It took Hou Niao two months to gain an initial grasp of the Forward Character Formula.
It was hard to say whether his present state amounted to complete mastery of this art. He knew he still had a long way to go-in combat application, experience facing enemies, the dexterity born of practice, and the gulf between cultivation realms.
He had gained an initial grasp of the Forward Character Formula so quickly because he had spent years practicing this art, accumulating deeply before making his breakthrough. In his subsequent cultivation, he would gradually explore the other formulas, but his overview of all nine Jade Slips showed him that what he could learn in the Three Heavens Realms was still limited.
Given the complexity of the hand seals, the depth of Law Power needed to sustain them, and the involvement of the sea of consciousness in the Upper Dantian, only three Body Sword Techniques could be learned in the Three Heavens Realms.
The Forward Character Formula, in which the thumbs and index fingers of both hands formed a circle.
The Array Character Formula, in which the left index finger stood upright, the right hand clasped it, and the thumb was tucked inside. The Formation Character Formula, in which all the fingers curled inward together.
These three Body Sword Techniques fell within the scope of the Three Heavens Realms.
Once he reached the Golden Core stage, he could practice the All Character Formula, Soldier Character Formula, and Battle Character Formula.
Only after Infant Transformation could he learn the final three Body Sword Techniques: the Person Character Formula, the Approach Character Formula, and the Movement Character Formula.
There were three stages of sword manipulation: Forward, Array, and Formation in the Three Heavens Realms; All, Soldier, and Battle at Golden Core; Approach, Movement, and Person