NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Sword training Start
Chapter 24: Sword training Start
----
In the afternoon the sun was still bright. Soft and cold 🍃 winds were blowing. Kent returned from the school.
Xian Yu and Nima were waiting for him at the yard. The old man said go change into some for training. Hurry up. Both of you.
After a few minutes, Both the siblings come wearing t-shirts and jogging pajamas.
The old man stood tall, his weathered face stern as he addressed the two siblings. His piercing eyes seemed to carry centuries of wisdom, and his voice echoed through the quiet training yard.
"The first lesson," he said, his tone unyielding, "is to swing the sword 1,000 times. Only then can you take the next step."
Kent and Nima exchanged uneasy glances, their hands tightening nervously around the unfamiliar wooden swords.
"Watch carefully," the old man continued, picking up his own sword, a battered but well-kept blade, its surface reflecting years of wear. "This is how it's done."
He stepped forward with the grace of a panther, his movements deliberate and fluid.
"First, bend your body at a 45-degree angle," he instructed, adjusting his stance. "Your feet should be firmly planted. Balance is everything."
He raised the sword above his head with both hands, the blade perfectly straight as though pointing toward the heavens.
"Now, swing downward in a clean, straight line," he said, his voice steady as he demonstrated. The wooden blade cut through the air with a sharp whoosh, stopping just inches from the ground.
"But remember" he straightened up and turned to them, his gaze sharp as a hawk's—"the blade must not touch the ground. If it does, that swing doesn't count. Precision is key. Sloppiness will not be tolerated."
The siblings nodded, determined but wary.
The old man handed them their training swords, the weight heavier than they had expected. "Here," he said curtly. "Now begin. I'll count."
He walked over to a worn wooden chair and sat down, folding his arms as he prepared to oversee their efforts.
"1... 2..." His voice cut through the air like a whip.
Kent and Nima began, their movements stiff at first.
Swish! Swish!
"8... 99... 298..."
Sweat began to bead on Nima's forehead, and her arms trembled with every swing. By the time they reached the 200th count, her movements had slowed significantly, her breathing ragged.
"I... I can't do it," she panted, her wooden sword slipping from her fingers as she collapsed to her knees.
"Nima!" Kent called out, pausing mid-swing to glance at his sister.
"Keep going!" the old man sought, his tone brooking no argument. "She's done, but you're not. Push through!"
Kent clenched his teeth, his arms screaming in protest. But he tightened his grip on the sword, his resolve hardening.
"299... 599..."
By now, his shirt was drenched in sweat, and his legs felt like jelly. Each swing sent jolts of pain through his shoulders, but he refused to stop.
"888..."
The old man's voice grew louder, his tone laced with approval.
"999... 1,000!"
Kent's final swing was as clean and precise as the first, his sword stopping just shy of the ground before he collapsed, gasping for air.
The old man nodded, a rare smile flickering across his face. "Good job, both of you."
He glanced at Nima, who was now sitting on the ground, watching her brother in awe. "You gave up after 200. Not bad for your first time."
Then his gaze shifted to Kent, his eyes narrowing with approval. "And you..." He paused, his voice softer now. "You pushed through when most would have quit. That is the spirit of a warrior."
Kent grinned weakly, his chest rising and falling as he caught his breath. He felt a sense of pride swell within him, despite the exhaustion coursing through his body.
The old man stood, his chair creaking as he rose. "Rest for now. Tomorrow morning, we begin again."
Kent groaned inwardly, but deep down, he couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement. This was only the beginning.
Next morning, the old man Xian Yu knocks on Kent's house as the morning light is very low. The sun hasn't fully risen yet. But the old man with years of experience is ready for the next lesson.
Kent was sleeping 💤 from exhaustion from last day training. Kent wakes up. He opened the door at the same time the rise from the east.
Once black sky becomes bright orange and yellow in an instant. Kent opens the door rubbing his eyes and yawning.
Let's begin today's training. Where's Nima? Bring her too.
Kent replied, she is sleeping. Go wake her up if you want to. I am not waking her up. She will beat me if I wake her up.
Old man thinks for a second. 🤔 💭 Nima's angry face as she yelled at the old man. And makes him write sorry multiple times.
Brushing off his thoughts clouds. The old man said.
Ahem! Ahem! I will give her lessons when I tutor her. Now let's go, come with me. As they walk into the yard.
Kent saw many Weight bags in the yard laying down. Some big rock is also there.
Xian Yu said, Put it on, Kent. Then swing the sword the same way as tomorrow into the rock. But make sure not to break the wooden swords.
Kent put on weight.
Vest 150 Kgs.
Leg weight 50 kg.
Hand 20 kg.
You have to break the rock. But you can't break the sword. This will be your training from now on. To do that you need to become one with the sword and connect your spiritual scene with the wooden swords.
Once you complete this training.You will be able to connect with any sword. This is the first stage of the sword Dao.
Look closely you can do this once you finish three stages of training.
The old man focuses his sword aura into his finger. Then an aura sword is created. The old man swings the sword. The ground alone with a dummy was cut into half.
Kent's eyes sparkle. Wow old man you are awesome. I want to learn this move quickly. Can you directly teach me this move?
Xian Yu taps on Kent's forehead. Stop dreaming. You can't do it until you master all three stages of training. Stop calling me old man. Call me Master from now on.
No. I wouldn't call you master. I am only here to learn your sword moves, old man. I didn't agree to be your disciple yet.
+999 sp copied from Xian Yu. (Frustration)
Stop messing around. Start practicing. Frist swings the sword 1500 times in air. Then do it on rock 500 times.
Hurry up. You have to finish your training before you go to school. The old man Xian Yu observed Kent practice. He thinks when I practiced as a kid I couldn't swing 100 times with 200 kg.
But Kent already crossed 500 swings. This kid must be hiding his level from me. There is no way a level E cultivator can do it unless Kent has an A rank physique.
I can easily sense that he is at the E level cultivation. Unless he has a way to fool me, he definitely has an A level in physique.
I need to test his physique level. Let's test both siblings' physiques later. Kent finishes his first step of training without any problems.
But when he tried to cut the rock he failed. On his first swing the wooden sword cracked a little. On the second swing it started to show multiple cracks into it. On the third swing the wooden sword broke.
+99 sp from Xian Yu. (Frustration)
The rock stood strong and hard like a rock should be. The old man petting his beards said you go home now.
"I only bring one wooden sword. I have created some wooden swords for you I guess."
Kent is exhausted and doesn't want to argue right now. He just nodded. Then he left inside the house.
----