Gal Martial Saint

"This is actually a sword move dismantled from another sword art?"

"No wonder the attribute requirements are so high... Is this even something a human can practice?"

"Sigh..."

Gu Chengming let out a helpless sigh and tossed the jade slip back onto the table.

He knew this couldn't be rushed.

The higher the level of the sword art, the greater the demands on physical fitness and mental control. Although he had boosted his physique with Hundred Bones Resonance, he was still lacking in other areas.

"Looks like I'll have to put this thing on a pedestal for now and wait until I have enough attribute points later..."

Just as Gu Chengming was about to give up and switch to writing some story scripts to calm his mind with Clear Heart Art—

The Huiyuan Sword Art, which had been silent deep in his mind ever since his Favorability reached 90, suddenly flickered.

To be honest, ever since this basic sword art's Favorability hit the "Adoration" threshold of 90, it had become extremely quiet.

It was like a humble, unremarkable wife, quietly staying in a corner, watching Gu Chengming flirt with those more powerful and flashy new cultivation methods.

Its Favorability had been stuck at 90, unmoving.

Gu Chengming had guessed earlier that this might be because he hadn't triggered a so-called "special Bond Event," causing the Favorability to lock.

But since the trigger conditions for this Bond Event were completely unclear, he had temporarily set aside his strategy for the Huiyuan Sword Art.

Unexpectedly, today, at this moment of setback, it reacted.

Lines of text, tinged with a faint melancholy, slowly emerged before Gu Chengming's eyes.

[The Huiyuan Sword Art has been watching you.]

[It watched you rack your brains to grow stronger, watched you sigh in frustration because you couldn't practice a high-level sword art.]

[It knows very well that it is only the most basic, most introductory sword art.]

[It doesn't have the dazzling sword moves of Flowing Light Sword Shadow, nor the amplification of Hundred Bones Resonance. It is ordinary, even a bit crude.]

[It knows that as your realm rises higher and the enemies you face grow stronger, it will eventually be forgotten in a corner, covered in dust.]

[This is its fate, and it has long accepted it.]

[It doesn't dare to hope to accompany you to the end of your immortal path, but... it still wishes to stay by your side as long as possible. Even if it's just one more step, that would be good.]

[It doesn't want to become your burden now, doesn't want to see you frowning because you lack a suitable sword art.]

Reading these words, Gu Chengming was momentarily stunned.

Just as he didn't know how to respond, the final passage appeared.

[The Huiyuan Sword Art mustered its courage and made a request to you.]

[It said, could you give that Flowing Light Sword Shadow... to it to try?]

[Though it is too dull-witted to let you learn it directly, it is willing to attempt to analyze, to imitate, and even to devour the Sword Intent within it.]

"?"

Countless strange thoughts flashed through Gu Chengming's mind.

A plotline where the wife finds a concubine for her husband?

PS: Two chapters today. The bounty total is five chapters owed. I'll tally them all up after the event ends in a couple of days.

Chapter 39: Chapter Thirty-Seven — The Ugly Display of a Corner-Dweller

[The Huiyuan Sword Art is comprehending Flowing Light Sword Shadow... Current progress: 1%]

It can do this?

Gu Chengming rubbed his chin, lost in thought.

Was this a trait unique to the Huiyuan Sword Art as a "Basic Sword Art," or was it a function unlocked when any cultivation method's Favorability reached the "Adoration" stage?

He wasn't sure, but that didn't stop him from making a decision.

With a thought, the jade slip recording Flowing Light Sword Shadow flashed with light. The Sword Intent and moves contained within flowed out like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, endlessly devoured by the seemingly ordinary Huiyuan Sword Art.

This scene left the observing Hundred Bones Resonance utterly dumbfounded.

[Hundred Bones Resonance stared wide-eyed, thinking, damn, no wonder Gu Chengming likes the Huiyuan Sword Art—this is way too broken!]

[It had originally thought that the Huiyuan Sword Art didn't compete or fight because it knew it was just a trashy introductory method, unworthy of vying for favor with itself, a Tyrant Body Art destined to Achieve Dao and Become Saint.]

[But now it seemed, this Huiyuan Sword Art had been planning all along!]

[By learning all the strengths of other sword arts, it wouldn't have to worry about being replaced by a more powerful method later.]

[Hundred Bones Resonance thought to itself, what a terrifying method. It had truly underestimated it before.]

[Then that other method called Clear Heart Art must be no simple matter either.]

The Clear Heart Art, on the other hand, felt nothing, as if it wasn't worried at all about being replaced.

After all, a fun-seeker only needs to have fun to watch.

Since the matter of Flowing Light Sword Shadow had been settled, even if the progress bar was moving slowly, it was still better than staring blankly at nothing.

In the days that followed, Gu Chengming's life became both routine and subtly strange.

As the Huiyuan Sword Art entered a state of secluded comprehension, Gu Chengming clearly felt a sense of emptiness known as "you don't know what you have until it's gone."

The smooth, effortless feeling of wielding his sword, like an extension of his own arm, had vanished, replaced by a hint of sluggishness. This made him realize that during his previous sword practice, the Huiyuan Sword Art had been silently helping him correct his force and adjust his angles.

Now, deprived of that assistance, Gu Chengming had to re-examine the foundations of his swordsmanship. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as his basic skills became a bit more solid through the stumbling process.

As for Hundred Bones Resonance, after witnessing the Huiyuan Sword Art's operation, it too fell into deep contemplation.

It began to wonder if it should develop some new functions. Perhaps devour some beast essence blood, or observe another Body Cultivator's technique? It couldn't really let itself be outdone by a basic sword art, could it?

Amidst this fulfilling cultivation life, Gu Chengming didn't forget his "side hustle."

After all, the third part of the story had been delayed long enough, and its plot was the climax and turning point of the entire tale.

That is, the legendary "crowd-pleasing" segment.

The aloof, ascetic Master, due to an accident, mistakenly consumes a strange poison called "Joyful Union Powder." As the medicinal power takes effect, the Master's Dao Heart becomes unstable.

To save, or not to save?

How to save?

That is the question.

Gu Chengming's brush flowed like divine inspiration, vividly depicting the forbidden atmosphere, the Master's struggle on the edge of reason and desire, and the protagonist's inner turmoil.

Of course, to pass censorship... ahem, to maintain artistry, he didn't write anything too explicit. Instead, he used extensive indirect descriptions and psychological hints.

That hazy, "half-hidden behind a pipa" feeling was actually more blush-inducing than straightforward physical combat.

A few days later, the work was complete.

Gu Chengming blew on the ink to dry it, then bound the thick stack of manuscripts into a book.

[Pure Heart Art finished reading your latest story and remarked that you really have a twisted sense of humor.]

[Clear Heart Art said it doesn't enjoy such cliché plots, and if you write more like this, it will find it boring.]

[Clear Heart Art Favorability +3]

Oh? There's even a tsundere moment.

The next day, at the Sword Repository Pavilion.

The Sword Repository Pavilion was unusually quiet today, as if it had been deliberately cleared of people.

As soon as Gu Chengming stepped through the main door, he felt a scorching gaze lock onto him.

Behind the counter, Yu Wenqiu was still dressed in her elder's robe, sitting upright with a jade slip pressed to her forehead, seemingly perusing texts.

But if you looked closely, you'd notice her jade slip was upside down.

Moreover, her eyes were completely unfocused, occasionally darting toward the entrance. She looked exactly like a student in a semi-militarized boarding high school, waiting by the fence to sneak a takeout order.

"Elder Yu."

Gu Chengming stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"Cough! You're here?!"

Yu Wenqiu's hand jerked, nearly throwing the jade slip away.

She quickly set it down, forcing a calm expression, and gave a slight nod:

"Mm, no need for formalities."

She cleared her throat, her gaze seemingly casually sweeping over Gu Chengming's bulging chest:

"That... the story I mentioned earlier, the one to assist with Red Dust Heart Refining, have you finished writing it?"

"Fortunately, I did not disappoint."

Gu Chengming presented the manuscript with both hands.

Yu Wenqiu's eyes instantly lit up. She took it and quickly stuffed it into her wide sleeve.

"Mm, very good."

Yu Wenqiu took a deep breath, struggling to suppress the urge to let her lips curl up wildly, and said with a straight face:

"Since it's done, This Seat will take it back... to savor carefully. If there are any issues, I will point them out to you later."

"Thank you, Elder." Gu Chengming played along with the act perfectly.

"Oh, right."

As if remembering something, Yu Wenqiu fished out a small bottle from her Storage Bag and tossed it to Gu Chengming.

"This is a Glazed Pure Consciousness Pill. If you feel restless during cultivation, take one and hold it in your mouth. You look like you have dark circles under your eyes, probably from exhausting your mind writing this... report. Take it to replenish yourself."

Gu Chengming took the pill with a strange expression on his face.

Good stuff, but the thing is... he wasn't short on it.

Pulling his thoughts back, he cupped his hands and took his leave without lingering further.

The moment Gu Chengming stepped out of the Sword Repository Pavilion's main door, Yu Wenqiu handed her work off to a Disciple, bribing him with a bottle of pills to cover her shift for the afternoon, and promptly skipped out without a second word.

Once back in her own courtyard, she couldn't wait to pull the storybook from her sleeve.

"Finally... finally here!"

"That damned Chapter Breaker Dog kept me waiting so long!"

She flipped open the first page, and familiar handwriting met her eyes.

The story picked up right where it left off.

Yu Wenqiu read with relish, frowning one moment and relaxing the next, completely immersed in the bizarre and fantastical story world Gu Chengming had built.

But as the pages turned, her expression gradually grew strange.

At last, she reached the pivotal chapter.

[The moonlight was like water. Fine beads of sweat seeped from the Master's brow. His usually cold and aloof eyes were now hazy and unfocused...]

"Gulp."

Yu Wenqiu swallowed hard.

This... this description... this was too...

Especially when she got to the part where the usually timid Rebellious Disciple, in order to save his Master, had to make a decision that "betrayed his ancestors" and began to untie the Master's sash...

Yu Wenqiu slammed the book shut.

What the hell was Xiao Gu writing!!