Zhao Hongming's Decision, Offensive Martial Skills

Zhao Hongming's Decision, Offensive Martial Skills

Hearing Chen Xuerong's question, Zhao Hongming fell into thought.

In his view, both defensive Martial Skills and offensive Martial Skills had their own advantages.

After reaching the Aperture Opening Realm, the Eight Desolations Eternal Youth Technique offered movement techniques such as Eight Desolations Secret Travel to learn.

If he truly had to choose, he should choose an offensive technique to make up for his shortcomings, allowing the two to complement each other.

However, Zhao Hongming had always been cautious. He did not make a decision immediately, instead asking, "What techniques would Miss Chen recommend for each of these two types? What are their respective strengths?"

The Martial Repository Pavilion's techniques were as vast as the sea, with tens of thousands of Martial Arts manuals in its collection. He simply did not have the energy to sift through them one by one.

If Chen Xuerong could recommend some good Martial Skills and techniques, he would have a clearer idea and save himself some trouble.

Chen Xuerong said, "Among defensive Martial Skills, one renowned throughout the Jianghu is called the Heavenly Origin Defense Hand. It uses the hands as shields and can flexibly ward off all kinds of attacks. Another is called the Immovable Wisdom King Cover. It uses True Qi to envelop the entire body, remaining as unmoving as a mountain. Both are quite suitable for Your Highness's current situation."

"Then compared with Eight Desolations Secret Travel, which of these two Martial Skills is superior? And how difficult are they to cultivate?" Zhao Hongming asked after hearing her explanation.

"Eight Desolations Secret Travel is a Martial Skill from an Immortal Martial Arts Technique, so it is naturally superior to those two. As for cultivation difficulty, every Martial Skill is mastered through repeated practice. One must put in hard work."

Hard work was all it took?

Hard work was good.

Such techniques were simple and direct.

They had none of those flashy, convoluted requirements.

He now despised most those Martial Arts that required borrowing external aid before one could achieve anything.

Zhao Hongming was secretly delighted and continued, "What about offensive Martial Skills?"

"There are far more offensive Martial Skills than defensive techniques, so Your Highness has many more options. Given Your Highness's current circumstances, I would recommend either the Heaven and Earth Severing Slash or the Bone Crushing Palm."

"First, both Martial Skills are easy to learn. Second, both techniques can stimulate one's own Qi and Blood, allowing them to unleash power far beyond normal. At critical moments, they may even save one's life."

After hearing the introduction, Zhao Hongming became quite interested in the two techniques and pressed, "Do these two Martial Skills have any adverse effects when used?"

"When used normally, there are no effects at all, apart from exhaustion if used too often. But if one stimulates one's Qi and Blood, it may cause a brief loss of consciousness."

Zhao Hongming understood. Martial Skills with greater power generally came with such aftereffects.

After several rounds of conversation, he had gradually gained a general understanding of these Martial Skills.

Given his situation, he would break through to the Aperture Opening Realm before long. At that point, he could directly cultivate Eight Desolations Secret Travel, so learning an offensive Martial Skill was more suited to his circumstances.

After careful consideration, Zhao Hongming said, "This Prince has decided. I will learn the Heaven and Earth Severing Slash."

As the saying went, two fists could not beat four hands; no matter how high one's skill, one still feared a kitchen knife.

No matter how he looked at it, learning a blade technique was better than learning a palm technique.

Seeing that Zhao Hongming had made his choice, Chen Xuerong nodded. "As it happens, I know a little of this technique as well. If Your Highness encounters anything you do not understand in the coming days, you may ask me at any time."

By the Great Wei people's rather modest nature, saying she knew only a little probably meant she had mastered it quite deeply.

After several interactions, Zhao Hongming had discovered that Chen Xuerong was thoroughly familiar with all kinds of techniques. No matter what questions he asked, she could answer them fluently.

She truly deserved her reputation as a Martial Arts Talented Woman.

The Jian'an Emperor had truly found him a good teacher.

Zhao Hongming cupped his hands and said, "Then I will have to trouble Miss Chen from now on."

"Your Highness is too courteous. It is only my duty." Chen Xuerong suddenly reminded him, "However, if Your Highness wishes to temper your Martial Skills and truly master them, you will still need actual sparring."

"This Prince understands. Martial Skills are killing arts to begin with; mere armchair tactics will not do." Zhao Hongming smiled casually. "But before that, I should first master this technique."

At that moment, Zhao Hongming gave Chen Xuerong an impression of being exceptionally free and open-minded. His entire being carried an upward-driving spirit, brimming with vigorous vitality.

He was nothing like a prince who had fallen from favor.

Such a mindset both astonished and impressed her.

The two continued chatting for another half hour before Chen Xuerong took her leave.

Zhao Hongming did not ask her to stay.

After seeing Chen Xuerong off, Zhao Hongming wasted no time and went straight to the Martial Repository Pavilion, asking its Steward to pick out the Heaven and Earth Severing Slash for him.

Since the Heaven and Earth Severing Slash belonged to Jianghu Martial Arts, he was allowed, as a prince, to take it back for study. Thus, Zhao Hongming was in no hurry to study it there.

Seeing that it was still early, he made another trip to the third floor and carefully studied the Aperture Opening Realm section of the Eight Desolations Eternal Youth Technique.

Only after he had more or less comprehended the Eight Desolations Eternal Youth Technique did he set off back to Clear Breeze Pavilion.

At this time, news that the Jian'an Emperor was on the verge of successfully forging a God-Demon Weapon had spread throughout Daliang, stirring discussion among countless people.

Even the Martial Arts Forces around Daliang were beginning to stir. Many had sent Martial Warriors from their sects to Daliang to investigate.

For a time, all manner of demons and monsters emerged within Daliang.

This matter soon reached the Jian'an Emperor's ears as well.

Qianqing Palace.

Zhao Yongxu had summoned Vice Minister of the Department of State Affairs Xiao Boling, Left Vice Minister of the Secretariat Hong Daowen, Minister of War and Junior Guardian Yu Hezheng, Minister of Personnel and Grand Preceptor Zhang Qian, the Minister of Revenue, and other central court officials to discuss countermeasures concerning the God-Demon Weapon.

In truth, forging a God-Demon Weapon was not the work of a day or two, and the national strength involved was no small matter either.

Great Wei had begun preparing for this matter as far back as three dynasties ago, a process spanning more than sixty years.

Therefore, it was impossible to keep it hidden from everyone.

Yet under the deliberate control of the Sons of Heaven throughout Great Wei's successive dynasties, the news would ordinarily never have spread so widely as it had now.

Everyone knew someone was secretly fanning the flames.

The Jian'an Emperor looked grimly at the Seal-holding Eunuch Feng Dabao beside him and said, "Tell my beloved ministers what the Imperial City Division has uncovered."

"Yes." Feng Dabao said solemnly, "According to the results uncovered by the Hidden Pawns in Daliang, this news was first released by two Chu Merchants, then widely spread by certain others. Those people have now been taken into custody by the Imperial City Division."

"What do my beloved ministers think of this matter?"

Minister of War Yu Hezheng stepped forward. "Your Majesty, this is Chu Country's scheme. They wish to place Daliang at the center of a whirlpool, leaving us unable to attend to anything else, thereby building momentum. A war between Great Wei and Chu Country is now unavoidable."

"At the current pace, the God-Demon Weapon will be completed in another half year, precisely after the spring planting season ends—the perfect time to deploy troops. By our estimation, Chu Country will almost certainly start a war in roughly half a year." Right Prime Minister Xiao Boling followed with his judgment.

The Jian'an Emperor Zhao Yongxu said, "My thoughts align with those of my beloved ministers. Since we know that we will next face troops from Chu Country, or perhaps from the three kingdoms of Chu, Zhao, and Han, how should Great Wei respond?"

Left Vice Minister Hong Daowen said, "There are three ways to respond."

"Tell me these three ways."

"First, reinforce the Imperial City Defense Array to deal with the Martial Dao riffraff that will follow. Second, dispatch envoys to sow discord among Han, Zhao, and Chu, so that even if we cannot prevent them from forming an alliance, we must make the three kingdoms wary of one another and unable to unite. Third, mobilize the armies from the fiefs of Yong Prince, Solemn Prince, and Peaceful Prince, sending them respectively to the borders of the three kingdoms to strengthen border defenses and await deployment."

The Minister of Revenue stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the Southern Thirty-odd Cities of Wei Country are suffering from a Great Drought, and not a single grain has been harvested. If we further conscript laborers, I fear unrest among the people may arise. Moreover, the treasury is strained and cannot support three fronts."

Zhao Yongxu looked at Minister of Personnel Zhang Qian and said, "What does Minister Zhang think?"

"Your Majesty, Great Wei's current situation is perilous. In this humble official's view, we should persuade those Martial Arts Forces to contribute their strength. Even if we must pay some price and bow our heads to them, it will be worth it so long as we weather this crisis."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yongxu fell silent and began weighing the gains and losses in his heart.