The Heavens begin by inheriting their grandfather's cheat ability

Chapter 6: Listening to the Sword's Principles - Improving Proficiency

The hour of You (5-7 PM) is the time for the Snow Mountain Sect to have their evening meal.

After having dinner with his master, Shi Zhongyu could take a short rest.

While he was resting, his master had to leave in a hurry.

Feng Wanli is the eldest disciple of the Snow Mountain Sect and the future successor to the sect leader, so he is quite busy with affairs.

Especially now that Headmaster Bai is so engrossed in practicing martial arts, Feng Wanli is basically handling all the affairs within the sect.

However, before leaving, his master told him that at the hour of Xu (7-9 PM) he should go to the side hall of Lingxiao Palace to listen to the elders talk about sword principles, sect rules, and stories of the martial world.

After the elder finishes speaking, the disciples can go back.

Shi Zhongyu didn't know anyone else in the Snow Mountain Sect, so after the meal he found a place to rest by himself.

Before 7 PM, Shi Zhongyu rushed to the side hall of Lingxiao Palace.

He didn't even need to ask where the side hall was; he could see groups of three or five fellow disciples dressed in green robes heading towards a certain place.

He followed the flow of people into this side hall.

The side hall was built of bluestone, with frost covering the four walls and the windows covered with ice-patterned cotton paper.

There were still some candles by the window, their dim, flickering light barely suppressing the chill.

In the center of the side hall is a long ebony table, flanked by eight bluestone stools.

Behind the long table sat an elderly man who was nearly sixty years old.

His beard and hair were half white, styled in a Taoist bun, and he had a lean face with sharp, sword-like eyes.

He wore a dark blue brocade robe and a jade belt around his waist. His left hand rested on his knee, and his right hand lightly tapped the table. He exuded an air of authority without being angry.

People were sitting on the bluestone stools on both sides.

Shi Zhongyu recognized some of the people on the left. The first one was his master, Feng Wanli, followed by Bai Wanjian, Hua Wanzi, and others.

As for the people sitting on the right-hand stool, Shi Zhongyu didn't recognize any of them.

When Shi Zhongyu glanced around, he noticed his master's gaze and immediately stopped looking around.

Many disciples dressed in green robes stood in the side hall, with animal skin cushions under their feet.

However, no one sat down at this moment; everyone stood properly.

Just then, with the sound of a bell, the old man behind the long table coughed lightly.

"Disciples, please sit down!"

With his words, the disciples each found animal-shaped cushions and sat down.

Shi Zhongyu sat at the very back. He noticed several fellow disciples around him with curious and nervous expressions. They all followed suit and sat down as well.

Shi Zhongyu quickly realized that these disciples were probably like him, having just joined the Snow Mountain Sect.

Once everyone was seated, the candlelight flickered softly in the hall, so bright you could hear a pin drop.

The old man slowly raised his eyes from behind the long table, his gaze sweeping over the disciples in the hall. His voice was like the striking of cold stones, solemn and deep.

"It's already past 7 PM. Today's martial arts discussion will begin with the principles of swordsmanship, followed by the rules of our sect, and finally, the current situation in the martial world."

"You are in Lingxiao City, cultivating the Snow Mountain Sword and training the Cold Peak Heart. If your heart is not upright, your sword will not be sharp! If you do not abide by the rules, your path will not be established! Listen carefully, and do not slack off in the slightest."

The old man paused after speaking, lightly tapping the ebony table with his fingertips, his voice growing even colder.

"My Snow Mountain School swordsmanship originates from icy peaks and frigid ridges, comprising seventy-two sword styles. It takes plum blossoms as its bones, snow as its spirit, and cold as its essence. The sword strikes do not seek to be fierce and domineering, but rather value lightness, stability, accuracy, and unpredictability..."

When the old man spoke of martial arts and swordsmanship, all the disciples listened attentively.

Shi Zhongyu also found it agreeable.

Fifteen minutes later.

"Having received instruction in sword principles, swordsmanship proficiency +5."

Shi Zhongyu was surprised, not expecting that listening to others teach swordsmanship could also increase proficiency.

This made him listen more attentively and carefully.

"Having received instruction in sword principles, swordsmanship proficiency +5."

Shi Zhongyu was slightly pleased, but he later discovered that after the old man at the long table finished explaining the basics, he went on to explain more advanced techniques.

This made Shi Zhongyu feel a little numb.

Because he hadn't learned the subsequent moves, he couldn't understand what the old man on the long table was saying at all.

Not only him, but he also noticed that the disciples around him had blank stares and dazed expressions.

Listening to the old man's subsequent explanation of swordsmanship, they felt as if they were hearing a book written in heaven.

As the old man continued speaking, Shi Zhongyu silently began to practice the Snow Mountain Heart Sutra.

He was fine when he wasn't using his internal energy, but as soon as he did, a chilling aura filled the air around him, making his fellow disciples sitting next to him immediately feel uncomfortable.

The cold air emanating from the jade stone made them feel cold as well.

But they sat in the side hall, not daring to move.

For a time, they could only silently endure it and curse Shi Zhongyu in their hearts.

Soon, the situation here was noticed by the old man and others behind the long table.

When Feng Wanli recognized Shi Zhongyu, his face darkened.

Bai Wanjian and the others laughed.

They stopped Feng Wanli from standing up.

Bai Wanjian said in a low voice, "Your disciple is very intelligent. The sword principles that Master Cheng is explaining are really quite profound. It's normal that your disciple and those new disciples don't understand them."

"His choice to cultivate the Snow Mountain Heart Sutra at this time is truly excellent!"

Hua Wanzi and the others nodded repeatedly.

Feng Wanli did not sit up, but he still silently made a note of Shi Zhongyu's name.

Soon, Master Cheng's explanation of sword principles became more profound, and the disciples in the side hall below could no longer understand it.

Feng Wanli and the others listened attentively.

After about half an hour, Elder Cheng stopped.

He took a sip of tea.

"That concludes today's discussion of swordsmanship! Next, this elder will explain the sect rules..."

As he spoke, he pointed to Shi Zhongyu, who was practicing his mental cultivation techniques.

"Whose disciple is that?"

Feng Wanli stood up in shame.

"It's that unworthy disciple of mine who's just started practicing!"

When Elder Cheng saw that it was Feng Wanli, he was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Your disciple is quite interesting, far from being a bad disciple."

"He probably couldn't understand the profound sword principles that followed, so he chose to cultivate the mental cultivation method!"

"This is something the other disciples should learn from."

As Elder Cheng spoke, he glanced at the other trembling disciples beside Shi Zhongyu and then shook his head.

If those disciples were like Shi Zhongyu, taking some time to practice the mental cultivation method would be better than sitting there pretending to understand.

"Ahem, we can wake him up now. These new disciples still need to listen to the rules of the sect that are about to be explained."

The rules of the Snow Mountain Sect are actually meant for these newly initiated disciples.

Feng Wanli quickly agreed and walked up to Shi Zhongyu under everyone's watchful eyes.

"Shi Zhongyu, what are you doing?"

Upon hearing this, Shi Zhongyu slowly opened his eyes. Seeing his master standing before him, he immediately stood up respectfully and said, "Master, I could understand the elder's explanation of sword principles at the beginning, but later..."

Feng Wanli waved his hand, interrupting Shi Zhongyu.

"Alright, now listen carefully to Elder Cheng's explanation of the Snow Mountain Sect's rules!"

"yes!"

After Shi Zhongyu and Feng Wanli returned, he noticed that the people around him were looking at him with a strange expression.

He straightened his robes and sat down calmly.

He didn't know the others and couldn't care less what they thought of him.

Anyway, the real benefit is the cultivation method he practices.

After Chang Cheng Lao and Feng Wanli returned, he coughed lightly.

"Alright, quiet!"

"The rules of our Snow Mountain Sect are known to all of you, and are etched in your hearts..."

While listening to Elder Cheng explain the sect rules, Shi Zhongyu checked his previous gains.

"Effective movement, proficiency +2."

He glanced at the pages; the martial arts techniques had changed considerably.

Name: Shi Zhongyu

Realm: Beginner (Mortal Realm)

武学：基础剑法入门（32/100）、雪山剑法入门（22/100）、雪山派心法入门（14/100）

His basic swordsmanship and snow mountain swordsmanship both improved when he first listened to Elder Chang explain the principles of swordsmanship.