathed his sword, and stood still. His body trembled slightly, and in an instant, it seemed to undergo seven different changes. The blood and qi surged, and a single sword thrust split the air into two sword lights.

"Ah, I see."

"Guided cultivation makes the body familiar with the flow of blood and qi. Once it reaches the extreme, it only requires mental control to guide the blood and qi through the seven changes in an instant."

In simple terms, the difference between before and after the initial stage lies in using body movements to guide the flow of blood and qi, while the latter uses mental control.

Without a doubt, the mind is like lightning, and the guidance of blood and qi is naturally faster.

By the fourth day of cultivating the Light Splitting Sword Technique, Chen Zong had reached the initial stage of the first level.

On his way back to his room, Chen Zong was still thinking about the essence of the sword technique.

"Chen Zong, I have reached the initial stage of the first level of the Heavy Mountain Fist Technique. Come and fight me," Chen Guzhan said, blocking his path, accompanied by Chen Fenghua.

"My Water Splitting Saber Technique's first level has also reached the initial stage. It's a good time to test you," Chen Fenghua said with a smile.

These two were still harboring resentment over their repeated defeats at Chen Zong's hands. Before they had not yet reached the initial stage of the first level of their low-grade human martial arts, they had no confidence in defeating Chen Zong, so they did not challenge him. Now that they had reached the initial stage, and Chen Zong had only been practicing a low-grade human sword technique for a few days, they were sure he was no match for them.

"Let's go," Chen Zong said without a word, turning to walk towards the nearest arena. His first level of the Light Splitting Sword Technique had just reached the initial stage, and he was itching for a fight.

"Chen Zong, I'll tell you, after becoming a martial artist, my single arm has a strength of one thousand five hundred pounds. With the first level of the Heavy Mountain Fist Technique, one punch can shatter a rock," Chen Guzhan boasted, flexing his fists. "If you're afraid, you can still admit defeat now."

"Your strength was always greater than mine, but you still lost," Chen Zong said with a smile.

"Don't tell me your first level of the Light Splitting Sword Technique has also reached the initial stage," Chen Fenghua teased.

"You'll find out soon enough," Chen Zong replied with a chuckle, making Chen Guzhan and Chen Fenghua feel a bit uneasy, but they quickly encouraged themselves.

In just four days, it was impossible to reach the initial stage of the first level of the Light Splitting Sword Technique. According to their knowledge, the fastest time for clan members to reach the initial stage of the first level of low-grade human martial arts was fifteen days.

Encouraging themselves, the two walked more confidently.

"I'll go first," Chen Guzhan said, jumping onto the arena. Chen Zong followed, and Chen Fenghua watched from below.

"I'll test your current strength. Here comes my punch," Chen Guzhan said, his fists now wearing black gloves with iron plates. His muscular body charged forward, and a punch shattered the air, creating a powerful wind pressure that rushed towards Chen Zong.

The one thousand five hundred pounds of strength burst forth, which was quite terrifying.

A dazzling sword light cut through the air, almost touching Chen Guzhan's arm, aiming for his shoulder, forcing him to pull back his punch and dodge.

Then, there was nothing more.

Chen Zong's sword suppressed Chen Guzhan, making him retreat and dodge continuously, unable to find an opportunity to counterattack.

"Stop, stop, stop!" Chen Guzhan shouted helplessly.

He thought that, having become a martial artist a few months earlier than Chen Zong, he should be stronger, but he immediately found himself at a disadvantage, which was unreasonable.

Chen Guzhan didn't know that Chen Zong had cultivated three sword techniques to the subtle realm, reaching a new level in the application of strength and the control of the rhythm of battle. Unless Chen Guzhan could make a similar breakthrough or completely overpower Chen Zong in terms of strength, he would not be a match for him.

"Next, I'll use the Heavy Mountain Fist Technique. It's very powerful, so be careful," Chen Guzhan said seriously, gathering his strength and focusing his mind, his blood and qi surging as he punched.

"Mountain Top Press!"

With a roar, the punch seemed to rapidly grow in size, like a mountain falling from the sky, striking down with immense pressure, making Chen Zong's entire body unable to move.

From Chen Fenghua's perspective, Chen Guzhan's punch towards Chen Zong was surrounded by a mountain-like shadow, expanding to a meter in size.

"Light Splitting Shadow!"

With a low shout, Chen Zong's body swayed slightly, and the fine steel sword cut through the air, transforming into two dazzling sword lights.

The sword lights shattered, and Chen Guzhan's mountain-like punch shadow dissipated, but his fist still struck towards Chen Zong. The fine steel sword trembled like a whip, striking Chen Guzhan's fist with a metallic clang.

The sword light flashed continuously, striking Chen Guzhan's fist, back of the hand, wrist, and arm, causing him great pain.

"Stop, stop, stop, I admit defeat," Chen Guzhan shouted, desperately pulling back his arm, but found Chen Zong's sword seemingly everywhere, forcing him to shout again.

"Did you actually reach the initial stage of the first level of the Light Splitting Sword Technique?" Chen Guzhan asked, rubbing his arm, his eyes wide with shock.

"Just reached it," Chen Zong answered honestly.

"Heh, I have something to do, I'll go first," Chen Fenghua's handsome face twitched, and he let out a dry laugh, turning and quickly leaving.

Four days!

In just four days, he reached the initial stage of the first level of a low-grade human sword technique. This kind of monster, who would want to fight him? He didn't want to be tortured.

It was clear that the repeated defeats when Chen Zong was still a martial apprentice had left a significant shadow on Chen Fenghua.

"I'll get a pair of arm guards and come back to fight you," Chen Guzhan also jumped off the arena and ran away.

Chen Zong was speechless, then shook his head and smiled, sheathing his sword and jumping off the arena to head back to his room.

"When cultivating foundational martial arts, weapon-based techniques often have an advantage, but for low-grade human martial arts, as long as they are of the same grade, each has its strengths."

"When the blood and qi flow, the body's strength is enhanced. For example, at the fourth layer of the Blood Qi Realm, the strength is increased by about a thousand pounds, but this is not absolute. Some can better control their strength, reaching a thousand pounds or even more, while others can only increase by seven hundred or eight hundred pounds."

"The blood and qi flow of graded martial arts is different from the cultivation method. The focus is on instantaneous burst, which is a form of consumption. The cultivation method, on the other hand, aims to strengthen the blood and qi continuously and steadily. Therefore, the power released by the blood and qi flow of graded martial arts is more formidable, often exceeding the norm."

"Thus, the power of graded martial arts equals the body's inherent strength plus the unique blood and qi flow that bursts forth."

"Chen Guzhan has a single arm strength of one thousand five hundred pounds, and the blood and qi enhancement is about a thousand pounds. The first level of the Heavy Mountain Fist Technique, when reaching the initial stage, can increase by at least ten percent, reaching a total of two thousand six hundred pounds, which is the theoretical upper limit."

"My arm strength is one thousand pounds, and the first level of the Light Splitting Sword Technique can also increase the blood and qi strength by ten percent, totaling two thousand one hundred pounds, which is less than Chen Guzhan."

When the "Light Splitting Shadow" sword technique clashed with Chen Guzhan's "Mountain Top Press," the two sword lights shattered, and Chen Guzhan still had some strength left, which was proof.

But Chen Zong felt that even if his strength was less than the opponent's, there was still room for improvement in power.

"The 'Light Splitting Shadow' at the initial stage splits into two sword lights, which can attack two different points on a target or two targets simultaneously. But if they are used in sequence or stacked to attack a single target, would the power be stronger?"

The more he thought about it, the more Chen Zong felt this method was feasible. He turned and walked to a corner of the training ground, planning to try it out. If it worked, his strength would definitely improve.

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