Chapter 4: The Three Realms of Swordsmanship
The young attendant, who was about twenty years old and was bowing his head to organize the books at the counter, raised his head upon hearing the voice. Seeing it was Yun Hong, he couldn't help but smile and said: "Brother Yun, you have come later today than before. Are you still here to help Coach Yang fetch the books?"
The clamor enters the ears, and all that meets the eye are vendors. Along the streets are various restaurants, tea houses, money shops, and brothels, with a continuous flow of people coming and going.
This month's subsidy from the martial arts academy amounts to a full 15 taels of silver, which is 5 taels more than usual. It is likely due to the approaching trial at the Hall of Fiery Flames. Additionally, with the 5 taels of diligent study silver for training in the camp this month, it totals 20 taels of silver. Yun Hong smiled to himself and said, "Hmm, I will take it home; I am sure my elder brother and sister-in-law will be very pleased."
At least, in today's martial arts academies, there have not emerged any disciples capable of refining weapons to an intricate level
Cultivation emphasizes the importance of diligence
Throughout the entire afternoon, Yun Hong was continuously practicing swordsmanship in the martial arts hall, and even when fatigued, he did not take a moment's rest
Um. Yun Hong nodded: "Please have Brother Yan wrap it up for me."
"Not a bother at all," Yan Ge replied with a smile. "Yang Jiaotou is my major client; there are not many who subscribe to books and publications at five taels of silver each month. In the entire Donghe County, there are only a few like that."
The second realm, subtle and intricate, is a hundred times more difficult than the basic level
Indeed, Yang Lou only briefly mentioned the third realm of swordsmanship, hoping to inspire Yun Hong to pursue higher aspirations, without delving into a detailed explanation, as Yang Lou himself has only reached the subtle level.
In fact, how could a young heart like Yun Hong not enjoy such lively festivities
The sword technique is named "Wind Feather Sword"
The momentum, which can be referred to as the momentum of heaven and earth, has transcended ordinary imagination and can be described as unfathomable by gods and spirits
It was not until the evening that Yun Hong left the Hall of Blazing Fire and headed towards the Teaching Building on the other side of the Martial Arts Academy to collect his monthly allowance from the academy
Difficult
Only Yun Hongming understands that enjoyment comes at a cost. The current self does not possess such capital, and at this moment, there is no room for self-indulgence.
According to Yang Lou, even among the tenfold return to the source martial arts grandmasters, few can reach such a miraculous realm
At the age of twelve, one has usually practiced martial arts for several years, establishing a preliminary foundation in martial arts, and has a basic understanding of classical texts. With a mature mindset, progress in weapon training will be rapid.
In the entire Donghe County, with a population of millions, although the number of martial artists is relatively small, there are still several hundred. However, those who can cultivate to the subtle level are exceedingly rare, with hardly one emerging among dozens of martial artists. Yun Hong is well aware that anyone who has cultivated to the subtle level can be regarded as a strong practitioner of martial arts
Although nightfall is gradually approaching, Feng'an Street, as the most prosperous street in Donghe County, is filled with a strong commercial atmosphere, and the lively activity will continue until late at night
"It is truly lively." Yun Hong expressed his heartfelt sentiment, and then, without any lingering attachment to the surrounding scenery of the restaurants, he swiftly maneuvered through the crowd.
Yun Hong entered Feng'an Street
However, as time passed, although Yun Hong's sword techniques became increasingly powerful, now reaching the pinnacle of foundational skills, he has yet to comprehend the meaning of this phrase.
Beginning at the age of twelve, he practiced swordsmanship, and within just one year, by the age of thirteen, he had perfected the "Basic Thirteen Forms." He gained the recognition of the martial arts academy instructor, Yang Lou, who accepted him as a named disciple and imparted to him the foundational sword technique, "Common Wind Sword Technique."
Hoo—very fast
Very simple
familiar with the road
He indeed possesses considerable talent in the art of swordsmanship
Two years later, as Yun Hong entered the Hall of Fiery Flames, the "Common Wind Sword Technique" was also perfected. It was then that Master Yang Lou officially accepted him as a direct disciple and imparted to him a superior sword technique, the "Feather of Wind Sword"
I cannot help but wonder if the sword I saw by the river back then is the very realm of sword intent that the master speaks of. Yun Hong suddenly recalled an experience from several years ago.
One is fundamental, two is subtle
Yun Hong reached out to take it
Yun Hong walked directly into the Wanxiang Pavilion, and the welcoming lady maintained her smile.
"Yan Ge'er," Yun Hong called out with a smile
With a united heart and skill
Perhaps, when I truly comprehend the unity of heart and technique, that will be the moment my swordsmanship reaches a profound level
Yun Hong, after entering the Donghe Martial Arts Academy that year, directly chose the weapon, which was the sword
Time flows
The thirteen fundamental exercises, although considered challenging, can be mastered with sufficient determination and courage, making it not too difficult to reach the foundational level. For instance, the disciples of the Donghe Martial Arts Academy, particularly the elite disciples from various generations, have almost all successfully passed the foundational training, thus achieving the foundational level.
This swordsmanship is among the most elite even within the collection of martial arts at the martial arts academy
During a previous lecture, Yang Lou mentioned to Yun Hong that the Subtle Realm is not the ultimate destination of swordsmanship; beyond the Subtle Realm, there exists an even higher level of swordsmanship known as 'Momentum'
Immediately, he continued to practice the Wind Feather Sword Technique
He practices the swift sword technique
"It is so difficult to reach such a subtle realm." Yun Hong thought to himself: "I wonder what kind of wonder and mystery the third realm of swordsmanship mentioned by the Master Yang will be."
Among the many teachers in the martial arts academy, several possess physical refinement skills that are comparable to those of the dean; however, even if they join forces, they are still no match for the dean
This is a statement made by Yang Lou two years ago when he first taught Yun Hong the "Feng Yu Sword"
In the martial arts academy, the mastery of weaponry has reached an intricate level, and apart from the dean, only the Yang Master possesses this skill. Yun Hong pondered: "According to the Yang Master, merely being proficient in the sixty-four forms of the Wind Feather Sword is not sufficient; to achieve true perfection, one must engage with it wholeheartedly, truly embodying the principle of 'harmonizing heart and technique.' Only in this way can one attain the intricate level of mastery."
Yun Hong arrived at a relatively secluded counter, behind which was piled high with various books. There were not many people in front of the counter, indicating that there were few customers buying books
Weapons, also instruments of murder
"The Wind Feather Sword, consisting of a total of sixty-four forms, I have been practicing for nearly half a year now, and each form has become second nature to me." Yun Hong pondered silently: "According to the words of the Yang Master, my swordsmanship should be considered at the pinnacle of the foundational level."
The expressions of the six sword-wielding warriors subtly changed, for they recognized the purple robe worn by Yun Hong, instantly understanding his identity
Yan Ge spoke casually, yet his hands moved swiftly, and soon he had packed the bag that Yun Hong requested and handed it over.
Why?
Yang Lou is a powerful warrior, respected even by the dean of the martial arts academy. When he accepted Yun Hong as his named disciple, it aroused jealousy among many other disciples, as Yun Hong was not particularly outstanding at that time
Yun Hong also had no better solution, and could only follow the words of the Onmyoji, practicing swordsmanship diligently every day in search of the opportunity for 'the unity of heart and technique'
Yun Hong smiled
Whoosh
Stepping out of the martial arts academy, the night deepens
That is a scene he still finds unforgettable to this day
The momentum of the sword
Yun Hong began practicing martial arts at a young age, but for the first few years, he focused solely on boxing, laying the foundation for his martial arts skills. After following his elder brother and sister-in-law to Donghe County, he reached the fourth level of body tempering and entered the martial arts academy, at which point he began training with weapons
... ...
With a single sword, the multitude of demons is beheaded
Due to the director's exceptional combat skills, he is able to perfectly demonstrate his martial arts cultivation, making him one of the top five powerful warriors in the entire Donghe County
On either side of the entrance to the Hall of All Things stand six warriors wielding long steel swords, while a beautifully dressed woman with a beaming smile greets each guest as they arrive.
Therefore, typically, one begins to practice with weapons only after the age of twelve
A single sword, dividing the great river.
Not long after, Yun Hong arrived at a vast six-story building on Feng'an Avenue, where a horizontal plaque hung prominently on the front, inscribed with three ancient characters—Wanxiang Pavilion
After leaving the martial arts academy, Yun Hong accelerated abruptly, moving with a rather peculiar gait as he swiftly traversed the hundred-meter-long street in front of the academy. This seemingly strange manner of walking was, in fact, a specific technique designed to enhance one's agility.
Martial arts body refinement is the process of honing the physical body to enhance strength, increase speed, and improve agility; however, this is merely the foundation, and not everyone is capable of fully realizing their physical potential
In summary, one word
A child, no matter how intelligent, ultimately possesses an immature mind. When training with weapons, there are two main issues: first, it is easy for their attention to be scattered, making it difficult to strengthen their physical body; second, a child lacks sufficient control over weapons, which can easily lead to self-injury
Knowing is easy, but acting is difficult
No matter how powerful the swordsmanship is, it originates from the fundamental thirteen forms. If the foundation is not solid, practicing even the most advanced sword techniques will be of no use
The book is not thick, probably only a few dozen pages, but the material is evidently extraordinary, with four large characters written on the front—"Nine Provinces Immortal and Demon"
First, the practitioner must have absolute control over their body, with strength that is both soft and hard, perfectly unified. Moreover, the coordination between the body and the sword must be flawless and integrated. Therefore, this realm is also referred to as 'Unity of Man and Sword', 'Unity of Man and Blade', 'Unity of Man and Spear', and so on
My abilities are considered quite good among my peers, but I cannot be regarded as the best in the martial arts academy, nor have I reached the subtle realm, let alone compare with that god-like sword. Yun Hong shook off the complicated thoughts from his mind and murmured to himself: "Hmm, first, I need to achieve good results in this upcoming competition among the six counties and gain admission to the county academy"
If life and death were at stake, some of the more foolish martial artists of the same realm would likely be killed by the dean with just one encounter
The foundational level, when discussed, is quite broad. Taking swordsmanship as an example, one must practice each of the thirteen fundamental forms hundreds or even thousands of times every day, for several years, until these thirteen forms are truly ingrained in one's bones. Only by genuinely mastering the thirteen fundamental forms can one be said to have a solid foundation
It is clearly recorded in the martial classics of the Martial Arts Academy
Upon thinking of this, Yun Hong could not help but smile more brightly, and his steps became lighter.
The Wanxiang Building is quite large, with dozens of attendants on the first floor alone. There are also many people from various walks of life coming and going. However, Yun Hong has visited many times before and is not surprised at all
The arts of swordsmanship, marksmanship, staff techniques, and knife techniques, among others, can all be divided into two distinct realms