Fractured Star Sword Technique

'This…', Zhang Baichi's expression was a bit conflicted. Could this really be considered a powerful opponent? A single strike – with a wooden sword – and the 'powerful opponent' fainted? 'Is this sect really that much of a backwater place? Or is it the Black Heaven Scripture? How powerful is a Supreme-Class Technique, anyways?'

It was a question that Zhang Baichi couldn't answer, yet. And the system would also not give him any answer other than there being insufficient information. Thus, he only knew of three levels when it came to any techniques or Natural Treasures – The Mortal-Class, Spirit-Class and Supreme-Class.

The Mortal-Class is the lowest, and all Techniques of the Fleeting Storm Sword Sect he had seen thus far were of that class.

The Spirit-Class was above that, but the only point of reference Zhang Baichi had was the Fractured Star Sword Technique the system had shown him before. Compared to Mortal-Class Techniques, it already looked heaven defying!

As for the Supreme-Class? There was only the Black Heaven Scripture. There was no further explanation. The Black Heaven Scripture was simply titled as 'supreme', but he had no way of knowing what 'supreme' really meant in this world or how many more levels there were between Spirit-Class and Supreme-Class.

'Going off of all the stuff I know from Earth, there should quite a few more classes, right? Earth-Class and Heaven-Class, for sure. And since we have Spirit-Class, there's probably also Saint? Or Sage, as with the Great Sages?', Zhang Baichi mused.

Around him, the dozen or so other Outer Sect Disciples were petrified. What had they just witnessed? Zhang Baichi, that trash that had already offended Young Master Ji Jian and was fated to die in two months - whose cultivation had even regressed to the 3rd Layer of the Body Forging Realm – had just defeated an opponent in the 5th Layer with a single strike?

Moreover, what was that weird technique? Whack-A-Mole? How had they never heard of such a Sword Technique within the sect! Some of the surrounding people stared at the bald young man at the ground, while others absentmindedly followed Zhang Baichi with their eyes as he left.

No one dared to block his path and no one had the slightest clue what kind of terrifying transformation Zhang Baichi had underwent.

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Now standing in another corner of the training field, Zhang Baichi once again started mindlessly swinging his sword while conversing with the system. 'So, I now have 250 Points, right? Can I purchase the Fracture Star Sword Technique now?'

[Ding! Host is correct. Host currently possesses 250 Points.]

[Ding! Please confirm the purchase of the 'Fractured Star Sword Technique' for 250 Points.]

'Confirm.', with a thought, Zhang Baichi completed the transaction and a old book bound with string appeared in his inventory. It looked ordinary and had the name of the Sword Technique written on the front in bold characters. 'A book this time? Great, so no more headaches from Spiritual Jade. And I get to read some stuff.'

He raised his head and looked around. Quite a few people were keeping an eye on him since the battle earlier, but no once approached. If he were to pull out the manual from his Inventory now… Zhang Baichi didn't dare think about it, much less actually do so.

The only option was to return to his cottage first, read the manual and return to train later. Without hesitation, Zhang Baichi stopped swinging his sword and stretched his body. He put the wooden sword he used before back on one of the racks and left the field, much to the astonishment of the other disciples.

A few people stared at his departing back, utterly confused. Didn't he just come to the field a few minutes ago? He did nothing but swing his sword to warm up. No, that's not right; He warmed up, beat a senior to a pulp, warmed up some more and then left! This… How was this training! If it was anyone other then Zhang Baichi, they could openly call it bullying, but… but Zhang Baichi was supposed to be the one being bullied…

Losing their motivation to train for the day after witnessing today's spectacle, more and more people left, leaving only the most dedicated and those that came after Zhang Baichi had left to continue training in the field. To those present, It felt oddly desolate today…

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'System, give me the new book.', Zhang Baichi commanded while throwing himself onto the bed in his cottage. He laid down on his back, the manual for the Fractured Star Sword Technique appearing in his hands, andhe focused on it.

He read and read and his expression became more and more complicated.

He couldn't understand any of what was written in the book! Of course, he knew the words and could perfectly read the sentences; The problem was that everything written in the book made no sense!

'Feeling the power of the Stars', 'separating Yin and Yang with Fracturing Intent', 'Containing the explosive power in the sword through Sword Intent', 'Unleashing it to baste in the glory of the Stars'… How were those any real instructions!

Moreover, the style of writing was the same he had seen so, so many times in all kinds of novels in his previous life – All empty words with no substance or real instructions. Even the depictions he saw in the book seemed like fancy illustrations to him!

'What am I supposed to learn from this?', frustrated, he plopped the book onto his chest and stared at the ceiling, dissatisfied. The first time he encountered a situation like this was when he first obtained the Black Heaven Scripture. He needed the knowledge of a great doctor from this world just to get started, but even those memories proved useless right now.

According to the doctor's knowledge, this was a marvellous technique and would be considered a true treasure anywhere in the world… The instructions were apparently incredibly clear and much more thorough than other techniques…

'Ah, whatever. Let's throw reason out of the window! I'll stop thinking about it and just do it instead!', Zhang Baichi stood up and pulled the Sturdy Iron Sword from his Inventory. He closed his eyes with the sword in hand and began to think. 'Feel the power of the Stars, huh… What are stars? Pretty light in the nightsky. Far away and unobtainable. What else, eh… Well, they're actually giant masses of gas. Continuously combusting through chemical reac- no, no, no, let's leave chemistry out of this…'

He kept his eyes close, his expression shifting into a frown, then relaxing again, then looking awkward, then happy, frustrated… All kinds of expressions and emotions flashed over his face and he didn't open his eyes for over two hours. His hands twitched from time to time, the sword in his hand moving left and right.

Unbeknownst to Zhang Baichi, the tip of the sword left behind a snow-white dimly glowing trail in the air, though it quickly faded after each movement.

His thoughts wandered from what stars are to what Yin and Yang are and how to separate them, then to what a Sword is and how to use it, what feelings it might have… what swinging a sword and defeating enemies felt like… How a sword could be used to protect life, or end it…

After another fruitless hour, Zhang Baichi opened is eyes and sighed. He didn't understand anything. The sword vanished form his grasp and he sat back down on the bed, grabbing the Sword Technique's manual and read it again… There were a few movements recorded, that apparently 'simulated the movements of Stars and their destruction'…

'Guess that's my best bet…', he read the instructions again and again, trying out the various postures and transitions into new moments – though with a book in hand instead of a sword.

Soon, he was confident to perform the movements without error when holding a sword, so he summoned the sword back into his hands and threw the book into his Inventory.

He lightly swung it, then took a stance as the Fractured Star Sword Technique described and started performing the movements and striking with his sword in accordance.

Luckily, there was just barely enough room for him to perform these sword strikes even in the small cottage. Realizing that for himself, his movements grew faster and sharper – Without anyone seeing him practise, he didn't have to be afraid of embarrassing himself, so his hesitation quickly disappeared and Zhang Baichi stopped holding back.

Stimulated by the training, the Black Heaven Qi in his body started churning and Zhang Baichi's movements were empowered by Qi as well. A dim sheen of blackish light appeared around the edges of his sword as the Black Heaven Qi coated his body and sword, while tiny little sparks of white light flashed with each swing of his sword.

At first, Zhang Baichi didn't see the little sparks, but they soon grew to a size that was obvious to the naked eye and he grew ecstatic.

This was a success! A real success! The Fractured Star Sword Technique was divided into many different levels, and with the tiny sparks appearing, Zhang Baichi had officially entered the first level: The Stardust Stage!

Even though it didn't seem like much, this stage meant that each of his swings contained a hefty amount of Qi, so much, in fact, that residue of it would spill out into the surroundings. Those little specks looked cute or fancy at best, but they contained extremely pure traces of Qi, causing each and every one of these sparks to be sharper than even the best razor blades.

This residue, which could even cut stone, had another name when utilized by Sword Cultivators and was something that most other cultivators wouldn't dare face directly – Sword Qi!