Duan Rong stood there for nearly an hour.
An hour later, Duan Rong opened his eyes and dispersed his skill.
He let out a long breath, straightened his back, with a slight look of exhaustion in his eyes.
"It seems that cultivating this Inner Power Heart Method consumes even more! This was just one hour, and I already feel somewhat depleted!"
Duan Rong felt hungry, and even a bit anxious at heart.
"If I keep practicing for such a long time, my body will definitely be exhausted!"
"I've eaten quite well lately, yet still like this?"
Duan Rong suddenly digested Zhao Mu's several years of Inner Power Heart Method experience, and when he operated it, it was like an old hand, not even missing the most subtle of meridians.
Not only was the efficiency extremely high, but the precision was also extraordinarily detailed. Generally, Martial Artists, when they first come into contact with the Inner Power Heart Method, even if they learn it, they operate it haltingly, groping their way through. But Duan Rong, right from the start, operated it intensely, and his body had no time to adapt, naturally showing signs of exhaustion.
But no matter what, the Inner Power Heart Method is something that he has already mastered, and it can simply be practiced gradually in the future.
Xiao Zongting's three-day deadline poses no pressure for him.
However, right now, there is an even more important issue that he needs to figure out first.
And that is the ability of the Devouring Artifact Spirit that came with his soul transmigration.
Previously, he was busy dealing with the assessment and had no time to delve into it, and now that he has passed the assessment, he needs to research this matter properly.
After all, this ability of the Devouring Artifact Spirit is fundamentally his basis for standing in this world!
However, this issue, while important, is not urgent. That's why he had left it aside before.
Now that the assessment is over, understanding the ability of the Devouring Artifact Spirit is currently the most crucial thing for him.
Duan Rong glanced around and found the Martial Arts Arena to be very spacious, with a large platform in the center, and on all four sides of the platform were four weapon racks.
After all, this is an Escort Agency, and everyone here makes a living in the Jianghu, so martial arts are the skill to rely on, and occasional sparring is inevitable.
Moreover, during festivals and holidays, competitive events are often held.
The shopkeeper and the Chief Leader would offer bonuses to those who win as a prize.
Every year, the formal assessment for Intern Escort Masters also includes a sparring component.
Only the host, of course, is still the Chief Tutor Xiao Zongting.
The weapon racks hold various weapons, from axes and halberds to hooks and forks, as well as sabers, spears, swords, and halberds.
Although the Yuan Shun Escort Agency teaches the Five Tigers and Sheep Saber to its Servant Disciples, not all the Escort Masters in the agency come up from the Servant Disciples; many are recruited from outside.
Duan Rong walked to the weapon rack closest to him and drew a blade from the rack.
This blade is one and a half meters long, with the blade nearly half the total length, and it weighs about six or seven pounds.
"Read Artifact Spirit!"
Duan Rong silently whispered, and a set of data appeared before his eyes.
Artifact: Long-handled blade.
Artifact Spirit Tier: Tier Three.
Devouring Requirements: Host's Spiritual Power Level 3 (Not Met).
Devouring Effect: Mastery of Rakshasa Saber Technique, Asura Blade Mastery, Yellow Springs Saber Technique Mastery, Eight Diagrams Saber Introduction.
Duan Rong looked at the devouring effects and clicked his tongue slightly. "Three Mastery levels?"
Duan Rong didn't believe anyone had the leisure to practice three saber techniques to mastery, and even practice one Eight Diagrams Saber to entry level.
It seems this blade has passed through many hands, truly a blade for everyone.
Duan Rong told himself a dirty joke, then placed the blade back on the rack.
"A Tier Three Artifact Spirit requires Level 3 Spiritual Power!"
Duan Rong noted the devouring requirement in the data. "Now, what level is my spiritual power exactly?"
Duan Rong turned over and pulled a Red Tassel Plum Blossom Spear from the weapon rack.
"Read Data!"
Artifact: Plum Blossom Spear.
Artifact Spirit Tier: Tier One.
Devouring Requirements: Host's Spiritual Power Level 1 (Met).
Devouring Effect: Arhat Spear Entry Level, Ice and Fire Dual Spear Entry Level, Soul-Seizing Spear Entry Level.
Duan Rong pondered over the data before him. He had previously tested many Artifact Spirits, some Tier Two, some Tier Three, but he couldn't devour any of them.
"It seems that my Spiritual Power Level is 1."
"Level 1, it sounds quite weak!" Duan Rong's eyes flickered with a thoughtful look.
Today, the term spiritual power had entered his mind multiple times.
He still remembered the words of Xiao Zongting.
"Martial Arts, with martial techniques as the method of combat, with the Inner Power Heart Method as the foundation, and spiritual power as the core!"
"With spiritual power as the core..." Duan Rong muttered to himself once more.
He still didn't understand how martial arts could take spiritual power as its core.
However, he had understood that his devouring artifact spirit ability took spiritual power as its core.
The higher the host's spiritual power level, the higher the tiers of Artifact Spirits that could be devoured.
Currently, his spiritual power level was just 1, capable of devouring only Tier One and tierless Artifact Spirits.
Duan Rong did not devour the Artifact Spirit of the Plum Blossom Spear but instead returned the spear to the weapon rack.
He had no interest in the hodgepodge of three third-rate spear techniques!
Duan Rong tried touching each weapon from the four weapon racks one by one.
The array of martial techniques was dazzling, and the highest realm of devouring effect reached Great Success; of course, Artifact Spirits of such a tier were not within Duan Rong's current capabilities to devour.
A few weapons had Artifact Spirits with a Tier One rank, which met Duan Rong's devouring criteria.
However, he returned them as well.
Currently in the Escort Agency, he had only learned the Five Tigers and Sheep Saber, and if he discreetly absorbed other martial arts and accidentally revealed it to Xiao Zongting, the crime of secretly learning martial arts wouldn't be escapable.
He understood how sharp the old man's eyes could be.
Kong Bin was reading the secret manual of the Five Tigers and Sheep Saber at a stone table in the corner of the Martial Arts Arena.
He had carefully studied this part of the Inner Power Heart Method, attempting it several times, but without success, and was at a loss when he suddenly lifted his head to see Duan Rong touching one weapon and then another on the weapon rack, and Kong Bin's eyes showed a look of disdain, saying, "Pretentious."
Duan Rong replaced a saber on the rack, feeling a bit disappointed; he hadn't found a Master Level Artifact Spirit of the Five Tigers and Sheep Saber.
A voice suddenly came from behind Duan Rong.
"Look, they say, this ginkgo tree is over three hundred years old, an ancient wood!"
Duan Rong turned his head at those words and saw two young servant boys whispering in a corner.
The houseboys and servants from the middle and back courtyards were generally relatives of the Escort Masters, requiring guarantees. Should anything happen, those who recommended them would be jointly responsible.
These two young servants looked to be only about twelve or thirteen years old. Noticing Duan Rong looking their way, they shyly ran away.
Duan Rong stood there with a profound look, gazing towards the ancient ginkgo wood not far away.
The afternoon sunlight shone on the tender green leaves of the ginkgo, like countless twinkling eyes.
Duan Rong gazed at the shimmering leaves in the sunlight, seemingly sensing something, suddenly walked over, placed his palm on the smooth trunk of the ginkgo, and silently said, "Read Artifact Spirit."
Looking at the data that appeared before him, Duan Rong's heart was filled with wonder.
Artifact: Ancient Ginkgo (361 years old).
Artifact Spirit Tier: Tier Nine.
Devouring Requirements: Host's Spiritual Power Level 9 (Not Met).
Devouring Effect: Experience Time (Can advance host's spiritual power).
"Experience Time…" Duan Rong murmured to himself, lifting his head, as sunlight spilled through the gaps in the ginkgo leaves and fell into his eyes.
At that moment, he seemed to hear the whisper of the ginkgo tree beneath his palm.