Da Xuan Martial Saint Chapter 3: Chapter 3 Introduction

Chen Mu had always held the conviction that every occurrence in life was bound by the laws of cause and effect.

Since his arrival in this realm, he had been relegated to the lowest status of a serf. For more than two years, he endured a grueling existence alongside his younger sister, who was seven years his junior. Aside from a meager wage that his superiors constantly skimmed, he had never experienced a single stroke of good fortune.

However, his long-standing streak of misfortune finally yielded a reward. He had discovered a Blade Technique manual and, along with it, a mysterious modifier capable of upgrading his martial prowess.

"It seems I need to spend Experience Points to increase my level, though my current balance might be lacking."

After observing the interface for a time, Chen Mu gained a basic understanding of how the device operated.

As long as he engaged in the practice of the Raging Wind Blade Technique, he would accumulate "experience." It didn't matter if he lacked a teacher or if his form was imperfect; the mere act of training generated progress. Once enough experience was gathered, he could instantly elevate the Realm of his Raging Wind Blade Technique.

This meant that even without the tutelage of a martial master, he could eventually reach the peak of this skill through solitary, diligent Cultivation.

"Brother?"

Chen Yue stood nearby, watching him with a look of confusion.

To her, Chen Mu appeared to be acting strangely, waving his arms at the empty air before falling into deep thought and letting out occasional chuckles. The sight made her feel slightly uneasy.

"Don't worry, I'm fine. I was just lost in thought."

Chen Mu offered her a reassuring smile. He couldn't help but reach out and playfully pinch her cheek, adding, "Yue’er, it might not be much longer before our difficult lives finally change for the better."

Chen Yue blinked her wide eyes at him, unable to grasp where her brother's sudden burst of confidence had originated.

"Alright."

She gave a soft, smiling nod in response.

The hardship of their lives didn't truly bother her, as long as Chen Mu remained unharmed. Having lost both parents, she was the sole comfort in Chen Mu’s life, just as he was the only light in hers.

Once Chen Yue had retired to the bedroom, Chen Mu gripped his Servant’s Knife and returned to his drills. Unlike his earlier hesitant movements, his practice was now fluid and relentless. He stopped worrying about the precision of his strikes and focused entirely on completing the motions of the forms.

After some time had passed.

The words "Experience +1" finally manifested within his field of vision.

"Excellent."

A smile touched Chen Mu’s lips; his theory had been proven correct.

He was uncertain how much experience was required to push the Raging Wind Blade Technique past the "Unskilled" rank, but as long as the system worked, he would eventually master the style. He was no longer wandering in the dark without a path.

...

The days slipped by quickly.

A week had passed in the blink of an eye.

During this interval, Chen Mu balanced his regular shifts at the City Defense Division and patrols with Liu Song’s team with his personal training. Almost every spare moment was dedicated to the Raging Wind Blade Technique.

Gaining experience was a slow, grueling process; every point felt as though it were paid for in sweat. He often had to endure nearly an hour of intense physical exertion just to earn two or three points of experience.

Yet, despite the slow pace, this was tangible progress rather than the futile effort he had exerted before.

Finally.

On that afternoon, while Chen Mu was drenched in perspiration from his drills, his accumulated experience for the Raging Wind Blade Technique reached exactly one hundred points.

[Martial Skill: Raging Wind Blade Technique (Unskilled/+)]

[Experience: 100 points]

Just as he suspected, the modifier changed, and a "+" icon appeared next to the Unskilled status of his Blade Technique.

Taking a steadying breath, Chen Mu focused his gaze on the interface and, with a sharp mental command, triggered the "+" symbol.

Buzz!

A faint, golden shimmer flickered briefly before his eyes.

[Martial Skill: Raging Wind Blade Technique (Entry Level)]

[Experience: 0 Points]

The moment the interface updated, a flood of information surged into his consciousness. The nuances of weight distribution and the precise trajectory of every strike—details that were once muddled—were suddenly corrected by this mental download.

It felt as though he had spent months training under the most perfect conditions and the most rigorous discipline.

When the mental transformation settled.

Chen Mu exhaled deeply and took hold of his Servant’s Knife. The weapon felt entirely different in his hand. The twelve variations of the Raging Wind Blade Technique, including every subtle transition, were now etched into his muscle memory.

He understood exactly how to channel his strength and adapt his stance—a stark contrast to his previous ignorance.

"I have finally reached the Entry Level."

"This single breakthrough is likely worth two months of training in a professional dojo under a martial master... even though I only practiced hard for seven days."

Chen Mu whispered to himself before lunging forward, unleashing the first form: Chaotic Wind.

The execution was night and day compared to his earlier attempts. The once clumsy movements were now sharp and refined—his legs braced, his core tightened, and the diagonal slash tore through the air with a distinct whooshing sound!

"This is truly on a different level compared to basic street fighting."

Chen Mu nodded in satisfaction.

Just by performing this opening move correctly, his power far exceeded the crude hacking he had done previously. Furthermore, the move transitioned seamlessly into several follow-up variations, unlike the amateurish strikes that lost all momentum after the first hit.

According to the manual, the Raging Wind Blade Technique was categorized into four stages: Entry Level, Minor Achievement, Major Achievement, and Perfection.

With proper training, an ordinary person might hit Entry Level in a few months and reach Minor Achievement within a year or two. At that stage, a swordsman could easily handle several unarmed thugs. Five or six years of dedication could bring one to Major Achievement, making it nearly impossible for a group of opponents to even get close.

As for Perfection...

That rank was incredibly difficult to attain, as it required one to grasp the true intent of the wind and develop "Blade Momentum." A person at this level was a match for ten men and would easily earn the title of "Martial Scholar" through the official Martial Examination.

In the current era of corruption and chaos, literary degrees had become nearly worthless. Lower-level scholars were often forced to buy and sell minor offices, lacking any real standing or power.

The Martial Examinations were a different matter entirely, as they were rooted in raw strength. Even if the elite clans controlled the slots, a person with genuine talent could still rise through the ranks and gain the backing of powerful factions.

"If I can earn the title of 'Martial Scholar,' a promotion to Head Constable is virtually guaranteed. Even without the title, just showing this level of skill would be enough to secure the position."

Chen Mu contemplated his future.

Reaching Major Achievement in an external skill like the Raging Wind Blade Technique usually provided a path to becoming a Head Constable. If a slot opened up or if a superior took notice, the promotion was almost certain; otherwise, one could simply wait and rely on seniority.

However, reaching Perfection and mastering Blade Momentum made becoming a Head Constable an absolute certainty. From what he knew, very few current Head Constables had ever managed to cultivate "Momentum" in their weaponry.

In past centuries, anyone with that level of mastery would have passed the Martial Examination with ease and entered direct service for the Imperial Court.

Now, though the official exams still existed in name, the traditional pathways had been rotted by bribery and the sale of positions.

"An average person might spend a decade of hard work to reach Major Achievement, but those who can grasp 'Momentum' are one in a hundred."

During his recent shifts at the City Defense Division, Chen Mu had learned that out of the five Head Constables in his unit, only one had been promoted based on the merit of cultivating Momentum.

The eldest among them, Zhao Zong, was over sixty and had spent his entire life with a blade without ever touching that elusive state. Despite his family's local influence, had Zhao Zong mastered Blade Momentum, he likely would have risen to the rank of Prefecture Chief.

"Others might hit a wall and fail to advance, but I am not like them. With enough patience and practice, I will reach Minor Achievement, then Major Achievement, and finally Perfection... and I can likely do it all within a year."

A determined glint appeared in Chen Mu’s eyes.

Now that he had crossed the threshold, moving to Minor Achievement would require three hundred Experience Points. Based on his current rate, that would take about a month. While the requirements for Major Achievement and Perfection would surely be higher, completing the journey within a year seemed entirely feasible.

Once his blade reached Perfection and he possessed Blade Momentum, his status would be transformed. Whether he took the official Martial Examination or simply displayed his skills to get promoted within the City Defense Division, his life would be unrecognizable.

He had survived in this world for two years already.

Having lived so cautiously in the dangerous lower depths of society for so long, he didn't mind waiting one more year. Especially now, with a clear goal in sight, his perspective was completely different from the hopeless days of the past.