Chapter 148: Chapter 148: The Technique is Perfected
Inspiration Bridge, in reality, was just an ordinary bridge.
The myth that it could stir inspiration in the human body arose because twenty years ago, a mysterious wind blew across the eastern side, passing right over a cliff.
This wind comprised of an unusual aura that, upon inhaling, cleared the mind and eliminated all worries. Furthermore, when situated within it, one’s thought processes would become many times sharper than usual.
Unfortunately, this gust of wind only arrived once a year at a fixed time and would only last for one 2-hour period.
In order to allow more experts from the Will Sect to benefit simultaneously, the previous leader once constructed numerous bridges across the cliff. Strangely though, the wind disappeared.
It wasn’t until all the new bridges were destroyed the following year that the wind finally made its tardy appearance.
Although perplexed, the former leader had no choice but to accept this fact, making the spots available on Inspiration Bridge each year incredibly valuable and even resulted in many disputes.
No matter how advanced one’s martial arts were, a moment of sudden enlightenment was crucial. Perhaps one could gain some insights after staying on the Inspiration Bridge.
Of course, not everyone could glean insights. At the end of the day, the wind only stimulated inspiration. If its effects were genuinely that potent, the Will Sect wouldn’t be able to safeguard this place.
Upon hearing the words of the Grand Elder, Shangguan Xing said: "There are a total of twenty-seven people here. According to old rules, your Left Sect goes first for half a period, then it’s the Right Sect’s turn."
The Grand Elder snorted coldly.
Inspiration Bridge had a limited load-bearing capacity, and the peculiar wind was slow-paced. As such, the more people there were, the weaker the corresponding effect was for each individual. The Left Sect, with a total of fourteen people, was undoubtedly at a disadvantage.
About half an hour later, a howling sound echoed.
"It’s here."
Everyone’s face lit up with joy.
Shi Xiaole turned his head towards the sound, only to see a pale blue oval wind coming slowly from a distance, passing right over the cliff. Interestingly enough, he, who was standing on the edge of the cliff, didn’t feel the wind blowing at all.
"What a strange sensation."
At that moment, Shi Xiaole felt like his mind had lightened up a lot, as if numerous insights flashed through it.
Little did he know that nobody else experienced this sensation, and most people merely felt very comfortable.
"Go!"
Upon the Grand Elder’s shout, he rushed onto the Inspiration Bridge, followed closely by the other Elders and the three young masters of the Left Sect.
Amidst the creaking sound, Inspiration Bridge shook violently for a moment before quickly stabilizing.
The wind gently drifted over.
The fourteen members of the Left Sect sat cross-legged on the bridge, racking their brains to solve difficult problems with their enhanced cognitive abilities.
Meanwhile, those on the cliff edge, including Shi Xiaole, coordinated their internal power to adjust their state.
This pale blue wind didn’t blow continuously for a 2-hour period, but rather, blew for 15 minutes every 15 minutes.
After blowing for half a 2-hour period, a total of one 2-hour period and three-quarters had passed.
"You all can stand up."
Shangguan Xing called out with impeccable timing.
The members of Left Sect opened their eyes. They were reluctant to leave, but they had to leap back onto the cliff.
"How are the results?"
The Grand Elder’s face didn’t look too good, indicating that he hadn’t gained much.
The ten elders of the Left Sect shook their heads disappointingly. Their potential was practically depleted, and a half 2-hour period was still somewhat short.
However, Lv Tian announced boldly, "Grand Elder, I seem to understand the ultimate move of the Raging Lion Divine Halberd."
"Oh?"
Every pair of eyes, including Shangguan Xing’s, lit up.
The Raging Lion Divine Halberd was one of the Will Sect’s two second-rate lower-quality martial arts techniques. If practiced to perfection, it could be incredibly destructive. And Lv Tian, who was born with divine strength, was undoubtedly suitable for mastering this martial art.
Unfortunately, compared to top-notch prodigies, Lv Tian was slightly lacking in terms of comprehension. If he truly understood the final move, it would save him a lot of time in the future.
As if aware of their thoughts, Lv Tian gripped his Halberd and swung it fiercely, instantly causing a shocking deep hole in the ground.
"Good! With this swing alone, your strength has increased by twenty percent compared to yesterday, Lv Tian."
The Grand Elder laughed heartily.
"If only you had realized this a day earlier, Senior Brother Lv might not have lost."
Wu Zhiqiu hinted at something, speaking with regret in his voice.
"Winning or losing at a given moment isn’t all that important. Persistence in enhancing one’s skills is the righteous path."
Li Zhongtian was nonchalant. As he spoke, he sliced the air in front of him a few times, causing a series of booming sounds.
"This strength, Zhongtian, have you perfected your Will Technique?"
Grand Elder trembled all over, his eyes widened in surprise and filled with inexplicable joy.
The surrounding people also stared at Li Zhongtian intently.
"Just managed to break through by sheer luck."
Li Zhongtian’s Will Technique had already been nearing perfection. During his time on Inspiration Bridge, he suddenly realized something, which helped him take the final step.
"Hahaha, good, very good!"
The Grand Elder laughed till his face turned red.
How many in the Floating River Area could perfect a second-rate lower-quality internal skills technique at the age of eighteen? As long as Li Zhongtian continued on this path, he would undoubtedly be able to carry forward the martial arts philosophy of the Left Sect.
"Shi, once you get off Inspiration Bridge, I want to challenge you to another fight!"
Pointing his Halberd at Shi Xiaole, Lv Tian laughed confidently in front of everyone.
The reason he was able to comprehend the final move of the Raging Lion Divine Halberd was partly due to the stimulation of his inspiration, partly due to his accumulated knowledge, and significantly because of his good luck. Lv Tian did not believe that Shi Xiaole would have such a significant breakthrough.
Shi Xiaole didn’t pay much attention to Lv Tian.
If he were to use all his skills, even if Lv Tian were twenty percent stronger, he would still be no match for him. Compared to Lv Tian, Shi Xiaole was more concerned about how effective the Inspiration Bridge would be for him.
His body landed on the bridge, a light green oval wind gently wafting past.
With a bang.
It was as if his brain exploded, with Shi Xiaole feeling like electricity passing through his body. His already active brain cells seemed to have been nourished, giving rise to countless electric currents.
These electric currents intertwined, making Shi Xiaole’s thoughts extraordinarily sharp.
"So that’s how it is."
The so-called thick accumulates thin hair, just a quarter of an hour later, Shi Xiaole had broken through several of the major difficulties of the Blood Battle Ten Forms.
At this moment, the Blood Battle Ten Forms officially reached the perfection stage of the Transformation Phase!
Taking advantage of the lull in the light green oval wind, Shi Xiaole silently thought: The improvement in my thinking does not significantly boost my internal power. In the coming time, I will use it to complete half the attack technique.
Since merging the Taiyue Three Green Peaks into half a move at the Bloody Red Altar, Shi Xiaole never ceased his research, hoping to complete the remaining half as soon as possible.
After days of accumulation, he vaguely felt that the opportunity was just around the corner.
Regarding comprehension of the essence and integration of man and sword, the former is profound and deep. To enhance it, all elements must be in place, the conditions are too harsh. The latter is not sufficiently accumulated, and won’t comprehend much.
Quarter of an hour later, the light green oval wind wafted once more.
Shi Xiaole was lost in thought, completely immersed in insights.
In front of his eyes, a figure was continuously demonstrating three sword techniques. Gradually, the trajectories of the three sword techniques became a series of intersecting lines, from the changing angles to the ups and downs, all minutely clear.
Time passed by the minute and second.
In a daze, Shi Xiaole seemed to see a line, a line trying to support all the sword trajectories. But this line was unstable and imperfect, as if it could collapse at any moment.
He kept trying, reconstructing again and again, tirelessly.
"Only a quarter of an hour left."
At the edge of the cliff, looking at the hourglass, Lv Tian said impatiently, his body excited with some kind of anticipation.
"Almost there, just a bit more."
Shi Xiaole appeared calm, but his heart was extraordinarily restless.
His comprehension was usually very high, but based on the shallow depth of understanding, it would be difficult to combine the Taiyue Three Green Peaks in a short time. If he missed this opportunity, there wouldn’t be another one.
But at this moment, constructing a perfect line seemed absolutely impossible.
Swish swish swish.
The last grain of sand was about to descend and the light green oval wind was dissipating.
Under infinite pressure, Shi Xiaole’s world suddenly went blank.
In his eyes, the line abruptly became incredibly bright and lively, then transformed into a cold, radiating sword, piercing through the void in an instant.
He successfully merged with the Taiyue Three Green Peaks!
Not long after the light green oval wind dissipated, everyone from the Right Sect leaped back to the edge of the cliff. Waiting for them was the silent inquiry from the people of the Left Sect.
"I still have a long way to go."
Shangguan Xing laughed.
The other elders nodded in agreement.
The effects of the Inspiration Bridge were not as magical as rumored in the Martial World. Moreover, seeing as how the Left Sect was fooled once before, they didn’t hold high hopes from the start.
"Miss Yan, what about you?"
An old woman from the Right Sect looked towards Shangguan Yan.
Shangguan Yan glanced at Shi Xiaole, shook her head, whilst thinking in her mind, "With a little more time, I might have been able to grasp the concept of ’man-sword integration’."
"Miss Yan, don’t be discouraged, if it didn’t work out this time, there will be other chances,"
The Grand Elder was secretly pleased, but on the surface, he feigned consolation. Then he casually mentioned, "It seems that the biggest gains this time were made by Zhongtian and Lv Tian."
He deliberately overlooked Shi Xiaole, driven by deep hatred for him. After all, if it weren’t for him, the Mountain Jade Pendant would still be in the Left Sect.
Unfortunately, while the Grand Elder chose to neglect Shi Xiaole, there were those who disagreed.
"Stone, dare you have another battle with me?"
Lv Tian stepped forward, shouting at Shi Xiaole.
Yesterday’s battle was the most shameful one in his life, which had made him desperate to redeem himself. Vet, he felt that he would fall sick from frustration.
"Do we have to go through this?"
Shi Xiaole raised an eyebrow.
The opponent kept provoking him so if he didn’t do something, it seemed like it would never end.
"Hahaha, we must!"
As the words fell, Lv Tian had channeled all his internal power to extreme levels. His arm swelled and with his heavy halberd, it came crashing towards Shi Xiaole.
"Such ferocious attack! If Shi Xiaole hadn’t gained any new insights, he might not be Lv Tian’s opponent."
"Don’t be in a hurry, Shi Xiaole’s comprehension is not bad, and he might have had some gains. Let’s watch and find out."
All the elders showed interested expressions. To most people, regardless of the result, this was bound to be a spectacular duel.
The explosive momentum was like the weight of Mt. Tai on top of him. The skipping stones on the ground started creating a creaking sound from the pressure, even when still three feet away from Shi Xiaole.
One could only imagine how powerful Lv Tian’s strike was.
Just as the heavy halberd was about to hit Shi Xiaole, his left hand gently touched the Shattered Snow Blade, drew it without looking and swiftly slid it out.
Swish!
The blade flickered like shards of snow crossing the sky; the next moment, it was back in its sheath.
In mid-air, the chaotic momentum exploded like a floodgate, knocking Lv Tian’s burly body three yards away, rolling and tumbling onto the ground.
