A Supreme Genius?

What kind of concept was it to master a few dozen Martial Techniques?

Among the people Zhang Baichi had met thus far, most people had shown one or two different techniques and although they were proficient in those techniques, they were far from mastering them.

People like the Elders at the Core Condensation Realm, Jian Fu or his Master Jian Wubai had most likely mastered the Techniques they had learned, but those were all old monsters who have trained for more than a hundred years!

"You're not bluffing, are you?", Zhang Baichi questioned. Even if Yu Hao was supremely talented, having learned a few dozen techniques was too much!

Facing this question, Yu Hao simply shrugged his shoulders. "It's fine if you don't believe me. Unlike others, I simply learn new techniques by seeing them once."

Zhang Baichi rolled his eyes, now convinced that Yu Hao was just telling lies. "Yeah sure, have you also learned my Sword Techniques, then?"

Yu Hao grew silent and serious. "I'm serious, though. When my father understood my talent, he asked to become an instructor and get a house near the training fields. That way, he could allow me to see all kinds of Martial Techniques. It's also why he sent me to the Law Enforcement Division; They encounter all kinds of people and techniques."

He looked at Zhang Baichi with a contemplating gaze. "But I couldn't copy your Sword Technique. I've seen you use it multiple times in the training fields and even in your fight with Ji Jian, but I can't get my head around it."

'Is he actually serious?' Zhang Baichi frowned. 'Hey system, does this guy have some Special Constitution as well?'

[Ding! Target 'Yu Hao' does not possess a Special Constitution.]

'So he's lying after all…' Zhang Baichi thought.

[Ding! That is not necessarily the case. There are an uncountable number of geniuses in the universe and not every special characteristic manifests in a Special Constitution.]

Zhang Baichi shook his head. 'Then, he might really be just some random genius?'

[Ding! Host's deduction is correct. It is not rare for geniuses to emerge among the smaller worlds. Though it is rare for such talents to bloom at the Body Forging Realm.]

'Hey, then I'm a genius as well? I'm unrivalled among Body Forging Cultivators', Zhang Baichi smiled with a smug.

[Ding! Host is incorrect. Host's strength mostly stems from the Black Heaven Scripture and Host's Special Constitution.]

His smile faded and he frowned. 'Wow, thank you, you piece of trash software.'

"What the f*ck is wrong with you?", Yu Hao finally asked. For the past minute, Zhang Baichi had absentmindedly stared into the air and smiled, frowned, shook his head and sighed to himself.

"Oh, nothing. Never mind that, the reason why you can't learn my Sword Technique is because it's an inheritance."

"Inheritance?", Yu Hao thought about it for a moment. "Oh, I see, so you need a special cultivation method to successfully replicate it? That's why there's no stars when I do it, huh."

Zhang Baichi was taken aback. He had prepared so arbitrary excuses, but Yu Hao had just 'solved' the problem on his own. "Uh, yes. Yes, you're right."

Yu Hao shrugged. "That's too bad then. It looked quite powerful."

"Not just 'quite' powerful. Even Master asked me if I was willing to share the technique with the sect.", Zhang Baichi raised his eyebrows.

Only 'quite' powerful? The best Sword Technique that the system created by the Black Heaven Sage had found that was suitable for Body Forging Realm cultivators was certainly far more than just 'quite' powerful.

Zhang Baichi even suspected that Yu Hao couldn't learn it because it required the cultivation of Intent to master this technique. Just copying the movements he saw from Zhang Baichi would be far from sufficient.

'How childish…' Yu Hao didn't seem impressed. He simply nodded with an indifferent expression and changed the topic. "About your meditation: You should start tonight. While the Beastwilds Mystic Realm will help, you should try to progress as far as possible beforehand."

"I will. And you should also prepare as much as possible. From what I've heard, there's many Demonbeasts in the Qi Gathering Realm.", Zhang Baichi nodded.

Yu Hao turned around, ready to leave. "I'll be going then. See you at the Mystic Realm."

"Hey, wait. Help me out again tomorrow. I'll even train with you." Zhang Baichi smiled.

"Not interested.", Yu Hao didn't even turn around. "I only agreed to help you once and I already did."

"Arrogant bastard.", Zhang Baichi cursed, still smiling. "What help? I would've figured that out in a few days at most."

Since he had succeeded in the Torrential Stampede when using only a part of his strength, he already had a vague idea about how to continue this training. Still, Yu Hao had saved him multiple days of fruitless efforts.

'I guess I have three missions in that Mystic Realm now. Find out what's going on with the dragon bloodlines, help that young miss from the Willow Tree Pavilion and help that Yu Hao stay alive.', Zhang Baichi thought while leaving the training grounds.

Since Yu Hao had done him a favour, he naturally had to pay him back.

.

.

.

More than ten days passed without much happening.

The upper echelons of the sect got a bit busy since the opening of the Beastwilds Mystic Realm was coming, but the Outer Sect was more or less the same as always.

There were only two days left of the two weeks that Jian Wubai had given Zhang Baichi to prepare.

Though Jian Wubai called it preparation, for Zhang Baichi that just meant familiarizing himself with the Torrential Stampede Movement Technique.

He hadn't swung his sword at all during those two weeks and had visited the training grounds for far shorter durations every day.

Due to Yu Hao's advice, most of his time was spent meditating, comprehending Star Intent, eating and sleeping.

Under any other circumstances, once would say that he was lazing around at home, but the powerful presence surrounding him was testament that he did indeed become stronger.

It wasn't just an illusion; Zhang Baichi himself could feel that he was not even half a step away from truly comprehending Star Intent. The only thing left for him to make his breakthrough was a trigger.

With just a certain amount of pressure, he was certain that he could make the breakthrough.

'I'll… push myself in the Beastwilds Mystic Realm. Even if I can't find the source of the draconic bloodlines, I'll at least kill a Demonbeast in the higher ranks of the Qi Gathering Realm.', Zhang Baichi spoke to himself.

[Ding! Noticed a certain conviction within Host. Host's condition of success was registered. A reward will be given if Host's succeeds in this task.]

"What the f*ck.", Zhang Baichi stopped in the middle of the rounds, staring blankly in the air. 'Did you… Did you just give me a quest?'

[Ding! Host has set the conditions himself. A penalty will be applied if Host does not fulfil the conditions.]

'Sh*t, now you're forcing me into this? I just said that to hype myself up!', Zhang Baichi cursed and sapped his forehead.

[Ding! Encouraging Host to do his best.]

"F*ck you!", now he cursed out loud. Only to be pulled out of his thoughts by a loud harrumph.

"Do I need to beat you up and help my brother educate you, you brat?", Jian Fu huffed at Zhang Baichi.

"Ah, Uncle Fu… I'm sorry, I wasn't talking to you! I was just- uh, thinking about something unpleasant!", Zhang Baichi hurriedly apologized and bowed his head in embarrassment.

The handful of youths standing behind Elder Jian Fu looked at him with complicated gazes. They were the ones chosen to go to the Beastwilds Mystic Realm as well.

They had heard about Zhang Baichi have a…. particular character, but did he really just cuss at an Elder? And now he's bowing his head? What was going on with their Sect Master's disciple?

Among them, Yu Hao could barely contain his laughter. He had seen Zhang Baichi's weird behaviour a few times already, but this was at another level.

"Brat, hurry up and follow along. We're going up the mountain to meet the Sect Master.", Jian Fu said, deciding to ignore Zhang Baichi's behaviour. This was the benevolence an Elder should show.

"Uncle Fu, even if you're angry, you should just beat me up. Why must you snitch to Master?", Zhang Baichi defended himself with a wry smile, only to get smacked in the head.

Jian Fu looked innocent and simply continued to walk. "We're going because of the Mystic Realm. Move along."

A few odd gazes landed on Zhang Baichi when he just stood there, but he quickly caught up with the other youths behind Jian Fu.

He noticed Yu Hao and walked over to his side. "Hey, what's going on? I haven't heard anything about a summons."

"The Sect Master ordered Elder Jian Fu to bring everyone who's going to the mystic Realm up to the mountain. My guess is that he wishes to brief everyone about their mission.", Yu Hao said.

Zhang Baichi looked surprised. "What mission? And why's there only six of us. Are the others still being decided on?"

"The others' are already up there; The Elders of the Ji and Lu families brought them there. And I don't know anything about the missions other than the fact that there's mission every year.", he patiently explained.

"I see." Zhang Baichi nodded and muttered to himself. "Four spots for the Ji and Lu families? Those two families are really powerful in the sect, huh. Let's hope they're not sending some wastes with us."