My Swordsmanship Has No Upper Limit

Zhong Ming had high hopes for this study session.

In his eyes, the people at the Sword Testing Platform were mostly veterans of Longxi Peak. Although their cultivation levels weren’t very high due to insufficient talent in their Spiritual Roots, most had been studying the sword for two to three years, some even for five or six.

’After cultivating for so long, they must have some unique insights of their own, right?’

But after watching for just a short while, he found his brow deeply furrowed.

Their Swordsmanship... left much to be desired.

The Swordsmanship realms of the many Longxi Peak veterans were mostly at the Second Realm, Insight. Very few had reached the Third Realm, Refinement.

As for the Fourth Realm, Proficiency, there wasn’t a single one among them.

’How can their realms be so low...?’

Before he could finish the thought, Zhong Ming stopped. He had just realized something.

’It’s not that they’re weak. It’s that my Heaven Rewards Diligence is just too powerful.’

"You reap what you sow." The phrase sounded simple, but putting it into practice was incredibly difficult.

Most people didn’t know if their cultivation methods were correct, nor could they see the path forward. As a result, a full day of practice would often only increase their Cultivation Technique’s progress by one or two points.

And that was on a good day.

If they practiced incorrectly, their Cultivation Technique’s progress wouldn’t just stagnate—it would actually regress.

Even more tragically, if they turned these wrong moves into habits, their Sword Dao realm would stagnate, making it nearly impossible to advance even a single step for the rest of their lives.

It was just like playing ranked matches in his previous life; certain bad habits could keep a player forever stuck in the Gold or Silver tiers.

...

Beyond these difficulties lay another troubling fact. After the Third Realm, Immortal Dao Techniques like the Longxi Breathing Technique and Longxi Swordsmanship could no longer be advanced through sheer hard work. In addition to cultivation, one needed enlightenment and fortuitous opportunities.

Reaching the Fourth Realm, Proficiency, in an Immortal Dao Technique could also be considered a form of Secret Transmission.

One had to grasp some of the Secret Profound Meanings of an Immortal Dao Technique before they could be considered to have reached Proficiency.

This was the main reason so many disciples from Renowned and Righteous Sects didn’t remain within their mountain gates after reaching a certain realm, but instead went out into the world to gain experience.

This journey through the mortal world served both to temper one’s Mental Realm and to find opportunities for a breakthrough in their techniques.

’Every step is a pitfall, and fog obscures everything. For most Cultivators, practicing a Cultivation Technique or the Sword Dao is like fumbling through an endless darkness. Under these circumstances, it’s only natural that their growth is slow.’

’Alas, it was wishful thinking to hope I could learn something from the others... Huh?’

Just as Zhong Ming was shaking his head, about to give up and find a secluded spot to cultivate, the sound of an argument suddenly drifted over from a distance.

Turning his head, Zhong Ming saw that disciples from other peaks, much like himself, were complaining that the sparring partners from Longxi Peak were too weak.

"What’s the matter with you people from Longxi Peak? Don’t you have a single expert? I spent Merit Points to come here!"

The words made Zhong Ming’s eyes narrow. Just as he was pondering whether he could win if he intervened, a cold snort suddenly echoed from nearby.

"Weak? *Cough, cough*... Since you find us on Longxi Peak so weak, allow me to be your opponent."

Accompanied by coughs and raspy words, a one-armed, one-eyed man, as gaunt as a skeleton, emerged from a corner and stepped onto the Sword Testing Platform.

The man’s frail appearance, as if a gust of wind could blow him over, made He Bin from Cuixiang Mountain frown even deeper. "Are you even up to this..."

He Bin trailed off, his words catching in his throat.

Once on the platform, the man placed his single hand on the hilt of his sword and fixed his remaining eye on He Bin.

VMMMM!

The moment he assumed this sword-drawing stance, a grim, killing aura instantly enveloped the entire Sword Testing Platform, causing the temperature to drop by several degrees.

The environment itself was affected, but under the gaze of that single eye, He Bin fared far worse.

He felt an endless killing intent wash over him like a torrent of icy rain, drenching him to the bone and chilling his very soul.

At that moment, he felt as if a blade were already pressed against his neck. The absolute killing intent and chilling coldness froze him in place, and he didn’t dare to move a muscle.

The sight prompted the one-armed man to shake his head in disappointment. "You disciples from Cuixiang Mountain are all the same. Decent cultivation, but your Mental Realm is far too weak."

"I’m not weak!"

This remark seemed to infuriate He Bin, who waved his hand to release a cloud of toxic mist.

SHIIING!

However, before the toxic mist could even begin to spread, a flash of Sword Light blinked into existence before He Bin. It struck him before he could finish casting his Magic Technique, knocking him clean off the Sword Testing Platform. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"And you say you’re not weak. *Cough, cough*..." The gaunt man shook his head, looking exasperated. "Don’t you know that we Sword Cultivators of Longxi Peak are known for our swift and fierce attacks? While I was slowly making my way onto the platform, you should have already cast a shield and released your toxic mist in secret. Only then might you have stood a chance against me."

"Starting to cast a Magic Technique only after we’re face to face... *cough, cough*... you never stood a chance. If I actually gave you enough time to cast it, all my years of sword practice would have been for nothing."

After both scolding and instructing his opponent, the one-armed man prepared to step down from the platform.

But after just one step, his eye narrowed. He snapped his head around to look... toward the base of a tree.

When he saw that it was one of his own sect brothers—a young man, at that—Qi Hong’s expression softened.

Still, he walked over to Zhong Ming. "It’s not polite to stare, little guy," he said.

"My apologies, Senior Brother." Zhong Ming clasped his fists in a salute. After apologizing, he offered a compliment. "Your Swordsmanship is magnificent, Senior Brother. I was completely captivated and couldn’t look away. Please forgive my rudeness."

Since he was hoping to learn by watching, his attitude was impeccable.

And he wasn’t just being polite. Though the man had only struck once.

That single strike was the Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique, and from the man’s posture and the grim killing intent, Zhong Ming had truly managed to grasp something.

’That was... intent. Unlike my own "Heaven, Man, and Sword," his was "Body, Mind, and Sword," all fused into one with an ultimate killing intent. It made every strike seem like his last...’

He had only seen a single strike, and from a distance, so he’d only managed to glean a few insights. Still, it was a significant gain that left a deep impression on him.

[You have observed another’s Swordsmanship and gained insight into the Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique. Cultivation Technique progress +37]

’It really worked.’

As Zhong Ming celebrated internally, Qi Hong’s gaze fell upon the Token on Zhong Ming’s waist, and his eyebrow shot up.

"You’re this year’s A-Class Disciple for Longxi Peak?"

"Yes."

Zhong Ming’s confirmation seemed to soften the man’s attitude.

"You have a good eye. You’re not bad at all." After the praise, he mulled it over for a second before speaking directly to Zhong Ming. "Seeing how excited you are, you must be impressed with my Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique. Want to learn it?"

"Of course! I would be honored to receive your guidance, Senior Brother." As the words left his mouth, a thought struck him, and he quickly added, "I can pay you in Spirit Stones for the lesson."

Qi Hong waved his hand dismissively. "Forget the Spirit Stones. You lot are the future of Longxi Peak. Besides, the better your results in the Seven Peaks tournament, the more resources Longxi Peak will be allocated. Even a good-for-nothing like me will be better provided for."

Zhong Ming stammered, "Uh... Senior Brother, you’re not a good-for-nothing."

"*Cough, cough...*" Qi Hong let out a bitter, tragic laugh. "With a Demonic Fiend’s Evil Power invading my body and most of my meridians destroyed, what future do I have to speak of? If I’m not useless, what am I?"

"Enough of that. Are you ready to accept my instruction?"

"Of course."

VMMMM...

The instant Zhong Ming agreed, a terrifying, grim, and incomparably strange and bone-chilling power crashed down upon him.

At the same time, Qi Hong fixed his single eye on Zhong Ming.

A ferocious, terrifying smile spread across his face.

"Let me warn you first, little guy. My lessons... aren’t going to be easy."

Under his gaze, Zhong Ming’s body went rigid.

In that instant, he finally understood why the Cultivator from Cuixiang Mountain had crumbled so easily.

’This isn’t just his intent... it’s mixed with the power of Evil Spirits!’

The crazed, eerie power goaded Zhong Ming, and he subconsciously fell into a sword-drawing stance.

VMMMM!

The moment he assumed the stance, a sense of peace and tranquility enveloped his body and mind.

’My Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique can cut through anything!’

Zhong Ming often used a form of self-hypnosis while practicing the Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique, and it had become a habit. Now, as he assumed the stance, the self-hypnosis began subconsciously.

This fearless Mental Realm made him immune to the influence of Qi Hong’s bizarre aura.

Zhong Ming’s own aura even managed to push back some of the surrounding killing intent.

This, in turn, stunned Qi Hong.

He had wanted to show Zhong Ming the power of Demonic Fiends and give him a taste of real, brutal combat, but he was completely taken aback by Zhong Ming’s reaction.

’I remember... this batch of disciples only went through their Initiation eight days ago, right?’

’How did he cultivate this kind of intent in just eight days? And his sword-drawing stance... It’s at the level of Refinement?!’

’The Third Realm in eight days... Was the Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique always this easy to master?’