Chapter 763: Ancient Rituals
Chapter 763: Ancient Rituals
Within the dense forest, Chen Chuan carefully drew the secret sect ritual on the ritual cloak, following Xue Shou's instructions.
Unlike the rituals he had learned from Director Lei, this one was more archaic in design.
The difference between the two was that the previous secret sect rituals had various templates to refer to. If you wanted to achieve a specific effect, you could simply copy those templates. Therefore, once you grasped the basics, you could easily apply them.
However, with this ritual, each stroke had fewer fixed restrictions, but there was one prerequisite: you had to understand the meaning behind each element. If you didn't comprehend it, no matter how many ritual materials you used or how precisely you drew, the desired effect wouldn't manifest.
As Chen Chuan painted, Xue Shou repeatedly emphasized the key principles to keep in mind.
And with this new knowledge, Chen Chuan felt he had gained a deeper understanding of the secret sect rituals, at least regarding the portion they were currently working on.
He realized that in the past, this secret knowledge might have been considered esoteric within the ancient kingdom religion. Only true heirs to the religion would have access to such information.
Xue Shou spoke up, "You shouldn't take what I'm saying too literally. In this world, there are numerous ways to achieve a goal. It's unnecessary to adhere strictly to certain established methods. What is widely used today is likely more suitable for the current era and the majority of people.
These ancient techniques have high entry barriers, making them difficult to disseminate. They are destined to be held only by a select few, which isn't necessarily a good thing. A skill that might not change for decades or even centuries in the past could now be surpassed within a few years in this new era. What seems insufficient now will eventually be surpassed; it's only a matter of time."
Xue Shou nodded in approval, "This stroke is good. Now, for the next one, be more fluid and graceful. When you reach the crucial part, maintain a sense of focus and protection, like a fighter guarding their head, but not rigidly. There should be a balance between defense and mobility..."
Guided by Xue Shou's words, Chen Chuan's mind absorbed the concept, and his brush moved swiftly, creating a beautiful and smooth line. The end of the circle seemed both open and closed at the same time.
Xue Shou praised, "Excellent! Now, add another stroke here..."
Without hesitation, Chen Chuan made the next stroke.
Xue Shou nodded, emphasizing that the key to a successful ritual was unwavering determination. If you doubted yourself, how could you expect the ritual to work? He seemed to recall something and asked, "By the way, you should know that when breaking through limits, you must give up one of your strengths or embrace something you detest. Have you decided what you'll do?"
Chen Chuan replied, "I've already made my decision."
What he had in mind was to merge with his second self and use absolute power to break through the threshold, eliminating the need to give up or embrace anything.
Xue Shou said, "That's good. You mustn't hesitate at this point, nor should you change your mind at the critical moment, or there could be problems. As for the rest, as long as you use the right methods, it shouldn't be difficult for you. You've come this far, and these steps shouldn't be challenging."
He concluded, "If you can pass, you will. If not, then it's not meant to be."
Chen Chuan nodded, recalling that Mr. Zuan had said something similar. He thought for a moment and asked, "Since every fighter has something they must give up and endure, what about General Wei? What's his situation?"
Xue Shou explained, "Based on our previous intelligence, we believe that Wei Guozhen might have a limit on the number of words he can speak in a day.
We have an informant in the old imperial house who noticed that Wei Guozhen is always concise in his speech. We even did a statistical analysis and found that over the years, when interacting with outsiders, he has never spoken more than a hundred words at a time.
His past records are easily accessible, and he used to be a very eloquent speaker, capable of convincing anyone. But after becoming a fighter, he became more reserved and spoke less. We think this is what he had to give up.
However, the more he gives up, the more he gains in return."
Xue Shou paused and added, "But this is just a speculation. Sometimes, people might hide or conceal their weaknesses or preferences because they can be exploited by others. After all, he is not only a fighter but also a general, and such information isn't easily accessible. But regardless, it doesn't affect his combat strength.
Moreover, I don't think this 'weakness' should be considered a weakness. Some people, after becoming fighters, can't stop talking and keep talking incessantly, which can be quite bothersome."
As he spoke, Xue Shou seemed to recall something and rubbed his forehead.
Chen Chuan understood immediately and asked, "What about Principal Yao?"
Xue Shou smiled and said, "Principal Yao..."
He laughed and continued, "You'll find out soon enough."
Chen Chuan didn't press further, as he had already reached the final stroke of the ritual. With a flick of his wrist, he completed the ritual with a smooth, rounded touch.
After finishing, he stepped back to examine the cloak. The patterns on it were graceful and free-flowing, not rigidly structured, yet they exuded a unique essence. Unlike the previous depictions, he could tell at a glance what function it served and how long it would last, as if it were embedded within his perception.
He turned to Xue Shou, "Teacher Xue, please take a look. Are there any flaws?"
Xue Shou glanced at it a few times and judged, "It's good enough. You've done well for your first time handling such a ritual. It's just that the limited materials couldn't push the ritual to its highest level. But this ritual is ultimately sufficient as it is."
He looked beyond the forest, "If you move forward, you'll likely encounter the main forces of the Old Imperial House and the pre-arranged artillery positions. But it doesn't matter which direction you go; just be cautious of the artillery shells. If there's an emergency, I'll warn you, and it's up to you to decide what to do. If the situation is critical, initiate the ritual immediately, and I'll shield you."
Chen Chuan nodded, although his second self was almost catching up to his self, and currently, there didn't seem to be any suitable opponents in the vicinity. However, this wasn't a problem. If a fighter arrived, the intense external stimulation would be enough to push his second self to resonate with his self and achieve unity.
And if the fighters sent by the Defense Department and Principal Yao could hold off the War General, without any unexpected variables, that would be considered a success.
He had already decided that when the time came, he could slash open a rift and enter the other world, using the external stimulation and threats there to complete the final resonance and break through his limits.
In any case, he had a plan for either scenario.
At this moment, he picked up the cloak, put it on, and then covered himself with a protective raincoat to prevent the pervasive erosion of the Fusion Zone.
He called out to Chao Ming, telling him to follow from a distance, and then he mounted his horse, tugged the reins, and galloped off in a specific direction.
According to the map provided by Chen Bitong, the Defense Department's base was located at the bottom of the map, while the unknown area where he was currently located was on the left side, with the Great Prosperity Camp on the edge of the unknown region. He was heading in that direction, and it wasn't far from there, just a half-day's journey at most.
However, at that moment, he suddenly turned and rushed towards the distant base, almost brushing past the camp.
If he maintained his current speed in a straight line and encountered no obstacles, it would take about three days to reach the Defense Department's base. But the Old Imperial House wouldn't make it that easy.
The Old Imperial House troops surrounding the Great Prosperity Camp had been lying in wait, but upon seeing the change in direction indicated by the radiance, they realized something was amiss. After a series of telegraph communications, they began to move.
First, the airship that had been hovering nearby changed course and followed Chen Chuan's direction. Then, a large cavalry escort accompanied by mule-drawn artillery followed suit.
The Great Prosperity Camp at the front line also noticed Chen Chuan's change in route due to the obvious direction of the radiance. They saw the airship turning and a large number of reconnaissance birds flying eastward, and smoke billowed from the hidden valleys in the distance, indicating the presence of hidden troops.
One officer turned to Captain Xin urgently, "Captain, it seems like the comrades who took the relics are not coming to our camp. So, there's no need for us to stay here and hold the enemy back."
The captain interrupted, "Please, no more talk about us holding back the enemy. The Old Imperial House troops are not concerned with us; they're chasing after our comrades."
Another officer spoke up, "Yes, Lieutenant, there's no point in staying here. Why don't we go and provide cover for them instead?"
Lieutenant Xin looked outside and said, "We can't move now."
As the officers were about to protest, Lieutenant Xin raised his hand to stop them. "It's already afternoon. We have three to four hours before nightfall. What can we do in that time? Where can we go?"
The officers calmed down, realizing the truth in his words. The Old Imperial House troops had the advantage in the Fusion Zone, able to move freely at night, while the Great Prosperity troops couldn't engage them without a base. Leaving the area or being forced to retreat would be suicidal.
Lieutenant Xin glanced at the radiance and continued, "Let's wait until tomorrow. Their airship will be gone, and we'll have air support then. We'll gather and find a way to attack them from behind, distracting their forces. Also, we'll use those special weapons we've been keeping. There's no point in holding onto them now; we'll use them tomorrow."
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(End of Chapter)
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