The next morning, the sun was shining brightly.
Chu Liang got up as usual, leisurely, and dressed sharply like a grown-up after washing up.
He was going to meet Sister Jiang for lunch.
He came all the way to the Baota Peak, following the path from yesterday to the Water Curtain Cave. During this time, the young White Zealot did not appear, which made Chu Liang somewhat puzzled.
As soon as he reached the entrance of the cave, he heard Jiang Xiaobai's scolding from inside.
"I just replaced the mattress yesterday and you've already bitten it! Keep biting! I'll make sure to punish you next time!"
There was also the young White Zealot's soft "huhu" sobbing.
Chu Liang used his spiritual sense to peek inside, only to find that the mess from the cave the previous day had completely disappeared, and everything had returned to its original state. Jiang Xiaobai was sitting on the bed casually with her legs crossed, looking angry.
The young Bai Ze cub was standing by, propping itself up on its hind legs, with a brick on its nose.
Fresh bite marks could be seen on the newly replaced bed.
Wow, this Bai Ze mythical beast is quite the home wrecker.
Chu Liang couldn't help but smile, then cleared his throat and said, "Jiang Junior Sister, I'm here."
"Oh, come in," Jiang Xiaobai called out.
When Chu Liang entered the cave again, he saw her standing tall and elegant in a flowing skirt, with a delicate hair bun, giving her the appearance of an otherworldly fairy who had lived in the mountains for thousands of years in the surrounding cool light. But in the blink of an eye, the change in temperament was astonishing.
"That..." Chu Liang glanced at the Bai Ze cub, and it immediately dropped the brick and dashed towards Chu Liang.
"Hmm?" Jiang Xiaobai frowned.
"Ugh..." The Bai Ze cub immediately stopped in its tracks, looking wronged as it went to stand by the wall, even using its hoofs to pick up the brick and put it back on its nose.
Quite a clever little thing.
Chu Liang smiled and said, "What's so serious that it would bother, it's just a child after all."
"If you are not studious later, you will receive the same treatment," Jiang Xiaobai didn't give him any face.
The Bai Ze cub's big eyes rolled twice, glancing sideways at Chu Liang, and unbelievably, it showed a hint of anticipation.
Okay.
Do you really want your buddy to be punished with you?
Chu Liang immediately changed the subject and said, "Why does this mountain guardian spirit of Shu Shan listen to Junior Sister Jiang's words?"
"I actually don't know..." Jiang Xiaobai said, "When I was very young, the Bai Ze cub used to come and play with me all the time, it's like it grew up with me, just like how you know why it's close to you, right?"
Chu Liang shook his head.
He really didn't know.
If it was about being top-notch in talent, Jiang Xiaobai qualified, but he was far from it; and if it was about being kind-hearted... there were too many such people.
"Maybe it just likes to play with people who look good," Chu Liang said like that in the end.
"Indeed," Jiang Xiaobai didn't deny it at all.
After a few pleasantries, Jiang Xiaobai got straight to the point, "Today, I plan to teach you the Hundred Sword Technique, you're aware of it, right?"
The Hundred Sword Scriptures?
Chu Liang certainly knew.
This is also one of the most fundamental sword techniques within the Shu Mountain sect. Although it is basic, it is definitely not weak, with a vast potential for improvement.
Starting from a hundred to a thousand, and from a thousand to ten thousand, if one can cultivate the Ten Thousand Sword Scriptures, it would be a top-level supernatural power on par with the Heaven Sword Scriptures.
"Thank you, Senior Sister Jiang." He stood up solemnly facing Jiang Xiaobai, showing respect as he would to his master.
"The essence of the Hundred Sword Scriptures lies in the transformation of qi into swords, the merging of qi and swords."
Jiang Xiaobai first explained to Chu Liang the oral and finger techniques corresponding to the Hundred Sword Scriptures.
All supernatural powers, when practiced to a high level, can be used at will, activated by thought, but beginners should start step by step.
Combining oral and hand movements can achieve twice the result with half the effort.
Chu Liang looked at Jiang Xiaobai, who was explaining earnestly, her hair swaying lightly, bright eyes, and soft skin reflecting a gentle light, and couldn't help but be slightly entranced.
After Jiang Xiaobai finished speaking and saw Chu Liang seemed to be daydreaming, she furrowed her brows and said, "Hey?"
"I was listening." Chu Liang immediately came back to his senses.
"Then repeat what I just said." Jiang Xiaobai's eyes narrowed.
Chu Liang proceeded to repeat everything she had just explained, including the additional detailed instructions, without missing a word.
Jiang Xiaobai listened and was slightly surprised, "Your memory is extraordinary... Hmph, your ability to multitask is also not bad, indeed suitable for practicing Hundred Sword Scriptures."
"Thank you for your praise, Senior Sister Jiang." Chu Liang looked calm, as if nothing had happened.
"In any case, you've remembered the key points of the Hundred Sword Scriptures. Another important point is not to blindly pursue quantity. It's best to accurately control each sword shadow before striving to increase more. The Hundred Sword Scriptures, which can be as one wills, are stronger than the complex and chaotic Ten Thousand Sword Scriptures." Jiang Xiaobai added.
"I remember." Chu Liang nodded.
Most Shu Mountain disciples take about seven days to master the Hundred Sword Scriptures, but since I personally taught you, the requirements are naturally higher, so I'll give you three days." Jiang Xiaobai continued, "If you master it within three days, I'll teach you another supernatural power next time. If you haven't learned it within three days, then there won't be a next time."
"That sounds great." Chu Liang was delighted to hear this.
He had initially thought it would be a one-time transaction, but now there was a chance for it to become a long-term teaching session, which he was naturally happy about.
Following Jiang Xiaobai's instructions from earlier, he first tried, invoked the flying sword handguard, used the finger techniques, and circulated his true qi.
"Dazzling illusions, following the heart's desire! Swift!"
Swish—
In an instant, the flying sword split into a hundred sword shadows, dazzling his vision. Chu Liang closed his eyes and moved with his thoughts.
Clatter clatter...
The flying swords in the air fell one after another, and their shadows instantly turned into nothingness.
"Not right." Without waiting for Jiang Xiaobai to point it out, Chu Liang himself felt that something was wrong just now, "I couldn't possibly have dispersed my divine sense to every sword. A single person can't have a hundred wills. Instead, it should be... each sword having its own will, and I just need to give them commands."
"They're not dead flying swords, but a living army."
"Divide and conquer, act as you wish! Attack!"
Swish, swish, swish...
Once again, countless sword shadows surrounded Chu Liang, this time a hundred sword lights encircled him, orderly and arrayed as if forming a battle formation.
"Go!" Chu Liang gestured and the flying swords immediately soared into the air, the sound of breaking through the air merging into one.
With a light movement of his fingertips, sometimes they formed into a character, and other times into a human form.
Jiang Xiaobai looked at Chu Liang's mature Hundred Swords Technique, and her pupils couldn't help but dilate a little, somewhat surprised.
Ordinary disciples of Shu Mountain usually start by controlling one or two swords, then progress to ten swords, or a hundred swords, it's a gradual process followed by gradual understanding of the key points.
Jiang Xiaobai had intended to wait for Chu Liang to fail a few times and gain some insight before giving him some guidance, as this would be the most efficient way. She didn't expect Chu Liang to be close to success from the beginning, failing only once, and comprehending it all on his own.
Originally, she felt that the three-day deadline she set for Chu Liang was already very strict.
Although she herself had only taken a day to master the basic Hundred Swords Technique, she was after all a legendary immortal spirit, her extraordinary talent and charm unmatched by ordinary people.
Her idea was, if he could master it within three days, it would prove that he was promising material. Unfortunately, following the guidance of his master was very frustrating, so it was only right for her to help a fellow disciple with potential. If not, then Shu Mountain Sect didn't lack for mediocre people, so there was no need for her to waste her time either.
But what was Chu Liang doing?
If ordinary disciples practiced for seven days, core disciples for three days, and geniuses for one day...
Then how long did he practice for?
Twice!
This was a bit too much. If it wasn't for the fact that he really didn't seem like he was faking it before, Jiang Xiaobai would even suspect that he might have known this technique all along, and was deceiving her here.
Chu Liang directed the crowd of sword shadows, practiced for a while, then excitedly retrieved the flying swords, and then opened his eyes, "Senior Sister Jiang, it seems like I understand a little bit now."
Heh heh.
Is that just a little?
Jiang Xiaobai smiled and said, "You're... quite smart."
"If I make any progress, it's all thanks to Senior Sister Jiang's good teaching," Chu Liang smiled.
Am I clever?
This question had once been seriously considered by him. When he was young, he once believed that he was indeed clever, but...
Later, he found out that he was just average.
After all, he was only third in the entire province.