Extra's Strategy: Cultivate Protagonists, Become Invincible-Chapter 176: Enlightenment

"Just like Mystic Arts, cultivating a single martial art can elevate you to the Soul Reformation realm as well. However, unless the art you’ve chosen is some kind of supreme, unique technique devised by a Celestial, there will always be room for improving your physique.

"What separates martial arts from mystic arts in this aspect is the fact that you can always fill in that gap in your physique, eradicate all of your weaknesses, and perfect your vessel even after crossing over to the Soul Reformation realm.

"But in the case of Mystic Arts, any new technique you practice past the Physique Transformation realm will fail to produce effective results. The Elders teaching you about Mystic cultivation must have told you about this phenomenon already.

"So, for now, don’t go looking for multiple Martial Art manuals. Practice properly the ones you’ve purchased, even if its endpoint is a mediocre physique. There will be chances to make up for it later on, once you’re a stronger, wealthier, and wiser cultivator."

With this advice from Elder Long, Han Xuhan had gone to the archives to purchase the simplest martial art manual he could find. Senior Brother Lin had brought out a scroll a bit too quickly upon hearing his only requirement.

"I’ve heard that Elder Long won’t agree to teach these simple martial cultivation techniques. The sect master has given him tight instructions not to veer off his current curriculum of weapon-based martial arts. Why don’t you pick something he’s teaching in his classes?"

Han Xuhan shook his head while grabbing the presented scroll, face despondent.

"You might not know this, Brother Lin, but the Elder has already cut down half the disciples of the outer court from his lessons. He favors only the most talented and hardworking disciples, and he will never agree to waste his time teaching a newbie like me after such a long time has passed since the first lesson."

"Yeah, that man is as stubborn as a mule," Senior Brother Lin said shiftily, eyeing their surroundings.

Then in a lower volume, he added, "This is just his way of protesting against our Sect Master’s tyrannic new rules. He’s intentionally angering the entire outer court by claiming that the sect master is forcing him to follow such strict methods of teaching."

Han Xuhan recalled the pissed look on Elder Long’s face when he had tried to ’convince’ the man to teach him martial arts from scratch by invoking the sect master’s name, since he did have a special, provable relationship with the sect master now.

No wonder he got so angry! He might have agreed if I hadn’t bragged about being close to that old fart Xuan Zi!

"So what makes the technique in this scroll different from the weapon-based martial arts which Elder Long has been teaching?"

"The simplicity, of course, that’s what you asked for, right? It’s the most basic method that touches all the aspects of martial cultivation without focusing on any aspect in particular. Breathing technique, body movement, footwork, offense and defense... It’s got a bit of everything!"

Delighted, Han Xuhan had purchased the scroll without wasting any more time.

Since Xuanyuan Zhou had agreed to guide him on the Martial Cultivation path, he took the scroll to her immediately, hoping for some primary instructions.

"The Lightfoot Swallow? This is the manual you chose?!"

Xuanyuan Zhou’s disdainful tone staggered his enthusiasm.

"What’s wrong? Have you heard anything negative about this martial art manual, My Lady?"

"It’s not that I know anything negative about it. But it’s the fact that this manual has nothing positive to speak of at all! It’s the most well-known mediocre martial art out there.

"It’s not even exclusive to this sect! Random thugs in the streets of a big city could surprise you with a move from this manual."

Hearing Xuanyuan Zhou’s evaluation would have killed another man’s passion for the manual, but Han Xuhan’s motivation simply surged up.

This means Senior Brother Lin didn’t lie to me! This manual really is the simplest one out there!

If a random thug could cultivate this manual by himself, how can my progress be held back? Nothing can stop me from reaching the peak of the Soul Reformation realm now.

So he defended his choice staunchly.

"What’s wrong with being mediocre? I’m not looking to become the next Celestial Emperor. I’m fine with taking shortcuts to the peak of the Physique Transformation realm. This manual seems to be just what I need."

Xuanyuan Zhou didn’t believe his honest answer for some reason. She shook her head and said something that really hurt him.

"Who are you trying to fool? You made claims like this back when I warned you not to cultivate that shitty Skeleton Monarch Mystic Art, all because Mu Ran vouched for it.

"Later, it turned out that you had other plans for this Mystic Art. The way you used Zhanxian in the Holy Land of Laws made even me consider whether to practice your technique.

"So I don’t believe that someone with your rotten personality would choose a cultivation technique just because it’s simple and quick!"

Han Xuhan jumped to his feet and pointed a finger at her accusingly.

"What do you mean by that? Someone with my rotten personality? What’s wrong with my personality? Are you calling me dishonest?"

Xuanyuan Zhou avoided the question, frowning at the raised finger.

"Cough up and say what made you choose it. Don’t tell me Mu Ran recommended it, did he? I’m going to have a talk with him if he did."

"I chose it myself! Why are you targeting Mu Ran? Just because I call that fellow Boss, it doesn’t mean you have to feel jealous-"

Han Xuhan didn’t get to finish the sentence. Xuanyuan Zhou made a sharp swipe at his outstretched hand and grabbed his wrist in a painful hold.

One of her fingers sunk deep into the joint, prodding somewhere that made Han Xuhan fall down to his knees in defeat. Groaning from the pain, he immediately surrendered.

"Ow-ouch- Oww! Let go! Owwww!"

"You dare question your teacher’s character, brat?" She thundered in his ears, her finger sinking deeper into his wrist, almost about to make a hole in the flesh there.

"I wasn’t questioning your OOoohh- character, My Lady! I was just Aagghh- upset that you didn’t believe me!"

"And I was upset that you didn’t believe me, the person you’ve recognized as your martial master. Why were you questioning my evaluation? In my class, you’ll do as I say. Didn’t my way of handling the lectures on law cultivation make this clear to you?"

"It did! Can you let go- Oooh!"

Xuanyuan Zhou finally loosened her grip and snorted coldly.

"This is what will happen in the future if you stick to this mediocre martial art. The Lightfoot Swallow Technique offers very little in the way of defense, improving the sturdiness of the body by the smallest possible margin per phase.

"If you meet any decent martial cultivator outside the sect, you won’t survive the first round in case a conflict breaks out. Your Mystic Art path has no prospects. Don’t waste your potential cultivating a shittier martial art on top of it."

"In case it wasn’t clear, I’m not looking to focus solely on making my body sturdy. My goal is an all-around improvement, so that I can adapt to any plan of action easily.

"As for combat capabilities, I don’t plan to get into a fight under any circumstances. If I can’t run away from an enemy, I’ll simply surrender!"

"Surrender?" Xuanyuan Zhou’s mouth twisted into an unsightly grin.

"What if they don’t need your surrender? What if they just want to kill?"

"If my opponent is a psychotic murderhobo, then showing off my Martial Cultivation isn’t exactly going to solve the problem, is it? They’ll try to kill me regardless."

"Having proper martial prowess means you’d be able to put up a fight. It means you could even kill him if you’re skilled enough at it. Would you rather die than invest some effort into a proper martial art?"

"This trap of ’kill or be killed’ mindset... I’m not stepping into it. You’re well aware that I am a reincarnated person. I have lived and died once already.

"In that life, I feared death. But what was there to truly fear, except my ignorant delusions? In this life, I cannot let that fear come in my way of living."

Caught in passion, Han Xuhan missed the sudden look of realization on Xuanyuan Zhou’s face. Her countenance began to grow pale with an abnormal quickness, her gaze losing focus.

But Han Xuhan did not miss it when Xuanyuan Zhou’s eyes completely rolled up and she fell on her back like a dead doll, clearly having lost her consciousness. He also did not miss the fact that the air around them suddenly seemed to have stilled.

A faint sound of zither rose in that stillness. The space surrounding Xuanyuan Zhou’s body began to twist and deform like heated air.

Han Xuhan recognized all of these signs. He had read about them very recently, after all.

Xuanyuan Zhou has just found herself in a Monastic enlightenment! ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

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