Chapter 3: Introduction to Saber Techniques

Su Mu had always believed that no drop of sweat would ever be shed in vain.

He had practiced his blade technique bitterly for an entire day, and finally, he had reaped the rewards.

"I was right after all; the points on the panel can be used to upgrade martial arts.

In the past, I sat upon a mountain of treasure but could not utilize it. Now, it is like a dragon entering the sea—the world is vast and open."

Su Mu’s heart was filled with immense joy; the long, bitter days of hardship had finally come to an end.

With the panel, even without a master’s guidance, and even without knowing the force-exertion methods of the Fubo Blade Technique, as long as he had points, he could directly elevate the realm of his martial arts.

As long as he shut himself away for bitter practice, he could slowly temper this martial art to completion.

Su Mu took a deep breath, his expression serious. He looked at the panel with a solemn gaze, then, with a shift of his intent, he tapped the "+" sign.

Boom!

A flash of golden light flickered. Su Mu felt as if something had been violently thrust into his mind, only to explode with a roar.

A massive amount of information rampaged through his brain.

The moves of the Fubo Blade Technique, which he had previously practiced by merely "copying the cat to draw a tiger," were corrected one by one amidst this influx of information.

How to exert force in every strike, how to channel power, and the correct application of the moves—everything was deeply branded into his mind.

It was as if he had been guided by a master and had practiced bitterly for months along an absolutely correct training path.

When the earth-shattering changes in his mind finally calmed down, Su Mu took a deep breath and gripped his firewood chopper.

Suddenly, a completely different feeling welled up from within. Although he was still holding the same rusty, dilapidated chopper, Su Mu felt that he had truly become a swordsman.

The thirteen forms of the Fubo Blade Technique, along with every variation, were now etched into his heart.

How to wield the blade, how to exert force, how to adapt, and how to face an enemy—everything had become crystal clear, unlike before, when he could only mimic a few clumsy motions.

"The blade technique has truly reached the entry level. With just a light tap, it’s as if I’ve actually practiced for months. Even the injuries on my body have healed, and my physique is stronger than before."

Feeling the changes in his body, Su Mu also noticed the changes on the panel.

【Name: Su Mu】

【Identity: Woodcutter (Vagrant)】

【Points: 5】

【Martial Arts: Fubo Blade Technique (Entry)】

After the Fubo Blade Technique reached the entry level, the "+" sign behind it had disappeared, and his points had decreased by 10.

According to the manual, the Fubo Blade Technique is divided into four realms: Entry, Minor Success, Great Success, and Perfection.

If practiced correctly, an average person can reach the entry level in three to six months, and Minor Success in one or two years. At that stage, wielding a blade to defeat two or three unarmed thugs is no problem.

Five or six years of practice can lead to Great Success, enough to handle five or six ordinary opponents.

If one reaches Perfection, they can develop the Fubo Blade Force and become a true "match for ten."

"With my status as a vagrant, I only get 1 point every five days. It takes fifty days to get 10 points. On the surface, it looks like a simple tap, but in reality, I’ve essentially spent fifty days of cultivation to reach the entry level."

Su Mu thought to himself. He shifted his focus and tapped on the Fubo Blade Technique.

A prompt popped up on the panel: Minor Success requires 100 points.

"One point every five days; 100 points will take five hundred days."

Su Mu calculated in his heart. Five hundred days—nearly two years—which was about the same time the manual claimed it would take to reach Minor Success.

"Five hundred days? I could reach Minor Success on my own by then. What use are you?"

Su Mu muttered to himself.

Although he said that, Su Mu knew clearly that things weren't calculated that way. It might seem like the time required for adding points was similar to self-cultivation now, but that was only because the speed of acquiring points wasn't fast enough.

If his status could be improved, if he could gain one point a day...

"First, I must obtain household registration. Once I have that, I can spend a few years grinding the Fubo Blade Technique to Perfection. By then, whether I join the army or become a constable, it will count as an improvement in status."

Su Mu pondered.

His status was linked to his points, so he had to climb up step by step.

The Great Xuan Dynasty valued martial arts, and there was a well-established promotion mechanism for martial artists. As long as one had the strength, there was no worry about not being able to climb.

"Household registration—first, I must have household registration."

Su Mu returned to reality; this was the first thing that needed to be solved.

If he couldn't change his status as a vagrant, just reaching Minor Success would take nearly two years, and Great Success would take over a decade?

As for developing the Fubo Blade Intent, that would be a matter for the distant future.

By then, it would be too late, and even if he developed the blade intent, there would be no future left.

"The household registration issue isn't hard to solve; it only costs five hundred wen of Sanzhu coins."

Su Mu thought to himself.

Sanzhu coins were copper coins minted by the Great Xuan Dynasty, named for the "Sanzhu" characters inscribed on them.

"I spent eighty wen on medicine before, and I only have seventy wen left. But it doesn't matter. Now that my blade technique has reached the entry level, other things aside, my efficiency in chopping wood should improve significantly."

His blade technique was only at the entry level; in Wuling City, he was still at the very bottom of the social ladder. It wasn't realistic to try to make money using his blade technique yet.

He had been a woodcutter for so long that he didn't mind doing it for another two months.

Before, he was forced by circumstances, living a life of bitter struggle with no hope in sight. Now, it was different. He had a clear goal, and even if his life hadn't changed yet, the feeling was completely different.

…………

Time flew by.

For several days in a row, Su Mu went out to chop wood as soon as the city gates opened.

He wouldn't finish his day's labor until the sun set and the gates closed.

He hadn't seen the effect of the Fubo Blade Technique on people yet, but the effect on chopping wood was immediate.

Previously, it took Su Mu over two hours to chop a load of firewood, and he would be exhausted.

Now, with the Fubo Blade Technique, even dead branches as thick as an arm were severed in a single strike.

A load of firewood took only the time it took to eat a meal.

He used to carry three loads a day, earning seven or eight wen.

Now, he could carry at least six loads a day, earning at least fifteen wen!

At this rate, in two months at most, he would have enough money to exchange for a Wuling City household registration.

After finishing his day's work and returning to the dilapidated temple, Su Mu would hide in a secluded spot behind the temple to practice his blade for an hour.

Snap!

Bending his legs, tightening his abdomen, turning his waist, and swinging the blade...

The power from his spine to his arm formed a single line, and the sound of the chopper cutting through the air was like a firecracker exploding.

"If this were my previous life, I could probably count as a martial arts master."

Su Mu nodded to himself, very satisfied with his progress.

…………

Days passed one by one.

Every day, Su Mu chopped wood, practiced his blade, and counted his money.

Before he knew it, over half a month had passed, and he had saved three hundred and fifty wen.

He carefully counted all the copper coins, packed them into a tattered cloth bag, and tucked it into his clothes.

This was his entire fortune, so he naturally felt at ease only when carrying it with him. He even avoided the other vagrants and beggars in the temple when counting his money.

Although he had been very careful, he couldn't avoid people when he received his pay from the Woodcutters' Guild every day.

Wealth stirs the heart. In the last few days, he had noticed that several people in the temple were often peeking at him.

And when he looked over, those people would guiltily shift their gaze away, not daring to meet his eyes.

There were over a dozen vagrants and beggars living in this dilapidated temple, a mixed bag of people. Although Su Mu didn't interact with them much, he knew that those few who were spying on him were no good.

"Living in a place like this, there is no privacy or safety. I must get my household registration as soon as possible and move to a place where 'normal people' live."

Su Mu calmly withdrew his gaze, tucked his chopper under his sleeping mat, and quietly heightened his vigilance.

Night deepened.

There was no moon tonight, and not a single light could be seen on the entire street. Inside the dilapidated temple, it was pitch black.

In the darkness, a rustling sound reached Su Mu's ears.

He opened his eyes abruptly, his gaze terrifyingly bright.