"Greetings, Deacon Liu."
Jiang Hao also rose and bowed to Liu Tai.
In theory, a deacon's status was only about the same as an Inner Disciple's.
Many Inner Disciples became deacons after leaving the Inner Gate.
But Liu Tai was now the instructor for the Hidden Force course, so Jiang Hao naturally had to show him respect.
"So it really was you!"
Liu Tai nodded.
Seeing Jiang Hao attending his Hidden Force course, Liu Tai vaguely understood Jiang Hao's current situation.
He was most likely still at Ming Jin and had yet to break through to Hidden Force.
There had actually already been rumors about this, with many criticisms of Jiang Hao spreading around.
He had entered the Huangtian Sect for over a year, had even been directly promoted to the Inner Gate, yet he was still at Ming Jin.
Such cultivation speed was somewhat slow.
It did not quite match the stunning feat of Jiang Hao clearing the Ninth Floor of the Desolate Heaven Tower.
After all, Jiang Hao was a "Seed of the Dao" personally promised by the Sect Master.
However, to become a Seed of the Dao, one had to attain Transforming Force within ten years.
More than a year had already passed, yet Jiang Hao was still at Ming Jin.
Could he truly attain Transforming Force within ten years?
Liu Tai gave Jiang Hao a deep look before beginning the lesson.
Since he already knew Jiang Hao wanted to break through to Hidden Force, he began with the fundamentals.
It was practically a lesson tailored specifically for Jiang Hao.
That was only natural.
How could a Transforming Force deacon like Liu Tai compare to Jiang Hao in status?
For Jiang Hao to attend his lecture was already an immense stroke of luck.
Jiang Hao listened very seriously as well.
He gradually came to understand the difference between Ming Jin and Hidden Force.
Ming Jin was produced by Blood Qi and was relatively easy to cultivate.
Hidden Force was different.
Hidden Force was stimulated by the internal organs and erupted from within outward. Though it lacked Ming Jin's vast and mighty momentum, it was the most sinister and concealed, impossible to guard against.
Once one cultivated Hidden Force, the inside and outside became one. For a martial artist, there would no longer be any obvious weakness.
Therefore, cultivating Hidden Force required training the five viscera and six bowels, chiefly the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys.
By tempering the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys, one could stimulate Hidden Force.
Then one could advance to Hidden Force.
After a full Hidden Force lesson, Jiang Hao had essentially understood its principles.
Liu Tai said amiably, "Jiang Hao, if there is anything you do not understand, feel free to ask me at any time."
Seeing Liu Tai being so pleasant, the other Outer Gate disciples exchanged looks, staring at one another in bewilderment.
After all, Liu Tai had never worn such a pleasant expression before.
However, they all knew what was going on.
It was because of Jiang Hao.
A genius like Jiang Hao naturally had to be treated differently.
Jiang Hao also said respectfully, "Deacon Liu's explanations are simple yet profound and extremely clear. I have more or less understood the principles of Hidden Force."
"However, I still have one question regarding the strength of Hidden Force. How can one stimulate stronger Hidden Force?"
This was also Jiang Hao's question.
Even Ming Jin varied in strength. One could Purify Blood Qi and cultivate more Ming Jin Techniques.
Hidden Force should be similar.
"That is very simple. Different techniques have different effects when tempering the internal organs. Some techniques are exceptionally wondrous, and the Hidden Force they stimulate is terrifyingly powerful."
"The heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys correspond to the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Therefore, I suggest that you choose the Five Elements Divine Skill to temper your five viscera."
"Once you use the Five Elements Divine Skill to temper your five viscera and stimulate Hidden Force, the five elements will eventually merge together, and the power of your Hidden Force will soar to an unimaginable level."
"The only trouble is that the Five Elements Divine Skill is very difficult to cultivate. Even the top geniuses of the Inner Gate find it hard to master. But with your talent, perhaps you can give it a try."
Jiang Hao's eyes lit up.
The Five Elements Divine Skill?
That was indeed an approach.
"Thank you, Deacon Liu."
Jiang Hao felt that Liu Tai's advice was very sound.
However, he still needed to learn more about Hidden Force before weighing the pros and cons and making a decision.
For the next period of time, aside from wholeheartedly increasing his Ming Jin cultivation, Jiang Hao constantly attended lessons in the Outer Gate.
He attended Ming Jin courses, Hidden Force courses, and even Transforming Force courses.
Enriching his martial knowledge was not a bad thing.
However, Jiang Hao's frequent appearances in the Huangtian Sect's Outer Gate caused all sorts of talk about him to surge louder and louder.
For instance, many Outer Gate disciples knew that Jiang Hao was still a Ming Jin Martial Artist.
He was even still some distance from Hidden Force.
It was simply unbelievable.
They then speculated that when Jiang Hao cleared the Ninth Floor of the Desolate Heaven Tower, he might have only been in the early stage of Ming Jin.
That was simply too outrageous.
Then there was the fact that Jiang Hao had not broken through to Hidden Force after so long. Had he encountered some kind of trouble?
Or had he been stopped before the threshold of Hidden Force?
There were all kinds of guesses.
Moreover, as time passed, such talk only grew more and more intense.
Yet Jiang Hao ignored all of it.
After all, how could outsiders know how fast Jiang Hao cultivated?
With an ample supply of pills, simply increasing his Ming Jin cultivation was absurdly easy for Jiang Hao.
He reached the middle stage of Ming Jin in only one month.
After another two months, he reached the late stage of Ming Jin.
From the time he began focusing all his efforts on raising his cultivation to reaching the late stage of Ming Jin, only a short three months had passed.
"I'm at the late stage of Ming Jin. My cultivation can no longer improve."
"Next, I must temper my internal organs and give birth to Force!"
"However, I must first settle the matter of the technique."
Jiang Hao had been attending Outer Gate lessons throughout this period.
He already had a deep understanding of Hidden Force.
Liu Tai had once suggested that he cultivate the Five Elements Divine Skill to temper his five viscera and give birth to Five Elements Hidden Force.
That was feasible.
And once mastered, its Hidden Force would possess extraordinary power.
With that thought, Jiang Hao headed to the Martial Arts Tower once again.
When the Martial Arts Tower elder saw Jiang Hao, his eyes narrowed slightly.
"Have you mastered all three Divine Skills?"
the Martial Arts Tower elder asked.
"Reporting to Elder, this disciple has mastered the three Divine Skills. This time, I have come to seek a Hidden Force technique."
Jiang Hao replied.
"One and a half years, and you mastered three Divine Skills?"
The Martial Arts Tower elder's eyes widened.
Fast!
Far too fast!
In truth, however, Jiang Hao had mastered all three Divine Skills three months ago.
There was no need to explain such matters in detail.
"What are your thoughts on Hidden Force techniques?"
the Martial Arts Tower elder asked.
Jiang Hao thought for a moment. His choice of technique was not exactly a secret.
Besides, the Martial Arts Tower elder knew the techniques within the tower like the back of his hand.
Perhaps he could even ask the elder for a recommendation.
Thus, Jiang Hao answered truthfully, "This disciple intends to cultivate the Five Elements Divine Skill and develop Hidden Force."
"The Five Elements Divine Skill? What grand ambition!"
"Ever since our Huangtian Sect acquired the Five Elements Divine Skill, no one has ever mastered it. Are you certain you wish to cultivate the Five Elements Divine Skill?"
"I am certain."
In fact, five-element techniques did not necessarily have to be Divine Skills.
Taking a step back, he could cultivate Top-tier Techniques.
They were merely somewhat inferior to Divine Skills.
However, Jiang Hao had confidence in his Comprehension and Bone Quality.
Cultivating a Divine Skill would give him a firmer foundation and greater combat strength. It brought him nothing but benefits.
"The Five Elements Divine Skill... first floor, ninth row of shelves, third level."
"Thank you, Elder."
Jiang Hao went to the ninth row of shelves and indeed found the Five Elements Divine Skill.
The Five Elements Divine Skill was a complete set of Hidden Force cultivation methods. It contained everything from how to temper the internal organs and give birth to Hidden Force, to how to nourish and strengthen Hidden Force after it was born.
It was extraordinarily comprehensive.
Jiang Hao decided on the Five Elements Divine Skill.
Jiang Hao wandered around the Martial Arts Tower some more.
He considered the martial arts he already possessed.
For offense, he had the Fierce Tiger Fist, which was actually enough.
The Fierce Tiger Fist was sufficient all the way to Transforming Force.
As for saber techniques and sword techniques, Jiang Hao did not like either.
Then there were Movement Techniques.
Jiang Hao lacked a Movement Technique.
But Jiang Hao had quite a few requirements for one.
He hoped to find a Movement Technique suited for long-distance dashes while also assisting in combat.
There were many Movement Techniques in the Martial Arts Tower.
Jiang Hao eventually found one called the Moon Chasing Footwork.
The Moon Chasing Footwork was not the sort of technique built around nimble dodging. Instead, it cultivated a special footwork that charged straight ahead, possessing ample explosive power and endurance.
Once cultivated to perfection, it could even allow one to grasp the True Intent Secret Move, Shrink Step Into Inch.
Jiang Hao was very satisfied, so he returned to the Martial Arts Tower elder.
"Sorry for the trouble, Elder. I wish to exchange for two martial arts."
The Martial Arts Tower elder glanced at the Five Elements Divine Skill and the Moon Chasing Footwork. Without saying anything more, he directly handed the technique manuals to Jiang Hao.
"When cultivating the Five Elements Divine Skill, it is best to proceed step by step. Focus your efforts on tempering one internal organ, and once you develop Hidden Force, then temper the other internal organs."
"Supplement it with pills that nourish the corresponding internal organs for better results. They can also effectively prevent hidden injuries from accumulating in the internal organs."
Hearing this, Jiang Hao respectfully bowed. "Thank you for your guidance, Elder."
Normally, the Martial Arts Tower elder had no time to guide disciples in their cultivation.
But Jiang Hao was different.
The Martial Arts Tower elder also cherished talent.
For a genius like Jiang Hao, one who appeared only once in a century, even the Martial Arts Tower elder could not help offering a word or two of guidance.
"Remember, do not aim too high. Only with a solid foundation can you go farther."
"Go on."
The Martial Arts Tower elder waved his hand.
Jiang Hao turned and left the Martial Arts Tower.
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