(Above Perfection is Minute Subtlety. Am I finally reaching it?)
The body of the sword was bright and had feather-like patterns. Fine wavy patterns could be seen on the edge of the sword, making it look even sharper.
The body of the sword was 63 centimeters long, with the widest 3.2 centimeters, the narrowest 2.5 centimeters, the thickest one centimeter, and the thinnest one centimeter. The hilt was 20 centimeters long and looked like a bamboo joint. It was made of dark red wood and had a frosted surface with a slight sour fragrance. The head of the sword was bronze like a tiger's head and weighed 18 pounds after removing the scabbard.
Holding the sword in his left hand, the body of the sword reflected his sharp eyes and flowed like water. With a slight shake of his wrist, the sword shone dazzlingly. He waved his hand and drew out many sword flowers.
This was the refined iron sword that Chen Zong had just received. Judging from its appearance, it was indeed better than the ordinary iron sword from before. It was indeed a good sword.
The web between the thumb and index finger of his right hand was cracked, so it was not suitable for him to practice the sword. Fortunately, he had been training his left hand, so it was not much worse than his right hand.
After drawing a few sword flowers nimbly, Chen Zong put the sword back into the scabbard.
The scabbard of the refined iron sword was made of dark red wood and decorated with bronze. It looked even more extraordinary.
Putting down the sword, Chen Zong took out the Huyang Bone-Strengthening Ointment.
It was about the size of an egg and was brown in color. It emitted a strong fishy smell. According to the person who delivered the Huyang Bone-Strengthening Ointment, such a big piece could be used to brew 20 jugs of Huyang Bone-Strengthening Wine.
He cut off one-tenth of it and threw it into his mouth. As if it had exploded on the tip of his tongue, his mouth was filled with numbness. The numbness quickly subsided and turned into a rich fragrance. The taste was very unique.
His body quickly heated up and his blood flowed faster. Chen Zong quickly practiced the Tiger Roar Incantation.
One-tenth of it was almost equivalent to drinking two jugs of Huyang Bone-Strengthening Wine. The effect was quite obvious.
After a while, Chen Zong immediately felt his whole body tremble. A numb feeling spread throughout his body as if an electric current had passed through him. It was indescribably comfortable and a smile spread across his face.
"Finally, I've completed the sixth round of tempering. But I can feel that this is not my limit." Chen Zong said with both joy and distress.
This was not the limit, which meant that he could continue to refine and complete the seventh time. This was something that was worth being happy about, but refining the sixth time had already taken him a lot of time. The seventh time would definitely be more difficult, and it might even exceed the one year standard.
"The remaining Huyang Bone-Strengthening Ointment can indeed shorten my tempering time, but it won't be by much." Chen Zong pondered. "I have to find a way to speed up my cultivation."
He believed that even if his cultivation had not broken through to the fourth level of the Qi and Blood realm after a year, he would not be expelled. However, this was not a good thing.
One had to take the initiative to fight for opportunities.
Nine days later, all of the Huyang Bone-Strengthening Ointment had been consumed by Chen Zong. As a result, his blood and Qi had been tempered a little. However, there was still a long way to go before he could complete the seventh round of ointment. Chen Zong estimated that he would need at least three months or more.
He could not help but think of Tang Junluo. As the young master of the Tang family, he was born with a superior status. Even if he was a pig, he could still enjoy treatment that others did not have. Moreover, he was a rare genius who was valued even more.
Chen Zong was different. He was only a disciple from a branch family. The difference in their backgrounds was obvious. After all, no matter how powerful a family was, its resources were limited.
After nine days, the injury between the thumb and forefinger of his right hand had healed. He could start practicing swordsmanship again.
During these nine days, he only practiced with his left hand. Chen Zong's left-handed swordsmanship was infinitely close to that of his right-hand swordsmanship.
"I can choose to practice other Foundation Establishment martial arts and easily cultivate them to the realm of Great Accomplishment. However, that kind of improvement has no advantage compared to directly cultivating the Tiger Roar Formula unless I can cultivate it to the realm of Perfection. However, to cultivate a Foundation Establishment martial art to the realm of Perfection is too slow without a few months of hard work." Chen Zong pondered.
If other people knew what he was thinking, they would be extremely jealous. It would only take a few months to cultivate a Foundation Establishment martial art to the realm of Perfection. That was the realm that many people dreamed of.
"Maybe I can try to cultivate the Residual Shadow Swordsmanship, Willow Swordsmanship, and Eagle Strike Swordsmanship to the realm of Tittle Phase." Chen Zong's eyes lit up.
Nine days ago, when he fought with Tang Junluo of the Tang Family, he unknowingly broke through the barrier between the three sword techniques under the great pressure brought by his opponent. He was able to harmonize the three sword techniques smoothly, which gave him a new understanding of the three sword techniques. After nine days of cultivation, he gradually grasped the feeling of surpassing the Consummate Realm.
Breaking through from the peak of Great Accomplishment to the realm of Perfection had already helped him to refine his Blood Qi. Then, breaking through the shackles of the realm of Perfection and reaching the realm of Tittle Phase would definitely help him even more.
The refined iron sword was unsheathed. The sword light was bright, reflecting the sunlight. It was somewhat dazzling.
This corner of the martial arts field seemed to have become Chen Zong's exclusive place to practice swordsmanship. From afar, from time to time, people would look over with envy and awe.
Chen Zong used the Residual Shadow Swordsmanship. The sword light and the residual shadow intertwined and changed unpredictably. For a moment, it was difficult to distinguish the real from the fake. It was as if every strike was real, but also as if every strike was fake. The passersby were dazzled, dizzy, and shocked.
Chen Zong was completely focused. He forgot about everything around him. While practicing, he was constantly comprehending, trying to improve himself again and again.
After practicing the Residual Shadow Swordsmanship for a hundred times, he practiced the Willow Swordsmanship for a hundred times, and then the Eagle Strike Swordsmanship for a hundred times. He took a short rest to recover his strength and at the same time to reflect. Then, he used the three swordsmanship alternately, trying to find the feeling he had when he fought with Tang Junluo.
After Chen Chuyun left, the courtyard was also taken back by the Clan Hall. Chen Zong had no place to practice the Fast, Accurate, and Steady Swordsmanship. However, he always carried the 25kg iron plates on his arms. Other than taking a bath, he never took them off even when he was sleeping.
Although he didn't have the conditions to practice the Fast, Accurate, and Steady Swordsmanship, he never neglected the Eighteen Fundamental Movements. Moreover, the time he used to practice the Fast, Accurate, and Steady Swordsmanship was used to practice the three foundational swordsmanship.
Cultivating every day, Chen Zong would have a trace of new comprehension.
Time flew. In the blink of an eye, it had been ten months since Chen Zong came to the Clan Hall.
After Chen Fenghua, Chen Guzhan, and the other three, a few more people had refined their blood and Qi to the limit. They had successfully broken through and become warriors. The number of Martial Disciples was getting fewer and fewer.
"I've finally finished half of the seventh refinement. There's still half left." Chen Zong exhaled a long breath and said to himself. He stopped practicing the Tiger Roar Formula.
Holding his sword, he went to the corner of the martial arts field again to practice his swordsmanship.
…
July 20th, year 395 of the Zhenwu Calendar.
"Residual Shadow!"
With a low shout, Chen Zong drew his sword. The sword light and the shadow of the sword overlapped. The six movements were repeated one after another. It seemed to become messy and without any order.
After practicing for a while, Chen Zong stopped. He felt as if he had grasped something important, but he couldn't grasp it. This feeling made him feel as if his heart was being scratched by a cat's claws. It was unbearably itchy.
He subconsciously looked up at the sky.
The scorching sun hung high in the sky, shining brightly. At this moment, a dark cloud floated in from nowhere and covered the scorching sun. A shadow shrouded the surroundings, including Chen Zong.
"Light … Shadow …" Chen Zong's eyes lit up. Inspiration flooded his mind, but it was fragmented and difficult to gather. Chen Zong fell into a frenzy of thoughts. The mysterious sword tip vibrated continuously. The silver dragon danced in the sky, and the light spread and shone in all directions.
The dark cloud slowly slid across the sky. As it separated, another ray of sunlight fell and shone directly on Chen Zong's eyes. The shadow disappeared, making him tremble. He was like a lighthouse in the dark night. The countless inspirations in his mind seemed to have found a breakthrough and gathered together.
"Light shines and shadows … Shadows disappear under the light …"
Chen Zong drew his sword again as he chanted.
It was still the six movements of the Residual Shadow Sword Art. However, as he practiced it over and over again, the inspiration in his mind gathered faster and faster. The feeling became clearer and clearer.
Countless sword lights surrounded him, and countless sword shadows disappeared along with him.
As he practiced, the six movements of the Residual Shadow Sword Art became blurred. The sword lights and sword shadows around him kept overlapping. Finally, Chen Zong's eyes shone with an amazing light, like a sharp sword out of its sheath. The fine iron sword in his hand paused for a moment, and countless lights and shadows converged into the fine iron sword like rivers returning to the river. The fine iron sword released a dazzling light, as if it was shining with the sun in the sky.
"Chi!"
With a loud shout, the fine iron sword pierced through the air. The extremely bright sword light shot out and turned into shadows that intertwined with each other, making the sword even more difficult to distinguish.
Then, Chen Zong trembled all over, as if he was struck by lightning. His whole body was numb, and his blood and Qi surged. He automatically operated the Tiger Roar Formula and roared.
The shadows dispersed. Chen Zong was still in the posture of thrusting out his sword, as if he was immobilized. His skin was as red as a cooked prawn, and it was frightening.
After a full quarter of an hour, the blood and Qi that was like a long river gradually calmed down. Chen Zong carefully sensed it.
"Good, the Residual Shadow Sword Art has reached the Tittle Phase from Perfection. The effect on refining the blood and Qi is indeed very strong. It is completely comparable to the effect of the Eight Moves of the True Sword from the peak of Greater Mastery to Perfection." Chen Zong was very happy. This way, he could save seven or eight days of hard practice.
He was very hungry, so he quickly took out an Energy Pill and ate it. As the Energy Pill dissolved, the hunger gradually subsided.
He swung the fine iron sword again. Light and shadow alternated, making it impossible for people to see where the sword was.
"So, this is the so-called Tittle Phase …"
Now that the Residual Shadow Sword Art had reached the Tittle Phase, Chen Zong understood that a martial art from the beginner level to Perfection was still within the scope of the martial art itself, or rather, within the shackles. The Tittle Phase was to break the shackles and go beyond that level, to have a new and higher understanding of the martial art. It was equivalent to making the martial art one's own.
To put it bluntly, martial arts before the Tittle Phase were like other people's things. Martial arts in the Tittle Phase would become one's own.
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