High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices

Chapter 112: Chapter 112: Eight-direction Soul Suppressing Spear

’Something’s not right.’

Xu Wuyi frowned slightly and stopped his movements.

He realized what the problem was.

He was just mechanically mimicking the combination of ”Intention” and ”form,” without truly understanding how to transmit his own True Intention through the move.

His intention was one thing, the action another; the two remained separate.

He didn’t grow impatient. Instead, he closed his eyes again, carefully savoring the sensation of guiding the spear with his Intention, of his Intention permeating the spear’s tip.

At the same time, he recalled the moment he had captured that first sliver of the ”Mountain” True Intention while practicing the Basic Body Refining Technique.

That state of having a foundation solid as a rock, his thoughts heavy and condensed.

After a long while, he opened his eyes again, his gaze now calm and focused.

He no longer deliberately pursued perfect form. Instead, he sank most of his Heart and Spirit into his body, guiding that sliver of ”Mountain” True Intention and attempting to attach it to the ”spear’s tip.”

This time, his thrust was slightly slow, even a little stiff.

But the moment he completed the movement, the Bronze Ancient Book in his sea of consciousness finally began to glow faintly.

A new line of text slowly materialized beneath the Mountain Shifting Technique:

[Martial Arts: Eight-direction Soul Suppressing Spear]

[Current Realm: Beginner (0.1%)]

[Martial Arts Traits: Not Unlocked]

[Evaluation: Intention has not pierced the body; form and spirit have just begun to connect.]

Success!

Although it was only 0.1% progress, it was enough to invigorate Xu Wuyi’s Spirit.

This proved he was on the right track. The Martial Arts Diligence Record had once again provided its precise guidance.

’Intention has not pierced the body; form and spirit have just begun to connect...’ He mulled over the words in the evaluation column.

’It means my True Intention isn’t condensed enough to truly affect the outside world through my attacks, but my intent and the spear’s form have started to connect.’

Now that he had found the way in, the path forward became clear.

Xu Wuyi completely immersed himself, beginning his familiar cycle of ”deconstruct, trial-and-error, correct.”

He no longer tried to complete the entire mental circulation of [Gathering Spirit] in one go, but broke it down into parts.

Sometimes, he focused on maintaining the stability of the ”Mountain” True Intention, repeatedly experiencing that state of heavy, solid intent.

Other times, he would continuously repeat the simplest straight thrust, trying to pour his True Intention into it at the very moment of execution.

[Standard Action failed. Intent connection severed.]

A panel notification popped up. The reason was that his Heart and Spirit had wavered slightly during the second half of the thrust, causing his True Intention to fluctuate.

[Standard Action failed. Qi and Blood flow conflict.]

This time, he had tried to forcefully channel his True Intention, causing a conflict between his Qi and Blood flow and his intent, which resulted in a slight internal drain.

[Standard Action failed...]

With the merciless feedback from the Martial Arts Diligence Record, Xu Wuyi failed time and time again, and adjusted time and time again.

This process was far more draining on his Heart and Spirit than simply practicing the Basic Body Refining Technique.

Not only did he have to precisely control his physical movements and the circulation of his Qi and Blood, but he also had to divert his focus to maintain that mysterious and profound True Intention of Martial Arts and try to merge the two.

Sweat quickly soaked his training clothes. A vein throbbed at his temple, and a dull, aching sensation pulsed from the same spot.

But his eyes only grew brighter.

He could feel that with each ”severed” notification from the panel, his control over the ”Mountain” True Intention was becoming more and more masterful.

The process of integrating it into his spear form, which had been incredibly stiff at first, was gradually becoming much smoother.

[Eight-direction Soul Suppressing Spear Current Realm: Beginner (0.2%)]

[Standard Actions Completed Today: 1]

When the first record of a successful practice finally appeared, Xu Wuyi let out a long breath, a heartfelt joy welling up inside him.

This seemingly insignificant 0.1% of progress was far more difficult to achieve than the hundreds or thousands of Standard Actions he performed when he was practicing the Wind-Settling Spear.

He didn’t stop. After briefly regulating his breathing, he threw himself back into his training.

Time flew by in a state of intense concentration.

[Eight-direction Soul Suppressing Spear Current Realm: Beginner (0.3%)]

[Standard Actions Completed Today: 2]

[Eight-direction Soul Suppressing Spear Current Realm: Beginner (0.5%)]

[Standard Actions Completed Today: 5]

...

Practicing the Eight-direction Soul Suppressing Spear consumed an enormous amount of Spiritual Power, far more than a Body Refining Technique that only tempered the physical body.

When he completed his tenth successful practice and watched his progress painstakingly crawl to [Beginner (1.1%)], a powerful wave of dizziness washed over him, forcing him to stop.

His face was a little pale, and he felt that the illusory ”small mountain” in his mind had dimmed somewhat—a sign of excessive Spiritual Power consumption.

’Looks like when practicing Martial Arts that involve the Mental Realm and Spirit, I have to control my pace. I can’t just train relentlessly like before.’

Xu Wuyi walked to the side, sat down, and slowly sipped a Nutrient Liquid, deep in thought.

One’s spirit and will also needed a balance of tension and relaxation. Overexertion would only damage one’s foundation.

However, this was also a way to train his Spiritual Power, a byproduct of practicing the Eight-direction Soul Suppressing Spear.

Normally, one would only learn a more advanced High-Tier Observation Method after their Life Energy Level surpassed 20 and they became an Official Martial Artist.

He rested for over half an hour. Although he felt some of his Spiritual Power return, a deep-seated exhaustion remained.

He knew he wasn’t fit to continue practicing the Eight-direction Soul Suppressing Spear today.

’Perfect. I can consolidate my practice of the Wind-Settling Spear.’

The Eight-direction Soul Suppressing Spear was an advanced version of the Wind-Settling Spear, and the two naturally shared common principles. The insights gained from practicing the advanced Spear Technique could in turn benefit the foundational one.

He assumed the Starting Form of the Wind-Settling Spear, the tip of his spear trembling slightly.

However, just as he was about to begin his drill, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

’The core of [Gathering Spirit] is to merge Intention into the spear... So, could I integrate the ”Mountain” True Intention into the Wind-Settling Spear?’

The thought made his heart beat a little faster.

The Wind-Settling Spear excelled at defensive counterattacks, while the ”Mountain” True Intention was all about stability and weight. Their styles weren’t a perfect match. He hadn’t thought of this before, having only ever tried to attach the True Intention on top of his moves.

But the [Gathering Spirit] form of the Eight-direction Soul Suppressing Spear was specifically meant to teach how to perfectly integrate True Intention into the fundamentals of various Spear Techniques.

’Perhaps it’s not about changing the Spear Technique’s style, but about adding a layer of ”Divine Charm” to it?’

He decided to try it at once.

Xu Wuyi thrust his spear again. It was still a move from the Wind-Settling Spear, but at the moment of the thrust, he tried to imbue it with a trace of the ”Mountain” True Intention.

This time, it wasn’t a deliberate fusion, but a natural guidance.

Something wonderful happened.

The originally nimble and clever straight thrust seemed to slow by an imperceptible fraction after that sliver of stable True Intention was merged into it.

But the trajectory of the spear tip became more condensed, carrying a strange, oppressive feeling.

It was as if what he had thrust out wasn’t a virtual spear, but a heavy stone pillar.

VSSSH!

The spear tip tore through the air, making a dull sound different from its usual one.

Xu Wuyi retracted his spear and stood still, carefully savoring the sensation he had just felt.

’It seems... this might work?’