"This person not only cultivated Sword Technique Artistic Conception, but also Body Movement Artistic Conception?"
Xu Qing turned her head to look at Bai Yan, her surprise deepening.
"Artistic Conception Martial Arts" is the official term used by Overlord-Level Faction to refer to master-level martial arts.
It is a martial art whose power can only be truly unleashed by comprehending the corresponding attribute's Artistic Conception.
Even among the disciples of the Heavenly Origin Sect, it is extremely rare to be able to Beginner stage a martial art of Artistic Conception before the age of thirty.
Those who simultaneously cultivate two martial arts techniques of Artistic Conception and achieve proficiency in both are extremely rare.
"And they've all reached the Beginner stage."
Bai Yan's gaze fell on the figure in cyan, his voice tinged with a hint of emotion.
"He comprehended the Wind Sword Intent. Using the Wind Sword Intent as a foundation, the difficulty of cultivating wind-attribute Artistic Conception Body Movement at the realm of intent would indeed be greatly reduced, but even so..."
He paused, then didn't continue.
Xu Qing Bai Yan's meaning.
Even with the assistance of Sword Intent of the same attribute, it is by no means easy to cultivate a Body Movement of the realm of Artistic Conception to the Beginner stage.
After all, Body Movement and Sword Technique are very different, and many aspects cannot be shared.
She knew all too well the difficulty of cultivating martial arts with Artistic Conception.
She herself had been stuck at the threshold of Sword Intent for two years, unable to take that final step.
The young man in front of us, from a remote Prefecture City, has not only grasped the Sword Intent but has also mastered Body Movement at the realm of Artistic Conception to the Beginner stage.
Compared to the other person who came from a small town, she was the one who seemed more like someone from a small town.
"Sixth level, we can't stop him anymore."
Bai Yan withdrew his gaze, his voice calm.
Xu Qing remained silent.
She had just said that Fang Han probably wouldn't be able to get past the sixth level.
But now, looking at that cyan figure effortlessly maneuvering amidst the attacks of the seven puppets, she had to admit that she had misjudged him.
In the passageway.
Fang Han's movements became faster and more elusive.
After Beginner stage < Wind God Step > technique, his speed and agility reached a whole new level.
The attack by seven Third Grade Late Stage puppets, which appeared impenetrable to outsiders, was, to him, full of openings.
The Fierce Tiger Puppet pounced, but he slid to the side and used his sword to knock back the Giant Bear Puppet.
The giant python puppet's tail swept across, and he lightly touched the ground with his toes, rising several feet higher to avoid the attack. At the same time, he slashed at the Giant Eagle Puppet that was pouncing on him, sending it flying into the air.
The Mantis Puppet's scythes slashed in a crisscross pattern, but he shrank back, passing under the scythes, and his sword flashed straight at the Spider Puppet.
One sword, two swords, three swords...
His figure weaved among the seven puppets, his swordplay and Body Movement becoming increasingly synchronized.
After dozens of moves.
A glint of light flashed in his eyes.
"Whoosh!"
He suddenly accelerated, pushing the < Wind God Step > to its limit, his entire body like an invisible gust of wind, passing through the gap between the Fierce Tiger Puppet and the Giant Bear Puppet.
As the Mantis Puppet's scythe slashed down, he swayed slightly and dodged it.
The Spider Puppet's eight metal legs stabbed from the side. He lightly touched one of the metal legs with his toes, using the force to glide forward several feet.
The encirclement of the seven puppets briefly broke at this moment.
He didn't let this opportunity slip by.
His figure flashed past the gap like a streak of blue light.
When the seven puppets regrouped, he had already passed through the passage and landed steadily at the other end.
Behind them, the seven puppets lost their target, the light in their eyes gradually dimmed, and they returned to silence.
Xu Qing watched Fang Han approach, suppressing her surprise, and said slowly in a low voice:
"I never imagined that such a small place would produce such an extraordinary person."
Bai Yan didn't speak, he just quietly looked at Fang Han.
His calm eyes revealed no emotion, but his gaze held a more serious tone than before.
Upon entering the hall of the seventh level, Fang Han's gaze swept over his surroundings.
This is a hall similar to the one before, with a soaring dome, countless luminous Night-Luminescent Pearl embedded in the four walls, and a floor as smooth as a mirror.
His gaze fell on the two people from the Heavenly Origin Sect.
Bai Yan stood with his hands behind his back, Xu Qing stood beside him. Both of their eyes were on him at that moment.
He nodded slightly, as if to say hello.
Bai Yan nodded slightly in response.
Just then--
The wall directly in front of the hall changed again.
Ripples spread, the walls became transparent, and then disappeared.
Then, another passage appeared.
All three of them turned their gazes toward the passageway.
When Fang Han saw the scene in the passage, even he couldn't help but frown slightly.
In the center of the passage, eight metal puppets stood in a circle.
Tigers, Giant Bear, pythons, apes, Giant Eagle, mantises, spiders—and among them, there is one more puppet.
It was a metal puppet shaped like a scorpion, dark red all over, and similar in size to Mantis Puppet.
A long metal tail hook was raised high, its tip gleaming with a faint blue light, and runes seemed to flow around it.
A faint metallic scraping sound was emitted as the pincers opened and closed.
Its compound eyes, a Dark Gold, were coldly fixed on the passage ahead.
An oppressive feeling, many times stronger than that of the sixth level, emanated from the passage.
"Level Seven."
Xu Qing spoke in a low voice, her tone carrying a hint of seriousness.
"Eight puppets... Based on previous patterns, the puppets in this level are probably comparable in strength to the early stage of Second Grade."
Initial stage of Second Grade.
The eight early- Second Grade metal puppets worked in perfect harmony, showing no signs of fatigue or pain, and possessed indestructible bodies.
This lineup sounds daunting.
"Senior Brother Bai."
Xu Qing suddenly spoke, her voice very soft.
Bai Yan turned his head to look at Xu Qing.
"Let me go first."
Xu Qing met Bai Yan's gaze, her clear, cold eyes filled with an undeniable determination.
Bai Yan frowned slightly. "Your injuries..."
"It's alright."
Xu Qing interrupted Bai Yan and shook her head slightly.
"The puppet in the seventh level is comparable to the early stage of the Second Grade. With my strength, even without injury, there is absolutely no way I could pass it. But that's precisely why I have to try it first."
She paused, her gaze falling on the eight puppets.
"I can test the strength of these eight puppets for Senior Brother Bai, their attack methods, their teamwork, and their weaknesses."
"In this way, Senior Brother Bai's chances of passing the trial will be much higher."
Bai Yan remained silent.
He understood what Xu Qing meant.
With Xu Qing's current abilities, she had no hope of passing the seventh level.
Why not use this last chance to pave the way for him?
"No need."
He spoke, his voice tinged with worry.
"You're already injured, if you..."
"Senior Brother Bai."
Xu Qing interrupted Bai Yan again, her voice carrying a rare hint of stubbornness.
"Let me go."
Without waiting for Bai Yan's reply, she strode towards the passageway.
Her moon-white robe shimmered slightly in the glow of the Night-Luminescent Pearl, and faint traces of blood seeped from beneath the bandages on her left arm, yet her steps were unwavering.
Bai Yan watched her retreating figure, opened his mouth, but ultimately didn't say anything to stop her.
Xu Qing stepped into the passageway.
The eyes of all eight puppets lit up at the same instant.
Tigers, Giant Bear, pythons, apes, Giant Eagle, mantises, spiders—and that dark red Scorpion Puppet.
Eight metallic figures rushed in from eight directions simultaneously.
Xu Qing drew her sword, its blade flashing coldly and sharply.
The aura of that explosive secret technique surged from her body once more, and her cultivation level skyrocketed in that instant.
However--
In just over ten rounds.
The Scorpion Puppet's tail hook pierced through the gap in her sword light with astonishing speed.
Unable to dodge in time, she had no choice but to parry with her sword.
"Clang--!"
Amidst the clanging of metal, she was jolted back several steps.
Before she could regain her footing, the Spider Puppet's eight metal legs stabbed at her from the side.
She tried her best to avoid six of them, but was still stabbed in the left arm and right leg by two of them.
Blood splattered, instantly soaking the moon-white robe.
The Mantis Puppet's scythe followed closely, slashing towards her chest in a crisscross pattern.
She was no longer able to dodge.
A golden barrier appeared out of thin air, enveloping her within it.
The Mantis Puppet's scythe struck the barrier with a dull thud, yet it couldn't budge it an inch.
She knelt on one knee, panting heavily.
The wounds on his left arm and right leg were still bleeding, and his moon-white robe was soaked in blood, clinging tightly to his body.
Her face was as pale as paper, and her breath was extremely weak.
Within the golden barrier, an ancient, animal-hide book appeared out of thin air and landed in her hand.
The booklet's cover was dark blue, made of some kind of tough animal hide, and had four large characters written on it in ancient seal script, "< Azurewood Sword Art >".
This is a master-level Sword Technique.
No, according to the Heavenly Origin Sect's terminology, it's Sword Technique at the realm of Artistic Conception.
Sword Technique of the Artistic Conception level is a reward even more precious than Superior Dharma Weapon.
No matter how powerful Dharma Weapon is, it is ultimately an external object, capable of being used by only one person and not by multiple people.
Moreover, it will wear down with use and eventually break down.
A martial art at the realm of Artistic Conception can not only be learned by many people, but also be passed down through generations, becoming the foundation for a Lineage or a sect.
The reason why Fang Han's Fang Clan is trapped in Liangshui City and has difficulty producing Middle Third Grade martial artists is precisely because they lack high-grade cultivation techniques.
Xu Qing's figure was enveloped in a golden barrier and disappeared at the entrance of the passage.
Only Fang Han and Bai Yan remained in the hall.
"I won't miss the opportunity you've created!"
Bai Yan stared in the direction Xu Qing had disappeared, remaining silent for a moment.
His Moon-White robe remained perfectly still under the glow of the Night-Luminescent Pearl. His face showed no emotion, but a faint ripple seemed to flicker in the depths of his calm eyes.
He withdrew his gaze and turned towards the passageway.
Eight metal puppets stood in a circle: a tiger, Giant Bear, a giant python, a giant ape, Giant Eagle, a mantis, a spider, and Scorpion Puppet with its dark red body and its tail hook raised high.
Eyes of various colors gleamed with a cold light, exuding a chilling indifference under the glow of the Night-Luminescent Pearl.
Initial stage of Second Grade.
Eight metal puppets at the early stage of the Second Grade.
Even he had to take such a lineup seriously.
"Da, da--"
He stepped forward and walked towards the passageway.
His moon-white robes fluttered slightly behind him, his steps were unhurried yet carried a firmness.
The moment he stepped into the passage, all eight puppets moved simultaneously.