Shen Fan sat cross-legged, his Divine Soul entering the Yin-Yang Space.
With a single thought, the Elemental Patterns of nearly a dozen Mid-tier Martial Skills flashed before him.
Each one was a powerful and highly practical Martial Technique.
He decided to first master the easier Martial Techniques to prepare for his defense in five days.
He simulated each of the Martial Techniques from his memory and finally settled on two: Great Sorrow Palm and Fast Blade.
Great Sorrow Palm was a close-combat Martial Technique, Fast Blade was for wielding a weapon, and the Cloud Ladder Ascension Technique was a Body Technique.
The three complemented each other.
If he could achieve some success in cultivating them, he was confident he could even fight an expert at the Third Rank of Meridian Opening.
The Great Sorrow Palm was fierce and domineering.
Cultivating it required an indomitable, forward-charging momentum.
Once a palm was thrown, all of one’s power had to be concentrated into it.
Using the Great Sorrow Palm’s unique activation method, it could unleash an incomparably ferocious impact, with power comparable to an Advanced Martial Skill.
“If not for its surplus of ferocity and lack of flexibility, the Great Sorrow Palm could easily be classified as an Advanced Martial Skill,” Shen Fan muttered to himself.
‘With Elder Qing Pao’s strength, he surely understood its true nature.
Yet he still chose it…
It seems this Great Sorrow Palm is more than it appears.’
Then, he picked up the Jade Scroll that recorded the Fast Blade technique.
Fast Blade: A Mid-tier Martial Skill.
Based on the principle that nothing under heaven can overcome absolute speed.
One must focus on three principles: speed, precision, and ruthlessness.
When mastered, the blade becomes invisible, felling enemies in an instant.
Note: This Martial Technique requires exceptionally strong combat awareness.
If the Great Sorrow Palm took ferocity to its extreme, then the Fast Blade took speed to its extreme.
Compared to other Martial Techniques, these two were somewhat radical.
Once their moves were exhausted, they could easily leave an opening for the enemy to exploit.
But Shen Fan had the Yin-Yang Space for simulation.
He could quickly train these two Martial Techniques to a profound level.
Their power would be so great that almost no one at the same tier could stand against him.
This was one of the reasons he chose them.
Additionally, he possessed the Soul Eye.
His Divine Soul was exceptionally powerful, allowing him to perceive his opponent’s attacks in slow motion.
He could instantly spot flaws in their movements, and by seizing that opportunity, he could deliver a fatal blow!
As for the Jade Scroll for the Cloud Ladder Ascension Technique, he carefully put it away.
He would first achieve success with the Great Sorrow Palm and Fast Blade before slowly tackling that one.
His Divine Soul entered the Yin-Yang Space and began simulating the Great Sorrow Palm.
As his thoughts turned, countless Divine Patterns stirred.
In an instant, they coalesced into the Elemental Pattern of the Great Sorrow Palm.
Streams of light began to circulate in a peculiar way, weaving through the Elemental Pattern.
His Divine Soul stared at the paths the light traveled, comprehending the intricate principles of the Elemental Patterns it passed through.
Gradually, a new layer of understanding dawned on him. The source of this chapter is g.com.
‘No wonder Elder Qing Pao chose ferocity and dominance over flexibility.
This Palm Technique isn’t just incredibly powerful—cultivating it also refines the Flesh Body and circulates one’s qi and blood.
The two aspects are complementary.
The stronger the Flesh Body and the more vigorous the qi and blood, the greater the power of the Great Sorrow Palm.’
This meant that by cultivating this Palm Technique, he could condense his third Primordial Vein even faster, and perhaps even cultivate Yuan Jin.
After all, a Martial Disciple only needed to temper their Flesh Body and strengthen their qi and blood to generate Primordial Veins.
If he could cultivate the Great Sorrow Palm to the Great Success realm in a short time, reaching the Third Rank of Meridian Opening would be within sight, and condensing Yuan Jin would also be a near-term possibility!
“A true master!” Shen Fan sighed.
Elder Qing Pao was truly worthy of being a Martial Master Level expert.
It only took a few hours to bring a Basic Martial Skill to the Great Success realm through simulation in the Yin-Yang Space.
He believed a Mid-tier Martial Skill wouldn’t take many days either.
Moreover, he discovered that after reaching the Second Rank of Meridian Opening, the simulation ability of the Yin-Yang Space was a little stronger than when he was at the First Rank of Meridian Opening.
Perhaps this was a change brought about by his increase in cultivation.
After grasping the basic cultivation method for the Great Sorrow Palm, Shen Fan began to simulate the Fast Blade.
Soon, the Yin Yang Divine Patterns shifted, coalescing into the Elemental Pattern of a blade.
However, this blade wasn’t solid; it was just a blurry Sword Shadow.
‘Fast Blade… you don’t see the blade, only its shadow.
That is the essence of the Fast Blade,’ Shen Fan murmured, staring at the bright afterimage that flashed across the Fast Blade’s Elemental Pattern.
‘My Divine Soul has been greatly enhanced since I gained the Yin-Yang Illusion.
If I activate my Soul Eye, I can bring the power of the Fast Blade to its absolute peak.’
…
‘The Great Sorrow Palm and Fast Blade each have only one move, but one is fierce and the other is fast.
One move is enough.
Those Mid-tier Martial Skills with numerous techniques seem to be missing the point.
The ultimate purpose of a Martial Technique is, one, to strengthen oneself, and two, to attack the enemy.
Useless moves are just a waste of time.’
Following the simulations in the Yin-Yang Space, Shen Fan felt as if he could see the true essence of both Martial Techniques.
A few hours later, he had comprehended both of them to the Initial Success stage!
If word of this got out, the other disciples would go insane.
Among them, even the most talented would take several days, while the less talented might not grasp it even after a month.
Without comprehending the True Intent, their cultivation would be hindered.
The effects of refining the Flesh Body and strengthening qi and blood would be diminished, and their cultivation growth would be slow.
Of course, this relationship between Martial Techniques and cultivation was limited to Martial Disciples.
Once one advanced to the Fourth Rank of Meridian Opening and became a Martial Artist, they would generate Yuan Jin and could cultivate specialized Martial Arts Techniques.
These would complement the external Martial Techniques, one internal and one external.
…
「One day later.」
Shen Fan’s Primordial Veins lit up.
The powerful refining effect of the Great Sorrow Palm, combined with the divine efficacy of the Yin-Yang Divine Coin, caused his cultivation to rise rapidly.
「Three days later.」
He unleashed the Great Sorrow Palm with a roar, shattering three Cyan Stone Steles in a row.
Its momentum undiminished, the palm strike slammed into a massive wall, leaving behind a deep Palm Seal.
「Five days later.」
Shen Fan stood like a statue, both hands on his blade, his very aura seemingly concealed.
Suddenly, a fly buzzed past.
BZZZ—
A flash of Sword Light, and the fly fell.
Upon closer inspection, it had been diced into seven pieces!
In that single instant, Shen Fan had struck seven times!
By now, his Great Sorrow Palm and Fast Blade had reached a high level of mastery, both cultivated to the Small Success Realm.
The Great Sorrow Palm’s power was no weaker than an Advanced Martial Skill, and the Fast Blade, when combined with his Soul Eye, was also formidable.
With his strength at the Second Rank of Meridian Opening, he no longer feared even an ordinary disciple at the Third Rank of Meridian Opening.
Meanwhile, his cultivation had also improved dramatically in just a few short days.
“It’s time for my defense.”
…
「Outer Courtyard.」
Inside a luxurious room, a tall, imposing man with an extraordinary aura sat across from Zhang Qiang.
“Brother Zhang Wu, you have to avenge me!”
Zhang Qiang tearfully recounted Shen Fan’s “atrocities,” describing in detail how he had been brutally beaten.
Zhang Wu’s brow furrowed.
His anger grew as he listened, and he finally kicked Zhang Qiang over.
“How many times have I told you? The academy isn’t like home! This isn’t a place for you to run wild, but you just wouldn’t listen! And look at you now! You’ve been crippled! Second Uncle’s family line is going to end, and he doesn’t even dare come to the academy to raise hell!”
“Brother Zhang Wu, I was wrong! Please, help me this one time! As long as we can get Useless Shen kicked out of the academy, I have ten thousand ways to make him wish he were dead!” Zhang Qiang scrambled back to his feet, pleading.
“You… When have I not had to clean up your messes? I can’t get involved in this personally. If people find out one of the Outer Courtyard’s Top Ten Disciples is bullying a mere Second Rank Disciple, I’ll lose a great deal of face.” Zhang Wu paused in thought.
“However, I’ll tell a few disciples at the Third Rank of Meridian Opening to back you up. Oh, and your brother Zhang Sheng is back from his trial in the Sunset Mountain Range. He’ll be there too.”
Zhang Sheng was a famous expert in the Outer Courtyard.
Although not as strong as Zhang Wu, he had cultivated several Mid-tier Martial Skills to the Small Success Realm.
He had once hunted numerous Fierce Beasts alone in the Sunset Mountains, and his methods were ruthless and vicious.
“Thank you, Brother Zhang Wu! Thank you, Brother Zhang Wu!” Ever since he’d been maimed, Zhang Qiang’s voice became high-pitched and shrill whenever he raised it, sending a chill down Zhang Wu’s spine.