Mang Shusheng's Ink Painting Practice

Chapter 52: Great Yangming Bronze Sword
When Zhao Yifu left the mountain after completing his outer sect training, he was evaluated as lacking in potential.

He certainly didn't show much potential when he was studying at Molu Academy.

But things are completely different now.

Liang Zhongzhi has made some more detailed evaluations of Zhao Yifu's potential: calligraphy and painting potential, low; imperial examination potential, medium; Qi refining potential, medium; martial arts potential, high; magic potential, high.

Zhao Yifu was actually quite puzzled when he heard Liang Zhongzhi's new evaluation of him. His Qi Refining potential was only 'medium', and it seemed that there was still a gap compared to those real geniuses.

But even though he had enough understanding of himself, he was still a little defeated when faced with Mr. Cangqiu's blunt evaluation.

Indeed, what use is there in martial arts potential and magic potential in the Danqing Sect?

If someone is not good at playing the piano, chess, calligraphy or painting, then he was raised by a stepmother.

He felt a little depressed, but still said realistically: "Mr. Cangqiu, my mentor asked me to be the outer sect guardian. I am here to choose weapons and receive elixirs."

Mr. Cangqiu nodded kindly and said, "Okay, that's what I've been waiting for you for."

He fumbled in his bosom and took out two jade bottles. He said, "I've prepared them for you a long time ago. This dark bottle contains the Qigong Pills. I gave you a few extra. It should be enough for you to use for a season."

Zhao Yifu took the bottle of fasting pills and found it was heavier than expected.

He couldn't help but feel moved, thinking that Mr. Cangqiu was just a little blunt in his words, but he was still a very good person.

Then the old scholar handed over a light-colored bottle and said, "Here are ten Soul-Enriching Pills. I've picked them out for you and filtered out the low-quality ones, leaving only the mid-quality and high-quality ones."

"Your talent for cultivation isn't very good, so you need to use better medicine."

The old man still touched Zhao Yifu's heart, but he no longer felt that it was a big deal. He only felt deep love.

He bowed deeply once more and said, "Thank you, Mr. Cangqiu, for your kindness. I am deeply grateful."

The old man smiled and said, "Alright, we're all family, so it's not too much trouble to give so many gifts."

Zhao Yifu complained in his heart: If he hadn't been so polite, would he have received such preferential treatment?

So he just straightened up and bent down again and said: "Mr. Cangqiu is a senior and can naturally do as he pleases, but I am a junior and must restrain myself and observe etiquette."

Mr. Cangqiu laughed out loud and said, "You kid...never mind. Whatever you say. Come on, I'll take you to choose a weapon."

This suddenly seemed much more intimate.

See, being polite is a good habit, especially in front of these senior people in the mountains.

The casualness and naturalness they emphasize is just who they are. Who doesn't like others to be respectful and considerate to them?

The old man walked in front with vigor and vitality, while Zhao Yifu followed behind.

But Zhao Yifu felt something was wrong with the place they went to. It seemed to be just an ordinary house in the back mountain?
It's not even much different from the dormitories where the students live.

Mr. Cangqiu stopped in front of a large warehouse and said, "This is it. Go and push the door open, but I don't have much strength."

Zhao Yifu obediently walked forward and pushed the door open.

He pushed the door open with force, and was greeted by a stuffy and putrid smell.

Is something rotten here?

He held his breath and opened the door completely. Dust falling from the door frame covered his head and face.

How long has it been since anyone came to this warehouse?

Mr. Cangqiu seemed to know what he was thinking and said with a smile, "No one has come here for over ten years. After all, those guys would choose the Four Treasures of the Study or instruments like zither and chess made by famous masters when they have the chance. People only come here occasionally."

Zhao Yifu: ...

It was indeed a sect of scholars. He couldn't help but ask, "Are these tools still usable?"

Mr. Cangqiu said, "Then it should still be usable. After all, these instruments were originally brought from the Sword Forging Valley of the Pure Yang Sword Vein and the Fire Pillar Peak of the Dan Ding Vein. The quality can still be guaranteed."

He seemed a little embarrassed as he spoke, and added, "What kind of weapon do you want? You can tell me and I'll give you a suggestion."

Zhao Yifu breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that his politeness was still very useful.

He said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Mr. Cangqiu... Since I'm a scholar, I'll use the sword."

Mr. Cangqiu said as if nothing had happened: "As it should be."

Zhao Yifu was not original in this regard. In this era, it was standard for scholars who passed the examination to study with swords, so it was also a tradition for scholars to carry swords.

Mr. Cangqiu asked again: "Can I use a heavy sword?"

Zhao Yifu raised his eyebrows and replied, "Yes."

Mr. Cangqiu said, "Okay, then let's use this 'Great Yangming Fine Bronze Sword'."

As soon as he finished speaking, a large sword without guard, about 1.6 meters long and with a blade four fingers wide, flew out of the warehouse and landed on the ground in front of Mr. Cangqiu with some scattered dust.

Zhao Yifu looked at the big sword, which was actually made entirely of brass. There were fishing net-like patterns on the sword, which looked very simple and textured.

Mr. Cangqiu said, "This sword has been here for two hundred years. It was forged by a disciple of the Sword Forging Valley, imitating an ancient famous sword, hence the brass."

"But you don't have to worry about the copper sword being too soft. It's made of an alloy that has been refined hundreds of times. Its hardness is no less than that of ordinary divine weapons."

"More importantly, refined copper has been an excellent carrier of true qi and spiritual power since ancient times. Coupled with the special refining process of the Sword Forging Valley, it not only increases spell damage, but can also be used to store yang and spiritual energy."

In short, this 'Da Yangming Fine Copper Sword' is a magic sword made of sufficient materials but with a somewhat strange positioning?

Zhao Yifu immediately stepped forward and drew the sword. Considering his height of 185cm, the sword seemed to be just the right size.

He held the sword horizontally, supported it with both hands, and bowed deeply to Mr. Cangqiu without saying much.

Mr. Cangqiu nodded with satisfaction and said, "Go ahead. This is the Pure Yang Sword, and it's meant to slay demons and monsters."

Zhao Yi Fu stood up, said goodbye solemnly again, then turned around and walked down the mountain.

When he passed by the school, he happened to see Liang Zhongzhi walking out of the classroom after the class was over.

He clasped his fists and bowed to Liang Zhongzhi from a distance, while Liang Zhongzhi nodded and smiled.

He turned and went down the mountain again.

It was not until they left the Molu Academy that Zhao Yifu breathed a sigh of relief and lowered his straight back.

I’m tired. It’s really tiring to come back once.

He didn't know how he had been so weird and artistic for eight years. He had been down the mountain for less than half a year and felt like he couldn't stand it when he came back.

This scholar is...

Unable to help but secretly criticize his future master once again, Zhao Yifu strode back to Moyang City.

Overall, he was in a really good mood today.

This 'Big Yangming Fine Bronze Sword' was obviously not an ordinary item, but it now felt like a pearl covered in dust. He couldn't wait to go back and brush off the dust to take a closer look at it.

As for the sword technique?
That's not a big deal, he still vaguely remembered the 'house servant version' Crane Wing Flying Feather Sword he had practiced as a child.

If I review it later, I should be able to use it.

(End of this chapter)