"Disciple, your ability to master the Sword Stabbing Fist to perfection demonstrates an exceptional comprehension in the ways of the Sword Dao. As your master, I have a Cultivation Technique here called the Heartless Sword Technique, which integrates Internal Cultivation thods with Martial Arts Sword Skill. It is perfectly suited as your subsequent Cultivation Technique after becoming an Official Disciple. This Heartless Sword Technique is in no way inferior to the main cultivation techniques of the Seven Peaks; its distinctive feature lies in valuing comprehension over Root Bone.... For those with slightly poor comprehension, even entry is difficult."
The elder Zhou Buping entered the wooden cabin and took out a thin secret manual to give to Li Qian.
The cover of the secret manual was yellowed, clearly showing its age.
He gently opened the cover.
The essence of the Heartless Sword Technique lies in imbuing the sword with emotion.
The content that followed was obscure and hard to understand, profound and mystical, full of various terminologies; Li Qian was completely baffled.
Seeing Li Qian's confused expression, Zhou Buping imdiately said, "Take it back with you, ponder over it well, and if there's anything you don't understand, co back here and ask ."
"Yes, Master."
Li Qian quickly nodded in response.
Then, he left the valley and returned to the Chen Bell.
No one would have imagined that with such a trip, he had already beco an Official Disciple of the Divine Sword Sect, even taken as a disciple.
After returning to the Chen Bell and finishing his daily bell-ringing duties, Li Qian did not practice the Sword Stabbing Fist but instead studied the Heartless Sword Technique.
With the Internal Cultivation thods, there was no longer a need to practice the Sword Stabbing Fist.
Even if he perfected the Sword Stabbing Fist, it would not change the fact that it was a basic fist technique.
After a long while, Li Qian was full of emotion, realizing that practicing the Heartless Sword Technique was one thing, but just understanding it was difficult.
In the end, having no other option, he could only practice the Sword Stabbing Fist a few tis to ease his mood.
When the evening ca, after striking the bell for the last ti, Li Qian went down the mountain and directly headed for the valley.
"You're here."
Zhou Buping was still lounging in front of the wooden door.
As he spoke, he tossed a brand-new wooden card to Li Qian.
"This is the Official Disciple Identity Card your master has obtained for you, which also functions as a Contribution Card. If you have any contribution points... go to the Internal Affairs Hall in the inner gate to transfer them," Zhou Buping said.
Holding the wooden card, it was not exactly the sa as the one from the street vendor in the black market, but there were no significant differences.
"How much of the Heartless Sword Technique have you understood?" Zhou Buping asked further.
"Master, your disciple... could only understand about ten to twenty percent," Li Qian replied, appearing ashad.
"That's normal. You started as a servant disciple and have never practiced Internal Cultivation thods, so you don't understand many terminologies and secret codes within them," Zhou Buping was not surprised.
Then, he began to explain the specialized knowledge of Internal Cultivation thods to Li Qian.
This is the advantage of having a master.
One could receive direct, hands-on instruction.
If Li Qian were to figure it out on his own, not to ntion the ti and effort, it could also lead to erroneous practice.
The cultivation of Inner Strength is not as straightforward as simply practicing a fist technique... A slight mistake can lead to loss of control over Inner Qi, even resulting in deviating from the correct path.
With Zhou Buping's explanations, Li Qian gained a deep understanding of the Heartless Sword Technique.
When leaving, Zhou Buping tossed him a cloth bag.
Inside were a Direct Disciple's monthly allocations, a Qi Blood Pill, a Spirit-Nourishing Elixir, and a pound of Exotic Beast at Jerky.
Besides, Zhou Buping also gave Li Qian a precious sword.
"Whether it's the Qi Blood Pill or the Spirit-Nourishing Elixir, it's best to take one every two days, alternating between them, and only take more when breaking through," Zhou Buping advised.
The treatnt for an Official Disciple is vastly different from that for a Direct Disciple with a master.
What they receive is the Qi Blood Pill, which is not comparable in effect to the Qi Blood Elixir.
Not to ntion the Spirit-Nourishing Elixir that restores spirit, which Official Disciples do not have.
As for Exotic Beast at Jerky, Official Disciples only receive two ounces a month.
Most of the two bottles of elixirs and a pound of Exotic Beast at Jerky were likely supplented by the master.
This is what Official Disciples do not have.
"Thank you, Master."
Li Qian quickly expressed his gratitude.
....
After returning to the bell tower, Li Qian began preparing to get started with the Heartless Sword Technique.
He repeatedly pondered over the contents of the Internal Cultivation thods until there was no doubt left in his mind; then he sat down cross-legged and began to mobilize his Inner Qi according to the ntal thod.
During the cultivation of Sword Stabbing Fist, the Inner Qi was passively circulated.
But with Internal Cultivation thods, it was about actively circulating Inner Qi.
At first, Li Qian's mind couldn't concentrate, causing the Inner Qi to be difficult to control precisely, constantly resulting in uncontrollable misdirections.
So he activated the Sacrificial Artifact Chen Bell, and the sound of the bell continued unceasingly.
In an instant, he felt his spirit lifted, and the Inner Qi, which was initially hard to control precisely, seed to beco gentle and obedient, circulating along the specific ridian pathways under his manipulation.
After one Grand Circulation, the Inner Qi returned to the Dantian Qi Sea.
Whew!
He exhaled deeply, his face showing a hint of delighted surprise.
The Internal Cultivation thods were indeed different.
It was evident just from the amplification of Inner Qi.
Suddenly, with a thought, he summoned the system interface to check the latest information.
Host: Li Qian.
Cultivation: Postnatal (First Layer 58/100).
Sacrificial Artifact: Chen Bell (Treasure 802/1000).
Martial Arts: Sword Stabbing Fist (Perfect), Heartless Sword Technique (Beginner).
....
"A single Grand Circulation actually increased the progress by one point?"
Li Qian's face showed a look of surprise.
Previously, when he was cultivating Sword Stabbing Fist, it took two days to see an incrent in progress.
However, cultivating the Heartless Sword Technique once, consud a lot of Qi Blood and ntal energy. Just performing one Grand Circulation, he felt a sense of depletion in Qi Blood and ntal exhaustion.
No wonder the cultivation of Inner Strength requires the support of elixirs.
Since he had made a start, he did not continue to practice further.
The next morning.
Li Qian struck the Chen Bell.
After the sound of the bell, he felt incredibly comfortable all over, with the Inner Qi inside his body becoming extrely lively.
Right then, he sat down cross-legged and began to cultivate the Heartless Sword Technique.
Upon completing a Grand Circulation, Li Qian felt relaxed and refreshed throughout, with no sense of fatigue whatsoever.
"The first sound of the bell every day has the best effect; the invisible energy contained in the sound of the bell can greatly replenish Qi Blood and ntal energy."
Li Qian opened his eyes with a smile.
Therefore, the effect was best after the first bell ring of his daily cultivation.
The subsequent bell strikes would be far less effective.
As for not striking the bell at all and directly operating the Chen Bell to create the sound within his mind, the effect would be the worst.
Moreover, the farther away from the Chen Bell, the weaker the effect of the produced sound would be.
Li Qian did not continue to practice.
Because the effect of the first bell strike had already faded.
He planned to wait until the ti of Chen to strike the bell again for better results.
In this way, Li Qian cultivated five tis throughout the day, completing five Grand Circulations, which increased his Postnatal First Layer progress by five points.
Originally, it would take two days to make one point of progress while practicing Sword Stabbing Fist.
But now, practicing the Heartless Sword Technique, he could gain five points of progress in a single day, which increased the efficiency by tenfold.
Although this was related to him taking a Qi Blood Pill, it also showed how powerful the Internal Cultivation thods were, far beyond the comparison of the basic martial arts like Sword Stabbing Fist.
As for the Spirit-Nourishing Elixir, Li Qian found that there was no need for it yet.
The sound of the Chen Bell was enough to eliminate the ntal fatigue produced by cultivation.
It's a pity that the Qi Blood couldn't keep up; he was confident that he could practice the Heartless Sword Technique several more tis.
He sighed in his heart, thinking that if it weren't for Yi Zhong's visit and threats, he would never have intended to beco an Official Disciple, and such good fortune would not have co his way.
.....
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