Chapter 27: The True State of Techniques
Li Hao's words left Li Muxiu momentarily stunned.
He stared at Li Hao for a long time, then suddenly laughed. Yet, hidden in his eyes was a trace of sorrow.
"All the affairs of the past and present are reduced to idle talk. It's ironic how so many in this world fail to see as clearly as a mere child."
As he spoke, he turned away.
Li Hao suddenly noticed that the old man was secretly wiping away a tear.
This was a man whose strength rivaled that of a Sword Saint, and yet he was moved to tears. What memory could have brought this on?
Wisely, Li Hao chose to remain silent. After a moment, Li Muxiu seemed to compose himself and turned back with a smile.
"As I was saying, there are two methods to break into the Zhoutian Realm. One is the Hundred Flood Dragons Manual, and the other is the Zhoutian Fortune Technique."
"In Tingyu Pavilion, there are two techniques of this kind. Both are extraordinary. Mastering one to perfection allows for a circulation of 108 Zhoutian cycles, while the other reaches an astonishing 128 cycles. Across all of Great Yu, these are considered top-tier techniques. The only method capable of surpassing the Hundred Battles Zhoutian Technique is likely the imperial clan's All-Heavens Zhoutian Technique."
"One hundred and sixty-eight cycles, truly unparalleled."
"That powerful?"
Li Hao was astonished. Reaching 72 Zhoutian cycles was already considered a superior level. For the imperial clan’s method to more than double that, did it not mean that within the Zhoutian Realm, the imperial clan was invincible?
"Of course. Otherwise, how would the imperial clan rule the land?"
Li Muxiu explained, "This is called the exclusivity of techniques. Outside the imperial clan, no one else may learn or practice it. Strong families maintain their long-lasting influence precisely by holding such exclusive methods."
Li Hao nodded in agreement. Tingyu Pavilion was no different.
Its existence alone was enough to sustain the Divine General Mansion’s prosperity for generations.
"However, the more advanced a technique, the more difficult it is to cultivate, requiring exceptional comprehension. It’s not something that can be mastered casually. For example, in our Li family, although many practice the Hundred Battles Zhoutian Technique, more people opt for the other method, the Heavenly Gang Zhoutian Technique."
"The reason is simple: if it takes you five years to master the Hundred Battles Zhoutian Technique but only three years to master the Heavenly Gang Zhoutian Technique, then in a confrontation three years from now, the person practicing the latter will surely win!"
"You might think that after two more years, you’ll surpass them. But never underestimate those two years. By the time you perfect the Hundred Battles Zhoutian Technique in five years, they may have already reached the Soul Fusion Realm. One step ahead, always ahead!" Li Muxiu elaborated.
Li Hao nodded in understanding.
Choosing the right technique for one’s talent was crucial.
Otherwise, it would be like a grade-schooler attempting high school subjects—they wouldn’t absorb much and would be surpassed by those who advanced step by step, wasting precious time.
"Since your physique is exceptionally gifted, I suggest you use the Hundred Flood Dragons Manual to break into the Zhoutian Realm. With your level of comprehension, you could master it within three years."
Li Muxiu continued, "At that point, achieving a Zhoutian Realm at ten years old with a circulation of a hundred cycles would make you only slightly inferior to your father."
"Was he that amazing?"
Li Hao was astonished.
For ordinary people, achieving the peak of the Tongli Realm by age ten was already commendable.
In the Divine General Mansion, filled with prodigies, the expectations were naturally higher. But even so, reaching the Zhoutian Realm at age ten was considered genius-level.
"If I remember correctly, Xiao Qi’s talent was slightly inferior to Xiao Jiu's. Xiao Qi perfected the Tongli Realm at age seven, around your current age. He reached Zhoutian perfection at age nine, Soul Fusion perfection at twelve, and Spirit Wandering perfection at sixteen... After that, he joined the military, and I don’t know what happened to him afterward," Li Muxiu said, shaking his head.
Li Hao couldn’t help but click his tongue in awe. That was practically monstrous.
Lin Shu, considered average in talent, was still in the Spirit Wandering Realm at over forty years old.
Yet these geniuses achieved perfection in the same realm by age sixteen.
And Xiao Jiu was supposedly even more gifted?
Li Hao was speechless. Still, considering Xiao Jiu’s talent, which ranked among the very best across the nineteen provinces of Great Yu and among billions of martial artists, it wasn’t surprising.
"When you step into the Zhoutian Realm, while cultivating fortune techniques, you’ll also need to study meridian-clearing techniques. Your father perfected the Hundred Battles Zhoutian Technique and the Dragon River Divine Veins—both extremely difficult top-tier techniques—within two years, achieving Zhoutian perfection and becoming unparalleled among prodigies outside the imperial clan."
Li Muxiu explained, "Just as there are different fortune techniques, meridian-clearing techniques also vary. Basic techniques clear one meridian per stage, reaching ten meridians at the tenth stage of the Zhoutian Realm.
"Intermediate techniques, when perfected, can clear eighteen meridians. Superior techniques can achieve thirty-six meridians!"
"And for top-tier techniques, they can reach fifty-four meridians!"
"The Dragon River Divine Veins is the Li family’s finest meridian-clearing technique. For the first nine stages, each clears five meridians, and the tenth stage perfects with nine meridians."
Li Muxiu looked at Li Hao and smiled. "Now you understand the enormous gap between top-tier meridian-clearing and fortune techniques compared to ordinary ones?"
Li Hao counted on his fingers for a moment and took a sharp breath, deeply shaken.
At the same Zhoutian Realm perfection, the disparity between top-tier and ordinary techniques could exceed fiftyfold—a difference as vast as heaven and earth!
If both fortune and meridian-clearing techniques were ordinary, with ten meridians and ten Zhoutian cycles, the explosive power would barely surpass that of a single stage of a top-tier fortune technique.
The disparity was so staggering it bordered on the absurd!
This made Li Hao realize how critical resources were on the martial path.
Without a powerful background, ordinary martial artists could only practice basic techniques and be reduced to cannon fodder at the same level.
Such disparity drove countless martial artists to climb higher at any cost, whether through forging connections or sheer determination, carving a bloody path that often left them destitute.
For this reason, top-tier martial artists stood above all, renowned throughout the world.
"This path is not easy to walk," Li Muxiu said, his tone solemn.
"Given your naturally blocked meridians, clearing them will be more challenging, which might slow your progress. However, with our top-tier techniques, you may fall out of the ranks of the very best prodigies, but in the eyes of ordinary martial artists, you will still be an untouchable genius."
The Li family had seen countless geniuses.
Having been at the pinnacle for generations, they had also witnessed many monstrous talents from smaller clans rise like meteors.
Thus, only the likes of Li Tiangang and Li Junye—true apex prodigies—could catch the attention of elders like Li Muxiu. Others were considered mere competent members of the family, much like the numerous secondary disciples in the training grounds.
Li Hao nodded slightly, choosing not to say anything further.
...
"The fish is ready."
Li Muxiu removed the clay lid, releasing a mouthwatering aroma of cooked fish.
He extinguished the fire and swept away the ashes, then said to Li Hao, "Eat first. Afterward, practice here on your own. I’ll be going out for a while this afternoon. If you have any questions, ask me in the evening."
"Alright," Li Hao responded.
The bamboo chopsticks they had used to skin the fish the day before were still there. Li Muxiu handed them to Li Hao.
Li Hao mimicked the old man’s movements, wiping the chopsticks on his clothes before digging into the pot for a piece of fish.
This time, Li Hao found no trace of the unpleasant fishy taste and instead enjoyed the sweet, tender flavor.
After they finished eating, Li Muxiu collected the pot and chopsticks, gave Li Hao a quick instruction, and then with a sweep of his sleeve, stepped out and disappeared into the horizon.
Li Hao stretched, walked over to the nearby technique shelves, and began browsing. It didn’t take long for him to find the manuals Li Muxiu had mentioned, all stored within the glazed cabinets on the seventh floor. The cabinets helped significantly slow the decay of the books.
Of course, Li Hao assumed the Li family had hidden copies of these techniques elsewhere.
In fact, it was likely that the versions on display here were already copies.
Li Hao flipped through the Hundred Battles Zhoutian Technique and Dragon River Divine Veins. However, it wasn’t something he could integrate into his system right away. These were, after all, top-tier techniques.
He summoned his panel and looked at the two skill points he had accumulated. Without hesitation, he allocated both to the Path of the Body.
Instantly, a torrent of complex information surged into his mind. When the first wave subsided, a second wave hit.
It took a full fifteen minutes for Li Hao to digest it all, his eyes gleaming with newfound understanding.
He checked his panel again and saw that his mastery of the techniques had undergone an earth-shattering transformation.
[Name: Li Hao]
[Age: 7]
[Cultivation: Tongli Realm, Tenth Stage]
[Sword Dao: Second Stage (Flying Segment) (Hidden Bow)]
[Techniques: Boundless Sea · Tides (Supreme Perfection), Falling Snow Sword Technique (Supreme Perfection)]
[Path of the Body: Third Stage (All-Manifestations) (Tiger Pressure)]
[Techniques: Stone Skin Hundred Refinements (True State), Thousand Flood Dragons Sacred Body, Third Stage (Great Accomplishment of the Hundred Flood Dragon Body), Primeval, Third Stage (Great Accomplishment of the Mystic Body), Dragon Cicada True Vacuum Body, Third Stage (Great Accomplishment of the Leaping Shell Body)...]
[Chess Dao: Fourth Stage (5/10,000)]
[Fishing Dao: First Stage (112/500)]
[Collected Diagrams: All-Manifestations, Tiger Pressure, Flying Segment, Hidden Bow]
[Fishing Diagram Collection: None]
[State of Mind: Chess Heart]
[Skill Points: 0]
The upgrade in the Path of the Body to the third stage propelled the Thousand Flood Dragons Sacred Body to its third stage, achieving great accomplishment. At the same time, Primeval and the Dragon Cicada True Vacuum Body also reached their third stages, both attaining great accomplishment.
Yet, what surprised Li Hao the most was the unexpected advancement of the lower-grade body refining technique, Stone Skin Hundred Refinements.
Its state had reached (True State)!
In Li Hao’s mind, countless pieces of information regarding Stone Skin Hundred Refinements assembled themselves. If he were to perform it now, it would surpass even the level of Perfection.
The levels of body refinement corresponded to the levels of martial techniques: Entry, Small Accomplishment, Great Accomplishment, and Perfection.
These aligned with martial techniques’ levels: Entry, Skillful, Perfect, and Supreme Perfection.
But what was this "True State"?
It appeared to be a level beyond Supreme Perfection!
Aside from Stone Skin Hundred Refinements, several other lower-grade body refining techniques had also reached this state, all marked with (True State)!
When Li Hao executed Bull Strength (True State), he instinctively corrected the technique’s original flaws, channeling strength throughout his body. His energy surged, his veins bulging like bull tendons, concentrating his power into his fist.
With a single punch, the curtains on a pavilion tens of meters away trembled under the force of the wind!
The strength enhancement brought by Bull Strength (True State) far exceeded its prior level, increasing its effectiveness by four or five times!
Moreover, there was a newfound sense of simplicity and unity in his movements, imbued with an indescribable and harmonious aura.
It felt as if this was the technique’s true essence!
Li Hao then began practicing the Thousand Flood Dragons Sacred Body.
In an instant, the vast energy within his dantian activated, rotating like a windmill...