A serpent-like creature emerged from the bushes, its gaze fixed fiercely on Hun Yu.
"A Grade 1 Prana beast," Yun Xiu's calm voice came from behind.
Noticing she had no intention of intervening, Hun Yu realized she wanted him to face the beast alone.
He carefully observed the creature, noting its intimidating features: a sleek, serpentine body with an icy-blue hue, adorned with intricate black and golden lines.
Yun Xiu's voice, steady and composed, sliced through the tension. "Remember, Assistant, every move counts. Observe its movements, find its weaknesses, and strike with precision."
Hun Yu nodded, acknowledging her advice. He shifted his weight slightly, preparing for the imminent confrontation.
The Prana beast, sensing the tension, coiled its muscular body, its amber eyes locked onto Hun Yu.
With a hiss echoing through the clearing, it lunged, fangs bared in a menacing display of aggression.
Reacting swiftly, Hun Yu dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the beast's attack.
As the creature recoiled from its failed strike, Hun Yu seized the opportunity.
He launched himself forward with calculated precision, aiming a series of swift strikes at the beast's vulnerable spots.
The creature let out a guttural roar of pain as each blow landed precisely. But in the heat of the moment, Hun Yu neglected to watch for the beast's tail.
Before he could react, he felt a powerful blow, sending him crashing into a tree.
Before the Prana beast could finish him, a sword pierced its head, killing it instantly. Yun Xiu approached, observing Hun Yu sprawled against the tree.
Hun Yu slowly wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth as he stood, feeling immense pain in his back. He thanked Yun Xiu, recognizing that without her, he would have been in dire straits.
At Body Tempering Level 1, he was just slightly better than a non-cultivator.
"Let's go," she said, resuming their path.
After two hours of walking, Yun Xiu noticed Hun Yu's pitiful expression as he clutched his back. Seeing his distress, she decided they needed a break.
"After an hour, we'll continue. Rest for now," she instructed. During their trek, they encountered numerous tier 1 to tier 2 Prana beasts, all effortlessly dispatched by Yun Xiu.
Hun Yu gingerly sat beneath a tree, mindful of his injured back. Relief washed over him as peace and tiredness enveloped him.
He noted the diminishing number of Prana beasts approaching them, speculating they were scared by Yun Xiu's powerful aura.
An hour later, he rose, feeling his back pain ease. "Assistant Hun, do you know any techniques?" she inquired.
"Yes, I do. It's called the Strikes of 7 Hell and Heaven. It's quite basic," he admitted.
"Can you demonstrate?" she asked, intrigued.
He nodded, proceeding to showcase each form of the technique.
"Hmm, it seems like a Bronze Grade fighting technique with no requirement of Qi," she remarked.
"As my assistant, you're quite weak, so I've decided to give you some training," she declared, recognizing his need for improvement to defend himself.
Hun Yu's excitement surged. The prospect of being trained by a cultivator of the High Profound Realm.
He understood that such an opportunity was rare, reserved only for a select few.
Recognizing that Hun Yu's technique was rather average and effective only against ordinary opponents, Yun Xiu considered teaching him some of the sword techniques unique to her sect.
As her assistant, he was already deeply involved in her work, practically akin to being a disciple of the sect himself.
She saw no harm in extending her knowledge to him, especially witnessing his dedication in assisting her, whether in perfecting culinary delights or other tasks.
"There seems to be a waterfall nearby; we should head there," she suggested before gliding towards the cascading water.
"Hmm, this seems like a good spot," she remarked upon arrival, with Hun Yu following closely behind.
He nodded in agreement, admiring the beauty of the waterfall. It was sizable, reaching the height of a mountain, surrounded by lush greenery.
The scent of damp earth filled the air, and small animals roamed about. Truly breathtaking.
He gazed around in wonder, realizing that even in his previous life, he had never seen such a wondrous place. Yun Xiu approached a large stone and slowly sat on top of it.
"Okay, stand straight and show me how you hold your sword," she instructed.
Hun Yu stood erect, gripping the sword as she had shown him. "Firstly, you should hold the sword correctly," she advised. "Hold it firmly and keep it straight."
Following her guidance, Hun Yu adjusted his grip. "Good. Now watch me closely as I demonstrate, and try to learn. I won't repeat it," she warned before summoning her sword. With swift and flawless movements, she performed a set of moves that seemed unbeatable.
As she finished, she explained, "This technique is called the Water Flow Sword Dance, a high Bronze-grade technique."
Hun Yu's eyes struggled to keep up with the speed of Yun Xiu's technique. It was executed so quickly that he barely had a chance to catch a glimpse.
Her mention of technique grades only added to his confusion, an expression of bewilderment creeping onto his face.
Observing his confused reaction to the mention of grades, she paused. "It seems you're not familiar with technique grades. Allow me to explain."
"Most common are Bronze-grade techniques, which are divided into low, mid, and high. These techniques are typically taught to disciples of sects or families."
She continued, "Above Bronze-grade are Silver-grade techniques, then Plat-grade, and finally, the highest, Gold-grade.
Each grade represents the power and complexity of the technique, with Gold-grade techniques being the most powerful and rare."
But before he could dwell on it further, she interrupted, "Okay, enough explanation. Now, show me what you learned from the demonstration."
o(*￣▽￣*)ブ
Wha... How was he supposed to do that? She performed that technique so fast; he only caught a glimpse of an afterimage.
"System, can I learn the technique she just performed?" he queried within his mind.
{... Can't. You must have a physical copy of a technique; it will not work with someone performing the technique.}
Realizing there was nothing he could do, he swung the sword randomly and glanced back at her.
"...," was her genuine expression.
"Hmm, okay, I'll perform it one more time. Watch closely; this will be the last."
Before she could perform the technique again, he interjected, "Um, could you please perform it a little slower?"
She didn't say anything, but as she repeated the technique, it was much slower.
Hun Yu watched her every precise move with elegant flow, and as she finished, she looked at Hun Yu, obviously asking him to perform it.
Although he could remember the moves, it was still hard to copy them. He moved the sword just as she did, but the more he tried, the worse it got.
"Do it again, but go slowly this time," she instructed.
He nodded, remembering her moves, and attempted to mimic her once more.
"Stop," she commanded, and he froze in position, sword held aloft.
Approaching him, she adjusted his form with precise movements, guiding him through the intricacies of the technique. "Loosen your grip here," she instructed, demonstrating the motion with exacting clarity, "then tighten it here."
Their hands brushed against each other in the process, sending a subtle jolt through Hun Yu. He couldn't help but notice the warmth of her touch, the faint scent of jasmine that seemed to linger around her.
Yun Xiu, though her expression remained stern, felt a strange flutter in her chest at the accidental touch. She quickly withdrew her hand, clearing her throat to dispel the sudden tension that had settled between them.
"Focus," she said curtly, her cheeks tinted with a slight blush betraying her momentary distraction, as she resumed correcting his stance.
Hun Yu's heart raced at the proximity, his mind momentarily distracted from the technique as he tried to regain his composure.
They continued to practice, their focus intense and the occasional clash of their swords breaking the silence. With each repetition, Hun Yu could feel himself getting better.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of training, Yun Xiu stepped back, nodding in satisfaction. "Good," she commented.
Hun Yu felt proud for Yun Xiu's acknowledgment. "Thank you," he said sincerely.
Yun Xiu nodded before walking away. "Keep practicing," she instructed firmly. "I'll check your progress later."