My Cultivation Starting from Archery

```Chen Sansi drew his treasure sword and lightly brushed it across his arm.

A sting followed, leaving behind a white mark, but no substantial harm was done.

This was still the Zhenyue Sword.

If it were a regular blade, it would be even harder to break through the defense.

"It's not always this hard; it needs to be engorged with blood to work."

Chen Sansi kept trying.

In a normal state, his skin was tougher than an average person's, but not inhuman.

"Once I achieve Great Success, it will be a Vajra Body!"

"Out of medicine!"

Chen Sansi sighed.

The Tiger Blood Wine, sent by the Ministry of War as a reward, had already been rewarded to him twice by Xiang Tingchun, but it was meant specifically for those with Bone Training Great Success. The medical books stated that drinking it prematurely was not only useless but harmful, so it was not yet needed.

"Let's borrow some from the Martial Arts Hall!"

Hundred-year-old Black Ginseng.

In Po Yang County, it was generally harvested and kept at home as a treasured possession.

By the time Chen Sansi descended the mountain, it was already night.

He headed straight to the Liang Family's large estate outside the Tianyuan Martial Arts Academy.

Starting here first.

If there was nothing to find, he would then go to the Yunhe Pan Family and the Zhao Family.

Though the Tianyuan Martial Arts Academy's pharmacy didn't do much business, it didn't mean they didn't have treasures stored at home.

Bypassing two household slaves and disciples on night patrol, Chen Sansi lightly leaped onto the rooftops, hopping back and forth over the tile and rubble, making no sound thanks to "Light as a Feather."

He didn't even bother to conceal his long spear, carrying it openly on his back.

Long spear, bow and arrows, Zhenyue Sword—one was not missing.

It wasn't that he wasn't concerned about being discovered at all.

It was just...

The Liang family better pray that no one discovers him.

Otherwise, Po Yang County would have another family extermination tragedy.

Times had changed.

In the beginning, when he first practiced Martial Arts, he had to swallow his pride in the face of the Martial Arts Hall's people.

Now, he didn't even need to lift a finger against them; a flick of the finger to the bowstring would do the job.

It was just borrowing some medicinal materials.

He hoped they would not be foolish.

Chen Sansi quickly found the storeroom for the medicinal materials.

The person in charge was asleep on the table, essentially saving the lives of dozens of the Liang Household.

He climbed through the window into the pharmacy, grabbing a sack and stuffing it.

Soon, it was bulging with items.

"Indeed, there's Black Ginseng, and quite an amount of it too, enough for me to use for a while."

In a corner, Chen Sansi found some exquisitely stored boxes and opened them. They contained either ginseng or treasured ganoderma and many other rare treasures capable of neutralizing various odd poisons.

Whether needed or not, he packed everything and took it all.

Inside the quiet Liang family's large estate,

only a study was lit by the light of candles.

Chen Sansi thought about it, then still tiptoed to the eaves to peek through a sliver of an opening into the room.

Inside the room, at the desk,

a middle-aged man with graying hair sat there, facing a messy pile of scrolls, holding a folding fan in his hands and idly fingering it with a vacant look in his eyes.

'Is that Liang Zhan's fan?'

'Heh, old man, missing your son, are you?'

Chen Sansi hesitated on whether to send them all to be reunited as a family.

"Waste!"

A sharp scolding came through.

A haggard woman burst out of the bedroom and rushed toward the study, rudely kicking open the door: "Old man, what's the use of pretending here every day? If you really care for Zhan'er, why don't you go take revenge!"

"I do want revenge!"

Liang Shengzhi gritted his teeth and said, "But Xiang Tingchun has achieved small success in Refining Internal, and how could I be his match? Plus, without evidence, he would certainly deny it!"

Xiang Tingchun?

Chen Sansi was surprised.

Turns out, Lord Thousand Households had been carrying the pot for him all along.

"So what!"

The woman shouted shrilly, "You could ask others for help, couldn't you? Could that Xiang Tingchun be invincible in this world? Aren't there Refining Internal experts around the County Magistrate, around the Magistrate? Beg them for help!"

"No one can help me."

Liang Shengzhi's voice was choked with sobs: "Ji Guangxian and Xiang Tingchun are birds of a feather; how could they possibly help me kill Xiang Tingchun? Even if I were to spend all I have, I couldn't afford the price!"

"And the Magistrate?!"

The woman lowered her voice: "Isn't the Magistrate repeatedly calling you over lately? Can't you ask him to help?"

"Even less likely!"

Liang Shengzhi said, "The new Magistrate Xue is said to be from the court and barely accepts our tributes. He is too proud and lofty, how could he become our assassin?

"Moreover, his frequent summoning of us lately is for questioning about the Immortal Treasure!

"If I wanted his help, unless..."

He suddenly understood the woman's implication: "You're insane, hiding the Immortal Treasure is a great crime punishable by the extermination of nine clans... by doing so, we could avenge Zhan'er, but it would also mean the end of the Liang family's hundred-year foundation!"

"Foundation?"

The woman burst into hysterical laughter: "Liang Shengzhi, your son is dead; who are you keeping your foundation for? And with the barbarians about to attack the city, do you think you can stay hidden at home? Wouldn't the surname Xiang conscript you?"

Liang Shengzhi stood up anxiously: "What are you doing?!"

The woman put a hairpin to her own throat: "If you're really a coward, then I'll just go to Zhan'er myself!"

"Ah—"

Liang Shengzhi roared, overturning the desk: "You're all forcing me, so let's die together! Xiang Tingchun, I will take you down with me!"

What a touching scene of deep father-son affection, of white-haired people sending off those with black hair!

Touching, is it?

Chen Sansi sneered.

When these beasts were testing drugs on the villagers, they never considered that others had families too.

Even if he slaughtered their entire household, sparing not a man, woman or child, they didn't deserve half a bit of pity; instead, it would be ridding people of harm.

However, since they pinned the blame on Xiang Tingchun and there was involvement with the Immortal Treasure, he couldn't just kill recklessly, or it might lead to unforeseen complications.

"The Magistrate is indeed here for the Immortal Treasure, and he has Refining Internal experts by his side!"```

"It seems that the Liang Family intends to report to the Magistrate."

"Mr. Xiang, you'd better pray for good fortune."

Chen Sansi didn't stay any longer; with a leap, he vanished into the night after leaving the Liang family compound, disappearing without a trace.

...

"You want to learn swordsmanship?"

Wang Zhi, who was sitting on the stone stool drinking, lifted his head in confusion at the boy's sudden request, "Are you sure?"

"Sure."

Chen Sansi nodded firmly.

He had sought out the Sun Li siblings, but since they didn't know, he had no option but to approach Tang Ruoshan.

Wang Zhi recalled carefully: "I do have some, come with me."

The first time entering Fatty Wang's house was unexpectedly shabby.

The yard was unattended, and there was no furniture in the rooms except for a bed and a locked chest in the bedroom.

Wang Zhi opened the chest and pulled out a pile of secret skill books, then selected a few swordsmanship volumes and tossed them over, as if they were worthless: "Take a look at which one you want to practice. I don't have anything else, just plenty of techniques.

"When I was kicked out with my belongings, they only took the techniques above Refining Internal. I kept all the ones below it.

"Among these volumes, the best should be the 'Diancang Swordsmanship.' It's the same one the Master used."

"Supervisor Sun?"

Chen Sansi asked, "Wasn't he a spear user?"

"He also practiced swordsmanship. If I remember correctly, before he broke through the Martial Saint level, he had practiced a variety of messy techniques."

Wang Zhi stroked his chin: "This 'Diancang Swordsmanship' is a unique technique from Cang Mountain Sect, one of the major sects from over a hundred years ago. After the sect plotted a rebellion and was annihilated, the technique fell into the hands of the court. Even the master practiced it, so it must be good, but definitely hard to learn. Aren't you worried it will affect your spear training?"

"More than that..."

Chen Sansi voiced his perplexity: "What I'm more curious about is: what are the benefits of practicing multiple weapon techniques?"

One major utility of a cultivation technique is to push the limits of the physical body.

But as one's realm increases and they start training in a new weapon, what can that bring?

It's definitely not going to be a significant improvement in physical strength.

Otherwise, it would be common knowledge by now.

"Before Hua Jin, practicing an additional weapon technique can make your Qi-Blood more robust. After Hua Jin, it gives you a deeper foundation in your strength. Besides that, there are no other benefits," Wang Zhi explained patiently while changing the dressing on his wound: "So generally, it's the people in high realms with no hope of further breakthroughs who collect and practice various techniques to enhance their combat power. After all, among peers in the same realm, the battle often comes down to whose True Qi and Qi-Blood can prevail.

"You are still at a low realm; it's not very meaningful to train now.

"Even if you master it, you won't be able to use two techniques simultaneously in real combat; people only have one brain, how can you split your focus?

"At most, you can have a long weapon and a short weapon to turn to when an enemy gets close, so you aren't helpless. That's your plan, right?"

"Sort of."

Chen Sansi did not deny it.

But he quickly linked this information in his mind.

People in high realms with no hope of further breakthroughs.

This described the former Supervisor Sun as well.

It wasn't until after the fifteenth year of Longqing that Supervisor Sun suddenly broke through to a level above Martial Saint.

Was there a connection to his practice with the sword?

Of course, this is only speculation right now.

Martial Saint is still too far off.

Let's just try practicing the swordsmanship for now.

"I'll take this one!"

Chen Sansi accepted the 'Diancang Swordsmanship.'

"Whatever you want."

Wang Zhi added, "With a base level of cultivation, you'll learn other techniques much faster, but how fast depends on your qualifications and comprehension."

"Thanks!"

Chen Sansi didn't waste any time.

He began practicing the swordsmanship that very day.

The universal Breathing Skill was the foundation.

He only needed to learn Pile Work and Sword Moves.

He vividly remembered how, when first learning martial arts, it took nearly ten days just to perform the Pile Work and moves smoothly.

Now learning the sword,

It took him only half a day!

[Cultivation Technique: Diancang Swordsmanship (Entry-Level)]

[Progress: 0/50]

[Utility: None]

Only fifty to reach entry-level mastery?

Chen Sansi tried to officially practice.

The results were quicker than he anticipated.

Each time he completed a set of sword moves, the proficiency would noticeably rise.

At this rate,

Just one day was needed.

After one day, his swordsmanship could be at entry level.

"This really is a great sword!"

Chen Sansi held the Zhenyue Sword, somewhat unable to put it down.

This legendary treasure sword simply couldn't be measured in monetary terms, it was truly priceless.

"What a waste of resources!"

"I heard that Prince was taken straight to the Capital City."

This was good news.

If the Prince had stayed in Po Yang,

The barbarian tribes would undoubtedly continue to send reinforcements, and higher-ranked generals would be essential. Mr. Xiang alone wouldn't be able to hold out.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Now that the Prince was taken away,

The Yuwen Family would have to request reinforcements directly from the old Emperor.

Of course, this didn't mean that Po Yang was safe; on the contrary, its fate was still uncertain.

The Xi River tribe had at least five thousand troops, perhaps even more.

Against the Thousand Households' one thousand men,

Even as defenders, there was significant pressure.

Defense preparations began to be fortified inside and outside the Great Wall.

The great battle was about to begin.