To be honest, the progress in capturing the Huiyuan Sword Art was unexpectedly smooth.
However, the more he advanced, the more infatuated and clingy the cold and distant sword path became.
But it did indeed fit the 'resentful woman' type personality of the Huiyuan Sword Art.
After all, for a resentful woman, isn't it quite reasonable to be a bit clingy?
As Gu Chengming practiced diligently every day, the Huiyuan Sword Art's sarcasm also diminished significantly.
It seemed to not have expected Gu Chengming to actually persevere, spending a lot of time each day practicing that simple, almost tedious sword art over and over again.
However, occasionally, during Gu Chengming's practice breaks, a few self-pitying remarks would pop up on the panel.
【Huiyuan Sword Art feels a bit surprised. It even starts to wonder if you truly have a little sincerity towards it.】
【It then thinks it's overthinking, after all, it's just a basic sword art of the sect, anyone can learn it, anyone can use it. It's not some rare treasure, who would take it seriously?】
Gu Chengming had long grown accustomed to these resentful complaints, even finding them somewhat cute.
He simply swung his sword silently, responding to the Huiyuan Sword Art's 'lack of confidence' with the most direct action.
In less than half a month, Gu Chengming's favorability with the Huiyuan Sword Art had already reached thirty, changing from 【Stranger】 to 【Friendly】 status.
The change in favorability status also brought great benefits.
First, there was the attribute point reward. Although it didn't directly award free attribute points, the system rewarded one fixed attribute point, added to the 【Strength】 attribute.
This made Gu Chengming clearly feel an increase in arm strength when swinging his sword, and his sword strikes became more stable and powerful. Although it wasn't a free attribute point, this tangible improvement still gave Gu Chengming considerable motivation.
Secondly, and more importantly, Gu Chengming's understanding and mastery of the Huiyuan Sword Art reached a new height.
Those once awkward moves now flowed naturally in his hands.
Every transition of movement, every technique of exerting force, felt as if it was carved into his bones.
It's no exaggeration to say that the current Gu Chengming could easily hold his own against ten versions of himself from half a month ago.
Even if they were all weaklings...
On the other hand, the spontaneous operation of the Qingxin Art, as it happened on the first day of practicing the Huiyuan Sword Art, did not occur again.
But occasionally, some prompt messages would pop up on Gu Chengming's panel:
【Qingxin Art finds it very interesting.】
【Qingxin Art observes your efforts and seems to have developed some interest in your interaction with the Huiyuan Sword Art.】
Gu Chengming guessed that the Qingxin Art was most likely a 'clear-headed observer' type of capture target.
It wouldn't express emotions directly like the Huiyuan Sword Art, but rather observe silently, and at some unintentional moment, provide some meaningful feedback.
This type of character often requires more meticulous insight and longer-term groundwork to gradually capture.
He already had a preliminary capture plan in mind, but his current focus was still on the Huiyuan Sword Art, so he couldn't attend to the Qingxin Art for now.
It's worth mentioning that the junior disciple 'Jiang Lu' who came to remind him did indeed, as he said, occasionally visit Gu Chengming's small courtyard to instruct him in the Huiyuan Sword Art.
The cultivation of the Wenjian Sect is quite different from ordinary sects.
It emphasizes a clear sword heart and divine sword dao.
Within the sect, there was once an exceptionally talented disciple who, in a single night, comprehended the supreme sword intent, thus achieving divine sword dao, breaking through two realms consecutively, directly reaching the sixth realm from the fourth, and becoming a renowned great cultivator.
Furthermore, the Wenjian Sect's basic cultivation methods are inherently linked to the sword dao, so it's rare to see disciples 'sitting in arduous meditation' like in other sects.
They often achieve breakthroughs in cultivation realms through the advancement of their sword dao.
Therefore, Jiang Lu didn't find anything wrong with Gu Chengming diligently practicing basic sword art here.
In his opinion, this was merely his senior brother preparing for a breakthrough in the sword dao.
However, with recent observations, Jiang Lu increasingly felt that something was amiss.
How did Senior Brother Gu's sword path become increasingly infatuated and clingy?
He was clearly demonstrating the most basic moves of the Huiyuan Sword Art, but when Gu Chengming performed them, they always carried an indescribable sense of clinging and entanglement.
The sword's point no longer held that cold and distant straightforwardness; instead, it gained a hint of elusive connection, as if the sword itself carried an endlessly entwining emotion.
Is this still the Huiyuan Sword Art he knew?
In short, Jiang Lu felt that his senior brother had seemingly gone astray in his understanding of sword techniques.
Finally, on the morning of the next day, Jiang Lu decided not to observe any longer.
He visited early, intending to 'correct' his senior brother, who, in his view, had gone astray.
"Senior Brother Gu, good morning." Jiang Lu cupped his hands in greeting outside the courtyard gate, his voice steady.
"Junior Brother Jiang, a rare guest." Gu Chengming opened the courtyard gate, a slight smile on his face.
For the past half month, his mental state had been excellent, and he appeared radiant.
Jiang Lu's gaze lingered on Gu Chengming's face for a moment, always feeling that his senior brother's complexion was much better than before.
He entered the courtyard, looked at the iron sword in Gu Chengming's hand, and politely asked:
"Senior Brother, are you still practicing the Huiyuan Sword Art today?"
"Indeed."
Gu Chengming nodded.
"This Huiyuan Sword Art is profound and extensive; I still cannot grasp even a fraction of it."
His words were not perfunctory but sincere. As his favorability increased, his understanding of the Huiyuan Sword Art deepened, and he increasingly felt that it contained many unknown mysteries.
Hearing this, Jiang Lu sighed inwardly.
He carefully chose his words before speaking:
"Junior Brother has recently observed Senior Brother practicing sword techniques and always felt some doubts."
"Oh?" Gu Chengming raised an eyebrow, "Junior Brother, please speak freely."
"The Huiyuan Sword Art emphasizes coldness and detachment, with sword intent like the moon in the mountains, untainted by dust. But Senior Brother's sword moves seem to have an extra hint of clinging. The sword's point, as if reluctant to part, and the flow of the sword's momentum, as if carrying a trace of lingering affection."
Jiang Lu tried his best to use euphemistic words to describe it, but even he felt that these adjectives were indeed a bit strange when applied to sword techniques.
He paused, and finally spoke bluntly:
"Senior Brother, the Huiyuan Sword Art is not practiced this way."
Gu Chengming's expression became a bit strange after hearing Jiang Lu's description; he naturally knew what Jiang Lu was talking about.
Finally, Gu Chengming smiled, not taking it to heart, but saying:
"I see, thank you for your guidance, Junior Brother. For the past half month, I indeed felt a bit lost, and unknowingly, took a wrong turn. Since Junior Brother has quite some insight into this sword art, I wonder if you could demonstrate a bit for me and correct my mistakes?"
Seeing Gu Chengming readily agree, Jiang Lu felt relieved.
"You're too kind, Senior Brother." Jiang Lu showed a smile: "Junior Brother will certainly do his best."
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