She started to get confused by the instructions as she felt like something was missing, even if she did everything as instructed.
"You have to use the Blacksteel Swords momentum while its moving to move with it, not against it.", Elder Lu explained to the training room. Some of the disciples listened attentively, but others had already started moving and ignored Elder Lu.
"You need to direct the existing momentum to push yourself towards the enemy. If you keep getting moved by the momentum without controlling it, you'll just move unstably and slowly instead of rushing quickly towards your enemy like an arrow. This is especially important when you're being attacked.", Elder Lu continued. He took a look at Jian Chen and was expecting to correct his moves, but Jian Chen moved comfortably as if he had done those moves before.
"When you're moving with the momentum of it, you need to swing the Blacksteel sword around with it. Try to make some good momentum along with your move. Once you find that you can move with it, then you can really begin to add your own attacks along with the momentum. Keep in mind that it's all about the flow.", Elder Lu said as he moved with a swishing motion that made him seem much more familiar with the Art than Jian Li was.
"You need to keep everything in mind, but the big goal is to find that flow. Find a way to move with the swords so you can really get a feel for them and find that flow that Elder Lu said. When you find that flow, you need to attack with that same flow. You need to make sure that every move that you make is a part of that flow of movement, no matter what.” He Yu added on, interrupting Elder Lu. He gave her a slight look, but let her continue.
“Every move that you make should be smooth like the flow of a river or the flow of your blood, but without having to think. It all happens automatically. You'll know what to do when you find the flow. I'll be the first to tell you that it might take you a few tries to get the flow just right, but I can assure you it will most definitely happen. You'll just have to find the flow as you practice. Trust in your senses and keep in mind that the key to the flow is in your heart and soul. You need to keep your mind clear and your body relaxed.”, He Yu confidently continued.
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After a few lengthy lectures from her elders, Jian Li eventually got inspired.
She took some deep breaths to calm herself down and tried her best to keep her concentration locked on the Blacksteel Sword at the same time as she accidentally entered her mind in meditation from focusing too hard.
Every time she was trying to make a move in person, she repeated the same move inside her mind until she felt like she got it right. As she rapidly entered and exited meditation, it felt like she was entering a type of trance.
He Yu looked at Jian Li and nodded in satisfaction when she noticed Jian Li entered the Flow state.
"Must be nice to have a soul at the Earth stage at such a young age. And the other one's body entered Earth stage presumably a good while ago as he seemed familiar with this. What did Jian Ye feed those kids?", an elder muttered to himself but stopped when he noticed He Yu staring him down.
She was so caught up in her surroundings that she didn't even realize she was in the Flow state. She could've been anywhere. The world around her slowly began to become blurry as she felt her body moving with the swords.
Jian Li began to realize that the true key of the Flow was in the connection between mind and body. The more she concentrated, the more the connection between mind and body became unblurred and the more she felt like she was in the Flow state.
They kept on training like this for hours on end until the elders told them stop. Jian Li felt like she was a new person. Her body felt fluid. She was more relaxed. She felt like she had just gone through a small transformation.
‘If this is just one day, what will it feel like after weeks, months, even years...’, Jian Li thought to herself while being surprised by her progress. Her body felt more explosive, as she felt like a new energy was gathering in her muscles. She finally felt like her body cultivation level was moving forward after hitting a brick wall.
"Its impressive that the both of you have now entered the first stage of the True Sword Art, but your next step is to familiarize yourselves with both the Blacksteel style and the Whitesteel style of the True Sword. You will be alternating every week in order to maximize the time spent learning.", He Yu said to Jian Chen and Jian Li who were now resting by each other.
"This continues until you have mastered both styles. Then you can begin to train in the advanced techniques of the True Sword Art.", He Yu continued.
The group training room was gradually getting emptied as the disciples and the other elders left the room.
"For now, let's take the time off to go and rest.", He Yu said.
The training swords that Jian Li and Jian Chen held quickly dissolved into nothing as they turned into glowing particles that flew into He Yu’s chest.