Gao Wu: I became a saint through daily settlements

[Today, the martial arts competition among the twelve southeastern provinces showcased their skills, resulting in a resounding victory.]

[Rating: Upper-middle]

[Achieved a physical breakthrough.]

"Physical breakthrough!"

Lin Yue looked at these four words, his eyes filled with barely concealed excitement.

"The stronger the opponent, the more important physical strength becomes!"

Skill is utterly insignificant in the face of absolute power!

"What I want is to be faster, higher, stronger, and then achieve physical sainthood!"

[Note: Physical breakthroughs require a significant amount of Qi and blood. Please choose carefully.]

Qi and blood? Lin Yue could have as much of that as he wanted!

Lin Yue took out a first-tier star beast inner core, tilted his head back, and swallowed it.

Instantly, a surge of violent blood energy rushed from Lin Yue's heart into his limbs and bones.

Lin Yue grunted, veins bulging on his forehead.

The energy contained in this first-tier star beast's inner core far exceeded his imagination.

"That's really strange!" Lin Yue said in a low voice.

I've never felt this way when I took the first-tier star beast inner core before.

Lin Yue gritted his teeth, his blood and qi surging like boiling water, every cell feeling as if it were being scorched by fire.

[Note: Physical breakthroughs are inherently defying the heavens. If you can't even endure this little bit of hardship, you might as well give up sooner rather than later.]

...That makes so much sense, he was speechless.

"Speaking of which, I haven't even started breaking through my physical limitations yet..."

"So it was you who was playing pranks!" Lin Yue suddenly realized.

When the absorption efficiency of the Star Beast's inner core reached its limit, Lin Yue whispered the order:

"Begin your physical breakthrough!"

[Breaking through the physical body!]

Lin Yue stopped talking nonsense, sat cross-legged, and began to practice the Bear Scripture Body Strengthening Method.

The Bear Scripture primarily trains the muscles and bones, emphasizing calmness, stability, depth, and weight.

Once the third-order Bear Scripture was activated, Lin Yue's bones crackled and popped, like bamboo joints exploding.

Muscle fibers are repeatedly torn and healed under the influence of blood and qi, and each healing process is more compact and resilient than the last.

But there's just too much qi and blood.

The energy released by the Star Beast's inner core far exceeded the carrying capacity of the Bear Scripture's single body-forging method.

Lin Yue felt like a balloon being constantly inflated, about to burst at any moment.

Just then, another force within the body started operating automatically.

Bird Shen.

The Bird's Breath Body Strengthening Method, which focuses on cultivating Qi and blood through the meridians, is like a winding river that guides excess Qi and blood to the meridians throughout the body, clearing away any previously blocked acupoints.

The two third-tier body-forging techniques were activated simultaneously, one hard and one soft, one bone and one blood, and a delicate balance was formed.

Lin Yue's breathing gradually calmed down, but dark red lines began to appear on the surface of his skin.

The pain was still intense, but it had transformed from the initial violent impact into a deeper, more lingering agony.

That's proof that bones are remodeling, meridians are expanding, and cells are evolving.

Time passed by, second by second.

After an unknown amount of time, Lin Yue suddenly opened his eyes.

A glint of light flashed in his eyes, then disappeared.

He looked down at his hands.

[Physical breakthrough successful, current life energy level: 17.0]

"The upgrade from 16.2 to 17.0 is incredible!"

Such a significant breakthrough left even Lin Yue, who usually cultivated at lightning speed, in awe.

"View detailed data!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a semi-transparent panel appeared in front of Lin Yue.

Punching power: 980 kg

【speed:】

Lin Yue stood up and stretched his limbs.

What does it feel like to have a punch with 980 kilograms of force?

Lin Yue threw a punch.

No martial arts techniques were used; it was purely physical strength.

The force of the punch exploded, compressing the air into a visible white shockwave that crashed against the walls of the room, making the entire wall vibrate.

The accommodation arranged by the Martial Hall was a specially made training room with energy-absorbing materials embedded in the walls, so this attack would not affect others.

Although Lin Yue's punch did not leave any cracks in the wall, it did break through one layer of the energy-absorbing layer.

"My current physical strength should be able to withstand a full-force attack from an early-stage Martial Master."

Lin Yue withdrew his fist and nodded in satisfaction.

Between the Martial Realm and the Martial Master realm, there lies a formidable barrier called "True Qi Release." Martial Master realm experts can injure others from a distance, while Martial Realm warriors can only engage in close-quarters combat.

Under normal circumstances, a late-stage Martial Realm cultivator will inevitably be defeated within ten moves by an early-stage Martial Master.

However, Lin Yue's current physical strength is enough to make up for this gap.

[Physical breakthrough complete. Body tempering techniques' upper limit increased: Bear Sutra and Bird Strike can be cultivated to the fourth rank.]

Lin Yue's eyes lit up.

That's the biggest gain.

The transition from third to fourth order is a watershed moment.

Level 3 and below fall under the category of "Body Refinement," which involves tempering muscles, bones, and blood to solidify the foundation.

Level four and above fall under the category of "Yi Jin" and begin to touch upon the transformation of the physical body at an essential level.

"However, the cultivation threshold for the fourth-tier body tempering technique is the Martial Master realm..."

"I must refine the Martial Essence Pill as soon as possible, and then break through to the Martial Master realm!"

Lin Yue scratched his head.

He is currently in the late stage of the Martial Realm, just one step away from the Martial Master Realm.

This step is neither too close nor too far. Some people cross it in a few months, while others struggle for three to five years without even touching the threshold.

"I don't want to think about it anymore, I'm going to sleep."

Lin Yue lay down on the bed and quickly fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, Lin Yue woke up on time and, after practicing the Body Tempering Technique several times, sighed.

"The feeling of being in the late stage of the Martial Artist realm is indeed different."

There was always a sense of unease before, but now, everything has become clear.

After completing several rounds of the Body Tempering Technique, a knock sounded at the door.

It was Zhou Yuanwu.

Good morning, Lin Yue.

"Holy crap, you're up so early practicing your skills?" Zhou Yuanwu exclaimed in shock.

"Brother Zhou, it's already late, it's 6:30." Lin Yue shook his head.

"Isn't it early already? What time do you usually get up to practice?"

"Around five o'clock..."

"What a monster! No wonder he's so strong..."

After finishing the small talk, Zhou Yuanwu got down to business.

"Sun Yi, the swordsmanship instructor at the Martial Arts Hall of Handong Province, wants to meet with you alone."

"See me?"

Lin Yue was stunned for a moment, then quickly realized what was happening.

"clear."

"Where is Instructor Sun now?" Lin Yue asked.

"Instructor Sun is currently waiting for you in training room A402."

"Here, take this." Zhou Yuanwu handed over an energy breakfast.

"Seeing you in the training room is going to be tough!" Zhou Yuanwu said with a hint of schadenfreude.

"Thank you, Brother Zhou!" Lin Yue took the energy breakfast and ate it as he rushed to the A402 training room.

Watching Lin Yue's departing figure, Zhou Yuanwu scratched his head:

"Perhaps I should get up this early to practice my skills?"

……

Practice room A402.

Lin Yue stood at the door, took a deep breath, and knocked twice.

"Come in."

The voice coming from inside was deep and steady, carrying an undeniable sense of authority.

Lin Yue pushed open the door and entered.

The training room is not large, about 100 square meters. The four walls are made of dark gray energy-absorbing material, and the floor is covered with a thick layer of cushioning rubber mat.

A middle-aged man stood in the very center, his sleeves rolled up to his forearms, revealing his strong and powerful forearms. His hands were behind his back, his posture relaxed, yet he gave off an aura of unwavering stability.

Sun Yi, instructor of swordsmanship at the Martial Arts Hall of Handong Province.

"Instructor Sun," Lin Yue said respectfully.

"No need to be so polite."

"We share the same roots and origins; we both practice ancient martial arts."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yue was slightly taken aback.

Sun Yi waved his hand, then spoke:

"Palace Master Tang told me that you have encountered a bottleneck in your second-tier swordsmanship and hopes that I can give you some pointers."

A master of sixth-order swordsmanship personally instructed him in swordsmanship! Lin Yue could hardly contain his excitement.

"Thank you, Chief Instructor Sun!"

Sun Yi didn't speak immediately. Instead, he turned around, walked to the wall, took an unsharpened practice knife from the weapon rack, and casually tossed it over.

Lin Yue caught it.

The blade is about 160 centimeters long and weighs about 20 kilograms, with a solid feel.

"Slash me with your knife," Sun Yi said.

"..."

Lin Yue gripped the knife, looking at the middle-aged man in front of him who had no hands, and hesitated.

"Just cut when I tell you to, what are you dawdling for?" Sun Yi's voice suddenly rose.

Lin Yue no longer hesitated.

He gripped the hilt of the knife tightly, pushed off the ground with his right foot, and suddenly twisted his waist and hips, slashing the long knife diagonally upwards.

This strike used the "lifting strike" technique from the basic Mo Dao (陌刀) swordplay, which was powerful and extremely fast.

Sun Yi didn't even lift his eyelids.

He simply turned his body slightly to the side.

In that mere ten centimeters of sideways movement, Lin Yue's blade grazed the hem of his clothes without even touching the fabric.

Lin Yue sheathed his sword, feeling unwilling.

The second strike followed immediately, this time a "cleaving strike," coming down from above with great force.

Instead of retreating, Sun Yi advanced, taking half a step forward.

That half-step landed right in Lin Yue's blind spot, and the blade fell from behind him, only to miss again.

Lin Yue unleashed seven consecutive slashes, each one missing its mark.

Sun Yi's movements never exceeded half a step; sometimes he would turn to the side, sometimes he would lean back slightly, and sometimes it was just a shift of his center of gravity.

After seven strikes, Lin Yue sheathed his sword and stood up, his forehead already slightly damp with sweat.

It's not from being tired, it's from feeling stifled.

"Have you noticed the problem?" Sun Yi asked.

Lin Yue was silent for a moment, then said, "My knife... is too slow?"

"It's not slow," Sun Yi shook his head, "it's death."

He walked over, took the knife from Lin Yue's hand, and casually swung it.

The blade flashed by.

There were no fancy moves, just a simple horizontal slash.

But Lin Yue's pupils suddenly contracted.

In that instant, he felt as if something was pressing against his throat, his scalp tingled, and the hairs on his body stood on end.

Sun Yi didn't point his knife at him; he just waved it at the air.

But that sharp, piercing intent was like an invisible blade, causing his skin to sting even from two meters away.

This is the power of a sixth-order sword technique!

"The knife is still alive." Sun Yi put the knife back on the weapon rack and turned around.

"When you practice boxing, your punches are alive; each punch has its own breath, rhythm, and variation."

"But once you pick up a knife, you treat it as a tool, an inanimate object."

"The knife is not an extension of the arm; the knife is the arm."

Sun Yi's voice wasn't loud, but every word seemed to pierce Lin Yue's ears like nails.

Lin Yue was stunned for a moment.

Is the knife the same as the arm?

He suddenly remembered the feeling he had when he broke through his physical barrier last night.

The Bird's Breathing Exercise guides excess Qi and blood to the meridians throughout the body, clearing the subtle acupoints. The exhilarating feeling of Qi and blood flowing freely is as if every part of the body has been activated.

If the knife is also part of the arm...

"Have you figured it out?" Sun Yi glanced at him. "If you have, then let's begin."

Sun Yi walked to the center of the training room, stood still, and said, "Come on, let me teach you the first lesson."

"What?"

"How to hold a knife."

Lin Yue looked at his hand holding the knife, then at Sun Yi.

Do I need to be taught how to hold a knife?

Sun Yi seemed to see through his thoughts and sneered, "You think gripping a knife means you're squeezing it tightly?"

He extended his hand: "Hold my wrist."

Lin Yue reached out and grasped Sun Yi's wrist.

"Push harder."

Lin Yue increased his efforts.

"Push harder."

Lin Yue pushed his strength to the limit, his knuckles turning white.

With a flick of his wrist, Sun Yi easily broke free.

"The tighter you hold on, the easier it is to break free," Sun Yi said.

"The force with which you grip the knife should be like flowing water—tight when you need to be tight, and loose when you need to be loose."

"The knife is in your hand, but it cannot be 'locked' by your hand."

He handed the knife back to Lin Yue: "Try it."

Lin Yue took the knife and adjusted his grip as Sun Yi had instructed.

It's not about simply clenching your fist, but about making every inch of your palm adhere to the handle, distributing the force evenly, being relaxed yet firm, and tight yet not stiff.

"Yes, that's it." Sun Yi nodded.

"Remember this feeling."

"and then?"

"And then?" Sun Yi's lips curled into a smile.

"Then practice until you vomit."

With a flick of his wrist, the longsword traced a smooth arc in his hand.

"The first principle of swordsmanship is not cutting people, but making circles."

"The knife moves in a circle, and the force flows smoothly. All the changes are hidden in the word 'circle'."

As Sun Yi spoke, he slowly wielded his knife.

His movements were slow, but each one was as fluid as swimming in water. Wherever the blade passed, the air was cut open and then closed again, producing a faint humming sound.

Lin Yue stared intently, his pupils reflecting the ever-repeating flash of the blade.

round.

Walk in a circle.

The knife moves in a circle, and the force flows smoothly.

He silently recited the mantra in his mind, and unconsciously gestured with the knife in his hand.

On my first attempt, the blade veered off course, and my wrist was twisted and awkward.

The second time was a little better than the first, but it was still awkward.

The third time, the fourth time, the fifth time...

Sun Yi did not interrupt, but simply stood aside and watched quietly.

Half an hour later, Lin Yue's arms began to ache.

It's not muscle soreness, but a tingling or aching sensation in the meridians. The circular motion of the knife may seem gentle, but each strike actually mobilizes the muscles, bones, and blood throughout the body, consuming more energy than a simple chop.

"Take a minute's break," Sun Yi finally said.

Lin Yue put down the knife and stretched his sore wrist.

"Instructor Sun," he suddenly said.

"explain."

"I just feel... the trajectory of the knife and the trajectory of qi and blood in the meridians seem to resonate with each other," Lin Yue said as he recalled.

"When the knife moves in a circle, the qi and blood in my body also circulate accordingly."

"Not bad." Sun Yi nodded.

"Body forging is internal cultivation, while swordsmanship is external application. They are two sides of the same coin. Being able to connect the two shows that your comprehension is better than I thought."

He paused, then added, "However, comprehension alone is not enough. Swordsmanship is developed through practice, not just through thinking."

"I know." Lin Yue picked up the knife again.

This time, he didn't rush to swing his sword. Instead, he closed his eyes and first circulated his body-strengthening technique, allowing his qi and blood to flow slowly within his body.

The moment his blood and qi flowed freely, the knife in his hand seemed to come "alive" as well.

It wasn't his arm holding the knife.

The knife is the arm.

Lin Yue opened his eyes and swung his sword.

The curves were smooth and the force was fluid, better than any before.

Sun Yi didn't speak, but the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

That fleeting smile vanished in an instant, as quickly as if it had never existed.

"Again," he said.

Lin Yue nodded and delivered another slash.

One cut after another, one cut after another.

The training room echoed with the buzzing sound of blades cutting through the air, dense and continuous, never ceasing.

Sweat dripped from Lin Yue's forehead, staining the rubber mat on the ground and leaving a small, dark mark.

He didn't stop.

Sun Yi did not call a halt.

Time slipped away amidst the flashing blades, and before we knew it, it was already broad daylight outside the window.

"That's enough," Sun Yi finally spoke.

Lin Yue sheathed his sword, panting heavily.

"That's all for today. If you have any questions about swordsmanship in the future, you can contact me via WeChat."

After saying that, Sun Yi displayed his WeChat QR code on the bracelet.

Lin Yue then used his WeChat ID to add Sun Yi as a friend.

"I have other things to do, you can practice on your own." With that, Sun Yi turned and left the A402 training room.

"Yes!" Lin Yue nodded.

As the head instructor of the Starry Sky Martial Arts Hall in Handong Province, Sun Yi teaches countless students every day. Lin Yue was already very grateful that Sun Yi could take the time to give Lin Yue some individual guidance.

The door closed, leaving Lin Yue alone in the training room.

He looked down at the knife in his hand and suddenly smiled.

"If you can't train yourself to death, then train like you're going to die!"

Lin Yue gripped the knife tightly again and began practicing his swordsmanship.

"drink!"

Lin Yue unleashed a slash, and this strike was significantly smoother than before.

An hour later.

[Second-Tier Sword Technique: 47%]

"Sun Yi's guidance was indeed highly effective!"

Lin Yue has almost completed the second-tier sword technique and has mastered 5 of the 12 advanced forms.

Lin Yue finally stopped practicing his swordsmanship when his body was completely unable to swing any more blades.

He took a deep breath, put the knife back on the weapon rack, and stretched his sore shoulders.

When I walked out of the A402 practice room, there were already people walking around in the corridor.

Zhou Yuanwu leaned against the wall at the end of the corridor, holding two steamed buns in his hand and stuffing them into his mouth.

"How is it?" he asked, his words muffled.

"It's alright." Lin Yue walked over. "How long have you been waiting here?"

"Not long, about an hour." Zhou Yuanwu handed over another steamed bun.

"Want some or not?"

"Didn't you say an energy-boosting breakfast is important? Is this all you're eating?"

"The cafeteria is closed, so we'll have to make do for now," Zhou Yuanwu chuckled.

"Did Instructor Sun ruin you?"

Lin Yue took the steamed bun, took a bite, nodded, and did not deny it.

Sun Yi's training was indeed effective, but it was also very painful.

However, the exhilarating feeling of this improvement far outweighs the pain brought about by cultivation.

"I knew it." Zhou Yuanwu sighed.

"You're in big trouble now. Instructor Sun is a notorious devil."

"I heard that a senior student was trained by him so much that he cried every day when he went back to the dormitory. After three months of training, his swordsmanship went directly from the second level to the third level."

"And then?" Lin Yue asked.

"Then that senior brother got third place in the competition, and when he came back, he hugged Instructor Sun and cried even harder."

Lin Yue paused for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Where is that senior brother now?"

"Being an instructor in the Martial Arts Hall?" Zhou Yuanwu said matter-of-factly.

"He's Instructor Sun's apprentice. He's currently teaching swordsmanship at the Dongyang branch, and he's even more ruthless than his master."

"We're going back to Jiangcheng soon, what's there to be afraid of!" Lin Yue said confidently.

"You make a very good point!"

"Alright, enough of this nonsense. Prince Tang wants to see us."

……