Chapter 347: Chapter 194: Sword Practice_2 An hour later, Gu Sheng opened his eyes, his expression filled with astonishment. Lowering his gaze to the Spirit-Enhancing Pendant, he couldn’t help but marvel, "What an incredible treasure! It’s actually doubled my cultivation speed compared to before! At this rate, I might even have a chance to break into the Golden Bone Realm by the time the Red Cloud Secret Domain opens!" "Xiao Sheng, come out quickly, it’s time to practice swordsmanship!" Wen Mingyan’s voice came from outside the house, and Gu Sheng hurriedly grabbed the Fire Cloud Sword and walked out. Wen Mingyan was standing by the massive rock where Gu Sheng usually did his sword training. In the clearing in front of the rock, a few black stakes had been newly planted. When Wen Mingyan saw the Fire Cloud Sword in Gu Sheng’s hands, he snatched it away and thrust it into the massive rock with a sharp motion. "The Fire Cloud Sword is unnecessary for practicing swordsmanship. I’ll keep it for now. When you’re able to draw it from the rock yourself, that will mean your swordsmanship has reached the entry level. Only then will you be qualified to wield the Fire Cloud Sword." As he said this, Wen Mingyan handed a wooden sword to Gu Sheng. "Here, from now on, use this for your practice. These three stakes in front of you are forged from a special material, with hardness comparable to the carapace of a Golden Bone Realm demonic beast. Your first step in sword training is to use this wooden sword to split these three stakes apart without damaging the blade." Gu Sheng was astonished. For a moment, he thought he had misheard. After carefully examining the wooden sword in his hands, he found it was indeed made from ordinary wood. Such a sword had very poor durability; it could barely be used as a toy for children to chop vegetables, let alone split stakes comparable to the shell of a Golden Bone Realm beast. It sounded like a joke. Gu Sheng attempted to gather his strength and punched one of the stakes hard. Instantly, his face contorted in pain, and he quickly cradled his fist, blowing on it frantically. Wen Mingyan hadn’t deceived him—the unimposing stake was indeed astonishingly hard. At the very least, that punch would have caused serious damage to any ordinary Silver Bone Realm cultivator. However, upon hitting the stake, it did not leave the faintest mark, while his own bones were rattled painfully, as though they had fractured. "Master, are you sure you want me to use this wooden sword to split these stakes? This has to be a joke! The wooden sword is so fragile—it’ll snap with just a bit of force! Never mind splitting the stakes." As Gu Sheng spoke, he intentionally pressed lightly on the wooden sword in his hand, and with a crisp "crack," the wooden sword broke in two. Wen Mingyan chuckled. "That’s because you don’t understand the Sword Dao! A true swordsman, as long as there is a sword in their heart, can unleash terrifying sword techniques with even the lightest motion of the hand. Watch closely—there is nothing impossible." Wen Mingyan pulled out another wooden sword from behind him. It was only then that Gu Sheng noticed a massive pile of identical wooden swords behind him—there were probably over a thousand at a glance. With the wooden sword in hand, Wen Mingyan approached the stake. As he gently raised the long sword, his gentle and scholarly demeanor transformed in an instant. A sharp, piercing aura emanated from him, making him seem like a Divine Weapon one could not bear to face directly! "Watch carefully. The entry standard for the Sword Dao is whether you can comprehend sword force! I’ll demonstrate once—memorize it and ponder deeply." Wen Mingyan swung the wooden sword down toward the stake, and immediately a peculiar force appeared on the blade. This force did not seem to originate from Wen Mingyan himself but rather from the heavens and earth. Though it was faint, it carried the weight of a thousand mountains. "Crack!" When the wooden sword struck the stake, the seemingly indestructible stake shattered like ordinary wood, splitting into fragments. Yet, Wen Mingyan’s wooden sword remained completely intact. "So, this is sword force?" Gu Sheng’s expression turned serious. He could feel the immense power of that peculiar energy on the wooden sword—it was something that far surpassed ordinary physical strength. It felt as if it had been birthed by the heavens themselves. "Sword force is merely the starting point of the Sword Dao. Beyond it lies sword intent, the sword heart, and finally the supreme realm of the Sword Dao—unity of man and sword! The path of the sword is vast and profound. Even after studying it for many years, I have only barely begun to approach the threshold of sword intent. Despite this, while my Martial Arts cultivation might not be among the best in the Red Cloud Prefecture, if we’re talking combat prowess, you’d have to count me as one of the top. The fearsome offensive power of the Sword Dao is something you’ll gradually come to understand once you’ve entered its path. Now, ponder it yourself!" 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦 Wen Mingyan solemnly handed the wooden sword to Gu Sheng. "Master, is there any trick to comprehending sword force?" Wen Mingyan smiled and shook his head. "No! Mastery of the Sword Dao relies entirely on oneself. Everyone’s path of comprehension is different, and the Sword Dao they achieve varies as well. A thousand people tread a thousand paths, so I cannot teach you any specific trick. I can only share my journey from those days to help you avoid detours. Remember this, Xiao Sheng: the Sword Dao is different from Martial Arts. The limits of Martial Arts are tied to an individual’s talent and resources, but the Sword Dao depends solely on oneself! Practicing the sword doesn’t require extraordinary talent or a legendary sword. As long as you are willing to delve deeply and persevere, even with a mere wooden sword, if you strike enough times, one day it will unleash power equal to that of a Treasure!" Hearing these words, Gu Sheng seemed to understand something. "Reading ten thousand books sharpens the pen; reading a book a hundred times reveals its meaning. Perhaps the Sword Dao is the same!" Gu Sheng admitted that neither his comprehension skills nor his cultivation talent were particularly outstanding. However, his sole strength was his tireless effort and unyielding determination. With the assistance of the system, he knew that as long as he could grasp the entry-level, he would undoubtedly be able to cultivate the Sword Dao to its highest realm—unity of man and sword! At this moment, Gu Sheng’s eyes were no longer filled with doubt or confusion but brimming with vigor and hope. "Master, may I ask, how many wooden swords did you break during your journey to comprehend sword force?" At this question, Wen Mingyan’s face showed a touch of pride. "I came to the Sword Dao later in life. Had it not been for witnessing the unparalleled majesty of a Sword Dao expert in the Red Cloud Secret Domain, I might never have embarked on this path. In my initial cultivation, I broke merely ten thousand wooden swords before successfully comprehending sword force!" Seeing Gu Sheng’s odd expression, Wen Mingyan quickly explained, "Don’t think ten thousand is a large number. In fact, with my speed of comprehension, I am regarded as one of the fastest in the entire Red Cloud Prefecture. Other sects also have skilled swordsmen. When they began cultivating, it was common for them to break thirty to fifty thousand wooden swords before reaching the entry level. Some even shattered seventy to eighty thousand without success. You have the potential to make history in Martial Arts for the Red Cloud Prefecture—I believe you can do the same in the Sword Dao! There are only a thousand wooden swords here for now. Once you’ve used them up, I’ll prepare more for you, until you grasp sword force!" After saying this, Wen Mingyan stood off to the side and aligned his fingers together, pointing toward Spirit Pill Peak. Gu Sheng, curious, asked, "Master, what are you doing?" Without turning around, Wen Mingyan replied, "Practicing the sword. Unless there are other matters, I train for no less than eight hours a day. Don’t worry about me—just focus on your practice. If you feel stuck or have questions, then seek me out." "Tsk tsk! Even a man like Master works this hard—what excuse do I have not to?" Gu Sheng resolved in his heart to practice swordsmanship for no less than ten hours a day! In his mind, he replayed Wen Mingyan’s earlier swing frame by frame. When he once more felt that peculiar energy on the wooden sword, Gu Sheng moved as his instincts guided him. Mimicking Wen Mingyan’s actions, he lifted the wooden sword, took a deep breath, his gaze sharp, and slashed down at the stake. "Crack!" A crisp sound rang out. As expected, the wooden sword shattered from the force of his own strength before it even touched the stake. Staring at the wooden fragments scattered across the ground, Gu Sheng furrowed his brows, sinking into contemplation. "Why is it that the same wooden sword can unleash overwhelming power in Master’s hands but can’t even withstand my own strength in mine?" This question stumped Gu Sheng. After pondering for a long time without an answer, he could only resign himself to picking up another wooden sword and continuing his attempts. He believed that his inability to figure out the problem stemmed from his insufficient practice. Gu Sheng raised the sword again. The result was the same—the wooden sword splintered under his own strength. Undeterred, Gu Sheng continued practicing, observing the changes in the wooden sword while pondering deeply.