Seeing the fight reach a stalemate, Mu Tao sighed with regret:
"Ah, they've even used a second-rank martial art. Zi doesn't stand a chance."
Mu Yun also shook his head:
"The gap in strength is too great."
Unlike the regular audience, their experienced eyes clearly saw that Mu Zi had little hope of winning.
Hearing the clan head's opinion, Mu Lingsha said with regret:
"If little sister had participated in the test next year..."
By then, Mu Zi would likely have reached the ninth level of Body Tempering. With her mastery of martial arts, she would have no rivals below the Earth Yuan level.
But Mu Tian, unlike the others, was puzzled.
He knew that Mu Zi had taken the secret technique Guiding Spirit Sword from him, but she hadn't used it even once yet.
Had she not mastered it? No, for an ordinary person, there was indeed little time, but for a monster like Mu Zi, that wasn't an argument.
"Maybe I'm worrying for nothing," he thought.
The difference in cultivation level between Mu Zi and her opponent, who was at the ninth level of Body Tempering, was significant. Moreover, he had been practicing a second-rank martial art for many years, perfecting it. Even a third-rank art wouldn't be able to close that gap.
Especially since the Guiding Spirit Sword, which Mu Zi possessed, was just a regular second-rank art.
After a short pause on the arena, Mu Zi was the first to break the silence:
"You're right, it's time to end this."
She extended a slender, snow-white finger:
"One blow—and everything will be decided."
"If you can withstand it, consider me to have failed the test."
Her audacious words slightly angered Mu Gang. Did this girl really believe she could defeat him with a single blow?
Restraining his anger, he summoned all his Yuan Li. His claws shone brighter and brighter, and by the end, their aura was so sinister that the spectators' blood ran cold.
"Wind-Tearing Claws!"
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The air was filled with a piercing sound as Mu Gang, putting all his strength into the blow, rushed toward Mu Zi.
When he was just a step away, Mu Zi began to act. Her Yuan Li concentrated into a dazzling glow that flashed on her finger. The light condensed, like a petal, focusing on her delicate fingertip.
Mu Gang felt the power emanating from her and a chill went down his spine. But before he could react, a beam of Yuan Li shot from Mu Zi's finger, crossing the one-step distance and colliding with his energy-cloaked claws.
"Boom!"
The clash of Yuan Li created a wave of air that kicked up dust, obscuring the view. A figure, like a kite torn by the wind, flew backward and crashed heavily to the ground.
"Who is it?"
The crowd cast their gazes below the arena and saw Mu Gang, whose bewildered figure still had a trace of terror in his eyes.
The test hall fell silent. When the dust settled, everyone saw the calm figure of the girl on the arena. Their hearts took a long time to recover.
"At last, our Mu clan has a true genius!" someone exclaimed with admiration.
The next day, Mu Zi happily stepped over the threshold of her clan's martial arts hall. Her eyes lit up at the sight of the numerous shelves filled with martial arts books.
After her victory over Mu Gang, she had undoubtedly become the clan's "seed." Clan Head Mu Tao, as if in a hurry, handed her the keys to the hall, and she, not hiding her happiness, thought:
"What a blessing to have so many techniques at my disposal!"
Mu Zi was overjoyed, like a genius student who, in a past life, had faced an incredibly difficult problem and was eager to solve it immediately to taste victory.
Unfortunately, the joy of studying martial arts is not available to those who don't have enough talent.
Her eyes gleamed as she flipped through the martial arts books, as if she were counting her treasures.
One hundred first-rank techniques.
Twenty second-rank techniques.
Eight third-rank techniques.
"It's a pity there are no fourth-rank techniques," Mu Zi said with a hint of regret.
But this was completely understandable. Even the largest families of Qingyang could boast only one or two fourth-rank techniques.
The Lin clan, the weakest in this regard, had a fourth-rank technique—the Pure Yuan Finger, which Lin Zhentian had secretly stolen from the Lin sect.
With the Mu clan's strength, obtaining a fourth-rank technique was almost impossible.
Fourth-rank techniques, representing the peak of mid-level martial arts, have no equal among simpler moves. Their power is truly astonishing.
"I wonder, has the improved version of the Guiding Spirit Sword reached the fourth rank?" Mu Zi wondered.
Although the Guiding Spirit Sword is a second-rank technique, its uniqueness lies in its immense potential for improvement. This is why Mu Zi chose it.
The essence of this technique lies in the method of concentrating Yuan Li—spirit energy. Simple and pure, after being refined by Mu Zi, it underwent a qualitative leap.
She compressed Yuan Li more and more, concentrating it into a tiny point, which gave it incredible offensive power.
Focus on a single point—and you will reach the peak!
With this compressed energy, called Yuan Li, the Guiding Spirit Sword could shoot out beyond the body. This ability is usually only available to fourth-rank techniques.
However, even after Mu Zi's improvement, the Guiding Spirit Sword remained a second-rank art with one significant limitation: the Yuan Li could not shoot farther than one zhang (3 meters). When trying to attack at a greater distance, the attack quickly dissipated.
In the fight with Mu Gang, Mu Zi intentionally controlled the distance of her Guiding Spirit Sword. When the attack reached its target, it had already begun to dissipate. If the distance had been shorter, Mu Gang wouldn't have just flown back—a bloody wound would have appeared on his body.
"Perhaps the improved Guiding Spirit Sword can be considered a limited fourth-rank technique," Mu Zi mused.
Its power had likely reached that level, but overall, the technique was inferior. Besides the distance limitation, it required exceptional control over Yuan Li.
Mu Zi possessed a level of mastery that only she could manage. Even if she were to pass the improved technique on to others, it's unlikely anyone could replicate it.
"How I wish I could see a real fourth-rank technique!" Mu Zi sighed.
Although her Guiding Spirit Sword was powerful, it wasn't her own creation—she had only improved an existing technique. Mu Zi was relying on the achievements of her predecessors.
Creating a fourth-rank technique from scratch was beyond even her abilities.
"After all, I still lack experience," Mu Zi realized.
Talent is certainly an important aspect, but not the only one. What a person is capable of understanding and mastering depends on their breadth of knowledge and accumulated experience.
At the moment, Mu Zi had only mastered three martial arts. Even if she were offered a heavenly-level technique, she wouldn't be able to improve it.
A high tower is built on a strong foundation. Her talent is great, but to create a solid foundation, it is necessary to gradually accumulate knowledge and skills.
And now, a wonderful opportunity for this had opened before her.
Mu Zi eagerly examined the many scrolls of martial arts, feeling a thrill.
"After reading all these scrolls, will I be able to create my own martial art?" she wondered.
...
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