Ch.7 Learning Skills

Qi is the common pursuit of 100,000 Shura Sect disciples. Zhuge Xiang believes that his desire for Qi is as strong as anyone else's. The fragility of life has made young Zhuge Xiang realize the importance of strength, so his desire to become a master is extremely strong.

Shura Sect represents his once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and Qi is the only means to access it. Fortunately, he finally succeeded today, feeling the Qi flowing through his veins. Zhuge Xiang was extremely excited. The appearance of Qi didn't just signify that Zhuge Xiang had seized this opportunity; it meant that he had truly entered the world of practitioners.

"Breakthrough! He actually broke through during the battle. Is he the fighting genius the sect talks about?" Beneath the martial arts arena, the few spectators stared wide-eyed with envy, and many were shocked. They knew that those who could break through in battle were more likely to be valued by the sect.

Shura Sect is a martial arts-oriented sect in the world of cultivators, and it boasts numerous kinds of geniuses. Some excel in martial arts understanding, others have special physiques and bloodlines, and some are naturally fast at growing their cultivation bases. However, among all these types of geniuses, the most esteemed in Shura Sect is undoubtedly the fighting genius.

During the one-year training period, he only grasped Qi in the final ten days. In the Shura Sect's eyes, such talent wasn't exceptional, but the ability to break through during battle carried significant weight.

Legend has it that the founder of Shura Sect had low cultivation talent compared to others. While it might take others one year to improve their cultivation level, he needed three to five years. Others could comprehend a martial art in a month, but it might take him half a year. Such a person seemed destined to be average. However, the founder of the Shura Sect, by chance, had offended a stronger individual. In just five hundred years of cultivation, he reached the peak of the cultivation world, earning the title of a rare combat genius who had fought no fewer than ten thousand times.

This is precisely why the Shura Sect places unparalleled importance on combat and fighting geniuses who can break through during battle.

Although he only broke through in the last ten days of the one-year period, his ability to grasp Qi during combat put him on par with those disciples who had comprehended Qi months ago.

Understanding Qi was gratifying, but Zhuge Xiang didn't enjoy standing on the martial arts arena like a showpiece. Without even glancing at Li Bin, he left the arena. Injured disciples like him would be taken for treatment by someone from Shura Sect.

After gaining insight into his strength, Zhuge Xiang's initial excitement settled into a sense of purpose. Among the one hundred thousand disciples, only a fraction would become official disciples. Even if it's not ten thousand, it's still thousands. Official disciples of Shura Sect are said to number three hundred thousand. He had only just obtained the qualification to become an official disciple; it was just the beginning, and it was time to truly put in the work.

Calming his excitement and repositioning himself, Zhuge Xiang identified the direction and walked toward Zangwu Pavilion. Among the one hundred thousand disciples, not all would complete their training within a year. For those who broke through later, basic cultivation methods were stored in the Tibetan Martial Arts Pavilion. As long as disciples had comprehended Qi, they could study these methods freely, with the caveat not to be greedy. The Shura Sect had a strict rules. 

Like Zhuge Xiang, with Qi, he could only learn two martial arts. He could now learn one martial art upon breaking through to the first level of Qi, and he would need to reach the fifth level of Qi to learn the second one. This rule aimed to emphasize the importance of cultivating the foundation when adding combat techniques. After all, powerful attack methods were of little use without a solid foundation.

Next to the Cangwu Pavilion, there was a foreign affairs department responsible for the cultivation and daily life of the one hundred thousand disciples. After Zhuge Xiang passed the test and received the identity badge representing his Qi comprehension, he entered the Cangwu Pavilion. The guard there solemnly explained the Zangwu Pavilion's rules: he could learn only one martial art, and there were Qi cultivation methods available. Loud noises were prohibited, among other regulations.

The Zangwu Pavilion wasn't very large, with a radius of only about seven or eight feet, and it wasn't crowded. Most people were there to explore Qi cultivation experiences, as each disciple could only learn one martial art for cultivation within the year. Those who could break through to the fifth level of Qi within the year to learn their second martial art were considered exceptionally talented, almost beyond imagination.

Regarding the Qi cultivation method, Zhuge Xiang skimmed through it but didn't commit it to memory. With the super game system, Zhuge Xiang knew that the fastest way to improve his strength was through continuous combat and gaining experience.

The primary purpose of visiting the Hidden Martial Pavilion was martial arts. As he approached the platform holding martial arts manuals, Zhuge Xiang carefully surveyed the selection. In truth, the Hidden Martial Pavilion had relatively few martial arts manuals, with just over a dozen martial arts techniques. The Zangwu Pavilion was designed for disciples who had grasped Qi within a year to continue their training. After the assessment conference, these disciples would be brought to the official sect of Shura Sect for specialized and systematic instruction.

On the dozen or so platforms, martial arts manuals covered swordsmanship, boxing, legwork, and more. Zhuge Xiang had already seen Qingbo Palm and Ghost Step. Each martial art had its own strengths, and knowing how to choose was crucial. Zhuge Xiang selected the martial arts manual for Qingbo Palm since it was the only one he had some familiarity with.

"Ding! You've found the skill book 'Qingbo Palm.' It requires cultivation to the first level of Qi Cultivation and one skill point. Do you want to learn it?"

When Zhuge Xiang opened the Qingbo Palm martial arts manual, a sudden mechanical system prompt echoed in his mind, catching him by surprise.

Skill points? Zhuge Xiang recognized this concept. The system had previously informed him about having a skill point after defeating Li Bin, but he hadn't understood its purpose. Now, it seemed that he could use this skill point to learn Qingbo Palm instantly.

Defeating enemies to gain experience, directly advancing his cultivation, and even obtaining items like the Elixir of Defense from thin air—all of these were impressive abilities of the super game system. However, the notion of a skill point allowing him to instantly acquire a martial art was beyond Zhuge Xiang's imagination. Learning a martial art typically required months of diligent practice to even begin to comprehend it.

Stunned by this revelation, Zhuge Xiang decided not to learn Qingbo Palm. While it had a unique effect of trapping opponents, its pure offensive power wasn't outstanding, making it less suitable for Zhuge Xiang. After putting down Qingbo Palm, he began examining other martial arts options.

Looking at Ghost Steps, Zhuge Xiang felt a sense of intrigue. Before his bout with Li Bin, he had keenly grasped the frustrating reality of not being able to lay a finger on his opponent.

Battles among cultivators in the Qi-nourishing realm were perilous. Despite their mastery of Qi, their bodies were not significantly sturdier than those of ordinary people without Qi. While Qi heightened their offensive capabilities, it did little to fortify their bodies against blows, making it impossible to use their bodies as bait in combat with Qi cultivators.

The Blood Thunder Slash, despite being a single move, ignited Zhuge Xiang's enthusiasm. Among the offensive martial arts concealed within the Hidden Martial Pavilion, this technique boasted the highest attack power, aligning perfectly with Zhuge Xiang's preferences.

Bloodthirsty also held a strong allure for Zhuge Xiang. Although practicing this skill could possibly inflict damage to the body, but it offered the potential to forcibly enhance various attributes in a short span. Whether it was the body's resistance to blows, speed of movement, or attack swiftness, this martial art could elevate them all. However, it came with significant risks, making it a dangerous choice for practice.

Surveying these three martial arts, Zhuge Xiang found it difficult to make a decision. Each possessed unique merits, with the Bloodthirsty technique standing out due to its ability to comprehensively improve various aspects of one's abilities. While its initial progress might be modest, it had the potential to become immensely powerful as its mastery deepened. From a long-term perspective, its value far surpassed the other martial arts in the Cangwu Pavilion.

"It seems that you have a good understanding of Qi, but I'd advise against practicing Bloodthirsty Thunder Slash," a clear and familiar voice suddenly rang out from behind Zhuge Xiang as he carefully examined the Bloodthirsty technique.

Turning around, Zhuge Xiang found Lu Yuling standing there in a white dress. The corners of her skirt were delicately lifted, resembling a sacred white lotus that gleamed brilliantly. Her plump thighs shone through. Her exquisite and beautiful face, bathed in moonlight, had a mesmerizing quality that made it difficult for anyone to meet her gaze directly.

"Senior Sister Lu, do you have any knowledge about the Bloodthirsty technique?" Despite the distraction caused by Lu Yuling's presence, Zhuge Xiang quickly regained his composure and inquired. His primary objective was to enhance his own strength, and he didn't dwell on anything else.

"The Bloodthirsty technique is a secret method that awakens one's own blood and energy, but it can easily cloud one's consciousness and incite aggressiveness. Due to the challenge of maintaining control, many practitioners lose consciousness during training. Some even deplete all the blood in their bodies. While it's the most potent martial art in the Cangwu Pavilion, dozens, or even hundreds, of disciples can die in each training session. Very few successfully master the Bloodthirsty technique," Lu Yuling explained carefully as she observed the technique in Zhuge Xiang's hands.

With such slim odds of success and the dire consequences of failure, only a handful of people dared to attempt practicing the Bloodthirsty technique. After all, having successfully grasped Qi was already a significant accomplishment, and there was no need to risk one's life further when becoming an official disciple of the Shura Sect was within reach. Among the thousands of disciples who had comprehended Qi, only around 80 dared to take on the challenge of Bloodthirsty, reflecting the technique's low success rate.

"I understand," Zhuge Xiang nodded in comprehension after learning about the Bloodthirsty technique. In his heart, he had already made a decision.