27. The True Form of Skills

Chapter 27: The True Form of Skills

Hearing Li Hao's words, Li Muxiu was stunned.

He looked at Li Hao fixedly, and suddenly, a smile appeared on his face, yet there was a hint of sadness in his eyes.

"So many stories of the past and present are merely fodder for laughter. It's funny that so many people in the world are not as enlightened as a child."

As he spoke, he turned around.

Li Hao suddenly saw the old man wiping away a tear.

This was a powerhouse comparable to a Sword Saint, and he actually shed tears. What was he thinking about?

Li Hao wisely chose to remain silent. After a moment, Li Muxiu seemed to have adjusted his emotions and turned back to Li Hao with a smile:

"We were just discussing the two ways to break through to the Zhoutian Realm. The Hundred Flood Dragon Chapter is one way, and the other is the Zhoutian Breathing Technique."

"There are two of these in the Listening Rain Tower, both top-tier. One, when fully mastered, can achieve 108 cycles per meridian, and the other can reach 128 cycles. Throughout the entire Dayu, these are considered top-notch. The only technique that surpasses this 'Hundred Battles Zhoutian Technique' is probably the 'All-Heavens Zhoutian Technique' practiced by the royal family in the palace."

"With 168 cycles per meridian, it is considered peerless."

"So impressive?" Li Hao was astonished. Achieving 72 cycles was already considered high-grade, but the technique practiced by the royal family exceeded even double that, meaning they were practically invincible in the Zhoutian Realm.

"Of course, otherwise, how could the royal family rule the world?" Li Muxiu said. "This is called monopolizing techniques; other than the royal family, no one else can practice or learn it. This is why powerful families remain prosperous for so long—they rely on their monopoly in certain areas."

Li Hao nodded. The Listening Rain Tower was no different.

With this tower alone, the Divine General's Manor could remain prosperous for generations.

"However, the more advanced a technique is, the harder it is to master. This is why it requires a high level of comprehension. Not just anyone can succeed with it. In our Li family, although many people practice the 'Hundred Battles Zhoutian Technique,' more people choose the 'Tiangang Zhoutian Technique.'"

"The reason is simple: if it takes you five years to learn the 'Hundred Battles Zhoutian Technique,' but only three years to master the 'Tiangang Zhoutian Technique,' then in three years, the one practicing Tiangang will surely win in any confrontation!"

"You might think that in two more years, you can surpass them, but don't underestimate those two years. By the time you achieve the 'Hundred Battles Zhoutian Technique,' the others may have already reached the Jihun Realm, and being one step ahead means staying ahead!" Li Muxiu explained.

Li Hao nodded.

Choosing the right technique for your talent is crucial.

Otherwise, it would be like a primary school student reading high school textbooks—they won't learn anything, and they'll be surpassed by those who progress gradually, wasting precious time.

"Since you have exceptional talent in body cultivation, I suggest you use the Hundred Flood Dragon Chapter to break through to the Zhoutian Realm. With your comprehension, you should achieve success within three years."

Li Muxiu said, "By then, being in the Zhoutian Realm at ten years old, with a hundred cycles per meridian, you would be only slightly inferior to your father."

"Is he that impressive?" Li Hao was surprised.

For an ordinary person, reaching the peak of the Tongli Realm by age ten would be remarkable.

The Divine General's Manor is full of geniuses and monsters, so naturally, the bar is higher, but reaching the Zhoutian Realm by age ten is still considered genius.

"If I remember correctly, Xiao Qi's talent is slightly inferior to Xiao Jiu's. He reached the peak of the Tongli Realm at age seven, around your current age, reached the peak of the Zhoutian Realm at nine, perfected Jihun at twelve, and perfected Shenyu at sixteen... Then he joined the army, and I'm not sure what happened after that," Li Muxiu said, shaking his head.

Li Hao clicked his tongue inwardly, thinking that this was monstrous.

Uncle Lin, considered to have average talent, was still in the Shenyu Realm in his forties.

And these geniuses... were perfecting the Shenyu Realm at sixteen.

And even then, he was slightly inferior to Ninth Uncle?

Li Hao was at a loss for words. However, considering that Ninth Uncle's talent stood out among the billions of martial artists across the nineteen provinces of Dayu, it made sense.

"When you reach the Zhoutian Realm, while cultivating breathing techniques, you'll also need to learn Zhoutian Realm meridian-opening techniques. Your father achieved the perfect Zhoutian Realm within two years, practicing the 'Hundred Battles Zhoutian Technique' and the 'Dragon River Divine Meridian,' topping the list of prodigies outside the royal family."

Li Muxiu continued, "Besides the difference in breathing techniques, meridian-opening techniques are similar. Ordinary techniques provide one meridian per level, reaching ten meridians at the peak of the Zhoutian Realm."

"Mid-grade meridian-opening techniques offer eighteen meridians at perfection, high-grade techniques thirty-six meridians!"

"Top-tier techniques are fifty-four meridians!"

"The 'Dragon River Divine Meridian' is the best meridian-opening technique in our Li family. Each of the first nine levels opens five meridians, and the tenth level at perfection is nine meridians!"

Li Muxiu looked at Li Hao, smiling, "Now you understand the immense gap between top-tier meridian-opening techniques and ordinary ones, right?"

Li Hao calculated with his fingers, taking a deep breath in shock.

The gap between top-tier and ordinary practitioners at the peak of the Zhoutian Realm could be more than fifty times. The difference was indeed like heaven and earth!

If both breathing and meridian-opening techniques are ordinary, ten meridians with ten cycles will only slightly surpass a top-tier breathing technique at the first level of the Zhoutian Realm.

The disparity was truly staggering!

This realization made Li Hao understand how precious and important resources were on the martial path.

Ordinary martial artists without background can only practice common techniques, becoming cannon fodder in the same realm.

This disparity would likely drive countless martial artists to climb upward by any means, whether through networking or self-struggle, leading them down a bloody path that could cost everything.

For this reason, top-tier martial artists own everything and are known throughout the world.

This path is not easy.

"If your meridians are naturally blocked, opening meridians will be more challenging and slow you down. However, with our top-tier techniques, you might fall out of the top prodigy ranks, but you will still be a high-flying talent to ordinary martial artists," Li Muxiu said.

In the Li family, many geniuses have been born.

Being in a high position, they have seen countless rising prodigies from small families.

Here, only top prodigies like Li Tiangang and Li Junye attract attention from these old figures. The rest are just qualified members like the many illegitimate children in the martial field.

Li Hao nodded slightly, not speaking.

"The fish is ready."

Li Muxiu removed the clay lid, releasing a fragrant aroma of fish.

He extinguished the fire and said to Li Hao, "Eat first. Practice here afterward. I'm going out this afternoon. If you have questions, ask me tonight."

"Okay," Li Hao agreed.

The "chopstick" he peeled yesterday hadn't been discarded, and the old man handed it back to Li Hao.

Li Hao mimicked him, wiping it on his clothes before reaching into the pot to pick up the fish.

This time, he found no fishy taste, only sweet and tender deliciousness.

After eating, Li Muxiu took the pot and chopsticks, told Li Hao something, and stepped away, disappearing into the sky.

Li Hao stretched, wandered around the techniques, and quickly found the ones the old man mentioned. They were placed in glass cabinets on the seventh floor, slowing the decay of the books.

Of course, Li Hao believed the Li family likely had copies of these techniques stored secretly.

It was possible that what was displayed were the copies.

Li Hao flipped through the 'Hundred Battles Zhoutian Technique' and 'Dragon River Divine Meridian' but couldn't immediately integrate them into his panel—unsurprisingly, they were top-tier techniques.

He pulled up his panel, seeing the two accumulated Art Skill Points, and without hesitation, chose to apply them to his Body Dao.

Instantly, an immense amount of information flooded into his mind. After the first wave subsided, a second followed.

It took a full quarter of an hour for Li Hao to gradually digest everything, his eyes revealing clarity.

He opened his panel and saw a transformative change in the techniques he had mastered.

Name: Li HaoAge: 7Cultivation: Tongli Realm, Tenth LevelSword Dao: Second Dan (Flying Segment) (Hidden Bow)Skills: Sea Boundless · Tide (Supreme Perfection), Falling Snow Sword Technique (Supreme Perfection)Body Dao: Third Dan (Universal Phenomenon) (Tiger Suppression)Skills: Stone Skin Tempering (True Form), Thousand Flood Dragon Sacred Body, Third Layer (Hundred Flood Dragon Body, Great Perfection), Primeval Three Layers (Ghostly Body, Great Perfection), Dragon Cicada Vacuum Body, Third Layer (Leap Shell Body, Great Perfection)...Chess Dao: Fourth Dan (5/10000)Fishing Dao: First Dan (112/500)Collected Chess Notations: Universal Phenomenon, Tiger Suppression, Flying Segment, Hidden BowCollected Fishing Notations: NoneState of Mind: Chess MindArt Skill Points: 0

Body Dao had advanced to Third Dan, with the Thousand Flood Dragon Sacred Body reaching the Third Layer of Great Perfection. Simultaneously, both 'Primeval' and 'Dragon Cicada Vacuum Body' had advanced to the Third Layer, also Great Perfection!

Yet, what surprised Li Hao the most was the low-tier body cultivation technique, 'Stone Skin Tempering.'

Its stage had reached 'True Form'!

Countless insights about Stone Skin Tempering filled his mind, and now, he could perform it beyond the level of perfection.

The stages of body cultivation and techniques are similar: entry, minor completion, great completion, and perfection.

Corresponding to technique levels: entry, skillful, perfect, and supreme perfection.

But what is this 'True Form'?

Is it a higher level beyond perfection, supreme perfection?!

Apart from Stone Skin Tempering, all other low-tier body cultivation techniques had reached this 'True Form' level!

Bull Strength (True Form). Li Hao could feel the original flaws of this technique. He instinctively followed the insights in his mind, executing it.

Energy coursed through his body, and the force erupted, making his veins bulge like bull tendons, channeling strength to his fist at will.

With a whoosh, a punch was thrown, causing the curtains on the platform ten meters away to flutter in the breeze!

Reaching the True Form with Bull Strength enhanced his power significantly, increasing the effect four or five times!

Moreover, there was a sense of returning to the original, a subtle yet profound aura beyond Bull Strength's inherent charm.

It was as if this was the true essence of Bull Strength!

Li Hao then started practicing the Thousand Flood Dragon Sacred Body.

Instantly, the vast energy in his dantian stirred, turning like a windmill.