Chapter 8: The Fourth Blade of Swallow Return Three Blades
Xiaojie relayed Ning Xuan’s words to Zhang Erquan verbatim, not a word more, not a word less, without any emotion. She conveyed it with a formulaic attitude, using the most respectful tone.
Zhang Erquan was not at all surprised. He nodded and said, “Good.”
The young master was someone who fished for three days and dried his nets for two. Today marked the completion of three days. He had wondered if the young master had been stimulated by something this time, to have persisted for so long. It turned out he had overthought it; the young master was still the same old young master.
In the afternoon, beneath the waterfall in the valley beside Ning Family Villa.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The “monster,” about a zhang tall, slammed the trunks of nine large trees into the shallow pool below. Then, it leaped up, muttering to itself.
“Knees slightly bent like swallows perching on branches, center of gravity flowing with the blade’s momentum.
Form solid like mountains, spirit soaring afar, intent like light feathers skimming the water.”
The “monster” chanted and then grabbed a similarly oversized long-handled saber. This saber, with a blade and handle of similar length, totaled about a zhang. It was called a “Beast Slaying Blade,” similar to the Mo Blade or horse-slaying sword from Ning Xuan’s previous life.
Since he knew he would be going out to practice, Ning Xuan naturally wouldn’t wait until the last minute to prepare. He had prepared long ago. The Ning Manor had many secret cellars in the vicinity, storing preserved dried meat and fresh water. As the young master, he naturally knew a few of these hidden locations. Therefore, a few days prior, he had found an opportunity and placed suitable weapons in one of these cellars.
At this moment, Ning Xuan, holding the Beast Slaying Blade, was running back and forth on the tree stumps beneath the waterfall, taking three steps forward and three steps back. Under the cascading waterfall, the impact was immense, comparable to stepping on tung oil in terms of slipperiness. However, his current physique was 3.7, elevating his reaction, physique, and speed to an unbelievable level, far surpassing that of a normal human.
Initially, he was cautious. But as he practiced, he discovered that cultivating the “Swallow Return Secret Steps” with this physique was incredibly easy! He soon moved with extreme speed, like a ferocious beast darting beneath the waterfall. The bulging muscles and skin, thicker than a rhinoceros’s, gave his figure a fearsome aura.
After a period of cultivation, he stomped fiercely on the tree stump and leaped down into the pool, the splashing water exploding and scattering everywhere. He lifted a giant rock from the water, secured it to his back with a rope net to act as a sandbag, and then leaped back onto the tree stumps to continue his training. He trained for an entire afternoon.
At dusk, Ning Xuan’s massive body lay on the ground beside the waterfall. He deactivated the Heavenly Demon Scroll. His form immediately shrank by two sizes. However, the results of his training remained. Through this peculiar method, he had subjected his body to training it couldn’t normally endure, yet he also reaped the benefits of that training. Perhaps, for Ning Xuan with a physique of 3.7, this training was not much, only bringing about a sliver of progress. But this sliver of progress was enough for Ning Xuan with a physique of 1.0 to make tremendous strides.
He looked at his status panel.
[Life (Physique): 1.1]
[Bear Demon’s Innate Technique] (Can provide an additional 2.65 to Life attribute when activated)
In less than half a day of training, his physique had increased by 0.1. However, the bonus provided by [Bear Demon’s Innate Technique] had decreased from “2.7” to “2.65.” Comparing the previous and current figures, he quickly deduced the answer. The bonus from the “Heavenly Demon Scroll” was divided into two tiers. The portion within his physique would be halved, while the portion exceeding his physique would be added directly.
For example, if his own physique reached 3.2, the same level as the Bear Demon, the power provided by the Bear Demon would become 1.6. If his own physique exceeded 3.2, the power provided by the Bear Demon might even decrease further. In other words, demonic creatures weaker than him could not provide much of a bonus.
Night fell. In the room, the candlelight was extinguished, followed by Xiaojie’s giggles.
“Young Master, no…”
After a long while, the laughter changed, tinged with surprise.
Then, the surprise turned into pleading.
“Young Master! No more, really no more! Please!”
After a long, long time, Xiaojie’s sobbing voice could be heard.
Ning Xuan’s mood was very calm. Although it was only a “0.1” increase, he felt a surge of vitality, making him feel restless and needing an outlet, otherwise, he would find it difficult to sleep. Just now, he had added a bit more to Xiaojie’s daily duties. Xiaojie found it difficult but still completed it. She was just exhausted and crying now.
“Starting tomorrow, you will receive an extra ten taels per month,” Ning Xuan said.
Xiaojie, sniffling, replied, “In the Young Master’s eyes, do I seem that greedy for money?”
“Then how much more do you want?” Ning Xuan asked.
Xiaojie fell silent. She wanted a promotion, she wanted to be a concubine!
“Hmph!” She snorted angrily and turned away, her back to Ning Xuan. “Not a single tael more!”
Ning Xuan said in surprise, “Really not adding any?”
Xiaojie’s heart ached, but she gritted her teeth and said, “The Young Master knows me. I don’t like money.”
“Let’s sleep first,” Ning Xuan said. “I have to go out for inspiration tomorrow.”
After a long while, the air remained quiet. Just as Ning Xuan was about to fall asleep, Xiaojie’s voice suddenly came to his ear.
“Young Master, really not adding any?”
“An extra ten taels per month,” Ning Xuan replied.
Xiaojie negotiated, “Fifteen taels. Once I save enough money, I’ll go far away!”
“Fifteen taels it is. Anyway, you won’t be here for long before you’re far away. My Ning family can afford this much,” Ning Xuan yawned and said, “Sleep.”
For several days in a row, Ning Xuan continued his secret training as usual. In spring, there were indeed many venomous snakes and ferocious beasts. But since this mountain-like “monster” arrived at the waterfall, the surrounding wild beasts and venomous insects had quietly “moved away.” Animals have a sense of territory. If an enemy invades their territory, they will attack. But if this enemy exuded an aura of absolute dominion, they would “relocate.”
Ning Xuan felt his progress slowing down, eventually settling at “[Life (Physique): 1.4].” The attribute provided by [Bear Demon’s Innate Technique] had also changed from the initial “2.7” to “2.5,” further supporting his previous hypothesis.
As for the strongest killing move of “Swallow Chasing Wind Saber” that Zhang Erquan mentioned, Swallow Return Three Blades, he had completely mastered it. No! He couldn’t say mastered. Because he had also comprehended a fourth blade. This blade could only be used when he activated the Heavenly Demon Scroll.
[Innate Demonic Art: Bear Demon’s Innate Technique: Its speed is like the wind; the faster it is, the more ferocious the momentum. One impact shatters the body.]
Beneath the Swallow Return Secret Steps, his speed would instantly increase significantly. This meant he could use the “Bear Demon’s Innate Technique” with his saber at any time. And this was his fourth blade. It combined lightness, speed, and terrifying power. He named it Flying Swallow Collapse Mountain.
