Six Nooses!

"I probably have the most of this comprehension ability," Shen Zhui said with a smile.

"But this Thunderclap Art actually says that both Martial Artists and Qi Cultivation True Persons can learn it. It seems that although the two paths start differently, they ultimately lead to the same destination."

Shen Zhui thought to himself. It made sense; both Martial Artists and Qi Cultivation True Persons used Xiantian Spiritual Energy in the Xiantian Realm.

Since they originated from the same source, they could naturally use Daoist Magic.

Like the Li Family expert who was killed by Wang Long earlier, he had used a move that summoned a giant green fist, which was clearly a form of Daoist Magic.

"I just don't know if my Unity of Heaven and Man saber technique can draw upon the power of heaven and earth to combine into this Thunder Spell."

Logically, Shen Zhui wasn't directly controlling the power of heaven and earth; there was a layer in between, requiring the use of saber techniques.

Furthermore, this booklet didn't mention whether Houtian Martial Artists in the Unity of Heaven and Man Realm could use it.

But Shen Zhui felt he should be able to cultivate it, though the difficulty would likely be higher.

As for whether cultivating this Daoist Magic would cause trouble, Shen Zhui wasn't worried.

The imperial court only banned evil and demonic cultivation methods; they had no prejudice against Daoist Magic itself. They were just strict about controlling sectarian powers. Throughout the Zhou Dynasty, there were only three recognized national religions.

As for learning Daoist Magic? The imperial court itself had channels for teaching Daoist Magic. For example, Lin Ze of the Wu'an Army was a Qi Cultivation True Person.

"Let's see how many Merit Points I have."

Shen Zhui: Ninth Stage of Acquired Realm
Cultivation Method: Blood Burning Art (Third Layer)
Saber Technique: Falling Snow Saber Technique (Perfection)
Movement Technique: Flowing Cloud Steps (Major Accomplishment)
Merit Points: 94561

"Over ninety thousand Merit Points," Shen Zhui was slightly surprised.

In this battle, he had gained a little over six thousand Merit Points for killing the black-clothed Martial Artist.

After that, he went to the branch shrine to support Han Mao and killed several Ninth Stage of Acquired Realm experts, gaining about ten thousand Merit Points.

Then, he killed Daoist Xiangyang and destroyed the Yin God's clone at the branch shrine, which gave him nearly eighty thousand Merit Points!

Since Shen Zhui had only assisted in some of these instances, the system didn't attribute all the credit to him, so the amount was slightly less.

If he had completed all of this on his own, Shen Zhui estimated his Merit Points would have doubled.

"With over ninety thousand Merit Points, even exchanging for Awakening Time would be enough for over ninety seconds."

"I'll spend twenty thousand Merit Points to exchange for Awakening Time first and try it out."

Shen Zhui made up his mind.

If he couldn't cultivate the Thunderclap Art even in an awakened state, it would likely mean this Daoist Magic couldn't be cultivated at the Ninth Stage of Acquired Realm and he'd have to wait until he broke through to the Xiantian Realm.

"System, exchange for twenty seconds of Awakening Time!"

"Twenty seconds of Awakening Time requires the consumption of twenty thousand Merit Points. Do you wish to exchange?"

"Exchange!"

Shen Zhui picked up his steel saber and took a deep breath.

"Buzz~"

A wondrous sensation descended. Shen Zhui instantly felt as if he had been pulled out of the water, his mind becoming incredibly clear and empty.

At the same time, a virtual demonstration space appeared, and within this space, a figure identical to himself materialized.

Shen Zhui stared at his figure.

If this figure didn't move, it meant this path was dead and wouldn't work, which would mean his idea was wrong.

One second, two seconds, three seconds passed...

The clone kept its saber raised, frowning, and remained still.

Just as Shen Zhui thought this path wouldn't work and was about to give up, at the eighth second, the clone finally moved!

"It works!" Shen Zhui couldn't help but get excited!

Manifestation of All Laws is Insight!

In this virtual space, the clone's abilities were identical to the main body's!

Once it performed the movements, it meant the clone was a teacher who had completely mastered the Thunderclap Art, demonstrating it personally.

Every move and every action was as if he were performing it himself, allowing him to experience what it felt like to have mastered it!

Moreover, the Awakening Time granted him two perspectives: one was showing him how to perform it, imprinting his every move into his mind.

The other was him watching and pondering from the side.

The two reinforced each other!

Second by second, Shen Zhui was completely immersed in the experience of the Awakening Time, gradually understanding where he should start.

"Boom crack~"

In the virtual space, the clone unleashed a saber strike. From the tip of the steel saber, a thunderclap lasso sprang forth, perfectly straight.

Following that, with the second strike, two lassos shot out simultaneously.

The third strike directly escalated to four thunderclap lassos!

"Countdown complete. Enlightenment time terminated."

"Huh?" Shen Zhui suddenly felt a tightness in his chest, realizing he had emerged from his enlightened state.

"Again! Continue the exchange!"

Shen Zhui didn't hesitate.

"Exchange successful. Enlightenment time countdown: 30, 29, 28..."

As the second enlightenment period began, Shen Zhui, standing by the campfire, started to move slowly, executing the first form of the Falling Snow Saber Technique, Slay Cang.

With the commencement of the second enlightenment period, a faint, fleeting spark of electricity erupted from the tip of Shen Zhui's saber...

The next dawn, the sky began to break.

Shen Zhui stood motionless on the steps of the dilapidated temple. Rong Zimo stretched as he emerged from the temple.

He stared at the ground, looking left and right, then suspiciously glanced at the sky.

Shen Zhui found it strange. "Zimo, what are you looking at?"

Rong Zimo scratched his head. "Shen Zhui, did it rain last night?"

"No."

"Then why did I hear thunder?"

"..."

Shen Zhui's smile faltered. "Perhaps... you misheard."

"Really not?"

"..." Shen Zhui was speechless.

"It seems I did mishear. It really didn't rain." Rong Zimo looked around, muttering to himself as he re-entered the dilapidated temple.

Shen Zhui lowered his head awkwardly, looking at the steel saber in his hand.

Last night, after exhausting over ninety thousand Merit Points and immersing himself in studying the Thunderclap Art, dawn had arrived before he knew it.

This was probably Shen Zhui's longest continuous enlightenment period.

However, the results were astonishing.

From merely producing sparks of electricity at the beginning, it became increasingly fluid. In just one night, Shen Zhui could unleash six thunderclap lassos!

"Mastering six thunderclap lassos in one night... no one would believe it if I said it. I'd better not tell Brother Han and the others yet."

Shen Zhui decided to keep it a secret. It wasn't that he didn't trust them, but he simply had no way to explain it.

The fact that a Houtian Martial Artist could wield Daoist Magic was already shocking enough.

And to master it in one night?

Anyone would find it suspicious.

"It's a shame. If I had another ninety thousand Merit Points, I might have been able to master the first level directly," Shen Zhui lamented.

With over ninety seconds of enlightenment time, he hadn't reached the maximum power of the first level. It had to be said, the Thunderclap Art was truly difficult.

Keep in mind that when he practiced the Ruler Technique, twenty seconds of enlightenment time had allowed Shen Zhui to break through to the Major Accomplishment Realm.

Sixty seconds of enlightenment time had enabled Shen Zhui to comprehend the Unity of Heaven and Man.

No matter how difficult this Daoist Magic was, it couldn't be harder than comprehending the Unity of Heaven and Man.

Shen Zhui estimated that if he reached the Xiantian Realm, practicing the Thunderclap Art would likely be much simpler.

Now, with this intermediate stage, the difficulty naturally increased severalfold. Even in the enlightened state, practicing the first level of the Thunderclap Art had a buffer period of a few seconds at the beginning.

This was clearly due to the increased difficulty.

Of course, the further one progressed in the first level, the harder it became. Shen Zhui estimated that the four thunderclap lassos would consume a considerable amount of Merit Points.

"Merit Points. I must obtain more Merit Points if I want to cultivate this first level of Daoist Magic to its extreme. If I can train the first level of the Thunderclap Art to the stage of ten lassos, I will truly possess the strength to slay Xiantian beings."

Shen Zhui had never craved Merit Points as much as he did now.

Summoning a Deity was, after all, an external force. Once used, a period of time must pass before it could be used again, otherwise, Lifespan would be consumed.

However, the Thunderclap Art had no such restrictions.

"There are still two branch shrines in Hekou Town, guarded by at least two Qi Cultivation True Persons comparable to Xiantian Realm experts. If I can destroy these two branch shrines, it should be enough."

With this thought, Shen Zhui immediately entered the dilapidated temple and began discussing the mission plan with Han Mao and the others.

Seeking votes~