C245 Ultimate Martial Skill(2)
"Ink Night Sword Washing Arts" doesn't specify the required mastery level, but just the amount of genuine qi needed for the second move is beyond what a Martial Master can handle. Woo Zhengyang's sword-shaped genuine qi is already more refined than others, yet he still struggles to perform it. Other Martial Masters, unless they're at least in the mid to late stages of the Reality Condensing Stage, or even at its peak, can't execute this move even if they've mastered the arts to a great completion.
The subsequent two moves, especially the final one, "Silent Sword Strike," are definitely out of reach for a Martial Master. This realization highlights the preciousness of the "Ink Night Sword Washing Arts" to Woo Zhengyang. When compared to other ancient martial techniques, this art surpasses even the "Dragon Countering Nine Steps."
Woo Zhengyang could fully execute "Dragon Countering Nine Steps" as a Martial Disciple, and while it remains powerful at the Martial Master Stage—stronger than some Yellow Rank techniques—if there were a technique designed specifically for the Martial Master Stage, it would undoubtedly surpass the "Dragon Countering Nine Steps" in power.
Within the realm of martial techniques accessible to Martial Masters, few can rival the "Ink Night Sword Washing Arts." If ranked, "Dragon Countering Nine Steps" would be considered top-tier within the Yellow Rank, while "Ink Night Sword Washing Arts" would be classified at the Xuan Rank or even higher.
From this perspective, it's clear how significant the impact of ancient catastrophes was on martial artists. Nowadays, most martial masters are still practicing techniques that remain at the Yellow Rank. A top-tier Yellow Rank technique is already considered a rare treasure, while an ultimate technique is a closely guarded secret.
In ancient times, however, even rewards given to a nine-star martial disciple in a training ground could be compared to today's profound techniques. Despite the quality of these techniques, a lack of genuine energy remains a concern. To break this deadlock, Woo Zhengyang must condense more sword-shaped genuine energy, or even sword essence.
Achieving this is challenging, especially with the absence of body tempering techniques, which is a pressing issue for Woo Zhengyang. However, the path of cultivation requires gradual progress. Woo Zhengyang has already surpassed ordinary limits, so there's no need to rush.
In just a few months, Woo Zhengyang has gained a lot. Even with what he currently possesses, he hasn't fully harnessed their power, such as the No Life Sword. He holds a king-tier sword, but until recently, he could only perform the first move of the Ink Night Sword Washing Arts, and that too only when catching an opponent off guard. His real combat strength was much weaker compared to his body tempering skills.
The No Life Sword seemed wasted in Woo Zhengyang's hands. But now, with the ability to perform the second move, "Sword Light Transforms into Star Marks," Woo Zhengyang has finally mastered a technique truly suited for attack. The power of the No Life Sword and his sword-shaped genuine energy can now be fully realized.
Woo Zhengyang felt a wave of relief wash over him as he stepped out of the training room, his spirits lifted and his mind clear. Outside, he was surprised to see Uncle Fu practicing some basic martial arts moves. Though the punches and kicks seemed simple and lacked any special energy, Woo Zhengyang could tell that Uncle Fu had been honing these skills for a long time. Even if he hadn't reached perfection, he was certainly at the peak of his abilities.
Uncle Fu looked revitalized, a far cry from the old servant he once was. When he saw Woo Zhengyang, he paused and walked over. After a brief conversation, Woo Zhengyang learned that Uncle Fu had fully recovered from his injuries, thanks to the many healing pills he had taken. This news brought Woo Zhengyang great joy.
Handing Uncle Fu a Dragon Saliva Pill, Woo Zhengyang left his small courtyard and headed back to the Profound Arts Pavilion. His previous efforts to gain access to the inner circle had been fruitless—he hadn't acquired any body tempering techniques or martial skills. Determined to find a new martial art, whether it involved hand-to-hand combat or weapons, he returned with renewed purpose.
Though his time in the inner circle had been short, Woo Zhengyang had already amassed a considerable collection of martial skills. Yet, he possessed a unique advantage: the golden vortex within his mind, which set him apart from others.
If there were a skill like the "Tyrannical Mountain Shattering Fist" that could reach perfection without the need for training, why not go for it?
Over the next two days, Woo Zhengyang spent his nights refining his sword-shaped genuine energy and his days in the Profound Arts Pavilion, poring over various martial techniques.
The steward overseeing the second floor of the pavilion assumed Woo Zhengyang was frustrated about not finding a suitable body tempering technique, which explained his persistence. He even offered some advice to Woo Zhengyang. Naturally, Woo Zhengyang didn't say much, thanked him, and showed no intention of leaving, leaving the steward with no choice but to let him be.
What puzzled Woo Zhengyang was that after he had thoroughly thrashed Lei Zhiye and Bi Qiubo, he was ready to face retaliation from the so-called Xuan Gang and Tian Gang. Yet, there was no response from either side.
During these two days, Woo Zhengyang chatted a lot with the steward of the Profound Arts Pavilion and finally gained some understanding of the Xuan Gang and Tian Gang. In this world, a Martial Master could establish a gang. Woo Zhengyang initially thought the Xuan Gang and Tian Gang were independently formed by the second and third inner disciples, Helian Bozhong and Fu Chuan. To his surprise, they were actually established by the Profound Heaven Sect itself and had been around for an unknown number of years.
