Chapter 12: Phantom Shift!
Off in the distance, a lofty pavilion stood before everyone’s eyes.
The pavilion had a conical roof, was dark red from top to bottom, and was standing at the edge of darkness underneath the pitch-black fog.
“The Small Scripture Repository!”
The disciples became excited.
There were too few Techniques currently in the sect’s possession.
Because there were so few, the sect’s disciples’ current rate of improvement was very sluggish. In fact, in the advancement of one’s Cultivation Base, various techniques and sword arts played a certain role. In analytical terms, when one came into contact with sword art, the Sword Cultivator himself would gain a deeper understanding of their apparent Cultivation Base. At that moment in time, they were like a match in the winter, burning alone in the chilling winds.
“There are still a few sword arts in the Small Scripture Repository,” Zhang Sanjian said as he revealed a smile.
Though there were not too many sword arts in the Small Scripture Repository, and their levels were not that high either, but they were alright for the current Empyrean Sword Sect.
“Styling Art: Dragon.”
“Styling Art: Drizzle.”
“Oh my heavens! There’s also the Riding Art: Wind Riding!”
As the disciples walked into the Small Scripture Repository, they were all instantly jumping in joy.
Watching the scene unfold, unable to contain his happiness, a smile spread across Zhang Sanjian’s face.
“Great master! There’s also a Move Technique! Shadow Skim!”
A disciple came to Zhang Sanjian gleefully holding a manual in his hands.
Zhang Sanjian said, “This Shadow Skim technique, I think it is here because back then, a disciple made a mistake when he was creating a record of the manuals and must have mistaken the Common level Move Technique: Shadow Drift, and the Spirit level Move Technique: Shadow Skim. Because the Scripture Repository wasn’t lacking in Move Techniques, it was not transferred over there.
“If one cultivates in a Move Technique to an extremely high level, one can step into a state of extremity in the Move Technique.”
“Extremity?”
Many disciples could not help but cast their curious eyes on Zhang Sanjian. There were extremities in Move Techniques?
As if he could feel their gazes, Zhang Sanjian raised his chin slightly and put his hands behind his back. His eyes seemed to reflect both melancholy and a sense of pride.
“Vanishing, Dispersion, Ascension, Liberation,” Zhang Sanjian said.
“These are the Four Great Extremities of Move Techniques. If one is able to master a Vanishing stage Move Technique, train it to a higher level, attain perfect mastery, and step into Vanishing, it can be said that that person will be able to face two people with the same Cultivation Base with ease if they have no mastery over a Move Technique!” Zhang Sanjian explained.
Many disciples immediately became excited because of Zhang Sanjian’s words.
“That is so overpowered and terrific!”
“Oh my! Shadow Skim, Vanishing stage... Could it be that this Shadow Skim Move Technique could assist us in stepping into extremity?”
The disciples looked at Zhang Sanjian expectantly. At that very moment, the Shadow Skim manual in the hands of the disciple was like a precious jewel in the disciples’ eyes.
“Cough cough, uhm, Shadow Skim is a name which I made up myself. It has nothing to do with the extremity of Vanishing. Yes, nothing at all...
“If you wish to attain Vanishing, the technique you cultivate in must be at least of the Truth Return level...”
Truth Return level...
For a moment, many disciples’ expressions changed and it looked as if they have just eaten poop.
Truth Return Level Technique...
Whether sword arts or Move techniques, even during the heydays of the Empyrean Sword Sect’s side sect, there seemed to be only one technique of that level...
Should one master a technique of that level, it would make one invincible among people of the same Cultivation Base. Most certainly, the prerequisite of that was making sure others had no mastery over a Truth Return level technique.
“So, this Shadow Skim technique is not Truth Return level, nor can it help us step into the Vanishing stage... then what are you trying to express with your elaborate speech, great master?”
“Shh, don’t expose him. The Sect Lord was just putting on a front. Things have not been easy for the old man. Just let him be...” someone whispered.
Zhang Sanjian’s face gradually turned gloomy.
My reputation in the hearts of these little boys is dwindling as time goes by...
When did it start becoming like this?
My name is Zhang Sanjian and the Eternal Night is as profound as the path of my blade. This shouldn’t be happening. What an imposing and magnificent sentence this is. This can’t go on. It looks like I have to do something to re-establish my reputation.
“Check-in.”
“New location bind success: Small Scripture Repository.”
“Check-in at Small Scripture Repository, Success +1.”
“Acquired reward: Phantom Shift (Truth Return).”
Shen Changge stood at a corner of the Small Scripture Repository and quietly watched the disciples. His eyes were serious and his expression was full of apathy.
After quite some time.
“Tsk, a bunch of ants.”
“Changge, what are you doing?” Zhang Sanjian was not looking too good. He felt that, when it came to acting tough, when he was compared to Shen Changge, who was looking at everyone indifferently, he, who had just put on a front but was immediately exposed, actually seemed inferior.
The disciple had gotten it, but the master himself had failed.
Thinking about it carefully, among my handful of disciples, the youngest, Mo Qingchen, inherited my swordsmanship, that brat, Qingxian, inherited my medical artistry, while Changge...
He looked at Shen Changge with an unpleasant expression as Shen Changge glared back at him with disdain. Shen Changge’s abruptly wiped away the last of his emotions from his cold eyes. Flinging his slightly glowing white shirt, he turned away cleanly and neatly with no lingering thoughts.
Zhang Sanjian revealed an awful expression as if he was whimpering.
This little b*stard, he inherited the most precious thing that I have!
...
...
After acquiring Phantom Shift, it could be said that Shen Changge, without a doubt, now had the ability required to survive in the dark mist.
He began regulating the sword arts he currently had.
At present, Riding Art: Wind Chase was an intermediate Spirit level Riding Art while Assaulting Art: Scarlet Lightning, was an elementary Spirit level Assaulting Art.
At present, the highest level of technique he had mastered was Phantom Shift which he had just acquired via check-in.
Truth Return level, when cultivated to profound levels, could help one with comprehending the extremity of Move Techniques: Vanishing!
Shen Changge sat cross-legged on his bed. Some disciples who had just returned from the Small Scripture Repository saw him through and window and none of them could contain their surprise. Their senior brother had actually started to cultivate! They each wore small, affirmative smiles. It seemed that their rotten fish senior brother had finally developed the will to improve as well.
Defying everyone’s expectations, Shen Changge began breathing in an even and rhythmic manner after a short while.
Had he just fallen asleep?
The disciples shook their heads resentfully and hurled verbal abuse at him.
“What a disgrace!”
For a week, Shen Changge did his check-ins every day.
...
However, he discovered that his progression was getting slower and slower.
Over the seven days that he had checked in on a daily basis, his Cultivation Base had only grown to the Liberation stage. That was about a thousand years’ worth of cultivation!
Shen Changge remembered that the lifespan of those in the Liberation Stage was just 500 years.
Besides, he had also gotten his hands on Riding Art: Thousand Step. However, the seven days of checking-in had not brought him into the Controlling Phase.
What was worth mentioning was that, after seven days of checking in, his attainment in Phantom Shift was maxed out.
He still remembered that on the panel back then, the number of days beside the Small Scripture Repository was just one out of seven.
Having acquired the technique on the first day, he received Cultivation Base for the next couple of days, and after seven days of checking in, his comprehension level in the technique was raised to the maximum.
He had stepped into the Vanishing stage.
What was the Vanishing Stage?
While moving at a high speed with exquisite mastery over a Move Technique, one’s body could vanish in an instant. However, in actuality, one would still be standing in place. All it would do was trick the opponent’s eyes.
“If I visit the Small Scripture Repository after seven days, I wonder what kind of surprise I will receive.”
The sky had just turned bright, and Shen Changge, who had adjusted his biological clock over the past few days, slowly fumbled his way out of his house.