Immediately afterward, Chen Yuan paid no further attention to the Martial Artist secret teachings on the crystal wall. He lay directly on the ground, closed his eyes, and began cultivating through Entering Stillness.
At that moment, deep within the ruins, inside a hall shrouded in dreamlike rainbow light.
Suddenly, vast amounts of colored light converged and swiftly condensed into a humanoid figure. It possessed a crystal-clear body and was none other than the Ruin Intelligence from the original work—the Bald Crystal Man.
"Sleeping as soon as the Death Assessment begins?" The Bald Crystal Man's gaze seemed to pierce through countless obstacles, directly observing the scene inside the Crystal Room.
As the intelligence of this Assessment Base, it possessed a trace of emotion and found Chen Yuan's behavior utterly baffling.
"Is this man confidently assured of success? Is he broad-minded enough to look down on life and death? Or is he simply an idiot treating the Death Assessment as a joke?" The Bald Crystal Man silently watched Chen Yuan. "No matter what kind of person you are, once the three-year deadline arrives, if you fail to complete the assessment, death will be inevitable."
"As the second apprentice in five thousand years to undergo the Elite Assessment, I hope you know what is good for you." After speaking his final words, the Bald Crystal Man transformed into countless streams of rainbow light and vanished from the hall.
Inside the Crystal Room, Chen Yuan was completely unaware of the commotion deep within the ruins.
Since the Gale Sword Art had already reached Completion Level and the new secret method had yet to finish optimizing, he could only focus on cultivating the Entering Stillness Method for the past two days.
For two full days, Chen Yuan immersed himself in Entering Stillness meditation. When he opened his eyes again, the optimization task was just reaching its conclusion.
Meditation Method: Source Star Meditation: Entry level (5.86%)
Upon opening the panel, he saw the notification that the optimization task had been completed.
"Optimization task complete. The secret method 'Gale Sword Art' has been optimized into 'Unnamed' (click to expand details)."
Chen Yuan impatiently opened the introduction to the new secret method.
Unnamed: Combat-type secret method. Evaluation: Planetary Level Peak secret method. A secret method constructed with the Wind of Existence as its core, combining combat and comprehension. Its specific effects are as follows: 1. Raises the Force Exertion Level limit to 30 times. 2. With the Wind of Existence Conception as its core, integrates branches of Wind Artistic Conception (current branches: Existence, speed, Agility, Violence). Different abilities can be displayed by activating different branches. 3. After gathering all nine Conception branches, one may resonate with heaven and earth, forming a Domain in conjunction with released genetic energy. 4. Increases Wind Law Affinity as proficiency rises. Upon Completion Level of the secret method, additionally increases Time Law Affinity.
After reading the four effects of this new secret method, Chen Yuan could barely contain his delight.
The first effect raised the limit to thirtyfold force exertion, surpassing every technique currently on Earth except those of the Luo Family. Even among Planetary Level secret methods, it stood at the peak.
The third effect was even more astonishing. As long as Chen Yuan gathered all nine branches of Wind Artistic Conception, he could possess a Domain after reaching the Planetary Level, instantly becoming invincible among those of the same rank.
The fourth effect was the most terrifying of all. It could actually increase Law Affinity through cultivating the secret method, and it even involved Time Law Affinity!
"The Law of Time is a superior law. If I can reach entry level in the Law of Time at the Star Level, I might have a great chance of entering the core ranks of the Virtual Universe Company." Chen Yuan stared at the panel thoughtfully. "But what does this second effect mean? Activating different Conception branches?"
After he asked the system, he quickly received an answer. His secret method could produce different effects by activating different branches of Conception.
Based on the Conception branches Chen Yuan currently possessed, the system then listed the abilities of each branch for him.
Wind of Existence: Comprehend the past Wind of Speed: 2.5 times movement speed and attack speed Wind of Agility: 2.5 times movement flexibility and neural reaction ability Violent Wind: 2.5 times explosive power
Chen Yuan looked at these figures, and a flash of understanding passed through his eyes.
It was actually quite simple. The Conception abilities he had previously mastered had been integrated into the secret method and turned into active skills. Aside from their enhanced effects, these Conception branch abilities could also be further strengthened as the secret method's proficiency increased.
"Then can these branch abilities be used at the same time?" Chen Yuan voiced his concern. He worried that he could only activate one Conception branch at a time. If that were the case, it seemed inferior to what he had before.
Fortunately, the system's answer put him at ease. They could be used simultaneously; these Conception branches would not conflict with one another.
"That's good!" Chen Yuan let out a breath of relief.
"In that case, this secret method really is powerful enough to deserve the evaluation of a Planetary Level Peak secret method." Chen Yuan was overjoyed, then noticed the name of the secret method. "It's time for the headache-inducing naming process again."
Chen Yuan fell into thought. He mainly wanted to come up with a name worthy of the secret method's power. It could not be like before, with names such as Gale or Fierce Wind. Those secret methods had simply been too low-level for him to bother putting thought into naming them.
But the power of this new secret method matched Chen Yuan's expectations perfectly, so he became serious about naming it.
"Hmm... the core of this secret method is still wind. Integrating Wind Artistic Conception means I'll continue comprehending more Conception branches in the future." At that thought, inspiration struck Chen Yuan. "Wind that integrates everything... then why not call it Thousand Winds!"
"Hmm, Thousand Winds Sword Art doesn't sound good, and Thousand Winds Secret Method lacks grandeur... I'll call it the Thousand Wind Secret Canon."
With a thought from Chen Yuan, the name of the secret method was changed to the Thousand Wind Secret Canon.
"Very good. Then it's time to begin cultivating." Chen Yuan opened the details of the Thousand Wind Secret Canon. About two hours later, he had finished reading everything and began trying it out himself.
Thousand Wind Secret Canon: Combat-type secret method. Evaluation: Planetary Level Peak secret method; current progress: Entry level (0.01%)
"Hmm, regarding the cultivation of force-exertion techniques, the movements in the Thousand Wind Secret Canon are somewhat similar to those in this Martial Artist Basic Secret Method. It seems the Optimization System was heavily influenced by this secret method after all." Chen Yuan compared the two secret methods and discovered that although their core methods of force exertion differed, their foundational movements were largely similar.
"That works too. Although I don't know whether the manager of these ruins will notice me, it's best to make him think I'm cultivating according to the movements above, lest any complications arise."
Thus, after having a hearty meal, Chen Yuan formally began cultivating the Thousand Wind Secret Canon.
With the foundation laid by the Gale Sword Art, Chen Yuan had already mastered fivefold force exertion. Therefore, his early progress in cultivating the Thousand Wind Secret Canon was incredibly rapid, and he broke through fifty percent proficiency in just three days.
However, after crossing the threshold of fivefold force exertion, Chen Yuan's cultivation efficiency slowed. Still, that was only in comparison to the explosive growth of the first three days; in reality, it was not slow at all.
Moreover, after cultivating for several more days, Chen Yuan suddenly noticed the Smart Optical Computer on his arm. He slapped his forehead, abruptly remembering the Virtual Space he had forgotten!
Thus, for the following period, Chen Yuan honed his proficiency in the Thousand Wind Secret Canon through the Trial Tower every day, while also challenging the tower. After gaining extensive real combat experience, the speed at which his proficiency increased entered the fast lane once again. Though it could not compare with the very beginning, its efficiency had doubled compared with the progress of the preceding days.
Just like that, Chen Yuan cultivated in the Crystal Room for a month. He only stopped once he felt capable of breaking the crystal wall.
Thousand Wind Secret Canon: Current progress: Proficient level 21.37% Force Exertion Level: 12 Conception amplification: 3.9 times
His gaze swept over the panel. Chen Yuan's lips curled into a confident smile as he drew his sword toward the crystal wall.
"Fierce Wind!"
With his sharp cry, sword light streaked forth like a meteor. More than fortyfold terrifying force exertion granted the long sword unstoppable might as it slammed fiercely into the crystal wall.
With a deafening boom, the crystal wall shattered on impact!
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