Chapter 180: Three-Stipulation Agreement!

Boom—

The Thunder Passage burst open completely!

In an instant, the lightning blazed blindingly, the earth shuddered and the mountains shook.

Fortunately, Qin Shuo and Nie Jinfeng escaped the Thunder Pool Forbidden Land in time, running to the edge of the small island before stopping.

"What you just displayed, is that the Divine Foot Technique of the Great Dragon Temple?"

Seeing Qin Shuo's face turn somewhat pallid from exhausted true essence, Nie Jinfeng's eyes flashed with a strange hue.

"I never expected Master Kong to value you so highly, even passing on the Divine Foot Technique to you."

Qin Shuo didn't take the bait, instead changing the subject: "What does the Divine Weapon Secret Realm mean by 'comprehending one's own arrow way'?"

"All martial arts under heaven are the paths forged by the martial sages themselves."

"So-called comprehending one's own arrow way means standing on the shoulders of predecessors, synthesizing a hundred schools, and walking out a martial way unique to oneself." Nie Jinfeng explained.

"Does this mean I have to create my own technique?"

Qin Shuo raised his eyebrows; this difficulty is a bit high.

Who among those who can create a technique isn't a martial arts grandmaster of an era?

Even the most inferior cultivation method, forming a complete system is not easy.

Let alone creating a technique that the Divine Weapon would acknowledge.

"Not creating a technique!"

Nie Jinfeng immediately rejected his idea.

According to Nie Lao Deng's saying, the so-called personal arrow way is through learning others' arrow methods, combining one's own comprehension and practice, forming a arrow way unique to oneself.

The same technique, when learned by different people, may result in different arrow ways in the end.

For example, both are Thunderbolt arrows,

Nie Jinfeng's arrow technique favors the speed of the Thunderbolt.

He can loose eight arrows in an instant, thus earning the nickname 'Eight-Armed Evil Dragon' in the jianghu.

Zhang Youlong, conversely, his Thunderbolt arrow emphasizes the momentum and force of Thunderbolt.

Therefore, each of his arrows needs a longer time to gather divine intent and strength, yet in destructive power he has the edge.

Thus, although both have mastered the Thunderbolt arrow to perfection, their arrow ways differ greatly.

"The way of arrow technique is closely related to one's disposition and martial will."

Nie Jinfeng patiently explained:

"I have always been decisive in combat, advocating striking first invincibly; therefore I pursue the utmost arrow speed, seeking to completely suppress opponents."

"While my senior brother, of a calm disposition, remains silent until he makes a stunning move!"

"His arrow, if not released, is nothing; once released, it must kill!"

"Different pursuits lead to the same arrow technique, yet different ways of using arrows."

"This is what is meant by the way of arrow technique."

"The martial arts of our predecessors are merely references and signposts for us to find our own path."

"In the end, we must synthesize a hundred schools and establish our own school."

"And this is the necessary path to becoming a martial arts grandmaster!"

"Now I understand!"

Qin Shuo looked suddenly enlightened.

Actually, the way of arrow technique is to blend the arrow usages of all schools, then form one's own unique way of using arrows.

This makes things much simpler; otherwise, truly having him create a technique would take till the year of the monkey and month of the horse.

Seeing Qin Shuo's humble, eager-to-learn demeanor, Nie Jinfeng felt pleased and immediately continued:

"With your current arrow skill, to comprehend your own arrow way and become the master of the Divine Weapon, there is still a long road ahead."

"However, with your talent, if I guide you, this process will be greatly shortened."

"What do I need to give?" Qin Shuo got straight to the point.

He knew well that this old man wouldn't help for nothing; he certainly wanted something in return.

Sure enough, the next moment Nie Jinfeng directly stated his demand:

"My demand is very simple!"

"If I help you seize the Divine Weapon, you may take the Weapon, but the Divine Weapon Secret Realm must belong to my Wind Thunder Valley!"

"You want the Divine Weapon Secret Realm?" Qin Shuo raised his eyebrows.

"Exactly!"

Nie Jinfeng hid nothing of his purpose, then continued:

"For a sect, the Divine Weapon Secret Realm's value is no less than the Divine Weapon itself."

"I help you seize the Divine Weapon, you help me gain control of the Divine Weapon Secret Realm; this deal, you'll profit without loss!"

"Deal!"

Qin Shuo had no hesitation, directly agreeing.

After that incident, he could basically confirm that the Realm-Pacifying Divine Weapon must be a sentient object; otherwise it would be impossible to sense his arrow talent and accomplishment from within the secret realm.

And the Divine Weapon Secret Realm exists relying on the Divine Weapon.

Once he truly becomes the master of the Divine Weapon, who the secret realm belongs to will be up to him.

Even if he ultimately fails to seize the Divine Weapon, he can still freely learn Nie Lao Deng and Wind Thunder Valley's supreme arrow techniques.

Thus, it seems Nie Lao Deng's words are not wrong; this deal, he will surely profit without loss.

But…

Nie Lao Deng is so cunning, a person who must repay grudges—would he really be so generous as to let himself take all the benefits?

Could there still be some danger in this?

Qin Shuo was thinking, and Nie Jin Feng had already spoken again:

"Since you agree, starting today, I will begin teaching you the complete Wind Thunder Arrow Technique."

"As for other arrow-method martial arts, if it exists within Wind Thunder Valley, I will teach it to you."

"However, you must agree to three conditions with me,"

"The arrow technique you learn must not be used against my Wind Thunder Valley disciples; otherwise, I will kill you!"

Saying this, Nie Lao Deng's tone suddenly turned harsh, and his gaze grew sharp.

Qin Shuo, however, did not doubt the truthfulness of this old man's words.

After all, a ruthless person who can easily wipe out others' sects—what kind of good person could he be?

Nevertheless, he said, neither humble nor arrogant:

"What if your Wind Thunder Valley disciples move against me first?"

"Rest assured, I have the Yue Shan lineage under control; before the life-and-death ring ends, no one will secretly target you."

Nie Jin Feng swore solemnly.

"But what if?"

For such empty promises, Qin Shuo generally doesn't believe them much.

"What if?"

Nie Jin Feng suddenly turned his head, his gaze fierce and frightening.

The next second, he directly pointed a finger, aiming for Qin Shuo's brow.

"What are you doing?"

Qin Shuo was greatly alarmed; he wanted to activate Divine Foot Technique to retreat, but discovered his true essence was exhausted, making escape impossible.

Nie Jin Feng's speed was incredible—before his words even finished, that finger had already struck his brow.

However, the imagined scene of being pierced through the brow by a finger did not occur.

Instead, a strand of extremely condensed true vigor, like a tiny snake, drilled along his brow into his body.

"Nie Lao Deng, what are you doing?"

Qin Shuo flew into a rage, whooshing back several zhang, putting distance between himself and Nie Lao Deng.

"I thought you really weren't afraid of death!"

Nie Jin Feng snorted and explained:

"That is my four-symbol true vigor; with this true vigor protecting the body, even a martial dao grandmaster's strike could not take your life."

"Four-symbol true vigor?"

Qin Shuo's heart stirred, and he immediately focused inward to search.

However, true vigor differs from true essence and internal force; it is true qi that has merged with heaven and earth.

Once it enters the body, it merges with blood and qi; unless one can perform inner vision, it is hard to detect.

"Don't waste your effort!"

Nie Jin Feng gave a cold smile: "True vigor is not internal force; with your current cultivation, you still cannot sense it."

"Hah!"

Qin Shuo gave a cold snort, but did not refute; he simply silently gave up the idea of continuing to search for true vigor within himself.

As for true vigor, he naturally also had some understanding.

On the martial dao path, the four realms of internal force, meridian opening, condensing true, and refining viscera are essentially all about tempering tendons and bones, forging blood and qi, and strengthening the flesh.

But after refining the viscera, to become a grandmaster, one must come into contact with "true vigor".

True vigor externally can stir up violent air movements, generating protective gang qi.

Internally, it can absorb blood and qi, forming a "true vigor furnace" to forge the hundred meridians.

Most importantly, after becoming a grandmaster, true vigor can bear the spiritual will of a martial dao grandmaster.

Thus enabling techniques such as true vigor metamorphosis, thousand-mile soul lock, killing from a hundred li away, soaring between cloud seas, and other unimaginable means.

Initially, Fu Ling Yuan pursued Yue Shan, but only because Nie Jin Feng had left true vigor on him did she return empty-handed.

Now, Nie Lao Deng has also left true vigor on him.

This move seems intended to protect himself, but it also suggests a thought of monitoring his movements without relying on true vigor.

"It seems this old man is also afraid that once I learn it, I'll run away!" Qin Shuo thought with a cold snort.

But he didn't really care much.

This true vigor at most carries a strand of Nie Lao Deng's spiritual will, at best allowing a vague sense of his own position.

More information, it is estimated, cannot be obtained via true vigor.

Otherwise, when Fu Ling Yuan pursued Yue Shan back then, this old man would not have waited until Yue Shan was in dire straits before appearing.

Moreover, with this true vigor, when Qin Shuo next encounters those three demon kings, he will have an extra reliance, at worst being able to summon Nie Lao Deng for backup.

Thinking about it this way, it's actually not unacceptable.