Inside the room, Yang Shou gradually recovered from the joy of his breakthrough and calmed down.
He knew that the Great Dou Master was not the limit; a higher stage awaited him.
[Ding, a new day has arrived, upgrade possible!]
A mystical voice drifted over, and Yang Shou's expression froze slightly. He suddenly realized that his breakthrough had taken a whole day.
Tomorrow was the Inner Sect Selection.
He felt a sense of urgency. Although he had successfully advanced to Great Dou Master, it wasn't enough for Yang Shou to be confident in overwhelming the other outer sect disciples.
A one-star Great Dou Master was merely an entry ticket; the subsequent ranking battles were the deciding factor for entering the inner sect.
There were many outstanding disciples this year, so the sect stipulated that the top one hundred outer sect disciples could become inner sect disciples.
Yang Shou pondered carefully. The fastest way to improve his combat power was to upgrade a Dou Technique. According to the system, upgrading a Dou Technique was an evolution based on the original, so comprehending the upgraded Dou Technique would be much more efficient.
After careful consideration, he decided to use the next two days to upgrade his mastered Thunder Step and Vajra Tortoise Shell fighting techniques, thereby enhancing his strength.
His current residence wasn't suitable for practicing fighting techniques.
With a wave of his hand, Yang Shou released a burst of fighting energy, pushing open the door and letting in the bright sunlight, instantly illuminating the room.
Yang Shou, rejuvenated, radiated vitality, his body brimming with boundless energy.
Leaving his residence, he headed straight for the back mountain.
The Qingmu Sect's training grounds were all located here, containing numerous secret realms for disciples to cultivate fighting techniques independently.
Of course, these were mostly resources provided to outer disciples; inner disciples had better secret realms to choose from.
Because he arrived early, most of the secret realms on the back mountain were vacant.
After paying the rent to the steward managing the secret realms, Yang Shou chose the "Jingzhu Forest" as his training ground.
The Jingzhu Forest was rich in lightning attributes, further enhanced by an array, making lightning-attribute fighting techniques practiced there twice as effective, though the rent was extremely expensive.
Renting the bamboo forest for a day cost him three months' income. Normally, Yang Shou would never have chosen to rent it, but with the upcoming election, this amount of money was insignificant and perfectly timed.
After the steward opened the secret realm, Yang Shou, ready, stepped inside. The outside noise was isolated by the array, replaced by the rustling of bamboo leaves in the wind, interspersed with occasional rumbles of thunder.
The serene and tranquil environment brought peace to his mind.
Yang Shou stopped in the center of the bamboo forest, focusing his divine sense on the stat allocation panel.
[Name: Yang Shou]
[Realm: One-Star Great Dou Master]
[Ability: Ordinary (+)]
[Cultivation Technique: Azure Wood Technique (Profound Rank, Beginner+)]
[Fighting Skills: Tai Chi Fist (Yellow Rank, Beginner+), Vajra Tortoise Shell (Yellow Rank, Advanced+), Swift Thunder Step (Profound Rank, Beginner+)]
[Pills: Qi Gathering Pill (+), Yuan Nourishing Pill (+)]
Without hesitation, Yang Shou directly upgraded the Profound Rank Beginner Fighting Skill Swift Thunder Step.
[Swift Thunder Step upgraded to Nine Heavens Thunder Flash.] After
the notification sound indicating a successful upgrade faded, the information recording the combat skill was transferred into Yang Shou's consciousness.
Suddenly, everything else in Yang Shou's field of vision went dark, and a pitch-black figure appeared before him. The figure moved with the grace
of a fleeting
glimpse of lightning, leaving behind arcs of thunder beneath its feet, each step accompanied by a thunderous boom, and countless afterimages.
The speed was so fast it was dazzling.
By the time the demonstration was finished, Yang Shou had absorbed all his experience in cultivating the Nine Heavens Thunder Flash, instantly reaching the minor mastery level.
The Nine Heavens Thunder Flash is divided into three stages: "Surprising Step," "Lightning Flash," and "Raging Thunder."
Mastering the first three steps is considered minor mastery, while reaching the great mastery of nine steps allows one to condense afterimages, moving with lightning speed.
Feeling the wonder of the Nine Heavens Thunder Flash, Yang Shou smiled with satisfaction, secretly admiring its status as a low-level Earth-rank combat technique.
The preciousness of Earth-rank combat techniques is self-evident. If it were to spread to the outside world, it would likely attract many Great Battle Masters to fight tooth and nail for it, and even Battle Emperors and Battle Sects might be tempted to fight over it.
At his current level, even a five-star Great Battle Master couldn't keep up with him.
If he mastered the Great Mastery of the Raging Thunder Step, he could probably rival the speed of a Battle Spirit.
So, let's try the Surprising Step of the Nine Heavens Thunder Flash!
Yang Shou slowly clenched his fist, black and white battle qi surging forth and rapidly gathering in his legs. He slightly spread his legs, then stomped forward with a powerful stomp, instantly cracking the ground beneath his feet. A strong gale whipped up the surrounding bamboo leaves, and his body shot out like lightning, leaving a faint afterimage.
He spotted a falling bamboo leaf a hundred meters away and sped off.
In the blink of an eye, Yang Shou was a hundred meters away, his fingers gripping the bamboo leaf. "
In the world of martial arts, speed is the only way to break through; Nine Heavens Thunder Flash, its name is truly well-deserved!"
Yang Shou glanced at the trajectory behind him and chuckled softly.
The afterimage he left behind gradually faded, tiny arcs of electricity appearing in the air.
Having initially experienced the power of an Earth-rank martial arts technique, Yang Shou became completely absorbed in it, like a martial arts fanatic, constantly shifting his form in the bamboo forest, gradually deepening his familiarity with the technique.
Before he knew it, dusk was approaching.
The setting sun cast its glow upon the lush bamboo forest, its golden light filtering through the leaves and falling upon Yang Shou.
Having practiced in the bamboo grove all day, Yang Shou noticed the change in the sky and immediately stopped, rubbing his stomach and muttering to himself, "A little hungry."
Then, holding the array switch, he opened the secret realm, intending to reward himself, fill his stomach, and then return to his cultivation.
Unexpectedly, someone was waiting for him outside the secret realm.
As soon as Yang Shou emerged, the person called out to him. He looked in the direction of the voice and recognized the person as Zhao Kuo, an outer disciple.
Tall and burly like a bear, Zhao Kuo looked at Yang Shou and said in a booming voice, "Senior Brother, I challenge you."
Yang Shou shook his head and chuckled, "Little Zhao, how many times have you challenged me?"
Zhao Kuo was slightly taken aback, then counted on his fingers and honestly replied, "Ten times in total, but this time is different. Senior Brother, I have broken through to the Great Dou Master level, and I will definitely defeat you!"
After saying that, Zhao Kuo released his Dou Qi, and a powerful force burst forth from his body, indeed the strength of a Great Dou Master.
"I see," Yang Shou stroked his chin thoughtfully, "Since you have broken through to the Great Dou Master level, then I cannot accept your challenge even more."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Kuo's face immediately fell, and he asked indignantly, "Why?"
"I am a nine-star Dou Master, and you are a one-star Great Dou Master. Aren't you bullying your senior brother?" Yang Shou asked with a smile.
Now it was Zhao Kuo's turn to be troubled. He stood there, his face flushed, and said, "I won't bully my senior brother. I'll challenge you with the strength of a Battle Master."
Seeing Zhao Kuo's resolute expression, clearly wanting a beating to behave, and since he also wanted to test the power of the Nine Heavens Thunder Flash, Yang Shou reluctantly nodded and said, "I'll fight you, but only if you treat me to dinner. That's not too much to ask, is it?"
Zhao Kuo was overjoyed and nodded in response, afraid Yang Shou would change his mind, he quickly pulled him away to check his stomach. (