Chapter 27: The Untold Secret (Please Recommend)
After more than ten hours of deep sleep, Su Xiao was awakened by hunger.
If it weren't for the uncomfortable burning sensation of stomach acid on his stomach lining, he would have slept longer.
Before leaving his empty exclusive room, Su Xiao frowned. The place was far too bare, not even a bed. It seemed he'd need to spend some Paradise Coins to spruce it up.
Reincarnation Paradise only provided the function to expand the exclusive space, not furniture, so Su Xiao would have to purchase that himself.
"What a hassle. I'll take care of this today as quickly as possible."
Finding a restaurant run by a worker, Su Xiao had a full meal for just 3 Paradise Coins.
The food tasted good, and the worker owner was very enthusiastic.
From that warm attitude, it was clear that workers didn't have an easy time surviving in Reincarnation Paradise either.
After eating, Su Xiao searched the stalls lining the streets.
Buying daily necessities wasn't difficult. A worker had once invented a compression capsule, compressing various furniture items to the size of a finger, making them very convenient to carry.
After paying 200 Paradise Coins, Su Xiao purchased the furniture he needed for daily life.
With food and lodging sorted, Su Xiao headed straight for the central area of Reincarnation Paradise, arriving in front of the [Trial Grounds].
He still had two days to stay in Reincarnation Paradise, and during those two days, he had to adapt to his suddenly strengthened body.
[Welcome, Hunter. Please select a mode for the Trial Grounds.]
[Assistance Mode / Combat Mode]
Su Xiao pondered for a moment, then chose Assistance Mode.
[Assistance Mode selected. Please choose the level of summoned mirror image.]
Three options appeared before Su Xiao: Low-Level Mirror Image, Mid-Level Mirror Image, and High-Level Mirror Image.
Prices were listed below each option: Low-Level Mirror Image cost 100 Paradise Coins per hour, Mid-Level cost 1,000 Paradise Coins per hour, and High-Level cost 10,000 Paradise Coins per hour.
After hesitating for a while, Su Xiao chose the Mid-Level Mirror Image.
Earlier, while observing in Reincarnation Paradise, he noticed that the equipment sold by contractors was mostly white-grade with very low ratings.
The only green-grade firearm he saw was priced at 4,000 Paradise Coins and was highly sought after by many contractors.
And that green equipment's stats couldn't even compare to the Dragon-Slaying Flash at Su Xiao's waist.
There might be good items among what contractors sold, but they weren't easy to come by and required some luck.
Compared to buying equipment, Su Xiao preferred to enhance his own strength. Inner strength was true strength.
After paying 1,000 Paradise Coins to summon a Mid-Level Mirror Image for one hour, a mass of milky white light appeared before him. As the light faded, a middle-aged man holding a sharp blade and wearing white training clothes emerged.
The surrounding scene also changed, transforming into the dojo of a sword school.
[Summoned Mirror Image: Koshiro, from the Naruto World.]
Seeing Reincarnation Paradise's prompt, Su Xiao felt secretly pleased.
He didn't know exactly how strong Koshiro was, but when it came to teaching ability, Koshiro was definitely exceptional. Zoro was a living example.
Although Koshiro hadn't taught Zoro any specific techniques, he had helped Zoro lay the foundation to become a strong warrior.
"Hello, I am Koshiro. Time is short, so let's begin now."
Koshiro appeared naturally. This wasn't the real Koshiro, just a mirror image.
Koshiro glanced at the Dragon-Slaying Flash at Su Xiao's waist and nodded.
"A weapon similar to mine? That simplifies things. Strike at me with all your might."
Su Xiao didn't waste words. The summoning cost of 1,000 Paradise Coins per hour made him wince, so he slashed at Koshiro without hesitation.
With Su Xiao's current attributes, this slash was both fast and fierce, with a very tricky angle aimed straight at Koshiro's head.
What surprised Su Xiao was that Koshiro didn't even draw his weapon. He simply blocked with the scabbard, then adjusted its angle.
Su Xiao felt his longsword uncontrollably veer to the side, and because he had put too much force into the attack, he stumbled a couple of steps.
His attack was so easily deflected, leaving Su Xiao frustrated but helpless.
The real world he came from and the Naruto World where Koshiro lived were on completely different levels of martial power.
The swordsmanship he had painstakingly practiced in the real world was insignificant in Koshiro's eyes.
The real world might have had advanced swordsmanship, but rapid technological progress had rendered those techniques obsolete, and they had been lost.
"That's enough. Your understanding of swordsmanship is lower than I expected."
What Koshiro called swordsmanship was essentially the same as blade techniques, just a different term for the same thing.
Su Xiao felt a surge of defeat. The swordsmanship he had worked so hard to master was worthless in someone else's eyes, and he had no room to argue. Compared to Koshiro, it was indeed the case.
Being inferior wasn't shameful; what mattered was catching up. Being inferior but stubbornly insisting otherwise was the most shameful thing.
"What do I need to do? Practice the basics?"
Su Xiao casually swung a few times, and several white lines flashed through the air.
"No. Your foundation is good, far better than most. Few people are willing to spend years practicing a simple, repetitive motion like slashing.
Answer me one question: How do you view the weapon in your hand?"
Koshiro, dressed in white training clothes, sat cross-legged on the ground, smiling at Su Xiao. With the glasses on his nose, he gave off a gentle aura.
"How do I view the weapon in my hand? Hmm... a tool for killing."
Su Xiao's answer made Koshiro shake his head repeatedly.
"If you hold that mindset, even if you practice for a hundred years, you'll only be 'swinging a stick.' It won't be considered swordsmanship at all."
Su Xiao looked at the [Dragon-Slaying Flash] in his hand and said nothing.
"Perceive the weapon in your hand. Make it an extension of your limbs. If you can't even do that, I can't teach you anything."
Koshiro's words made Su Xiao's face darken.
He had spent 1,000 Paradise Coins to summon Koshiro, and the man was telling him to figure it out on his own~.
Su Xiao immediately tried to contact Reincarnation Paradise to pause the training, intending to continue after he had perceived his blade.
Unfortunately, Reincarnation Paradise prompted that training could not be paused. He could leave the [Trial Grounds] now, but the spent Paradise Coins would not be refunded, and Koshiro would disappear.
Left with no choice, Su Xiao also sat cross-legged on the ground, placed the [Dragon-Slaying Flash] on his knees, and began to perceive.
"Don't imagine your weapon in your mind. Perceive it. Perceive its sharpness, its feel, and its unique aura."
Koshiro wasn't summoned for nothing. As Su Xiao perceived the blade in his hands, Koshiro began providing detailed guidance, imparting some insights to Su Xiao.
These insights were the kind Koshiro would only teach to promising disciples like Zoro. But since Koshiro was now a mirror image summoned by Su Xiao, he passed on this valuable knowledge without holding anything back.
Time passed minute by minute. Half an hour later, Su Xiao vaguely sensed the [Dragon-Slaying Flash] on his legs.
Instinctively, he picked up the [Dragon-Slaying Flash] and slashed, the air letting out a sharp hiss.
Koshiro nodded in satisfaction and continued guiding Su Xiao.
An hour later, Koshiro dissipated into the air, but Su Xiao remained seated cross-legged, occasionally slashing.
He felt a door gradually opening to him. The swordsmanship he had practiced before was nothing more than swinging a stick. Aside from mastering the basic slashing posture, it had little use.
Draw the blade, sheathe it. Su Xiao was immersed in his own world, completely unaware that Koshiro had disappeared.
Being able to persist in practicing a single slashing motion for three years showed Su Xiao's obsession with swordsmanship.
As the saying goes, a single thought can lead to enlightenment. After three years of diligent practice, Su Xiao's skills began to sublimate after receiving Koshiro's guidance.