Chapter 116: Only Speed
Chapter 116: Only Speed
Generally speaking, cultivators of the same realm would not have such a disparity in their spiritual sense that their opponent couldn't be locked on to.
But Mo Hua was not exactly an "ordinary" cultivator, at least not when it came to his spiritual sense.
If his spiritual sense continued to grow at this rate, it would be hard to say whether he could be locked onto by others...
Old Gui's expression remained unchanged, but a slight ripple formed in his heart.
Mo Hua thought of another question and asked, "Grandpa Gui, can all cultivators lock onto their opponent's spiritual sense?"
"No," Old Gui replied, regaining his focus. "In my experience, seven out of ten cultivators can't, and while two out of ten may have some ability, they are not proficient. Only a small fraction, less than one in ten, can use it skillfully."
Mo Hua frowned in confusion. "It doesn't seem that difficult. Why can't more than seven out of ten cultivators do it?"
After all, he didn't find it challenging to use.
Old Gui gave him a silent glance, feeling that Mo Hua, at this moment, bore some resemblance to Mr. Zhuang.
Not all cultivators had such strong spiritual senses, nor were they all adept at utilizing them.
Indeed, 'like master, like disciple,' he thought to himself. This child, Mo Hua, had also been influenced a bit.
Old Gui sighed inwardly and then explained, "Half of the seven out of ten cultivators who can't lock onto spiritual sense haven't been taught and don't know the method. The other half have learned but still can't do it..."
"Spiritual sense is ethereal and intangible, like a hanging horn on a Pronghorn deer, leaving no trace. Therefore, it's difficult to teach and even harder to learn. Relying solely on verbal instruction, one may struggle to grasp the concept..."
"Oh," Mo Hua nodded, only partially understanding.
"But," Mo Hua hesitated before asking, "even if my spell hits, the power of the fireball technique isn't that strong, so it shouldn't be much of a threat, right?"
Old Gui didn't answer directly but asked a question in return, "How much spiritual power does it take to kill a cultivator?"
Mo Hua's heart skipped a beat, and he shook his head.
He had never killed anyone, so how would he know...
"Some cultivators can kill with just ten cycles of spiritual power, while others may not be able to kill even with a hundred cycles," Old Gui explained.
One cycle of spiritual power was called a 'week' and was the time it took for spiritual power to circulate through the twelve regular channels. Regardless of age or physique, there wasn't much variation in this amount of spiritual power among cultivators.
Therefore, cultivators often used the number of 'weekdays' as a measure of spiritual power.
The more weekdays, the more spiritual power, and the more powerful the spells they could cast.
"Is it because cultivators have vital points?" Mo Hua asked.
Old Gui nodded. "The Baihui, Shenting, Xinmai, and Dantian areas are vital points for cultivators. If a spell hits these areas when they are unprepared, they will either be seriously injured or die."
"So, if you hit a vital point, even if the spell itself isn't particularly powerful, it will still cause more damage. And if you only hit irrelevant areas, even if the spell is powerful, it may not be fatal, right?" Mo Hua reasoned.
"Correct," Old Gui affirmed.
Mo Hua thought about it some more and suddenly understood. "So, locking onto spiritual sense is very important. Only with a strong and precise spiritual sense can spells more easily hit vital points. Is that right, Grandpa Gui?"
Old Gui nodded again.
Mo Hua became a little excited. Even if his spiritual power wasn't that strong, his spells would still pose a significant threat.
But Old Gui poured cold water on his enthusiasm. "That's the theory, but it's useless in actual combat."
"Ah..." Mo Hua was stunned.
"Anyone who isn't a fool knows how to protect their vital points. If you aim for them, even if you don't hit their armor or robe, they'll block it with their hands or arms," Old Gui said.
Mo Hua was confused again. "What should I do then?"
"You should know the vital points of cultivators, and an occasional sneak attack may work, but in a head-on confrontation, it's not something you can rely on," Old Gui advised.
"As a spiritual cultivator who excels in spells, the most important thing is to know how to use them effectively."
"How do I do that?"
Old Gui explained, "Cultivators need to circulate their spiritual power when casting spells, and this takes time, anywhere from one breath to ten breaths..."
"The higher the grade of the spell, the more spiritual power it draws upon, resulting in greater power but also a longer casting time. Some extremely powerful spells may even take several hours to cast."
"On the other hand, lower-grade spells require less spiritual power, so they are naturally weaker, but they can be cast more quickly..."
Old Gui's eyes held a thoughtful gaze as he spoke to Mo Hua.
Mo Hua's eyes sparkled with a newfound understanding.
"So, for spiritual cultivators in battle, it's crucial to anticipate the enemy's moves and cast powerful spells preemptively to defeat them instantly! Or..."
Old Gui's eyes narrowed as he continued, "...you take the initiative and use simple yet sharp spells to suppress your opponent, not giving them any chance to catch their breath..."
Mo Hua's confusion cleared, and he felt enlightened.
Since he had a weaker spiritual root and less spiritual power, he couldn't learn those high-grade spells that were powerful but also extremely demanding of spiritual power.
Instead, he would have to find an alternative path and focus on spells like Fireball, which might not be as strong but could be cast quickly to gain the upper hand.
However, there was still one concern.
"Can spells with low power be effective for suppression?" Mo Hua asked.
"Physical cultivators disrupt their opponent's moves, while spiritual cultivators disrupt their spells. If the enemy can't attack, they will naturally be suppressed."
Old Gui added, "Physical cultivators are still human. If they are hit by your spells, they will suffer injuries and pain. Unless they have an exceptionally strong will, their offense will be disrupted..."
"If you encounter someone who is willing to take injuries or even risk their life, you can aim for their joints or vital points. This way, when they fight against you, they will think twice. Once they start hesitating, they won't dare to risk their lives so recklessly..."
...
Mo Hua had never realized there were so many intricacies to using spells, and he felt like he had just drunk the nectar of the gods. He looked at Old Gui with admiration in his eyes.
Old Gui maintained a calm expression, but deep within, he felt a sense of satisfaction as he was regarded by Mo Hua with such respect.
He thought to himself that Mr. Zhuang was right; teaching disciples in his spare time wasn't a bad way to pass the time.
"Do you understand now?"
Mo Hua nodded vigorously.
Old Gui continued to impart his wisdom: "There are countless spells in this world, but the principles behind them are largely the same. Every spell has its weaknesses, but at the same time, every spell also has its strengths. Cultivators must learn to play to their strengths and avoid their weaknesses."
"Conversely, every spell has its advantages, but it will also have inherent disadvantages. Your task is to identify those disadvantages and exploit the loopholes to break through your opponent's spells."
"The Dao is boundless, and each path has its strengths and shortcomings. The key to success lies in your ability to adapt and utilize your spells skillfully."
...
Old Gui, usually taciturn, spoke passionately about spells, and his words were like pearls of wisdom.
"You may not need to apply these principles right now, but the path of cultivation is long, and they may prove useful in the future," Old Gui said.
Mo Hua listened attentively, committing every word to memory. Then, he bowed respectfully to Old Gui and said, "Thank you, Grandpa Gui, for your guidance. I will remember all of this!"
Old Gui nodded in acknowledgment.
Mo Hua carefully recalled Old Gui's words and then thought of another practical issue.
He only knew one spell at the moment—the Fireball spell.
The concepts Old Gui mentioned, like "taking the initiative," "spell suppression," "playing to your strengths," and "breaking through enemy spells," seemed a bit far-fetched for him at the moment.
After all, he only knew one spell—Fireball.
"So, what should I do now?" Mo Hua scratched his head, unsure.
"Practice the Fireball spell," Old Gui replied simply.
"For how long?"
"Keep practicing until you can cast it with precision and speed. The faster and more accurate, the better."
Old Gui looked deeply into Mo Hua's eyes and said, "Remember this: Among all spells, speed is the key to victory."
(End of Chapter)
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