This was a secret technique that demanded great skill. Its learning difficulty was likely the highest among the first four.
Secret Technique Five: 'Thought Flow'—this technique was exactly the same as the learning method Leda Lia had described to us years ago.
'Thought Flow' required comprehending one's own'sword intent.' The path to learning'sword intent' differed for everyone; there were no shortcuts, only personal enlightenment.
If I achieved mastery in all four secret techniques and developed my own sword intent, I should be able to use the Water God Style's ultimate finishing move: 'Thought Flow: Still Water.'
I didn't find specific details about its effects within the tomb. But I wasn't anxious at all. I'd think about it once I reached that level.
After memorizing the release methods for all the secret techniques and helping Nanahoshi organize the ancient texts from the books,
I received a reply from Rudeus. They had postponed their plans to head to the Bekalite Continent and were awaiting my return.
After that, Nanahoshi and I set off on our journey home.
The teleportation array address Orsted left for us was probably not the same one we used last time.
How strange. The location of the teleportation array was actually a bit closer than where we arrived last time.
Why didn't Orsted bring us through this teleportation array when we first came?
It was truly puzzling.
After returning to the lake surface and retrieving the Bigfoot Bird we had left nearby earlier, it seemed exceptionally excited, likely because Orsted had already left. So its true nature was that of such a cheerful bird!
It must have endured quite a bit of hardship on the way here.
Since Nanahoshi had long since used up her magical materials, we didn't continue using the Bigfoot Bird to pull the cart.
Instead, we prepared a saddle-like wooden frame to place on the bird's back. Then Nanahoshi and I rode the Bigfoot Bird together on our return journey.
Along the way, I made an unexpected discovery: the excess mana overflowing from my body could be controlled and channeled into the Bigfoot Bird beneath me, making it faster and improving its stamina.
It also let out cheerful cries, constantly nudging its head against us for affection.
It seemed to enjoy this feeling.
I tried to use magic as little as possible on the journey, engaging any monsters we encountered in close combat.
Over the past twenty years, my Water God Style had been mostly for show. Without substantial practical combat experience, even mastering the five great secret techniques wouldn't make me capable of fighting other swordsmen.
I needed to start shoring up this weakness of mine, transforming into an all-around warrior capable of both offense and defense.
While Water God Style combat focuses on counterattacks, it actually places greater emphasis on preemptive strikes.
Here, 'preemptive' means sensing the opponent's intent in advance and countering it beforehand. This was something I had never been able to achieve before—I couldn't react to attacks ahead of time.
Without that, making adequate responses was impossible. By the time the opponent's sword was already cutting into you, any reaction was futile.
Only by predicting the opponent's attack trajectory and force *before* their sword strikes can the most perfect counter be made.
This is precisely why other swordsmen avoid initiating attacks when facing a Water God Style practitioner.
No matter how you attack proactively, I can react a step faster and counterattack after you execute your move.
Such counterattacks are almost always fatal in actual combat.
To this day, the only style comparable to the Water God Style in reaction speed is the Sword God Style's 'Light Katana.' Which side is faster ultimately depends on the swordsman's skill.
Additionally, while fighting monsters on the road, I discovered another major advantage of mine.
My treasured sword, 'starfall'—this was the sword I had been using since I was five. Although the sword itself was valuable, as a mage, I had basically only used 'starfall' as a free shield when necessary.
I rarely used the weapon for close-quarters attacks.
But now, when using the Water God Style to battle monsters, I could channel my overflowing mana into the 'starfall' sword, releasing unexpected magic.
The most commonly used was 'Wind Blade,' condensing the Wind Blade onto the sword's body to extend the weapon's attack range.
I might swing my sword at you from two meters away. Even though the one-meter blade isn't long enough, the 'Wind Blade' attached to it could still injure the enemy.
Over the years, I had successfully killed countless enemies using the combination of 'Invisible Wings' and 'Wind Blade.'
My refinement of 'Wind Blade' had reached a level of mastery, allowing it to become sharper than even exceptional treasured blades. My 'Wind Blade' had once pierced through Orsted's Dragon God fighting spirit, successfully injuring him.
That was the best example. It was already on par with Rudy's 'Rock Cannonball' in terms of magic level.
I was a bit worried—if I became famous, would I be called the Water God or the Wind God?
Maybe I should leave the title of Water God to Isolte and establish my own school, the Wind God Style. That didn't sound too bad when I thought about it.
I wonder if Leda Lia would scold me as a rebellious disciple then.
The journey with Nanahoshi was incredibly blissful. Holding a warm, fragrant, and soft beauty in my arms, traveling through lush valleys and vast, magnificent plains each day.
It evoked a sense of heroic freedom—roaming the world as I pleased, leaping across the breadth of the Eastern Sea.
The distance between Nanahoshi and me that existed when we first came had vanished.
Whether it was dependence or some other psychology, she could now very naturally lean against me during the journey or, when sleeping at night, rest her head on my lap and sleep soundly.
Her appearance hadn't changed in the slightest. Sometimes, when I tucked the long hair at her temples behind her ears or wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth at night, she would rub her face against my hands.
During the day, I usually leaned against her back to catch up on sleep, while at night, she slept nestled in the crook of my legs.
Sometimes I wondered: if she couldn't return to Earth in this lifetime, would she still seek death or become despondent?
Would she consider spending the rest of her life with me in this world?
If that were truly the case, I would definitely find a way to solve her body's inability to absorb mana and let her grow old together with me.
Looking at her sleeping face nestled in my arms, a glistening droplet still hanging at the corner of her mouth,
I resisted the urge to draw panda eyes on her.
Taking advantage of her deep sleep, I secretly leaned down and pressed a kiss against those delicate, crimson lips.
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