Chapter 4: Modification
\nThe wisp of energy at his fingertips only brushed briefly against the law chains before being completely absorbed, causing the chains to tremble faintly before disappearing.
\n“Can such a small amount of energy only touch it once?”
\nZuo Meng checked his inner energy and found it had grown significantly\u2014equivalent to six months of accumulation for ordinary people.
\n“Six months’ worth…and this is just basic cultivation. Deeper techniques would require far more energy. Still, this proves the path works.”
\nHis spirits lifted. At least he’d found a way forward.
\nAfter finishing the inner energy lecture, the Teaching Elder ordered everyone to practice alone, mentioning an upcoming mission to suppress the Demonic Sect. Such missions seemed unavoidable in the martial arts world. Zuo Meng had joined two before but, as a Direct Disciple, he\u2019d stayed safely behind the frontlines to “gain experience.” He\u2019d never even seen the Demonic Sect\u2019s members properly.
\nThe afternoon focused on swordsmanship.
\nAs a top-tier sect, Liuhe Sect\u2019s disciples showed decent skill. While ordinary disciples practiced sword forms outdoors without learning inner energy, Direct Disciples like Zuo Meng trained alongside them.
\n“Swordsmanship exists for killing. Basics are done\u2014now spar. Losers clean the mountain gate as usual.” The swordsmanship elder, a stern black-bearded man in his forties, spoke gruffly.
\nZuo Meng and Junior Sister Zuo Qiu were separated during practice\u2014a rule created after the elder caught them slacking during sparring sessions.
\nZuo Meng\u2019s new opponent was a girl around Zuo Qiu\u2019s age.
\n“Please instruct me, Senior Brother.”
\nThe ponytailed girl held her sword reversed in one hand and bowed.
\nOnce all pairs stood ready, the elder continued:
\n“You\u2019re all learning Liuhe Sect\u2019s foundational sword techniques. These blend six styles into simplicity. Master them, and they\u2019ll match any Martial Arts Manual. Now you only grasp the forms\u2014use sparring to find flaws. When your cultivation deepens, your swordsmanship will leap forward.”
\nBasic swordsmanship amounted to empty forms or crude combat tricks. With similar physical skill, most disciples performed equally.
\nZuo Meng swung his sword experimentally, reacquainting himself.
\nInner energy could amplify sword techniques.
\nHe soon noticed the difference. His recent tampering with the law chains had gifted him six months\u2019 extra inner energy\u2014a massive advantage. Inner energy grew harder to accumulate over time. Those white-haired elders with thirty to forty years\u2019 cultivation were considered strong. True masters with sixty years? As rare as phoenix feathers.
\n“Junior Sister, after you.”
\nZuo Meng lowered his sword tip, inviting her to strike first.
\nThe girl focused, her blade flashing silver as she thrust straight at him.
\nNo fancy moves\u2014just basic thrusts, sweeps, and slashes.
\nBut simplicity demanded perfection. Her technique showed clear mastery.
\nZuo Meng raised his sword, easily parrying her strike before countering with a chest-level slash. He deliberately withheld inner energy\u2014before modifying the law chains, his thread-like energy couldn\u2019t aid combat anyway. This spar revealed his true skill. Memory told him he\u2019d always been a knowledgeable weakling, surviving expulsion only through his Direct Disciple status.
\nClang!
\nThe girl adjusted mid-swing, redirecting his force before slashing downward at his face.
\nTime to test inner energy!
\nZuo Meng retreated half-step, channeling energy into his blade.
\nSword light flashed. The girl staggered back, nearly dropping her weapon, sleeve torn open.
\n“Inner energy?!”
\nHer exposed left arm showed a red mark where the blade had almost cut flesh.
\nA mere thread of energy tripled his speed?
\nThe girl gritted her teeth, energy now glowing around her sword\u2014she\u2019d reached energy emission stage! But Zuo Meng\u2019s six-month cheat clearly overpowered her fortnight-old breakthrough.
\nAnother clash. Her sword flew from numb fingers as she crashed to the ground, gasping.
\n“Senior Brother\u2019s energy is formidable! Which elder do you\u2014”
\nZuo Meng ignored her, mind racing. One Qingling Pill gave this power? A hundred pills would make him invincible! Roam the martial world, become an earthbound immortal!
\nMore Qingling Pills. Now.
\nWith enough power, could he move mountains and overturn seas like in the Dream World? Achieve immortality?
\n“Senior Brother?”
\n“Thank you for the match.” He walked off dazedly, leaving her fuming.
\nAfter training, Zuo Meng rushed back to Taiyuan Mountain\u2019s courtyard.
\nHe immediately demanded Junior Sister Zuo Qiu\u2019s Qingling Pill.
\n“You got yours this morning!”
\n“Consider it borrowed.”
\nThough curious, she tossed her pill over.
\n“Don\u2019t disturb me for days. Skip my lessons too\u2014tell the Teaching Elder I\u2019m traveling with Master.” Direct Disciples often skipped duties; the sect\u2019s real pillars were the tested prodigies, not connection-reliants like him.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Chapter 4: Modification The wisp of energy at his fingertips only brushed briefly against the law chains before being completely absorbed, causing the chains to tremble faintly before disappearing. “Can such a small amount of energy only touch it once?” Zuo Meng checked his inner energy and found it had grown significantly\u2014equivalent to six months of accumulation for ordinary people. “Six months’ worth…and this\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[3],"tags":[],"fcn_genre":[],"fcn_fandom":[],"fcn_character":[],"fcn_content_warning":[],"class_list":["post-1382","fcn_chapter","type-fcn_chapter","status-publish","hentry","category-dreaming-to-become-a-creator"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fcn_chapter\/1382","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fcn_chapter"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/fcn_chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1382"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fcn_chapter\/1382\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1382"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1382"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1382"},{"taxonomy":"fcn_genre","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fcn_genre?post=1382"},{"taxonomy":"fcn_fandom","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fcn_fandom?post=1382"},{"taxonomy":"fcn_character","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fcn_character?post=1382"},{"taxonomy":"fcn_content_warning","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tmp.gravitytales.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/fcn_content_warning?post=1382"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}