Wu Guang's speed was even more monstrous than the day before with all his training and breaks taking under 9 hours. After finishing with the ax and recovering his qi, Wu Guang examined his gains. Most of his middle and upper body muscles were shining at maximum brightness. Some of the ones in the arms already reached the pinnacle of tempering for the level and in place of glowing could be seen to slowly absorb the qi that entered his body naturally. His lower body muscles also glowed, but they had no changes compared to the previous day.
He had reached a level that could be considered as middle training with all the weapons but the big saber, which was actually at the same advanced level as the spears. The latter could be explained by the fact that although the short/small and long/big weapons were different, they still were from the same weapon path.
Organizing his thoughts he remembered that he had only the sword left to train. But a sword was considered the king of the weapons and would actually require more effort, so he had left it for the next day. He had also a shield and the throwing daggers, but the former required specialized techniques or combat to be trained while the latter training without the accompanying techniques that all throwing and ranged weapons had would not net him any improvement for the body. These accompanying techniques were related to the senses and the most basic ones could only be trained after reaching the 5th level of the Spirit realm.
He still decided to use his free time to throw daggers at one of the trees near the training ground, just for the sake of familiarizing himself with them.
He again entered the weapon understanding state like expected even without problems. The balance was perfect and all daggers reached the target but with their lightness and material, they did not penetrate more than an inch or two into the tree. Although he circulated qi into the wrists to give them more power, without a cover of qi that he would be able to apply after creating his dantian it was still not enough.
Strangely he felt an affinity towards this kind of weapon, even though had never been a user or even trained with throwing or concealed weapons. His understanding of their use including trajectories, speed, and even backhanded throwing advanced far quicker than with any of the other weapons. In less than an hour, he reached a level that only a medium training level could describe, while when the third-hour barrier was crossed he had almost stepped into the first level of the path. All throwing and concealed weapons shared a common path, which was simply called Throwing Dao.
Entering the first level of the path would be normally impossible without the accompanying techniques and at least one martial technique for the used weapon but he felt that the gap was closing quickly somehow and did not stop there.
He did not stop even when the sunset, activating his powerful consciousness to make use of the senses that a cultivator of the Body realm did not have he actually continued training. When he stopped, he was extremely tired both physically and mentally. His qi was expended and even his consciousness returned to the weakened state he had after the successive breakthroughs in the sect's tower. With both facts and also that all his muscles were starting to ache without the qi he circulated into them making it possible to train like he had one would think Wu Guang got crazy when seeing the blissful expression he wore.
But he did not get crazy, although the fact that he successfully entered the first level of real weapon training without any of the requisites and only using several hours could make someone indeed lose their mind.
He slowly pulled the daggers from the tree, which was fully covered in scratches, holes, and cuts. After dipping into the lake and cleaning the daggers he did not return them to the storehouse but strapped their harness below his robe. The dinner in the pavillion was already cold, but he wolfed it almost instantly without even noticing the fact.
Deciding against recuperating qi forcefully, to let the body recover naturally for the night he went to his room. During this process, his thoughts were forming a coherent explanation of what happened. And reached it after considering his Saint-level consciousness, which related to senses on the same level. And they obviously were several times more powerful than any Yellow Realm. After all, the Saint realm was the name of the Integration realm for the Earth Realm.
"It seems that the powerful senses I used on the last stage of the training fulfilled the requisites for an even more advanced level of the path, so the Dao law of balance ignored one of the requisites. I should have remembered it quicker if I recalled my research into stage and levels, if one of the requisites exceeds what is required several times this can indeed happen. Anyway, this is perfect as the set is actually a weapon for cultivators, even if it's not a spirit weapon or even a rune one. If I don't find a better weapon, I should see if I can apply a rune layer of them and use them as the main weapon for the time in the sect".
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With this conclusion reached, he snuffed out the flame in the oil lamp, disrobed, left the harness in one of the chairs, and laid down.
***
The next day Wu Guang, accumulated and circulated qi for almost a full hour before doing anything else. This day was his last day for training, so while proceeding with it, he took the chance to contemplate what parts of his initial plan were missing and what was completed.
First, he organized the objectives he reached "My cultivation exceeds the 6th level I need, being already past half of the 7th one. I have prepared myself for any of the knowledge tests by memorizing every possible theme that could be asked. For the talent theory ones, I also formed the image of having studied, so it will be not strange for me to ace at least one of them. Except for refining, but that one should be solved tomorrow at least to some extent. By letting some of the most basic knowledge from my memories appear in the conversation while visiting the masters, everyone will think I have studied before as well. Wildlands language is a given and I can pass several weapon training tests, even ace the ones with the spears. The rest of the tests don't need any preparation, but I will center on meditating and recovering my consciousness these two nights I have left. My issue about getting a weapon for anything that may occur was partially solved as well".
The last part was actually solved with a better result, but weapons common for shadier people were not the best option for a righteous sect, so he decided to first see the situation and then show his skills or not. If one asked why Wu Guang trained with a lot of weapons but only wanted a ranged weapon as a main for now, the answer would be simple, he did want to fight in close range without reaching the mid-Spirit realm. Basically, he wanted to form his dantian, strengthen his senses and possibly learn a technique or two before throwing himself into hand-to-hand. Plus ranged weapons were rare between cultivators and would serve him if there was any group training or hunting expeditions.
Then he started to review what he had not done yet and if he will have the opportunity to "Today training is with the sword, and in the spar tomorrow I should use the short spear in pair with the shield, thus completing basic training for the last of the weapons I have. If Li Xia appears before I leave I will obtain a bow, which would be the best option as a weapon I can show and use openly. I did not obtain any useful resources, but maybe I will be able to use the rest of the coins before entering the sect on something. I haven't used the weiqi or calligraphy sets I bought yet, although I am sure of my skills for the art tests I should try them anyway today"
Finishing both organizing his thoughts and fully recuperating, he stood up and walked towards the storeroom. He carefully felt the grip, pommel, and sheat of the sword before unsheathing it and walking towards the training area center. He also removed his upper clothes right before throwing the sheath away and observing the sword in his hand.
Weighing two pounds and having a straight double-edged blade of 28 inches it was a simple and classic sword. It had a simple winged backward guard and a wooden grip. The pommel was round and had the same sparrow engravement as most of his weapons. It was smithed as a single piece and was about an inch thick at the root, decreasing more than two times towards the tip.
A sword was often considered as the king between the weapons and the careful manner that Wu Guang showed when treating it was actually an important part of one training with it.
He slowly closed his eyes and after willing the qi to enter all the muscles in his body stood there for a brief moment. He had entered the state of observation and understanding without any visible movement, but if a sword practitioner was asked one would be rebuked that the sword did not need visible movements. Indeed, just feeling it was enough for Wu Guang to actually start his training.
Several minutes later Wu Guang started moving. Still with his eyes closed a slash was made, followed by a thrust and a swing. During the next hour, any observer could only see him making these basic movements or standing still.
Later steps, jumps, rotation, and even lunges followed. Every one of them accompanied by a period of standing still, as if understanding what he did.
During this process Wu Guang did not take breaks or opened his eyes at all, even to eat the meal that was served at midday. Qi visibly entered his body as he almost unconsciously activated the breathing technique while standing still and only around the monkey hour his movements got quicker and followed one after another in complex sets.
During this time a guard entered the training grounds accompanied by Li Xia. They saw Wu Guang standing still at the center. With sweat covering his bare upper body and his hair flowing freely he looked like the embodiment of a warrior. Li Xia stopped the guard that intended to call him, motioning that she will wait.