Chapter 108: Cultivation Bottleneck: Martial Arts Training in the Military Barracks
. Life in the barracks was busy and fulfilling.
Liu Feng meticulously tended the Blue Silver Grass daily, watching it thrive under his care, bringing a unique touch of vitality to the otherwise daunting atmosphere of the barracks.
However, Liu Feng's progress in cultivating his spirit power was slowing down. It wasn't because he wasn't working hard, but rather because his Blue Silver Grass spirit, at its second-level innate spirit power, was a bottleneck.
Despite his efforts, he saw no progress.
Consequently, Liu Feng had no choice but to devote himself to the study of cold weapons. Along with a group of soldiers, he followed the experienced instructors in the barracks,
delving into the exquisite techniques of swords, spears, swords, and staffs.
Upon beginning his swordsmanship, Liu Feng found his skills particularly adept.
As a child, his grandfather, Liu Bai, had personally taught him the fundamentals of swordsmanship. Those hours spent in the courtyard, facing the rising sun and the setting sun, repeating the basic movements over and over again, became his most solid foundation.
Although Liu Feng's primary training was spearmanship, Liu Bai also learned most of the army's weapons.
Whenever he recalled these moments, Liu Feng's heart was filled with nostalgia.
The instructor stood at the front of the troops, his posture erect, brandishing his long sword with vigor and ferocity. Each move was fierce and powerful, while he explained in detail the key points and techniques of exerting force.
Liu Feng watched intently, mentally comparing the instructor's movements with those taught by his grandfather.
As soon as he picked up the long sword, a sense of familiarity washed over him. His movements flowed naturally, and his learning progressed at a rapid pace.
While the soldiers around him were still struggling to adjust to the weight and rhythm of the long sword, Liu Feng had already mastered some advanced moves.
A young soldier, envious, couldn't help but ask, "Liu Feng, how did you learn so quickly? This sword is like a mischievous, unruly creature in my hands."
Liu Feng smiled and replied, "I learned the basics from my grandfather when I was a child. With practice, you'll get the hang of it. Don't worry, just take your time and figure it out."
Other soldiers gathered around, asking Liu Feng for advice. He shared his experience freely, and everyone progressed together through discussion.
The instructor, observing Liu Feng's performance, was filled with praise: "Liu Feng, you have a solid foundation and a strong understanding. Keep up the good work, and you'll reach even greater heights in your swordsmanship."
Liu Feng saluted respectfully and said, "Thank you for the compliment, instructor. I'll keep working hard."
Besides practicing the sword, Liu Feng also mastered spearmanship with even greater ease.
He had been learning spearmanship from his father, Liu Qing, since childhood. Over a decade of diligent daily practice had honed his skills to a profound degree.
His father, Liu Qing, had spent a lifetime honing his spearmanship, which he passed on to Liu Feng without reservation.
During demonstrations of his spearmanship, Liu Feng observed carefully, noting some differences from his father's teachings, but he quickly absorbed them.
In his duel with the instructor, Liu Feng's spearmanship displayed astonishing prowess.
The two exchanged blows, their spears clashing and sparks flying.
The spear tips flashed with a cold, icy light, tracing sharp arcs through the air. The surrounding soldiers watched intently, gasping in amazement.
"
Excellent spearmanship!"
"Liu Feng, worthy of his over a decade of practice! His spearmanship is truly impressive!"
the soldiers exclaimed in admiration.
After the competition, Liu Feng and the instructor were evenly matched, and the instructor was impressed. "Liu Feng, with your spearmanship, I truly can't teach you anything more."
"With more practice in actual combat, you'll surely become a formidable force in the army,"
Liu Feng said humbly. "Thanks, I still have many shortcomings and need to learn a lot from you and my brothers."
Finally, it was time to learn the cudgel technique.
Because cudgel and spearmanship share similarities in power generation and technique, Liu Feng, with his solid spearmanship foundation, quickly grasped its essence.
The instructor demonstrated basic cudgel techniques, such as "Sweeping the Troops," where the cudgel's shadow swept through like a gust of wind, a majestic display; and "Coiling Dragon Around the Pillar," where
the cudgel's body flexibly coiled and twisted, offering a variety of variations.
As Liu Feng watched, he mentally drew parallels with spearmanship.
He quickly discovered that while cudgel techniques weren't as sharp and swift as spear techniques, they were more flexible and had a wider attack range.
During practice, Liu Feng's long cudgel flew up and down, creating a whirring sound.
His movements were powerful and yet agile, showcasing the unique characteristics of cudgel techniques to the fullest. Seeing Liu Feng's progress, other soldiers
flocked to learn from him.
"Liu Feng, you've learned cudgel techniques so quickly. Do you have any tips?"
Liu Feng smiled and said, "Actually, cudgel techniques and spear techniques share some similarities. Apply your spear techniques to cudgel techniques, and with practice, you'll master them." "
For example, when exerting force, you need to leverage the power of your waist and legs to make the attack more powerful."
With Liu Feng's help, the soldiers' cudgel techniques improved significantly.
While both swords and knives are weapons, their uses are fundamentally different. The knife emphasizes strength, sweeping movements, and a bold display of boldness; the sword emphasizes lightness, agility, and skill, pursuing precision and ingenuity.
Liu Feng had no previous foundation in swordsmanship, so he had to start from scratch.
The instructor demonstrated the basic sword techniques: the point, like a dragonfly skimming the water, swift and precise; the thrust, like a venomous snake emerging from its lair, swift and deadly; the slash, like a breeze rustling through a willow tree, light and agile; and the chop, like a giant axe splitting a mountain, fierce and powerful.
Liu Feng watched intently, trying to memorize the key to each movement.
But once he actually started, he discovered the difficulty of swordsmanship was far greater than he had imagined.
The sword's light weight felt incredibly delicate in his hand, and the way he applied force was different from that of a knife or a spear. Liu Feng struggled to master the right amount of force and angle.
During practice, his movements were a bit stiff, and the sword seemed to deliberately resist his control, constantly flinching.
Watching other soldiers gradually master the basics of swordsmanship, Liu Feng felt anxious, but he knew the more anxious he was, the worse his learning would be.
So, he calmed down, meticulously recalling the movements he had been taught, practicing over and over again.
One day, two days...
Liu Feng spent countless hours practicing swordsmanship every day, rehearsing everything from the most basic grip to simple moves.
Finally, he began to find his rhythm, and the sword gradually became more flexible in his hands.
During one practice session, Liu Feng concentrated on executing his swordsmanship. His movements were agile, and the sword moved with him, creating a flash of light.
Seeing Liu Feng's progress, the instructor nodded with satisfaction. "The most important thing about swordsmanship is a peaceful and agile state of mind. Keep it up."
Liu Feng wiped the sweat from his forehead and said firmly, "I will, instructor. I will definitely master the swordsmanship."
As time went by, Liu Feng made significant progress in his sword, spear, sword, and staff skills.
The setting sun was intoxicating, dyeing the sky a brilliant orange-red, and its afterglow lazily spread across the military camp.
Liu Feng, his slightly exhausted body dragging itself slowly back from the training ground,
the gravel road beneath his feet stretched out in the setting sun, his shadow stretching and shrinking with each step.
The walk back to the tent, which usually took only a moment, felt exceptionally long today.
Liu Feng's brows knitted together in a frown. He
'd been in the barracks for nearly half a year, and his soul power cultivation had slowed to a crawl, like a carriage stuck in a quagmire, struggling to move forward.
As he walked, he silently assessed his own realm, the disheartening progress he'd made during meditation today resurfacing in his mind.
At this rate, reaching level 28 would likely take another six months.
The thought of this sent a surge of inexplicable fire through Liu Feng's heart, his breathing quickening, his once steady steps becoming unsteady, a wave of anxiety and resentment swirling within him.
Suddenly, Liu Feng abruptly stopped, his feet rooted to the ground.
He took a deep breath, slowly closed his eyes, clenched and unclenched his hands, trying to calm his racing heartbeat.
After a long moment, he slowly exhaled, striving to clear his mind of all those chaotic thoughts.
Just as his mind was gradually returning to calm, a thought flashed through Liu Feng's mind like a meteor: perhaps, fighting with others could break the current deadlock in his cultivation? In
an instant, his eyes lit up again, and his once gloomy heart seemed to have been torn open, letting in a glimmer of hope.