Breathing Technique: Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art

"When warriors fight, fists and feet have no eyes; injuries are inevitable." Su Yunwan chose her words carefully and spoke slowly.

"The Military District Grand Tournament prohibits deliberate torture and permanently crippling others, but once you step onto the arena, life and death are your own responsibility. As long as it isn't an intentional violation resulting in death, it usually won't be pursued. Every tournament has its casualty quota."

"Understood." Lin Ming nodded. That bottom line was enough.

His goal in entering the tournament was only one—the championship, along with the spot as a core disciple of Peak Martial Arts Hall. Whoever dared block his path, he wouldn't mind sending them on their way.

"Prepare well." Su Yunwan looked at Lin Ming, her eyes full of anticipation.

"With your record of killing the Third Tier Blood Wolf King across realms, you're absolutely among the strongest of South River Base City's younger generation. As long as you perform normally, you have a great chance at taking the championship! For the next few days, focus on recovering, deducing your martial arts, and cultivating your breathing technique. I'll get the tournament's specific schedule and rules to you as soon as possible."

"Mm." Lin Ming agreed.

Su Yunwan gave him a few more instructions before hurrying away. As a major, she still had plenty of post-battle cleanup and reports to handle.

After Su Yunwan left, Lin Ming returned to his corner. He did not immediately begin cultivating the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art. Instead, he picked up the two incomplete B Grade martial arts jade slips.

"System, analyze and deduce Dragon Roaming Step and Immovable Mountain Seal."

[Command confirmed. Consuming 1000 Kill Points to analyze and deduce Dragon Roaming Step... Deduction complete. Obtained complete B Grade movement technique: Dragon Roaming Step.]

[Consuming 1000 Kill Points to analyze and deduce Immovable Mountain Seal... Deduction complete. Obtained complete B Grade defensive martial art: Immovable Mountain Seal.]

Almost instantly, the complete information for both martial arts flooded into Lin Ming's mind, including the full footwork, visualization diagrams, qi-blood circulation routes, force techniques, and even subtle adjustments optimized by the system that might not have existed in the original versions.

Dragon Roaming Step made the body move like a wandering dragon, ever-changing and unpredictable. It excelled at maneuvering and evading in tight spaces, as well as explosive short-range charges. At high mastery, it could leave afterimages within a tiny area and confuse enemies.

Immovable Mountain Seal was not simply about taking hits head-on. It used a unique qi-blood seal to form a defensive force field like a phantom mountain around the body or weapon. It could deflect force, rebound attacks, and hold firm, proving especially effective against blunt strikes and energy impacts.

Both were highly practical martial arts, perfectly making up for his lack of nimbleness in movement and his relatively weak defense.

"System, raise Dragon Roaming Step and Immovable Mountain Seal to the proficient level."

Lin Ming did not begrudge the Kill Points. Martial arts could only display their power once thoroughly mastered. Movement and defense in particular could save his life at critical moments.

[Command confirmed. Raising Dragon Roaming Step to proficient level. Kill Points consumed: 5000.]

[Raising Immovable Mountain Seal to proficient level. Kill Points consumed: 5000.]

[Beginning infusion...]

Two streams of cultivation insight entirely different from the Heaven-Splitting Three Forms surged into his mind. The graceful agility of Dragon Roaming Step and the heavy steadiness of Immovable Mountain Seal were quickly mastered and integrated into his combat instincts.

[Infusion complete.]

[Remaining Kill Points: 30215.]

Over thirty thousand points remained. Lin Ming turned his gaze to the dark golden scroll of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art.

He unrolled the scroll and carefully studied the visualization diagrams and qi-blood circulation routes of the first four layers once more. This time, he attempted to guide the qi and blood within his body according to the description of the First Layer.

With only the initial guidance, Lin Ming felt the qi and blood in his body erupt like an ignited fuel depot!

His originally heavy, solid qi and blood seemed to come alive under the unique circulation routes of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art, giving off faint sounds of dragon roars and elephant trumpets!

Though the circulation speed was not fast, every strand of qi and blood became more condensed and weighty, carrying an overbearing intent to suppress everything!

Even the dark golden glimmer of qi and blood from the Indestructible Asura Body seemed to brighten slightly, faintly resonating with it!

What a powerful technique! Lin Ming was shocked. This was only the introductory guidance for the First Layer, yet it already possessed such might!

As expected of an A+ Grade breathing technique! It was more than a hundred times stronger than his trash Basic Breathing Method!

He continued trying, but quickly discovered that the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art placed extremely high demands on qi-blood control, meridian strength, and mental power.

With his current realm and level of control, even cultivating the First Layer felt somewhat difficult, let alone the three deeper layers that followed. Moreover, as Su Yunwan had said, the technique only had its first four layers. Everything beyond them was missing.

"System, scan the first four layers of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art. Can the later portions be deduced and completed?" Lin Ming asked inwardly.

[Scan complete. Detected information for the first four layers of the A+ Grade breathing technique, Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art.]

[Kill Points may be consumed to deduce and complete the subsequent portions.]

[To deduce and complete the Fifth Layer requires 10000 Kill Points.]

[To deduce and complete the Sixth Layer requires 50000 Kill Points.]

[The cost of subsequent deductions will increase exponentially.]

Lin Ming's eyes narrowed.

Deducing the Fifth Layer alone required ten thousand points? The Sixth Layer jumped straight to fifty thousand? And the later costs would be even greater?

The grade of this Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art was likely higher than the A+ Grade Su Yunwan had mentioned! At the very least, it was S Grade. Otherwise, the deduction cost would not be this terrifying.

The Su Household only possessed the first four layers. It seemed they had not failed to collect the later portions out of unwillingness, but because the technique itself was severely incomplete—or because the later layers had long since been lost. Even a family with the Su Household's foundation could do nothing about it.

However, this was good news for Lin Ming instead. The stronger the technique, the greater its potential!

And he had the system. As long as he had enough Kill Points, he could gradually complete it! Once he cultivated the complete Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art, its power would be unimaginable!

"System, consume ten thousand Kill Points to complete the Fifth Layer of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art." After a brief consideration, Lin Ming made his decision. His remaining thirty thousand Kill Points were just enough.

[Command confirmed. Consuming 10000 Kill Points to deduce and complete the Fifth Layer of Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art... Deduction complete.]

More profound and majestic information regarding the Fifth Layer flooded into his mind, connecting perfectly with the first four layers.

The Fifth Layer's visualization diagram was more complex, and its qi-blood circulation routes involved more hidden acupoints. The qi and blood cultivated from it would gain the characteristics of Dragon-Elephant True Force—balancing hardness and softness, endlessly renewing itself.

"Raise the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art to the proficient level." Lin Ming gave another command. The breathing technique was the foundation, and he had to master it as quickly as possible.

[Command confirmed. Raising Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art (first five layers) to proficient level (1%). Kill Points consumed: 10000.]

[Beginning infusion...]

This infusion felt entirely different from martial arts. It was as if he had spent years, even more than a decade, painstakingly visualizing dragons and elephants day and night, circulating his qi and blood, and tempering his foundation.

When the infusion ended, Lin Ming slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath.

The breath did not immediately dissipate after leaving his body. Instead, it turned into a pale golden arrow of air that shot more than ten feet away, striking the opposite wall with a muffled puff and leaving behind a shallow pit.

Feeling the majestic, heavy qi and blood surging endlessly through his body like a great river, as well as the subtle yet continuous strengthening of his bones and muscles under its nourishment, Lin Ming was satisfied.

An A+ Grade breathing technique truly lived up to its name. Combined with the Immortal Foundation of the Indestructible Asura Body, the foundation of his physical body and the total amount of his qi and blood now far surpassed those of warriors at the same level. He might even rival some ordinary Third Realm warriors!

He looked at the system interface again:

[Host: Lin Ming]

[Martial Realm: Second Realm · Dragon Tendon (Third Layer)]

[Martial Talent: Indestructible Asura Body (SSS Grade)]

[Breathing technique: Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art (Proficient, first five layers)]

[Martial Arts: Heaven-Splitting Three Forms (Major Accomplishment), Dragon Roaming Step (Proficient), Immovable Mountain Seal (Proficient), Basic Spear Art (Microscopic Control), Ironstep Armor (Proficient), Mountain-Splitting Palm (Proficient)]

[Current Kill Points: 10215]

More than ten thousand points remained. He would keep them in reserve for now.

Lin Ming stood and stretched his body. His joints crackled like popping beans, his qi and blood brimmed with vitality, and energy filled him.

The severe injuries from yesterday had already healed seven or eight-tenths under the combined effects of the Jade Muscle-Rebirth Pill, the Indestructible Asura Body, and the newly initiated Dragon-Elephant Prajna Art.

He picked up the Silver Frost Spear and casually spun it through a flourish. The spear tip sliced through the air with a faint whistling sound, carrying a hint of wind and thunder. Combined with the Heaven-Splitting Three Forms at Major Accomplishment, its power would surely rise to another level.

"Peak Martial Arts Hall... core disciple..." Lin Ming muttered, cold light flashing in his eyes.

The South River Base City Military District Grand Tournament?

That would be his next battlefield.