"This sword is named Kunling."
Tang Ruowei grasped the hilt and pulled with all her strength, but it wouldn’t budge. The next morning, atop the black peak near Seven Stars Peak, Bai Qiuran reluctantly handed a flying sword to Tang Ruowei. Its surface glimmered with a yellowish spiritual light.
The other spiritual beasts were all at the Qi Refining stage, and while Tang Ruowei managed to drive them away using techniques she learned from her practice of the Xuanlong technique, paired with the cultivation brought by the Danyan Yuan Magnetic method and the strength gained from her body tempering techniques, she found it difficult to deal with the mother monkey.
Its power was not only at the peak of the Qi Refining stage, but it had also somehow mastered the complete swordsmanship of the Qinming Sword Sect.
"Techniques?"
Bai Qiuran said, "Ruowei, I have always taught you to think about the principles behind appearances, and this applies to combat too. In battles between cultivators, what matters most is not any single technique. A person with a deep cultivation base can unleash immense power with just a simple punch or kick, capable of splitting mountains and breaking stones.
While refined techniques can make up for a lack of cultivation, mystical spells, bizarre escape techniques, and mysterious formations can also compensate for shortcomings. Finding the combat approach that suits you best among these methods is the best way to enhance your combat ability."
On the morning of the next day, at the peak of the black mountain near Seven Stars Peak, Bai Qiuran once again reluctantly handed over a yellowish flying sword to Tang Ruowei. The other spiritual beasts were all similarly in the Qi Refining stage. Although Tang Ruowei could barely keep them at bay with her prior skills, the prowess of the mother monkey was too much for her.
Bai Qiuran continued, "You must treat the sword well, as you would your husband, no, as if it were your children!" Tang Ruowei pouted, feeling wronged. "I don't want to hit anyone; I just want to protect myself from that mother monkey on the mountain."
"Why fuss over showing off flashy techniques against an enemy you can defeat with a single strike?" After grabbing the sword, Tang Ruowei quickly established a blood contract with the Kunling sword, as she had learned, and stored it within her purple mansion.
"Treat it like my children is fine," Bai Qiuran said, raising the iron sword, and Tang Ruowei keenly felt a surge of magnetic force emanate from him. He then controlled the sword in his hand with his internal strength and made a simple thrust.
"Is this all it takes?" Tang Ruowei opened her eyes in wonder.
"That's it," Bai Qiuran replied. Tang Ruowei felt a wave of magnetic force again as he thrust the iron sword, its power exceeding initial expectations.
"With one palm strike and one escape, this sword, palm, and escape will allow you to roam within the bounds of your foundational strength effortlessly." Bai Qiuran smiled subtly at his disciple and said, "Ruowei, I always stress that you must learn to think beyond what you see. Combat is no different. In a cultivator's battle, what matters is your foundation. Even without techniques, someone with profound cultivation can easily overpower the untrained. Yet, exquisite techniques can make up for any shortfalls in cultivation."
Tang Ruowei grumbled, "But with just this one move, how can I win?" Bai Qiuran thoughtfully responded, “That's only under normal circumstances. If you master this thrust, I assure you no one at the same level could counter it unless they possess special abilities or techniques.”
Tang Ruowei nodded, feeling more determined. Bai Qiuran’s advice was embedded in her mind.
Late into the afternoon, after having been provoked twice by the mother monkey, Tang Ruowei found herself wielding a stick the monkey had casually grabbed from the wild. But instead of faltering, she stood tall against the monkey's taunts, knowing she was slowly harnessing her prowess.
With a determined heart, she whispered, "This sword, Kunling, is my battle method." She vowed to not only claim her ground on the mountain but also to excel among her fellow cultivators.
Bai Qiuran, observing her growth, nodded in satisfaction. He knew their partnership and her relentless spirit would lead to extraordinary achievements in days to come.