Chapter 101: Chapter 93: "Slay He suddenly clenched his fist, swung it through the air, then turned excitedly and expectantly to Su Qi, shouting in a loud voice: "Second Uncle! Five Hundred Transformations into One, I’ve achieved it! Can you teach me something new now?" Su Qi was stunned for a moment, then shook his head with a sigh. This lad’s understanding of martial arts and Qi and Blood is truly demonic. Seeing him shake his head, Su Lin’s heart tightened: "Second Uncle, is this not enough? Is the blade mark I left not refined enough? Then I’ll practice for a few more days." He carefully examined the only white mark on the wooden stake. Indeed, upon closer inspection, the edges were still a few millimeters rough and not a perfect line. "Practicing for another four or five days should make it better." Su Lin was full of confidence. After reaching this realm, progress was difficult, but the continuous improvement over the days had given him plenty of motivation. "Enough!" Su Qi quickly stopped him, wiping sweat off his face helplessly, "I’m shaking my head out of emotion, not because you’re not good enough! You’ve already met the standard!" For a proud person like Su Qi, seeing Su Lin’s attitude, he couldn’t help but wipe more sweat off his face. Is this still not enough, practicing even more? If he practiced further, even his second uncle might not be able to match up with his own nephew. What would he teach then? He took a deep breath, straightened his back, and spoke sternly: "Five Hundred Transformations into One means you have a basic mastery of the blade. But this is only the starting point of mastering the blade, never become complacent because of this." "Yes." Su Lin responded respectfully. Su Qi’s gaze fell on the standard long saber in his hand, pondering for a moment: "I originally planned to teach you sword skill combat techniques first. But now it seems, your talent in blade mastery is not inferior to your Qi and Blood control..." Su Lin’s eyes lit up with anticipation. "Well then." Su Qi decided, "I’ll teach you both combat techniques and ’killing’ moves at the same time!" "Combat techniques? Killing moves?" Su Lin was unsure of their meaning. Su Qi turned and took an identical standard long saber from the weapon rack to explain: "Combat techniques are the sequences of movements. Without learning the sequences, wielding a blade is like a child playing with a stick, relying entirely on instinct when facing an enemy, with no order or method." With a flick of his wrist, the long saber drew two arcs of cold light in the air: "This saber, four feet eight inches including handle and blade, approximately one meter six. The great sword I often use is also two meters. Do you know why martial artists use such long weapons nowadays?" Su Lin had already guessed: "Because humanity’s great enemies are Mutant Beasts?" "Correct." Su Qi nodded, "Mutant Beasts’ strength often relates to their size. Giant beasts are naturally powerful, so long weapons are needed to contend with them. However, the longer and heavier a weapon is, the harder it is to wield." "Look at this saber in your hand, how many attack methods can you use? Slash, lift, thrust? Far more than that!" Before he finished speaking, his body already moved, and with each word he uttered, the long saber in his hand executed a fierce form: "Slash, chop, lift, hack, pick, intercept, push, thrust, slide, stir, collapse, point, pull, hang, twist, stumble, shave, coil, jab, gather!" The long saber in Su Qi’s hand was as light as a feather, the four feet eight inches of blade turning into a dancing silver snake, combined with exquisite footwork, the saber light flashed and the cold gleam shot out, making it seem as if the entire expansive martial arts training room was filled with chilling blade intent. While demonstrating, he expounded on the origins of the long saber: "In ancient times, with the changing dynasties, such long sabers had different styles, also known by names like Horse-Cutting Saber, Ring-Headed Saber, Mo Blade, and others. "Later, when transmitted to East Japan, due to their national conditions of often fighting without armor, long sabers were convenient for cutting down unarmored foes, so they were studied and improved, flourishing greatly. During the Ming Dynasty, Qi’s Army drew from their essence, attacking their weaknesses, and created the Qi Family Saber. "By the Republic of China, martial arts masters collectively referred to these slender, rice seed-shaped weapons as ’Miao Blade.’ The Miao Blade Technique they summarized became mainstream in later times, often used by martial artists in the post-apocalyptic era." "The Miao Blade combines the advantages of both blades and spears, suitable for single or double-handed wielding. Holding the handle single-handedly allows for distant strikes, while double-handed grip channels force through the waist and arms. "It embodies the advantages of both long and short weapons, with precise forms, vigorous and fierce, with nimble footwork, adaptable and transformative, where attacks are straightforward without flowery moves, and forms are never empty. "Its characteristics are: swift speed, refined technique, agile footwork, and crisp force! "Due to complex variations, mastering the Miao Blade is difficult. "Later generations simplified it, preserving the essence——’Thirteen Techniques of the Miao Blade’!" Su Qi moved with the blade, showcasing the Sword-Drawing Technique, Lifting Blade Technique, Downward Slash, Pushing Strike, Scraping Blade Technique... up to the twelfth Vertical Slash, and the thirteenth Pointing Blade Technique. Each move was ancient and substantial, harboring lethal intent, capturing Su Lin’s undivided attention, stirring his emotions, and truly illustrating the essence of cold weapon combat. Su Qi returned the blade to its place, his breathing steady, and looked at Su Lin: "These Thirteen Techniques of the Miao Blade are the foundation you need to practice day and night from now on! You must train them into your bones, making them instinct!" "Yes!" Su Lin’s voice was loud, filled with battle intent. Su Qi’s gaze swept over the blade in his hand, changing the topic: "This is a standard blade from the construction platform, fine while your Flesh Lock is still in use. But now that you have unlocked the Tendon Lock, its material can no longer support your strength, let alone the blade techniques and ’killing’ moves you are about to learn..." He pondered briefly: "Earlier, when you slew those two Rock Pythons, you extracted the Snake Bone. Its resilience is like stone, and the length is suitable. If supplemented with some special minerals, it would be perfect for forging a fine blade for you." Forge a blade? Su Lin was moved. The newly acquired entry [Glazed Cannon] not only strengthens mechanisms but also enhances the power of weapons forged personally by 40%! Although it would sacrifice 20% durability, the material selection could entirely compensate for that. He had not yet used the forging room constructed when the safe house level rose to 3. As he was contemplating, Su Lin suddenly recalled what he had inquired about earlier without getting an answer: "Second Uncle, I understand the moves, but what’s the difference between combat techniques and killing moves?" "What’s the rush." Su Qi glanced at him, gripping the long saber anew, "The Thirteen Techniques just now were the combat techniques devised by ancients imagining humans as adversaries. "But the enemies in the post-apocalypse are Mutant Beasts! "After the apocalypse descended, the authorities extracted the Qi and Blood Cultivation Method—Dawn Breathing Technique from ancient martial arts, this is the ’training method’! "And what about the ’combat skill’?" Su Qi’s eyes sparkled intensely: "In the apocalypse, wouldn’t someone have extracted a killing art from ancient martial arts to suit the times?" He dragged the long saber, step by step, toward the center of the martial arts training room, an imposing aura flaring up like flames. "The four foundational elements of Qi and Blood Martial Arts—’Emission’, ’Flow’, ’Observation’, ’Hidden’!" "’Emission’ is the foundation of all techniques!" "With the Tendon Lock open, surging Qi and Blood can flow unceasingly through the meridians!" "Then..." Su Qi’s voice suddenly heightened, with a metallic ring of decisive determination: "With the essence of ancient martial arts!" "Energy-Invoking Technique!" "This strike—" In an instant, Su Lin’s pupils contracted sharply! In his dark eyes, a flash of blistering white lightning appeared out of thin air! Streams of tangible electric currents leapt and howled around Su Qi’s body, attracted entirely to the long saber at his waist! The wind seemed to freeze. BOOM——!!! A thunderous blade light tore through the field of vision! "This move," Su Qi’s voice echoed amidst the lingering thunder, with a resolve to cut through anything, "’Thunder Shock Flash’!"