God Of Immortals

Chapter 11: Heart Of A Cultivator [VII]

Ju Feng had just reached the martial arts' Yinying stage after three years of intense training. Although it was only a level above the beginner, its power couldn't be overlooked as the silver eagle stage of martial arts. Recently, he had finished learning the various stances of hand combats from his grandfather. Despite having a long way to go in his hand-combat martial training, he would be moving on to swordsmanship to have a needed balance. Martial arts' training was a continuous process that could take an eternity to fully mastered.

With all readiness, Ju Feng steadily walked up to his grandfather who was checking the defensive arrays protecting their cave. Knowing he would be starting his swords training on the day, he had woken up earlier than usual to prepare himself. With his determination and confidence, he looked quite grown which gave him more confidence as he walked towards his grandfather. His body senses were also growing keener as a result of the hard training he had been going through.

"Good morning, grandpa."

"Ju Feng! I didn't know you are already up."

Zhang Li Qiang exclaimed in a pretended surprise which made Ju Feng smile in satisfaction. Zhang Li Qiang knew his grandson would come to practice as soon as possible due to the impending swords training. He knew how his grandson sacredly revered swords. So, the day was a special day for his training, and for him as a swordsman.

"A very good morning to you too. I guess that means you are ready for your morning training?"

"Yes, grandpa."

"Hm. Alright then, follow me."

Arriving at the training centre, Zhang Li Qiang produced a wooden sword and gave it to his grandson. As a beginner, he would be using the sword's replica to avoid unnecessary accidents.

"Swordsmanship is the abilities of a martial artist to use the sword in an efficient way."

Zhang Li Qiang materialised his own sword, Skyfire. A nephrite forged white sword imbued with the core of a white wyvern. It was a beautifully made sword. He glanced at his grandson while performing a few rhythmic swings. If his grandson could manifest the bloodline fire affinity, the sword would be a great gift in the future.

"Listen carefully, Ju Feng. Sword is a weapon of blade that looks beautiful and delicate, but in the hand of a swordsman, it's a deadly weapon. This is why you must be mentally prepared before using it. Proper training is what you'll need to be a true swordsman. Know this Ju Feng, it takes a true swordsman to know when to draw a sword, and when to look the other way. You do not draw your sword for every minor things. You draw your sword when it's absolutely necessary, and you are left with no other alternative. Do you understand?"

"Yes, grandpa. I do."

With his brows slightly furrowed together, Zhang Li Qiang stared extensively at his grandson and slowly asked.

"Ju Feng, which one is easier, to destroy or to make?"

"To destroy something is easier, grandpa."

"Yes, it's easier to destroy. But to make can take a long time to do. This is where the nature of your heart comes in. How can a wrongly framed heart understand the dao of the universe? It takes a calm and patient heart. Alright, let's start. And Ju Feng, I will need your extra focus and seriousness. Hm?"

Zhang Li Qiang's unyielding stare stayed on his grandson who quickly responded with his own focused gaze.

"Yes, grandpa."

"The basic defence moves involve blocking and stepping. Blocking and stepping are defensive moves used to stay out of the sword's attack range. You either move forward, backward or sideways. The placement of your foot means a great deal in swordsmanship. It could be a matter of life and death. Now, pay attention to the moves."

Zhang Li Qiang started displaying the techniques by moving his feet back and forth, while watching his grandson to see if he was following his moves according to the steps. After confirming his grandson's grasp of the moves, he nodded and changed his posture. He continued to put himself in different positions as he directed his grandson into the proper positions, showing him all the sword moves.

They were so immersed in training that they failed to notice the flight of time. Realizing eight hours had passed since the time they started, Zhang Li Qiang stopped the training, and both of them left the practice area. On their way back to the cave, Zhang Li Qiang looked at his grandson and nodded.

"Physical training develops body strength and health. It will surely provide you with the toughness of physique and greater agility. You'll have wider abilities to perform to your strength, and the capacity to survive and thrive in a crisis. Truly I say to you Ju Feng, every cultivator should have the physical abilities."

Few minutes after getting back to the cave, Ju Feng made his way to the pool area where he sat down on a bamboo mat beside the pool. The peace radiatIng from the silence around the pool was soul comforting for him. With his eyes closed, he was feeling his inner peace while waiting for his grandmother when a familiar voice suddenly rang out.

"As long as mortals and immortals have lived on this planet, we have relied on water to nourish and replenish our body and soul."