The next morning, May 7th.
After breakfast, Shen Mu did not go hunt monsters. Instead, he began practicing his spear in the small courtyard.
Shen Mu practiced the thirteen basic spear forms, rather than the spear techniques from the Destroyer manual.
"Junior Brother Shen Mu, today is an odd-numbered day. As the top of the Leaderboard, aren't you going out to hunt monsters?"
Chu Qiang leaped down from the second floor of his loft and smiled at Shen Mu, who was practicing his spear.
Shen Mu maintained his stance as he replied, "Not today. Besides, I'm not worried about anyone surpassing my points."
"True enough. Even if you slacked off for half a month, I still couldn't catch up to you."
Chu Qiang shook his head helplessly. Although his combat power amplitude was also exceptional, he was far too far behind Shen Mu.
"Senior Brother, how much do you know about the Artistic Conception Level?"
After finishing his practice, Shen Mu put away his spear and looked at Chu Qiang.
Chu Qiang froze slightly, shock appearing on his rugged face. "Junior Brother Shen Mu... your spear technique broke through to the Perfected Level?"
Shen Mu did not hide it. "Yes. I was fortunate enough to break through to the third realm in the Trial Tower yesterday."
Chu Qiang let out a long breath, calming himself before explaining to Shen Mu.
"The so-called Artistic Conception Level is an extremely elusive concept. Among the world's War Gods, only a small number have comprehended artistic conception—at most three or four hundred."
"But if we're talking about someone capable of guiding others into the Artistic Conception Level, then perhaps only the First Speaker Hong and the Second Speaker Thunder God are qualified. They have both reached the end of artistic conception and entered the realm of Harmony of Man and Nature."
"I once heard Chief Jia Yi say that the First Speaker had even surpassed Harmony of Man and Nature and entered an even higher realm. That is why he can suppress all the world's strongest experts."
At this point, Chu Qiang looked at Shen Mu. "The artistic conception I comprehended is the artistic conception of wind, but if you ask me what artistic conception truly is, I can't explain it either."
Shen Mu nodded slightly. Clearly, comprehending artistic conception and guiding someone else to understand it were not matters on the same level.
The most accurate description of the Artistic Conception Level in the entire world was found in the sixth level of the Destroyer secret art.
Integrating one's understanding of nature into movement techniques and Combat Techniques was considered Artistic Conception Level movement techniques and Combat Techniques.
The entire Artistic Conception Level was, in truth, a process of understanding nature and merging with nature.
Once one's movement techniques and Combat Techniques resonated perfectly with heaven and earth, one had completed the process of merging with nature—Harmony of Man and Nature.
Upon entering this realm, not only would one's Combat Techniques and movement techniques become more profound, but one would also gain a vague, intangible awareness of the surrounding environment.
That was why experts of Harmony of Man and Nature could achieve the state described in ancient Chinese martial arts legends: sensing the cicada before the autumn wind stirred. Even if they did not notice an opponent's attack, they could still evade it through that intangible perception.
After slacking off for a day, Shen Mu returned to his grueling cultivation.
Every day, he either hunted monsters to temper his spear techniques and movement techniques, or trained himself in the training room and gravity chamber.
By early June, Shen Mu had completely stabilized his spear technique at the Perfected Level. No matter when or where, he could enter the state of unity between man and spear.
June 9th, night.
After returning from hunting monsters in the wilderness area, Shen Mu washed up and rested briefly before appearing in front of the strength-testing machine.
Boom!
A terrifying punch erupted against the testing machine, and Shen Mu's strength data appeared on the screen.
73419 KG, qualified for the junior War God level!
"It has been over three months since I consumed the Essence of Flora. My strength has increased by more than five thousand kilograms every month. At last, the hidden medicinal effects have been fully brought out."
Shen Mu took out his phone and applied for a Ten-Thousand-Year Willow Heart.
A moment later, the call connected, and a deep voice sounded. "Hello."
"Hello, this is Shen Mu from the Elite Training Camp. In accordance with the contract terms, I am applying for one Ten-Thousand-Year Willow Heart."
"Please wait..."
The other end of the line fell silent for several seconds, seemingly checking Shen Mu's information.
"Trainee Shen Mu, according to regulations, your application for a Ten-Thousand-Year Willow Heart has been approved. A dedicated courier will deliver it to the training camp shortly. Please be ready to receive it."
"Alright."
After hanging up, Shen Mu was just about to head for the training camp entrance when his phone rang again.
A contact note appeared on the screen: Director Hong!
Shen Mu quickly answered. "Director."
"I'm at the martial arts hall. Come over." Hong's voice was as calm as an ancient well, as though nothing could stir an emotional ripple within him.
"Yes, Director."
After ending the call, Shen Mu headed straight for the martial arts hall headquarters.
At the martial arts hall headquarters, in that same simple reception room, Hong sat cross-legged on a cushion, calmly brewing tea.
Shen Mu bowed slightly to Hong. "Director."
"Sit."
Hong gestured for Shen Mu to take a seat, then said, "I heard that this month, you have been seeking people to ask about Artistic Conception Level spear techniques."
"Yes, Director. But I still have no clue how to enter the Artistic Conception Level," Shen Mu said directly.
Hong lifted the teapot, poured two cups of tea, and pushed one toward Shen Mu.
"The so-called Artistic Conception Level is the integration of one's understanding of nature into spear techniques and movement techniques. It has little to do with skill. You have spent this entire month practicing your spear, merely polishing your skill. You have wasted your time."
"In theory, one can enter the Artistic Conception Level even without bringing spear techniques and movement techniques to perfect completion. Of course, that is only in theory."
"You are still too young. Even if you begin to understand nature, you need sufficient time. So do not rush. Settle your heart and comprehend this power of heaven and earth."
After explaining this to Shen Mu, Hong gently raised his hand. A black briefcase appeared out of thin air on the coffee table before them.
"This is the Ten-Thousand-Year Willow Heart. Keep it safe."
"Yes, Director."
After putting away the Ten-Thousand-Year Willow Heart, Shen Mu bade Director Hong farewell and returned to the Elite Training Camp.
After returning to the training camp, Shen Mu did not hurry to consume the Ten-Thousand-Year Willow Heart. Instead, he appeared on the rooftop of his loft.
"Understand heaven and earth, understand the power within nature..." Shen Mu murmured.
Indeed, whether in this life or his previous one, Shen Mu had never witnessed the power of such immense natural forces, much less gained any insight into them.
But beyond his past and present lives, he also had a King-Level Monster that had lived in the boundless ocean for decades—the Azure Dragon, born with the ability to control water.
In the vast deep sea, the ferocious Azure Dragon coiled upon the seabed.
Roar!
The dragon's roar echoed through the endless ocean. A nostalgic look appeared in the Azure Dragon's eyes as it recalled everything it had experienced over the past several decades.
Living in the Pacific Ocean, the Azure Dragon Avatar had witnessed countless towering waves over the ocean every year.
The sky and sea were pitch-black. Endless waves surged and swept forward, unleashing earth-shaking roars.
As hurricanes howled, thunderclouds flashed with lightning. Everywhere the eye could see was filled with towering waves, as though the entire ocean had awakened in fury.
Scenes like this occurred year after year, and it was within this boundless ocean that the East Sea Azure Dragon had been nurtured.
When it came to understanding this vast ocean, not a single human in the world knew more than Shen Mu. All he needed to do was integrate that insight into his spear technique, and he would enter the Artistic Conception Level.
On the rooftop, Shen Mu abruptly rose to his feet. Under the control of his spiritual telekinesis, a long spear flew into his palm.
"Towering waves, layer upon layer, one wave after another, vast and surging, endless and inexhaustible..."
Shen Mu recalled the memories of the Azure Dragon Avatar, witnessing how faint ripples rose into an unstoppable force of heaven and earth.
Scene after scene surfaced in his mind: raging hurricanes, massive waves crashing against the sky.
Heaven and earth were shrouded in darkness. Only the roaring, boiling endless ocean remained, as though proclaiming to the world the infinite power hidden within its depths.
Clang!
The spear in Shen Mu's hand moved, releasing ringing cries.
Thrusts, stabs, parries, chops, strikes—each form unfolded. He did not deliberately execute any spear technique, yet he naturally entered the state of unity between man and spear.
Shen Mu's mind remained immersed in the image of that boundless ocean, sensing the endless, surging layers of waves and that majestic, overwhelming force.
Gradually, the forms of the spear in Shen Mu's hand seemed to undergo subtle changes.
Trembling Spear Aura tore through the air. Layers of airwaves actually blossomed from the spear tip and swept in every direction.
Boom! Boom!
Shen Mu gradually lost himself in it. The flashing Spear Aura around him had already blurred, while his spear split the air with wave after wave of sonic booms, alerting Chu Qiang long ago.
On the neighboring loft, Chu Qiang stared at Shen Mu with shock written across his face and murmured, "Artistic Conception Level spear technique..."
Chu Qiang could not help but be stunned. After all, the vast majority of War God-level experts had not comprehended Artistic Conception Level Combat Techniques or movement techniques.
Which of those who had comprehended artistic conception had not undergone countless brushes with death and endless tempering? Yet Shen Mu had comprehended artistic conception in only a single day after just mastering third-realm spear techniques.
Was that even reasonable?
On the rooftop, Shen Mu swept his spear horizontally. At times, the Spear Aura resembled layer upon layer of ocean waves, seemingly endless; at other times, it resembled a great tide, vast and surging, shaking heaven and earth.
Boom!
The thunderous roars continued without end. The spear raged, parting the air as layers of invisible tidal airwaves burst forth and surged outward.
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