Gal Martial Saint

"Beep."

A flash of azure light, and the registration was complete.

The two passed through the pavilion and entered the so-called "back area."

After passing through a curtain of light, the scene before them changed once more. This was a vast open stretch of level ground, surrounded on all sides by towering mountain walls that formed a natural Spirit-Gathering Array.

The moment he stepped into this place, Gu Chengming immediately felt the difference.

So this was what it felt like to be surrounded by abundant Spiritual Energy?

Curious, he took a deep breath. A cool current flowed in through his nose and filled his lungs. His entire body felt as comfortable as though he were soaking in warm water, and even seemed to grow lighter.

Even the lingering ache caused by forcibly adding points to his physique seemed to ease somewhat.

After chatting briefly, the two each found an empty spot and began practicing their respective techniques.

Gu Chengming found a corner, drew his Wooden Sword, and began practicing the Huiyuan Sword Art.

As he executed the sword forms, he was surprised to discover that practicing here not only made his movements smoother, but even the circulation of Qi and Blood within his body seemed to flow much more freely.

Especially...

When he was halfway through the routine, he suddenly felt a warm current begin circulating through his body on its own. This current traveled along specific Meridians. Though faint, it was remarkably tenacious.

This was... Hundred Bones Chant?

Gu Chengming's heart jolted, followed by wild delight.

He clearly had not deliberately cultivated Hundred Bones Chant, yet this warm current had begun circulating by itself.

Moreover, compared to the tearing agony he felt while cultivating in the Cave Abode, the sensation brought by this warm current was far gentler now. It was like it was nourishing and repairing his body bit by bit.

It seemed this place was quite beneficial for cultivating Hundred Bones Chant?

To test this guess, Gu Chengming immediately stopped his sword forms, sat down cross-legged, and actively tried to circulate Hundred Bones Chant.

However, something strange happened.

The moment he actively guided his Qi and Blood to cultivate Hundred Bones Chant, that gentle nourishing sensation vanished. In its place came the familiar, teeth-aching tearing pain.

Though it was somewhat better than in the Cave Abode, it lacked that comfortable feeling of "auto-grinding."

After testing it repeatedly, Gu Chengming gradually formed a theory.

The Spiritual Energy here was abundant. It "nourished" his body and naturally benefited his physique.

And Hundred Bones Chant, as a domineering Body Refining Technique, fundamentally sought to achieve "remolding" through "destruction."

In a sense, it caused "damage" to the body.

It was like repeatedly hammering a piece of iron. In the Cave Abode, he had been hammering it hard, and his body could not withstand it.

But here, the Spiritual Energy was like lubricant and coolant. While his body was being damaged, it rapidly repaired and nourished it at the same time.

Break and Then Stand—this was the core principle behind all Body Refining Techniques.

So, wouldn't that mean he could...

A spark flashed through Gu Chengming's mind.

Since cultivating it actively was too painful, then he would cultivate it passively!

He could continue practicing the Huiyuan Sword Art here, using the active Qi and Blood brought about by physical movement, together with the dense Spiritual Energy of this place, to keep Hundred Bones Chant in a "semi-automatic" state of circulation.

On the surface, he would be practicing the Huiyuan Sword Art. In reality, he would be secretly cultivating Hundred Bones Chant under cover of darkness.

Why did this feel... like having an NTR déjà vu moment, secretly making eyes at the mistress right in front of the wife?

Gu Chengming shook his head, tossing away the bizarre thought.

Whatever. As long as it made him stronger, NTR it was!

And so, Gu Chengming began a new cultivation routine at the Training Ground.

For several days in a row, he practically lived at the Training Ground.

On this day, Gu Chengming was immersed in practicing the Huiyuan Sword Art, feeling the warm current within him grow stronger bit by bit.

Suddenly, a faintly mocking snicker came from nearby.

"Heh, truly a First Realm Level Three piece of trash. After practicing for so long, you still only know these few flashy, useless moves."

It was a woman's voice, crisp and pleasant, but her tone carried obvious provocation.

Gu Chengming did not stop moving. He remained focused on the sword forms in his hands as though he had not heard a thing.

Seeing that Gu Chengming ignored her, the woman raised her voice and continued provoking him.

"Hey! I'm talking to you! You with the Wooden Sword! Didn't you eat? You swing that sword all limp and soft, like a woman!"

Gu Chengming remained deaf to her words.

The girl speaking was none other than You Yuyao.

For the past few days, she had been looking for a chance to find an excuse to "teach Gu Chengming a lesson."

Now that she had finally managed to corner him at the Training Ground, there was no way she would let this chance slip by.

It was just that... this young girl had clearly never learned how to curse properly.

Not only did those provocative words fail to make anyone angry, they were instead rather amusing—almost adorably silly.

"Soft and squishy," "like some woman"—that level of attack was less than a scratch to Gu Chengming, who had been a yellow-card veteran of Sun Bar in his past life.

Seeing that Gu Chengming still ignored her, You Yuyao was a little dumbfounded.

This wasn't how the script was supposed to go!

Her original plan had been to provoke him with words, make his blood rush to his head, and get him to challenge her to a duel of his own accord.

But now... he simply refused to take the bait!

Was this man deaf? Or was he really that spineless, too afraid to utter a word even when someone insulted him to his face?

Now, You Yuyao was the one getting anxious.

She circled Gu Chengming twice, continuously blurting out all sorts of provocations she thought sounded vicious.

"Hey! Are you even listening to me?"

"Are you a turtle? How can you endure this much?"

"I think you should get the hell out of the sect while you still can. Stop making a fool of yourself here!"

Yet no matter what she said, he remained unmoved, continuing to practice his sword at an unhurried pace.

That focused expression made it seem as though she were nothing more than a puff of air.

Furious and flustered, You Yuyao blurted out without thinking, "I really don't know what you're so persistent about! What's so great about that lousy Huiyuan Sword Art? It's trash, a Cultivation Method for beginner disciples to play around with! You could practice it for a lifetime and still never get anywhere!"

At those words, the figure who had stood like a wooden puppet all this time finally paused.

Gu Chengming slowly lowered his sword and turned around.

He looked at You Yuyao with a strange gaze.

Could it be called a blazing stare?

No. Those eyes were more like those of a beggar who had starved for three days and suddenly found a lavish feast delivered right to his mouth.

To be honest, Gu Chengming really had not wanted to bother with her at first.

He had found the whole thing baffling. He did not even know this person, so there was no need to argue with a lunatic.

Until what she had just said.

"What's so great about that lousy Huiyuan Sword Art?"

At that instant, the "GAL Master Instinct" in Gu Chengming's mind flared up, alarms blaring.

Wasn't this the "Favorability Event" he had been dreaming of?!

He stopped what he was doing and walked toward You Yuyao step by step.

Startled by his sudden aura, You Yuyao instinctively took half a step back.

"Y-you... what are you trying to do?"

Gu Chengming stared into her eyes and spoke, each word clear and deliberate.

"You can insult me."

"But you cannot insult the Huiyuan Sword Art."

Gu Chengming pointed at the Wooden Sword in his hand.

"I'll give you a chance to apologize to the Huiyuan Sword Art..."

"Apologize."

Favorability, Secured!

To be honest, You Yuyao had nearly been intimidated by Gu Chengming's righteous and imposing appearance at first.

But after thinking it over, she became angry and amused instead.

What did he mean, insulting the Huiyuan Sword Art was not allowed?

Someone who did not know better might think he cared deeply for Huiyuan Gate. Yet one look at his cultivation showed that after three years as a disciple, he was still only at First Realm Level Three.

If he truly cared for the sect, shouldn't he improve his cultivation first?

In You Yuyao's eyes, this was clearly him borrowing the tiger's might beneath a great banner, trying to use the lofty name of "the sect's greater good" to pressure her into backing down.

But that was a Good Deed for her instead.

What she feared most was Gu Chengming acting as he had before—playing deaf no matter how she provoked him and ignoring her completely.

Now that he had taken the bait, things would be easy.

So she sneered, folded her arms across her chest, and slightly raised her chin. "And if I refuse to apologize?"

Upon hearing that, Gu Chengming did not waste any words.

He held his sword in one hand, its tip slanting toward the ground, and gave You Yuyao a slight fist-and-palm salute.

"Then please, Senior Sister, enlighten me."

You Yuyao shouted coldly, "You've got some nerve!"

She truly hadn't expected this useless wretch, who looked so meek and submissive, to actually take the initiative and utter the three words, "Please enlighten me."

Judging from how he had endured her blows without fighting back and her insults without retorting just now, she had thought he would remain cowardly to the end.

Since he had taken the initiative to ask for a fight, she could hardly be blamed.

A sparring match was, naturally, a contest of swordsmanship.

After all, with her cultivation at First Realm Level Nine, using Spiritual Power to suppress him would be bullying the small with the big—a victory won without honor.

Never mind how many fellow disciples would ridicule her if word got out; even she herself would not be able to get past that hurdle in her heart.

As a cultivator of Jingshui Pavilion, though her temper was a little poor, she still had her own pride and Bottom Line.

With a flick of her right hand, Spiritual Energy burst forth and formed a wind blade, slicing a wrist-thick branch from a nearby tree.

Then, with a light tap of her fingertip, wood chips scattered through the air. In just a few strokes, she carved it into the shape of a wooden sword.

She weighed it in her hand and found it fairly suitable, then pointed its tip at Gu Chengming.

"Then come. Let me see just how much merit there is in this Huiyuan Sword Art that you've been so intent on defending..."

Before she could finish, Gu Chengming sprang forward.

His sword struck!

You Yuyao was furious, thinking, This man actually attacked before I even finished speaking. He's truly despicable and hateful!

In her haste, she raised her sword to block.

"Clang!"

The two wooden swords collided in midair. Gu Chengming's strike missed, but rather than retreating, he twisted his wrist with the momentum, letting his blade slide down along You Yuyao's wooden sword as it went straight for her wrist.