493: Chapter 3 Cutting Bamboo

Besides the issue of having few people, Song Da Ren also mentioned a point that Meng Li was quite concerned about—cultivation!

The Dazhu Peak lineage has a rule: newly initiated Disciples cannot immediately learn cultivation methods; they must first cut black-joint bamboo for three years.

The black-joint bamboo was the same bamboo Meng Li had seen when he arrived.

They were all over the mountains, and when the wind blew, they swayed like surging waves, forming one of the Six Sights of Qingyun, the "Bamboo Waves."

Song Da Ren said this was a test of one's Heart-Nature.

Meng Li nodded, indicating he understood, and didn't mind.

Similar tests existed in the Schools of the under one person world. The most typical example was the Shangqing Sect, where Disciples would do chores for several years before being taught a single Talisman. Zhao Guizhen from Biyou Village had defected precisely because he couldn't endure such hardship.

Dazhu Peak's sparse population likely had something to do with this as well.

When a youth is full of hot blood and arrogance, seeing others practice techniques and cultivate while they can only cut bamboo—and for three whole years at that—their heart would inevitably feel some imbalance.

After explaining these things, the two arrived at the vacant rooms.

"Junior Brother, these rooms have all been tidied up. Pick one for yourself," Song Da Ren said.

As he spoke, he pointed to a few rooms not far away: "Over there are the rooms for me and your other Senior Brothers."

Meng Li nodded, glanced at the vacant rooms, and seeing they were as Song Da Ren described, chose one in a corner.

Having chosen a room, Song Da Ren took him back to see Tian Buyi for a simple apprenticeship ceremony.

After the ceremony, Tian Linger, who was nearby, seemed to think of something and asked Meng Li, "Junior Brother, do you know how to cook?"

Meng Li shook his head. "No, but I can learn."

This was the downside of his amnesiac persona; many things he already knew how to do had to be performed as if starting from scratch.

Du Bi Shu immediately laughed. "Great, Senior Brother can teach you."

Unexpectedly, this drew Tian Linger's disdain: "Sixth Senior Brother, the food you make tastes terrible."

Du Bi Shu chuckled but didn't refute her, as it was the truth.

Despite that, Meng Li ended up learning to cook from Du Bi Shu.

Because he joined the Sect late and had no other tasks.

Once he started learning, Meng Li understood why Du Bi Shu's cooking was so bad: there was little variety and no heart put into it.

After eating one meal, Meng Li said he could try his hand at it. He didn't do anything revolutionary, just made adjustments based on the existing foundation.

Even so, it earned him a round of praise from Tian Linger and the others, and he smoothly took over the cooking duties.

The next morning.

Song Da Ren, Wu Da Yi, and the others finished breakfast and practiced the Sword Flight Technique together.

Meng Li saw this and felt a sense of strangeness in his heart.

Because the way Tian Buyi, Song Da Ren, and the others flew on their swords was different from what he had used before.

When he used sword flight, he would turn the sword into something like a skateboard and step on it to fly.

Whereas Tian Buyi and the others would hold the sword with their hands and be pulled along.

In Meng Li's view, this was neither convenient nor cool enough. However, Tian Buyi and the others didn't think anything was wrong, whether out of habit or some other reason.

Just then, Tian Linger walked over holding two wood-chopping knives. "Junior Brother, let's go cut bamboo together."

Meng Li was a bit surprised. "Senior Sister, you have to cut bamboo too?"

"Of course," Tian Linger replied. As she led the way, she explained, "Cutting bamboo for three years is a rule of Dazhu Peak. Even though my father is the Peak Master of Dazhu Peak, it must be followed. I've already been cutting for half a year. I can teach you how to do it in a bit."

"Then I'll trouble Senior Sister for your guidance."

Soon, the two arrived at the Black Bamboo Grove.

Tian Linger walked up to a stalk of black-joint bamboo and said to Meng Li, "black-joint bamboo is incredibly hard; it's difficult for even an average adult to chop through it. Since we lack strength, it's even harder for us. Therefore, you must use a special exertion method when cutting."

"This exertion method is the basic skill."

"I'll demonstrate once. Watch closely."

With that, she spread her feet, assumed an exertion stance, raised the wood-chopping knife with both hands, and struck down forcefully.

A faint glimmer flashed across the knife, and the black-joint bamboo in front of her was instantly severed.

"Did you see that?" Tian Linger returned to her stance and turned to ask Meng Li.

Meng Li nodded.

"Really?" Tian Linger was a bit skeptical. She pointed to a nearby stalk of black-joint bamboo. "You try."

Meng Li walked up to the bamboo, took his stance, and swung the knife. However, he didn't sever it in one blow; it got stuck halfway through.

He immediately pulled out the knife and delivered another blow from the other side.

Only then did the black-joint bamboo crash down.

Tian Linger: "??"

What's going on?!

Cutting black-joint bamboo for the first time, and he severed it in just two blows?

This clearly meant he had already mastered the exertion technique, he was just a bit unpracticed.

This...

She remembered that it took her about seven days just to get the hang of it, and another few days after that to fully master it.

Even so, her parents said her talent was excellent.

Because the performance of Senior Brothers like Song Da Ren was far inferior to hers.

Now Meng Li had mastered it after seeing it just once...

"Junior Brother, have you learned an exertion method before?" Tian Linger asked.

Meng Li shook his head. "I don't remember."

Then, he changed the subject: "Senior Sister, you can cut the bamboo in one blow, but I need two. Where did I go wrong?"

Tian Linger fell silent. A few seconds later, she spoke truthfully, "There's no problem. You've already mastered the basic technique; you're just not practiced enough. After cutting a few more times, you'll be able to sever the bamboo in one blow before long."

Meng Li acted as if he had "realized" something, then smiled and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Sister."

Tian Linger straightened her back slightly, putting on the air of a Senior Sister as she waved her hand. "Let's continue."

"Mhm."

Not long after, Tian Linger was somewhat dumbfounded.

Because after Meng Li cut a few more stalks, he really could sever a stalk of bamboo with a single blow.

This talent was far greater than hers.

After they finished cutting bamboo and returned, Meng Li went to the kitchen to cook.

Tian Linger told Tian Buyi and the others about the situation, which likewise caused them great surprise.

Tian Buyi's Face was as calm as a still well, but in his heart, he was shouting that he had struck gold!

When he first met Meng Li and brought him back to the Sect to take him as a Disciple, there was indeed the factor of his good looks, but it was more because, through the simple physiognomy he had learned, he saw that the boy had excellent skeletal structure and was a rare, promising sprout for cultivation.

Now it seemed that not only did Meng Li have a good skeletal structure, but his Comprehension Ability was also top-notch.

Despite the surge of joy in his heart, Tian Buyi said indifferently, "Such talent is merely passable. There is no need for such a fuss."

Song Da Ren and the others looked at each other.

If such talent is only passable, then what are we?

Tian Linger blinked, wanting to say something, but Su Ru smilingly stopped her.

Others might not know, but Su Ru understood that Tian Buyi was only saying this to save Face; he was probably overjoyed in his heart.

The next day.

Meng Li and Tian Linger went to cut bamboo as usual.

Tian Buyi followed them stealthily.

Upon seeing that Meng Li had indeed, as Tian Linger said, completely mastered the basic skills of exertion, he immediately began to have some thoughts.

...