The middle-aged man’s next few Moves were all infused with Spiritual Power.
An Chen understood that the previous Moves were probably for people who had never used a blade, a simple lesson on how to use a blade, and now was the real main event.
...
An hour later, An Chen slowly opened his eyes, letting out a refreshed breath.
Su Xiaojiu was almost asleep, but she perked up when she saw An Chen finish.
“Here, take it back.”
An Chen returned the Jade Talisman to Su Xiaojiu.
“You're not going to look at it more?”
“I watched it once and memorized it.”
An Chen pointed to his head.
He had truly memorized it; every detail of the middle-aged man’s movements was etched in his mind, and if he wished, he could replay it quickly in his head like a movie.
“You talk as if it’s true.”
Su Xiaojiu clearly didn't believe him and scoffed.
An Chen didn't explain further but instead recalled the middle-aged man’s blade techniques.
Learning practical combat first, then Moves, was a very interesting teaching method, and it was the first time An Chen had seen it.
An Chen had already committed dozens of ways to deal with enemies to memory; if he truly encountered an enemy, he could immediately use them.
In the practical combat section, his biggest gains were two points: hidden blade and footwork.
The power of this blade technique wasn't in the use of the blade itself, nor in the use of Spiritual Power, but in the footwork.
The middle-aged man had a unique set of footwork, emphasizing agility, speed, and flexibility.
He could duck down and fish-leap into a roll to dodge a horizontal slash from a large blade, or he could evade continuously thrusting spears with rapid side-to-side movements, his actions so swift they were dazzling.
An Chen hadn't noticed it the first time he watched, but upon replaying it in his mind, he realized that it also included the application of Spiritual Power.
And the hidden blade technique also had a lot to it.
The middle-aged man used different methods to deal with different enemies wielding the same weapon, not only to provide future learners of the blade technique with different combat strategies but also to observe the enemy’s chosen attack method after gripping their weapon.
Each gripping method has its own advantages and disadvantages, allowing for different attack choices, but the hidden blade can obscure one's grip, making the enemy hesitant to act rashly.
This allows one to gain the initiative.
If the enemy attacks wildly, that’s even better.
“Do you have a blade? The kind of straight blade, forearm length, like the one in there.”
“Yes.”
Su Xiaojiu picked up her qiankun bag.
“But to practice this blade technique, a mortal blade won't do; you need at least a Magical Artifact.”
With a mortal blade, it's difficult to exert Spiritual Power.
Su Xiaojiu took out a straight blade that was not much different from the one in the middle-aged man's hand.
“It's a Low Grade Qi Refinement Stage Magical Artifact. I used it when I first learned this blade technique, but I haven't used it in a long time. It's not worth much, so you can just have it.”
Actually, a Low Grade Qi Refinement Stage Magical Artifact isn't that worthless.
At least An Chen knew that Chen Sheng and Jiang Cheng’s swords were Low Grade Qi Refinement Stage Magical Artifacts issued by the Qingfeng Sect.
And Su Xiaojiu immediately offered a Low Grade Qi Refinement Stage Magical Artifact…
A Young Miss from a wealthy family truly is different.
An Chen picked up the straight blade and, imitating the middle-aged man, hid the blade behind his back.
This movement was not only accurate in form but also somewhat similar in spirit.
Even the middle-aged man’s slightly bent waist, leaning body, and eyes fixed on the enemy were all emulated by An Chen.
“It’s so similar…”
Su Xiaojiu murmured.
When she learned it, it took her an entire afternoon just to get the posture right for this hidden blade technique.
An Chen’s first attempt was already a perfect standard movement.
Who wouldn't be confused by that?
An Chen suddenly drew his blade, imitating the middle-aged man’s first few Moves, performing the thirteen basic blade techniques such as chopping, hacking, sweeping, and cleaving, while coordinating his footwork.
After one round, An Chen was somewhat dissatisfied, so he practiced two more times.
In these two rounds, his footwork transitions became smoother, and his overall movements appeared very fluid.
Su Xiaojiu’s mouth widened more and more.
Although these were just the most basic blade techniques, who in the Qi Refinement Stage wouldn’t need to practice them for several days?
How could An Chen, like his father, master such basic blade techniques just by looking at them?
An Chen’s intelligence was not only reflected in his memory and calculation but also in his body control and neural reflexes.
It's just that these are usually overlooked.
By the fourth round, An Chen was almost identical to the middle-aged man. After finishing the thirteen basic blade techniques, An Chen suddenly drew his blade and chopped down.
“Don’t!”
Su Xiaojiu was startled.
She knew that this chop would use Spiritual Power.
If An Chen had truly mastered it, this chop could turn the house upside down.
However, nothing happened.
“I'm just practicing the form first, not using Spiritual Power, so don't worry.”
Su Xiaojiu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Although it wasn't her house, if An Chen really turned the house into a ruin, she wouldn't have anywhere to live.
All in all, An Chen only practiced for an hour, and he had basically mastered the movements. In Su Xiaojiu's opinion, An Chen had achieved perfection, except for not using Spiritual Power.
An Chen put the blade back into his qiankun bag and stretched lazily.
However, he wasn't tired at all.
His physical fitness had improved significantly.
“Hey, does this blade technique have a name?”
An Chen suddenly remembered this and asked.
“I think so.”
Su Xiaojiu scratched her head and thought for a while.
“I remember now, it’s called Basic Blade Technique • Twelve.”
“???”
An Chen was full of question marks.
What a sloppy name.
“This seems to be a basic blade technique recorded in the Fire Phoenix Sect's Scripture Depository. They probably didn't know the exact name, so they just named it that for Disciples to refer to. My dad chose this blade technique for me to practice for self-defense because I wasn't very tall.”
An Chen smiled awkwardly but politely.
It seemed that this blade technique was only for Qi Refinement Stage Disciples as an introductory skill.
But then again, once one reaches the Spirit Nurturing Stage and above, this type of close-quarters blade technique isn't as useful; it's more about Magical Arts.
However, here on Earth, without many Advanced Cultivators, it might be very useful.
But there probably wouldn't be any enemies here anyway.
“This blade technique is just for transition. Once you reach the sixth or seventh layer of Qi Refinement, only the last few Moves will be used more often.”
Su Xiaojiu instructed.
“I still recommend you learn more of your School’s own Magical Arts. As a Genius like you, the Qingfeng Sect will definitely pass on the Sect’s Legacy to you. Although those ultimate techniques won't be as good as the Fire Phoenix Sect’s ultimate techniques, they will definitely be much better than ordinary Cultivation Techniques.”
An Chen nodded in agreement.
“But I’m only at the Qi Refinement Stage; they won’t teach me yet. At most, they’ll teach me some self-defense Magical Arts and Martial Skills, which might not even be as good as what your Fire Phoenix Sect casually collects.”
Of course, he still needed to raise his Realm quickly.