23. Silky Breakthrough

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Hiding securely in the deep mountains, ignoring the outside world, brought Song Cheng quite a few points.

And now... it's time to improve!

In this bizarre chaotic world, a bit more strength meant a bit more hope of survival.

'150 points, "White Snake Blade," simulate 50 times.'

In an instant, numerous memories surged into Song Cheng's mind.

He stood in the courtyard, day after day swinging his blade, pondering how to advance further in this realm of perfection.

Cultivating was like climbing a mountain.

Climb one mountain, and yet another one awaits to be seen.

However, no matter how he wielded his blade, Song Cheng's eyes were still unfocused.

He recalled the three realms of "form, force, power" spoken of by Guan Xi, as well as the analogy of "knights and lances."

He began deliberately seeking that flashpoint of eruption within his strength.

Yet, relying solely on his own comprehension was exceedingly difficult.

The first person to discover "force" must have been a standout and a lucky one.

50 times...

The simulations failed.

Still, it wasn't entirely fruitless; at least Song Cheng gained many insights into blade technique.

At this moment, Song Cheng felt utterly numb, a long-lost "fear of being controlled by the probability of card draws from a past life" rising in his heart.

The critical card draw had a safety net, but this simulation was not a game; there was no safety net.

He took a deep breath, the moisture, the unique scent of the forest, and that peculiar rotting stench filled his nostrils.

"What's that smell?"

Song Cheng frowned, closed the window decisively, rubbed his hands together, and changed strategies, turning to repeated simulations.

51 times...

52 times...

53 times...

Song Cheng slumped onto the wooden chair, listlessly tapping the "+" sign like a lifeless corpse.

...

65 times...

66 times...

Song Cheng's eyes filled with a resentment towards the world and hatred towards the "lucky ones" in his mind.

67 times...

Simulation succeeded!

Song Cheng's previously slumped body abruptly sat upright and, without even looking, continued to simulate the "Pagoda Visualization Method" ten times.

Misfortune never comes singly; good things come in pairs!

People are somewhat "superstitious" about probabilities.

Suddenly...

Feedback arrived.

"Pagoda Visualization Method," simulation succeeded!

...

Blind Song exhaled, a smile appearing on his face.

He looked again at the panel.

[Points: 172 points]

[Cultivation Techniques]

Xuanwu Force (Yellow Level, Grade C) (Uninitiated (0/4))

[Skills]

Nether Pagoda Visualization Method (?) (Perfection)

'A strange thing has appeared, an unknown grade Nether Pagoda Visualization Method?'

Song Cheng gave it a glance, then immediately closed his eyes to begin digesting the massive influx of memories.

Layer upon layer of towers, ascending step by step until the ninth level, then leaping off, allowing the divine soul to travel at night.

Yet, he became unsatisfied with only achieving this.

He attempted to strengthen his divine soul, only to find this task hundreds, thousands of times harder than comprehending new martial arts.

Martial arts, at least you could trial and error; even if it didn't work, you could practice daily.

Divine soul, how to test, how to train?

He managed to simulate the "Pagoda Visualization Method" from "Heart's Eye" by sheer luck.

He pondered painfully, hoping on meditation, sometimes even crazily visualizing the deities and demons from his past life, yet... all to no avail.

That day, he once again closed his eyes to meditate, allowing his divine soul to exit, but found nothing new. However, when his divine soul returned to the tower, he suddenly noticed something odd about the "tower."

What was once an ordinary tower began to darken.

Upon closer inspection, he saw strange tadpole-shaped lacquer patterns appearing on the eighth level of the tower, rotating on its surface, forming two sinister and indifferent terrifying pupils.

He was startled, opened his eyes abruptly, and saw his reflection in the mirror, those pupils granted by the "Drowning Ghost's Blessing," a realization dawned on him.

The taboo inherently leaned towards the divine soul.

The taboo blessing gave him those eyes.

Now, these eyes had completely integrated into him, becoming a part of him, not only in the flesh but also in the divine soul.

The nine-level tower was a visualization of his flesh; if the ninth level was the purple palace at the brow, then the eighth level... wouldn't it be the eyes?

Hence... the pagoda became the nether pagoda.

Yet he didn't feel the divine soul strengthening; the only thing that strengthened... was the nether pagoda.

Thoughts settled.

Song Cheng felt a bit speechless.

This seemed like a bizarre result of misallocating skills, like "being tasked to enhance the warriors in the fortress, instead you reinforced the fortress itself."

...

...

Then came the simulation memories of the "Xuanwu Force."

A true transmission is a single sentence, a false transmission an entire book.

Through repeated practice and using the methods recorded in the previous "Roaring Tiger Blade" as references, he finally understood one principle: flesh is tempered by form, but force is not through form, rather through flesh.

However, how to nourish force with flesh, and what kind of force to cultivate, followed strict rules. A small discrepancy could lead to a big mistake, and trying to cross this step alone was exceedingly difficult.

The White Snake Blade, agile and quick, tempered the thoracic spine and the shape of the arms through form.

The Mysterious Turtle Step, stable and steady, trained the waist and back strength to be steady, and the legs as if rooted in the ground.

In addition, Song Cheng comprehended that the "Mysterious Turtle Step" was initially conceived with the image of a snake coiling around a mysterious turtle.

Therefore, his force should also be two intertwining lines.

One line should be flexible, rapid, filled with explosiveness, like a white snake hunting, striking fatally, exerting utmost offense.

The other line should focus on defense, primarily stability.

These two forces complemented each other, just like a spear and a shield.

Following these thoughts, he began consuming large quantities of meat to forge force with flesh.

One day, after some time, he suddenly moved, his arm shooting out like a swift and fierce venomous snake, exerting force into the air, forming a strong pouncing force.

He stepped forward, unleashing physical power, a surge of blood rushing out from within, as if many small fists were pounding out from beneath the skin, making it appear hard.

This was the "ephemeral bloom" borne from his sleepless contemplation.

After this instance, he hurriedly stopped, attempting to replicate it.

Yet, he could no longer reproduce the two forces that suddenly emerged.

But even so, he already found the opportunity.

He named this force... "Xuanwu Force."

...

...

Song Cheng glanced at the points.

There were still 172 points left.

Without hesitation, he began swiftly advancing the cultivation progress of "Xuanwu Force."

Invested 60 points.

Without any surprises or obstacles, the progress of "Xuanwu Force" advanced from "Uninitiated (0/4)" to "Perfection."

And Song Cheng's realm directly advanced to "Yellow Level, Grade C."

He glanced at his combat power.

The previous moment was "18~31," and in an instant, it changed to "38~51."

It mainly emphasized one word: implausible.

...

Song Cheng closed his eyes, digesting the cultivation memories, continuing to glance over "Xuanwu Force," noticing a small "+" sign at the end.

Corresponding information appeared.

[Simulate corresponding battle method, success rate 10%]

[Each simulation costs 3 points]

[Simulate?]

He still had 113 points.

Why not?

If not to become stronger, was he waiting for love?

Song Cheng continued investing 3 points per simulation.

Simulating ten times, nothing released.

But on the eleventh time, information appeared.

[Simulation successful].

White Snake Coiling Turtle (Yellow Level, Grade C) (Blade Technique) (Uninitiated) (0/4)

'Good, good, good, continue.'

Song Cheng invested another 60 points.

Instantly, this move called "White Snake Coiling Turtle" reached perfection.

Glancing at his strength, the previous "38~51," which hadn't even had a chance to cool down, jumped to "38~76."

He dropped the spare blade, and his strength changed to "35~35."

He picked up a finely sharpened bamboo blade by the door, and his strength became "35~70."

Thus, Song Cheng understood everything.

Apparently, a good blade was important too.

...

Song Cheng sat back, continuing to look at "Xuanwu Force" on the panel.

A small "+" sign appeared at the back.

[Simulate Yellow Level Grade B Cultivation Technique, Success Rate 1‰]

[Each simulation costs 4 points]

[Simulate?]

[Referencing other cultivation techniques, undergoing training can improve success rate]

Song Cheng squinted at this "1‰."

This wave of resource digestion was quite thorough.

As for the one in a thousand probability, couldn't he wait two years?

In two years, wouldn't he accumulate 5,110 points and still not simulate the superior technique of "Xuanwu Force"?

For the longevity people, enduring solitude was most crucial.

However, Song Cheng faintly felt a premonition that perhaps his mountain living days were coming to an end.

Because...

He pushed open the door, seeing the young girl of the house practicing blade techniques in the courtyard, and couldn't help but ask, "Did you smell that rotten scent?"

Tong Jia was practicing the "White Snake Blade" with the long blade she acquired from the third leader of bandits.

Her aptitude was average, but her foundation was quite good. After more than two months of diligent practice and Song Cheng's guidance, she had entered the entry level and was now sprinting towards minor accomplishment in realm.

Her combat power improved significantly from the original "3~3" to "5~5."

Tong Jia stopped, sniffed, and said, "Master, there's a faint scent, but it's quite normal."

Song Cheng asked, "You really smelled it?"

Tong Jia nodded, "Master, why would I lie to you? It's really very faint."

Song Cheng sniffed again; the rotten stench was peculiar, not only penetrating the nose but also seemingly invading the soul.

Could it be that due to his visualization method, his divine soul was stronger than ordinary people, hence he could smell it?

Song Cheng looked towards the other side at Miss Nanhui.

Nan Hui was weeding in the herb garden.

In spring, the frost-softened soil also accompanied many wild grasses emerging from the ground.

"Miss Nan Hui, did you smell it?"

"I..." Nan Hui sniffed carefully again, saying, "Big Brother Song, I did, but it's very faint."

Song Cheng gazed into the distance.

He still hadn't seen the "red."

But is it possible that in Tang River Village, it was due to the "taboo" just beginning to form, allowing him to gradually see the "red."

Yet if the "taboo became complete" and truly appeared, the moment he saw that red, it might already be too late to react.

Song Cheng pondered for a while, arriving at a decision in his heart.

Better to believe it exists than to dismiss it.

Why not take the villagers to the foot of the mountain and wait two days to observe?

Troublesome?

If this cautious preparation could avoid disaster, even if a hundred times more troublesome, I, Song, would do it.

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