https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-21-The-Heavenly-Martial-Heart-Refinement/13686410/
Chapter 20: Enlightenment
Two identical chills, two identical countdowns—after multiple attempts, Zhang Yu realized the two ritual forces pressing upon him were pushing in opposite directions.
One ceased its countdown after he finished inhaling spiritual energy.
The other stopped only after he had penetrated the secrets of the Celestial Martial Arts Diagram.
Zhang Yu immediately grew more certain of one thing: one of these countdowns was fake.
"Probably the effect caused by the Celestial Martial Arts Diagram."
"Facing the terror within my heart... so it recreated the ritual pressure I feel?"
"But I never expected the ritual force it recreated would contradict the real ritual power bound to my body."
Yet which one was the false countdown?
"Was it the one that stopped after I cultivated energy?"
"Or the one that vanished after I deciphered the Diagram?"
Zhang Yu leaned toward the latter—but he couldn’t bring himself to decide.
Because choosing wrong meant death.
"Which one should I pick?"
Hearing the countdowns shift and flicker in his mind, Zhang Yu was torn, paralyzed by indecision.
"Since I can't choose, then I won't choose at all."
His gaze sharpened. A decision was made.
"Let me treat both countdowns as real."
He sat cross-legged on the spot and began circulating the Zhou Tian Cai Qi Fa, drawing in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
As the internal countdown continued—from ten down to five, then three—Zhang Yu suddenly stood up again, turning once more toward the Celestial Martial Arts Diagram, attempting to fathom the martial arts hidden within it.
Thus, under the dual pressure of both countdowns, Zhang Yu alternated between cultivating energy and studying the Diagram, cycling through each practice in turn.
Meanwhile, at the art exhibition, people began to notice Zhang Yu’s odd behavior.
Songyang City Director of Xianyun Group stared at him curiously. "What’s this kid doing? One moment he’s meditating, the next he’s standing still, studying martial arts—did he see something?"
Li Xuelian glanced over as well, her expression thoughtful. "Looks like someone’s forcing him to train—like a relentless tutor."
"Maybe it’s just his respect for a teacher in real life," someone muttered.
Then Zhang Yu changed his routine again—no longer cultivating, but suddenly beginning to practice the Jian Ti Thirty-Six Forms.
It was because he’d just realized something: the countdown that ended after his cultivation wasn’t actually forcing him to train.
It was pushing him toward the path of study, exams, university, and working for money—life as expected.
So he began testing a new idea: could he practice martial arts while simultaneously gazing at the Celestial Martial Arts Diagram?
After all, his Jian Ti Thirty-Six Forms had long become muscle memory. If he could combine the two, he could devote most of his focus to the Diagram—his real goal being the enlightenment of its martial arts.
The experiment worked.
But soon he found even that was too cumbersome. So he pulled out his phone, testing whether he could study the textbook content on screen while still gazing at the Diagram.
It worked.
Then he turned on the speaker, letting the audio of the textbook play as he studied the Diagram.
...
Li Xuelian watched Zhang Yu—meditating, training, studying, then suddenly eating—her expression filled with quiet awe.
"This boy must have a teacher who’s mercilessly strict, forcing him to work without pause. Over time, that figure has become a source of deep fear within him."
"Now we’ll see if, under such crushing pressure, he can break through with his mind."
But before she could finish speaking, Zhang Yu suddenly stepped away from the Diagram, walked straight to the buffet table, grabbed a full plate of seafood, and returned to the Diagram’s side—eating as he continued to study.
Because he suddenly remembered: eating wasn’t forbidden by the ritual.
Li Xuelian blinked, surprised.
"Oh? Progress so fast? Under endless pressure, he’s already adopted a ‘let it go’ mindset. That’s how he finally faces his inner terror and continues to decipher the martial arts picture."
"Perhaps even he hasn’t realized it—but unconsciously, he’s already overcome his fear. He’s passed the trial of the Diagram. His actions are now natural, unforced."
When a security guard stepped forward to stop him, Li Xuelian raised a hand, dismissing him.
She was now genuinely curious—just how much could Zhang Yu truly learn from the Diagram?
With a lobster in hand, Zhang Yu slowly began to make sense of the figure in the painting.
"Looks like a boxing style?"
The form itself wasn’t complex. After watching a few times, Zhang Yu had a vague grasp of it.
But when he checked his Feather Scroll, there was no change.
No sign of progress. No level-up. Clearly, he hadn’t truly learned it—not to mention mastered it.
Based on his past experiences with learning basic sword techniques and the Zhou Tian Cai Qi Fa, he should’ve seen a level-zero version of this martial art appear on his Feather Scroll after just one viewing.
"So what’s wrong?"
Just then, Lian Tianji let out a loud laugh, grinning confidently.
"I’ve already fully grasped every technique hidden within. It’s truly a refined palm art."
But before he finished speaking, Qian Shen cut in from nearby:
"What palm art? It’s clearly a leg technique!"
Normally, Qian Shen—whose score was 600—would never dare speak so boldly in front of Lian Tianji, whose score was 670.
But after enduring the mental trial of the Celestial Martial Arts Diagram, his courage had surged to its peak.
The debate quickly spread.
"No, no—this is definitely a sword technique!"
"Idiots—clearly it’s a finger art!"
Bai Zhenzhen furrowed her brow. To her, the painting revealed a sword style.
Clearly, while Zhang Yu was eating and studying, more and more students had already completed their enlightenment of the Diagram.
Lian Tianji turned to Li Xuelian, seeking clarification.
"Miss Li, what exactly is the martial art hidden in this painting?"
Everyone’s eyes turned to her.
Li Xuelian smiled faintly.
"I can’t tell you the exact nature of the martial art.
But I will say this: the Diagram holds its own mysteries. If anyone here truly masters the art within, the Diagram itself will reveal it."
They understood.
If someone succeeded, the painting would show proof.
With that, Lian Tianji stepped forward without hesitation.
As a top student from Ziyun High School, he carried the confidence of a prodigy.
After the recent trial, his self-assurance had reached its zenith.
He launched into the palm technique he’d just deciphered.
Wind roared with every strike.
A surge of power and killing intent erupted from his body, as if ready to shatter the entire art exhibition.
Zhao Tianxing, observing from afar, felt a surge of awe.
"Such a high Physical Strength Level! And that palm technique—this is a true combat-focused martial art, forged for slaughter."
But while Lian Tianji’s strength was impressive among first-years, the crowd was full of cultivators who had already graduated high school.
Their real surprise wasn’t his power—but the flawless mastery of the technique.
One whispered in disbelief:
"Is this really something he just learned from the Diagram? Every movement is so refined. Ziyun High’s genius truly is a genius among geniuses."
Yet when Lian Tianji finished, the Celestial Martial Arts Diagram remained utterly still—no reaction, no change.
"Impossible!" Lian Tianji snapped, disbelief in his voice. "I’ve mastered it! How could it not work?"
Qian Shen smirked, stepping forward.
"I told you—it’s a leg technique."
He then demonstrated the martial art he’d learned, less fluid than Lian Tianji’s, but still clearly well-practiced.
Bai Zhenzhen frowned again. "This is a body-combating technique—specifically designed for training legs."
But even after Qian Shen completed his final move, the Diagram remained silent.
"Impossible!"
Qian Shen echoed Lian Tianji’s disbelief, staring at the painting in shock.
One by one, students stepped forward to demonstrate their interpretations.
Twelve students in total—Lian Tianji, Qian Shen, and ten others—presented martial arts based on boxing, palm, leg, finger, claw, sword, blade, spear, and staff—nine distinct styles in all.
Three of them had duplicated techniques already shown.
But after the entire round of demonstrations, not a single one triggered any response from the Celestial Martial Arts Diagram.
Lian Tianji turned to Li Xuelian, desperate.
"Miss Li, so many of us—none succeeded?"
Li Xuelian said nothing. She only shook her head slightly, her eyes clouded with quiet disappointment.
Then, Bai Zhenzhen slowly stepped forward, under the watchful eyes of all.
With her finger as a sword, she began to perform a sword technique.
Her movements were sharp, precise—every strike a masterstroke.
But the crowd had already seen two previous sword demonstrations, both of which had failed to awaken the Diagram.
So they barely paid attention.
But then—after finishing the sword form—Bai Zhenzhen changed mid-motion, switching her hand to a knife, and began a new, fluid blade technique.
Then came boxing. Palm. Leg.
Each one perfect, each one flowing.
Zhao Tianxing gasped.
"Bai Zhenzhen has learned all the techniques everyone else demonstrated?"
Lian Tianji narrowed his eyes.
"In such a short time—watching once, and she can replicate all nine styles? Who is this woman? Another top student from some elite high school?"
Qian Shen stared, stunned.
He was amazed by her ability to master all nine styles so quickly.
But beneath that, doubt stirred:
"Even if you replicate every technique... will that really be enough?"
Then, in everyone’s stunned silence—the man in the painting moved.
His eyes softened. A faint smile formed.
And on the canvas, two characters shimmered into existence.
Correct.
(End of Chapter)
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