An Understated Dominance by Marina Vittori

"Speaking of which, those disciples from the Esoteric Sword Sect are really worth paying attention to," Miles mused.

He rubbed his chin and looked at the three figures in black robes. "Their sword mastery technique is both mysterious and powerful.

"Beheading enemies from miles away is child's play for them. And challenging opponents above their level? That's just routine.

"If only | could learn their technique, | reckon | could make a nfor myself in the martial world." Crystal chimed in, "The sword mastery technique is their best-kept secret. It was never shared outside their sect.

Our elder once tried to exchange it with three of our top secrets, but they refused." She sighed and shook her head.

The Sword Union was unwaveringly dedicated to anything sword-related.

Whether it was renowned blades, ancient sword manuals, intricate techniques, or swordsmanship principles, they would spare no expense in obtaining them.

"I happen to know a thing or two about sword mastery techniques," Dustin suddenly interjected.

"Huh?" Miles blinked in surprise, his face showing disbelief. "Dustin, are you serious? You're skilled in sword mastery techniques?" "I'm not skilled, just familiar with the basics." Dustin smiled faintly.

Growing up surrounded by the vast collection of ancient books in West Lucozia Castle's library, he had developed a deep love for reading.

With an uncanny ability to remember every word he read, each page becimprinted in his mind.

His childhood dedication to swordplay further fueled his passion for knowledge, leading him to delve into the depths of swordsmanship.

Therefore, it was only natural that he had acquired sunderstanding of sword mastery techniques along the way.

"Sword mastery technique is a legendary secret skill. Even having a basic understanding is impressive!" Miles exclaimed.

He added, "I had no idea you were so well-versed. If you have the time, could you share sof your insights with us? We'd greatly appreciate it." "Yeah, that'd be amazing! We'd reward you generously if you could pass on sof those secrets to the Sword Union," Ruby chimed in eagerly.

It was a golden opportunity for recognition. They were certain that mastering those sword techniques would bring significant rewards upon their return.

Dustin smiled warmly. "No need for rewards. If you're interested, I'll share what | know." He sipped his drink before continuing, "Actually, there's more than one approach to mastering sword techniques.

But it all begins with something called sword nurturing." "Sword nurturing? What do you mean?" Ruby asked, looking confused.

Miles and Crystal exchanged equally puzzled looks.

On the contrary, Dalen appeared lost in thought as he unfolded his fan.

Dustin explained, "Sword nurturing is about cultivating your sword core.

"Before it's fully forged, you must feed your essence to it daily and keep refining it. This will purify the impurities in the sword core and nurture its spirit.

"It's a long and arduous process, no shortcuts. It requires relentless effort and gradual accumulation.

"Normally, it takes at least ten years of diligent work to cultivate the sword core into a spirit sword capable of flying.

"During these ten years, there's no room for slacking, laziness, or mistakes. Otherwise, all previous efforts will be in vain! "Only with their own spirit sword can the wielder truly embark on learning sword mastery technique.

"In other words, ten years of hard work is just the foundation for learning the technique. There's still a lot more to learn." After his explanation, Dustin casually took another sip of his drink.

"Huh? Ten years just for the foundation? That sounds incredibly tough." Ruby sighed, feeling daunted.

With that, any interest she had in the subject disappeared.

The thought of forging sword cores every day for ten years was too daunting. She believed most martial artists would feel the same.

"This technique might be impressive, but it's impossible to learn without natural talent and perseverance." Dustin shrugged.

He had once found the sword mastery technique fascinating and had even given them a shot for a while. But life got in the way, and he never quite mastered them.

While he could use his cultivation and skills to achieve similar effects in combat, it didn't qualify as mastering the technique. It lacked the flexibility and power of true sword mastery.

"Ah, forget it. I'm not cut out for this. I'll just stick to being lazy." Ruby stretched out her arms in resignation.

Miles lamented, "No wonder sword mastery elites are like rare gems in the martial world. Turns out the learning curve is sky-high. At our age, starting from scratch is just not feasible." He shook his head in defeat.

It was like the saying—a moment of glory onstage required ten years of dedication behind the scenes.

While the sword mastery technique seemed impressive, the reality was that it was incredibly challenging to learn. One wrong move could have rendered years of hard work futile.

"What a pity." Crystal sighed.

She had been eager to get stronger, especially when she first heard about the sword mastery technique. But now, faced with its daunting difficulty, she felt disappointed.

Even those with exceptional talent needed at least a decade of relentless practice. With so much trequired, she realized she could easily master the Sword Union's techniques instead of reaching for something so distant.

"Well, | do remember sbasics about sword mastery technique. If you're interested, I'll write them down tonight after we return to the tavern," Dustin offered.

"I'm not interested. You should ask them." Ruby grabbed a lollipop and half-lounged on the chair with her headphones on.

"I appreciate your kindness, but I'm not cut out for this." Miles politely declined with an awkward smile.

He knew his limitations, and learning the sword mastery technique was simply out of the question. He couldn't see the point of owing Dustin a favor for something he couldn't even attempt.

"Don't look at me. I'm not into swords. What use would | have for it?" Dalen shrugged.

"I don't need it either, but the Sword Union could make good use of it. If you're open to trading, | can help make it happen." Crystal nodded slightly.

"No trades needed for now. We'll discuss it later if it comes up." Dustin chuckled.

Sword mastery technique could be a friendly gift, but he wasn't interested in trading it for petty gains.

Besides, he didn't lack anything at the moment.