Martial Arts Longevity Begins with the Equipment Slot

Chapter 8 Bone-Slaying Blade Technique, Rapid Advancement

When Chen Yu arrived at the classroom, he found that Zhao Dashan was not there.

Only one martial arts instructor named Li Sandao was on duty.

The man sat on a bamboo chair under the west window, dressed in a black outfit with the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing two old scars.

A rough earthenware bowl sat at my feet, filled with cooled tea, the tea leaves having sunk to the bottom.

At this moment, Li Sandao was explaining swordsmanship to Zhuang Fangyuan.

"Chen Yu?"

Zhuang Fangyuan caught a glimpse of a figure at the doorway.

"What are you doing here?"

Chen Yu did not respond, but clasped his hands and bowed to Li Sandao.

"Junior Chen Yu wishes to learn the Blood Refinement Perfection Technique from Senior."

"Blood Refinement Perfected?"

Zhuang Fangyuan raised the corner of his mouth slightly, with a hint of mockery.

"Have you mastered the Spirit Deer Stance? You need to complete the Blood Refinement technique."

"If you haven't mastered it, I can teach you. There's no need to waste Master Li's time."

Zhuang Fangyuan believed he knew Chen Yu very well.

Back when we competed in the servants' quarters, I was the first place winner, far surpassing Chen Yu, who came in second.

I've only just achieved minor success in Blood Refinement, how could Chen Yu possibly catch up with me?

"Show me first."

Li Sandao spoke up.

Chen Yu did as instructed and performed a set of Five Tiger Fist.

A wisp of true blood slowly circulated within his body.

Li Sandao saw it clearly and nodded slightly.

"Indeed, the true blood has been condensed; it is indeed the pinnacle of blood refining."

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Fangyuan's face turned somewhat pale.

Even someone like Chen Yu has reached the Great Perfection of Blood Refinement, so what is all my hard work these past few days?

"Although you have indeed achieved mastery of Blood Refinement," Li Sandao changed the subject, "I cannot pass on the technique for perfecting Blood Refinement to you."

"Because I don't know how either..."

"Back then, I broke through to the Skin Refining Realm with a wisp of true blood, but I didn't reach the perfect level."

"While perfecting Blood Refinement is powerful, it is also extremely difficult. I hope you won't be overly ambitious and waste your time."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yu remained silent.

Why would you bother with all this?

Just as he was about to leave, he heard Li Sandao say something.

"However, I can teach you a few sword techniques."

"Reaching a certain level doesn't guarantee a fight. Without martial arts skills, even if you're at the same level, you might not last three moves against someone else."

Zhuang Fangyuan seemed to have regained his sense of superiority and quickly chimed in, "That's right, someone like you, all brute force and no fighting skills, is just a pretty face—all show and no substance!"

Chen Yu glanced at Zhuang Fangyuan; this guy seemed a bit arrogant.

My hands are itching to practice with him.

Let's see if it can withstand the power of the butcher's knife.

Since the requirement for obtaining a pig-slaughtering knife was basic knife skills, Chen Yu decided to learn knife skills from Li Sandao.

Li Sandao took out several sword manuals and explained them to Chen Yu while letting him choose.

Chen Yu chose a book called "The Bone-Cleaving Knife Technique".

This knife technique was originally created by a butcher, who found it to be well-suited to his pig-slaughtering knife.

"Master Li, I would like to learn this bone-chopping knife technique."

Upon hearing this, Li Sandao took a steel knife from the weapon rack.

The knife was two feet and seven inches long, and resembled a withered yellow willow leaf.

Li Sandao tapped the blade lightly with his knuckles, causing it to vibrate and emit a dull hum.

Zhuang Fangyuan clicked his tongue softly behind him.

After demonstrating it once, he handed the steel knife to Chen Yu.

"Practice it once and let me see."

When Chen Yu first started practicing, his sword wouldn't obey him.

Waist, shoulders, and wrists each do their own thing.

The waist turned, but the shoulders didn't follow.

The shoulder moved forward, but the wrist lagged behind.

With a single slash, the force dissipated into three segments, causing the blade to tremble three times, like a snake that had lost its tendons.

"The waist moves first, the shoulders follow, the force reaches the wrist, and finally the tip of the knife."

"It's not you wielding the sword, it's the earth's power borrowing from your body to emerge from the sword."

Li Sandao corrected.

Chen Yu practiced again, and his sword was steadyer, but he changed his breathing position in the wrong place.

He was halfway through chopping when he suddenly felt short of breath, his chest tightened, and he staggered half a step before regaining his balance.

"I told you to practice your sword skills, and you're just dancing here?"

Zhuang Fangyuan gloated and ridiculed him.

But soon, he stopped laughing.

Chen Yu equipped the "Bone-Slaying Saber Technique" to his skill slot.

With repeated practice, his knife skills and stances became increasingly refined.

【Technique Section (Tier 1 22%)】

[Number] 1 grid

[Technique]: Bone-Cleaving Blade Technique

[Quality]: Low-grade Tier 2

[Progress]: First floor (12/100)

[Status]: Equipped

[Equipment Requirements]: Blood Refining Realm, Basic Swordsmanship

[Equipment Effect]: Cultivation will surely yield results, once proven, forever, progress is visible, cultivation efficiency +20%.

[Bone-Chopping Sword Technique Experience +12]

……

After practicing nine times in a row, his experience points increased by 108, allowing him to break through to the second level.

The flashes of the blades were continuous, one after another, without any break.

A dead leaf fell, and before it even touched the blade, it was split in two.

The energy flows smoothly, the moves are fluid and harmonious, and even contain hidden innovative ideas.

This isn't something that can be achieved through arduous training; it comes from having a knife-like quality in one's very bones, ready to be unleashed at any moment.

Zhuang Fangyuan's face was grim, and he gritted his teeth.

From waving the knife haphazardly to cutting through withered leaves.

After only two hours of practice, how could it have surpassed the results of my half-month of arduous training?

Seeing Chen Yu's rapid progress, he was instantly consumed by jealousy.

In a fit of anger, he turned and left.

No one paid any attention to Zhuang Fangyuan.

Seeing Chen Yu's talent, Li Sandao immediately felt a desire to cultivate his talent.

"I'll be leaving in a few days, so I won't be able to keep guiding you."

"I have a few sword manuals here. You can study them when you have time."

Chen Yu said somewhat awkwardly, "This junior doesn't know many characters."

Li Sandao waved his hand.

"It doesn't matter, there are pictures, you can just practice by imitating them."

"Breathe as I taught you today; the basic sword techniques are all applicable."

Chen Yu quickly thanked him and put away the three manuals.

……

Midnight, Song Mansion.

Chen Yu made an agreement with Gao Youde that Gao would teach him to read and write, and Chen Yu would take his place on night patrol.

After three clapper sounds, Chen Yu, carrying a lantern, walked slowly along the corridor.

After turning through the moon gate of the inner courtyard, Chen Yu suddenly stopped.

He heard a strange noise.

Although it was forbidden to approach the young lady's room, with his keen senses, he could still clearly sense her even from a distance of three zhang.

The sound of whips cracking leaked from the cracks in the main room's window.

The sound was sticky, like the sensation of a ripe peach being torn open and its juice flowing out.

Candles were lit inside, casting two shadows on the window paper.

Chen Yu didn't want to see it, but his keen senses allowed him to see things he shouldn't have.

Even if you can't see through the window and completely see what's inside, you can still get a general idea.

Miss Song Xiangxiang, holding a leather whip, leaned against the bed, looking languid, as if she were half asleep.

Li Kong, the bodyguard, knelt on the ground, with several red marks on his back.

"Call me," Song Xiangxiang commanded, "Call my name."

Li Kong's lips moved, but he didn't dare to make a sound.

Song Xiangxiang got angry and lashed him across the face with a whip.

"You bastard!" she cursed. "Am I honoring you by making you mute?"

"Who paid for your father's medicine? Who paid for your brother's school fees? Who in this household is your benefactor?"

Li Kong's shoulders slumped, and he finally spoke.

The voice was high-pitched and thin, as if squeezed out: "Xiangxiang... Xiangxiang..."

As soon as he finished speaking, the thick arm raised the whip again.

Another crisp sound rang out.

"Snapped!"

Another red mark appeared on Li Kong's back.

"How dare you call me by my name?"

"Who do you think you are!"

Song Xiangxiang's expression changed instantly, and she used her toes to lift his chin sharply.

Li Kong looked utterly helpless.

It seemed they had expected this would happen, and could only resign themselves to their fate...

Immediately afterwards, a series of crisp sounds rang out.

Accompanied by suppressed wails, they echoed through the night sky.

Chen Yu felt a chill run down his spine.

Song Xiangxiang is so ruthless; she's definitely not a normal person.

Gao Youde's earlier warning was indeed correct.

It's best to stay away from this place of trouble.

Without further thought, Chen Yu quietly and quickly left the inner courtyard.