Chapter 20: Contemplation

Chapter 20: Contemplation

Two identical chills, two identical Countdowns. After multiple attempts, Zhang Yu discovered that these two Contractual Ritual forces were compelling him in different directions.

One stopped counting down after he completed his Meditative Respiration and activated his Spiritual Mechanism.

The other ceased counting down after he contemplated the Celestial Martial Arts Chart.

Zhang Yu immediately became more certain that one of these Countdowns was fake.

"Perhaps it's the effect of the Celestial Martial Arts Chart."

"Facing my inner terror... so it recreates the Contractual Ritual's pressure on me?"

"But I didn't expect the Contractual Ritual force recreated by the Celestial Martial Arts Chart to contradict the genuine Contractual Ritual force within me."

But which of the two Contractual Ritual forces was the fake?

"Is it the one that stops counting down after I complete my Meditative Respiration?"

"Or the one that stops counting down after I contemplate the Celestial Martial Arts Chart?"

Zhang Yu leaned towards the latter but couldn't make a hasty decision.

Because the cost of choosing wrong was death.

"Which one should I choose?"

Listening to the constantly changing Countdowns in his mind, Zhang Yu was torn, unable to make a decision.

"Since I can't choose, I won't choose at all."

His gaze hardened, and he made his decision: "I'll treat both Countdowns as real."

Zhang Yu sat down and began to practice the Grand Circulation Qi Inhale Art, performing Meditative Respiration and connecting with the Spiritual Mechanism of heaven and earth.

As the Countdowns continued, from 10 to 5, then to 3, Zhang Yu stood up again, looking towards the Celestial Martial Arts Chart, trying to comprehend the martial arts within it.

Thus, Zhang Yu alternated between practicing the Grand Circulation Qi Inhale Art and contemplating the Celestial Martial Arts Chart, driven by the two Countdowns.

Meanwhile, people at the exhibition began to notice Zhang Yu's unusual behavior.

The director of Songyang City for the Immortal Melody Group looked curiously at Zhang Yu and said, "This kid alternates between Meditative Respiration and standing up to contemplate martial arts. What is he seeing?"

Li Xuelian, standing nearby, also turned her gaze towards Zhang Yu, musing, "It seems like someone is forcing him to practice Meditative Respiration."

"Perhaps it's out of respect for a teacher in real life."

At that moment, Zhang Yu changed his actions again, stopping his Meditative Respiration and starting to practice the 36 Vital Forms.

Zhang Yu suddenly realized that the Countdown that stopped after he completed his Meditative Respiration might not be compelling him to practice Meditative Respiration, but rather to follow the path of studying, cultivating, attending university, and making a living.

So he began to try practicing martial arts while looking at the Celestial Martial Arts Chart.

Since his 36 Vital Forms were already ingrained in muscle memory, he could focus most of his attention on the Celestial Martial Arts Chart if he could practice martial arts and contemplate it simultaneously.

His primary goal was to comprehend the martial arts on the Celestial Martial Arts Chart.

After this attempt succeeded, he found it still a bit cumbersome to practice and contemplate at the same time. So he took out his phone, trying to read the study materials on his phone while looking at the Celestial Martial Arts Chart.

Finding that reading the materials worked, he decided to play the study materials aloud on his phone, listening to the content while contemplating the Celestial Martial Arts Chart.

...

Li Xuelian watched Zhang Yu alternately practicing Meditative Respiration, martial arts, and studying, and sighed sincerely, "This kid must have a brutally strict teacher behind him, constantly pushing him to work hard, even becoming a terrifying figure in his mind."

"Let's see if he can break through under such intense pressure..."

Just as Li Xuelian spoke, Zhang Yu moved away from the Celestial Martial Arts Chart, ran to the buffet table, and grabbed a large plate of Spirit Seafood, returning to the Celestial Martial Arts Chart to eat while contemplating.

He suddenly remembered that eating should not be hindered by the Contractual Ritual.

Li Xuelian, seeing this, was slightly surprised, "Oh? He broke through so quickly, adopting a laid-back attitude under such intense pressure. This is how he can face his inner terror and continue to contemplate the martial arts in the chart."

"Perhaps even he hasn't realized that, in the process, he has already overcome his inner fear and passed this test, acting as if nothing is out of the ordinary."

Seeing a security guard about to approach Zhang Yu, Li Xuelian waved her hand, dismissing the guard. She was now quite curious about how much Zhang Yu could comprehend from the Celestial Martial Arts Chart.

While eating lobster and looking at the chart, Zhang Yu gradually understood what the figure was demonstrating.

"Seems like a set of boxing techniques?"

The boxing techniques themselves were not complex. After a few glances, Zhang Yu had a vague idea, but when he looked at his Feather Scroll, he found no changes, indicating that he hadn't truly learned or mastered the martial arts.

Based on his experience with the Fundamental Sword Technique and the Grand Circulation Qi Inhale Art, similar martial arts should have appeared at level 0 on his Feather Scroll after a single glance.

"Where did I go wrong?"

At that moment, Lian Tianji laughed confidently, "I have comprehended all the martial arts in the chart. Indeed, it is a refined palm technique."

But before he finished speaking, Qian Shen nearby said, "What palm technique? It's clearly a leg technique."

Under normal circumstances, Qian Shen, with a total score of 600, would never dare to speak loudly in front of Lian Tianji, who had a total score of 670.

But after the Dao Heart cultivation from the Celestial Martial Arts Chart, Qian Shen's confidence was at its peak.

Their words quickly drew opposition from others.

Someone argued, "No, no, the hidden martial art in the chart is clearly a saber technique."

Another person started mocking, "A bunch of blind people, it's clearly a finger technique."

Bai Zhenzhen frowned slightly, seeing a sword technique.

Clearly, while Zhang Yu was eating and contemplating, more and more students had completed their comprehension of the chart.

Lian Tianji, hearing the discussion, turned to Li Xuelian and asked, "Ms. Li, what martial art is hidden in the chart?"

Seeing everyone looking at her, Li Xuelian smiled and said, "I cannot tell you what specific martial art it is."

"However, if anyone here has mastered the martial art in the chart, the chart will naturally provide a clear indication."

Everyone understood that if anyone mastered the martial art, the chart would show a reaction.

With this in mind, Lian Tianji stepped forward confidently.

Lian Tianji from Purple Cloud High School was already incredibly confident as a top student.

After the recent test, his confidence had reached its peak. He immediately demonstrated the palm technique he had just comprehended from the chart.

With each move, thunderous sounds echoed, and a powerful force and killing intent erupted from his body, as if he could destroy the entire exhibition.

Zhao Tianxing, who had been observing the results, was amazed.

"Such a high Physical Strength Level, such a terrifying palm technique. This is a combat-oriented martial art."

Lian Tianji's Physical Strength Level was impressive for a first-year student, but there were many cultivators who had already graduated from high school in the room. They were more surprised by the proficiency with which Lian Tianji demonstrated the martial art.

Someone thought, "Is this really the palm technique he just comprehended from the chart? Every move is so fluent. The students of Purple Cloud High School are truly geniuses."

However, after Lian Tianji finished his demonstration, the Celestial Martial Arts Chart remained unchanged, showing no reaction.

"How is this possible?" Lian Tianji couldn't believe it. "I clearly mastered the martial art in the chart. How can it not work?"

Qian Shen chuckled and stepped forward, standing in front of Lian Tianji. "I told you, it's a leg technique."

Next, he demonstrated the martial art he had comprehended from the chart. Although not as smooth as Lian Tianji, his moves were still quite proficient.

Bai Zhenzhen, watching this, frowned again. "Is this a Physique Cultivation technique, specifically for leg training?"

After Qian Shen finished his last move, the Celestial Martial Arts Chart remained unchanged, showing no reaction.

"How is this possible?"

Qian Shen, like Lian Tianji, couldn't believe his eyes.

More students stepped forward to demonstrate the martial arts they had comprehended.

Including Lian Tianji and Qian Shen, 12 students demonstrated a total of nine martial arts: fist, palm, leg, finger, claw, saber, sword, spear, and staff.

Three of the martial arts were duplicates.

But after all these demonstrations, no one managed to trigger a reaction from the Celestial Martial Arts Chart.

Lian Tianji couldn't help but turn to Li Xuelian and asked, "Ms. Li, with so many of us, is no one successful?"

Li Xuelian didn't answer, only shaking her head slightly, a hint of disappointment in her eyes.

At that moment, Bai Zhenzhen slowly stepped forward. Under everyone's gaze, she used her fingers to demonstrate a sword technique.

Although the sword technique was sharp and her moves were proficient, the audience quickly lost interest, as previous demonstrations of sword techniques had not triggered any changes in the chart.

But after Bai Zhenzhen finished the sword technique, she unexpectedly switched to a knife technique, then a fist technique, a palm technique, and a leg technique.

Zhao Tianxing was surprised. "Bai Zhenzhen learned all the martial arts demonstrated by everyone?"

Lian Tianji watched this, frowning, "In such a short time, she can replicate all the martial arts demonstrated by everyone. What kind of top student is she from which prestigious high school?"

Seeing Bai Zhenzhen's moves as if she had practiced for a long time, Qian Shen's thoughts churned.

On one hand, he was amazed that Bai Zhenzhen could replicate all nine martial arts. On the other hand, he was filled with doubt, "Can replicating all nine martial arts really work?"

At that moment, under everyone's astonished gaze, the man in the Celestial Martial Arts Chart moved, looking at Bai Zhenzhen with a smile, and two words appeared on the chart.

"Correct."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end