Chapter Thirty-Six: The Second Level of Swordsmanship

“It seems that the gap between my talents and Fang Qing’s is not just a little…” Wang Changsheng had always known Fang Qing was exceptionally gifted, but he hadn’t realized just how extraordinary her abilities were. Now, after cultivating the Wild Wave Blade Technique, he could immediately discern the immense difference between them.

In such a short time, under the shroud of the Spell Hall, Fang Qing had comprehended three levels of the Wild Wave Blade Technique. Even considering the unique advantages of the Spell Hall, Fang Qing’s aptitude was terrifying. Wang Changsheng, after so long, had only grasped the first level.

Moreover, the method of channeling true qi to perform the technique was also Fang Qing’s own insight. When Fang Qing first comprehended it, she was merely at the Opening Vein Realm, possessing only true qi, not true essence. Hence, she devised a way to utilize true qi in its execution.

Fang Qing had paved the entire path ahead, yet Wang Changsheng still found the journey arduous—such was the difference in their abilities. Fang Qing’s comprehension was by far the finest Wang Changsheng had ever witnessed.

“Does Second Uncle not know how talented Fang Qing is?” Wang Changsheng’s face showed a puzzled expression. “Otherwise, why didn’t he take her back with him?” He couldn’t help but wonder—taking a disciple like Fang Qing would have been a wise move. At last, Wang Changsheng could only surmise that Second Uncle had left in haste and hadn’t recognized Fang Qing’s talent. Otherwise, he would surely have brought her to the Divine Heaven Realm.

“Second Uncle missed a true heir to his legacy,” Wang Changsheng sighed.

After some experimentation—and destroying countless wooden blades—Wang Changsheng finally discovered the node where the wooden blade could withstand the force of true qi.

“Slash!”

Wang Changsheng brought his wooden blade down upon a large tree. The blade sank deep, causing the tree to tremble violently, but upon closer inspection, the blade was unscathed despite the tremendous impact.

This was the sheer strength of true qi, amplified by the ferocity of the Wild Wave Blade Technique. But these were not the crucial points.

Wang Changsheng withdrew the blade, took a step forward, and reached to touch the spot where the blade had struck. He saw that the area around the cut was reduced to powder.

This was the most formidable aspect of the Wild Wave Blade Technique. In terms of pure sharpness, it might only surpass ordinary blade techniques by a small margin, but the terror lay in its internal force. Just the first level was already astonishing.

If one could cultivate to the third level, each strike would contain triple the aftershock. Wang Changsheng could scarcely imagine the frightful power such a blow would wield when combined with the forceful aura of true qi.

“This is true technique…” Wang Changsheng’s expression was one of awe. “This is how a cultivator should wield power!”

It took him over ten days to fully master the first level of the Wild Wave Blade Technique.

“The second level… It’s at least ten times harder than the first…” Wang Changsheng smiled bitterly.

Though he had mastered the first level and understood its essence, reaching the second—adding another layer of internal force—felt almost like an entirely different technique.

The first level merely required channeling true qi through the blade, grasping its principles and nodes. But the second level demanded layering true qi atop true qi, striking twice, so to speak.

The first level was simple: true qi surging through the blade. The second required true qi to surge atop true qi, producing two waves of aftershock. This was the hardest part.

For Wang Changsheng, it was even more difficult than for other cultivators, as he had no ideal blade, and his cultivation had to balance the blade’s endurance.

“It’s tough…”

His expression was grave, pondering the crux of the matter.

After much deliberation, Wang Changsheng once again took out the jade slip to meditate. Half an hour passed before he put it away and resumed his practice.

“Slash!”

A single stroke sent a fierce blade aura shooting forth, and a surge of power rippled along the blade.

Boom, boom, boom…

The force lingered, but Wang Changsheng could feel that once it surged, its strength was no longer attached to the blade. In other words, after the strike, the formidable aspect of the Wild Wave Blade Technique was separated from the blade technique itself.

It was as though, when the blade fell, only the true qi remained, surging against itself.

“Completely useless…” Wang Changsheng mused.

Just now, he had tried channeling true qi through the blade, then true qi through both blade and true qi, but the force dispersed, no longer contained within the cut—it failed to embody the Wild Wave Blade Technique’s power.

Bang!

After days of experimentation, his wooden blade finally shattered.

He had failed to grasp its subtlety with a single stroke.

While crafting another blade, Wang Changsheng pondered its mysteries, but still found no breakthrough.

“Again!”

He wielded his blade, striking with concentrated force.

“Slash!”

Double aftershock surged; the blade survived, but the power dispersed, no longer contained within the stroke.

The result: in battle, an opponent might not evade the blade’s force, but could easily dodge the aftershock. Without aftershock, the Wild Wave Blade Technique was no longer itself!

“With my speed and reflexes, I can avoid it. Any experienced cultivator sensing the surge of true qi would know something's amiss and dodge as well…” Wang Changsheng considered the issue.

“Again!”

“Slash!”

“Slash!”

…

Relentlessly, Wang Changsheng destroyed countless wooden blades in pursuit of the second level of the Wild Wave Blade Technique.

He could preserve the blade, but not execute the technique—the power wouldn’t connect, it dispersed. If he added more true qi, the blade couldn’t withstand it, failing to produce the desired effect.

“I refuse to believe I can’t do it!” Wang Changsheng said sternly.

“Slash again!”

Unaware of how many strikes he had delivered, Wang Changsheng pressed on.

Boom!

A strike surged forth, and after the blow, he found the blade only slightly cracked, but otherwise unharmed.

More importantly, the strike contained two layers of aftershock.

“I did it!”

Wang Changsheng was stunned, then overjoyed—he had accidentally succeeded in producing double aftershock. Ignoring the cracked blade, he closed his eyes, reflecting on the stroke he had just delivered.

“So that’s it…”

Not long after, Wang Changsheng opened his eyes, enlightenment dawning.

“The surging force is true qi, but the essence of the Wild Wave Blade Technique lies in the blade—not only the blade… Even a longsword could suffice. It’s a method of controlling true qi…” Wang Changsheng realized.

The Wild Wave Blade Technique’s core was mastery over true qi; the blade was merely the vessel. Its power came entirely from true qi.

As for why it was a blade technique, Wang Changsheng understood: the cultivator who invented it must have used a blade.

However, he acknowledged that the technique was best suited for a long blade—its relentless momentum and characteristics made the Wild Wave Blade Technique even more formidable.

“This is truly the pinnacle of true qi manipulation!” Wang Changsheng declared.

He then crafted another wooden blade.

“Slash!”

Aimed at a nearby tree, he struck.

Boom!

This time, the blade didn’t just sink in—it sliced through, severing the tree completely.

Moreover, the area struck had been reduced to powder.

“Powerful!” Wang Changsheng exclaimed, thrilled. “Unbelievably powerful!”

Indeed, he felt the Wild Wave Blade Technique’s strength anew. This was a technique designed for combat—its full force concealed within the blade.

An enemy would mistake it for an ordinary strike, but upon contact, would discover its terrifying power too late.

Not only was it a formidable battle technique, it was a divine method for catching opponents off guard.

With his blade intact, Wang Changsheng pressed on, confident that if he mastered the Wild Wave Blade Technique—even without further techniques—just reaching the third level would make him invincible among peers, unless they possessed equally powerful techniques.

“The cultivators of the Divine Heaven Realm surely lack nothing in terms of techniques…” Wang Changsheng mused.

Thus, even after mastering the Wild Wave Blade Technique, facing cultivators of the Ascendant Heaven Realm would pose no issue, but against the Divine Heaven Realm, he might not gain much advantage.

For now, he set such concerns aside, focusing on cultivating the Wild Wave Blade Technique, hoping to reach the third level soon.

Then, with triple aftershock, his power would be unmatched.

“Slash!”

Days slipped by as Wang Changsheng continued his training. The first level of the Wild Wave Blade Technique, including comprehension and practice, took just over a month to master. The second level consumed more than half a year and was still prone to errors.

By his estimation, it would take at least three more months to fully master the second level.

The difference between the first and second levels of the Wild Wave Blade Technique was immense!

“I wonder how long it took Fang Qing to master the Wild Wave Blade Technique…” Wang Changsheng pondered.

He didn’t know how much time Fang Qing needed, but was certain it was less than his own—after all, the method of using true qi to perform the Wild Wave Blade Technique was Fang Qing’s own discovery.