C113 Destiny Was in His Own Hands!(2)

"You..." Zhou Changtai felt a heaviness in his chest, unable to say another word. If Lyi Huamei had also been killed by the disciples of the Heavenly Martial Academy, this might be his last time leading a team. Even if he wasn't punished upon returning, his hopes of becoming an inner sect elder would be slim.

As the verbal sparring continued between the two, the other sect leaders wisely chose not to interfere. However, the leader from the Wind Howl Sect had a glint in his eye. "Let them fight it out. If their two groups clash inside, our sect, with Gongyang Qiusheng, might gain a lot..."

Time ticked by, and the tension grew thicker. Suddenly, the Light Door shimmered—the Mystic Trace Realm was finally closing!

Inside the realm, Woo Zhengyang, his body mostly healed, was sorting through a pile of bags and Hidden Heaven Bags. These were the spoils of his rampage, and it could be said that a large portion of the trial's total gains were now in his hands. Not to mention what he originally had, along with the possessions of Gongyang Qiusheng, Lyi Huamei, and others, Woo Zhengyang had acquired seven Hidden Heaven Bags alone, with countless Demon Cores, Heavenly Essence Stones, and more.

Among these treasures, two items caught Woo Zhengyang's attention: an ancient sword manual with a jet-black cover titled "Ink Night Sword Washing Arts," and an ancient pill known as the Qi Condensing Pill.

"Ink Night Sword Washing Arts" uses the pitch-black depths of night to hone a sword's lethal aura. Whenever and wherever the sword is drawn, night falls, and lives are claimed.

The Condensed Qi Pill is an ancient and rare elixir for cultivators in the Vein Refining stage. Regardless of one's current level, consuming this pill allows a breakthrough to the next stage, reaching the peak of their current abilities.

Both the "Ink Night Sword Washing Arts" and the Condensed Qi Pill are exactly what Woo Zhengyang needs right now. The sacrifice of Bu Qianshan and others has provided him with these essential resources, filling him with immense gratitude.

The "Ink Night Sword Washing Arts" consists of four techniques: Conceal the Sword in the Night, Sword Light Becomes a Star Trace, Cleanse the Sword's Intent, and Silent Sword Emergence. This is a sword skill intertwined with illusions, vastly different from modern techniques. Its complexity is tied to the practitioner's mastery level.

All martial skills are categorized into Ordinary, Minor Completion, Great Completion, Peak, and the elusive Perfection Stage. Most skills can be performed at any stage, with varying power.

However, the "Ink Night Sword Washing Arts" is unique. At the beginner's Ordinary stage, it shows no power. Only at the Minor Completion stage can one unleash the power of the first technique, Conceal the Sword in the Night. To wield the fourth technique, Silent Sword Emergence, one must achieve the Perfection Stage.

The technique shared a remarkable similarity with the "Silky Hair Soft Finger" that Woo Zhengyang had practiced before, yet it was on an entirely different level. In terms of both difficulty and power, the "Ink Night Sword Washing Arts" was far superior.

Woo Zhengyang would occasionally practice the "Silky Hair Soft Finger" during battles, but unfortunately, he hadn't yet reached even a minor level of mastery. He was still far from unleashing its full potential. Now, with the acquisition of another skill that required a certain level of mastery, the "Ink Night Sword Washing Arts," Woo Zhengyang felt the limitations of his relatively short martial training. Given just another year of experience, he was confident he could have faced the recent ambush without sustaining any injuries.

If others knew Woo Zhengyang's thoughts, they would likely be overwhelmed with embarrassment. His recent performance had already surpassed what was expected of a Martial Disciple. To emerge unscathed would be nothing short of terrifying.

"I wonder if that mysterious state will appear again, allowing the 'Ink Night Sword Washing Arts' to reach perfection," Woo Zhengyang mused as he practiced on the spot. Unfortunately, things didn't go as he hoped, and he had to give up reluctantly.

He glanced at Lee Yunsheng, who was still standing there, stunned by Woo Zhengyang's earlier words. Woo Zhengyang waved him over.

"Senior Brother Woo..." Lee Yunsheng approached Woo Zhengyang, initially intending to call him Junior Brother, but quickly corrected himself.

"It seems you still don't quite get it!" Woo Zhengyang chuckled.

Lee Yunsheng's timid demeanor reminded Woo of his own past. Woo had shared insights about fear and courage with him, as a gesture of gratitude for a simple, yet impactful, remark. It appeared Lee was beginning to grasp the concept.

Unfortunately, some lessons can only be truly understood through experience. Whether Lee would eventually transform and forge his own path in martial arts was up to fate.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Woo, for your enlightening words. Although I haven't fully understood, I now see my direction," Lee Yunsheng said, a glint of determination in his eyes.

"I hope so. Here, take this," Woo Zhengyang said, handing him a Hidden Heaven Bag filled with Heavenly Essence Stones and other items he no longer needed.

"I... I can't accept this!" Lee Yunsheng protested.

"Take it. It's a token of appreciation for your insightful comment. If you're willing, while I'm away from the Profound Heaven Sect, you could help look after an elderly person in the nearby town at the foot of the mountain."