After sleeping deeply for more than ten hours, Su Xiao was awakened by hunger.
If it weren't for the unbearable feeling of stomach acid burning his stomach lining, he would have wanted to sleep a bit longer.
Before stepping out of the empty exclusive room, Su Xiao frowned. It was too basic here, not even a bed. It seemed he'd need to spend some Paradise coins to spruce it up.
Reincarnation Paradise only offers the function of expanding exclusive spaces; it can't exchange for furniture. This still needed Su Xiao to purchase on his own.
"What a hassle. I'll get these things settled as soon as possible today."
Finding a restaurant run by a Worker, Su Xiao had a satisfying meal with just three Paradise coins.
The dishes were tasty, and the Worker manager was very enthusiastic.
From such enthusiastic attitudes, it was apparent that surviving in Reincarnation Paradise wasn't easy for Workers either.
After the meal, Su Xiao searched the stalls on both sides of the street.
Buying furniture for daily needs wasn't difficult. A Worker once invented a kind of compression capsule, where the volume of various furniture was compressed to finger-size, making it very convenient to carry.
After spending 200 Paradise coins, Su Xiao purchased the necessary furniture for daily use.
With food and housing settled, Su Xiao headed straight to the Central District of Reincarnation Paradise and arrived in front of the [Trial Field].
He could stay two more days in Reincarnation Paradise, and within these two days, he must adapt to his suddenly enhanced body.
[Welcome Hunter to use the Trial Field, please choose a mode.]
[Auxiliary Mode/Actual Combat Mode]
Su Xiao pondered for a moment and chose the Auxiliary Mode.
[Auxiliary Mode selected, please choose the Summoned Mirror Image Level]
Three options appeared in front of Su Xiao: Basic Mirror Image, Intermediate-level Image, and High-level Mirage.
Prices were marked below the three options: Basic Mirror Image at 100 Paradise coins per hour, Intermediate-level Image at 1000 Paradise coins per hour, and High-level Mirage at 10000 Paradise coins per hour.
After hesitating for a while, Su Xiao chose the Intermediate-level Image.
Previously, he observed for a long time in Reincarnation Paradise. The equipment contractors sold were mostly White Equipment, and their ratings were very low.
The only Green Level gun he saw was priced at 4000 Paradise coins and was sought after by many contractors.
Yet the attributes of that Green equipment couldn't even compare to Su Xiao's Dragon Slash at his waist.
There might be good things among the items contractors sold, but they weren't easy to encounter and needed some luck.
Compared to buying equipment, Su Xiao preferred enhancing his own strength. Inner strength was true strength.
After paying 1000 Paradise coins to summon an Intermediate-level Image for an hour, a mass of milky-white light appeared in front of him. As the light dispersed, a middle-aged man holding a Sharp Blade and wearing a White Training Suit appeared.
The surrounding scene also changed, turning into a dojo of a sword hall.
[Summoned Geng Si Lang · Mirror Image, from the Pirate World.]
Seeing the Reincarnation Paradise prompt, Su Xiao felt pleased.
He was unsure of Geng Si Lang's strength, but if it was about teaching ability, Geng Si Lang was certainly strong. Zoro was a living example.
Even though Geng Si Lang hadn't taught Zoro any moves, he helped lay the foundation for Zoro to become a strong individual.
"Hello, I am Geng Si Lang. We don't have much time, so let's start now."
Geng Si Lang appeared naturally. This wasn't the real Geng Si Lang, just a Mirror Image.
Geng Si Lang glanced at the Dragon Slash at Su Xiao's waist and nodded.
"A weapon similar to mine, huh? Then things become simple. Slash at me with all your might."
Su Xiao didn't waste any words. The summon cost of 1000 Paradise coins per hour caused him much pain, so he slashed at Geng Si Lang with his blade.
With Su Xiao's current attributes, this slash was both fast and fierce, and at a very tricky angle – aiming directly at Geng Si Lang's head.
What surprised Su Xiao was that Geng Si Lang didn't even unsheathe his weapon. He simply blocked with the scabbard, then changed the scabbard's angle.
Su Xiao felt the long knife in his hand being uncontrollably deflected to the side, and because he used too much force, he staggered two steps to the side.
Having his attack deflected so easily, Su Xiao felt a bit unwilling, but there was nothing he could do about it.
The real-world from which he came and Geng Si Lang's Pirate World weren't even on the same level of power.
The swordsmanship he painstakingly practiced in the real world was practically worthless in Geng Si Lang's eyes.
Perhaps there was excellent swordsmanship in the real world, but the rapid advancement of technology rendered those skills useless, causing them to fall into oblivion.
"That's enough. Your comprehension of swordsmanship is lower than I expected."
The swordsmanship Geng Si Lang mentioned was actually sword technique; the name differed, but it was the same thing.
Su Xiao felt a sense of defeat in his heart. The sword techniques he diligently practiced were nothing in others' eyes, and there was no reason to argue. Compared to Geng Si Lang, it was indeed so.
There's no shame in being inferior to others, as long as you catch up. The shame lies in being inferior and yet being stubbornly proud.
"What should I do? Practice the basics?"
Su Xiao casually slashed a few times, several White lines flashed by.
"No, your foundation is very good, much better than most. Very few are willing to spend years practicing such a simple yet laborious action like slashing.
Answer me a question: what do you think of the weapon in your hand?"
Geng Si Lang, clad in a White Training Suit, sat cross-legged on the ground, smiling at Su Xiao. With the glasses on the bridge of his nose, Geng Si Lang gave off a gentle demeanor.
"What do I think of the weapon in my hand? Hmm~~, a tool for killing."
Su Xiao's answer made Geng Si Lang shake his head repeatedly.
"If you maintain this notion, even if you practice hard for a hundred years, you'll only be 'swinging a stick.' It doesn't count as swordsmanship."
Su Xiao glanced at the Dragon Slash in his hand, not saying a word.
"Perceive the weapon in your hand, make it an extension of your limbs. If you can't even manage this, I can't teach you anything."
Geng Si Lang's words made Su Xiao's expression darken.
He spent 1000 Paradise coins summoning Geng Si Lang, yet the other party merely instructed him to feel it himself~.
Su Xiao promptly communicated with Reincarnation Paradise, wanting to pause the practice and continue training after feeling the knife in his hand.
Unfortunately, Reincarnation Paradise informed him that training couldn't be paused. He could leave the [Trial Field] now, but the Paradise coins spent wouldn't be refunded, and Geng Si Lang would also disappear.
Left with no options, Su Xiao could only sit cross-legged on the ground, placing the Dragon Slash on his knees, and start perceiving.
"Don't imagine your weapon in your mind. Feel it, perceive its sharpness, the sensation. And the unique aura."
Geng Si Lang wasn't summoned in vain. As Su Xiao perceived the weapon in his hand, Geng Si Lang began to guide him in detail, imparting some insights to Su Xiao.
Those insights were the kind Geng Si Lang would only teach to disciples like Zoro, whom he held in high regard. Now, since Geng Si Lang was Su Xiao's summoned Mirror Image, he imparted these valuable insights to Su Xiao without reservation.
As time ticked away, after half an hour, Su Xiao vaguely sensed the Dragon Slash on his legs.
Instinctively picking up the Dragon Slash, he slashed out, eliciting a hissing sound in the air.
Geng Si Lang nodded in satisfaction from the side, and continued to further guide Su Xiao.
After an hour, Geng Si Lang faded into the air, but Su Xiao remained sitting cross-legged, occasionally slashing out with the blade.
He felt a door gradually opening for him. Prior to this, the swordsmanship he practiced was practically waving a stick around. Apart from mastering the basic swinging posture, it had little use.
Drawing the sword, sheathing it back, Su Xiao was absorbed in his world, even unaware that Geng Si Lang had disappeared.
To persevere in practicing a slashing move for three years demonstrated Su Xiao's obsession with swordsmanship.
It is said that single-minded focus can touch the divine. Su Xiao's three-year long hard practice began to gradually elevate after receiving Geng Si Lang's guidance.