The Sword Momentum was like a dragon. Zhong Ming's strike had been powerful, and it had consumed a great deal of his Heart Spirit and energy.
It took him a full ten minutes to recover from his exhaustion.
Afterward, without a moment's delay, Zhong Ming closed his eyes and began to build up his emotions, wanting to replicate that stunning strike.
'Within three feet, I am a match for an entire nation...'
'I am invincible...'
'My sword can sunder anything in this world...'
All sorts of wild and unrestrained thoughts continuously brewed in Zhong Ming's mind.
However, after fantasizing in his mind for a long while, the sword he finally drew and slashed was utterly unremarkable.
'...That strike is, as expected, not so easy to replicate.'
After that, Zhong Ming experimented relentlessly.
But no matter what he did, he couldn't return his Mental Realm to how it was before.
'That unrestrained wildness from the bottom of my heart, that heroic passion to destroy everything... that feeling is so hard to replicate... I still have too many reservations in my heart.'
Zhong Ming was an adult, after all, not a child. Now that he was clear-headed, he instinctively knew that his strength was lacking. Forget being a match for a nation; even a Cultivator in the early stages of Qi Cultivation could crush him with ease.
This sober understanding made it impossible for Zhong Ming to reproduce that heroic passion in his heart.
'Should I use some methods from the Evil Dao, like self-hypnosis, or... drinking?'
Alcohol gives cowards courage. After getting drunk, a person does indeed tend to become more unrestrained and wild.
But in the end, he gave up on these methods of the Evil Dao.
'Forget it. It's easy to get carried away and cause trouble when drunk... Even without triggering the Flood Dragon's Dao Rhyme, my progress isn't slow if I just follow the proper steps of Cultivation.'
...
Knowing he couldn't force it, Zhong Ming stopped wasting time and started training his sword-drawing as he usually did.
However, still unwilling to give up, Zhong Ming added an extra step whenever he assumed his sword-drawing stance.
'I am the strongest. My sword can cut and sunder anything in the world...'
Getting drunk could make him lose his senses, and Zhong Ming was unwilling to do that.
But as for self-hypnosis, he was prepared to give it a try.
CLANG!
And so, time slowly passed as Zhong Ming trained.
While hypnotizing himself that he was the strongest, Zhong Ming focused on the task at hand, performing a Sword Draw Slash on the pebbles.
One slash, two slashes, three slashes, four slashes...
Thanks to the Snow Jade Ointment, Zhong Ming trained even later today than he did yesterday.
Finally, around one o'clock in the morning, the exhausted Zhong Ming and Dong Sea returned to their stone house to rest.
At this point, the progress of Zhong Ming's Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique had reached [3017/3300].
'Only about three hundred points left. By tomorrow morning, I can get my Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique completely into the Third Realm.'
'And then, I'll get a new trait.'
'I hope it's useful...'
Muttering with anticipation, Zhong Ming fell into a deep sleep.
Although he had gone to bed very late, with the help of the Snow Jade Ointment, Zhong Ming woke up even earlier the next day.
After arriving at the Cultivation Field with Dong Sea, Zhong Ming felt a sense of urgency.
'This is the third day of Cultivation. A little less than half the time has passed. If I want to be rated A Class, I only have four days left.'
Over these past three days, Zhong Ming hadn't actually spent much time cultivating his Magical Power.
His Qi Sea Acupoint hadn't seen much progress either.
What frustrated him even more was that this situation was difficult to change.
The fragility of their meridians in the initial stages placed severe limits on how many times everyone on Longxi Peak could cultivate.
'To open the Qi Sea Acupoint in such a limited amount of time would undoubtedly require exceptional Talent. It makes some sense for Longxi Peak to select outstanding disciples this way, but at this rate, there's absolutely no way I'll be rated A Class.'
With this in mind, Zhong Ming didn't cultivate his Magical Power that morning. Instead, he called over Dong Sea to help him practice the Longxi Sword Drawing Technique.
'First, I'll grind this Swordsmanship to the Third Realm. If the trait I get after the Third Realm isn't applicable, I'll just go all-out with Reading.'
"Train right now? I understand."
Naturally, Dong Sea wouldn't refuse Zhong Ming's request.
And so, while the others were practicing their Cultivation Techniques, Zhong Ming and Dong Sea went off to the side to practice their Swordsmanship.
WHOOSH...
CLANG!
Pebbles flew toward him one by one, only to be cut down by Zhong Ming's sword.
Relying on Heaven Rewards Diligence, Zhong Ming's Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique progressed steadily.
Of course, while he cultivated, Zhong Ming also continued his self-hypnosis.
'I am the strongest. My sword can cut and sunder anything in the world...'
Although this hypnosis seemed useless, it had already become a habit for Zhong Ming, and what's more, it didn't affect his cultivation at all.
Because of this, Zhong Ming let it be.
He even forgot about it as he focused on his training and gradually got into the zone.
But at the very moment Zhong Ming had forgotten about it and was instinctively muttering the words, his mind, due to the prolonged self-hypnosis, truly experienced a fleeting illusion that he could sunder anything.
HUMMM...
This illusion triggered the Dragon Flood Dragon Rhyme, causing a sharp and majestic aura to suddenly surge from Zhong Ming.
Unfortunately, the self-hypnosis was ultimately no match for yesterday's flash of inspiration.
The moment this consciousness arose, Zhong Ming realized what was happening.
'It's here!'
But before his joy could fully manifest, the Dragon Flood Dragon Rhyme faded away.
...
CLANG!
In the end, Zhong Ming still failed to unleash the dragon-like Sword Momentum from yesterday.
However, even though he didn't execute that stunning strike, being imbued with the Dragon Flood Dragon Rhyme still increased the progress of Zhong Ming's Longxi Sword Drawing Technique by another 33 points.
More importantly, Zhong Ming had already been cultivating for half an hour that morning.
His Longxi Sword Drawing Technique was already not far from the Third Realm, and after this incomplete strike, the progress of Zhong Ming's Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique finally reached the Third Realm of Refinement, just as he had wished.
HUMMM...
Just like before, the moment he advanced, Zhong Ming entered a state of minor enlightenment.
At that moment, Zhong Ming found that he had comprehended the True Intent of a meandering stream, understood the all-pervading nature of water, and even grasped the principle that "water has no form, and therefore can take any form."
As Zhong Ming had this realization, the information about his Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique on his status panel also changed.
[Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique: Third Realm Refinement (1/13600)]
[Skill Traits: Quick Eyes and Swift Hands, Flow of Water]
...
"Success!"
Even with Zhong Ming's disposition, he couldn't help but clench his fists, his face filled with delight, as his Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique advanced.
Phew...
He took several deep breaths before his mind calmed down.
Afterward, the first thing Zhong Ming checked was not the True Intent of the Flow of Water, but how to continue cultivating the Third Realm Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique.
After a moment of sensing, a bitter look appeared on his face.
'No wonder they say the Basic Technique is the foundation. If my Longxi Breathing Method doesn't advance, my Longxi Sword Drawing Technique can only be stuck at the Third Realm.'
'Even with Heaven Rewards Diligence, I can't cultivate it.'
The Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique is a form of Swordsmanship with a core philosophy of a One-Hit Kill.
It emphasizes using the explosive power of the initial draw to launch a surprise attack. This skill completely disregards any follow-up moves, pursuing a single strike to decide life and death.
For such a Swordsmanship to comprehend the rhyme of the Flow of Water at the Third Realm of Refinement seemed to contradict its general principles.
But that was not the case.
The rhyme of water possesses not only softness, but also hardness.
When a massive flood with endless waves sweeps through, nothing in the world can stand in its way.
The Flow of Water in the Third Realm of the Longxi Sword Drawing Technique is also preparation for the 'Hardness' of the Fourth Realm.
As everyone knows, the more water there is, the greater its momentum, and the faster its flow... only then will its impact be more powerful.
The purpose of the Flow of Water in the Third Realm is to accumulate momentum.
The complete cultivation process for this realm involves using the Longxi Breathing Method to make the Magical Power within the body circulate at high speed, just like a current of water.
This rapidly circulating Magical Power will continuously build up potential energy within Zhong Ming's body.
And when that potential energy builds to its limit and Zhong Ming draws his sword, that strike will inevitably be his full-power, earth-shattering blow.
'The Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique has never strayed from its path. Its core concept is still to decide life and death with a single strike. Comprehending the Flow of Water is just to let me build up the waves, making the final slash even more unstoppable.'
Zhong Ming understood the cultivation process and its principles.
Unfortunately, right now, he had—next to no Magical Power!
Wanting to circulate Magical Power through his body even once, let alone at high speed, was a complete fantasy.
And since he couldn't even perform the cultivation correctly once, Zhong Ming couldn't gain any experience, even with Heaven Rewards Diligence.
Fortunately, while his Third Realm Longxi Sword-Drawing Technique was temporarily stalled, Zhong Ming had achieved his original goal.
'The Flow of Water trait will help my Longxi Breathing Method!'
Thinking this, Zhong Ming opened his eyes and called out to Dong Sea.
"Great Sea, hold on. My Swordsmanship practice is over for now. Let's go cultivate Magical Power."
"And, thanks."
Dong Sea: "No need, Boss. Just don't forget about me when you get rated B Class."
"Haha, I won't. I'm not the type to forget a favor."
Having achieved his main goal, Zhong Ming was in a rather cheerful mood.
After reassuring Dong Sea, he ran to one side and began practicing the Basic Technique, the Longxi Breathing Method.
However, unlike before, this time Zhong Ming was holding a longsword as he cultivated.
...
PS: Please save this book to your library, keep up with the latest chapters, and support this new work! Mountain Ghost kneels in thanks to all my dear readers.