1 I appreciate that the MC isn’t immediately overpowered. He can sense qi on first try, but he can’t control it well yet, and his meridians aren’t open. The sword technique improvement is mainly theoretical – he can imitate the form but doesn’t have the internal energy to make it dangerous. This gives room for growth. The author has set a decent foundation for a power progression curve. Now, we need some conflict that isn’t easily solved by his talents.
The sword fight mechanics are refreshingly simple but effective. The protagonist uses basic kendo she learned in gym class, and that's enough because of the difficulty setting. I appreciate that the author didn't give her some legendary sword skill or magical talent. It's just a practical solution to a practical problem. The splattering descriptions are gory, but they add weight to the violence.
I'm curious about the damaged martial arts manual. It was found inside an ape's belly, which is weird enough to be a plot hook. The fact that it can be evolved into the Blood Coagulation Chapter suggests there are multiple chapters, maybe scattered across the world. That opens up a quest structure for Chu Liang to collect and evolve manuals. The twenty jin of flesh and blood requirement is steep but achievable.