Teaching the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes

"The Clear Sky Nine Absolutes are the foundation on which the Clear Sky Sect was built. They are also our sect's strongest art. They are the nine principles of force behind the Clear Sky Hammer, not a fixed set of moves. Each centers on a single word: void, seal, pierce, penetrate, entangle, shock, shatter, flash, and collapse."

As he spoke, Tang Yue began explaining the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes to Tang Chen.

Void Formula

The force left the hammer and struck through the air. There was no need to fight at close quarters: invisible energy suppressed enemies from afar, countering opponents who darted about or relied on feints.

Seal Formula

Soul Power drew inward, and the hammer's intent locked down an area of space. It sealed the opponent's flow of Soul Power and disrupted their techniques. Useful in attack or defense, it limited an enemy's ability to unleash a burst of power.

Pierce Formula

Power was condensed to its utmost and focused on a single point. The strike drove straight ahead without retreat, breaking through at one point to pierce a defense.

Penetrate Formula

The force left the surface intact and bored into the object beneath it. The outside appeared unharmed while the inside crumbled. It could break through Soul Bones, Soul Barriers, and hard armor.

Entangle Formula

The hammer's force became a continuous, winding current. Rather than meeting brute force head-on, it wrapped around heavy blows and diverted them, dispersing an opponent's explosive strength by yielding to it.

Shock Formula

The hammer sent out rippling vibrations that traveled through whatever it struck, cracking bones and sinews, disrupting the Soul Power inside an opponent's body, and damaging their foundation.

Shatter Formula

A burst of pure offensive power smashed through barriers and shattered shields. It met resistance head-on and crushed every defense in its path.

Flash Formula

Force surged and vanished in an instant. Motion turned to stillness, an attack swelled and faded, and truth became hard to distinguish from feint. It threw off an enemy's predictions and opened the way for surprise attacks.

Collapse Formula

The final form of the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes detonated all its power at once. Force exploded from within and without in a devastating strike that reached the pinnacle of destructive power.

When he finished, Tang Yue led Tang Chen to an open space in the courtyard.

"First, I'll teach you the Void Formula."

Tang Yue summoned his Clear Sky Hammer and demonstrated the Void Formula.

Before the Clear Sky Hammer even touched the large tree, an invisible force snapped its trunk in two.

Tang Chen watched how Tang Yue had done it and tried to imitate him.

On his first attempt, Tang Chen broke the tree too, but it wasn't because he had mastered the Void Formula. He had simply swung with so much strength that the wind from his hammer had snapped it by force.

Seeing Tang Chen's strength, Tang Yue sighed inwardly. Even without Soul Skills or any other techniques, Chen'er's raw strength alone gives him more attack power than a Power Attack System Soul King.

Tang Chen saw that the tree had broken, but not because of the Void Formula.

He fell into thought.

The Void Formula... Borrow force from the void...

A gleam flashed in Tang Chen's eyes. He thought he was beginning to understand.

He tried the Void Formula again. This time, the gust from his hammer didn't come from sheer strength. Instead, hidden force from the Clear Sky Hammer combined with the surrounding space, shaking the air and snapping the great tree in two.

"I did it! I did it! Hahaha!" Tang Chen laughed in delight.

Tang Yue was astonished that Tang Chen had learned the Void Formula so quickly, but he showed none of it. After all, Tang Chen was only seven and had already worked so many miracles. Learning one more formula was hardly cause for a fuss.

Tang Yue stood up again. "Next, I'll teach you the Pierce Formula."

He summoned the Clear Sky Hammer and gave a light tap. A straight line of force struck a boulder, splitting it into fragments.

"That's the Pierce Formula. You concentrate your power and drive all of it straight into your target."

From then on, Tang Chen trained with the Clear Sky Team every morning and afternoon as usual.

When he returned each evening, Tang Yue taught him the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes in private. After eight nights, Tang Chen had mastered all nine.

So the time Tang Chen had set aside each afternoon for the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer was divided equally between it and the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes.

After a month of grueling training, Yang Dongsheng decided to take the Clear Sky Team to a Soul Fighting Arena for some real combat.

After discussing it with Tang Xing and Zhou Yuan, Yang Dongsheng settled on a plan: in three days, the three of them would lead the Clear Sky Team to the Great Soul Arena in the Heaven Dou Empire for Combat Training.

When Tang Xing told Tang Chen, he was delighted. At last, he had a chance to visit the Heaven Dou Empire.

Tang Chen had left the Clear Sky Sect fewer than five times since he was born, and two of those trips had been to obtain Soul Rings.

Once he reached the Heaven Dou Empire, he would also have a chance to visit the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and gather Immortal Herbs.

At present, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well belonged to no one and had no guards. The only obstacle was the Jade Phosphorus Seven-Absolute Flowers around its perimeter. He only needed to bring someone from the Breaking Clan.

Excitement rising, Tang Chen immediately went to the Sect Master's Hall to find Tang Yue.

When he arrived, he found Tang Yue still working.

"Father, the work will never end. Leave the rest for tomorrow."

With that, Tang Chen all but dragged Tang Yue home.

Once inside, Tang Chen gathered his thoughts and tried again. "Father, in a couple of days, Second Uncle and the others are taking us to the Great Soul Arena in the Heaven Dou Empire for Combat Training. I have a feeling there'll be a great opportunity for us on this trip. I'd like you to come with us."

Tang Yue hesitated.

"But the work..."

Seeing his hesitation, Tang Chen cut him off.

"Just leave it to the Second Elder."

Tang Yue knew the Second Elder handled matters reliably, so he agreed.

Tang Chen added, "Father, we also need to bring the Breaking Clan Leader."

Tang Yue simply nodded without asking why.

Just as Tang Chen trusted Tang Yue, Tang Yue trusted Tang Chen without reservation.

Over the next two days, Tang Chen made his preparations.

He remembered that in the original story, Tang San had needed jade and gold implements to harvest the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot.

Immortal Herbs and other medicinal plants apparently needed Jade Boxes for storage as well. Tang Chen had a Gold Knife, a Jade Knife, and thirty Jade Boxes made.

He also filled his Storage Ring with Gold Soul Coins and food.

Away from home, food, clothing, lodging, and travel all mattered.

Satisfied with his preparations, Tang Chen went to sleep.

By the time they were ready to depart, the three people leading the team had become five.

Sure enough, Tang Yue had come, bringing the Breaking Clan Leader with him.

"Let's go!"

At Tang Yue's call, all twelve of them set off from the Clear Sky Sect in carriages, bound for the Heaven Dou Empire.

Along the way, Tang Chen and the others went from brimming with excitement to bored out of their minds.

There was nothing to do in the carriages, and they spent day after day sitting inside while the scenery barely changed.

All they could do was cultivate in the carriages and endure the tedious journey.

Three days later, they arrived in the Heaven Dou Empire.