Chapter 4: Modification
Chapter 4: Modification
The wisp of energy at his fingertips only brushed briefly against the law chains before being completely absorbed, causing the chains to tremble faintly before disappearing.
“Can such a small amount of energy only touch it once?”
Zuo Meng checked his inner energy and found it had grown significantly—equivalent to six months of accumulation for ordinary people.
“Six months’ worth…and this is just basic cultivation. Deeper techniques would require far more energy. Still, this proves the path works.”
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His spirits lifted. At least he’d found a way forward.
After finishing the inner energy lecture, the Teaching Elder ordered everyone to practice alone, mentioning an upcoming mission to suppress the Demonic Sect. Such missions seemed unavoidable in the martial arts world. Zuo Meng had joined two before but, as a Direct Disciple, he’d stayed safely behind the frontlines to “gain experience.” He’d never even seen the Demonic Sect’s members properly.
The afternoon focused on swordsmanship.
As a top-tier sect, Liuhe Sect’s disciples showed decent skill. While ordinary disciples practiced sword forms outdoors without learning inner energy, Direct Disciples like Zuo Meng trained alongside them.
“Swordsmanship exists for killing. Basics are done—now spar. Losers clean the mountain gate as usual.” The swordsmanship elder, a stern black-bearded man in his forties, spoke gruffly.
Zuo Meng and Junior Sister Zuo Qiu were separated during practice—a rule created after the elder caught them slacking during sparring sessions.
Zuo Meng’s new opponent was a girl around Zuo Qiu’s age.
“Please instruct me, Senior Brother.”
The ponytailed girl held her sword reversed in one hand and bowed.
Once all pairs stood ready, the elder continued:
“You’re all learning Liuhe Sect’s foundational sword techniques. These blend six styles into simplicity. Master them, and they’ll match any Martial Arts Manual. Now you only grasp the forms—use sparring to find flaws. When your cultivation deepens, your swordsmanship will leap forward.”
Basic swordsmanship amounted to empty forms or crude combat tricks. With similar physical skill, most disciples performed equally.
Zuo Meng swung his sword experimentally, reacquainting himself.
Inner energy could amplify sword techniques.
He soon noticed the difference. His recent tampering with the law chains had gifted him six months’ extra inner energy—a massive advantage. Inner energy grew harder to accumulate over time. Those white-haired elders with thirty to forty years’ cultivation were considered strong. True masters with sixty years? As rare as phoenix feathers.
“Junior Sister, after you.”
Zuo Meng lowered his sword tip, inviting her to strike first.
The girl focused, her blade flashing silver as she thrust straight at him.
No fancy moves—just basic thrusts, sweeps, and slashes.
But simplicity demanded perfection. Her technique showed clear mastery.
Zuo Meng raised his sword, easily parrying her strike before countering with a chest-level slash. He deliberately withheld inner energy—before modifying the law chains, his thread-like energy couldn’t aid combat anyway. This spar revealed his true skill. Memory told him he’d always been a knowledgeable weakling, surviving expulsion only through his Direct Disciple status.
Clang!
The girl adjusted mid-swing, redirecting his force before slashing downward at his face.
Time to test inner energy!
Zuo Meng retreated half-step, channeling energy into his blade.
Sword light flashed. The girl staggered back, nearly dropping her weapon, sleeve torn open.
“Inner energy?!”
Her exposed left arm showed a red mark where the blade had almost cut flesh.
A mere thread of energy tripled his speed?
The girl gritted her teeth, energy now glowing around her sword—she’d reached energy emission stage! But Zuo Meng’s six-month cheat clearly overpowered her fortnight-old breakthrough.
Another clash. Her sword flew from numb fingers as she crashed to the ground, gasping.
“Senior Brother’s energy is formidable! Which elder do you—”
Zuo Meng ignored her, mind racing. One Qingling Pill gave this power? A hundred pills would make him invincible! Roam the martial world, become an earthbound immortal!
More Qingling Pills. Now.
With enough power, could he move mountains and overturn seas like in the Dream World? Achieve immortality?
“Senior Brother?”
“Thank you for the match.” He walked off dazedly, leaving her fuming.
After training, Zuo Meng rushed back to Taiyuan Mountain’s courtyard.
He immediately demanded Junior Sister Zuo Qiu’s Qingling Pill.
“You got yours this morning!”
“Consider it borrowed.”
Though curious, she tossed her pill over.
“Don’t disturb me for days. Skip my lessons too—tell the Teaching Elder I’m traveling with Master.” Direct Disciples often skipped duties; the sect’s real pillars were the tested prodigies, not connection-reliants like him.