https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-52-Combat-Technique-and-Combat-Style-Four-Directions-Sword/13688191/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-54-Returning-to-Big-Market-the-Noble-Youth-in-Fine-Attire/13688193/
Chapter 53: Blood and Qi Surge, the Door to Swordsmanship Opens
That night, after Lu Qing had ensured Xiao Yan was asleep and fed the black little beast, he lit a single oil lamp and pulled out the Four Directions Sword manual.
Notably, the little beast had actually brought back another ancient mountain ginseng that evening—its quality identical to the previous one.
Unfortunately, Lu Qing didn’t have any Strange Fish to trade, and he could clearly sense the beast’s quiet disappointment when it watched him eat the fish. Only after Lu Qing promised earnestly that he’d go fishing for Strange Fish the moment he had time did the creature finally calm down.
Still, before leaving, the little beast hadn’t taken the ginseng with it—instead, it left it behind.
So now, Lu Qing was officially in debt to the black little beast: one Strange Fish owed.
The oil lamp cast a warm glow. Lu Qing opened the first page of the Four Directions Sword manual.
Almost instantly, a dense white light surged from the text—interwoven with a deep, pulsing red hue.
【Four Directions Sword: A secret manual detailing a masterful sword technique.】
【Jin Gu Jing Style—Emphasizes momentum, unleashes slaughter.】
【Legend says this technique was forged by a martial master at the peak of Jin Gu Jing, who once fought a Nei Fu Jing-level warrior and lived to tell the tale.】
【Begin Simulation?】
“A manual with red light?” Lu Qing murmured, stunned.
Having awakened his Abilities some time ago, he’d developed a solid sense of judging the aura of objects. Any item glowing red was almost always extraordinary—truly valuable. Strange Fish, Centennial Old Mountain Ginseng—both had glowed red.
Now, this Four Directions Sword manual not only glowed red, but its crimson light was even more intense than those two treasures.
The fact that it received such a high rating from his Abilities left Lu Qing utterly intrigued.
He selected “Yes.”
The manual’s pages began to flicker as the download progress bar crawled upward.
【Downloading… 1%, 2%, 3%…】
As Lu Qing turned each page, the progress inched forward.
【…97%, 98%, 99%, 100%】
【Download complete. Starting Simulation… 1%, 2%, 3%…】
By the time he finished flipping through the manual, the progress bar reached 100%.
Then another progress bar appeared.
“So that’s how it works,” Lu Qing realized. “If I’m checking someone else’s combat technique, I can simulate it directly. But for a manual, I have to download it first, then simulate.”
He waited quietly. Soon, the second progress bar hit 100%.
【Simulation complete. Begin cultivation?】
Without hesitation, Lu Qing selected “Yes.”
Instantly, a flood of insights and cultivation principles—every detail, every nuance of the Four Directions Sword—rushed into his mind.
His eyes closed. He stood still, absorbing everything.
After a long moment, he opened his eyes, a flicker of awe in their depths.
“This Four Directions Sword technique… truly extraordinary.”
The knowledge had been fully assimilated. He now understood the technique in its entirety.
The Four Directions Sword consisted of only nine forms—each one focused on how to channel the entire body’s strength, unleashing maximum power and momentum to cut down all enemies.
“Four directions” didn’t refer to mere compass points. It meant the entire world—every space within sight.
One could only imagine the ambition of the martial master who created this technique. From the manual, Lu Qing had read that the original Jin Gu Jing master had aimed not just to fight Nei Fu Jing-level warriors, but to defeat them.
He closed the manual.
Then, he reached beside the table and picked up a wooden sword he’d carved earlier that afternoon—plain-looking, unrefined, but solid.
There was no way to get a real battle sword out here in the countryside. For now, this would have to do.
After all, he wasn’t planning to kill anyone—just training.
Holding the wooden sword, Lu Qing stepped into the courtyard.
With the insights still fresh in his mind, he began slowly practicing the first form of the Four Directions Sword.
Having entered the Qi Xue Jing realm, his control over his body had improved dramatically.
Even on his first attempt, the movements were already surprisingly accurate.
Of course, this was partly because the forms themselves were simple—direct, forceful, emphasizing power over technique.
The real challenge wasn’t the form, but the way of moving.
How to synchronize body, footwork, blade angle, timing, and breath—how to ignite the entire body’s energy in a single, explosive burst of power.
It required perfect coordination of qi, bones, muscles, and spirit.
After several rounds, aided by the insights in his mind, Lu Qing quickly grasped the basic forms.
But the core principle—the unique method of generating power—still eluded him.
He didn’t rush. He kept practicing, again and again.
Practice makes perfect.
He believed that with enough repetition, and with the guidance of his Abilities, the breakthrough would come naturally.
And it did.
With each repetition, his control grew sharper. The transitions between forms became smoother, more fluid, seamless.
Though the nine forms were simple in design, they were deeply interconnected—forming a complete, unbroken system that covered every angle of defense and offense.
Lu Qing kept refining, eliminating every tiny gap in his form.
Until, at last, the final flaw vanished.
A sudden surge of clarity flooded his mind.
He stepped forward, his body surging with energy. In one motion, he unleashed a single, thunderous slash into the air.
Whoosh!
The force of the blow sent a gust of wind slicing through the courtyard, flattening the grass beneath his feet.
He stood frozen, a smile spreading across his face.
“That’s it… This is how it feels—connecting blood and qi, exploding it all in one instant.”
Just now, he’d finally grasped the key: how to unleash his full power at the moment of the strike.
According to the manual, this was the true threshold of entry into the Four Directions Sword.
Once he could make every form in the sequence burst with that same explosive power, he’d reach the level of minor mastery.
“Truly not easy,” he mused. “Without my Abilities, I might’ve spent a full month just to get this far.”
Though it had seemed effortless—only a few hours to master the basics—Lu Qing knew the truth.
He had been in a near-Breakthrough state, thanks to his Abilities.
Even so, it had taken immense effort.
And that was only because he had no prior experience with swordsmanship.
Most ordinary martial artists wouldn’t even have a single Breakthrough in their lifetime.
If they tried this technique, the less gifted might spend years—perhaps even a lifetime—before they could even begin.
He picked up the wooden sword, ready to continue refining his form while the momentum was still fresh.
Suddenly—
Crack.
The wooden sword split in half in his hands.
He’d swung too hard during the final form.
“Guess I’ll need to find a real blade soon,” he muttered, staring at the broken wood.
(End of Chapter)
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