Ruyi Commerce Chamber, Scripture Room.
The young man held the book in his hands, yet his gaze was fixed on his own status panel:
[Attribute Points: 76 Points]
[Cultivation Technique]
Willow Brushing Force (Yellow Level, Grade C) (0/4) (Uninitiated)
Previously, "Roaring Tiger Blade" and "White Snake Blade" conflicted, but now "Willow Brushing Force" did not conflict with "Xuanwu Force".
Why?
Song Cheng did not quite understand, so he decided to first cultivate this technique to Great Perfection before considering anything else.
'60 points, Willow Brushing Force, beginning diligent cultivation!' he thought silently to himself.
With a single thought, the progress of "Willow Brushing Force" directly changed from "Uninitiated" to "Perfection".
A mysterious sensation welled up in his heart.
He sweated profusely, practicing tirelessly, relying on his own efforts far surpassing others, step by step, he cultivated this new technique.
With the foundation of Xuanwu Force, cultivating "Willow Brushing Force" felt like reaping twice the result with half the effort.
Xuanwu represents the twisting of dual forces.
One pounce, one defense.
The pouncing force is fast and fierce, an impetuous charge like a venomous snake hunting in the shadows of the night...
To put it simply, this is a coherent burst of strength that starts from the spring at one's feet, governs by the waist, raised through the spine, travels from the shoulder to the arm, from the arm to the elbow, from the elbow to the hand, and from the hand it can extend to a vicious weapon or blade.
Once launched, the speed is so fast that it surpasses what normal people can imagine—if it were to take a life, a blade swung down would kill before others could react or finish speaking. This is the speed that can only be unleashed after the thoracic and lumbar spines, and the limbs have been completely integrated.
The defensive part comes from within, hardening the surface of the body.
This means mobilizing the strength of flesh and blood to surge beneath the skin, making the flesh as hard as iron and the surface like leather armor, such that even if an ordinary person were to hack with a blade, it would at most leave a white mark.
However, Willow Brushing Force, compared to "White Snake's Pounce" and "Mysterious Turtle's Firmness", is a "Stretching Force, Shake, and Flick Force".
This type of force focuses not on "coherence" or "hardness of flesh and blood", but on "tendons".
To put it simply... ligaments.
The ligaments are like the bowstring of a great bow, able to exert more of the body's strength.
During the cultivation process, Song Cheng finally began to understand why "Willow Brushing Force" and "Xuanwu Force" did not conflict.
Because... this is a kind of "legacy that follows a continuous line".
"Shake and Flick Force" emerges from the latter half of "White Snake's Pounce", much like... a venomous snake "loaded with a rocket thruster" pouncing out of the shadows, with the force and speed further intensifying in the process of the pounce.
In the light of Lamp Grass, the young man silently recited this process over and over in his mind.
He may lack experience, but this force has reached Perfection.
Not only Perfection, but a new mutation had occurred.
Song Cheng glanced at his panel:
[Cultivation Technique]
Xuanwu Willow Brushing Force (3 Forces) (Yellow Level, Grade C) (Perfection)
[Skills]
Xuanwu Swallowing Sparrow (Yellow Level, Grade C) (Blade Technique) (Perfection)
As the new consecutive line of force integrated, both his cultivation technique and skills underwent corresponding changes, as if a new, perfectly fitting module was added to his original system.
He glanced at his own strength again.
The data directly changed from not using a weapon "35~35" to "37~37".
The improvement was not significant, but it was like taking an extra step at the top of the hundred-foot pole where there seemed to be no more path to follow.
Then, another line of information emerged:
With Hundred Tempering of the technique, one discovers its subtleties. You have perfected your own strength, and have taken another step forward in peering into higher realms.
"Xuanwu Willow Brushing Force" has a 0.4% chance of deducing a "Yellow Level, Grade B" cultivation technique.
...
...
Before long, Ling came looking for him.
"Why aren't you practicing anymore? Is it not working? If it's not working, you should say so earlier!" The maid was a bit angry.
Song Cheng smiled and said, "Miss Ling, I prefer to cultivate in quiet places. Rest assured, I will definitely reach Entry Level within a month."
"You'd better reach Entry Level," Ling muttered, then suddenly turned her head quickly, causing her hair buns to wobble. She stepped forward with her little boots, closing the distance to Song Cheng, and entered what one might call "normal social range",
pointing at him, "Take it seriously!"
Song Cheng curiously asked, "Is there an urgent need for skilled people?"
Miss Ling said speechlessly, "In urgent need of a skilled hand, can't you hire people? What difference will one more skilled hand make? Oh well, forget it, I might as well tell you... come here..."
She beckoned, and Song Cheng moved closer.
Miss Ling whispered, "This means we have a successor with promising potential.
If others know that Ruyi Commerce Chamber has a genius, know that this genius grows rapidly, know that this genius is also the confidant of the young lady, wouldn't that make a difference?
The young lady says this is part of the plan."
Song Cheng said in surprise, "Am I... really that rare?"
Miss Ling said, "Isn't it because you come from the countryside?
You haven't used any resources, understand?
There are people who have reached Great Achievement in Power Realm at the age of seventeen, even at sixteen, and I've heard there are even younger ones in State City, maybe even as young as ten.
But to reach this level without resources, without any guidance... it really is quite rare.
That's why the young lady has such great expectations for you."
Song Cheng said, "Just now I was looking at the 'Willow Brushing Force,' and I had some doubts. Are there any other Force Realm Techniques for me to reference?"
Miss Ling said speechlessly, "Are you trying to walk the path to demonic cultivation? Different cultivation techniques can't be recklessly mixed; those that can be practiced together are core secrets of the sects."
Song Cheng persisted stubbornly, "Then... how can I see other Force Realm Techniques?"
He was insistent because it concerned his ability to develop stronger techniques sooner.
And in his conversation with the personal maid of the young lady of Ruyi Commerce Chamber, he had also begun to understand something: Cultivation techniques are really precious.
Powerful cultivation techniques belong to major sects.
Even someone like Shi Yi, the chief guard of Ruyi Commerce Chamber, remains stuck in the Force Realm because he lacks a cultivation technique.
This shows how hard it is to obtain more advanced techniques.
Following the normal path, Song would have to hack through brambles and brambles, deliberately perform, think of all means, and work his way into major sects.
Then get involved in extremely complex interpersonal relationships, make an effort to catch the attention of high-ranked individuals, and then undertake various tasks, fight in life and death situations, to receive "the grace of high-ranked individuals" and get the opportunity to consult more advanced techniques.
Next, he would have to strive for resources.
Because cultivating advanced techniques invariably requires countless resources.
Without blazing a bloody trail, without stepping on the remains of others, without being schemed against several times, how can one stand at a high place?
After that, it is a journey of kill, charge, and continue to stand in higher positions, killing more people, and in the process of killing, compete for techniques and resources.
Hmm...
This is the normal path.
However, this path is fraught with danger, always under high pressure, unable to live a single good day. When one wave settles, another arises immediately, with issues and enemies coming at you relentlessly.
He didn't want to live like that.
It's more reliable to deduce his own cultivation techniques.
If it takes more time, then so be it. It's best to be a wealthy man in a peaceful place, in an environment where "the most dangerous and strongest enemies in the surrounding area can't touch a hair of his head," and to slowly deduce his own cultivation techniques.
Song longed for a living environment, not "to be a Blue Planet person in the Trisolaris World, and then desperately chase after Trisolaran technology with deep-seated hatred", but rather "to study mecha, nuclear weapons, water droplets, two-dimensional foil while being a primitive man in the Stone Age world".
And to deduce on his own, he needed more peer-level techniques and also to temper himself through experience.
"Miss Ling, I really need Force Realm Techniques."
Song Cheng thought for a bit and said, "How about this, if you let me see just one more Force Realm Technique, I promise I will master 'Willow Brushing Force' in only twenty-nine days."
Miss Ling was stunned, then rolled her eyes.
Is this guy joking?
This person?
Song Cheng said, "Twenty-eight days."
Miss Ling showed an impatient look.
Does he really think he is a genius?
Song Cheng said, "Twenty-seven days."
Miss Ling turned to walk away.
This man, he really is absurdly arrogant!
Song Cheng said, "Twenty-six days, twenty-six days. If I don't master 'Willow Brushing Force,' I am willing to have my head chopped off as an offering."
Miss Ling: ???
Song Cheng clenched his teeth and suddenly took a leap, saying, "Twenty days! The chamber needs a genius. And I need to reference other Dharma Methods to break through faster. If I do not master it in twenty days, I am willing to have my head chopped off as an offering."
Miss Ling said, "Stop! How many heads do you have?"
Song Cheng said earnestly, "Please inform the young lady that I am serious. And besides, twenty days will pass quickly; the young lady will soon see whether I can do it or not."
Miss Ling thought for a moment, then said, "Alright then... I'll tell the young lady exactly what you said."