Chapter 21: Heavenforged Will Cultivation

Chapter 21: Heavenforged Will Cultivation

Hearing this, many of the students present were startled, thinking Bai Zhenzhen had succeeded.

But then Li Xuelian sighed and said to Bai Zhenzhen, "To learn the techniques of these nine martial arts on your own in such a short time, your talent is one in ten thousand."

"Unfortunately, you still fall short of my father's requirements."

Upon hearing this, some of the students present heaved a sigh of relief, while others were secretly surprised.

Zhao Tianxing thought to himself, "Even this isn't enough? What kind of formidable disciple does this Starfire Sage want?"

On the other side, Bai Zhenzhen secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

She hadn't expected to trigger the changes in the combat chart just by demonstrating the techniques. She almost blurted out a refusal to become the Starfire Sage's disciple, thinking the matter was already settled.

Bai Zhenzhen thought to herself, "Thank goodness I didn't say anything, or I would have been utterly embarrassed. I knew something was still missing."

After Bai Zhenzhen's demonstration, several others stepped forward to try their hand at the nine martial arts, but none of them managed to trigger the Celestial Martial Arts Chart.

On the contrary, Lian Tianji, who had been brimming with confidence, hesitated to step up again. He seemed to be pondering why Bai Zhenzhen had failed and what they were still missing.

For a moment, the entire scene fell silent, and no one stepped forward to try again.

Just as Li Xuelian was about to conclude, Zhang Yu walked up with his phone in hand.

"Hmm?" Li Xuelian's interest was piqued. "After seeing so many failures, he still has the confidence to step forward. He must have something up his sleeve."

But the next moment, she couldn't help but frown.

Zhang Yu started playing a video on his phone and began mimicking Bai Zhenzhen's techniques.

Clearly, he had recorded Bai Zhenzhen's demonstration earlier.

Seeing Zhang Yu follow the video step by step, Li Xuelian's frown deepened.

Zhang Yu, apart from his own fist techniques, was clearly unfamiliar with the other eight martial arts. Despite following Bai Zhenzhen's movements, the gap in his understanding of the techniques was evident.

From a distance, Zhao Tianxing watched Zhang Yu, dressed in a security uniform, mimic Bai Zhenzhen's moves awkwardly under everyone's gaze. It made him feel uneasy, as if the entire scene was a mockery.

Just watching it made him feel as if the others were looking at Zhang Yu with disdain and ridicule. He couldn't imagine how it must feel to be in that position.

"Stop it, Zhang Yu!" Zhao Tianxing shouted in his mind, unable to bear the sight. "It's too embarrassing; you've become a laughingstock!"

Zhang Yu, of course, couldn't hear Zhao Tianxing's thoughts and paid no heed to the people around him.

He simply focused on mimicking Bai Zhenzhen's movements in the video, diligently performing the techniques of the nine martial arts one by one.

As he finished the last move, a flood of experience and sensations surged into his mind, giving Zhang Yu a new understanding of the Celestial Martial Arts Chart, as if he had practiced it thousands of times.

In that moment, the techniques of the nine martial arts faded from his mind, replaced by nine different intentions that flickered in his consciousness.

Zhang Yu suddenly realized that the Celestial Martial Arts Chart emphasized the intentions behind the techniques, not the techniques themselves.

A cultivator must grasp the essence of each move while practicing the martial arts.

The intent to crush a thousand enemies, the resolve to face death without regret, the courage to charge forward unflinchingly... the nine martial arts cultivated the Martial Dao Will, which strengthened one's Dao Heart.

"This isn't a combat or physique cultivation technique; it's a method to refine the Dao Heart using the Martial Dao Will."

It was a technique to elevate the Dao Heart rank!

The Martial Dao Will was a term used by the Ten Great Sects to describe the essence of sword intent, fist intent, blade intent, and other martial forces.

At its most basic, the Martial Dao Will could strengthen the spirit and will, thereby elevating the cultivator's Dao Heart rank.

A Golden Core cultivator like the Starfire Sage could even leave their Martial Dao Will in a painting, influencing others' spiritual awareness.

At the same time, Zhang Yu's aura underwent a dramatic change.

Intent to kill, resolve, courage, and valor... powerful auras emanated from him, as if they were about to coalesce into his Martial Dao Will.

The figure on the Celestial Martial Arts Chart also grew clearer, gradually appearing in vivid colors, as if it had become a real person, closely observing Zhang Yu's transformation.

The onlookers were stunned; this was the most significant reaction the Celestial Martial Arts Chart had shown all day.

Lian Tianji, Qian Shen, Bai Zhenzhen... they all watched Zhang Yu intently, sensing the changes in him and sharing the same incredulous thought.

"Is he really going to succeed?"

But in the next moment, Zhang Yu's transformation was suddenly interrupted, and the Martial Dao Will that seemed about to form dissipated completely.

"Alas, alas", a message appeared on the chart. "Outstanding talent, but a step too short."

Zhang Yu's face showed no surprise.

Heavenforged Will Art Level 0 (1/1, 8.3/8 Spiritual Power, 0.85/0.8 Physical Strength Level, 1/3 Dao Heart)

On the Feather Scroll, a martial art called the Heavenforged Will Art appeared.

This was the martial art that appeared on the Feather Scroll after Zhang Yu had repeatedly studied the Celestial Martial Arts Chart, observed the demonstrations of many students, and meticulously analyzed Bai Zhenzhen's video.

Unlike the martial arts Zhang Yu had learned before, the Heavenforged Will Art had specific requirements for Spiritual Power, Physical Strength Level, and Dao Heart.

"Besides practicing all the techniques, it also requires 8 Spiritual Power, 0.8 Physical Strength Level, and a 3rd-level Dao Heart."

"Everything else I have already met, except for the 3rd-level Dao Heart..."

Zhang Yu's own Dao Heart was only at the 1st level.

His attempt was indeed halted at the last step.

"This Heavenforged Will Art, it seems, is a technique to refine the Martial Dao Will and strengthen the Dao Heart, which can only be practiced after reaching the 3rd-level Dao Heart."

Zhang Yu thought to himself, "A 3rd-level Dao Heart is far beyond what a first-year high school student can achieve after only three months of school."

Li Xuelian, watching Zhang Yu's failure, had a gleam in her eyes.

She had never expected the first-year students present to succeed.

"From the information provided by the security company, this person is Zhang Yu, a first-year student at Sunglow High School."

"Reaching this point, he truly is a prodigy."

Recalling Zhang Yu's performance, she marveled, "Impressive, I almost underestimated him."

"His movements were stiff, and his techniques were awkward, yet he managed to grasp the underlying intentions."

"This shows that he values the essence over the form and has already understood the profound nature of the Heavenly Heart Cultivation Technique."

"Excellent, excellent, my father will have another outstanding disciple."

After checking the background of the participants, Li Xuelian had already felt that no one would succeed in this test.

After all, students who could master the martial arts on the Celestial Martial Arts Chart were either from wealthy families or already in their second or third year, and most were already contracted elsewhere.

Finding a genius who could master the Heavenforged Will Art on the spot was extremely unlikely.

But this didn't mean no one could become her father's disciple.

If a first-year student could withstand the impact of the Martial Dao Will, learn all the techniques, and grasp the essence, even if they couldn't master the art, they would still be a prodigy.

Such a person, if given another year, would certainly master the Heavenforged Will Art and meet her father's requirements. By finding them a year early, before they were fully developed and signed any contracts, they could be secured in advance.

She was confident her father would be willing to take on such an excellent disciple.

In that case, the fact that this first-year student couldn't master the Heavenforged Will Art wouldn't be a disadvantage; it might even help Li Xuelian negotiate a better deal when signing the contract.

With that thought, she smiled at Zhang Yu.

"Although you didn't fully master the Heavenforged Will Art, you have understood its essence. With time, mastering it will only be a matter of time."

"I will ask my father if he is willing to take you as a disciple."

Hearing this, the crowd was once again shocked.

Lian Tianji, looking in Zhang Yu's direction, quickly took a photo and sent it to his contacts to find out who this security guard was.

Qian Shen, in disbelief, shouted in his mind, "Impossible! How can someone with a score of 550 become a disciple of a Golden Core cultivator? I must be dreaming. Is the Celestial Martial Arts Chart still testing me?"

Bai Zhenzhen thought, "Is Zhang Yu... cheating?"

Seeing her old friend, who had always been inferior in every aspect and shared her debt troubles, suddenly rise above her, Bai Zhenzhen felt out of place.

"Zhang Yu, I'm not jealous of your success. If you rank in the top ten or even the top five of the class, I would bless you. But to surpass everyone, even me..."

But seeing the students flock to Zhang Yu, Bai Zhenzhen thought, "With a Golden Core cultivator as his master, Zhang Yu will surely attract a lot of investments. I should find a way to borrow money from him."

Then she frowned, "But if he joins a Grand Sect, he'll lose half his cultivation and be optimized. Without resources or background, he'll be a slave for life."

"Never mind, as a friend, I should warn him not to be blinded by the allure of the Golden Elixir and reject the offer."

On the other side, Zhao Tianxing's eyes widened, his mind blank. But soon, he recalled his earlier attempt to dissuade Zhang Yu and felt embarrassed.

"I must have looked like a fool to him."

As Bai Zhenzhen approached Zhang Yu, many students gathered around him.

Some wanted to exchange contact information, some wanted to ask about the secrets of the Celestial Martial Arts Chart, and others wanted to take photos with him.

Meanwhile, Li Xuelian had already stepped aside and called her father.

"Father, I found a promising student in Songyang City..."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end