Chapter 7 of 10

Chapter 7

18 min read4,601 words

"Indeed, it’s really ‘Intent and Power in Unison’!"

Three hundred feet away, the deputy examiner Wang Chun had been paying attention to this battle and couldn’t help but exclaim, "How many years has it been since we’ve seen this? Mastering ‘Intent and Power in Unison’ before the age of twenty?"

"Not just that! The method he used to avoid that Spirit Light Slash is ‘Perceiving the Cicada Before the Wind Moves’!"

Li Guanghai’s eyes narrowed slightly, then he opened the register again and made a heavy mark next to the name ‘Zhang Xin’.

Wang Chun also nodded slightly, "The process of this battle was too fast to confirm. However, from the situation, it shouldn’t be difficult for this young man to master ‘Power Before Intent’. It’s just a pity..."

"Pity that his spirit soul is damaged?"

"That’s not it!"

Wang Chun shook his head, "Since he can recover on his own, it means his injuries are not irreparable. I’m just worried that he won’t pass the next two tests. After all, he’s already over eighteen, which is quite old."

"Staying in the outer sect would be the same."

Li Guanghai didn’t seem to care much, "If he truly has talent in the combat realm, the Transmission Hall won’t miss this prodigy."

Wang Chun, however, smiled bitterly, thinking that it couldn’t be the same. This would likely delay the young man for a few more years. And once a mortal passes the age of twenty-five without opening their spirit acupoint, they will never have the chance to become a Spirit Master.

—A first-stage Spirit Master who has mastered ‘Intent and Power in Unison’ is worth ten ordinary ones. Such a prodigy, even if delayed for a moment on the path of Spirit Mastery, would make him feel regretful.

It must be known that the combat realm is even rarer than the talent for Spirit Mastery. A ninth-stage Spirit Master can be easily cultivated by the sect. But a Divine Master, often requires the selection from hundreds, even thousands of Spirit Masters.

"Speaking of which, wasn’t this guy in a coma for nearly three years? How did he master ‘Intent and Power in Unison’?"

Mentioning this, Li Guanghai also fell into deep thought, "It’s probably related to his father. I’ve checked his records; his father is the master of the Sun Moon Martial Hall in Heyang City, at the foot of Guanglin Mountain. It’s likely that he mastered ‘Intent and Power in Unison’ three years ago."

"Three years ago?"

Wang Chun’s expression became even more pained, "That means such a prodigy was delayed for three years? And his spirit soul was damaged, almost making it impossible to practice? That Shangguan Xuanhao really did a great wrong!"

***

Zhang Xin watched as Mo Gong was carried away, and only after a high-stage Spirit Master arrived did he leave with peace of mind.

To prevent any accidents, all the Sun Moon Xuan Sect disciples responsible for judging the martial arts competition today had to master the third-stage Minor Revitalization Technique to provide immediate aid to the injured.

However, Mo Gong’s head was severed by a single strike. While the Minor Revitalization Technique could save his life, it couldn’t repair the cervical spine injury. A fourth-stage Major Revitalization Technique would be required to ensure no aftereffects.

If the treatment was delayed, it might affect Mo Gong’s future potential and achievements.

If something really went wrong, it wouldn’t be good. Although Zhang Xin couldn’t hold back in the previous battle, a slight delay could have led to him being bound by Mo Gong’s Spirit Power Chains, and he would also feel guilty.

Fortunately, the martial arts examination was well-prepared, and a ninth-stage Spirit Master skilled in the Revitalization Technique was on standby.

When Zhang Xin descended from the stage again, Wang Feng couldn’t help but ask, "Zhang Xin, has your sword technique reached the level of ‘Intent and Power in Unison’?"

"Probably? I can’t be sure myself."

Zhang Xin smiled, not denying it.

With his damaged spirit soul, his future cultivation would be difficult, so only his combat talent could earn the sect’s attention. Therefore, he didn’t hesitate to display his ‘talent’ in this martial arts examination.

"Really, it’s true!"

Wang Feng’s gaze on Zhang Xin was extremely complex. He didn’t expect this guy to be a monster, even more enviable than Mo Gong.

Zhang Xin felt uneasy under his gaze, "Senior Brother, why are you looking at me like that? Isn’t it not that hard to achieve ‘Intent and Power in Unison’?"

"Are you not feeling a pain in your back? Many Spirit Masters in the Sun Moon Xuan Sect still have ‘Intent Before Power’ even at the ninth stage."

Wang Feng shook his head, his face full of envy, "It’s said that the key to a Spirit Master advancing to a Divine Master is mastering ‘Extreme Power Concealing Intent’. You’re only two steps away now."

"That’s still a long way off!"

Zhang Xin immediately scoffed, "You’re still a second-stage Spirit Master, and I’ve just entered the sect. Why think so much? To advance to a Divine Master, it will take at least thirty to fifty years. Moreover, the ‘Intent and Power in Unison’ of martial artists is not entirely the same as that of Spirit Masters. If I become a Spirit Master in the future, I’ll have to relearn this step."

Wang Feng’s spirits immediately lifted, "That’s true!"

Ignoring this, he then sighed slightly, "Since you’ve passed the martial arts examination today, I won’t be able to accompany you tomorrow. Be careful."

Zhang Xin’s eyes were strange, and he wasn’t sure if it was an illusion, but he could sense a lingering attachment in Wang Feng’s words.

When Wang Feng left, the martial arts examination in the arena was gradually coming to an end. It was already late in the evening (around 7 PM), the sun was setting in the west, and the sky was filled with red clouds. It was almost dark, and it was impossible to let the examinees continue the night battle.

At this moment, Zhang Xin looked around and saw many young people with dejected expressions, some were deeply saddened, and some were even sobbing loudly.

According to the sect’s rules, those who didn’t win a single match today would be sent down the mountain. Only those recommended by the judges and the chief and deputy examiners would have the right to stay. This was to prevent strong opponents from meeting in the first match. However, to prevent favoritism, the recommenders themselves would also bear responsibility if the examinees failed the three tests or didn’t become Spirit Masters within five years, and the Discipline Hall would impose corresponding punishments.

Zhang Xin specially looked for Fang Xinzi, but there were too many people, and he didn’t see his figure. Not long after, Zhang Xin suddenly heard a girl’s scream nearby. He was startled and turned to see Xie Ling’er rushing towards him from the crowd, hugging him tightly, and then jumping and dancing with excitement, as if she had gone crazy.

After a while, Zhang Xin finally waited for her to calm down, then he frowned and asked, "Why are you so happy? Acting so crazy? Have you passed all three martial arts tests?"

"Xie Ling’er is at least from the Spirit Gathering Class, how could I not pass?"

Xie Ling’er giggled and shook Zhang Xin’s arm, "But I didn’t expect that you, Brother Xin, would defeat Mo Gong! Everyone says your sword technique has reached the level of ‘Intent and Power in Unison’. Is that true?"

Clearly, in her view, Zhang Xin’s victory was more worth celebrating than her own passing the martial arts tests.

"I’m not sure, but it probably is."

Zhang Xin still answered this way, as it was difficult for him to determine such a realm, but others’ perceptions were more obvious.

"Then it must be true! To defeat Mo Gong, it’s impossible without ‘Intent and Power in Unison’."

Xie Ling’er’s eyes were full of admiration, "No one in our current Spirit Gathering Class has mastered ‘Intent and Power in Unison’! You really live up to being Brother Xin! I should have known, how could Brother Xin not defeat Mo Gong? You were already so strong three years ago."

Zhang Xin felt quite flattered, his head a bit dizzy, and it felt good to be looked at with such eyes by this girl.

"Actually, it’s not hard. If you want to learn, I’ll teach you. I guarantee you can master it within two years."

"Really?"

Xie Ling’er’s eyes lit up, then she seemed to think of something and took out a few small packages from her sleeve, shoving them into Zhang Xin’s arms.

"What’s this?"

Zhang Xin’s eyes were puzzled, and he carefully felt the packages, finding that they seemed to contain some pill bottles.

"They’re spirit-enhancing pills!"

Xie Ling’er chuckled, her eyes full of hope, "Xie Ling’er will definitely help Brother Xin pass the disciple examination!"

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