After saying goodbye to Brother Er Niu, Su Changqing dashed into a dense forest.
He didn't go home, as he was eager to explore what was extraordinary about the secret manual of the cultivation world.
The main reason he didn't choose to practice at home was the fear that his parents would see him being idle and unproductive.
As he traveled through, he reached an open area, where Su Changqing sat cross-legged and immediately took out the damaged manual.
"Raging Waves Sword Technique! What a good name!"
Opening to the first day, Su Changqing was instantly drawn in.
Although this sword technique doesn't have an accompanying heart technique, the moves are well depicted.
Every page has illustrations, with annotations in small letters at the bottom.
This sword technique comprises a total of seven hundred and twenty moves, with many variations between moves, very complex.
An ordinary person, if they were practicing for the first time without a teacher's explanation and no accompanying breathing heart technique, would find it useless even if obtained.
Yet despite this, Su Changqing was mesmerized, enthusiastically drawing imaginary sword moves with two fingers.
At this moment, in his mind's eye, the illustrations of moves from the manual seemed to come alive.
In his mind, a person wielding a sharp sword danced with impenetrable speed, becoming faster and faster.
After an hour passed, Su Changqing finished reading the entire manual, committing it to memory.
He stood up, casually picked up a stick from the ground, recalling the sword technique in his mind, and clumsily imitated it.
On the first attempt, his moves were very crude but still able to replicate them entirely.
On the second attempt, a flash of understanding crossed his eyes, the transitions between moves became very natural, and even wielding a stick seemed powerful and aggressive.
On the third attempt, Su Changqing closed his eyes, his aura suddenly changed.
The stick moved with the wind, making a sound like flowing water.
His sword technique danced faster and faster, the sound of water flowing becoming rapid, like a small stream merging into the ocean.
Suddenly, gusts of wind emerged all around, fallen leaves lifted with the wind, swirling around Su Changqing like streams.
As the sword moves reached their climax, those streams converged eagerly, sounding like waves crashing into the ocean.
Su Changqing let out a low shout, the stick in his hand dropped to the side.
A small tree, as thick as a wrist, unexpectedly snapped in the middle, withered leaves flying in the sky.
Su Changqing opened his eyes, stunned for a moment at the scene before him, but was quickly overjoyed,
"This manual is actually real!"
He initially had a try-it-and-see attitude, but didn't expect to truly learn it.
"Though I've learned it, this sword technique still feels awkward, it must be due to the lack of a heart technique."
"Moreover, this sword technique was mastered in just two or three tries, it shouldn't be anything profound."
Su Changqing remembered what the teacher said, his comprehension is just slightly better than others.
If it were an advanced sword technique, two or three attempts wouldn't suffice to master it.
Nonetheless, Su Changqing was quite satisfied since this was his first encounter with cultivation-related matters.
"In the future, I need to practice often, the transition between moves is still somewhat raw, it can be stronger."
Su Changqing pondered privately, summarizing.
His main focus now is his studies, if he can cultivate a noble aura, no sword technique could match that, can't lose sight of the bigger picture.
Suddenly, a howl echoed from deep within the forest, interrupting Su Changqing's contemplation.
His expression changed in surprise, glanced at the sky, and hurriedly ran towards the village.
The nearby mountain is inhabited by beasts, not long ago, Uncle Su Qi from the village was carried off by a big wild cat and was never found.
Although he now possesses some basic martial skills, he lacks the confidence to kill a beast.
"I need to find some time to visit the cave with Brother Er Niu, to see if there's anything else left behind."
Su Changqing pondered as he ran out of the dense forest.
Cyan Mountain Village.
With excitement hard to contain, Brother Er Niu walked all the way to the entrance of Su Changqing's house.
"Chang Qing, come quickly, I have something to tell you..."
Brother Er Niu hadn't finished speaking when he saw Su Nan emerge from the house, carrying a ladle.
Seeing Su Nan, Brother Er Niu's neck shrank and called out,
The Su family isn't a sect, but a lineage family. Although there is a distinction between side and direct branches, the relationship is more personable compared to typical sects.
Additionally, Brother Er Niu grew up in Cyan Mountain Village and has a good relationship with Chang Qing, hence not being overly intimidated by Su Nan.
Seeing it was Brother Er Niu, Su Nan said gruffly:
"Already of age, yet still so reckless, haven't broken through the fourth realm?"
"Didn't your father find you a sword technique, haven't you formed your innate secret technique yet?"
Brother Er Niu laughed sheepishly, "Soon, soon, with a few more months of practice, I should be able to form the innate secret technique."
Breaking through in cultivation doesn't mean just reaching a certain realm; one must also practice a divine technique suited for the next realm to the level of an innate secret technique.
Today, the sword technique Brother Er Niu gave to Su Changqing was specially sought for his breakthrough, very profound.
He had been practicing for half a year but still quite far from mastering the innate technique.
"Uh... Patriarch, where is Chang Qing?"
Brother Er Niu, feeling uneasy under Su Nan's gaze, cautiously asked.
"Chang Qing went to study, hasn't returned yet, you looking for him?"
As he spoke, Su Nan looked up at the sky, muttering inside, he should be back by now.
Could it be that he performed poorly and the teacher held him back?
Brother Er Niu was taken aback; he had run into Chang Qing an hour ago, why wasn't he back?
"Maybe he went somewhere to practice the sword technique?"
Brother Er Niu started sweating at this thought.
If the Patriarch sweeps with divine sense and sees Chang Qing practicing sword techniques instead of studying, wouldn't that be terrible?
"Hey? Brother Er Niu? What brings you here?"
Luckily, Su Changqing's voice came from not far away, allowing Brother Er Niu to breathe a sigh of relief.
"Let's speak privately!"
Brother Er Niu rushed over to Chang Qing's side and whispered urgently:
"Autumn! Poems about autumn, it's up to you, Chang Qing!"
With those words, Brother Er Niu sheepishly bid farewell to Su Nan and ran off like a rabbit.
"What autumn? Why did that boy Brother Er Niu come looking for you?"
Su Nan walked out holding the big ladle, asking suspiciously.
"Nothing, is dad the chef today? Looks like there's going to be a feast."
Su Changqing smiled, diverting the conversation, stretching his neck to peer inside the house.
"Hahaha, of course, your dad's cooking is unmatched, seldom found in the world."
Su Nan laughed heartily, showing no sign of his domineering demeanor from earlier.
As they spoke, Ye Shu came out of the house wiping her hands.
Seeing her son return, her eyes lit up as she came forward.
"How was your study today, son? Did the teacher make it difficult for you?"
Su Nan by the side perked up his ears, very concerned about Chang Qing's studies.
"No, Teacher Confucian is very reasonable."
As Su Changqing's words fell, Ye Shu visibly relaxed, but Su Nan secretly frowned.
What's up with Teacher Confucian?
Wasn't it agreed that you must succeed three times to become an apprentice?