Qin Annian had been somewhat prepared for the unknown changes the Status Panel could bring to a Cultivation Technique.
For example,
a simple technique like Xingyi Cannon Fist could give him the awareness and insight of a Fist Technique Grandmaster.
The most common Iron Man Stance had revealed a mysterious scripture when he encountered his Inner Demon, allowing him to enter the realm of Mental Secret Manuals that only prodigies could cultivate ahead of time.
Willow-Bending Fist, meanwhile, had embraced the principle of simplicity, allowing him to freely incorporate his own ideas and produce endless variations.
Leg Technique: Mountain-Splitting Axe had changed the least, but its kicks were far more fierce than those of the original.
"But this is nothing like the technique in the demonstration video anymore, is it?!"
In his memories, the first technique he had cultivated really had been the Water-Fire Tempering Technique.
However,
if the version of himself who cultivated Leg Technique: Mountain-Splitting Axe had been too untalented,
then
the version of himself who cultivated this Mental Secret Manual had been far too talented in both aptitude and comprehension!
"Talented enough to improve this Mental Secret Manual every single day?"
It had taken only a hundred days.
Using the Water-Fire Tempering Technique as a foundation, he had improved it into a unique Mental Secret Manual tailored to himself.
"Unbelievable!"
"But the price was that he'd spent nearly two-thirds of those hundred days improving the technique while he cultivated it."
"He'd practiced the final version of the Mental Secret Manual for only about a month."
"The benefits were about the same as those from Leg Technique: Mountain-Splitting Axe."
After all,
the version of himself in those memories hadn't trained for very long.
How far he could go in the end would depend on his own efforts from then on.
He went to the Practice Room and eagerly began Standing Posture.
When his Inner Demon appeared,
a chant sounded from deep within his soul, and Qin Annian immediately began cultivating the Mental Secret Manual.
At first, Li Fire and Kan Water still emerged.
But then yin and yang energies began to flow, forming a Taiji Diagram.
Boom!
The power released as Li Fire and Kan Water converged tempered his mental energy.
Unlike in the original technique, the "medicine cauldron" had been replaced by something else.
The Taiji Diagram was like a vast ocean. A deep-black Kun Fish leaped up to "swallow" his mental energy, transforming into a pure-white Heavenly Peng. Carrying that mental energy, it charged toward the heavens before falling back into the Taiji Diagram.
The medicine cauldron outlined by water and fire had now been replaced by the transformations of the Kunpeng.
The cycle repeated.
With every "charge against the heavens," Qin Annian's mental energy grew more condensed.
The consciousness he had separated from himself stepped into the void and looked down at the changes below.
"Standing Posture is still the foundation."
"Even after cultivating a Mental Secret Manual, my mental energy is still too weak."
When martial artists practiced Standing Posture, they clarified their minds and perceived their true nature. They caught sight of Mindlight and drew upon the Force of Creation in the Spirit Sea, which could turn illusions into reality.
This force advanced an individual's evolution and ascension. After becoming entangled with the self, it transformed into mental energy.
"At the very least, I need to raise my Life Development Power above a hundred. Then I'll be able to draw much greater power from the Spirit Sea. Only then will cultivating a Mental Secret Manual bring a qualitative change."
For now,
tempering his mental energy could only sharpen his five senses. It couldn't let him move objects from afar or project his consciousness like in xianxia novels and become a human radar.
Dawn was breaking.
Qin Annian ended his Standing Posture practice.
"Phew!"
He opened his eyes and found the colors of the world more vivid, while his five senses picked up more detail.
The sensation felt strange to him. Only after he got used to it did he set off for the Security Bureau.
On the tram, Qin Annian browsed his Personal Terminal, getting a rough idea of what had happened in the Old District after he'd gone home the previous day.
Meanwhile,
the television on the tram was broadcasting the news.
"With the City Government and Security Bureau coordinating the effort, fifty thousand residents of the Old District have completed identity registration and been safely relocated to temporary accommodations."
"Five hundred and sixty-three gang members from the Old District have turned themselves in. The Security Bureau has arrested more than fifty members of the Cultivation Holders Association."
"..."
The good news in the broadcast belied what had happened between the Security Bureau and the Cultivation Holders Association the previous night: more than ten major battles had already broken out.
Although the Security Bureau had won every fight, there had still been casualties.
Thirteen had suffered minor injuries and two had been seriously wounded. So far, there had been no deaths.
"Members of the Cultivation Holders Association have all undergone Illegal Modification Surgery."
"If they're willing to pay the price, they can significantly increase their combat strength in a short time."
Qin Annian had experienced that firsthand when fighting the Mysterious Person.
One careless move could easily lead to trouble.
Still,
given the results they'd achieved, their performance had been remarkable.
Successive Taiyu Municipal Governments had planned to rebuild the Old District, and the relevant departments had gathered plenty of information.
"Now,"
"the Bureau has even obtained a floor plan of the Cultivation Holders Association's underground base."
"It probably won't take long to wipe them out completely."
Once the authorities made up their minds, an underground organization like the Cultivation Holders Association couldn't hold out for long.
The hard part was simply "making up their minds." After all, the authorities were made up of many people, and it wasn't unusual for them to argue among themselves.
When Qin Annian entered the Security Bureau building, there was hardly anyone idle in the corridors.
Even the two-person guard posts had been reduced to one person each. The Security Bureau had committed as much manpower as possible to the conflict.
Ding!
He took the elevator to the top floor and knocked on the director's office door.
"Come in."
As soon as Qin Annian opened the door, a short spear came flying toward him.
He stepped forward and reached out.
He caught the spear, then used its momentum to turn and twirl it in a flourish.
"This spear is called Star-Shatterer. It belonged to an Alien Martial Artist with a life force of over a thousand, a hundred years ago."
"It was already damaged when it was in his hands, but its power was still extraordinary."
Zhang Qifeng looked at Qin Annian, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Qin Annian examined the short spear in his hands, surprise showing in his eyes.
"This is...?"
"A mechanical construct?"
The spear was one and a half meters long, but it looked as though it had been snapped in half.
Its head was completely intact, gleaming with an icy blue light.
Qin Annian looked at the broken cross-section and saw that it was filled with mechanical parts and a tangle of electronic circuitry.
He'd originally thought the weapon was a cold weapon made from some divine metal or immortal iron.
He hadn't expected it to be a finely crafted mechanical construct.
"No wonder."
"Chief Zhang hasn't repaired it."
Weapons like this were indeed much harder to repair than ordinary cold weapons.
Just then,
Zhang Qifeng suddenly asked Qin Annian,
"You've started cultivating a Mental Secret Manual?"
Qin Annian reluctantly took his eyes off the spear.
He had a hunch.
If he wielded this weapon, his combat strength would increase tremendously.
"Yes."
Qin Annian needed to maintain his image as a genius, so he didn't hide the truth.
"The Water-Fire Tempering Technique from the Sky Roc Dojo?"
It was phrased as a question, but his tone was certain.
"Tsk."
"You did Qian Yuansen such a huge favor, and this is the Mental Secret Manual he gave you?"
"Forget about the Kunpeng Heaven-War Technique, a secret art they don't teach outsiders. But couldn't he have given you a Mental Secret Manual like Three Thousand Fish-Dragon Dance or Thirteen Transformations of the Heavenly Cicada?"
As Qin Annian listened to Zhang Qifeng tease Qian Yuansen, a strange look flickered deep in his eyes.
Kunpeng?
"No way?"
He quickly composed himself and said calmly,
"I won't be any worse off cultivating this Mental Secret Manual than the disciples of the Sky Roc Dojo."
At that, Zhang Qifeng gave him a thumbs-up and laughed heartily.
"You brat."
"Got some nerve!"
"If you make it out of the Old District alive this time, I'll give you a huge opportunity!"
Before you continue