Chapter 82: Academy Credentials Acquired (Subscribe and Vote for Monthly Tickets)

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“The Eighteen Consecutive Blades technique isn’t difficult to begin with. Once you split each move and apply them one by one, as long as your method of channeling force is correct and without flaws, you can be considered to have entered the basics. Generally, you would need to practice for maybe two or three… ten or twenty days at most, and you’ll get there.” Su Ming had originally intended to say two or three months, but thinking of Chen Yushu’s talent, he quickly changed his words before continuing, “However, reaching minor accomplishment is much harder. Some people spend three to five years and may still never reach that level. For minor accomplishment in the Eighteen Consecutive Blades, you must, in a single instant, combine three strikes into one, delivering six consecutive slashes in the blink of an eye. With these six strikes, the power is instantly doubled. As for major accomplishment, you combine six into one, so to the naked eye, only three strikes fall, yet you can unleash twice the force. Achieving this usually takes at least ten years of hard work.”

As Su Ming spoke, he took up his long blade and began to demonstrate. Around him, the gleam of the blade danced and flickered. In a blur, six strokes fused into one, and as the blade fell, a shimmering arc shot out a full three feet before finally dissipating.

“Eighteen Consecutive Blades—major accomplishment?” Chen Yushu exclaimed in surprise.

“That’s right. I obtained this technique only five years ago, and already I’ve reached major accomplishment,” Su Ming replied, a trace of pride in his expression.

“Master, you’re incredible,” Chen Yushu praised sincerely. For others, it took ten years to achieve major accomplishment, but his master did it in five—truly remarkable.

“Alright, I’ve taught you the method for channeling force. Try practicing it once. If you don’t understand anything, ask me,” Su Ming said, his lips curling in satisfaction before returning to seriousness.

“Yes!” Chen Yushu nodded, recalling the method his master had taught him and matching it with the moves of the Eighteen Consecutive Blades. As he delivered his first strike, the force was clearly stronger than before. Without hesitation, he struck again, then a third, a fourth...

Very soon, the flashing of the blade enveloped him completely, dense and impenetrable.

Whoosh—

With the final slash, the air itself whistled as the blade cut through, producing a faint, sharp sound.

Eighteen Consecutive Blades—basic proficiency!

Chen Yushu caught his breath. The difference between channeling force and not was indeed immense. Before, swinging and slashing the blade was effortless, but once he started channeling force, the surging energy naturally consumed more of his strength. Of course, this was mainly because his internal strength was still too feeble, and after his earlier practice of the Eight-Step Cicada, he had already expended much. That was why he now felt somewhat fatigued.

Yet while Chen Yushu was tired, Su Ming beside him stood gaping in utter shock.

Just once—after listening to his explanation only once—his disciple had already mastered the basics of the Eighteen Consecutive Blades? What manner of genius was this? Had he underestimated him even with his estimate of ten or twenty days for basic proficiency? Just who had been teaching such a talented student before?

Only now did he truly feel the immense gap that natural aptitude could create. The only solace was that when it came to cultivating pure internal strength, the kind that required both external and internal training, talent alone was not enough—vast resources and years of practice were also necessary.

Chen Yushu had been practicing martial arts for too short a time, and his resources were far from abundant. Otherwise, Su Ming feared that in a year or two, his disciple might even surpass him. Though it was natural for the student to exceed the master, he still couldn’t help but feel a pang of loss.

“You did well. However, there are still some moves that aren’t quite standard. For example, when you use this strike, try lifting it a little higher—the force will be triggered more quickly. And here…”

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Su Ming collected himself and continued his guidance. Chen Yushu nodded repeatedly. After all, his master had trained this blade technique to major accomplishment and could offer insights that would save him countless hours of hard work.

For instance, right now, under his master’s instruction, Chen Yushu practiced the technique again.

Eighteen Consecutive Blades +35

Seeing the increase in experience on his attribute panel for the Eighteen Consecutive Blades, he felt a wave of satisfaction.

Without hesitation, he asked further about his own movements and force application, seeking more pointers.

Eighteen Consecutive Blades +42

Eighteen Consecutive Blades +33

Mastery!

Chen Yushu felt both surprised and delighted. He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly at the difference a teacher made. If he had been practicing blindly on his own, it would have taken him at least two or three days to reach mastery.

After dinner, just as Chen Yushu was about to continue practicing, Steward Zhou approached and called out, “Yushu, someone’s looking for you.”

“Who is it?” Chen Yushu put away his practice and went over.

“It’s Old Chen. I asked him, but he wouldn’t say what for,” Steward Zhou replied, looking disgruntled.

“I asked him for a favor, and it looks like there’s progress now,” Chen Yushu’s eyes lit up as he hurried down and indeed saw Chen Shi waiting at the door. He quickly went over.

“Uncle Chen, thank you for coming in person,” Chen Yushu greeted him with a bow.

“It’s nothing. I was passing by and thought I’d let you know,” Chen Shi said, leading him a little distance away. Steward Zhou, who had been about to listen in, scowled and turned back, unhappy.

After all, he had been the one to introduce the two, renting a house to Chen Yushu, and now he was being kept out of the loop.

“The matter you asked me about has found a lead. That acquaintance of mine happens to manage the academy’s library. According to him, many of the books in the academy were donated by local gentry and merchants, so in principle, ordinary people aren’t forbidden from borrowing them. However, since the academy is a place of study with many students, outsiders are generally not allowed in. Partly it’s to prevent troublemakers from harming students, and partly to guard against people with ill intent damaging the books and wasting the efforts of those who came before. Thus, for ordinary folk to read in the library, unless you’re a direct relative of a gentry or merchant family, there is only one way,” Chen Shi explained.

“What way?” Chen Yushu asked.

“Donate silver!” Chen Shi said, looking a little embarrassed. Scholars like him were often ashamed to talk about money, but as someone who’d passed the county exam over a decade ago and long since given up on further studies, this embarrassment was merely habitual. If real money came into his hands, he wouldn’t be shy to accept it.

“How much?” Chen Yushu frowned.

“Usually, about fifty taels of silver will do,” Chen Shi said, noticing Chen Yushu’s stony face and hesitating before quickly adding, “But since I’m on good terms with my acquaintance, he’ll give me some face. You’ll only need to pay thirty taels.”

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Once the silver was handed over, the academy would issue a pass and a library card. With these, you could freely enter the academy to read without trouble.

Chen Yushu considered for a moment. He knew Chen Shi was making a profit, but reading was extremely important to him. If he tried to arrange this himself, it would take time and effort, and might not even succeed. So he nodded in agreement.

He returned to the shop, informed his master, got permission to go out, and then, together with Chen Shi, went home to fetch thirty taels of silver. The two of them then hurried to the academy.

Chen Shi’s acquaintance was a teacher of about forty, with a pair of thin, drooping mustaches and small, shrewd eyes—he looked more a merchant than a scholar. His surname was Wen, given name Ronghua, courtesy name Mingxuan, a licentiate. When he saw Chen Yushu and Chen Shi, he merely nodded and said, “You’re here.”

Chen Shi then explained Chen Yushu’s situation, introducing him as his own nephew. Fortunately, they shared a surname, making the story plausible.

After some back-and-forth, an hour later, two tokens hung from Chen Yushu’s waist.

One was the academy entry pass, equivalent to a student badge, inscribed with his name. All students had one, and the guards at the gate would let him through on sight. However, he couldn’t attend classes like the other students.

The other was a purple-black token engraved with the words “Wenchang.” With this, he could freely enter the academy’s Wenchang Pavilion.

Wenchang Pavilion was the academy’s library.

As soon as Chen Yushu received the tokens, he wasted no time and headed straight for the pavilion. At the door stood a young scholar, who, seeing his Wenchang pass, let him in despite his unfamiliar face.

Inside, rows upon rows of bookcases came into view, all packed with books—The Four Books and Five Classics, works of famous masters, philosophical treatises and classic studies...

Perhaps it was still class time, for there were few people inside. As Chen Yushu walked among the shelves, his face lit with joy. There really were so many books here. Five bookshelves, each with three levels, each more than thirty feet long, every inch crammed with books.

He picked up a random volume, “One Hundred Poems of Chen Yongru,” and began to read.

Reading +1

The poems were all short. Even after finishing the whole book, he only gained three reading experience points. As for the quality of the poems, he made no comment.

Next, he picked up another book. This time, it was “The Doctrine of the Mean,” one of the Four Books and Five Classics, and a work he had not yet read.

Chen Yushu had no special thoughts—he wasn’t interested in the meaning of the books themselves. Since he had picked it up, he read it as he would any ordinary book.

After all, he had a photographic memory and read extremely fast.

One book, two books, three books...

His reading experience increased rapidly.

So half an hour passed. Chen Yushu suddenly heard the sound of a bell ringing.

It was the end of class at Ningjing Academy. Outside, students began to pass by, greeting teachers as they went.

Chen Yushu glanced at the sky outside—it was still early—then lowered his head and once more immersed himself in the sea of books.

Not until dusk fell did he finally stop. He would have liked to continue, but the academy closed before dark and the Wenchang Pavilion was about to be locked up. Only then did he reluctantly put down the book and leave.