NOVEL WEB Chapter 19: Chapter 19 Secret Skill
Lijian City.
This is a city backed by the Divine Sword Sect, where many family members of the disciples of the Divine Sword Sect reside.
In some way, Lijian City is considered to be owned by the Divine Sword Sect, and although there are government institutions, in reality, most people in the government have intricate connections with the Divine Sword Sect.
In a restaurant.
"Senior Brother Yan."
Yi Zhong stood with a flattering and humble expression.
The one sitting was a youth in brocade clothes, otherworldly in demeanor; he sipped his wine and said indifferently, "Li Qian has become an Official Disciple, thus this mission ends here."
"Eh? Senior Brother Yan, wasn't Li Qian just a servant disciple? How did he become an Official Disciple?"
Yi Zhong's face was full of disbelief.
"Could my words be false? Alright... you may leave now."
The youth in brocade clothes waved his hand.
Yi Zhong felt stifled inside; how many years had he struggled to become an Official Disciple?
That Li Qian, who had clearly become a servant disciple just over two years ago, how did he suddenly become an Official Disciple?
"Senior Brother Yan... you previously mentioned, you would support me..."
He took a deep breath and asked hurriedly.
"I already told you, this mission is over, leave now. And, the matter I entrusted you with, you absolutely cannot divulge it, or you know the consequences."
The youth in brocade clothes furrowed his brows slightly, his tone slightly dissatisfied.
A mere servant disciple, daring to make demands in front of him... Before, it was merely because he needed to make use of this person, but now, not even worth exploiting, he could not be bothered to pay attention.
To cultivate a servant disciple, don't resources need to be spent?
Even though he is an Official Disciple and has even taken an ordinary elder as his master, being a Direct Disciple, his status and treatment are much better than that of a normal Official Disciple, but it's not like he can just give away cultivation resources for nothing.
This Yi Zhong, although considered outstanding among the servant disciples.
But no matter how outstanding, when compared to Official Disciples, he's not worth mentioning at all.
Yi Zhong was shocked inside, realizing he had angered this Official Disciple.
He didn't dare to say anything more and could only step back and leave.
But his heart was full of grief and indignation. He thought he had found a powerful backer, his hopes of becoming an Official Disciple seemed secured.
Who would have expected that hope to be cut off just like that.
Previously, winning over Zhang Mingcan in the servant disciples' strength ranking was mainly due to the support of Senior Brother Yan behind him, providing him with some cultivation resources.
With his current strength, to maintain the first place in the ranking for two more years seemed to be exceedingly difficult.
The strength gap between the people in front of the servant disciples' strength ranking was not that big, anyone could be surpassed.
Moreover, he had offended an Official Disciple.
After all, he threatened that Li Qian in the bell tower.
If the other party held a grudge... No, they would definitely hold a grudge.
He knew that staying in the Divine Sword Sect, his future was unpredictable, it would be better to return to his hometown and inherit the family business.
As a postnatal First Layer Martial Artist, he was sufficient to support the family business.
....
At dusk.
Li Qian arrived in front of the wooden house in the valley.
"Master, I have begun to learn the Heartless Sword Technique."
Li Qian said.
"Hmm... Next, you can't only cultivate simple Internal Cultivation Methods, you must combine them with Heartless Sword Skill cultivation, ultimately using the swordsmanship to drive the Internal Cultivation Methods, this is the unique aspect of the Heartless Sword Technique. Once you can do that, you will be able to comprehend a powerful Secret Skill."
Zhou Buping was not surprised that Li Qian could learn so quickly.
Li Qian was already a postnatal Martial Artist, with high comprehension, as long as his root bone qualifications were up to standard, he could easily begin learning.
"Master, what is a Secret Skill? How is it different from martial skills?"
Li Qian asked curiously.
"Internal Cultivation strengthens mental methods, martial skills are techniques for attack, Secret Skills... they are the killers' trump cards."
Zhou Buping said indifferently: "If you want to become a True Inheritor, you must comprehend a Secret Skill. The Heartless Sword Technique belongs to a Cultivation Technique that can be used to comprehend Secret Skills... Such a Cultivation Technique in our Divine Sword Sect, only the main Cultivation Techniques of the Seven Great Peaks can do that. The difference is... the Cultivation Techniques of the Seven Great Peaks place more emphasis on root bone qualifications; only with sufficient cultivation can one possibly comprehend a Secret Skill. But the Heartless Sword Technique... even if one's cultivation is not enough, as long as the comprehension is sufficient, there's a chance to comprehend a Secret Skill. Do you know what this means?"
"Can I fight above my level?"
Li Qian spoke.
"Correct."
Zhou Buping's face showed pride, "Everybody thinks that root bone qualifications are the most important, but I don't see it that way. As long as the comprehension is high enough, even if the root bone is mediocre, one can defy the heavens and change one's fate, and climb to the pinnacle of the martial path."
Why is he here as a gatekeeper?
Isn't it to find such a person?
He wants to prove to those inside the sect with facts, that he is correct.
"Of course, mastering the Secret Skill is only a beginning. Your true goal is to perfect the Heartless Sword Technique, and to comprehend the Heartless Sword Intent."
Zhou Buping continued to speak.
"Master, this disciple has taken your words to heart."
Li Qian quickly responded.
He always felt that his master's emotional state had become somewhat unstable.
After returning to the bell tower, Li Qian tried to practice the Heartless Sword Skill in order to complement the internal cultivation methods of the Heartless Sword Technique.
But after practicing for a while, it proved to be incredibly difficult.
Because the internal cultivation methods are intrinsically of a quiet nature, to cultivate them alongside practicing swordsmanship... was nearly impossible.
The next morning.
After the strike of the Chen Bell at 5 a.m., with the aid of the day's first bell toll, Li Qian once again circulated the internal cultivation methods of the Heartless Sword Technique to practice the Heartless Sword Skill.
This time, it went exceptionally smoothly.
As he waved the treasured sword in his hand, his inner strength moved fluidly like an arm or a finger, circulating rapidly. Light radiated from the sword, sharp and resplendent.
When he completed one full iteration, Li Qian felt an all-encompassing comfort throughout his body.
He hurriedly checked the latest information on his system interface.
Host: Li Qian.
Cultivation: Postnatal (First Layer 64/100).
Sacrificial Artifact: Chen Bell (Treasure 803/1000).
Martial Skills: Sword Stabbing Fist (Perfect), Heartless Sword Technique (Beginner 1/100).
....
"I've actually made two points of progress?"
Li Qian was quite surprised.
Yesterday, after practicing for a whole day, he had only increased by five points of progress, merely one point for a full Grand Circulation.
And this time... just by supporting the practice of the Heartless Sword Skill with the internal cultivation methods of the Heartless Sword Technique, he had actually made two points of progress.
He had no doubt that this was the effect of the synergy between the mental method and the swordsmanship.
Moreover, there was now progress data for the Heartless Sword Technique.
Clearly, yesterday he had merely cultivated the internal cultivation methods of the Heartless Sword Technique without practicing the Heartless Sword Skill. In a sense, his practice was incomplete.
Only today... had he truly mastered the basics of the Heartless Sword Technique completely.
"Next up, it's time to grind."
Li Qian smiled.
As long as there was progress, cultivation became easier.
Thus, life in the bell tower became regular again for him.
With the aid of his cultivation resources, his cultivation level could advance by about ten points each day.
And the progress of the Heartless Sword Technique could advance by about six points.
In just a few days, Li Qian's cultivation successfully broke through to the Postnatal Second Layer.
During this period, that servant disciple Yi Zhong never showed up again.
There was also no movement from Chores Hall.
One day, Li Qian was busy weeding in the soil.
Since he had been focused on cultivation for the past few days, the soil had been neglected.
"Brother Qian, I have good news for you."
Chen Yong, who was carrying a log up the mountain to train, said.
"Oh? What's the good news?"
Li Qian asked.
"You know that Yi Zhong ranked first in the combat power list this time? I heard he applied to Chores Hall to leave the mountain and return home."
Chen Yong said.
"Leave the mountain and return home?"
Li Qian was stunned.
Isn't that the same as giving up the identity of a servant disciple?
What's going on?
Wasn't he previously serving some important person in the Inner Sect? Why had he suddenly given up the identity of a servant disciple?
There must be a reason for it.
Perhaps... he knew about my status as an Official Disciple and feared retaliation, so he chose to leave the mountain and return home?
No wonder there had been silence from Chores Hall during this time.
It seems the status of Official Disciple provided me with an extra layer of protection.
....