Fang Ying's skill was indeed not bad. If she were to go to the modern era, memorize a few months' worth of game records, and learn about modern opening traps and strategies, becoming a grandmaster would be no problem. In this era, she was even more formidable. No wonder she could beat a crowd of idle old-timers until they cried out in frustration.
But playing against Leo Young was simply asking for humiliation. Leo Young could play to a draw as Black against a top-tier AI on a powerful computer; his technique, calculating power, and intuition were no longer human. With his memory and mental arithmetic abilities, he wouldn't lose even if he played blindfolded against ten modern grandmasters simultaneously, let alone against an ancient like Fang Ying who knew nothing of modern strategies and opening traps.
"Let's end it here," Leo Young said casually. "I have other things to do, I should be heading back. Besides, there's no point in continuing."
"Heh heh..."
"That's certainly true."
"Since your skill is inferior, you should just go back and practice more. Why be so persistent and pestering?"
Reacting even before Fang Ying were the old-timers watching the drama unfold. They stroked their beards, chuckling with expressions of deep satisfaction. They had probably been waiting a long time to see Fang Ying taken down a peg, and now that the opportunity had finally arrived today, how could they not join in the fun?
This is the exact expression I wanted to see from you!
Surrounded and mocked by the old-timers, Fang Ying initially trembled with anger, a chill running through her body on this hot day. The rest is forgotten. But she quickly composed herself, sweeping her gaze around with the air of a queen, and swiftly subdued the crowd of her defeated opponents, whose counter-jeering lacked any real bite or conviction since they hadn't contributed to this victory.
"Since Junior Brother Leo has important matters to attend to, this young lady won't keep you any longer." After quelling the crowd, Fang Ying turned and smiled at Leo Young. "We have plenty of time. Let's play again another day."
"Mm," Leo Young's attitude was as placid as it had been from the start. "Alright."
——————
Leo Young returned to his room and practiced the martial techniques he had observed twice over.
He had not been cultivating for long and his Internal Breath was weak, but he could still manage to practice these basic martial techniques.
His Comprehension was 153, which was tripled by his unique trait. His final experience multiplier was as high as ten-plus times, and he could ignore breakthrough bottlenecks. After practicing just a few times, he had already mastered several sets of basic martial arts. As his martial aptitude broke through, his Constitution also grew by a point.
Some martial arts, after being mastered to a certain realm, would grant additional permanent attribute bonuses. This was a special kind of progression; otherwise, a player could just master one martial art set and all other skills would become meaningless... However, some of these bonuses were explicitly stated, like with the Qi Nourishing Scripture, while others were not and would only be discovered by the player upon reaching that realm.
The attributes that increased also depended on the nature of the martial art. For health-preserving techniques and cultivation methods like these, the gains were likely in Constitution, defense, health, or martial aptitude. For things like Buddhist scriptures, they might increase Comprehension. As for those focused on offense, it was obvious they would provide a damage boost.
{"...Speaking of which, for those martial techniques without a panel, I wonder if they also provide attribute boosts?"}
Leo Young fell into deep thought.
Just because there was no panel didn't mean there weren't corresponding attributes.
Take martial artists, for example. The only ones with panels were the characters who appeared in the game. Did that mean other characters had no common or unique traits, that they were complete blank slates?
That was obviously impossible, or the world's balance of power would have collapsed long ago.
So, perhaps a similar logic applied to martial techniques and cultivation methods.
Knock, knock, knock.
As Leo Young was lost in thought, Xu He arrived. He called out, "Junior Brother Leo, are you awake?"
"Yes." Leo Young opened the door. "I've been waiting."
"My apologies..." Xu He looked a bit embarrassed and took a large flatbread from his robes. "This is your breakfast. I should have come to get you earlier, you could have at least had a few warm bites. But I was just called over by a senior brother to help with some chores. I couldn't get away. Just have a couple of bites on the way. Let's head directly to Zhenwu Hall."
"There's nothing to apologize for. I'm grateful you brought it for me." Leo Young wasn't bothered by such things and took the flatbread. "Let's go."
——————
Inside Zhenwu Hall, coils of incense smoke drifted, and a white mist lingered in the air. Su Tianqing stood within, with few disciples on either side. There was only a man in Daoist robes, leaning against a pillar with his arms crossed.
This man appeared to be in his early twenties. His black hair was tied at the midpoint, cascading down to his waist with a hint of blue-gray at the ends. He was tall and slender, with a handsome face that had a touch of androgynous softness. This was none other than Su Tianqing's only son and third disciple, known in the Jianghu as 'Flowing Wind Sword,' Su He.
————Additionally, due to his striking looks, he was once nominated by gossipmongers as one of the four most handsome men in Shenzhou, though the matter was later dropped as it received less than one percent of the attention given to the ten most beautiful women in Shenzhou.
"I never thought, Father, that you would actually take another disciple," Su He said with a smile. "I thought Fourth Junior Sister would be your last."
Su Tianqing shot him a glance and reprimanded, "Look at your posture! Stand properly!"
"Well, he's not here yet," Su He retorted, but his body betrayed him. He immediately dropped his rakish attitude from outside and straightened up a bit.
"Ever since taking your Fourth Junior Sister, I had indeed thought about not accepting any more disciples. All my ambitions and expectations can be fulfilled by your Eldest Senior Brother and your Fourth Junior Sister." Seeing Su He's change in posture, Su Tianqing's tone softened slightly. "However, he truly gives me an unusual feeling."
"Unusual?" Su He rubbed his chin. "Don't tell me he has three heads and six arms?"
Su Tianqing was long accustomed to his son's flighty demeanor. There was nothing to be done; he had tried hitting and scolding him, but he wouldn't change. Since the position of Sect Master would never pass to him anyway, he let it be. He naturally ignored Su He's words and continued, "He is neither sad nor angry, neither fearful nor despairing... But to say his heart is dead and filled with utter apathy would be completely wrong. There's a feeling about him that I just can't put my finger on."
Su He asked curiously, "What kind of feeling can't be put into words?"
————If this had been the Su Tianqing from ten years ago, he probably would have already grabbed Su He by the ear and roared, 'Didn't I just say I can't put my finger on it!?' But now, with age, his temper had mellowed. He simply said calmly, "You'll understand when you see him. In any case, I intend to take him as my disciple, to prevent him from straying onto the wrong path."
"After such a catastrophe, it wouldn't be strange for his temperament to change in any way," Su He said. "But why did you call me over?"
Su Tianqing was concise: "You will teach him."
"Eh?!" Su He's eyes widened. "Me?! Why not Eldest Senior Brother?!"
"He is not an idle person."
"Haha, you're right about that, I am an idle person..." Su He rubbed his chin awkwardly. "Then why not Second Senior Sister?"
Su Tianqing said nothing, merely looking at Su He quietly.
"Hmm..." In that silence, Su He seemed to realize something. Rubbing his chin, he said, "It seems she's even less reliable than I am..."
"And let's not even mention your Fourth Junior Sister," said Su Tianqing. "It's settled."
As the two were talking, the sound of footsteps came from outside. Leo Young and Xu He were about to arrive.
________________________________________
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