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Chapter 232: Learning and Testing
Chapter 232: Learning and Testing
After hearing about these bizarre yet surprisingly effective anti-theft measures, Lyon couldn't help but smile wryly.
Those who lack the skill can't access the Star Palace, and those who do have the skill dare not approach it. If this logic holds, the Star Palace might as well toss the Sun itself, let alone other True God households. They probably wouldn't even be able to discard them.
Lyon sincerely gave a thumbs-up to the elders of the Purification Bureau, knowing that there was no danger in this regard. He then turned his attention to the third ability of the Taurus Star Palace, "Rule Bestowal."
Without a doubt, this was likely the true nature of the Twelve Secret Arts.
The twelve secret arts of the Purification Bureau were, in reality, twelve corresponding rules. 'Anomaly Annihilation' of the Aries Star Palace was likely a destructive rule, and 'Anomaly Forging' of the Taurus Star Palace was clearly a forging rule, and so on.
The phrase 'Only after gaining the Star Palace's recognition can one learn the Twelve Secret Arts' meant that one must first be bestowed with the rule by the Star Palace before they could learn the twelve techniques for utilizing the corresponding rules that were passed down within the Bureau.
To put it more simply, the Star Palace's 'Rule Bestowal' was like a car key, granting the qualification to drive, while the twelve secret arts were the driving skills, and the mastery of these arts was akin to the level of adaptation to the rules.
Just like how people with the same key and driving lessons might still struggle with reverse parking without markers, a talented individual like the Water Bottle Director would likely be performing advanced maneuvers already.
"Although your analogy is a bit odd, it doesn't seem wrong..."
After listening to Lyon's summary and speculations, the Taurus Director nodded thoughtfully.
"In all these generations, it seems there hasn't been a case of two people mastering the same secret art. I was chosen by the Star Palace and started practicing the secret art early, but my practical application was only passable. However, after the previous Taurus Director passed away, my progress in mastering the Anomaly Forging Secret Art began to improve."
"Hmm... If that's the case, perhaps the situation is indeed as you described. The twelve secret arts passed down in the Bureau might just be techniques for utilizing the 'Rules,' and only by receiving the Star Palace's bestowal can one qualify to invoke the corresponding powers."
This implied that as long as she, the Director, was alive, others' mastery of the secret arts would forever remain superficial. The prospect of cultivating more secret art practitioners seemed unlikely.
The Taurus Director didn't voice this thought, but instead shook her head regretfully and looked up at Lyon.
"It seems you won't be able to learn my secret art, at least not this year... Why don't you choose another request?"
"Taurus Lord, I still want to try. Even if I can't master the complete Anomaly Forging Secret Art, learning a bit of it would still be beneficial."
"Since you insist... Very well."
Seeing Lyon's determination, the Taurus Director decided not to dissuade him further. She nodded in agreement and gestured for Lyon to come closer.
"Lyon, I know you're not just after the basics. You're hiding something, thinking that with this secret, you might be able to learn the complete Taurus Secret Art."
After exposing Lyon's thoughts, she smiled gently, seeing the slight tension in his expression.
"Don't worry, I'm not upset with you.
We humans are like this; everyone has secrets they don't want to share. I have things I don't wish to tell others, and that's not a fault.
I'm telling you this to remind you that regardless of your method, learning the secret art without the Star Palace's recognition is akin to opposing the Star Palace. You might face suppression from the Taurus Star Palace.
So, I advise you to be cautious. If something feels wrong, stop immediately. Don't be reckless; you might hurt yourself. With your talent and abilities, even without the secret art, your future will be bright..."
She paused, waiting for Lyon to prepare himself.
"..."
The Taurus Lord was truly... It felt like, in her eyes, everyone was her child, enveloped in her acceptance.
Lyon felt his face warm as he looked at the elderly woman before him, patiently waiting for him to prepare without holding his secret against him. He mumbled a response and leaned forward awkwardly.
"Let's begin."
After a brief greeting to Lyon, the Taurus Director's fingers, slightly aged and holding a deep brown glow, slowly pressed towards Lyon's forehead.
Following this, as if a flashlight had been held against him, Lyon's forehead began to glow faintly. The deep brown glow gradually dissipated upon contact, seeping into Lyon's mind like nourishing rain on parched soil.
…
"Our Taurus lineage's Anomaly Forging Secret Art is not as difficult as it seems. It's even similar to the process of forging metal."
As the leisurely narrative continued, an old man with a slightly hunched back suddenly appeared in Lyon's mind. He pointed at a scorching hot furnace and cheerfully explained to the 'apprentices' behind him:
"Find a suitable anomaly or material, just like heating iron ore. Use your power to 'heat' it until it loses its stable form and rules, and the preparation is complete.
The next steps are similar too. Forging iron requires hammering to shape, removing impurities, and increasing strength. Forging anomalies is the same.
Use your will and mind as a hammer, transforming the anomaly's form and rules in the direction you desire. Then, carefully refine and remove unnecessary chaotic rules, distributing the limited strength to the most suitable areas... Do you understand?"
"Yes, we understand!"
Among the apprentices who looked perplexed, a young man with a round face and a simple-minded expression stepped forward. He confidently summarized:
"First, heat it up intensely! Then, once it's heated, pound it with all your might! Once it's properly hammered, the anomaly will be forged."
"Exactly! It's that simple!"
Hearing this, the hunchbacked old man burst into laughter. He sucked on his half-broken front tooth and waved his hand, summoning dozens of three-story-tall monsters with blood-red flames erupting from their nostrils.
"Come! These are the offspring of the Blood Flame Demon God. Last month, when I was hunting him in the abyss, I took them from his lair. Each of you, take one and go forge it! Once you understand the process, come back to me to learn the rest!"
"..."
Lyon watched as over a dozen apprentices, trembling with fear, started 'forging' but were chased around by the materials, causing chaos. Some were even covered in blisters from the blood flames.
The teaching methods of the senior members of the Purification Bureau were indeed quite rough... Wait, did the Taurus Lord teach his secret art by directly imparting a memory? Was this the process by which a Taurus Director learned the secret art?
The lengthy memory continued, and under Lyon's curious gaze, the unlucky secret art apprentices endured countless hardships and dangers. They were relentlessly pursued by various 'materials', crying and screaming for help. Some went missing, while others wept and begged to quit.
Only the round-faced man remained steadfast, never giving up despite the challenges he faced. In the end... he became the next director of the Purification Bureau.
??????
Lyon was stunned as he witnessed the reluctant round-faced man taking the director's seat and the mysterious extra who had been tormented countless times by the materials but somehow became a Taurus Director. After experiencing the entire teaching memory, Lyon couldn't help but feel confused.
Was there something wrong with the plot development?
Shouldn't the most outstanding apprentice have received the recognition of the former Taurus Director and the Taurus Star Palace, inheriting the position of Director? How did he end up becoming the director of the Purification Bureau instead? What about the Taurus Secret Art?
"It's because he was too outstanding."
As Lyon emerged from the memory of the third-generation Taurus Director and voiced his confusion, the Taurus Director smiled and asked:
"The round-faced young man you saw is probably the third director of the Purification Bureau. Since he's already so exceptional, why would he need to inherit the Taurus Secret Art and become a Director? Isn't it better for him to be the director of the Purification Bureau directly?"
"..."
That made sense. The most talented individual should indeed become the director directly... But there was a slight feeling of disappointment.
Lyon clicked his tongue in disbelief and was about to ask another question when the Taurus Director smiled and said:
"Never mind him. What about you? How's your progress with the secret art? How much have you mastered?"
"As for me..."
Hearing the Taurus Director's question, Lyon looked at his badge panel and replied uncertainly:
"Although I haven't learned the entire secret art, I think I've grasped the basics."
[After receiving the memory from the Taurus Director, you successfully obtained the Taurus Secret Art 'Anomaly Forging' and gained a wealth of valuable experience by observing it in the memory space. This activated the Silver-level badge 'Secret Art Inheritor (Taurus)'.]
【Secret Art Transmitter (Taurus): The inheritor of the Purification Bureau's Taurus Secret Art, they possess the techniques to utilize the corresponding Law, but as the Taurus Star Palace already occupies this Law, the recipient is unable to invoke it without the support of the Law, rendering it a "dragon-slaying skill."】
【Effect: Despite lacking the support of the corresponding Law, having witnessed the entire process of the third generation Purification Bureau Director and the third Taurus Director's cultivation of the Taurus Secret Art, you still gain the qualification to use a degraded version of the Taurus Secret Art. You can utilize the properties of the aberrant materials in your possession to forge anomalies of much lower Immersion Value than your own.】
【Advancement: After the current Taurus Director's demise, if you successfully gain control of the 'Zodiac Compass Shard - Zodiac - Taurus,' this badge will automatically advance to the Golden Badge 'Taurus Director.'】
【Hidden Trait (No Need to Wear): Due to your ability to block out some of the Taurus Star Palace's influence, during anomaly forging, you can forcibly steal a small amount of the corresponding Law under the suppression of the Taurus Star Palace, enhancing the effect of the Anomaly Forging Secret Art.】
Apart from the 【Secret Art Transmitter (Taurus)】, after observing the cultivation process of the Taurus Secret Art, through a certain degree of analogy, the Aquarius Secret Art also provided a badge.
【Having accepted the weight of the 'Truth Scale' and observed the cultivation method of the Purification Bureau's Secret Art, you comprehended the cultivation method of the 'Anomaly Creation' Secret Art, activating the Silver Badge 'Secret Art Transmitter (Aquarius).'】
【Secret Art Transmitter (Aquarius): ...】
【Effect: Despite lacking the support of the corresponding Law... with suitable materials, create anomalies of much lower Immersion Value than your own.】
【Advancement: ...】
【Hidden Trait (No Need to Wear): None】
...
So, just by watching the memories of the previous Taurus Directors, without any practical experience, he thinks he has already entered the realm of the Secret Art?
Seeing Lyon with a slightly 'unfocused' (looking at the badge panel) expression, the Taurus Director frowned slightly, concerned about his overconfidence. After some thought, he took out a blood-red bird egg and handed it over.
"This is the Hellish Lust Meat Bird's Ovum. When forging physical enhancement-type anomalies, adding this will significantly improve the user's perception of their body, preventing loss of control due to the sudden surge in physical qualities."
After explaining the origin of the bird egg, the Taurus Director, intending to prevent Lyon from being all talk and no action, requested, "If I recall correctly, the first lesson of Anomaly Forging Secret Art is to melt the materials, removing their solid form and rules to facilitate subsequent forging. So, since you believe you've entered the realm, let's see how well you've grasped it by 'melting' this Lust Egg."
This... is a test?
Hearing the Taurus Director's words, Lyon, though not fully understanding the operation of the Taurus Secret Art, nodded, wearing his two new silver badges, and accepted this 'in-class mini-test.'
'Forging anomalies is all about intense melting! After melting, it's intense hammering! Once that's done, the anomaly is forged!'
Recalling Director Fangtou's confident summary, Lyon took a deep breath, mobilizing all his Immersion Value. He started with intense melting, followed by heavy hammering, mimicking the apprentices' techniques.
And due to concerns about insufficient force, during the final 'reducing' stage, he added a bit of the Aquarius Secret Art's technique, picking out the thickest rule within the Lust Egg and then, like changing the font size of a title, he boldly thickened it!
Watching the originally hard bird egg gradually soften and loosen, and feeling the unique aberrant sensation, Lyon nodded in satisfaction. He then extended his hand to poke at his first creation.
【Name: Acute Egg (Flesh, Fallen)】
【Appearance: A dark red, slightly loose oval object with a poor appearance but exuding a strong evil aura.】
【Ability: Flesh Acuteness, Demonic Aura】
【Description: Secret Art Transmitter Lyon Ryan, combining the Purification Bureau's two Secret Arts and his own demonic will, created this special anomaly. It makes the chosen male target appear more evil and slightly increases the sensitivity of the left testicle.】
【Evaluation: The most worthless demonic creation, without a doubt.】
【Immersion Value: 0.1】
"..."
What the hell? Did the Taurus Director just bring out a bird egg that was actually a... bird "egg"?
(End of Chapter)
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