Chapter 9: A Fine Line

In a surge of excitement, Jiang Shou clenched his fist again, the bones in his palm cracking explosively. A martial technique had been mastered, capable of harnessing thirty percent of the spiritual energy from the surrounding environment. In an instant, it erupted, and after the explosion, he effortlessly retracted his power.

After several days and nights of studying martial arts in a normal environment, he was unable to even master the first form of the Six Styles Gale Fist. However, after just one day of training in the blood prison, he had already mastered both the Gale Fist and the Spirit Wind Step to an advanced level

In the Servants' Valley of Snowy Peak, within the not-so-spacious quarters of the servant disciples, a gray shadow flickered in and out of sight. Surrounding the gray figure was a halo of green light. With the wind aiding his momentum, he transformed into a swift gale, continuously flashing and leaping. Alternatively, when he struck with a punch, it was as if a torrential storm was pouring down in a dense barrage.

He consumed in one go the amount of food that an average person would need for over ten years, and later, due to severe injuries, he even resorted to devouring raw flesh and blood. As his body became satiated, his strength and speed steadily increased, to the point that he himself is now uncertain of the extent of that growth

It is easy to imagine how difficult this is

Therefore, if Jiang Shou can master the Gale Fist to the level of a Grandmaster or even a Divine level, and comprehend the martial intent of the Gale Fist, then even if it is slightly inferior to the Will of the Wind, he can definitely break through a significant bottleneck with that kind of insight with ease

In fact, he knows that it is not due to his lack of effort, but rather the difficulty of mastering martial arts. In the entire Jiang Kingdom, there is only one Martial Saint who has comprehended a certain will of heaven and earth. Although achieving divine-level mastery of a particular martial art is relatively easier, there are definitely not many in the entire Jiang Kingdom who can master martial arts to that divine level.

The wind rises at the horizon

The Spirit of the Wind Shines!

In simple terms, the amount of food he consumed in one day is enough to last a normal teenager for ten years!

As for the master level, it is a return to simplicity. Even if a punch is delivered with only half of the martial technique in operation, and the internal energy is erupting according to the explosive method of that technique, you can still make it directly leap and transform into another form without being affected. Such control is far beyond what Jiang Shou can achieve at present

For example, the martial intent of the Swift Wind Fist is related to the wind. Once you comprehend this martial intent, you are only a step away from truly grasping the will of the wind. The reason it is said to be just a step away is that you can only experience the application of the will of the wind while executing the Swift Wind Fist. When you are able to perceive and control it even without the Swift Wind Fist, that is when you have truly attained the will of the wind

After a moment, as the fierce wind subsided, Jiang Shoucai took a deep breath, still somewhat unable to believe it. Clenching his fist, his eyes were filled with surprise and excitement

For example, Ye Lei mastered the basics of the Red Fire Fist in just over ten days. However, to elevate his control of the Red Fire Fist to an ordinary level, he would need at least ten times the previous amount of time. To reach the proficient level, it would likely require another tenfold increase in time. As for mastering it? That transcends mere time; it is a challenge that may not be overcome even in a lifetime.

In just one day, I reached the mastery level. If I continue on this path, wouldn't I be able to master martial arts to the level of a grandmaster? Or even to the divine level? Mastery at the divine level is my hope for breakthrough

Mastering at a high level is indeed difficult. It seems I cannot solely rely on the grind of life and death to spur myself on; I must also take the time to reflect and gain insights. Moments later, Jiang Shoucai suppressed his excitement and sat cross-legged in the courtyard, earnestly recalling the countless bloody events of the previous day

In his entire life, he had never experienced such a powerful feeling, and regarding the upcoming servant competition in more than twenty days, as well as the contest with Ye Lei, he had gained complete confidence that he could astonish everyone!

On this day, apart from the gains in mastery of martial arts, Jiang Shou finally had his fill. However, he found himself on the verge of collapse countless times due to this experience of being well-fed with books.

The gap between the two is simply terrifying and beyond description

... ...

The true essence of a martial art is, at a deeper level, the genuine will of heaven and earth

Jiang Shou was able to master two types of martial arts to perfection in just one day, which is already extraordinarily astonishing; this is undoubtedly explosive news that could cause a sensation throughout the entire Great Yuan Sect

Among countless martial artists, there is only one Martial Sage who presides, the only one who has mastered a certain will of heaven and earth, manifesting the power of the domain.

Such examples are countless in the Great Yuan Dynasty, and each breakthrough in mastery represents a chasm between heaven and earth

As for the Great Yuan Sect, let alone divine-level control, among the tens of thousands of martial artists in the Great Yuan Sect, including all the sect masters and elders, at most, there are individuals who can master grandmaster-level martial arts, and there are none at the master level. After all, this is merely a first-tier sect

The cruelty and brutality he experienced in a single day were undoubtedly far greater than in the previous two years. Even with his temperament, he was on the verge of giving up, yet he gritted his teeth and persevered. His aptitude for cultivation was lacking, and his comprehension of martial arts was insufficient. He wanted to become stronger, to quickly find a way to save his father, and to avoid embarrassing Sister Su during the grand competition in a few dozen days. He could only endure

If he were to unleash the Wind Rising from the Horizon to only half its potential, he could forcibly transform it into a howling spiritual wind. However, this would lead to a sudden change in the flow of his vital energy, causing a violent upheaval that would result in internal injuries. The difference between being proficient and being a master is merely a fine line, yet it is a world apart.

Storm howls

I have mastered the Gale Fist to the proficient level! Even the Spirit Wind Step is at the proficient level!

Such injuries, over the course of a day and a night, he could not fathom how many times he had endured them. Time and again, he placed himself in deadly peril, repeatedly unleashing his life potential to achieve breakthroughs in martial skills. Then, relying on the astonishing recovery power gained from consuming the flesh and blood of demon beasts, he stood up once more

The Jiang Kingdom is divided into seven major provinces, with four in the south and three in the north. Lingya Province is just one of them, and within Lingya Province, there are more than ten counties. Wangshan County is merely an inconspicuous one, yet its territory spans thousands of miles in both length and width. Within the county, there are over one hundred first-class sects, each with a membership ranging from several thousand to tens of thousands. How many martial artists are there in the entire Jiang Kingdom?

The only problem is that Jiang Shou is stuck. This morning, his mastery of martial arts had reached the proficient level. However, he spent the entire afternoon torturing himself to the brink of death, nearly dying dozens of times. Yet, he has been unable to break through from proficient mastery to master level, seemingly just a hair's breadth away, but always unable to surpass it.

Do not underestimate this step; it is sufficient to trap countless individuals. The key for the Wind Spirit to break through from the Ninth Layer of Spiritual Connection to the Saint level lies in comprehending the Will of Wind. Once this comprehension is mastered, one can break through to become a Martial Saint, transforming the physical body into a perfect spirit body, automatically generating the power of the domain, and suppressing the heavens and the earth with a single thought

However, having come this far, the price paid by Jiang Shou is enough to terrify anyone. For instance, after a fierce battle, his intestines were perforated, and his own intestines flowed out from the wound in his abdomen, falling downwards as he desperately tried to stuff the torn intestines back in. Another example is after being poisoned, one of his legs felt as if it had been doused with molten iron, nearly reduced to nothing but bones, which were also riddled with holes.

As for the master level, it involves grasping a hint of the essence of martial intent. Martial intent represents the true meaning of this martial technique. Achieving a superficial understanding can attract double the influx of spiritual energy. On the other hand, divine-level mastery entails a complete comprehension of the true meaning and quintessence of the Gale Fist. At that point, the power of this martial technique becomes exceedingly difficult to measure

Yet there is only one Martial Saint in the entire Jiang Kingdom

Ordinary and proficient levels require one to practice martial skills to the point where they become as instinctive as breathing and heartbeat, thereby allowing for a greater flow of spiritual energy.