The Effects of the Formless Divine Art, a Huge Surprise!

"I see."

At the Grand Martial Arts Arena, Wei Jinlin gave a slight nod. "Since you've completed your goal ahead of schedule, I'll now teach you a cultivation technique."

Lu Ming's heart leaped with joy. Wei Jinlin didn't hold a grudge against him for refusing to act as bait for the geniuses.

As expected, true experts weren't as shallow as Chen Feng and the others.

He respectfully said, "Please impart your wisdom, Master Wei."

Wei Jinlin spoke slowly, "The technique I'm going to teach you is called the Formless Divine Art."

Lu Ming was startled. "The Formless Divine Art?"

This was the first time he'd heard of a martial art bearing the name "Divine Art"!

Wei Jinlin said solemnly, "Before I teach you the Formless Divine Art, I need to tell you something.

"Every county's Military Service Bureau Director in the Great Li Dynasty receives one special recommendation slot each year, which can elevate a disciple's evaluation.

"If you obtain this slot, you'll have a chance to enter a first-rate sect.

"And teaching you the Formless Divine Art means you have the opportunity to earn this slot."

Lu Ming's heart stirred. He'd guessed correctly—the mysterious technique Wei Jinlin mentioned represented a special promotion channel!

A path to enter a first-rate sect without risking his life as bait for geniuses!

This channel was now his.

Of course, from Wei Jinlin's tone, he was selective. If Lu Ming failed to meet his requirements going forward, he still wouldn't get the slot.

"The Formless Divine Art I'm teaching you surpasses first-rate techniques—it's a supreme art!"

Wei Jinlin continued, "And even among supreme arts, this one is unique.

"Because its hallmark is gathering the strengths of a hundred schools. Once you master the Formless Divine Art, you can execute all kinds of martial arts under heaven—formless and intangible, shifting unpredictably with a single thought.

"At its peak, you'll grasp an enemy's techniques at a glance and even unleash them with greater power than theirs!

"This divine art requires at least Tendon Refining mastery to cultivate.

"What I'm passing on is merely a simplified version—limited in power, but easier to train.

"If you can master it... we'll talk about the rest."

A supreme art! Requires Tendon Refining mastery? A simplified version?

Lu Ming's mind reeled after hearing Wei Jinlin's words. He never expected to touch a supreme-level martial art so soon!

His heart pounded. This technique sounded incredibly powerful, even if he didn't fully understand what type it was.

But this was his first time cultivating a supreme art.

A third-rate technique gave 1 experience point, second-rate 2, first-rate 3—how much would a supreme art give?

Lu Ming was filled with anticipation.

Of course, this time Wei Jinlin only said he'd discuss the rest if Lu Ming succeeded, without setting a time limit.

This meant the Formless Divine Art was likely extremely difficult to master. Naturally, its power would be immense.

Regardless, his interest in this technique had reached its peak.

Wei Jinlin didn't keep him in suspense and immediately taught him the Formless Divine Art.

"Form arises from the mind, and perishes by the mind. All dharmas are originally formless; only through intent and thought do they take form. Only when the mind embraces all thoughts under heaven does it achieve the formless form..."

The supreme art was indeed extremely difficult!

After Wei Jinlin finished teaching the Formless Divine Art, it took Lu Ming a long time to barely grasp it.

Then, he marveled inwardly. The lofty conception of this Formless Divine Art truly lived up to its name as a supreme art.

The Formless Divine Art didn't belong to any specific type of martial art—not fist techniques, not palm techniques, and certainly not blade or sword arts!

It required the practitioner to cultivate all martial arts under heaven in order to achieve their own "formless form."

In other words, this divine art demanded that the cultivator master all kinds of martial arts.

No wonder Wei Jinlin taught him this supreme art—his previous scattered learning was likely seen as a talent for the Formless Divine Art.

And to master the Formless Divine Art, he first had to master all other martial arts.

"To train the Formless Divine Art, the effort lies outside the art itself!" Wei Jinlin gave one final pointer and turned to leave.

"Wait."

Lu Ming snapped back to reality and called out to Wei Jinlin. He suddenly remembered Qin Zhonghai's earlier request—last time at the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, Qin Zhonghai had asked if the Cloud-Stepping Technique could be traded.

Today, Qin Zhonghai had shown up, so he'd probably ask about it later.

He grinned slyly and asked, "Master Wei, I wanted to ask... can the Cloud-Stepping Technique you taught me be traded with the Heavenly Secret Pavilion?"

Hearing this, Wei Jinlin looked at him with a strange expression.

Lu Ming's heart grew nervous. It seemed no one had ever asked such a question before.

He sighed inwardly. It seemed it wouldn't work.

Just then, Wei Jinlin's complexion recovered, and he said flatly:

"Swap is fine, but cut me in."

Lu Ming: "..."

He had considered Wei Jinlin agreeing or refusing, but he never expected to hear this kind of answer.

The corner of his mouth twitched. Thinking back to Wei Jinlin's previous conduct, he suddenly found it oddly reasonable.

He immediately replied, "Yes."

"As for the Formless Divine Art, you cannot reveal it to others." Wei Jinlin added a sentence, then turned and left.

Lu Ming acknowledged with a yes. Of course he knew that—a supreme art, clearly a very important and critical martial skill. Even if it was a simplified version, he couldn't leak it.

After Wei Jinlin left, he stood there pondering for a while longer, silently memorizing the many wondrous techniques of the Formless Divine Art, before walking out of the Grand Martial Arts Arena.

As soon as he came out, he saw a man standing under a large tree by the roadside outside—unremarkable in appearance but extraordinary in bearing.

It was none other than Qin Zhonghai.

Lu Ming was startled, not expecting Qin Zhonghai to have been waiting outside for him all along.

He quickly stepped forward and said, "Greetings, Pavilion Master Qin. I just asked Master Wei, and he said the Cloud-Stepping Technique can be exchanged."

Hearing this, Qin Zhonghai nodded with satisfaction and said:

"Excellent! I carry with me a first-rate lightness skill, Snow-Treading Trace. I'll trade it with you now."

Lu Ming invited Qin Zhonghai to his own courtyard, took out the Cloud-Stepping Technique, and exchanged it with him.

"Snow-Treading Trace..." He flipped through this lightness skill and found it quite profound as well, secretly delighted.

This way, he now possessed the second-rate lightness skill Water Gliding and the first-rate Snow-Treading Trace.

Once he fully mastered both, they would together provide a total of 5 extra experience points.

Evolving the third Leg Dao Divine Ability was just around the corner!

"You did well today!"

Qin Zhonghai briefly flipped through the Cloud-Stepping Technique, accepted it with satisfaction, then nodded at Lu Ming:

"It's good that you didn't go as a genius bait. Lie low and wait to join a sect.

"Your overwhelming the many geniuses today also brings me face.

"Your Enlightenment Pills should be running low. Here are ten Enlightenment Pills for you to use."

With that, he handed Lu Ming a small jade bottle filled with Enlightenment Pills.

Lu Ming took the small jade bottle, warmth filling his heart. He felt quite grateful to Qin Zhonghai. Since becoming a spy for the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, he hadn't completed any missions yet.

And Qin Zhonghai had given him ten Enlightenment Pills last time, and now another ten.

He accepted the pills and thanked him solemnly.

Qin Zhonghai patted his shoulder: "Train hard, strive to join a good sect."

Then he took his leave.

Lu Ming saw him out, returned to the courtyard, and without further hesitation, began cultivating the Formless Divine Art.

This supreme art, the Formless Divine Art, originally required Tendon Refining at a high level to cultivate, because it demanded the cultivation of a special Formless True Qi to simulate all martial arts under heaven.

Only Bone Forging Realm martial artists could condense true qi.

However, the simplified version of the Formless Divine Art used Blood-Qi Power as its core, barely able to integrate two martial skills—the most basic of basics.

In the courtyard, Lu Ming racked his brains, attempting cultivation many times, constantly correcting his movements and adjusting his mental focus.

Finally, at a certain moment, he successfully performed the Formless Divine Art once.

That single time shook his heart and filled him with immense joy.

After this successful cultivation, the information from the Divine Ability Panel left him almost incredulous.

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[Evolving Leg Dao Divine Ability (11/10000)...]
[Evolving Blade Dao Divine Ability (7/100)...]