Chapter 23: Sword Technique
The translucent blue notification pierced through Xiang Yu’s consciousness, pulling him from the depths of slumber.
[Calculating Settlement]
His eyes snapped open, immediately scanning his surroundings as awareness returned. The familiar walls of his humble room greeted him, prompting a soft sigh of relief. He ran his fingers through his disheveled hair, the remnants of his dreams still clinging to the edges of his mind. For the first time since arriving in this cultivation world, his sleep had been haunted by vivid recollections of his battles—not quite nightmares, but unsettling nonetheless.
He steadied his breathing, pushing away the lingering images of blood and steel. These memories only reinforced his determination. Someday, he would possess enough strength to stand on his own, to face dangers without relying on his junior sister’s intervention. The path would be long, but with his system’s assistance, not impossible.
As if responding to his thoughts, the notification expanded:
[Calculation Complete]
[Mountain Heart Scripture: 2nd Layer (11/200) (+11/200)]
[Basic Knife Technique: Intermediate (100/300) (+30/300)]
[Experience Points Doubled]
[Basic Knife Technique: Intermediate (100/300) → Intermediate (200/300)]
[Mountain Heart Scripture: 2nd Layer (11/200) → 2nd Layer (22/200)]
[Next Settlement: 23:59:59]
Xiang Yu blinked in surprise, scrutinizing the numbers with growing amazement. Thirty points in his knife technique? How was that possible when he hadn’t practiced at all? The realization dawned gradually—this had happened once before, after his confrontation with Gu Wuqing’s gang. Combat experience, it seemed, yielded exponentially greater returns than controlled practice.
Even so, he firmly shook his head. No, he wouldn’t deliberately seek out conflicts merely to accelerate his growth. Such a strategy might bring short-term gains, but the associated risks far outweighed any potential benefits.
His attention shifted to the Mountain Heart Scripture’s progress. Eleven points gained overnight was unprecedented. Three points had already existed before settlement, and the thirty-point increase in his knife technique would have contributed another three through the conversion mechanism. But that only accounted for six points—where had the additional five come from?
After several moments of contemplation, understanding struck him with sudden clarity. The healing pill! His junior sister’s miraculous medicine must have contained body-refining properties beyond simple healing. Five points of direct advancement in the scripture was astonishingly valuable—equivalent to approximately fifty points of knife technique progress. He silently thanked Li Yao for her generosity, a rare smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
With a thought, he summoned his full status screen:
[Name: Xiang Yu]
[Realm: Body Refining 2nd Layer]
[Species: Human]
[Spiritual Root: null]
[Techniques: Basic Knife Technique: Intermediate (200/300)]
[Scriptures: Mountain Heart Scripture: 2nd Layer (32/200)]
[System Function: Double Exp (Cooldown: 24hrs)]
The doubled knife technique had contributed another ten points to his scripture—twice the value provided by Li Yao’s pill. This confirmation reinforced his belief that consistent training remained the optimal path to advancement.
His knife technique now stood at 200 points, poised to reach Major Success after the next settlement. While this progress was commendable, he couldn’t suppress a twinge of disappointment regarding the system’s limitations. Based on previous observations, experience points didn’t overflow during advancement—meaning tomorrow’s doubling would only provide the 100 points needed to reach Major Success, not the full potential 200 points.
This inefficiency would cost him ten potential points in his Mountain Heart Scripture—a frustrating waste of resources he could ill afford. Yet the system operated according to its own immutable rules, and no amount of clever strategizing could circumvent this particular restriction.
With a resigned sigh, Xiang Yu rose from his bed. Despite this minor setback, his path remained clear. Each day brought him incrementally closer to his ultimate goal—survival in this unforgiving world.
...
The remnants of sleep had fled Xiang Yu’s mind completely, leaving him alert despite the late hour. Having already rested, the thought of returning to his bed held no appeal. More importantly, he couldn’t justify wasting precious time that could be dedicated to advancement. His cultivation journey tolerated no unnecessary delays.
He slipped from his room silently, the wooden floor cool beneath his feet as he navigated the familiar path to his training ground. The night air embraced him with its crisp clarity, stars winking overhead like distant observers of his solitary quest.
As he reached the clearing, a sudden realization struck him. Training his knife technique further tonight would be inefficient—the system would double those points regardless of additional effort, and any overflow would simply vanish when he reached Major Success. The mathematical reality was undeniable: he needed to diversify.
His fingers brushed against the sword technique manual he’d recovered from the fallen disciple, the memory of that desperate battle still fresh in his mind. Yes, this would be his next focus. Opening the weathered pages by moonlight, he absorbed the fundamental principles before attempting to implement them.
Only then did he confront a practical obstacle—he possessed no sword. The knife tucked at his waist wouldn’t suffice for these new forms. Fortunately, he recalled the pavilion’s storage area contained practice weapons for disciples. He wouldn’t need to disturb anyone’s rest to procure what he needed.
The practice sword felt strange in his grip at first—heavier than his knife, with different balance and reach. As he executed the initial movements described in the manual, he noted the underlying similarities between the techniques. The foundational principles remained constant, but the execution differed significantly. Where knife techniques emphasized close-quarter precision and rapid strikes, sword forms capitalized on superior range and broader cutting surfaces.
With each repetition, the unfamiliar weight distributed more naturally through his arms. His muscles adapted gradually, compensating for the different balance point and momentum. What began as awkward mimicry slowly transformed into fluid motion as midnight gave way to the earliest hints of dawn.
Xiang Yu’s concentration remained absolute, his awareness narrowed to the relationship between his body and the blade. He barely noticed as the eastern horizon began lightening, the first birdsong announcing morning’s imminent arrival. Golden rays gradually illuminated his practicing form, sweat glistening on his brow despite the cool morning air.
From his private chambers atop the mountain, Elder Guo observed his diligent disciple with quiet approval. This was the Xiang Yu he had come to expect—dedicated and resilient, making up for lost time without complaint or self-pity. The elder silently congratulated himself on investing in the soundproofing array; without it, the constant swishing of blade through air would have rendered meditation impossible throughout the night.
As he continued watching, the elder noted with interest that Xiang Yu was wielding a sword rather than his usual knife. Presumably, he had acquired a sword technique from yesterday’s confrontation. He had planed to give Xiang Yu a new technique to practice but he seemed to have found one for himself.
But as he observed the boy train a thought crystallized in the elder’s mind—he couldn’t provide additional techniques at this juncture, but he could certainly offer a proper weapon. Although the practice weapon seemed adequate for training purposes, it would prove woefully insufficient for actual combat.Yes, a quality sword would serve as both practical tool and gesture of recognition for the boy’s unexpected dedication.
Below, oblivious to his master’s contemplations, Xiang Yu continued his relentless practice. The sun climbed higher, bathing the training ground in warm light that did nothing to diminish his focus or determination. Each swing brought him incrementally closer to his ultimate goal.