"A claw has five nails.
"I can add two nails to my Sword Claw, drawing additional Qi Slashes with my sword."
Shen Lijian explained as he brandished his sword and rushed at his son again.
He slashed at him a few more times, each attack cutting through Shen Liqian's robes and skin.
Blood dripped down from Shen Liqian as he readied his sword.
His grip tightened on the hilt.
Parrying him doesn't make much sense, as Father can still wound me.
It's a really effective technique in a sword-versus-sword fight.
But nothing is invincible.
There's a way to deal with that!
An image of his father cultivating in this Training Hall just before their conversation flashed in Shen Liqian's mind.
He'd seen his father turn the Qi around him into blades before.
It meant he should be able to see the same Qi form in his sword attacks.
He fixed his gaze on his father's blade and swordsmanship.
He let his body react on instinct while keeping his attention on the Qi around the blade.
Shen Lijian smiled and thrust his sword in.
Shen Liqian reacted more slowly than usual, but still managed to deflect the thrust to the side.
Two cuts opened on his chest.
The sting helped him focus.
Even so, he smiled and returned to his guard, his sword held diagonally before him.
Shortly after, another slash came straight at him.
Shen Liqian responded with a fast parry, then immediately turned his wrist to the side, changing the angle of his blade.
A moment later, two sparks skittered across his blade instead of into him.
I did it!
I blocked Father's Sword Claw!
Lowering his sword, Shen Lijian nodded.
"That's more than enough, Qian'er.
"You only needed a small clue to see through my Sword Claw and parry it.
"You can definitely learn it as well.
"We will practice it daily from now on."
Shen Lijian's eyes softened.
Shen Liqian nodded and hit his left palm with his right fist.
"Thank you, Father.
"I understand that this much won't do against Shen Junce.
"So I want you to attack me much faster tomorrow so I can adapt to high speed."
Though he had reached new heights and could grow without limit now with the system and Zhiyin, Shen Liqian didn't lose himself in power.
He knew his shortcomings and that he had to continue training hard.
Shen Lijian smiled from the bottom of his heart.
"Your actions and words fill me with pride.
"I will prepare you as much as I can against Shen Junce."
And if it comes to it, I will take the brunt of his attacks and never let you die, Qian'er.
It was a silent vow he couldn't voice, lest he worry Shen Liqian.
After the bout, Shen Lijian helped his son with his wounds.
He took out a few flowers from the foothills, ground them with his cultivation base, then applied the paste onto the wounds.
A sharp herbal burn crawled across his skin.
Shirtless and cross-legged, Shen Liqian narrowed his eyes and grimaced.
His father laughed.
"You usually let out little yelps whenever I apply medicine to you."
Shen Liqian nodded.
"I've grown stronger, so it's normal I can handle the medicine better."
"Haha! Right."
Zhiyin walked over to Shen Liqian and jumped into his lap.
"Your tolerance for sword strikes and blades overall has improved significantly due to The First Sword.
"And we'll push it further by cultivating your body into a sword.
"It's called Body Cultivation."
Shen Liqian's eyes widened.
He didn't know how he could speak with Zhiyin about this idea since he knew she didn't want to expose herself.
He kept that to himself.
He was surprised that Body Cultivation existed.
Didn't his cultivation already improve his body?
"Your confusion is written on your face."
Zhiyin smirked.
"You can cultivate four aspects of yourself: Body, Spirit, Intent, and Dantian.
"Dantian is the most important, and the other aspects rely on it.
"But the other three cultivation paths also help Dantian in return.
"That's why it's important to cultivate everything from the foundation."
Shen Liqian nodded.
His father was already done with the medicine and told him to put his clothes on, but Shen Liqian was conversing with Zhiyin and hadn't heard him.
"Qian'er?"
Only when Shen Lijian asked again did Shen Liqian hear him and stand up awkwardly.
"Ah, sorry."
Both went to reunite with Shen Lexi and finally eat a lavish meal.
———
"Qian'er wants to battle Shen Junce for the Clan Chief spot."
The moment Shen Lexi heard those words coming straight from her husband, she froze and looked at the duo with a dead expression.
Zhiyin rolled her eyes and tuned it out.
Shen Lexi snapped immediately after.
A chair leg scraped the floor.
She slammed her hands onto the wooden table.
"Are you two dumb?!"
Shen Liqian: (～˘▾˘)～
Shen Lijian: (～˘▾˘)～
"Don't whistle at me and look away innocently!
"That won't do!"
Shen Lexi stood up and put her hands on her waist, looking angrily at her husband and son, but the two didn't yield to her glare.
Years of living together with these two told her that neither would listen to her.
Her son was always there to help with the huge mansion's duties instead of cultivating as she told him to, and Shen Lijian often returned with grave wounds from hunts.
She sighed and sat down.
"What are you two plotting?"
"Qian'er can't possibly win against a Ninth Stage Cultivator, can he?"
Shen Liqian turned serious and looked deep into his mother's eyes.
"I can."
His voice didn't waver.
"That's why I need you two to buy me as much time as possible."
His words didn't answer Shen Lexi's question.
Shen Lijian said, "I will ensure you get as much time as you need."
With him backing the plan, Shen Lexi could only go along.
The family of three enjoyed their lavish meal and didn't let the heavy mood take away from the taste.
When the bowls were empty, Shen Lijian stood up and said that he would return to his cultivation abode.
Shen Lexi nodded and took the empty bowls to wash them.
"I'll help you, Mom," Shen Liqian said.
His mother shot him a glare.
"Not anymore!
"You're aiming to be the Clan Chief.
"So focus only on that and go cultivate!"
He swallowed his answer.
He had never seen her this stern.
Shen Liqian swallowed hard and nodded.
He tucked Zhiyin under his arm and grabbed his sheathed sword, going to the Training Hall that was now reserved exclusively for him.
Zhiyin asked, "Have you found a clue to your Sword Intent?"
"Yes," Shen Liqian replied.
He walked into the cold hall and put down his Spiritual Guide.
He then looked at the vista of the mountains draped in winter.
"Just like my father hasn't given up despite his broken Dantian, I will never hesitate when it comes to severing weeds in the Shen Clan.
"I will start with Shen Junce to prove my words.
"That will be the path of my sword and my truth."