Chapter 1602: Chapter 186 Ah Dai Demonstrates Power_4
The layout of the Tian Gang Sword Sect’s practice arena is extremely simple, without any equipment—it’s just a spacious square. Hundreds of fourth-generation disciples of the Tian Gang Sword Sect continuously practice the most basic Tian Gang Swordsmanship. Each of them wields a fifty-six-kilogram Tian Gang Heavy Sword, wrapped in white battle energy, swinging with great momentum. Some disciples with similar levels of skill are even sparring with each other.
Liao Yi smiled gently and said, "Uncle Master, our practice arena spans a vast area. Fellow disciples generally hone their techniques in the morning and meditate in the afternoon. Sometimes they practice Sheng Sheng Art at night. Currently, the fourth-generation disciples have mostly reached the third or fourth level of mastery, with only one or two senior brothers achieving the fifth realm."
Lu Yi Yi giggled and said, "Aren’t you at the fifth realm as well? You’re even close to the sixth realm!"
Ah Dai was startled. He naturally knew cultivating True Qi requires gradual progression. Initially, under Uncle Owen’s guidance, he diligently practiced daily and only reached the fourth level after five years. It was only after wandering the continent that he entered the fifth realm. If it weren’t for his master transmitting skills to him, he wouldn’t even know his current level. Watching Liao Yi, who seemed only a few years older, already at the sixth realm—this could only be described by the word ’genius’!
Liao Yi replied awkwardly: "Uncle Master, don’t listen to Yi Yi. My skills are far from comparing to yours."
Ah Dai shook his head and said, "My advancement is merely a stroke of luck. If relying solely on my own cultivation, perhaps I’d not be far off from where you are now, Liao Yi, you must train very diligently every day."
Liao Yi nodded and said, "I genuinely enjoy cultivating, especially the feeling of being full of battle energy. Naturally, my training time has been longer than others’. Uncle Master, how do you find their swordsmanship?"
Ah Dai observed the agile figures, chuckling bitterly: "Don’t ask me that; I hardly learned any sword moves back then. Now, it’s become unfamiliar; I can only remember a single Splitting Chop."
Liao Yi was stunned and said, "Uncle Master, stop being modest. With your high level of mastery, you must look down on our abilities."
Xuan Yue laughed and said, "He’s not being modest; he’s speaking the truth. We’ve been together for such a long time, and I’ve never seen him use sophisticated sword techniques—it’s been all brute force. However, when cultivation reaches a certain level, mastery becomes the key determinant of victory."
Liao Yi disagreed slightly and said, "I don’t think so. I believe techniques are very important. Without techniques, how can one’s mastery manifest to its highest standard? Sometimes, skilled techniques can play a decisive role."
Ah Dai nodded calmly and said, "You have a point. But there’s a question you might not have considered. In one’s life, energy is limited—for example, only fifty years to cultivate. If you dedicate twenty of those years to practice techniques, you’ll have only thirty years to cultivate battle energy. No matter how talented you are, you can’t surpass those who’ve spent fifty years on battle energy. Do you see what I’m saying?"
Liao Yi’s eyes flashed with insight; even though he didn’t fully agree with Ah Dai, he had to admit there was truth in his words.
"Brother Liao Yi, you’re here; quickly guide us!" Two youths about sixteen or seventeen years old ran up to Liao Yi. Judging by their expressions of admiration, it was evident that Liao Yi held significant esteem among his peers.
Liao Yi looked at the two junior brothers and smiled, saying, "With Uncle Master here, why would you need me? Hurry and ask Uncle Master; just learning a fragment of his martial arts is enough to benefit you for life."
The two young disciples looked at Ah Dai in confusion. Ah Dai’s sincere demeanor naturally made them feel at ease, "Uncle Master? How come we haven’t seen you before? It seems there’s no Uncle Master this young in the master’s generation. Brother Liao Yi, you must be kidding us, right?"
Liao Yi reprimanded, "Don’t speak nonsense, Uncle Master Ah Dai has been traveling outside, and he just returned today."
Ah Dai laughed, "Don’t mind them; indeed, I hardly seem like an Uncle Master. Just call me Brother Ah Dai. To what realm have you now cultivated your Sheng Sheng True Qi?"
Liao Yi answered on behalf of the two junior brothers, "They’re the youngest in the fourth generation, having not trained for long—now at the second realm—but they’re gifted and close to breaking through to the third. Uncle Master, shall I call the brothers over?"
Ah Dai shook his head, looking at the fourth-generation disciples practicing vigorously; a sense of eagerness arose within him. He said, "No need. Here’s what we’ll do: I’ll test everyone’s reflexes." Before Liao Yi could respond, Ah Dai’s body darted away. With Ah Dai’s current mastery, just a thought allowed him to move at a ghostly speed. He placed one hand behind his back, stretched the other in front, and floated toward the four nearest individuals like lightning. Those four disciples were absorbed in their training when they suddenly felt a strong wind beside them. Almost without hesitation, they simultaneously slashed their Tian Gang Heavy Swords in the direction of the gust. Fearing it might be one of their own, they didn’t use full force. Four swords cleaved, intersecting to form a sword web in the air, focusing on defense. In their minds, even if their opponent wields immense power, their seamless cooperation should undoubtedly block it.
