Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Burning Wood

Chen Tang asked, “If I cultivate to the Ninth Grade Extreme Realm, what level will my strength reach?”

“The strength of the Ninth Grade Extreme Realm is not much different from the Eighth Grade, able to reach the level of drawing a Five-Stone Bow,” said the Mountain Guest.

Chen Tang pondered, murmuring, “It seems if I reach the extreme realm, it will be hard to find an opponent at the same level.”

“Exactly.”

The Mountain Guest nodded, saying, “This is just the most direct benefit to you. There are many indirect, even subsequent effects, which you can’t realize with your current realm.”

“The Extreme Realm doesn’t just raise the upper limit within this realm, it also opens up infinite possibilities for your future achievements!”

Chen Tang pondered, “Now I’m cultivating the Tiger Subduing Fist, and I feel my strength is growing slowly. At this rate, how long will it take to reach the extreme realm?”

“Quickly, it could take two or three months, slowly, a year or so.”

“That long?”

Chen Tang frowned slightly.

Over two months, reaching the Ninth Grade.

In fact, this speed of cultivation is rather terrifying.

But since he started late and is a bit older, he naturally wants to go faster.

The Mountain Guest seemed to see what Chen Tang was thinking, saying, “Of course, this is only if you cultivate step by step. If you encounter unique opportunities, you might reach the Ninth Grade Extreme Realm faster.”

“Unique opportunities?”

Chen Tang heard that the Mountain Guest seemed to have more to say, and his mind started to become active, asking, “Senior, are you referring to…”

“Don’t you have an old man at home? Do you just let him eat and drink for free every day?”

The Mountain Guest said with a half-smile, “If you can learn something from him, it will greatly help you.”

Chen Tang said, “I noticed that fat old man has some skills, but I feel he’s definitely not as good as you, so I didn’t learn from him.”

The Mountain Guest laughed heartily, saying, “You young one, don’t try to flatter me. I’ve heard such words too many times.”

After a pause, the Mountain Guest said, “That old man does have something, and in some aspects, there aren’t many in the world who can surpass him.”

Having received the Mountain Guest’s approval, Chen Tang began to ponder how to persuade the fat old man when he got back.

Suddenly, Chen Tang remembered something and took out the “Quick Blade Thirteen Forms” from his pocket, saying, “Senior, I obtained a sword skill secret manual at the foot of the mountain, but the old man at home belittled it as worthless. What do you think of this sword skill?”

“Quick Blade Thirteen Forms?”

The Mountain Guest took it, flipped through a few pages, then tossed it on the ground, sneering, “This garbage dares to call itself a quick blade. What a joke, an eyesore!”

Chen Tang’s eyebrows and eyes drooped instantly.

It turned out that the manual he found was even less than a useless one.

The fat old man only complained a bit, while the Mountain Guest caught it and condemned it relentlessly without mercy.

The Mountain Guest suddenly reached out, remotely retrieving a thin piece of ice from beside the cave, holding it as if it were a blade.

“Watch closely.”

The Mountain Guest said lightly.

Chen Tang’s heart raced, realizing the Mountain Guest was about to make a move, and quickly focused his mind.

Since crossing over, although he spent most of his time cultivating on the Snow Mountain, the Mountain Guest had only taught him the Tiger Subduing Fist and nothing else, nor had he shown any techniques.

Now, it was the first time that the Mountain Guest was making a move.

The Mountain Guest reminded, “It’s better if you enter the Divine Illumination State to observe.”

“Ah?”

Chen Tang was slightly taken aback, but without thinking much, he directly entered the Divine Illumination State.

His whole being became extremely focused, his mind concentrated between his eyebrows, and his perception of the surroundings became extraordinarily clear, as if everything slowed down.

Under his watch, the Mountain Guest made a move.

To be precise, it didn’t look like a move at all.

It seemed as if the Mountain Guest barely moved.

It seemed as if the Mountain Guest lightly chopped forward with the blade in his hand.

Chen Tang was uncertain.

He didn’t see clearly.

The only thing he could be sure of was that the “Quick Blade Thirteen Forms” suddenly burst into flames!

Chen Tang exited the Divine Illumination State, looking at the book about to turn into ash before him, instinctively asked, “Senior, did you just make a move?”

“Did you see it clearly?”

The Mountain Guest said lightly, “This is a true quick blade.”

Chen Tang was stunned.

What did he see clearly?

Even in the Divine Illumination State, he couldn’t discern whether the Mountain Guest made a move, couldn’t see the action.

In an ordinary situation, if the Mountain Guest drew his blade, he wouldn’t even notice!

Can a person’s sword skill be this fast?

“Why did the book suddenly catch fire?”

Chen Tang asked again.

The Mountain Guest said, “The slash was so fast that it ignited it just by cutting beside it.”

“What kind of sword skill is this?”

“Burning Wood Saber.”

Chen Tang’s heart stirred. This name sounded familiar; he had heard of it in his previous life.

Unexpectedly, in this world, he witnessed it with his own eyes!

More importantly, the Mountain Guest didn’t use a real metal sword, but an Ice Saber.

The secret manual burned, but the Ice Saber didn’t melt. What kind of control is this?

“Can I learn this sword skill?”

Chen Tang blinked, full of anticipation as he asked.

“Of course you can.”

The Mountain Guest said, “To be accurate, this is not a sword skill but a Dharma Gate for practicing fast sabers. Although you have Entering the Divine State and high comprehension, wanting to succeed in cultivating the ’Burning Wood Saber’ also requires you to spend time and effort in rigorous practice.”

Chen Tang nodded.

His high comprehension only meant he learned things quickly and easily grasped the essence of techniques.

But to achieve success, continuous practice is necessary.

The Mountain Guest said, “’Burning Wood Saber’ has nine layers, if you can slash nine times in one breath, you reach the First Realm; the Second Layer, eighteen slashes in one breath… the Ninth Layer, eighty-one slashes in one breath.”

Chen Tang was secretly tongue-tied.

One breath, roughly three seconds, eighty-one slashes, what kind of concept is this?

One slash might only take a fraction of a second.

Chen Tang processed this for a moment before asking, “The senior mentioned before, there are four realms in martial arts: form, change, spirit, and intent. Does Burning Wood Saber also have such distinctions?”

The four realms are knowing the form, mastering change, attaining the spirit, understanding the intent.

The Mountain Guest had explained these to him on the Snow Mountain.

The Mountain Guest said, “The first six layers of the Burning Wood Saber still belong to the realm of fast sabers. It’s not until the seventh layer, where objects burn, or the eighth layer, where the blade burns, that it reaches the level of attaining the spirit.”

“If you can cultivate to the ninth layer, then you understand the intent. Wherever the blade passes, nothing remains unburned!”

“These are too distant for you. Focus on mastering the first layer of the Burning Wood Saber first.”

The Mountain Guest said, “The reason I’m passing ’Burning Wood Saber’ to you is partly because among all the fast sabers, Burning Wood is the best. And also because it’s the most suitable sword skill for you.”

“The senior means it complements Entering the Divine State?”

Chen Tang’s heart stirred, and he blurted out.

The Mountain Guest revealed a look of appreciation, saying, “You’re very smart to think of this. If you manage to cultivate the Burning Wood Saber successfully, combining it with the Divine Illumination State, it will be your greatest trump card!”

“A Burning Wood slash under Divine Illumination, even opponents of the same level, or those one or two grades above, might not escape unscathed.”

Chen Tang felt a surge of excitement in his heart.

In this way, he could unleash the full power of Entering the Divine State!

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