[Sword Swift as Wind]: After learning any Sword Technique, your sword strikes will be three-tenths faster than before!
An increase of three-tenths might seem trivial, but in reality, it was absolutely astonishing!
After all, Chu Fan had taken the Firewood Splitting Saber Technique from Entry-Level to Perfection in just a single day.
The effort he put in that day wasn't even as tiring as a single session of practicing the Twelve Forms Fist!
'Even if the difficulty increases severalfold each time I Break a Limit in the future, it would probably only cost me a few more days at most,' he figured.
'Just imagine: if I can get another three-tenths faster every few days, the small increments will add up. In less than half a year, my sword strikes will be more than twice as fast as they are today!'
'When that time comes, a single flash of my sword will be something even a phantom couldn't dodge!'
'Looks like I need to find a suitable blade and learn a proper Sword Technique.'
Chu Fan gazed at the panel, a faint smile on his lips. He quickened his pace and headed for the firewood-splitting area.
...
Lead-gray clouds hung low, blanketing the entire courtyard in a bleak, desolate chill.
The early morning wind was as cold as a knife. It whistled through the bare treetops with a mournful, wailing sound.
In the courtyard, three youths hunched their shoulders against the cold, struggling to lift the Firewood Splitters in their hands.
Each time they brought their Firewood Splitters down, the motion was slow and heavy.
The blades struck the logs, which were frozen solid, often only managing to open a small crack rather than splitting them in two.
"This damn weather... the logs are frozen like chunks of iron..."
The stout youth rubbed his frozen hands together. He was about to complain some more when his gaze was suddenly riveted to a figure on the other side of the courtyard, and he froze.
Sitting in the corner splitting firewood was none other than Chu Fan.
He wore only a thin, cyan tunic, and though his exposed forearms were lean, their lines were as smooth as flowing water.
Every time he raised his blade, it was with a strange rhythm, as if he held some profound secret. It was as if he wasn't splitting firewood but demonstrating an exquisite Sword Technique...
Every move was deliberate, every form held a certain grace.
The Firewood Splitter fell so fast it left behind a Residual Image, almost too quick for the naked eye to follow.
When others split a log, they had to set it upright, hold it steady, find the grain, gather their strength, and then strike it fiercely several times before they succeeded.
But Chu Fan was completely different.
He seemed to able to see through the wood's very "bones and sinews." He'd grab a log with his left hand, toss it casually to the ground, and swing his blade down before it even had a chance to settle.
With a soft CRACK, the entire bowl-thick log split down the middle. The cut surface was perfectly smooth, as if measured with a ruler!
"He... he's..."
The stout youth swallowed hard, his mind reeling.
He had long been aware of Chu Fan's speed and power when splitting firewood; that was nothing new.
Every day, Chu Fan would finish both his own and Zhao Tianxing's quotas while a large pile of logs still sat in front of the others.
But the stout youth felt that today, Chu Fan was different. There was something indescribably strange about him.
To be precise, his Sword Technique was vastly different from before.
His splitting speed was clearly much faster than before—so fast it was dumbfounding!
'Is it an illusion?'
'No, how could it be an illusion...'
'That guy has already almost finished Zhao Tianxing's quota!'
'The time he's taken to finish both quotas today is clearly much shorter than yesterday!'
'Treating firewood splitting as a break is one thing.'
'But he's actually using it to cultivate his Sword Technique?'
'That kind of talent and perseverance is enough to make anyone burn with envy.'
'No wonder some people said he got into the Seven Stars Gang solely based on this wood-splitting Sword Technique.'
The stout youth's eyes were filled with disbelief.
'Everyone says Zhao Tianxing is exceptionally talented, far beyond the reach of ordinary people.'
'But I've always felt that Chu Fan is the real monster, the one who hides his true abilities.'
'Everyone else is busy trying to befriend Zhao Tianxing and curry favor with him, but no one bothers with the quiet Chu Fan. They're all truly blind.'
'I have to find a chance to get closer to Chu Fan...'
The stout youth's eyes darted about as a plan began to form in his mind.
[Firewood Splitting Saber Technique Experience Points +1]
[Skill: Firewood Splitting Saber Technique (Limit Broken 1 time, 125/3000) (Trait: Sword Swift as Wind)]
After splitting the last log, Chu Fan held the Firewood Splitter horizontally before his chest. He slowly ran the fingers of his left hand along the back of the blade, lost in thought.
'Three-tenths faster...'
'Compared to my first day splitting firewood here, my current speed is much more than just three-tenths faster.'
'It's just that the previous speed increase was a natural result of my growing Qi Blood and strengthening muscles and bones.'
'But today's increase in speed is because of the "Sword Swift as Wind" Trait I gained from Breaking the Limit of the "Firewood Splitting Saber Technique"!'
His potent Qi Blood Power, combined with a swing speed that left a Residual Image, made these iron-hard frozen logs as fragile as straw before his blade.
With just an ordinary Firewood Splitter, he could easily split the frozen-solid logs.
'If I were to use a sharp Long Saber and swing it at someone's neck...'
'Even a Martial Artist who has passed the Five Gates and officially entered the ranks would never be able to withstand a strike like that!'
Chu Fan raised his head.
His gaze fell upon the stout youth's neck on the other side, as if he were measuring it.
Then, he slowly raised his right hand and made a couple of practice swings with the Firewood Splitter. The movements were slow, but brimming with killing intent.
On the other side, the stout youth, who was still splitting firewood, suddenly felt a chill on his neck. A cold sensation shot straight to the crown of his head, and he subconsciously looked up.
Their eyes met, and the air seemed to freeze.
Then, Chu Fan lowered the Firewood Splitter with a blank expression.
The stout youth's scalp tingled with fear, and he almost cursed out loud!
'Damn it, that guy was aiming his blade at my neck... What does he want? I have no grudge against him!'
His mouth twitched. Forcibly suppressing the anger and fear in his heart, he lowered his head and continued splitting wood, though his hands had begun to tremble uncontrollably.
Just then, Chu Fan spoke up. "The other Cultivation Techniques in the Library Pavilion, like Sword Techniques for example, can they be learned for free?"
The stout youth and the other two looked up at the same time, surprise on their faces.
The other two said nothing.
The stout youth shook his head and said, "How could they be free? There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world."
"Except for the Twelve Forms Fist, all other Cultivation Techniques must be purchased with money, and not for a small price."
"A Sword Technique or Swordsmanship will cost at least twenty taels of silver."
"Some of the more powerful Sword Techniques or Swordsmanship even require you to become a true disciple of the Seven Stars Gang and make contributions to the gang before you're even qualified to purchase them."
"An ordinary person could have all the silver in the world and still never get to see them."
"Even a basic Sword Technique costs twenty taels of silver?" Chu Fan frowned and began to calculate in his head.
He still had one hundred and twenty copper coins and a few wheat cakes hidden at home.
That was his entire fortune.
Converted to silver, that was just a little over one mace. Saving up twenty taels of silver would take who knows how long.
The stout youth glanced at the Firewood Splitter in Chu Fan's hands, the corner of his eye twitching. "Don't tell me... you're thinking of buying a Sword Technique?" he asked tentatively.
"Yes." Chu Fan nodded. "I do want to learn a Sword Technique, but unfortunately, my pockets are empty, so I can only dream about it for now."
'Once my Spiritual Essence Value accumulates to 20 points, I can get Li Qingxue's... "Seven-Star Bead Slash" for free.'
'I've heard that the "Seven-Star Bead Slash" is the Li Family's Sword Technique, the fastest blade in all of Cyan Yang Ancient City!'
'Right now, with three bowls of Blood-Nourishing Medicine Soup plus three meals a day, I gain about 1.8 to 2.1 Spiritual Essence daily.'
'After using up all my Spiritual Essence today, it'll probably take more than ten days to save up 20 points. I'll have to be patient.'
The youth to the stout one's left sneered, "You haven't even broken through the first gate of Martial Arts Foundation Establishment or condensed your Qi Blood Power. With such an unstable foundation, why are you aiming so high and thinking about learning a Sword Technique?"
"You're just looking for trouble, asking for a world of pain!"
The other youth nodded in agreement. "It's best to only consider things like Sword Techniques and Swordsmanship after breaking through the second gate, 'Blood Refining.' That's the prudent way to do it."
"Before you break through 'Blood Refining' or cultivate one of the Twelve Forms Fist to the Great Success stage, it's better to focus your time and energy on practicing the 'Twelve Forms Fist.' That is the proper path."
The stout youth also chimed in, "Real Sword Techniques also require you to draw upon your Qi Blood Power."
"Our current Qi and blood reserves are already stretched thin just from practicing the Twelve Forms Fist a few times a day. How could we have any energy left to practice the sword?"
"The Five Gates of Martial Arts Foundation Establishment are meant to solidify your foundation, enhance your Qi and blood, and temper your body. It's a step-by-step process..."
"If you start spending your time and energy on a Sword Technique right at the beginning, even if you have a talent for Sword Cultivation, you'd be neglecting the fundamentals for the sake of the superficial. You'll definitely regret it later!"
Chu Fan didn't respond, falling into deep thought.
He knew they were right; their advice was sincere.
But as the owner of the "Map of Mountains and Rivers," he was an anomaly. Naturally, he couldn't be judged by common standards and had to walk his own path.
'My "Firewood Splitting Saber Technique" already has the "Sword Swift as Wind" Trait. Further Limit Breaks will surely grant more bonuses to my Sword Technique. The potential is limitless.'
'With the support of such a Trait, how could I not learn a Sword Technique?'
On the other hand, as his Qi and blood grew stronger, the number of times he could practice the Twelve Forms Fist each day was also increasing.
'When the time comes, I'll just practice the Twelve Forms Fist a couple fewer times and use that energy to practice the sword instead.'
Suddenly...
Cao Feng's voice drifted in from the courtyard entrance. It was neither high nor low, but it reached their ears with perfect clarity. "You want to learn the sword?"
Hearing the voice, the stout youth and the other two shot to their feet, their expressions reverent.
Chu Fan turned to see Cao Feng standing at the entrance, hands clasped behind his back. His figure was tall and straight. There was no telling how long he had been there or how much of their conversation he had heard.
"Greetings, Instructor!"
"Greetings, Master Cao!"
Chu Fan, along with the stout youth and the others, bowed respectfully, not daring to show the slightest neglect.
The three youths addressed Cao Feng as "Instructor."
Chu Fan and Zhao Tianxing addressed him as "Master Cao."
This distinction alone was enough to make many others burn with jealousy.
Before Chu Fan could speak, Cao Feng's right foot shot out as fast as lightning, flicking a log into the air.
The log shot upwards with a whistle, hurtling straight at Chu Fan!
Chu Fan swung his blade subconsciously, his movements as smooth as flowing water...
CRACK!
Just like the logs that had been set upright before being split, the airborne log was cleaved in two down the middle. It fell to the ground, kicking up a small cloud of dust!
The stout youth and the other two watched this scene unfold, completely dumbstruck, as if they had been turned to stone!