Heavenly Pivot Hand

On a sudden whim, Zhou Wuji decided to try upgrading the Rejuvenation Technique.

This spell was not particularly high-level, so raising it to max level should not consume much origin profound spirit.

Another point was that the Rejuvenation Technique could heal injuries and illnesses, which was extremely, extremely useful.

It was worth spending origin profound spirit on.

Zhou Wuji had reaped enormous gains in tonight's battle. With Zhang Xinhu posing a threat, he had to turn those gains into personal strength as quickly as possible.

He invested four fate profiles weighing less than two taels, raising the Rejuvenation Technique straight to the transformation realm.

Judging from his experience with the Fire Bell Incantation, reaching the perfection realm brought a fundamental improvement to a spell.

The most direct manifestation was instant casting.

That was what mattered most in battle.

With only one step remaining, Zhou Wuji steeled himself and invested another three fate profiles weighing more than two taels.

Purple light unfurled, and Zhou Wuji practiced the Rejuvenation Technique assiduously in an independent world within the void.

Day after day, year after year, he practiced the Rejuvenation Technique's incantations, hand seals, and corresponding changes in True Qi until he knew them with consummate familiarity.

During this process, Zhou Wuji grasped every essential principle of the Rejuvenation Technique, understood the roots of all its incantations and hand seals, and comprehended every variation in its effects...

When Zhou Wuji opened his eyes, he did not even need to check the Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment to know that the Rejuvenation Technique had reached the perfection realm.

With origin profound spirit bolstering his cultivation of the Rejuvenation Technique, he had thoroughly mastered the spell and understood all its effects.

At the perfection realm, the Rejuvenation Technique could not only be cast instantly, but its ability to heal injuries and illnesses had also been enhanced to its limit.

To him, the most important thing was that the Rejuvenation Technique could instantly restore his True Qi to its optimal state. His mind and body could also receive its enhancement.

However, the Rejuvenation Technique essentially stimulated a person's life essence.

The better the recovery, the more life essence it consumed. In other words, every emergency use of the max-level Rejuvenation Technique to restore his condition would consume a certain amount of his lifespan.

Although Zhou Wuji had not tested it, his understanding of the Rejuvenation Technique suggested that, depending on the circumstances, each use would consume roughly ten days of his lifespan.

If he suffered severe injuries, such as fractures or penetrating wounds, the most the Rejuvenation Technique could do was immediately stop the bleeding. It could not instantly restore him to perfect health.

Zhou Wuji was quite satisfied with the Rejuvenation Technique's effects. His current True Qi level was simply too low; after a few rounds of explosive exertion, he could no longer keep going.

With the Rejuvenation Technique, he could at least unleash consecutive bursts of True Qi. This was extremely important in battle.

He had consumed fifteen strands of origin profound spirit, improving his swordsmanship, the Northern Dipper Tianshu Scripture, and the Rejuvenation Technique respectively.

Eighteen strands of origin profound spirit remained. Although none of their fate profiles weighed particularly much, he could not waste them carelessly.

Zhou Wuji circulated the Northern Dipper Tianshu Scripture. This time, his True Qi flowed smoothly and naturally, without any need for him to consciously drive it.

As a breath of True Qi completed one hundred and eight heavenly circuits, his entire being entered a state of emptiness, purity, clarity, and stillness.

From there, Zhou Wuji sank into true sleep. When he woke again, it was already broad daylight.

Zhou Wuji performed another round of his practice and found that his True Qi had increased by another point.

At the greater mastery realm, the Northern Dipper Tianshu Scripture could increase his True Qi by two points a day.

By that reckoning, he needed only three months to open his remaining two apertures, Kaiyang and Yaoguang, and advance to the seventh rank.

When that happened, his seven apertures, together with the divine aperture between his brows, would give him eight apertures drawing in and releasing True Qi, enough to compete with martial artists of the same rank.

With his powerful swordsmanship and perfection-realm Rejuvenation Technique as well, killing Zhang Xinhu should not be difficult...

His repeated use of origin profound spirit, especially with a three-tael fate profile among them, had also increased his spirit by thirty points, raising the total by ten percent.

Spirit was the foundation for circulating True Qi. A powerful spirit allowed finer, deeper control over True Qi, enhanced his ability to process information from the outside world, and helped him better withstand all kinds of mental impacts. The benefits were immense...

When Zhou Wuji came out of his room, he saw Wuzheng sitting in the outer room. His face was a little pale and his eyes were slightly red; clearly, he had not slept all night.

Seeing Zhou Wuji emerge, Wuzheng managed a smile. "You're awake, junior brother. I'll go have someone prepare food."

He sighed as he spoke. "Too many people died yesterday. I waited until dawn before having them collect the bodies. I also sent someone to Siming County with the news.

"According to the villagers, the people from the county office can arrive this afternoon. We need to explain things clearly to them in person before we can leave..."

"Fortunately, we had you overseeing things, senior brother."

Zhou Wuji said, "Thank you for your hard work, senior brother."

"These are all minor matters."

Wuzheng waved a hand, then looked at Zhou Wuji, hesitating over his words. "Junior brother, about the credit for killing these mutinous soldiers..."

"Senior brother, here's what I think. I already have a feud with Zhang Xinhu, so it would be even less convenient for me to take the spotlight now."

Zhou Wuji understood what Wuzheng was hesitating about. Killing so many mutinous soldiers was a great achievement.

Strictly speaking, he had killed them all, so naturally, no one else deserved any credit.

However, the story was so incredible that it would be difficult to convince anyone.

Wuzheng had no intention of fighting for credit. He worried that Zhou Wuji showing too sharp an edge would instead harm him.

Yet he could not say that outright without sounding as though he wanted to steal the credit.

Zhou Wuji did not care much about such credit. All the imperial court could offer was some money, and not much of it at that.

He said, "Let's say everyone joined forces to kill these mutinous soldiers. Consider it everyone helping cover for me. Please help me with this, senior brother..."

Wuzheng could not help smiling wryly. Junior Brother Wuji was truly too clever; his very worry had been that Zhou Wuji would misunderstand.

Fortunately, Zhou Wuji sounded quite sincere, and handling it this way was better for everyone.

He rose and cupped his hands toward Zhou Wuji. "You were the one who saved everyone last night. This will be our account to the imperial court, but once we return to the lower monastery, I will naturally explain the situation to the abbot.

"I'll ask the lower monastery to reward you generously, junior brother..."

"Sorry for the trouble, senior brother." Zhou Wuji did not stand on ceremony about this either, cupping his hands in thanks.

Wuzheng smiled as well. This matter had finally been settled satisfactorily.

Wuming also got up and ate breakfast with Zhou Wuji.

She was a little frightened by the bodies littering the ground, so she kept Zhou Wuji in the courtyard to talk.

"Senior brother, how is your swordsmanship so incredible? How did you practice? Could you teach me?"

"Fighting with swords is exceptionally dangerous. Practicing with a sword is enough for you. Never think of fighting anyone."

After offering that warning, Zhou Wuji's thoughts stirred, and he remembered Wuming's White Eyebrow Needles.

This hidden weapon was naturally useless in Wuming's hands, but if he learned it, it would be quite useful.

When he threw steel balls, he relied purely on the enhancement of True Qi; there was really no technique involved.

White Eyebrow Needles, however, were extremely inconspicuous. Even seventh-rank martial artists were flesh and blood; they might not withstand a needle striking a vital point.

White Eyebrow Needles lacked killing power, but he could find a way to coat them with poison or something of the sort. Or he could use them for sneak attacks, which should also work very well.

He said, "Junior sister, your White Eyebrow Needle technique is quite intricate. Could you teach me?"

"Sure! I'll teach you White Eyebrow Needle, and you teach me swordsmanship. We'll be each other's teachers, and neither of us loses out!" Wuming's eyes lit up. She thought this sounded very interesting.

"Teacher Wuming, please guide me." Zhou Wuji smiled too. A teacher was good; he liked that sort of role arrangement!

Wuming felt that Zhou Wuji's smile was a little odd, but did not think anything was amiss.

After last night's battle, Senior Brother Wuji's standing in her heart had risen rapidly. After she helped wash and comb his hair, her senior brother's standing in his heart had soared even higher!

In the past, she might have found such a smile frivolous, but now she only felt that her senior brother was suave and dashing. The more she looked, the more she liked him.

Smiling, she said, "This martial art of mine is called Heavenly Pivot Hand. It's a finger and palm martial art specifically intended to complement Heavenly Pivot True Qi..."

Only through Wuming's introduction did Zhou Wuji learn that Heavenly Pivot Hand was a martial art of their sect, and an excellent match for Heavenly Pivot True Qi.

Their sect emphasized Daoist arts and divine abilities, placing little value on martial arts. Only certain Daoists who specifically followed the martial path practiced this art.

Although his master's swordsmanship was powerful, he had created it himself. It differed from the sect's martial path, so he did not know Heavenly Pivot Hand.

"Surely you can't teach such an exceptional art without permission?" Although Zhou Wuji wanted to get a martial art for free, he could not get Wuming into trouble.

Wuming shook her head unconcernedly. "I've only learned the barest basics. Teaching you won't matter..."

"In that case, thank you, teacher." Reassured, Zhou Wuji smiled especially brightly.

Wuming chuckled along with him, though she did not know what she was laughing about. In any case, seeing her senior brother smile made her happy...