Chapter 923: Chapter 98: Self Doubt_2

Lin Ning fell silent again.

Being optimized by the team captain was something she absolutely could not accept. Compared to that, taking a more opportunistic path seemed more acceptable.

“What are you going to teach me?” she urged impatiently.

“Hmm, let me think,” Jing Zhongxian elongated her voice.

“Why do you still need to think?” Lin Ning immediately pressured her.

“There are some things I teach you that you can’t learn right now,” Jing Zhongxian said leisurely, “Got it, I’ll teach you ‘Light Splitting Shadow.'”

“First use White Rainbow Across the Sky to rush towards the target, and then in the last half second, while surging forward, perform the Triple Cloud Strike.”

“How is that possible?” Lin Ning said bewilderingly, “Switching from White Rainbow Across the Sky to Triple Cloud Strike?”

“It’s about performing Triple Cloud Strike while executing White Rainbow Across the Sky,” Jing Zhongxian said with a smile, “It sounds incredible, but once you get the hang of it, it’s quite simple. Go try it, I’ll teach you the details.”

Without another word, Lin Ning performed Sword Flying Slash, White Rainbow Across the Sky!

This move was basically a Direct Stab, and a very fast one at that. As the speed increased, it became extremely difficult to make a sudden stop or change moves at the end. At most, she could manage a slight directional adjustment.

Lin Ning, intent on seeing Jing Zhongxian’s blunder, deliberately pushed the speed to the fastest, then without slowing down or changing moves, directly performed Triple Cloud Strike at high speed…

Ah?

Since the speed was extremely fast and the starting pose of Triple Cloud Strike was a slash, she only slightly shifted the sword light, causing the Green Bamboo Sword to wildly spin due to inertial force.

After spinning several rounds, she awkwardly stabilized the sword and angrily said in the Sea of Consciousness:

“I told you it was impossible! You still made me try, are you satisfied now?”

“Didn’t you just perform it?” Jing Zhongxian calmly said, “Under the sprint of White Rainbow Across the Sky, if you shift the sword light by more than 30 degrees, the sword will be forced to spin. If you treat the spin as a slash, spinning three times is exactly Triple Cloud Strike, isn’t it?”

Lin Ning was speechless by her explanation. Everyone knows that in Sword Control Technique, the worst fear is losing stability of the sword, because before regaining balance, you absolutely can’t control the direction of the Flying Sword, making the Sword Immortal utterly defenseless.

But since Jing Zhongxian was still quibbling, she could only go and verify it again.

Your absurd theory, I will personally shatter it!

A few minutes later.

Lin Ning suppressed the Green Bamboo Sword Light and silently landed on the ground, momentarily at a loss for words.

How could it… actually work?

“Simple, right?” Jing Zhongxian said with a smile, “Generally, losing stability of the sword indeed leads to losing control, but spinning is different. It’s like a bicycle; as long as the wheels keep spinning, it won’t fall over.”

Lin Ning pondered for a long time, then suddenly questioned:

“Spinning can only ensure it won’t completely destabilize, but the controllability is still poor. Performing Triple Cloud Strike is still impossible.”

“Of course,” Jing Zhongxian naturally said, “If merely spinning could perform this move, it would have been accidentally discovered by someone else already. The reason why I call it a routine is because it almost lacks maneuverability. There are five details in total, completely restricting all changes in the sword path, just like a narrow mountain path clamped by cliffs at the center; if you don’t follow this path, you’ll only hit a wall.”

“So, isn’t it very suitable for you who are not good at dealing with complex situations? If there’s no room for maneuver, there’s no need to think about how to make emergency changes, right?”

“I’m not bad at dealing with complex situations,” Lin Ning still stubbornly said, “I’m just not extremely top-tier in this aspect.”

“Ah right, right!” Jing Zhongxian laughed heartily, “Come on, let me teach you. To achieve the effect of Triple Cloud Strike at the end of Light Splitting Shadow, you need not only to spin the sword but also rotate the axis of rotation…”

Lin Ning quickly realized that Jing Zhongxian was not exaggerating the slightest. The conditions for performing Light Splitting Shadow were extremely stringent, not allowing for any mistakes in detail, or else it would turn into mere loss of control of the sword.

But its advantage was also obvious, that is, there was only the so-called standard answer. If using the words of a Problem Solver, “Objective questions are easier to score than subjective ones,” because all you need to do is memorize it!

Lin Ning dared to say I’m not specialized in other areas, but I’m best at repeatedly practicing and memorizing!

More importantly, Lin Ning brought out her top magic treasure from over ten years of battling through the realm of problems:

Problem Collection!

“It’s still the last detail that’s the hardest,” she said as she wrote in her notebook already filled with over 30 pages; each practice mistake was recorded, and if repeated, a “correct” mark would be made next to it, “Moreover, each of the three rotations gets progressively harder…sigh, it’s so difficult.”

“You are already very formidable,” Jing Zhongxian sincerely commented, “I have seen Sword Immortals who summarize their mistakes, but I have never seen anyone like you who memorizes each mistake committed.”

“Huh? Isn’t that obvious?” Lin Ning said, puzzled, “Since there’s only one correct way to execute a Sword Technique, shouldn’t I practice until I can perform it flawlessly and effortlessly, 100% correct? Otherwise, what am I to do if I suddenly make a mistake in a real battle?”

Jing Zhongxian had nothing to say in response, she was shocked by the overwhelming determination displayed by Lin Ning, as if facing an insurmountable peak.

Lin Ning practiced another 10 times, each time becoming smoother as if divinely assisted, with each mistake rapidly corrected. By the seventh attempt, she finally succeeded in executing the Light Splitting Shadow for the first time.

She surged forward with White Rainbow Across the Sky, then suddenly shifted the sword light, spinning it like a full moon…one rotation, two rotations, three rotations! Three separate full moons were slashed out almost at the same time, casting dizzying afterimages, completely demolishing the sword target.

“Done!” Lin Ning finally landed, her face filled with exhilaration, “I’ve basically mastered it!”

“Truly impressive,” Jing Zhongxian admired, “Well, since you’ve learned it now, let’s…”

“Practice 100 more times!” Lin Ning declared loudly.

Meanwhile, Yan Yu was asleep in Anna’s bed when suddenly his phone by the bedside started vibrating.

He opened his eyes groggily, picked up his phone, and saw a message from Lin Ning:

“Captain, hurry to the training ground, I have something amazing to show you!”

Wait, it’s 12 midnight, what could be so important that I need to see it now…

Speechless, Yan Yu gently pushed Anna aside, then changed his clothes and left the room.

Upon arriving at the training ground, he saw Lin Ning executing White Rainbow Across the Sky, followed by the three continuously spinning full moons, leaving him absolutely dumbstruck.

Wait…what is this, a spell?

“Captain, did you see that!” Lin Ning ran over, brimming with pride like a puppy showing off to its owner, “I just mastered this Sword Technique, called Light Splitting Shadow, isn’t it amazing?”

“Wait a second,” Yan Yu interrupted her, “This move, Light Splitting Shadow, right? How exactly is it executed?”

“This technique has five key details,” Lin Ning frankly explained, “First, you need to intentionally shift at the end of White Rainbow Across the Sky, then there are three rotations…”

Yan Yu listened patiently to her explanation, memorized it for a moment, then united with the Huang Tingjian, executing White Rainbow Across the Sky!

He swiftly transformed into three full moons with spinning slashes, flowing flawlessly like a stream of clouds.

Lin Ning: ……

The smile slowly faded from her face.

“This move is quite interesting,” Yan Yu landed smoothly, curiously asking, “How did you think of it?”

“Jing Zhongxian taught it to me,” Lin Ning said blankly, unable to accept that her captain had successfully replicated the Sword Technique she struggled with all night in just one attempt, “She said it was a very difficult swordsmanship.”

“Indeed, it’s quite difficult,” Yan Yu commented, “You need to practice more to master this move.”

Lin Ning’s laugh came out mechanically, her eyes lifeless:

“Ha ha, okay, I’m not sleeping tonight.”

“Uh, you don’t need to go to that extent,” Yan Yu pondered for a moment and said, “It’s fine to learn swordsmanship from Jing Zhongxian. Apart from that, you should still be careful.”

“Understood,” Lin Ning turned away silently. Although the shock from earlier had mostly subsided, the feelings of confusion and unsettlement in her heart grew stronger.

Do I really lack talent in the Sword Dao?

Can I really catch up to the captain?