CHAPTER 45: CHAPTER 48: INITIATE THE GAME, LAOZI

Initiate the Game!

This is the first move of Chess Swordsmanship’s five sword forms, and also the foundation for beginners.

Strictly speaking, however, this isn’t even a sword technique, but a kind of Sword Holding Stance. In an instant, one can enter a special state, with True Qi naturally circulating within the body, adjusting the state to the best, ready to strike with the strongest posture at any time.

This may sound simple, but in reality, truly mastering this sword, entering that special stance, is equally extremely difficult. It requires a deep understanding of Sword Dao; otherwise, merely following the positions recorded in the Sword Manual would just be elaborate posturing, without any significance.

For others, this itself is an extremely difficult threshold to cross, but for Wang Junze, it is much easier.

Because, in the past three years, Wang Junze practiced only one sword every day, ten thousand times a day. In some sense, these three years have been laying the foundation for this sword. According to the Sword Manual, simply setting the Sword Holding Stance allowed Wang Junze to naturally enter that state with just a few adjustments.

In an instant, Wang Junze felt as if his perception became several times clearer. If in combat, the slightest change could easily be perceived.

Without even needing to strike, Wang Junze could also clearly feel the power of this sword.

Is this Chess Swordsmanship? It’s really strong!

In fact, not only Wang Junze, but also Luo Qingxuan, who had been looking casual in the distance, raised her head instantly when Wang Junze set the Sword Holding Stance, her eyes full of incredulous shock.

This Sword Manual of Chess Swordsmanship had naturally been studied by Luo Qingxuan as well. But for Luo Qingxuan, the inheritance of the Profound Moon Sword Sect was already very powerful. Such a Sword Manual lacking a core Heart Method indeed didn’t hold much value. Even so, Luo Qingxuan had tried to cultivate these five sword forms, but even with her Sword Path Genius talent, mastering these five swords was not easy!

But what about Wang Junze?

He had just started practicing, and he had so quickly entered the state of holding the sword and mastered this first sword. This speed was somewhat terrifying.

Even though she repeatedly overestimated Wang Junze’s talent, at this moment, she was still somewhat shocked. Such a Sword Path Genius, even across the entire Northern Domain, no, even looking at the whole world, he might be among the top.

If nurtured well in the Profound Moon Sword Sect, in just three to five years, he might catch up to her Realm.

One must know, she has always been praised as the most outstanding talent in the Profound Moon Sword Sect for over a hundred years, and the most hopeful to Enter the Path and break into the Saint Realm!

A talent comparable to hers is already astonishing.

No, such a genius cannot be easily handed over to the Judgment Department no matter what.

Wang Junze didn’t know Luo Qingxuan’s thoughts and wasn’t aware of any of this. Instead, he was fully focused on continuing to train the next sword form.

Laozi!

This is the true offensive sword technique in Chess Swordsmanship, and it complements Initiate the Game.

Previously, when looking at this sword alone, Wang Junze didn’t really feel the subtlety of the sword technique. But now, having mastered Initiate the Game and entered this special stance, he could clearly feel the power of this sword!

Initiate the Game adjusts the state, and when it strikes, the sword shatters the stone like an Endgame piece!

For three years, Wang Junze practiced one sword, reaching the pinnacle of speed. After the battle, this sword also possessed terrifying power, but compared to Laozi, its power fell far short.

No, to put it more accurately, the sword he practiced before has now seamlessly integrated into Laozi.

This discovery delighted Wang Junze beyond measure!

Practice does not lie; the hardship endured before, seen as tough back then, is now paying off, far beyond Wang Junze’s expectations in terms of strength.

It’s no exaggeration to say that if he were to face Lin Yong now, he wouldn’t even need to employ Rain Sword Intent; just with these two swords from Chess Swordsmanship, Wang Junze was confident of winning.

However, when he started practicing the third sword, Wang Junze could clearly feel the difficulty.

The third sword, Layout, emphasizes striking like a layout and involves the most core anticipatory judgment of Chess Swordsmanship.

If the opponent can block the first two swords, the ensuing battle will become more difficult. One must judge the opponent’s moves from their strikes to make corresponding changes to complete this sword!

Of course, while it’s called one sword, in reality, this process often requires many exchanges to complete the layout and execute this sword.

Moreover, this cannot be achieved through mere arduous practice. One must engage with others in combat to gradually comprehend it.

As for Strangulation and Endgame, it is obvious that they would have even greater power, but Wang Junze is currently stuck on this sword, so naturally, the next two moves can’t be practiced.

Even so, the gains for Wang Junze have been enormous.