The Four Essentials of Blacksmithing: Lightness, Heaviness, Speed, and Deliberation.
After Chen Wuhou explained them once, Chen Zong grasped the fundamentals.
"That's all there is to it. The rest is up to you to practice," Chen Wuhou said. "Once you've practiced enough, fire up the forge and try crafting a piece of Common Iron."
With that, Chen Wuhou turned and left. He had his own tasks to attend to, and whether Chen Zong mastered the techniques was none of his concern.
"Thank you, Clan Brother," Chen Zong said politely, then began to ponder what he had learned. In essence, the Four Essentials of Blacksmithing were simply about controlling one's body to wield strength effectively. While the concept seemed simple, the execution was far more challenging.
The human body was a marvel of complexity, composed of countless intricate structures. Achieving complete mastery over oneself was virtually impossible.
Chen Chuyun's teachings on the Basic Eighteen Forms and the Three-Word Formula of Speed, Precision, and Stability were fundamentally about cultivating bodily control and mastering one's own strength.
Having been transformed by the mysterious sword tip and further refined through rigorous training, Chen Zong possessed exceptional control over his physical power.
Chen Zong first simulated the blacksmithing process in his mind, then picked up the iron hammer to try it for real.
The hammer weighed a hefty fifty pounds, but this was nothing for Chen Zong, who possessed the strength of a thousand pounds. The real challenge lay in wielding such a heavy tool for extended periods, requiring immense endurance that he lacked.
On his first day, Chen Zong didn't light the forge. Instead, he meticulously studied the Four Essentials of Blacksmithing, dissecting each principle in depth to develop his own understanding and mastery.
Afterward, he left for the Dining Hall to eat, then headed to a corner of the Martial Training Ground to practice his swordsmanship.
He flawlessly executed the seven movements of the first layer of the Dividing Light Sword Technique, his Qi Blood Power surging as if threatening to split in two. With each slashing strike, twin arcs of light carved distinct trails in the air.
He repeated the sequence tirelessly.
As he practiced, Chen Zong couldn't help but reflect on the Four Essentials of Blacksmithing.
Having cultivated three sword techniques to the Subtlety Realm, he had gradually developed his own insights into martial arts training.
"Regardless of the martial art or the method of practice, the fundamental principle remains the same: mastery over the control and application of power."
"This holds true for swordsmanship, and it holds true for blacksmithing."
As Chen Zong pondered, his eyes lit up. The mysterious sword tip in his Third Eye Space trembled slightly, and a flood of insights surged through his mind. Yet his body continued its relentless practice, tirelessly repeating the seven movements of the first layer of the Dividing Light Sword Technique.
Again and again he repeated the motions.
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him, like moonlight piercing through dark clouds. Chen Zong froze, sheathed his sword, and stood tall. A slight tremor ran through him as he seemed to execute seven distinct variations in a single instant. His Qi Blood surged and transformed, and with a final thrust, his sword split into two beams of light that pierced the air.
"So that's how it works."
"Guidance-based cultivation trains the body to familiarize itself with the flow of Qi Blood Power. Once perfected, one need only use mental intent to control the Qi Blood Power, seamlessly linking the seven guided variations into a single fluid motion."
In essence, the difference between pre- and post-mastery lies in the method of guiding Qi Blood Power: one uses physical movements, the other relies on mental intent.
Undoubtedly, mental intent is as swift as lightning. Guiding Qi Blood Power with such speed would naturally be far more efficient.
Thus, on the fourth day of practicing the Dividing Light Sword Technique, Chen Zong achieved mastery of its first layer.
As he returned to his lodgings, Chen Zong continued to contemplate the fundamental principles of the sword technique.
"Chen Zong, I've mastered the first level of my Heavy Mountain Fist Technique. Let's spar!" Chen Guzhan strode forward, blocking Chen Zong's path, with Chen Fenghua at his side.
"I've also mastered the first level of my Water-Splitting Blade Technique," Chen Fenghua chimed in with a grin. "Perfect timing to test it out on you."
These two were still smarting from their repeated defeats at Chen Zong's hands. They hadn't challenged him before because they lacked confidence while still struggling to grasp the first level of their Low-Grade Human-Rank martial arts. Now that they had finally mastered it, and Chen Zong had only been practicing his Low-Grade Human-Rank sword technique for a few days, they were certain of victory.
"Let's go," Chen Zong replied tersely, turning toward the nearest arena. He had just mastered the first level of his Dividing Light Sword Technique and was itching for a fight.
"Chen Zong, let me remind you—now that I'm a martial artist, my single-arm strength exceeds 1,500 pounds!" Chen Guzhan boasted, flexing his fist. "With a single punch using the first level of my Heavy Mountain Fist Technique, I can shatter a decorative rockery. If you're scared, you can still concede now."
"You were stronger than me before, and you still lost," Chen Zong retorted with a smile.
"Don't tell me you've already mastered the first level of the Dividing Light Sword Technique," Chen Fenghua teased.
"You'll find out soon enough," Chen Zong replied with a grin, causing a sudden chill to run through Chen Guzhan and Chen Fenghua. A sense of unease settled upon them, but they quickly bolstered their courage.
Impossible, they thought. No one could master the first level of a low-grade Human-Rank Martial Art in just four days. The Clan Hall's records show the fastest time for its disciples to achieve this was fifteen days.
With renewed resolve, they stepped forward.
"I'll go first," Chen Guzhan declared, leaping onto the arena. Chen Zong followed suit, while Chen Fenghua remained below to watch.
"Let's test your current strength. Take this punch!" Chen Guzhan's fists were now encased in black gauntlets reinforced with iron plates. He charged forward, his punch shattering the air and unleashing a terrifying shockwave of force aimed at Chen Zong.
Fifteen hundred pounds of force erupted from his fist, a truly fearsome display.
A dazzling sword light flashed. Chen Zong's blade sliced through the air with lethal precision, nearly brushing Chen Guzhan's arm as it arced toward his shoulder, forcing him to withdraw his punch and evade.
And then... nothing.
Chen Zong's relentless sword strikes forced Chen Guzhan into a constant retreat, giving him no chance to counterattack.
"Stop, stop, stop!" Chen Guzhan shouted in frustration.
He had assumed that becoming a martial artist several months before Chen Zong would give him the upper hand. Yet, from the moment they clashed, he found himself completely outmatched—a baffling turn of events.
Chen Guzhan was unaware that Chen Zong had cultivated three sword techniques to the Subtlety Realm, achieving a new level of mastery over his power and combat rhythm. Unless Chen Guzhan could match this breakthrough or completely overwhelm Chen Zong with brute force, he stood no chance.
"Next, I'll use the Heavy Mountain Fist Technique—it's incredibly powerful, so watch out!" Chen Guzhan declared solemnly, gathering his Qi Blood and focusing his mind. His Qi Blood surged as he coiled his body, then unleashed a punch.
"Mountainfall!"
With a thunderous roar, his fist hurtled forward, seeming to expand rapidly before Chen Zong's eyes, morphing into a towering mountain that descended from the heavens. The crushing pressure paralyzed Chen Zong, making it nearly impossible to move.
From Chen Fenghua's perspective, Chen Guzhan's fist appeared surrounded by illusory mountain shadows that swelled to a meter in diameter as it hurtled toward Chen Zong.
"Dividing Light Shadowing!"
With a low shout, Chen Zong swayed slightly, and his refined iron sword shot forth, splitting into two dazzling blades of light.
The sword lights shattered Chen Guzhan's Mountain Fist shadows, but the fist itself continued its trajectory toward Chen Zong. With a flick of his wrist, Chen Zong lashed out like a whip, the refined iron sword striking Chen Guzhan's fist with a metallic clang.
The sword lights flashed relentlessly, each strike landing on Chen Guzhan's fist, back of his hand, wrist, and forearm, sending searing pain through his body.
"Stop! Stop! I surrender!" Chen Guzhan desperately tried to retract his arm, but Chen Zong's sword seemed to find every gap, forcing him to bellow again in defeat.
"You've actually mastered the first level of the Dividing Light Sword Technique to the introductory stage?" Chen Guzhan asked, dumbfounded, as he rubbed his throbbing arm.
"Just barely," Chen Zong replied truthfully.
"Heh... I have urgent business to attend to. I'll take my leave now." Chen Fenghua's handsome face twitched slightly as he forced a dry laugh, then turned and hurried away.
Four days!
In just four days, Chen Zong had managed to grasp the introductory stage of the first level of a low-grade Human-Rank sword technique. Who wants to fight this freak? I'm not sticking around to get beaten.
It was clear that his repeated defeats as a Martial Apprentice had left deep scars on Chen Fenghua's psyche.
"Wait until I get some armguards, then I'll fight you again!" Chen Guzhan shouted as he leaped off the arena and ran away.
Chen Zong couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle. Sheathing his sword, he jumped down from the arena and headed back to his quarters.
"During the Foundation Establishment stage, weapons often provide a significant advantage in martial arts. However, in Human-Rank martial arts, as long as they are of the same grade, each style has its own strengths."
"When channeling Qi Blood Power, one's physical strength is enhanced. For example, a fourth-level Qi Blood Realm practitioner might gain around a thousand pounds of force. However, this isn't absolute. Some individuals with better control over their power can exceed that, while others might only manage to increase their strength by seven or eight hundred pounds."
"The Qi Blood circulation methods in Ranked Martial Arts differ from those in Cultivation Techniques. Ranked Martial Arts focus on explosive bursts of power, which expend Qi Blood, whereas Cultivation Techniques aim to nurture and strengthen Qi Blood for sustained stability. Consequently, the power unleashed by Ranked Martial Arts' Qi Blood circulation is often far more formidable, typically exceeding baseline strength by several times."
"Therefore, the true power of Ranked Martial Arts lies in the combined force of one's inherent physical strength and the explosive force generated by its unique Qi Blood circulation method."
"Chen Guzhan's single arm can wield fifteen hundred pounds of force. Factoring in the Qi Blood enhancement, which contributes another thousand pounds, and the instantaneous burst from the first layer of the Heavy Mountain Fist Technique—at least a ten percent increase—his theoretical maximum force reaches twenty-six hundred pounds."
"My arm strength is a thousand pounds. With the first layer of the Dividing Light Sword Technique, I can also boost my Qi Blood Power by ten percent, totaling twenty-one hundred pounds—still weaker than Chen Guzhan's."
The clash between my Dividing Light Shadowing strike and Chen Guzhan's Mountain-Crushing Blow had shattered both sword lights instantly, leaving Chen Guzhan with energy to spare. This proved the disparity in our power.
Yet Chen Zong believed that even if his raw strength fell short, he could still enhance the technique's destructive force.
"At the initial stage of Dividing Light Shadowing, two sword lights split left and right, allowing simultaneous strikes at two different points on a single target or against two separate opponents. But what if I focused them forward, or stacked them, to strike a single point? Would that amplify the power?"
The more Chen Zong considered it, the more viable this approach seemed. He turned toward a corner of the Martial Training Ground, determined to test his theory. If successful, his combat prowess would undoubtedly improve.