Chapter 24: Sword training Start

Chapter 24: Sword Training Begins

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In the afternoon, the sun remained bright, casting golden rays across the yard. A soft, cool breeze rustled the leaves as Kent returned from school.

Xian Yu and Nima stood on the yard, waiting for Kent. The old man's sharp eyes scanned Kent—before he spoke. "Go change into something more suitable for training. Quickly, both of you!"

A few minutes later, Kent and Nima returned, dressed in t-shirts and jogging pants. The old man stood tall, his weathered face unreadable as he addressed them. His voice carried the weight of experience, unwavering and firm.

"The first lesson is simple," he said, his piercing gaze locking onto them. "You will swing your sword 1,000 times. Only after that can you take the next step."

Kent and Nima exchanged uneasy glances, gripping their wooden swords tightly. The unfamiliar weight made their hands feel clumsy.

"Watch carefully," Xian Yu continued, picking up his own sword—a battered yet well-maintained blade. The worn surface bore the marks of countless battles. "This is how it's done." He moved with the grace of a panther, deliberate yet fluid.

"First, lower your body at a 45-degree angle," he instructed, adjusting his stance. "Your feet should be planted firmly. Balance is everything."

Raising the sword above his head with both hands, he ensured the blade was perfectly straight, pointing toward the heavens. "Now, swing downward in a clean, precise motion."

He demonstrated his sword moves. "Watch this he says, The wooden blade cutting through the air with a sharp whoosh before stopping inches above the ground."

"Remember," he straightened, turning to face them with an intense stare. "The blade must not touch the ground. If it does, that swing doesn't count. Precision is key. Sloppiness won't be tolerated."

The siblings nodded, determination glinting in their eyes despite their hesitation.

Xian Yu handed them their training swords. "Begin. I will count." Taking a seat on a worn wooden chair, he folded his arms and watched as the lesson commenced.

"1… 2…" His voice sliced through the air like a whip.

Kent and Nima started, their movements stiff at first.

Swish! Swish!

"8… 99… 198…"

Sweat beaded on Nima's forehead. Her arms trembled with every swing, and by the 200th count, her movements had slowed. Her breathing was ragged. "I… I can't do it," she panted, her wooden sword slipping from her fingers as she collapsed to her knees.

"Nima!" Kent called out, pausing mid-swing to glance at her.

"Keep going!" the old man's voice was unrelenting. "She's done, but you are not. Push through!"

Kent gritted his teeth, his arms burning with fatigue. But he tightened his grip and continued.

"299… 599…"

His shirt was soaked with sweat. His legs felt like jelly. Each swing sent jolts of pain through his shoulders, but he refused to stop.

"888…"

The old man's voice carried a hint of approval now.

"999… 1,000!"

Kent's final swing was as precise as the first. He barely managed to hold himself up before collapsing, gasping for air.

Xian Yu nodded, a rare flicker of a smile appearing. "Good. Both of you did well."

He glanced at Nima, who was sitting on the ground, staring at Kent in awe. Nima,"You gave up after 200. Not bad for a first try."

Then, turning to Kent, his eyes narrowed slightly. "And you… you pushed through when most would have quit. That is the spirit of a warrior."

Kent grinned weakly, pride swelling in his chest despite his exhaustion. Xian Yu stood, his chair creaking as he rose. "Rest for now. Tomorrow morning, we begin again."

The Next Morning...As dawn barely kissed the sky, a rhythmic knocking echoed through Kent's house. The sun had yet to fully rise, and the world remained painted in hues of deep orange and soft gold.

Kent, still exhausted from the previous day's training, groggily woke up. Rubbing his eyes, he stumbled to the door, opening it just as the first light of day spilled over the horizon.

Xian Yu stood there, looking as composed as ever. "Let's begin. Where's Nima?"

Kent yawned. "Sleeping." He crossed his arms. "You can wake her up if you think—you can handle her anger, but I'm not doing it. She'll go into crazy mood if I try to wake her up."

The old man's expression shifted as he imagined Nima's wrath. In his mind's eye, she was yelling at him, demanding apologies. He quickly brushed the thought aside.

"Ahem! Ahem! I will teach her later, maybe after homework in the afternoon. You, come with me."

They walked into the yard, where various weight bags and large stones lay scattered around. Xian Yu gestured toward them. "Put these on."

Kent strapped on the weights: 150 kg on his vest, 50 kg on each legs, and 20 kg on each arm.

"Now, swing the sword exactly as you did yesterday—but this time, strike the rock. There is one simple rule you must obey, that is you can't break the wooden sword."

Kent's brows furrowed. Seriously... You are telling me to break rock with wood? This totally opposite of common sense. "How do I break a rock without breaking the wooden sword?" It's impossible!!!

"You need to become one with the blade," Xian Yu said. "Connect your spiritual sense with the wooden sword. This is the first step toward mastering the Sword Dao."

He pointed to the ground saying. "Once you finish three stages of training, you will be able to do this."

Xian Yu raised a single finger. A faint, shimmering aura gathered around it, forming an invisible blade. With a single swing, the training dummy and the ground beneath it were sliced in half.

Kent's eyes sparkled. "Old man, you're amazing! Teach me that move. Right now I need to learn this cool moves. Not some wood breaking the rock!"

Xian Yu flicked Kent's forehead. "Stop dreaming. You won't be able to do it until you master the fundamentals. Also, stop calling me 'old man.' From now on, call me Master."

"No way Kent replied. I'm only here to learn your sword moves, not to become your disciple."

+999 SP copied from Xian Yu (Frustration).

Xian Yu sighed. "Enough talking. Start practicing. First, swing the sword 1,500 times in the air. Then, strike the rock 500 times. You must complete 2000 swings before it's time for school."

"Before school?!" Kent groaned.

"Yes. Now get to it." You don't have enough time to waste.

As Kent began training, Xian Yu observed him closely. "When I was a child, I could barely swing 100 times with 200 kg," he murmured to himself. "But Kent has already surpassed 500 swings. His physical strength is unbelievable. Is he hiding his true level?"

His gaze darkened with curiosity. "He's definitely at a Level E cultivation, but… unless he has an A-rank physique, this shouldn't be possible. I need to test both siblings later."

After completing his 1500 times air swings, Kent attempted to strike the rock. The first impact caused a crack in the wooden sword.

The second swing deepened the cracks.

The third swing snapped the sword in half.

+999 SP from Xian Yu (Frustration).

The rock remained unscathed. Xian Yu stroked his beard. "I only brought one wooden sword today. I don't have any more wooden sword. Go home! Tomorrow, I'll have more wooden swords ready for you. If you break one in three swings, then I guess the wooden sword market will be emptied by you."

Kent, too tired to argue, simply nodded and dragged himself inside the house, already dreading the next day of training.