Night was as ink, the moon hung above the willows.
Ren Wencai, clad in an inconspicuous grey robe, had his aura suppressed to the extreme as he silently landed on a tree outside Gu Chengming's small courtyard.
This was his fifth visit.
Ever since he gave away the "Flowing Light Sword Shadow" that day, he had been restless.
Although this sword art wasn't the sect's ultimate secret technique, it excelled in its extremely high requirement for talent, especially its nimble and unpredictable sword paths. Ordinary disciples might not grasp its essence even after years of diligent practice.
He was eager to know if Gu Chengming, whom he held in high regard and even suspected to be a "seed" of an ancient bitter sword cultivator, could truly master this sword art.
However, reality had left him somewhat bewildered.
On his previous visits, he had seen Gu Chengming either muttering to a bundle of herbs in a daze or slowly practicing that most basic "Huiyuan Sword Art" in the courtyard.
There was no sign of him practicing "Flowing Light Sword Shadow."
"Could he not understand it?"
Ren Wencai's brows furrowed, and he couldn't help but murmur to himself.
It shouldn't be.
Those few swords Gu Chengming had displayed before, both in timing and control of force, were perfect.
With such comprehension, how could he not even grasp the basics?
Or perhaps... he simply disdained this sword art?
Ren Wencai felt increasingly uneasy the more he thought about it, and was about to reveal himself to give the ignorant brat a lecture.
Just then, his heart stirred, and he discovered something amiss.
When did this brat reach the Fifth Level of the first realm?!
He had seen him at only the fourth level of the first realm just a few days ago.
This discovery further validated Ren Wencai's guess—Gu Chengming truly followed the path of an ancient bitter sword cultivator!
For such individuals, the so-called bottlenecks simply didn't exist.
Their previous stagnation was merely them tempering their physique and honing their character, preparing for a future explosion.
It was like a peerless divine sword that, before being unsheathed, must undergo a long period of being sheathed and polished.
And now, this sword was finally beginning to reveal its edge!
At this very moment, the heavy stone that had been weighing on Ren Wencai's heart completely lifted.
Fifth Level of the first realm.
Passing the assessment and retaining his identity as a sect disciple was a sure thing.
In fact, if the goal was merely to pass the assessment, Gu Chengming's current state was already "overflowing."
But Ren Wencai didn't see it that way.
Standing on the treetop, he stared intently at the figure still sitting cross-legged inside the house, his thoughts racing.
Since this brat was an uncut jade, wouldn't it be a waste of talent to just let him barely pass?
What did bitter sword cultivators value most?
They valued the "grind"!
The sharper the sword is ground, the stronger the person becomes through battle!
He should currently be in a period of accumulating strength for a sudden burst of power and a stunning debut.
He must be given pressure, challenges, and kept in a state of tension at all times to maximize his potential!
Only through constant combat and pressure could that nascent sword intent be refined into something purer and sharper!
"Liu Enchuan previously used the alias Liu En to spar with this brat; his approach was correct..."
Ren Wencai stroked his beard, a glint flashing in his eyes.
What if it were himself?
As the Grand Elder of Huiyuan Gate, he couldn't act like Liu Enchuan, but he could suppress his cultivation and disguise himself as a mysterious expert or a passing wandering swordsman, giving this brat a lesson in the dead of night.
This would not only test his combat ability but also temper his sword intent, and he could even offer pointers on his sword art shortcomings.
Killing three birds with one stone!
The more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.
Ren Wencai's smile widened, and his gaze towards Gu Chengming's courtyard was like an old farmer looking at the thriving chives in his field, already contemplating how to harvest them.
"Heh heh, brat, since you don't want to practice "Flowing Light Sword Shadow," I'll teach you myself."
Having made up his mind, Ren Wencai didn't rush to act.
Gu Chengming had only recently broken through, and it was a critical moment to stabilize his realm; it was not advisable to disturb him.
There would be plenty of time in the future.
................................................
Time passed like a white steed flashing past a crack, and several more days flew by.
Meanwhile.
Gu Chengming was, of course, unaware of Yu Wenqiu's and Ren Wencai's thoughts. Every day, besides the unshakeable routine of "eating grass" to increase Hundred Bones Resonating's favorability, he was busy conceiving story plots to find a way to advance Qingxin Art from friendly to liked.
Of course, Gu Chengming also kept an eye on the progress bar in his mind.
That was the progress of Huiyuan Sword Manual comprehending "Flowing Light Sword Shadow."
Finally, on a bright and sunny afternoon.
Just as Gu Chengming finished a round of tedious breathing exercises, the progress bar jumped without any warning.
【Flowing Light Sword Shadow comprehension complete】
"Holy crap, it actually worked?"
Although he had held expectations for this all along, Gu Chengming was still somewhat surprised when it actually happened.
Meanwhile, Hundred Bones Resonating's reaction was exactly the same.
【Holy crap, it actually worked?】
While both the person and the cultivation technique were still in shock, the system panel changed again.
The data in the "Huiyuan Sword Manual" column began to blur, rearrange, and finally settled into a new form.
【Huiyuan Sword Manual: Flowing Light Sword Shadow (CG Not Unlocked)】
【Current Unlock Progress: 0%】
"?"
Gu Chengming looked at this name, and a question mark slowly appeared above his head.
What does "CG Not Unlocked" mean?
There's CG involved?
Before he could figure it out, a strange emotion, tinged with a bit of cheerfulness and liveliness, suddenly transmitted from the depths of his mind.
【Huiyuan Sword Manual giggles.】
【It seems very satisfied with its new look, and is a little excited.】
【I'm so amazing, don't you think? 🎶?】
"??
Another question mark appeared above Gu Chengming's head.
Why does this feel a little off?
Rate on N.U.
