Chapter 3: Rank 1
Chapter 3: Rank 1
Chen Mu had always believed that everything in life was governed by the law of cause and effect.
Having found himself in this world as a lowly patrol officer, he struggled to support his seven-year-old sister, enduring hardship for over two years. Despite the meager salary that barely covered their expenses after the deductions from his superiors, he had never struck it rich.
His accumulated misfortune finally paid off, as he stumbled upon a swordplay manual and subsequently acquired a small modification device that could enhance martial arts.
"Hmm, it seems it consumes Experience to level up, but I might not have enough Experience yet."
After studying the device for a while, Chen Mu figured out its function.
He could practice Gale Swordsmanship, and even without guidance, his practice would earn him 'Experience'. By accumulating this Experience, he could directly improve his skill level in Gale Swordsmanship.
In other words, even without a Martial Instructor, he could master this art through solitary training.
"Brother?"
Chen Yue watched Chen Mu from the side, confused and puzzled by his actions.
She observed him waving at an empty space, deep in thought one moment and chuckling the next, which made her feel a little scared.
"Oh, I'm fine. I was just thinking about something."
Chen Mu turned to Chen Yue and smiled, then reached out and playfully ruffled her hair. "Yue'er, we might not have to endure these hardships for much longer."
Chen Yue stared at him with wide eyes, blinking rapidly, unsure of the source of Chen Mu's newfound confidence.
"Okay."
She smiled and agreed, though she didn't quite understand.
The hardships didn't bother her much; she was content as long as Chen Mu was safe. With their parents gone, she was Chen Mu's only solace, and he was her only ray of hope.
After sending Chen Yue back to her room, Chen Mu picked up his Patrol Saber and began practicing again. Unlike his previous hesitant attempts, this time, he practiced without hesitation, regardless of whether his moves were correct. He simply followed the forms.
After a while, Chen Mu indeed saw the words 'Experience +1' appear in his vision.
"Excellent."
Chen Mu smiled, as everything was unfolding according to his predictions.
He didn't know how much Experience was required to raise Gale Swordsmanship from Unranked to Rank 1, but as long as it was effective, he would accumulate it over time. Unlike before, he now had a clear direction for his training.
...
Time flew by.
In the blink of an eye, seven days had passed.
During this period, Chen Mu not only performed his duties at the City Guard, patrolling with Liu Song and others, but also dedicated most of his time to practicing Gale Swordsmanship.
Earning Experience in Gale Swordsmanship was no easy task; every point was gained through sweat and toil. He had to practice diligently for nearly an hour to earn two or three points of Experience.
But even with the slow progress, this was solid Experience, not aimless training.
Finally, after another grueling practice session, Chen Mu accumulated a total of one hundred points of Experience.
[Martial Arts: Gale Swordsmanship (Unranked/+)]
[Experience: 100 points]
The modification device displayed a change, with a '+' symbol appearing after the Unranked Gale Swordsmanship.
Chen Mu took a deep breath, his eyes fixed on the interface. With a thought, he tapped the '+'.
A faint golden light flashed.
[Martial Arts: Gale Swordsmanship (Rank 1)]
[Experience: 0 points]
As the interface changed, Chen Mu felt a surge of information flood into his mind, correcting his understanding of Gale Swordsmanship. Every move, every nuance, was clarified as if he had been practicing diligently for months on the right path.
When the transformation ended, Chen Mu breathed a sigh of relief. Holding his Patrol Saber, he felt a distinct difference. The twelve forms of Gale Swordsmanship, along with all their variations, were now ingrained in his mind. He knew exactly how to apply force and adapt to each situation, unlike before when he was clueless.
"Rank 1."
"With just a light tap, I've probably achieved what others would with months of hard work under a Martial Instructor's guidance... But I've worked hard too, for seven long days."
Chen Mu whispered to himself, then he lunged forward and unleashed the first move of Chaotic Wind.
This time, his execution was vastly different from before. The initially strange-looking technique suddenly became extremely refined; his leg tensed, his abdomen tightened, and with a diagonal thrust... This single slash seemed to carry a gust of wind!
"It's indeed a world apart from ordinary free fighting."
Chen Mu nodded to himself.
Just the initial stance of this move, when executed perfectly, was already more powerful than his previous horizontal and vertical slash free fighting. And after this move, there were numerous variations that could be followed up with, and then further connected to subsequent techniques. This was unlike ordinary free fighting, where after the initial slash, one could only rely on brute strength and wildly slash away.
According to the Gale Swordsmanship manual, this sword technique was divided into four stages: Rank 1, Rank 2, Rank 3, and Mastery.
With proper training, most people could reach Rank 1 within a few months, and Rank 2 within a year or two. At this stage, they could easily defeat two or three unarmed bandits. After five or six years, they could reach Rank 3, and often, five or six opponents would find it hard to get close.
As for Mastery...
This step was extremely difficult. It required one to grasp the profound mysteries of the Gale, cultivate the 'Blade Aura', and once achieved, they would be a match for ten opponents. Taking the Martial Exam to become a Martial Scholar would be a breeze.
Nowadays, with the Bureaucratic Governance in disarray and the World Order in chaos, the Scholar Exam system had become a mere formality. Not to mention the lower-level Scholar Candidates, even Graduates had largely resorted to bribery and corruption, and without connections or influence, one would rarely make it to the Graduate level.
In contrast, the Martial Exam was different. Despite the limited slots being controlled by powerful clans, as long as one possessed the required skill, they could still rise through the ranks and even attract attention from various factions.
"If one can pass the Martial Exam and become a Martial Scholar, they are almost guaranteed to be promoted to a Patrol Chief. Even if they don't pass, as long as they display that level of skill, they can still become a Patrol Chief."
Chen Mu pondered.
For an external skill like the Gale Swordsmanship, reaching Rank 3 was almost a guarantee for becoming a Patrol Chief. With a vacant position or recognition from higher-ups, promotion was highly likely. Even if it took some time, seniority could also play a role in getting the position.
But if one could reach Mastery and cultivate the Blade Aura, becoming a Patrol Chief would be a certainty. Because, as far as he knew, even among the many Patrol Chiefs, those who had mastered the 'Aura' in either sword or knife techniques were extremely rare.
It was common knowledge that those who reached this level, just a few hundred years ago, could easily pass the orthodox Martial Exam and become a Martial Scholar, directly entering the service of the Imperial Court. Nowadays, with the Bureaucratic Governance in disarray and the Imperial Exam a mere formality, more positions were sold and titles traded. The orthodox path to promotion within the Imperial Court was essentially defunct.
"To master a sword technique to Rank 3, someone with average talent and understanding might take over a decade, but to cultivate the 'Aura', it's one in a hundred."
A few days ago, Chen Mu had chatted with several Patrol Officers he was friendly with at the City Guard headquarters. He learned that among the five Patrol Chiefs, only one had cultivated the Aura. This individual had earned the position through sheer skill.
Among the other four, the eldest, Zhao Zong, was already in his sixties. Despite a lifetime of practicing the sword, he had never grasped the Aura. The Zhao family held considerable influence locally, and if Zhao Zong could cultivate the Aura, he might even have a chance at becoming a Patrol Commander.
"They couldn't grasp that spark of insight, so they remain stagnant. But I'm different. As long as I'm patient and keep practicing, I'll eventually reach Rank 2, then Rank 3, and finally Mastery... I estimate it'll take me no more than a year to reach Mastery."
A glint flashed in Chen Mu's eyes.
Currently, he had reached Rank 1 in his sword technique, and to achieve Rank 2, he needed 300 Experience. Based on his previous training, this would likely take just a month. Then, the path to Rank 3 and Mastery, even with the increasing Experience requirements, should take no more than a year.
Once he mastered the sword technique and cultivated the Blade Aura, whether he chose to take the Martial Exam to secure a title or discreetly displayed his skills at the City Guard, becoming a Patrol Chief was a certainty. His status and position would then be vastly different from what it was now.
Chen Mu had already spent two years in this world.
In this perilous lower stratum, he had lived cautiously for so long, and he didn't mind enduring this life for another year. Especially now that he had a clear goal, which was a world apart from the hopeless days he had endured before.
(End of Chapter)
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