Chapter 10, there is no talent for swordsmanship

It has been proven that he only appears particularly clumsy when practicing swordsmanship, while he is quite astute in the practice of qi. That night, the master and servant spent the night in the hastily cleaned dilapidated temple, while Su Li practiced the basic sword techniques twice more before lying down to cultivate his qi

Su Li felt that Gu Zhaozi might think that he had not practiced well. However, upon reflection, he found no significant mistakes, so he asked, "My lord, is there anything wrong with my practice?"

Just as he was preparing to clean the dust within the temple, he encountered some difficulties... The roof of the temple had collapsed in a large area, and the northwestern winds always carried some sand particles, so before he could finish cleaning the ground, it had already become dirty again

"Qi Sect? You little rascal, don't speak carelessly. If someone thinks you are trying to betray your master and abandon your ancestors to join another sect, it won't be good." Gu Zhaozi quickly gave Su Li a light slap on the head, bringing this child, who was lost in wild thoughts, back to reality.

Certainly, this is regarded as an extraordinary sword in the eyes of kendo experts, while for ordinary figures in the martial world, it is already considered an exceptional divine sword

He always feels that lying flat allows his body to be more stable, making it easier for him to concentrate and focus on his dantian. Naturally, it is also quite natural for him to fall asleep afterward.

He said: "Do you feel it? Although your swordsmanship talent is average, at least your qi cultivation talent is quite good. The basic sword techniques of the Sword Sect are certainly not that simple. You may not have discovered the subtleties between the sword moves, but you have grasped the key to the qi manipulation of this set of sword techniques... Well, when the true qi accumulates to a certain level, even without exquisite sword moves, one can still break through cleverness with sheer strength.

Having completed his practice, he felt a noticeable improvement in his speed compared to before, unable to resist sitting up to look at the old Taoist beside him... only to find that the solitary boatman was already looking at him with a smile.

Two days later, Su Li followed the old Taoist to a small town in the northwest border. The town was not particularly prosperous, but at least it seemed to have some liveliness, which improved Su Li's mood, accustomed as he was to the desolation of the northwest. Meanwhile, the solitary boatman found an abandoned Taoist temple not far outside the town, which also lifted his spirits.

The young acolyte, who had nearly fully opened the channels of the three yang meridians, displayed a physical strength that was not at all inferior to that of an adult, as he swiftly moved back and forth, carrying the fallen beams, pillars, and broken bricks. In no time, he had tidied up the dilapidated temple.

The solitary rower did not conceal anything and spoke directly: "You are not wrong in your practice, but it is precisely this lack of error that poses a problem... As a beginner, you should not fear making mistakes, for these errors often reveal the essence of a novice's understanding of the swordsmanship. However, in your sword technique, I see only rigidity, devoid of any spirit... But it is of no consequence; you may continue to practice for now, as this set of sword techniques is also excellent for honing the body"

The old Taoist remains the same, meditating and cultivating his energy at the two moments of day and night for a period of time. Afterwards, he either writes talismans at his desk or gazes in a daze at the vast and desolate wilderness of the northwest.

So I am the master of the Qi sect... Su Li muttered to himself.

Su Li, on the other hand, set up the stove and dug the water channel, managing to make this small temple, which only had one main hall and no offerings, look quite presentable. It may be hard to believe, but these skills were not learned from his past life experiences; rather, they were taught to him by the caretakers during his time in the servant quarters... It truly is a tale of bitter tears, as the girls learned singing, dancing, and the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, while the boys could only learn to carry bricks and dig... It truly is a tale of bitter tears, as the girls learned singing, dancing, and the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, while the boys could only learn to carry bricks and dig...

Thus, the solitary boatman began to teach Su Li the basic sword techniques step by step. These were truly basic sword techniques, with hardly any complex variations; it was merely a comprehensive practice of the various techniques of the sword, integrated into one.

Su Li could only start practicing earnestly and methodically, feeling somewhat frustrated inside... Could it be that he really is that foolish?

This dilapidated temple has become a refuge for both master and servant, with conditions being quite rudimentary; however, for the capable Su Li, this is of little concern

Su Li felt a bit perplexed, wondering if it was wrong to have made no mistakes at all. He was somewhat unconvinced and subsequently practiced several times in succession, trying to find that so-called feeling of 'spirituality.' However, a complete set of sword techniques in his hands became unrecognizable.

Subsequently, every stroke of the runes on the talisman glowed with a cerulean light, forming a clear stream of air above, completely isolating the external wind and sand.

It seems that due to having practiced the basic sword techniques many times before, the results of his energy cultivation this time were exceptionally good. The refined energy in his dantian was nearly half more than yesterday, which was sufficient for him to begin attempting to open two key acupoints on the Taiyang Bladder Meridian.

Su Li looked at the suddenly much clearer air above him, feeling an intense longing in his heart. Every time he witnessed such a scene, he was always eager to learn and master this power.

For the residents of the small town, they were completely unaware that the Taoist temple outside their town had already been taken over. It was not until the day the old Taoist priest decided he no longer wanted to practice fasting and wished to indulge in some 'mortal flavors' to change his palate, that he gave a bag of copper coins to Su Li, asking him to go to the town to buy some fresh ingredients.

Today, he was in good spirits, and in a cheerful mood, he said to Su Li: "Come, since you have already begun to practice your Qi, you must not neglect your physical training. Next, I will teach you the basic sword techniques of the Sword Sect. Practice them diligently, as in the future, if you wish to enter the inner sect of the Sword Sect, your swordsmanship will certainly be assessed."

The old Taoist, seeing his troubled expression, said nothing; he simply pinched a handful of talisman paper and tossed it above his head. In the next moment, these talisman papers seemed to be influenced by some force, as they adhered themselves around the broken area of the roof.

This is Su Li's first time handling matters on his own. He has decided to carry out the task beautifully, as perhaps the old Taoist priest would be pleased and might impart a talisman to him

The old Taoist could no longer bear to watch and directly called a halt, saying: "Stop messing around. It seems you truly lack any talent for swordsmanship... Sigh, just practice diligently for now and consider it as body training. Once you have mastered the sword techniques to a certain level, you will be able to grasp the essence of swordsmanship. Forcing it will only lead to setbacks."

Su Li studied earnestly, as the adult mind allowed him to quickly memorize the key points of the movements and practice them with precision. However, at that moment, Gu Zhaozi increasingly shook his head, ultimately choosing not to speak and simply letting him practice on his own.

However, he knows that it is not yet the right time for him, at least he cannot take the initiative to ask for new knowledge unless the solitary boatman offers to teach him. After all, he is merely a servant's apprentice, not a disciple

Thank you, my lord! Su Li quickly expressed his gratitude, as learning the swordsmanship made him ecstatic. He felt that he had taken another step closer to the kind of life he yearned for.

Su Li held his head and rubbed it, feeling a real pain this time; he indeed dared not to think wildly anymore. Thus, the master and servant settled down in this dilapidated Taoist temple and did not move anywhere else.