Stepping inside my house, I stretch and give a long sigh of relief. This house is the first place I awoke, it gives me a sense of comfort, while outside I feel out of place.
"Todays sure been busy" looking at the new wooden sword in hand and my leather sack, my exhaustion immediately fades as I grin.
clink, clink.
Throwing up and down the leather sack, you can hear the silver coins collide against one another, obviously there is no small amount.
After the match against Jericho the Destroyer and Hippos the Big, I had watched forty more matches.
None of them were as hyped as the first though, only being Martial apprentices of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd stages fighting against each other.
As for why my stash is full of money? well about that.
I had watched twenty matches and having analyzed their fighting styles, I decided to gamble a little. I lost 30% of the time but overall I gained, starting off with 12 silver it slowly turned into 1 gold 39 silver.
That's 139 silver coins! an average family would only earn 10 silver a month, due to my Telepathy having short range, most matches I couldn't influence the fight unless they fled towards my direction.
I quickly eat and then enter my room, I do my routine of sitting behind the desk and begin jotting down notes.
"Ninety-eight Low grade Mortal Skills..." I mutter, I begin writing down my observations within them.
Having analyzed some, I stand up.
Getting into form my legs begin to move in a strange pattern. At first it looks like a horrible dance but slowly changes as time goes on.
My legs slowly seem like a shadow as they disapear and reapear, confusing enemies. with a stride I move forward.
I immeditely speed up as my saint force drains a little.
I contemplate as I replay the battle between stage three martial apprentices.
One of them had been a disciple of a highly renowned academy, having greed taken over him, he killed a fellow disciple as they competed for a treasure.
It would be fine if he didnt get caught, but unfortunately for him, he did.
He was given the punishment of being forced to compete in the Santos arena death matches by his academy, if he survived ten matches he would be forgiven.
As for why I'm mentioning this particular cultivator? well he cultivated a movement skill called swallow steps.
I can only try to mimic his form and analyze its secrets from watching him display it.
"I can only deduce 20% of the strength?" I frown, Although I copied the style and concept to perfection.
I cant see which acupoints he channeled his saint force through though.
"Just what acupoints are paired with it?"
Bringing the model of myself using the system interface, I remember seeing several mysteries besides the Mind palace and astral core.
One of the mysteries of the body are called Martial Valves, Martial Valves determine how much saint force you can absorb from your surroundings.
No one knows how many Martial Valves there truly is hidden within your body, but your talent is ranked based on how many Martial Valves are opened.
Having 1 to 24 martial valves means you have the lowest Mortal talent.
Having 25 to 48 open martial valves means you are talented in cultivation, it is the Earth talent.
Having 49 to 72 open martial valves means you have the highest known talent, Heaven talent!
As for above 72? no one knows as its never been seen.
Its strange because as I'm looking at these Martial Valves, I can actually see in full detail there is 100 Martial valves!
Putting on a wry smile, I notice that only 9 martial valves are glowing red while 91 martial valves are closed and greyed out.
"Single digit martial talent, oh the heavens, what did the old host do to you?" laughing, I'm not down cast at all.
"That Jericho, did something happen to make his cultivation fall?" Hes around the same age as me, yet his cultivation base was one stage lower than my own stage five martial apprentice realm.
This body hadn't even bothered cultivating!
Throwing it to the back of my mind, I continue figuring out the concepts of acupoints.
Magnifying further, I see the fourth mystery of the human body, what I see is a web of white lines connecting each martial valve to one another.
"Meridians" These are tiny unobservable channels that allow saint force to move across the body, scattered evenly across the meridians are tiny spheres of red.
These red spheres are countless but if we have to be specific, I count 108 Trillion exactly, no more nor less.
"According to my memories, these are called acupoints, If you were to activate some acupoints while channeling a martial skill, you would increase your prowess"
"The blue feather slash only required intent, perhaps the acupoint portion of the skill was removed?" Having an idea, I grab the new wooden sword and get into a stance.
Channeling some saint force into a dozen random acupoints, I was about to strike but quickly stop.
Immediately I feel like my body is going to explode, an agonising pain sweeps through my left thigh. Stopping the channeling of saint force I collapse onto the desk, half dazed.
"tssss" Sucking in a breath of cold air, It takes ten minutes for me to regain my condition.
"Note to self, do not attempt to half heartedly use acupoints without knowing their function!"
Wiping off the sweat, I take note.
"Its no wonder not many martial arts have the equivalent acupoints, is there a theory to help identify correct routes? could it really just be trial and error until you find the corresponding path that fits your martial skill?"
Bringing up the system interface, I create a model of myself and simulate the effects of the acupoints I channeled saint force into.
Soon the model begins moving as it slashes out in an arc, halfway through the slash the entire left thigh explodes into a fog of bloody mist.
Staring, I keep my jaw open.
"This"
"I almost crippled myself in the literal sense?"
I quickly determine the cause and effect.
One of the acupoints had tried to send an element down to my feet, another acupoint was the physique tempering command for the left thigh muscle, the remaining are unknown.
All these random commands had caused the acupoints to collide, becoming unstable.
"How do people find out the correct way to use acupoints? trial and error?"
I continue doing simulations on my model as I add in my own theories, using the acupoints needed for the dark arts physique and cultivation techniques, I slowly create a template which allows me to see patterns in the acupoints.
I use the model and begin using different combinations of acupoints as I simulate my avatar using blue feather slash.
I continue researching my understanding of acupoints deep into the depths of night before stopping.
"108 trillion acupoints, but it truly isn't random as they could be separated into different categories" I slowly piece the acupoints mysteries together.
The acupoints can be considered humanities blue print, if my theory is correct you could technically improve your cultivation talent and increase your element affinity to any element you like.
You just need to send commands to the acupoints to change set values of your body, but of course its easier said then done.
This would require a lot of research, I'm only on the basics.
Jumping up I hold the wooden sword and slash out.
I slowly repeat the slash hundreds of times as my stance slowly changes, my movements break away from the orthodox blue feather slash.
My movements get faster, while the domineering aura of the sword fades.
I find a breaking point, releasing my new comprehension, I strike for the last time. The sword in my hand turns black as it seems to vanish from sight.
Only a streak of dark shadows follow its trail before the sword reappears in sight. No noise could be heard, no power could be felt.
"Fast, Silent, and Deadly!"
"That sword displayed my last several hours of research" Nodding, I'm satisfied with the results.
Using inspiration from the Raging Axe, with the acupoint methods from the dark arts cultivation technique, I added the dark element to blue feather slash.
Its speed has improved by 70%, while its penetration power increased by 30%. I've changed the concept from domineering to one of Silent.
"It can no longer be called blue feather slash" Putting a finger on my chin, my eyes glow as I laugh.
"How about calling it Black feather slash!" grinning, I feel fatigue overwhelm me.
later today is the Schoar exam, I should rest as much as I can.
Putting down the sword, I lay in bed and rest for the remainder of the night.