Su Yang Has a Breakdown [Request for Recommendation Votes]

The kitchen backyard.

Su Yang smiled and said, "Brother Zhang, I'm troubling you again. This morning, chopping large pieces of firewood felt very helpful in developing strength. I was thinking that if I could practice finer control with smaller pieces of firewood, it might be even better. Do you have any finer scraps of firewood?"

Yes, yes, yes!

Old Zhang responded immediately, then turned and deftly pulled out a large handful of dry wooden sticks of varying lengths, mostly only the thickness of a finger, from the pile of matches in the corner: "Is this enough? They're all dried and crisp!"

"That's enough, thank you, Brother Zhang."

Su Yang took the wooden stick but didn't leave immediately. His gaze swept over the heavy, chipped old wood-chopping knife beside Zhang Laosan's hand. "Brother Zhang, can I borrow this knife and practice my skills? Right here, I want to test its feel."

Try splitting small sticks with a machete to see if it increases your skill level.

"Sure, feel free to use it!"

Zhang Laosan readily handed over the wood-chopping knife.

Su Yang took the heavy machete, propped a small wooden stick up on the stone stool he was standing on, picked up the machete, and chopped down!

Snapped!

The wooden stick snapped in two with a crisp, clean sound.

[Proficiency +1!]

"Huh! It actually works!"

Seeing that his proficiency had increased by 1 point on the panel, Su Yang felt relieved. He quickly chopped a few more logs, and his proficiency steadily increased. He returned the machete to Zhang Laosan, praising, "Good knife, easy to use."

"Hehe, the tools of the trade, you have to grind them often."

Zhang Laosan chuckled sheepishly.

Looking at the pile of thin sticks, Su Yang said to Zhang Laosan, "Brother Zhang, these sticks really help my training. I won't take them for nothing. How about this—whenever I come to chop wood to stretch my muscles, I'll chop this pile of kindling for you too, and we'll both benefit from it?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Laosan was overjoyed: "Oh! That's wonderful! Guard Su, you're so generous! Take all these sticks, use them as you like! Come and get them anytime you need them!"

"Take them all! I'll wrap them up for you!"

Zhang Laosan was eager to get rid of these scraps, so he quickly wrapped them in an old cloth and handed them to Su Yang.

Su Yang carried the bag of thin wooden sticks and, instead of going straight back to his dormitory, went to the archery range first.

After lunch, it was rest time, and there weren't many people left at the archery range.

He found his usual hardwood training knife and weighed it in his hand. The solid wooden blade, without a sharp edge, possessed a reassuring quality. As a training tool for guards, it was perfectly reasonable for him to bring it back to his dormitory for extra practice.

According to the rules of the manor, newly recruited guards will focus on intensive training for the first half month and will not participate in daily patrols or fixed-point guard duties.

This is to help newcomers quickly master basic martial arts and rules, and form a basic fighting force.

Therefore, he will definitely have another training session in the afternoon.

"Time is of the essence..."

Su Yang's mind was clear.

Signs of chaos have already appeared. The young master has brought back military orders, and the peaceful days are about to end. He must use this relatively "safe" training period to improve his strength as much as possible!

This short rest after lunch and the time to sleep after dinner are the "golden times" that he can make use of.

He carried the wooden stick bag and wooden knife back to his room, closed the door, and bolted it.

Su Yang carried the wooden stick bag and wooden knife back to his private room, closed the door, and bolted it.

Without hesitation, he sat down cross-legged, took out a thin wooden stick and held it upright in front of him. He gripped the hardwood training knife in his hand and gently chopped at the stick, but did not break it!

[Proficiency +1!]

【Three Techniques for Breaking the Edge (Beginner 164/200)】

"This is the best way to quickly improve your wood-chopping skills!"

Su Yang looked at the wooden stick in his hand, his eyes lit up, and he swung his knife again.

[Proficiency +1!]

[Proficiency +1!]

【............】

Su Yang's movements became increasingly fluid, and the wooden sword created a subtle whistling sound as it rose and fell.

He no longer aimed to break the stick, but focused on each strike. The wooden knife landed lightly on the stick, leaving a shallow mark or slightly deflecting it, but his skill steadily and continuously improved.

【Three Techniques to Break Through the Edge (Proficiency 1/500)】

In less than a quarter of an hour, a panel appeared in Su Yang's mind, flashing.

at the same time.

A surge of heat, far more intense than when he first entered the sect, burst forth from the depths of his limbs and bones!

This time, it's not just about the clarity of muscle memory.

A profound understanding of the subtle variations and practical applications of the three attack methods—"thrust, sweep, and slash"—developed through countless battles, flooded his consciousness like a sudden enlightenment!

He "saw" how the "thrust" technique could fine-tune the angle during a rapid thrust to penetrate gaps in the armor.

I "saw" how the "sweeping" technique changes height during the sweeping motion to deal with enemies at different heights, and even how it uses leverage to change tactics.

I "saw" how the "Crushing Slash" technique can be transformed into a dragging slash or a shock when the downward slash is blocked...

These are not specific moves, but rather a higher level of power generation techniques, timing, and instinctive response in actual combat!

at the same time.

His muscles and bones hummed slightly under the heat, and his sense of power was noticeably enhanced.

It's not that the body size has increased, but rather that the tendons are tougher, the bones are denser, and the explosive power and endurance of the muscle fibers have been genuinely enhanced.

He felt the wooden knife in his hand become lighter, as if a casual swing could unleash even greater force.

"continue!"

Su Yang's eyes shone with anticipation. He suppressed the surge of blood and qi brought about by the breakthrough in his realm, picked up a wooden stick again, and swung the wooden sword down.

[Proficiency +1!] (Proficiency 2/500)

[Proficiency +1!] (Proficiency 3/500)

……

He was completely immersed in his cultivation. The wooden sword rose and fell slowly, yet with a unique rhythm. Each strike was as if he were polishing a fine component, gradually imprinting the power generation techniques and combat instincts he had gained at the proficiency level into the deepest part of his body.

Time slipped away quietly in the monotonous repetition. The sawdust on the ground accumulated thicker and thicker, and the thin sticks in the bundle dwindled rapidly.

【Three Techniques to Break Through the Edge (Proficient 156/500)】

【Three Techniques to Break Through the Edge (Proficient 287/500)】

【Three Techniques to Break Through the Edge (Proficient 398/500)】

……

Su Yang was completely focused, his eyes fixed only on the knife and the wood. He even began to experiment with subtle variations in his slashes—the flick of his wrist, the adjustment of the angle, the control of the force—incorporating the concepts of "thrust, sweep, and slash" into these simplest of movements.

【Three Techniques to Break Through the Edge (Proficient 456/500)】

Just as he felt he was getting closer and closer to the next level and was preparing to press on with all his might—

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The sound of the clapper during the afternoon training session could be clearly heard from the front yard.

Su Yang paused, sighed inwardly, and had no choice but to stop.

He quickly swept the sawdust under the bed, hid the remaining sticks, tidied his slightly disheveled appearance and clothes, and then picked up the wooden knife and went out.

The new guards have been gathering at the archery range one after another.

As soon as Su Yang stood still, he felt a sharp gaze fall on him. He turned his head and saw that Yang Yunxing had arrived at some point and was standing not far away, looking at him with a deep gaze.

"Su Yang," Yang Yunxing spoke, his voice low but silencing everyone nearby, "Where did you go after lunch?"

Su Yang's heart tightened, but he remained calm and clasped his hands, saying, "Reporting to the instructor, this disciple has been practicing on his own in his room, figuring out how to generate power with his swordsmanship."

"Extra training?" Yang Yunxing took two steps closer, his gaze sharp as a knife, as if trying to slice through Su Yang's flesh to see what he was truly training. "I heard... after your morning practice, you went to the kitchen and backyard to help chop wood?"

The news spread incredibly fast, as expected.

Fei Jianhua or his men have probably "inadvertently" spread the news to Yang Yunxing.

"Yes." Su Yang readily admitted, "I felt that the action of chopping wood was quite similar to the exertion of force in the 'Three Forms of Breaking the Edge,' so I tried it out, and also to loosen up my muscles and bones, and help Elder Zhang with some of the work."

"Chopping wood and practicing with a knife? Ha!"

"Nonsense about your job!"

A guard nearby couldn't help but chuckle, but Yang Yunxing gave him a cold glance and he quickly fell silent.

Yang Yunxing stared at Su Yang, his face expressionless: "Similarities? Then tell me, how are chopping wood and practicing with a knife similar?"

Su Yang knew that Yang Yunxing was testing him and giving him a chance to explain. If he didn't explain well, he might be labeled as "not doing his job properly" and "willing to debase himself," and might even disappoint Yang Yunxing.