C7 He Practiced Hard at Night
Adjacent to Jia Jiucheng's room was the kitchen. Up until he was ten, Jia Yong had been the one to cook for him. But after his tenth birthday, the kitchen became Jia Jiucheng's domain. Despite the meals being simple, Jia Jiucheng's culinary talent transformed them into something delightful.
To the right, distanced from Jia Yong's room, was a small wooden latrine enclosed by a fence. Its outer walls were smeared with sandalwood shavings, effectively neutralizing odors and soundproofing the space.
"Things could be worse," Jia Jiucheng mused. "I'm not exactly living in an empty shell of a home. Compared to my ancestors who found themselves homeless upon arriving here, I'm practically living in comfort."
After wiping his face with the white towel draped over his shoulder and brushing his teeth with a willow twig dipped in saltwater, Jia Jiucheng headed back to the ancestral hall. He picked up the cold buns left by Mrs. Wu the previous night and began to eat. They were chilly and stiff, but hunger made them disappear quickly, and he polished off three large ones in no time.
Finishing his meal, Jia Jiucheng smacked his lips, his eyes clouding with wistfulness. He reminisced about the days when life was mundane but comfortable, with good food and drink. He remembered the occasional indulgence in a KFC wing bucket and sips of soda, all of which brought him joy. But now?
His mood lifted, however, when his gaze landed on the straight sword propped against the brick wall to his left. Swords, like firearms and cannons, were objects of men's aspirations. To gallop on horseback, to sing with abandon, to brandish a sword and right wrongs with chivalry—what man wouldn't yearn for such a life?
Now, Jia Jiucheng had the chance to live out those dreams, and the prospect of mastering innumerable Divine Arts in the future made the life he yearned for seem within reach. To him, this was far more appealing than mere culinary pleasures.
With a swift extension of his right leg and a flick of his foot, the straight sword flew from the wall to his chest. He caught it with his left hand and drew the blade with his right. The sword's clear, resonant ring filled the silent hall, a sound so melodious to Jia Jiucheng's ears that it surpassed even the most enchanting music.
The long sword in his hand was unlike the standard-issue, thick-backed swords of the Dingyuan County Yamen. Measuring three feet and five inches, the blade was long, narrow, and impeccably smooth. Even a light touch sent a chilling sharpness through one's spine. Although Jia Jiucheng was not versed in swordsmanship or martial arts, he could recognize the exceptional quality of the blade.
Jia Jiucheng remembered that the straight sword had been a parting gift from a benefactor who had promoted Jia Yong. Since then, Jia Yong had treasured it, never parting with it. "The original straight sword was sharp, but it never had this texture. Uncle Li must have spent many days refining it with precious iron essence to achieve such a wondrous effect. This gift is overwhelmingly generous."
With a flick of his index finger against the sword's spine, Jia Jiucheng felt deeply moved. Uncle Li was just an ordinary blacksmith, yet he had poured his heart and soul into reforging the straight sword to this extraordinary level. Money, though valuable, could not compare to the weight of such sincere affection.
Noticing the early hour and that there was still time before others arrived to pay homage to Jia Yong, Jia Jiucheng felt a surge of interest. He picked up the straight sword and stepped into the courtyard, brandishing it with enthusiasm.
Ordinarily, when someone wields a sword, it's a clumsy affair driven by brute arm strength—hacking left and right, up and down, with no finesse. But Jia Jiucheng's swordplay was different. He engaged his core, his wrists were agile, his posture erect, and his stance solid. His movements not only looked proficient, but they also incorporated a variety of fundamental techniques such as diagonal cuts, thrusts, parries, and sweeps, all executed with minimal effort for maximum effect.
These techniques were part of the basic swordsmanship curriculum imparted by the system, complete with a flawless foundation of twenty years of sword training. But today, Jia Jiucheng's true objective was to practice and perfect his Combat Skill.
Indeed—Combat Skills can have a sudden, overwhelming effect, instantly overpowering an enemy. At Rank One, a user can execute the skill with three to six strikes.
The Combat Skill known as Power Accumulating Critical Hit is an attack that bursts forth after a period of deliberate preparation. Jia Jiucheng, with bated breath, gripped his steel sword and faced the bamboo. He mustered his power for a strike, launched a counterattack, spun, and then, his strength expended, he could only manage three hits. A side strike, a counterattack, and another spin. After three times, he had to pause, or the force of his blows would fail to make even the slightest dent in the bamboo.
Through this exercise, Jia Jiucheng came to realize he had underestimated this skill; it was far more than mere flourishes in the air. This Combat Skill required 3-6 swings, each needing to pack the punch of a full-force ordinary attack. Six feeble swings would accomplish nothing. However, thanks to the rigorous training from Jia Yong since childhood, coupled with the system's gift of a solid foundational skill set, Jia Jiucheng didn't have to start from scratch but could instead draw upon his well-rounded expertise.
This technique involved leveraging the opponent's force: the first strike carried ten levels of power, the second six, and the third four. The Combat Skill was a series of ordinary attacks (3-6 times) without any diminution in strength. The system had granted him a remarkably potent Combat Skill.
Physical attacks often depend on the consistency of normal strikes. While magic users rely on skills for lethal blows, physical fighters lean on their regular attacks, using skills at crucial moments to clinch victory. Why use a second sword if one can kill? Skills are typically reserved for moments of intimidation or emergency. The ultimate move must be deployed at just the right moment to achieve the desired impact.
I recall my father practicing a set of Basic Sword Technique for decades. Such foundational swordplay is likely similar across the board, which means his skill and stamina surely surpass mine. When it comes to a normal attack, he is undoubtedly the stronger.
Ge Teng has the power to slay my father and terrify the captors, growing only stronger. Without proper sword training, revenge is but a distant dream! It's crucial to achieve mastery of the first phase of the Combat Skill to stand a chance at victory.
Jia Jiucheng, lacking both divine strength and the cultivation of internal energy, relied solely on his physical strength to perform the Basic Sword Technique. Within minutes, he was gasping for breath, sweat beading on his forehead. He sheathed his sword and stood still, pressing on his abdomen, taking deep breaths to stabilize his turbulent blood and qi, his eyes harboring an unmelting frost.
"Ding… Host has increased Combat Skill Power Accumulating Critical Hit Proficiency by +1."
"Ding… Host's Combat Skill Power Accumulating Critical Hit Proficiency +1."
"Ding… Host's Combat Skill Power Accumulating Critical Hit proficiency +1."
"Ding… Host's Combat Skill Power Accumulating Critical Hit proficiency +1."
"Ding… Host's Combat Skill Power Accumulating Critical Hit Proficiency +1."
"Ding… Host's Combat Skill Power Accumulating Critical Hit Proficiency +1."
"Ding… Host's Combat Skill Power Accumulating Critical Hit Proficiency +1."
"Ding… Host's Combat Skill Power Accumulating Critical Hit Proficiency +1."
...
"Ding… Host's Combat Skill Power Accumulating Critical Hit Proficiency has reached 10,000/10,000. Congratulations, Host has mastered the first phase of the Combat Skill Power Accumulating Critical Hit, with one strike (3-6) swords, depending on the time spent accumulating power."
The number of swords struck (3-6) is contingent on the Power Accumulating duration. A 0.5-second charge yields three strikes, while 1.5, 2.5, or 3 seconds offer more.
On the first day, with everyone gathered at the County Magistrate's, Jia Jiucheng had ample opportunity to practice, tirelessly repeating the motions from dawn till dusk.
After a day of relentless training, he resolved on the third day to hone his movement techniques. Capturing criminals isn't a contest or a spectacle; it's a fight to the death, a critical moment determining life or death. Knowing when to strike is as important as knowing how to evade an attack. This isn't a mere exchange of blows; it's a test of inner strength and combat prowess. It's not about taking turns to strike while standing still—if your combat strength is superior, I'll lose more health, and I'll be the first to fall. Life is fragile; a targeted attack, poison, or a concealed weapon can end it in countless ways. The goal of practicing movement techniques is to eliminate the enemy while ensuring one's own survival, skillfully avoiding attacks and seizing every opportunity to strike back.
A master skilled in movement can weave through a myriad of challenges untouched, like passing through a sea of flowers without a single leaf sticking to them. If your enemy can't land a hit, you secure an unbeatable position. Such is the critical importance of mastering movement techniques.
Jia Jiucheng stepped into the training room to hone his "Plum Blossom Stance Movement Technique," which transformed the space with varying heights of Plum Blossom Stars Stances. The pillars stood three feet and three inches above the ground, spaced three feet apart from front to back and one foot and five inches from side to side. As his martial arts prowess grew, so did the height of the pillars, some reaching up to five feet. Some practitioners even substituted bricks for pillars, starting with flat bricks, progressing to horizontal ones, and eventually standing on end bricks. The arrangement of these pillars was designed to mirror celestial patterns, with the training room currently featuring the most advanced set of 108 Stars Stances.
The Plum Blossom Stance encompasses two types of footwork: the Eight-direction Step and the Walking Step. The Eight-direction Step comes in three sizes: large, medium, and small. The small Eight-direction Step, fundamental to the technique, allows for quick dodges and turns, creating openings for attack. The medium and large Eight-direction Steps are ideal for facing multiple adversaries, allowing for rapid yet controlled movements, seamless advances and retreats, and the ability to seize the initiative and gain a tactical advantage. These steps adapt to the situation, with fluid movements and precise techniques.
The Walking Step consists of three methods: the swing, the thrust, and the retreat.
Jia Jiucheng ascended the Plum Blossom Stance, initially intent on replicating the dashing leap described in novels that would earn him applause. But with no one around to witness, a failed leap could result in an embarrassing tumble. Opting for caution, he climbed onto the stance. The Plum Blossom Stance also required mastering movements that involved opening the groin and shifting the hips. Jia Jiucheng began his practice slowly, but as he quickened his pace, a moment's inattention could send him tumbling down, a mortifying prospect indeed!
"Ding... Host's Plum Blossom Stance Movement Technique Proficiency +1."
"Ding… Host's Plum Blossom Stance Movement Technique Proficiency +1."
"Ding… Host's Plum Blossom Stance Movement Technique Proficiency +1."
"Ding… Host's Plum Blossom Stance Movement Technique Proficiency +1."
"Ding… Host's Plum Blossom Stance Movement Technique Proficiency +1."
"Ding… Host's Plum Blossom Stance Movement Technique Proficiency +1."
"Ding… Host's Plum Blossom Stance Movement Technique Proficiency +1."
"Ding… Host's Plum Blossom Stance Movement Technique Proficiency +1."
...
"Ding… Host's Plum Blossom Stance Movement Technique Proficiency +1, 10000/10000. Congratulations to the host for mastering the initial stage of the Plum Blossom Stance Movement Technique, achieving agility and grace."
After innumerable falls, Jia Jiucheng finally breathed a sigh of relief, having at last mastered the first stage of the Plum Blossom Stance Movement Technique.
