The Warring States period, Guanzhong region.
A youth stood at the windy pass, dancing with his sword against the wind.
"Brother Tian, you're still practicing that sword technique? You've been practicing it for almost ten years!"
"It's been almost ten years, but not yet a full ten!"
"Do you really believe what that sword technique says, that practicing ten thousand times a day for ten years can make one invincible in the world?"
"I believe it!"
"..."
Hearing Lin Tian's words, Wang Wu was instantly speechless.
As a descendant of a high-ranking official in Great Qin, Wang Wu possessed some knowledge.
Especially since he had several sword manuals at home, he had a unique understanding of swordplay.
Therefore, when he learned that Lin Tian had been practicing a sword technique called "Xian Ren Gui" (Immortal's Kneel), he couldn't contain himself.
"Brother Tian, that's just a mythical tale, not a proper sword technique at all. If you want to learn swordplay, I have several other manuals at home, and I can teach them to you!"
"No need, I have a good grasp of it!"
The sword technique Lin Tian practiced was called Xian Ren Gui. This manual, from beginning to end, contained only one move.
However, its description was far from ordinary.
"A sword technique, one move, a thousand transformations!"
"Practice sword ten thousand times daily, ten years of practice, ten years for an immortal's kneel!"
Others would only see such a sword technique as a myth, a deception, and would discard it after a glance.
But Lin Tian, a transmigator, had a premonition that this sword technique was extraordinary.
Especially since this sword manual was paired with a treasure sword named Tai'a, which further convinced Lin Tian of its significance.
Tai'a, one of the Ten Great Swords, the legendary sword of authority, a treasure coveted by all feudal lords.
How could a sword technique paired with such a treasure sword be mediocre?
More importantly, these two items were left behind by Lin Tian's birth mother.
When Lin Tian transmigrated, his birth mother had already died in childbirth due to a lingering illness.
From birth, Lin Tian was raised by Uncle Gen, his mother's former guard.
It wasn't until Lin Tian was five years old that Uncle Gen gave him three items.
They were a treasure sword, a sword manual, and a precious bead.
According to Uncle Gen, these were his mother's bequests.
The treasure sword was Tai'a, and the sword manual was the one-move technique called Xian Ren Gui.
As for the precious bead, Lin Tian had a guess that it might be the legendary Suihou Pearl.
The Spring and Autumn period had two treasures: the Sui Pearl and the Heshibi.
Together, these two treasures formed an idiom, "Sui Zhu He Bi," describing the pinnacle of precious gems.
Both the Suihou Pearl and the Heshibi were priceless, even considered treasures of half a kingdom.
Could a sword manual paired with the Suihou Pearl and Tai'a Sword be inferior?
Moreover, his mother's guard, Uncle Gen, had strongly urged him to practice this sword technique, so why would Lin Tian refuse?
It seemed Lin Tian's mother had changed her name to Lin Dong, which made Lin Tian unable to recall if such a person existed in Qin history.
After practicing for a year, Lin Tian indeed began to notice changes in himself.
He not only became immensely strong but also his swordsmanship became incredibly fast and sharp.
In his second year of practicing the sword technique, his five senses were greatly enhanced, and his combat power steadily surpassed Uncle Gen's.
Although Uncle Gen had a瘸腿 (crippled leg) that contributed, Uncle Gen's combat ability was undoubtedly the strongest Lin Tian had ever witnessed.
He was much stronger than Wang Hu, Wang Wu's father, who had achieved his status of "Bu Geng" in Great Qin through military exploits.
From then on, Lin Tian understood the terrifying power of the Xian Ren Gui sword technique even more.
It was also from then on that Lin Tian stopped showcasing his swordsmanship, only practicing without revealing it, maintaining a low profile.
Until now, at the age of fifteen.
His sword technique was only three days away from reaching its ten-year mark.
These last three days, Lin Tian was exceptionally focused.
And Wang Wu was exceptionally helpless.
"Brother Tian, after you finish practicing your sword technique today, find me later, and we can discuss military strategy again?"
"I'll see if I have time!"
"Alright then!"
Wang Wu was long accustomed to Lin Tian's aloof demeanor.
He knew Lin Tian was no ordinary person, and his understanding of politics and strategy far surpassed that of his peers.
Therefore, while others looked down on Lin Tian, he held him in high regard.
Lin Tian had long noticed this but made no outward display of it, keeping his thoughts to himself.
He then began to diligently practice his sword technique.
Today was like any other day; he needed to practice the sword technique ten thousand times. Without ten thousand repetitions, his practice for the day would not be complete.
Lin Tian wasted no time when he could avoid it.
He practiced until dusk.
Except for a brief pause to eat some dry rations, Lin Tian did not stop.
Such diligence made Wang Wu feel ashamed.
"Ten years like a single day, persevering in practicing his sword technique!"
"If Brother Tian had chosen a different sword technique, he would likely be no less than a legendary Sword Saint by now!"
"A pity, a pity that Brother Tian is so obsessed with this Xian Ren Gui!"
Lin Tian's obsession was well-known. In Guanzhong, many people knew of Lin Tian's infatuation with this one-move sword technique.
Thus, when people called Lin Tian by name, many referred to him as Lin Chi (Lin the Obsessed).
This was only because everyone knew Lin Tian was not foolish; otherwise, countless people would have secretly called him Lin the Idiot.
This showed that no one believed that the Xian Ren Gui in Lin Tian's hands was truly a powerful sword manual.
Fortunately, Lin Tian did not need to explain himself to others.
Before nightfall, Lin Tian returned to his home, a small courtyard with a garden and three tiled houses.
It was not poverty, and could even be considered modest wealth.
Although Uncle Gen was a cripple, he was a master hunter.
He knew the mountains like the back of his hand, and his traps were never empty, always yielding great harvests.
Coupled with the considerable wealth left behind by Lin Tian's mother, Lin Tian did not have to work daily like other children his age.
He could focus on practicing his sword.
When Lin Tian returned to the courtyard, Uncle Gen had already returned and prepared dinner for him.
"Your sixteenth birthday is in a couple of days. Is there any special gift you'd like?"
Lin Tian was actually fifteen years old, but by lunar reckoning, he was indeed sixteen.
At this age in this era, one could not only marry and have children but also be conscripted for military service.
At that time, Lin Tian would have to leave his hometown, his family, and head to the battlefield.
Although Uncle Gen did not say it aloud, his eyes were clearly a little red.
"If I had to name a gift, I would want a strong bow!"
"It seems you've made up your mind to go to war!"
"A true man born in troubled times should wield a three-foot sword and achieve unparalleled merit. Besides, I have no other choice!"
"Then, has your sword technique reached completion?"
"Two more days, and on my birthday, my sword technique will be perfected!"
"I truly wish to see what your perfected sword technique will be like, and what power it will possess!"
"Uncle Gen, rest assured, even if you cannot see it, you will hear of it! When I go to battle, I will carve out a name for myself!"
As he spoke, Lin Tian looked up to the east, as if heeding the old Qin people's admonition to never forget the east.
That bearing made Uncle Gen's eyes distant.
"So alike! Too alike. This aura, it's exactly like the King in his youth!"
This was Uncle Gen's silent thought, too faint for Lin Tian's sharp ears to catch.
...