Chapter 481: Complementarity

When he was still a Force Warrior, he had heard people say that there are special Acupoints in the human body that are closely linked to some latent human potential; once opened, they have a tremendous effect on one's own cultivation, attacks, or defense when being attacked.

Many Secret Martial Arts possess unique advantages that ordinary Secret Martial Arts lack precisely because they involve certain rare Acupoints.

Now, he finally encountered a very obvious True Martial, the Flame Blade Technique.

Force Warriors who follow the flesh-body path can absorb the ubiquitous Force in the universe, but only the non‑elemental kind.

Those on the energy path can not only absorb non‑elemental cosmic energy, but also absorb energies of other natures, most commonly fire, water, and so on.

Among them, one or several elements will align best with them, which determines their future development route.

A flesh-body Force Warrior who wishes to wield energy like an energy‑path Force Warrior can do so, but must open certain internal Acupoints for conversion; otherwise, even a Force Warrior's flesh body cannot endure the pain of embedding elements such as flame or frost within it.

With certain Acupoints as intermediaries, a Force Warrior can convert the originally non‑elemental Force inside the body into elemental Force, thereby boosting combat power.

It is just like this Flame Blade Technique.

It can attach the converted flame energy onto the palms and soles; imagine two Force Masters of equal level grappling, one whose fists and feet carry fire and the other who does not—who is more likely to be injured?

Weapons are the same—any blade, spear, sword, or halberd works as long as it contacts the body; the Flame Blade Technique is a Secret Martial Arts designed on this principle to maximize the use of energy conversion.

In this way, the Force that a Force Warrior normally stores within Acupoints, besides being refined, gains another use.

The drawback is that it cannot be detached from the body; for example, when using a bow, the arrow can bear flame or other energy before it is released, but once shot, the flame vanishes instantly.

This differs greatly from energy‑path Force Warriors, because the latter can absorb various energies from the air without needing internal conversion; as long as surrounding energy is sufficient, they can use it indefinitely.

Of course, this takes time; if using the energy already present inside the body, the speed is much faster, even reaching instant activation.

"This technique is perfect for me now."

Jiang Cheng read the description, his heart stirred.

Yet, on the other hand, the other two True Martial techniques are not weak either.

First is the footwork, Wave‑treading Walk.

It seems one could forgo it without even looking, because the True Martial he obtained from the virtual Big Chief is also a footwork‑type True Martial, which can be cultivated from a First-level Spirit Master up to a Level 10 Spirit Master.

However, a closer look reveals that although both are footwork‑type True Martial, their emphases differ greatly.

The one taken from the virtual Big Chief focuses more on combat, small‑range evasive spins and leaps used to dodge attacks or launch ambushes, with remarkable effect.

Wave‑treading Walk leans toward long‑distance trekking, allowing one to run for several days and nights in a single breath, which is advantageous for fleeing or pursuit.

Thus, these two footwork techniques appear contradictory but are actually complementary.

The final one, Withered‑Tree Visualization Method, is the unrivaled choice for stealthy concealment.

Even the most keen-eyed Force Masters cannot see through obstacles, but Spiritual Power can, even through reinforced concrete; Spiritual Power can pass through as if the eyes "see", revealing the entire scene.

In fact, it is still perception.

After using the Withered‑Tree Visualization Method, one's own aura becomes like a dead tree, hard to perceive.

According to the description, even those a couple of great realms above are hard to detect, let alone peers.

Of course, a Grandmaster is not blind; using it while standing before them would be courting death… Overall, this Visualization Method seems a good match with the earlier Wave‑treading Walk.

"Who decided that after a successful challenge you can only choose one technique as a reward?"

Jiang Cheng felt very depressed.

If he could take all three, how wonderful that would be? Yet he understands the rule‑makers' intentions; after all, not everyone, like him, has a Panel in hand, and receiving too many Secret Martial Arts would be more trouble than good.

"If I can only take one, I'll choose the Flame Blade Technique."

Jiang Cheng's gaze fell on the first option.

The latter two have temporary substitutes, but the first does not.

The Shadowless Blade Technique is merely a Heaven Martial, incomparable to True Martial, especially this Flame Blade Technique.

And once mastered, even without a blade on his body, his fists and feet can bear flame; the thought makes him a little excited.

Of course, if he cultivates this True Martial, merely perfecting the technique is insufficient; he must also practice the 'inner skill' and open the corresponding Acupoints.

In the flawless version, everything is correct!

The other True Martial are the same; aside from a few rare cases, essentially all Secret Techniques embedded in True Martial relate to Acupoints.

After making his choice, a middle‑aged man's voice rang out, "Good choice; the power of this technique is unrivaled among True Martial. Cultivate it well; I'll be waiting for you at the Grandmaster."

The voice faded, and the surroundings returned to calm.

In Jiang Cheng's mind, a scene surfaced of the Grandmaster stage where both sides wielded flaming great swords, attacking each other.

This made him gasp.

If the Supremes in the Warrior stage were merely playing around, the Supremes in the Grandmaster stage would, to some extent, get serious.

If it's a Supreme stage, they'll go all out, which also means each Supreme will pull out their trump cards.

"Just wait; it won't be long before I become a Supreme."

Jiang Cheng thought to himself.

Although advancing from a First-level Force Master to a Level 10 Force Master is not easy, moving from a First-level Spirit Master to a Level 10 Spirit Master becomes much easier with the help of the Seven‑Treasure Light‑Emitting Pendant.

It should be noted that the Seven‑Treasure Light‑Emitting Pendant is a treasure given to a Level One Supreme; even if he becomes a Level 10 Grandmaster, he can still enjoy its benefits.

With Spiritual Power increased, becoming a Level 10 Force Master would be even simpler? At that moment, an Electronic Female Voice sounded nearby, "Congratulations, challenger Jiang Cheng, this is the second Supreme you defeated in the Force Warrior stage. According to the rules, this news will be broadcast to everyone at the Base; do you wish to remain anonymous?"

"Anonymous."

Jiang Cheng could only laugh and cry; he had forgotten there was this round.

He originally wanted to press on and challenge several more Supremes in one go to earn more rewards, but he thought of how the system would issue multiple announcements, causing a huge uproar in the Base; better to keep a low profile, wait a few days, and then challenge the third Supreme.

"Alright."

The Electronic Female Voice agreed. (End of chapter)