"Eh?!?! YOU ARE CRAZY" Zhou Xinqiu's screamed in shock and her eyes became gigantic as wooden logs suddenly came flying towards her and knocked her off her balance and she almost fell into the lake. "OH MY GOD, How will I slice these logs? I don't even have my sword with me."
"dumb girl, techniques can be practiced without the use of weapons, the essence of techniques are to transform regular Qi into a specific type of Qi. In this case, Sharp and sturdy Sword Qi. Use the energy released from the Nine Sword Dance Art to materialize a sharp sword that can cut through the logs." Zhou Ye explained out to her and continued. "That's enough talking, lets continue."
Zhou Ye lifted his palm and three logs immediately flew up into the air. "Ready your stance"
"Nine Sword Dance Art!" Zhou Xinqiu opened her emryonic Qi pathways and began circulating the Qi around her body as it converted into sharp sword Qi. "First Stance - Sword Destruction" As she began throwing some hand signs an arc of Sword might erupted from her body and sliced the log that was flying towards her in half and fell back down onto the platform.
"Hm not bad, but this first stance is limited in it only being able to release a slight sword arc at one target. Therefore, next, 2 logs." Zhou Ye muttered out and sent out 2 logs in Zhou Xinqiu's direction.
"I haven't even practiced the second stance yet..." She cried out and got ready to throw everything she had at those logs. It was true that she hadn't practiced the other stances, however she had comprehended the essence of the stances and since someone at the 7th level of body tempering should be able to use 7 out of the 9 stances, it shouldnt be too hard for her to do the second and third stances.
"Second stance - Sword Strength!" She leaped into the air once again and formed some different hand seals and two swords appeared in both her hands and two sword arcs were striked down onto the wooden logs. "HAHAHA, I DID IT"
Two more logs appeared from behind her and slammed into her body and she went flying forward face first onto a boulder in the water. "I... Didn't get wet" She groaned out and looked at Zhou Ye annoyed.
She eventually was able to release the third stance and slice 4 logs, 2 in front and 2 from behind. However, on the fourth stance, the logs became increasingly faster and ran right into her stomach and slammed right onto the stone wall in the back. After 2 hours and 9 more tries she successfully apprehended the fourth stance.
"It seems that the fourth stance is a little different from the first three. In order to successfully accomplish the 4th stance, supposedly based on my theory, you must stack the first three stances and then add on the comprehension of the 4th stance to tie it all together." Zhou Xinqiu stated calmly as she continued, "Uncle, let me try the next one." As the logs came flying again, Zhou Xinqiu soared into the air and consecutively unleashed the first three stances in order. A burst of resplendent sword light appeared as she spun around slowly and a gigantic shockwave like sword arc radiated out from her body.
"Fifth stance - Sword Cyclone" Her angelic but cold voice sounded while all the logs that were previously thrown at Zhou Xinqiu were suddenly disintegrated.
"Ah.. This girl is really something else, one moment she acts like a child and the next she becomes a cold ice queen. Nevertheless, her talent is really monstrous, if my damn brother wouldn't have been so overprotective of her she would've already surpassed all those idiotic 'geniuses' in our sect. I was merely joking about the torture chamber yet it looks like she might actually be able to reach the 7th stance in less than 2 days." It had only been 3 hours since they started the training and although each stance takes progressively more time than the previous one, Zhou Xinqiu was already able to successfully display the 5th stance.
----
Golden Pupil Manor
"Ah It is Hei Xie, leader of the Black Jade Faction, welcome to the my grand banquet to celebrate the ever so quickly approaching opening of the bronze circulation pool, or should I dare say ,my grand banquet to celebrate the end of Zhou He's rule." A middle aged man around the age of 40 stood at the front of a huge golden plated table. He was clad in a gold laced robe and on his face, there was a smirk which stank of self confidence or.. it could be considered as pure ignorance.
"Brother Liu Huai" Hei Xie, also middle aged, who was wrapped in a contrasting long black robe nodded at Liu Huai in acknowledgment. These two men were very different from each other, Liu Huai was a crazy fat looking man who loved riches and power more than anything while Hei Xie was the type of man one should always avoid. He was a quiet but cunning man who truly knew how to manipulate others for his own benefit and this was his intent going into the alliance with Liu Huai. Hei Xie knew all of Liu Huai's weaknesses and after they overtook the Zhou Sect, he would take control and make Liu Huai bow down to him.
"Hahaha, please, sit down and enjoy the delicious food and beautiful servants." Liu Huai spoke in a careless manner. "Liu Yan, come down and greet Elder Hei." A young and not too bad looking man at the age of 17 came down the golden stairs and greeted Hei Xie.
"Elder Hei, It is an honor to meet yourself once again." Liu Yan politely spoke and cupped his hands towards Liu Huai.
"Liu Yan and your son Hei Fengjue will definitely be the top rankers of this decade's youth ceremony, and after they breakthrough Qi Circulation they will surely be strong!" Liu Huai laughed out wholeheartedly while a small curve was also seen on Liu Yan's countenance. What none of them knew was that soon, someone they never regarded in their heart would truly show themselves in this ceremony.