43: Soaring Nine Steps Shattering Jade Force

Xu Le stopped his hand at the right moment.

In the latter half of the fight, he had been suppressed and beaten by Hong Yuantai.

Despite having higher attributes, he was unable to fully exert his strength.

Even though he was a fraction faster, the opponent could always easily block or dodge, and even counterattack.

His coolness factor was plummeting.

Bao Bao was still eager for more: "Teacher, it's only been 48 seconds. How does this count?"

Hong Yuantai's face turned dark.

Compared to Xu Le's frustration, he was the one truly frustrated enough to cough up blood.

His health bar had only 1/3 remaining.

In the second half, his output was as fierce as a tiger, but looking at the damage... Forget it, he shouldn't think about it, or he'd have insomnia tonight.

"How it counts is my business. The battle is over. You three head back immediately and write a ten-thousand-word reflection, then hand it to me tomorrow."

"Huh???" The three exclaimed in shock. "Wasn't it three thousand words?"

"Before, you only watched 5 seconds of combat; now you've watched 48 seconds. How could the word count stay the same? Go, go, go!"

Hong Yuantai snorted. His assignments were always based on logic; he never added work just because of his mood.

The three wailed, ran over to flatter Xu Le for a bit, and only left reluctantly after getting his contact information.

Seeing them leave, Hong Yuantai closed the main gate.

Standing with a straight back, he asked, "Do you know why you couldn't hit me in the latter half?"

Hmm, this attitude seemed a bit arrogant;

He bent his back slightly, but then felt it was a bit too fawning... "Teacher, it's combat experience." Xu Le recalled the scenes from earlier; Hong Yuantai was like a swimming fish, executing various Moves with incredible smoothness.

Hong Yuantai was instantly moved to tears.

All his unease vanished.

Teacher! He called me teacher!

He patted Xu Le's shoulder: "You're very good. I don't know why your attributes are so high, and I won't ask, but I just want to know how long you can maintain them."

"Always." Xu Le didn't hide it. From the moment he decided to go to university, he was prepared to reveal some strength to level up as quickly as possible.

"In other words, as long as they are around, you can always maintain your current attributes."

Hong Yuantai was shocked. He had thought it was an active skill like 'Destiny Link', but he didn't expect it to be a passive skill similar to a 'Contract Aura'. (See Chapter 036)

It's just that these shared attributes are way too overbearing!

Even more overbearing than a contracted beast.

"Very well. Next, I will teach you an ancient martial arts Secret Manual. Although it won't form a skill, once you master it completely, it can increase your strength by at least 1/3."

He could already imagine that if an Assassin class managed to sneak up on Xu Le, they would definitely receive a surprise they'd never forget for the rest of their lives.

Xu Le's eyes also lit up: "Once mastered, can I slash out Sword Qi?"

"Uh..."

"Can I fly on a sword?"

"Uh..."

"Can I kill a monster in ten steps and leave no trace for a thousand miles?"

"Uh..."

"Don't tell me I still have to hold a sword and hack slowly?"

Xu Le was somewhat disappointed. The coolness factor, man. Hearing 'ancient martial arts Secret Manual', he thought he'd be able to perform 'Flying Immortal with a Single Sword' or shatter the Void Realm.

Seeing that Xu Le seemed to have lost all interest, Hong Yuantai reminded him: "Although it's just a set of Move patterns, once you practice it into instinct, you won't just stand there like a wooden post taking a beating."

Uh... that sounds even less cool.

Hong Yuantai pulled a treasured Secret Manual from his space ring.

Soaring Nine Steps Shattering Jade Force

He used the "Divine Eye" to appraise it.

[Item] Ancient Martial Arts Secret Manual

[Grade] None

[Item Details] Records some patterns and techniques for utilizing power. Long-term practice can turn them into instinct.

"Practice hard. I'll come to check your progress in three days. If I'm satisfied, I guarantee you a surprise."

Hong Yuantai gave him a carrot, fearing Xu Le wouldn't put his heart into it.

Xu Le: "Teacher, how many academic credits can I get for that duel just now?"

"Two points." Fearing Xu Le would be dissatisfied, Hong Yuantai continued to explain, "This is a school regulation. My authority only allows me to give a maximum of two points."

"Thank you, Teacher."

Xu Le was overjoyed and left the training grounds.

He was still planning to test the effect of the Divine Stone on Little Peach.

Just as he stepped out the door.

The three of them surrounded him.

"Senior Brother, did the teacher just give you private tutoring?"

"Senior Brother, you're so strong! Do you have time to team up and grind dungeons together?"

"Senior Brother, do you have a girlfriend?"

???

The two looked back at Xiang Zixi. Her cheeks were flushed red, and she lowered her head, shaking it slightly: "I... I have a best friend who is also very outstanding."

Hong Yuantai pushed the door open and came out, his face grim: "If you're bad, then practice more. Stop making such a fuss."

The three laughed and scurried away.

In fact, they were all eighteen. Children growing up in this dangerous world matured early and understood the ways of the adult world.

They were just putting on a show to show their goodwill to Xu Le. Truly 'clinging to a powerful thigh' would inevitably involve an exchange of interests... Back in the dormitory.

Because the school was large and there were few students, everyone had a single dormitory.

After Xu Le confirmed there were no surveillance devices or other equipment around, he released Little Peach Tree and tossed the Divine Stone to it.

Little Peach Tree was so excited its branches and leaves danced wildly. It extended two roots to grab the Divine Stone and indicated through the Mind Link that it wanted to return to the space to absorb it slowly.

Xu Le sent it back.

Inside the Contract Space.

Little Peach Tree appeared clutching the Divine Stone, causing the entire space to vibrate twice.

The three little ones immediately gathered around.

Xu Le also projected his consciousness into the Contract Space.

He saw the stone being wrapped by dense roots, pulled down, and buried in the soil, and then... nothing.

No mountains crumbling or earth splitting, no lightning or thunder, not even a gust of wind.

Wait, that's not right!

Xu Le looked closely. The Flat Peach, which was barely the size of a soybean, was pulsing as if breathing, seemingly drinking water; its size had vaguely grown a bit larger.

At that moment, Little Peach Tree's thoughts came through.

Deep gratitude, excitement, and then anticipation.

Hmm, it seems like it will take a long time.

After confirming it was useful, he left the Contract Space and began to Cultivate the ancient martial arts Secret Manual.

After reading for over ten minutes, he vaguely grasped a bit of it, but felt something was off.

Just as he was thinking, a link popped up.

Seeing it was from Hong Yuantai, Xu Le chose to download and view it directly. A video jumped out.

In the video, Hong Yuantai was standing in the middle of a field wearing Hanfu. The wind was howling. With a resolute face, he cupped his fists and spoke.

"To Cultivate the Soaring Nine Steps Shattering Jade Force, the secret is an indomitable Aura. With no fear in your heart, your punches will be fierce. First Move: Chasing Mountains and Seas..."

Xu Le: "..."

Dammit, if there's a video version, who wants these stick-figure drawings?

He was about to throw the manual away, but after thinking about it, he put it into his space ring.

A notification sound rang out.

Another message from Hong Yuantai flew in.

"Did you receive it?"

Xu Le: Doesn't the system show a notification if I received it or not?

He could already imagine the other party's mischievous face, waiting for him to feel frustrated and then say "Thank you."

I didn't expect you to be this kind of teacher.

Xu Le sent directly: "Received, thank you, Teacher."

Without thinking about Hong Yuantai's reaction, he began to follow the video and learn step by step.

After one round of practice, he had a new realization.

Countless ways to strike and transition between Moves surfaced in his mind.

He tried the Moves according to the ones in his mind and felt that they were even smoother and slightly more powerful.

However, as for exactly how powerful they were, he would have to find out through actual combat.