https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-256-Spiritual-Power-Vital-Energy-Breakthrough/13507314/
Chapter 257: Realm-Level Secret Art
Chapter 257: Realm-Level Secret Art (Requesting Monthly Vote)
Lin Qi’s Vital Energy Stat had increased by 5.4 points. Instinctively, he began calculating the implications.
At his usual cultivation speed, achieving such progress would’ve taken at least half a month.
In the third stage of Skin Tempering, the higher one’s cultivation, the more Primordial Energy was required to further enhance Vital Energy. His growth rate was inevitably slowing down. However, with stronger resources, he could maintain his rapid advancement—or even accelerate.
The Skin-Shedding Elixirs gifted by Dean Xue had significantly accelerated this process.
“No wonder these elixirs cost 10 million each,” Lin Qi mused. “Expensive things truly live up to their price. I could never afford to buy such things myself right now.”
Minutes later, inside the Gravity Sphere building’s spacious bathroom—
“Hiss!”
Lin Qi let scalding water drench his body, scrubbing his skin to wash away sweat and grime.
“Hmm?”
He paused, noticing an odd sensation. The skin on his arm had torn effortlessly.
His skin had become loose and wrinkled, like old parchment. With a light pinch, he peeled away a large swath of skin, holding it up like shed snake skin. He continued tearing, soon stripping all the old skin from his body.
Holding the discarded human skin, Lin Qi felt a strange sense of wonder—it was as if he’d undergone a literal metamorphosis.
Just as the elixir’s name suggested, it had triggered a complete shedding of his old form.
He ran a hand over his arm, feeling the new skin—smooth, elastic, and far tougher than before.
Looking in the mirror, he saw himself reborn, brimming with boundless vitality. His skin, tempered through cultivation, had become as resilient as ox hide. Ordinary blades would struggle to leave a mark.
This was the effect of his current Skin Tempering Stage.
Returning to his villa that evening, Lin Qi felt ravenous, only stopping after devouring two servings of Grade-4 Nutritional Meals.
He then returned to the martial arts hall to practice his spear techniques.
“My spear techniques have not only broken through to the third stage, but I’ve fully perfected Split Mountain Spear Techniques as well,” he reflected. “I’ve grasped the essence of Meteoric Spear Art and Adamantine Body Spear Techniques. Continuing further won’t bring significant improvement.”
Swirling his spear, thoughts of Han Zhen surfaced. His rival’s blade techniques were at a higher stage, and his secret art was a Silver-Rank manual. If Lin Qi wanted to surpass him, he’d need a new spear technique—specifically, a Silver-Rank one.
The Next Day
At Azure Firmament Six Colleges’ Azure Whale Mansion, Lin Qi rode the elevator to the top-floor martial arts hall.
As class ended, he bid farewell to Jiang Tao and others, who each sought their own instructors for training.
Carrying his bag, Lin Qi arrived at the spacious top-floor hall.
“Shhh!”
The moment he entered, he saw three familiar figures practicing spear techniques: Senior Li Qing, Senior Wang Zhi Xuan, and their instructor, Mu Hong, who stood tall in her signature black training outfit.
“Well, well, if it isn’t our Freshman Championship champion—the one who defeated the Ten Institute prodigy, Lin Qi,” Li Qing teased, his scholarly demeanor evident.
“Little junior, congratulations on winning the championship. Our classmates keep asking me about you,” Wang Zhi Xuan added with a grin.
Lin Qi shook his head. “You’re exaggerating. I still have a long way to go.”
Turning to Mu Hong, he asked, “Teacher, you’re back?”
“Congratulations on your victory,” Mu Hong said. “I watched your final match against Han Zhen. Your progress has surpassed even our expectations.”
“I know you need guidance now.”
Lin Qi nodded. “I’ve hit a bottleneck. I think I’ll need a new spear technique manual to advance further.”
Mu Hong retrieved a training spear from a nearby case.
“Once I saw you break through to third-stage spear techniques, I knew you’d need my help. That’s partly why I returned.”
Li Qing sighed. “The little junior’s progressing too fast—he’ll catch up to me soon. I’m not even sure I’m qualified to guide him anymore.”
Wang Zhi Xuan nodded. “I’m not much stronger than him either. Better leave the teaching to Teacher.”
Mu Hong raised the spear horizontally at shoulder height.
“Third-stage spear techniques—called ‘Perfection’—means mastering every muscle’s power in your body.”
“If your will is the commander, then each muscle is a soldier. The commander issues orders, and every soldier must move in perfect unison, like a precision machine.”
“The moment your will stirs, every muscle activates, channeling Vital Force into the technique’s unique application.”
“But what comes after the third stage?”
Lin Qi shook his head. He understood the basics—refining Vital Force—but had no clear path forward for breaking through to the fourth stage.
Mu Hong gripped his long spear and thrust. Each motion seemed ordinary, yet Lin Qi suddenly felt Mu Hong and the spear merge into one, indistinguishable from each other.
A tangible, invisible force surrounded the spear—neither Vital Force nor qi, but a natural aura.
Mu Hong began his explanation:
“After the third stage, you must push your physical potential further, mastering even the smallest muscle groups.”
“Third-stage mastery means controlling major muscles, but beyond that lie the subtle muscle clusters—did you feel them during your first realm training? When your Vital Energy Stat hit 9.99, refining those tiny muscles was incredibly tedious,” Li Qing interjected.
Lin Qi nodded. Now it made sense.
Mu Hong continued:
“We must fully integrate our will into our body, commanding every single subtle muscle group. Simultaneously, your control over Vital Force must become sharper and more refined.”
“Merely commanding all Vital Force doesn’t mean your control is precise. When releasing it, you must achieve subtlety—mastering the finest details of each thread of power.”
Lin Qi’s eyes widened. During his battle with Han Zhen, he’d felt the latter’s control was far more refined than his own blunt force.
Mu Hong spun his spear, his aura intensifying.
“As your spear techniques advance, so must your mastery of muscles and Vital Force. Eventually, you’ll merge completely with your techniques—becoming one with your weapon.”
“When that bond strengthens, your perception of the world around you will sharpen dramatically. Only then can you grasp a unique ‘intent.’”
“That is the path to fourth-stage spear techniques—the realm of ‘intent.’”
Mu Hong lowered his spear, his aura dissipating.
“Intent…” Lin Qi exhaled. “Teacher, what you just displayed—that was intent?”
Mu Hong nodded. “Though formless and intangible, intent is clearly perceivable by martial artists. It’s a transcendent force that can manifest as any form—natural elements, disaster beasts, or anything else.”
“This is your next step: deepen your spear techniques, resonate with them, and grasp your own unique intent!”
(End of Chapter)
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