"I can see that."
At the Grand Martial Arts Arena, Wei Jinlin nodded slightly. "Since you completed the goal ahead of time, I'll teach you a martial art next."
Lu Ming was overjoyed. Wei Jinlin had not taken a dislike to him just because he had refused to serve as Genius Bait.
Sure enough, true powerhouses were not as shallow as Chen Feng and the others.
He immediately said respectfully, "Please teach me, Master Wei."
Wei Jinlin said slowly, "The martial art I'm going to teach you is called the Formless Divine Art."
Lu Ming said in surprise, "The Formless Divine Art?"
This was his first time hearing of a martial art named "Divine Art"!
Wei Jinlin said solemnly, "Before teaching you the Formless Divine Art, I need to tell you something.
"Every Director of the Military Service Bureau in every county of the Great Li Dynasty has one special recommendation quota each year, which can raise a disciple's evaluation.
"If you obtain this quota, you'll have a chance to enter a first-rate sect.
"And teaching you the Formless Divine Art means that you have a chance to obtain this quota."
Lu Ming's heart stirred. He had indeed guessed correctly—the mysterious martial art Wei Jinlin had mentioned represented a special path for advancement!
Without risking his life as Genius Bait, he still had a path to enter a first-rate sect!
And that path was now in his hands.
Of course, from Wei Jinlin's meaning, he would rather lack than overfill. If Lu Ming failed to meet Wei Jinlin's requirements from here on out, he still would not obtain the quota.
"The Formless Divine Art I'm teaching you surpasses first-rate cultivation arts. It is a supreme art!"
Wei Jinlin continued, "And even among supreme arts, this one is exceptional.
"Because its defining trait is that it gathers the strengths of a hundred schools. Once you master the Formless Divine Art, you can use all kinds of martial arts under heaven—formless and shapeless, changing beyond all reckoning with a single thought.
"Once you cultivate it to Major Completion, you'll learn an enemy's martial skill with one look. You may even wield it with greater power than its original user!
"This divine art requires at least Tendon Refining Grand Completion before it can be cultivated.
"What I'm passing to you is merely a simplified version. Its power is limited, but it is comparatively easier to cultivate.
"If you can successfully cultivate it... then we'll discuss the rest."
A supreme art! One that required Tendon Refining Grand Completion to cultivate, even in its simplified form?
After hearing Wei Jinlin's words, Lu Ming's heart shook. He had never expected to come into contact with a supreme-art-level martial art so soon!
His heart pounded. This cultivation art sounded incredibly powerful, though he still did not understand what type of martial art it was.
But this was his first time cultivating a supreme art.
Third-rate cultivation arts gave 1 point of experience, second-rate ones gave 2, and first-rate ones gave 3. Then how much would a supreme art give?
Lu Ming was filled with anticipation.
Of course, this time Wei Jinlin had only said they would discuss the rest if he successfully cultivated it, yet he had not set a time limit.
That meant the Formless Divine Art was likely extraordinarily difficult to cultivate. Naturally, its power would also be tremendous.
No matter what, his interest in this cultivation art had already reached its peak.
Wei Jinlin did not leave him hanging and immediately began teaching him the Formless Divine Art.
"Form arose from the heart, and from the heart it perished. All laws were originally formless; only when intent gave birth to thought did form come into being. Only when the heart embraced all thoughts could it achieve the form within formlessness..."
A divine-art-level supreme art was indeed incredibly difficult!
After Wei Jinlin finished imparting the Formless Divine Art, a long time passed before Lu Ming barely managed to understand it.
Then he exclaimed inwardly in amazement. The concept behind this Formless Divine Art truly deserved its status as a supreme art.
The Formless Divine Art did not belong to any specific category of martial arts. It was neither a fist technique nor a palm technique, much less a blade or sword technique!
It required its practitioner to cultivate the martial arts of the world in order to forge their own "form within formlessness."
In other words, this divine art required its practitioner to be proficient in all kinds of martial arts.
No wonder Wei Jinlin had taught him this supreme art. Since he had previously learned such a mixed assortment of skills, Wei Jinlin must have believed he had the talent to cultivate the Formless Divine Art.
And to cultivate the Formless Divine Art to Major Completion, he first had to cultivate every other kind of martial art to Major Completion.
"To cultivate the Formless Divine Art, the true work lies beyond the divine art itself!" Wei Jinlin offered this final guidance, then turned to leave.
"Wait."
Lu Ming came back to his senses and called out to Wei Jinlin. He suddenly recalled Qin Zhonghai's earlier request. At the Heavenly Secret Pavilion last time, Qin Zhonghai had asked whether the Cloud-Stepping Technique could be exchanged.
Since Qin Zhonghai had appeared today, he would likely ask about it shortly.
Lu Ming immediately grinned and asked, "Master Wei, I'd like to ask... can the Cloud-Stepping Technique you taught me be exchanged with the Heavenly Secret Pavilion?"
Wei Jinlin looked at him with an odd expression.
Lu Ming felt a little guilty. It seemed Wei Jinlin had never heard anyone ask such a question before.
He sighed inwardly. It seemed that would not be possible.
At that moment, Wei Jinlin's expression returned to normal, and he said flatly:
"You can exchange it. Just give me a share of the spoils."
Lu Ming was speechless.
He had considered that Wei Jinlin might agree or refuse, but he had never expected to hear such an answer.
The corner of his mouth twitched. Thinking of Wei Jinlin's usual conduct, he suddenly found it strangely reasonable.
He immediately answered, "Yes."
"The Formless Divine Art, however, cannot be revealed to others," Wei Jinlin added before turning and leaving.
Lu Ming answered yes. Naturally, he understood that. A supreme art sounded like an extremely important and crucial martial art. Even if it was only a simplified version, he could not reveal it.
After Wei Jinlin left, Lu Ming remained where he was and pondered for a while longer, silently memorizing the many profound formulas of the Formless Divine Art before walking out of the Grand Martial Arts Arena.
The moment he emerged, he saw a man standing beneath a large tree by the roadside outside. The man appeared utterly ordinary, yet possessed an extraordinary bearing.
It was none other than Qin Zhonghai.
Lu Ming was startled. He had not expected Qin Zhonghai to have been waiting outside for him all along.
He hurried over and said, "Greetings, Pavilion Master Qin. I just asked Master Wei, and he said the Cloud-Stepping Technique can be exchanged."
Upon hearing this, Qin Zhonghai nodded in satisfaction.
"Very good! I happen to have a first-rate movement technique with me, Snow-Treading Trace. I'll exchange it with you right now."
Lu Ming invited Qin Zhonghai into his courtyard, took out the Cloud-Stepping Technique, and exchanged it with him.
"Snow-Treading Trace..." He flipped through the movement technique and discovered that it was also quite profound, delighting him inwardly.
This way, he now possessed the second-rate movement technique Water Gliding and the first-rate movement technique Snow-Treading Trace.
Once he gained entry into both of them, they would provide a total of 5 extra experience points.
The evolution of his 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 to Lu Ming.
"It's fine that you chose not to serve as Genius Bait. Hide your light and bide your time while waiting to join a sect.
"Today, you overwhelmed so many geniuses, and that brought honor to me as well.
"You should not have many Enlightenment Pills left. Here are ten Enlightenment Pills—take them and use them!"
As he spoke, he handed over a small jade bottle filled with Enlightenment Pills.
Lu Ming accepted the jade bottle, warmth rising in his heart. He was deeply grateful to Qin Zhonghai. Since becoming a spy for the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, he had yet to accomplish any missions.
Yet Qin Zhonghai had given him ten Enlightenment Pills last time, and now he was giving him another ten.
He accepted the Enlightenment Pills and thanked him solemnly.
Qin Zhonghai patted him on the shoulder. "Cultivate well and strive to join a good sect."
Then he took his leave.
Lu Ming saw him out, then returned to the courtyard. Without any further hesitation, he began cultivating the Formless Divine Art.
This supreme art originally required Tendon Refining Grand Completion because it needed one to cultivate special Formless True Qi in order to imitate the martial arts of the world.
And only Bone Forging Realm martial artists could condense true qi.
However, the simplified Formless Divine Art used Blood-Qi Power as its core. It could barely integrate two martial arts, making it the most basic of foundations.
In the courtyard, Lu Ming racked his brains and tried cultivating it again and again, constantly correcting his movements and adjusting his mental intent.
Finally, at a certain moment, he successfully cultivated the Formless Divine Art once.
That single success sent a tremendous shock through his heart and filled him with ecstatic joy.
The information transmitted by the Divine Ability Panel after this successful cultivation left him somewhat unable to believe it.
[Evolving Leg Dao Divine Ability (11/10000)...] [Evolving Blade Dao Divine Ability (7/100)...]
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