章 11: Chapter 11: Draw Sword Skill (Seeking Recommendations, Seeking Favorites!)
The night was silent. After spending more than half a 2-hour period traversing a secret path, Shi Xiaole, burdened by his injuries, had finally made it back to his dwelling within the Huajian Sect.
At this time, the daybreak was beginning to dawn.
"It will likely take me at least half a month to recover from this injury."
Sitting cross-legged on his bed, Shi Xiaole gave a bitter laugh.
He wasn't afraid of getting hurt, nor was he averse to rest and recovery.
What troubled him was that internal injuries are unlike external ones. Not only do they take longer to heal, but he wouldn't be able to freely use his internal power to defend himself during recovery, and even his martial arts training would be heavily impacted.
In other words, because of the upcoming recuperation period, Shi Xiaole's progress would be significantly slowed down.
This was something he found hard to accept.
"If only the Hengshan Mind Method had the power to heal internal injuries."
At this moment, Shi Xiaole even fantasized about having cultivated the Nine Yin Scripture, or the Nine Yang Divine Skill. Such minor injuries would be merely trifling matters.
But even without thinking, he knew cultivating skills like the Nine Yin Scripture would most likely be incredibly difficult and unlikely due to their high level, and as such, were beyond his current reach.
"Wait, I completed my mission of hunting the three-legged bird and successfully brought the Huashan Sword Technique to Transformation Phase. I've accumulated two chances for a draw, so now I can draw martial arts."
According to the advice of the system, accumulating two chances of drawing could enhance the level of draw by one step. Hence, if Shi Xiaole tried now, the worst-case scenario would be a mediocre third-tier martial art.
"Since I won't be able to train normally for more than half a month anyway, why not take a chance and see if there's a turn of luck."
Having made up his mind, Shi Xiaole immersed his mind into the Martial God Hall and said out loud, "System, I want to use my two opportunities for a draw."
The system 'kindly' reminded him: "With the combined draw, the chances of getting an empty draw do not change. Do you still want to proceed?"
Shi Xiaole twitched his lips, but still said determinedly, "Draw." He hoped fervently in his heart, I hope I don't get an empty draw.
A square halo flashed unpredictably on the stone wall in the first layer of the Martial God Hall. Shi Xiaole discovered that every time he reached such a moment, he always found himself unusually tense, his heart beating uncontrollably fast.
Ding!
Finally, the square halo froze. Shi Xiaole let out a sigh of relief; thankfully, he hadn't drawn a blank.
A ray of light shot into Shi Xiaole's mind. After briefly scanning the information inside, his gloomy mood immediately brightened. He chuckled to himself, "My luck this time isn't bad."
Before the draw, Shi Xiaole simply took a shot in the dark, hoping for a miracle. Now, it seemed that heaven was still kind to him.
"Congratulations, host. You have drawn a third-tier mediocre martial art skill - Fu Hongxue's Draw Sword Skill."
Suddenly, Shi Xiaole fell silent.
Fu Hongxue was a remarkably famous figure in the martial world.
This man, who was infused with hatred since childhood, had no childhood, no friends, and seemed to have been born solely for the purpose of revenge.
He was lame and suffered from epilepsy. He was depressed and lonely in his heart. Only when he met **Cui Nong did a bit of sunlight come into his life.
Then, Cui Nong died too.
Fu Hongxue's life was truly full of hardship. Like a candle in the wind and snow, he was cold and sad, but he burned fiercely.
In order to exact revenge, Fu Hongxue started practicing the sword from the age of four or five. He practiced drawing his sword ten thousand times a day, and he never let go of his sword even when eating or sleeping.
The Draw Sword Skill, initially unremarkable, became the signature move of Fu Hongxue in the martial world due to his hard work.
One could say that only Fu Hongxue's Draw Sword Skill was lethal. But because of this, practicing the Draw Sword Skill to the highest realm was incredibly difficult for others.
This, was probably why the Draw Sword Skill was only rated as third-tier mediocre.
Due to his internal injuries, Shi Xiaole could not overexert himself during this period and could not perform actions that required the coordination of his whole body. The Draw Sword Skill was perfect for him.
...
Not long after Shi Xiaole returned to the Huajian Sect, five people, bathed in the light of the morning sun, also made their way up to the gate of the Huajian Sect.
These five were one elder and four young people.
The elder at the forefront had a tall and thin stature, he wore a long moon-white robe, had three long tufts of beard hanging from his chin, and appeared to be quite refined and gentle.
Following him were three young men and one young woman. All the young men were impressive looking. As for the only young woman, she was dressed in a long pink dress, wore a matching shawl, and had a clear and refined beauty. Her noble and unadorned air simply captivated others.
"Ha ha, Second Elder, you're finally back."
The Grand Elder and Third Elder, along with the other managing elders of the Huajian Sect, had been waiting outside the gate. Upon seeing the elder in white, they immediately moved forward to greet him.
The white-robed elder was none other than the Second Elder of the Huajian Sect.
As for the four people behind him, they were the Huajian Sect's first disciple Yuan Qiuwei, second disciple Xiao Yuanbo, third disciple Mao Wenjing, and the first under direct discipleship, Qin Zhao.
"Second Elder, during your trip to Qingxue City, were you able to apply for the alliance token?"
The Grand Elder glanced at his nephew Qin Zhao before asking the Second Elder.
The Second Elder upon hearing this, his smile gradually faded, and he shook his head.
The enthusiastic atmosphere outside the mountain gate suddenly cooled down quite a bit.
The Grand Elder's eyes flickered and said, "Ever since the chaos a hundred years ago, caused by too many sects leading to disorder, the court's scrutiny of the martial arts sect has been getting stricter. It is extremely difficult to get an alliance token from the Qingxue Alliance, Second Elder, you don't need to blame yourself."
The current martial world was divided into orthodox and non-orthodox factions.
The so-called "orthodox" referred to martial forces that were registered in alliances representing various states' martial worlds and had obtained the alliance token. These martial forces usually had numerous experts and overall strong power. With the backing of the alliance, they were at the top of the martial world.
As for the non-orthodox, it referred to those martial forces that hadn't received recognition from the alliance.
Despite being weaker in power, these martial forces constituted the majority of the martial world in the East Victory Continent. Specifically, in the Flying Horse Dynasty where the Huajian Sect was located, they made up more than sixty percent.
As not officially recognized by the government, every independent sect must pay heavy taxes annually to the imperial court and various provincial alliances. Otherwise, their rights as a sect will be stripped away, and their headquarters confiscated.
Worst of all, if an independent sect encounters harm from adversaries, they can only hope for the best. The alliance will never come to their aid.
Hence, for any independent martial arts power, obtaining the sanction to establish a sect, and becoming an orthodox force, is their most significant goal.
"Alas, I have failed the Sect Master."
The Second Elder well understood how challenging it was for an independent sect to become an officially recognized one. Not only was there an endless competition among the independent sects, but the established sects also did not want any newcomers sharing their fixed 'piece of the cake'.
Nevertheless, he felt somewhat helpless.
"Huh? Zhao, it seems like your cultivation has greatly improved?"
Just then, the Grand Elder stared intensely at Qin Zhao.
Qin Zhao was sixteen this year - tall, handsome. At the Grand Elder's statement, he smiled lightly and replied, "Not to conceal from the Grand Elder, I have made some progress."
The second disciple, Xiao Yuanbo cut in, "It's more than 'some progress'. Zhao's level of cultivation is now at the Hidden Qi seventh layer. His sword skills have greatly improved, and he's not much weaker than me."
At these words, the high-level fighters of the Huajian Sect, who had come to greet them, were taken aback, their shocked gazes focused on the calm and composed Qin Zhao.
As the second disciple of the Sect Master, everyone knew how talented Xiao Yuanbo was, a leading contender in the famous "Four Great Talents of the Reed Goose". Now, with his admission that Qin Zhao wasn't far behind him in strength, one could imagine how powerful Qin Zhao had become.
The Third Elder suddenly sighed, "What a pity!"
Many people's gaze flickered as they instantly understood the meaning of his comment.
Regardless of strength, talent, or character, Qin Zhao was qualified to be ranked among the top four of the Huajian Sect's younger generation. Normally, he should be one of the four chosen disciples of the sect master, but unfortunately...
"Humph, now that the Sect Master has returned, it's indeed time to resolve certain matters. If our Huajian Sect wants to grow strong, we cannot be guided by emotions!"
Someone called out, protesting against the injustice done to Qin Zhao, which aroused many supportive voices.
The Grand Elder and Qin Zhao exchanged glances, both secretly pleased.
"Quiet! Is the Sect Master's decision or command something we have the right to refute?"
Seeing that the time was ripe, the Grand Elder sternly rebuked them, seemingly to admonish but in reality, amplifying their resentment. Once he saw that his objective was achieved, he then led everyone back to the sect.
…
After finding a rusty knife in the room, Shi Xiaole had been continually practicing his Draw Sword Skill.
His grip on the knife was becoming steadier and the speed at which he drew it was increasing at a pace imperceptible to the naked eye.
But he was becoming more and more dissatisfied.
This was because Shi Xiaole clearly felt that, despite the increasingly greater power and speed, the might of the knife was decreasing instead of increasing.
"Why, how can this be?"
How could the might of the knife decrease when its power and speed are increasing?
After standing still for a long while, Shi Xiaole suddenly opened his eyes and muttered to himself, "Fu Hongxue drew his sword for revenge, why am I drawing mine?"
Shi Xiaole suddenly understood that his skill was improving, it was true, but what was missing was a certain emotion.
"Putting all the inner strength of hatred, confidence, despair, faith, etc., into drawing the sword, that's the best Draw Sword Skill."
Shi Xiaole realized it.
He started drawing his sword ten thousand two hundred times on the first day, ten thousand times on the second day, then five thousand times on the third day... the frequency of drawing the sword became lesser and lesser.
By the thirteenth day, he hadn't drawn his sword for two whole days.
On the fifteenth day.
Shi Xiaole had been standing as still as a wooden stake for a full 2-hour period.
In this 2-hour period, he did not even bat an eyelid, let alone move his limbs. He appeared as if he had lost his soul.
A gust of wind blew across, causing dry leaves to flutter in the air.
Shi Xiaole slowly came back to his senses, his arm flexing in strength.
Shhh.
Suddenly, a flash of cold light appeared. It seemed as if the wind that blew had been cut into two halves in a short time, causing Shi Xiaole's temples to rustle.
The dry leaves landed on the ground, upon closer inspection, they were split evenly into two parts.
"What a fine Draw Sword Skill."
Shi Xiaole relaxed the hand that was gripping the knife handle and heaved a long sigh.
During these past days, he had been pondering over the essence of the Draw Sword Skill in the courtyard, deducing how to pour all the emotions within his heart into a single slash.
Obviously, expecting him to practice the Draw Sword Skill ten thousand two hundred times a day like Fu Hongxue wouldn't just be about persistence. It was unnecessary.
After all, Shi Xiaole wasn't a pure swordsmen, and he didn't bear the heavy hatred and burden that Fu Hongxue did.
The sword is dead, people are alive.
Fu Hongxue's Draw Sword Skill, when passed onto Shi Xiaole, should be a different story. Fortunately, he had managed to succeed in his own way.
Dong, dong, dong.
Just then, the distant solemn toll of a bell resounded.
"The bell rings three times, all disciples must assemble at the martial arts training ground. I had forgotten, today is the sect's monthly meeting."
Shi Xiaole muttered to himself.
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