Chapter 6: The Nine Grades Of Martial Artists, Strength Surpassing 10,000 Catties
When dawn comes, I'll exchange this saber for a heavier one at the martial academy.
This world is very different from that of my previous life. The black Aurora Saber in the weapons vault of the martial academy looks unimpressive at first glance, yet it weighs 10,000 pounds.
Even in the Human Federation, the densest alloy used in the crafting of cold weapons could not achieve such a weight. No such material existed!
This Patterned Steel Saber in my hand is quite extraordinary. In my previous world, it would have been considered a divine weapon.
It wasn't that the craftsmanship was impressive. But rather, the material itself was simply that strong!
The sight of the Aurora Saber allowed Wu Yuan to grasp an overview of this world, filling him with a deep wariness.
The materials that composed a world complemented each other. With such a perversely strong metal, other things in this world had to be equally extraordinary, for example - alchemists!
The word alchemy was not unfamiliar to Wu Yuan. In his previous life, it was prevalent in ancient civilizations. Whether it was the taoists in the East or apothecaries in the West, they all had some connection to it. However, the tide of technology eventually swept away all practices of alchemy on the Blue Planet, relegating it to the dust of history.
But in the Middle Land, things were different. Alchemy was not a myth, but rather a practiced and effective profession. Alchemists were highly valued in all thirteen continents of the Middle Land. Each one of them was a martial artist who studied objects with medicinal properties, and could refine precious medicinal pills to promote the progress of martial artists and cure diseases.
Wu Yuan found this system difficult to understand.
Alchemists were rare, and each one was famous. In the whole of Li County, there was only one true alchemist and a few apprentices.
Since Wu Yuan intended to cure his mother's illness, he naturally planned to hire an alchemist, which would come at a hefty price.
Silver alone can hardly entice an alchemist. Even if the chieftain makes use of his status, success isn't guaranteed. Only when I become stronger will there be hope.
After a moment, Wu Yuan shut his eyes tightly. His fingers closed over the hilt of his saber as he held the blade horizontally. There was no further movement. He appeared to be in deep slumber, maintaining this posture for two hours.
Throughout the entire duration, Wu Yuan's body and arms remained steady without trembling. It was a sight that would surely astonish the teachers at the martial academy.
A saber weighing 230 catties was not too heavy for a true martial artist. Any teenager could lift it, but to hold it with a single hand for two hours? Even a sixth-grade martial virtuoso would struggle.
Wu Yuan quietly sensed the subtle vibrations of the long saber. Feel the saber, and the saber will become an extension of your arm.
The concept of weapon sense was not taught in the county martial academy. However, in the Human Federation, it was considered the most fundamental practice for mastering the usage of weapons.
Just as humans are alive, weapons are not inanimate objects. Wu Yuan's mind was as still as water. Weapons, too, have momentum.
Weapons training is about finding the momentum of the weapon, allowing one to attack effortlessly with double the effect. Although it sounded simple, training this skill to a high level was incredibly challenging.
The aching of his arm, the flow of air, and even the mosquitos from the grass on the riverbank landing on the long saber, all constituted subtle changes to the weapon.
Weapon sense was also a form of Strength Training.
Hum~ Wu Yuan naturally sensed every aspect of his body, from the vibrations of his internal organs to the blood surging from his heart, the trembling of his muscles, the vibrating of his bones, and the flow of blood in his capillaries.
Wu Yuan was fully aware of all these sensations. This was known as Internal Vision, signifying an unimaginably precise control over the body.
With every subtle change in the momentum of the long saber, Wu Yuan made continuous adjustments to his own movements to maintain resonance between himself and the weapon.
According to the literature from the martial academy, few Adepts are able to perform Internal Vision. Those who can achieve it are all martial arts Grandmasters with formidable reputations in the thirteen continents of the Middle Land.
However, Wu Yuan was anything but satisfied. In his past life, he had been the youngest martial arts Grandmaster of the Human Federation, and had surpassed the level of Internal Vision. He could sense the most minute details in his body, expel all impurities within himself, and autonomously mend the subtle injuries in his body.
A true embodiment of an indestructible body. That was the pinnacle of martial arts in the Human Federation!
I only regained consciousness in this life a month ago. I need to familiarize myself with this body again and further condition it to strengthen my soul and restore my realm.
Wu Yuan had a cultivation plan in mind, as well as a burning desire to grow even stronger.
The body was one’s essence, the source of one's soul. Only with a strong body, one could attain a powerful soul.
Time flew by. Wu Yuan's consciousness relaxed as he focused on sensing the saber in his grip. The saber's momentum spread to his four limbs, and from his limbs to all hundreds of bones. It was a comfortable feeling.
Another hour passed, and the night deepened.
"Ha!" Wu Yuan's eyes abruptly opened, his gaze turning sharp. His bones and muscles lightly resonated with a subtle hum, and his entire aura subtly shifted. Even an Adept expert wouldn't be able to remain indifferent before such an aura.
Boom! Wu Yuan planted his left foot firmly into the ground. With a stomp of his right foot, his body launched forward like an arrow released from a bow, his figure blurring with frightening speed.
Following that, the air exploded with a piercing sound, and a streak of black light shot forth from the edge of the blade.
Whoosh~ Wherever the light touched, gravel was sent flying, and tall reeds were instantly cut down. The resulting gust of wind carried even further into the distance.
If Xu Yuanhan were to witness such a scene, he would surely be flabbergasted.
A lengthy breath escaped Wu Yuan's mouth like a white arrow. Then, his face brightened into a smile.
Saber Power Surge, Threefold. It took half a month, but I have finally mastered it! This strike surpasses 10,000 catties of force, comparable to a sixth-grade martial virtuoso.
In the thirteen continents of the Middle Land, martial artists were classified into nine grades. The division between each grade was not well-defined, but rather based on the maximum force one could demonstrate.
The ninth grade required a minimum single-arm force of 1000 catties, earning one the title of a low-tier martial novice.
The eighth grade required a minimum force of 2000 catties. Those at this level were known as mid-tier martial novices.
The seventh grade required a minimum force of 4000 catties. Those at this level were known as high-tier martial novices.
A sixth-grade martial artist could be referred to as a martial virtuoso, requiring the manifestation of 10,000 catties of force.
Fifth-grade martial artists, also known as third-rate Adepts, must manifest 20,000 catties of force.
Fourth-grade martial artists, known as second-rate Adepts, must manifest 30,000 catties of force.
As for the top three grades, it was a rarity for even one to be born among a million individuals. As far as Wu Yuan knew, there seemed to be no martial artists at that level in Li County.
Of course, in a true life-or-death fight, strength was but one aspect. Martial arts skills, divine weapons, fighting will, and other factors all influenced the outcome of the battle.
Over the past month, Wu Yuan had trained constantly and made rapid progress, but his pure physical condition had only just managed to reach the seventh-grade martial novice level.
The Saber Power Surge he practiced was considered a martial arts skill.
Ordinary people find it difficult to exert their full strength. They must train for many years to perfectly manifest all their power. But this is just the Fundamentals!
Wu Yuan clearly remembered the stages of martial arts skills classified by the Human Federation:
The Fundamentals involved manifesting the entire power of one's body.
Above the Fundamentals was Power Surge, which could allow one to momentarily multiply the force they could bring forth. The maximum was three times one’s base strength. Hence, it was also known as Threefold Power Surge. Those who grasped this level were capable of tripling their power. Power Surge consumed a great deal of physical energy and life force. Once unleashed, it was hard to control. Thus, it was considered a finishing move, not to be used lightly.
Beyond Power Surge, there was Rigid Yet Supple, in which one could wield multitudes of force, retracting or releasing the force at will. One would be able to blend rigidity and softness, and attacks would become unpredictable and multifaceted.
The three stages of martial arts skills were the Fundamentals, Power Surge, and Rigid Yet Supple. In his previous life, Wu Yuan surpassed the stage of Rigid Yet Supple.
However, I require time to adapt to my new body. It's best to train step by step, mastering control over it. Only then can I hope to surpass the pinnacle of my previous life and reach even greater heights.
Wu Yuan had a clear understanding of himself. Entering the Cloud Martial Hall was not part of his plans for his martial arts journey in this world. At least, not at the moment.
Although the Cloud Martial Hall was the top martial academy of the Cloudstride Sect, its goal was only to nurture fifth-grade and fourth-grade martial artists. A true martial powerhouse? That was beyond the martial academy's abilities!
As for the martial arts foundation of the Cloud Martial Hall? Wu Yuan had already seen the graduates from the Cloud Martial Hall, Headmaster Zhang Da was one of them. Zhang Da's martial arts skills barely reached the Power Surge stage. It was unlikely that he would reach the Rigid Yet Supple stage in his lifetime, which greatly disappointed Wu Yuan.
Once he entered the martial academy, many eyes would be on him. He wasn't sure if he could hide his secrets as well as he was currently able to.
Even if I wait until my strength recovers, to the point where it's hard for me to advance further, it won't be too late to reach for the peak of martial arts in this world.
Wu Yuan would not act rashly. He knew very well that he only had one life and couldn't afford to be careless.
Since heaven has given me a chance at rebirth, it would be reckless to explore the world when my strength still has the potential for rapid progress.
At least, I have to ensure the well-being of my mother and sister first!
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