Chapter 138: Mastering Myriad Laws, the Ancient Kung Fu of Huaxia

Third Stage, creating techniques.

He glanced at the crowd, Kuang Qing smiled lightly and said: "The stone tower ahead has a total of 18 floors, with the same suppressive restriction on cultivation; everyone's cultivation remains at the Martial Apprentice Great Perfection, and anyone may freely choose a floor to enter."

Inside the stone tower are many martial technique manuals for your reference; over three days, you must combine the manuals within the tower to create a brand-new martial technique, then use that technique to kill the stage's mechanized puppet to pass.

The difficulty of the stone tower's first level is roughly equivalent to Martial Apprentice Fifth Level; each level up increases difficulty by fifty percent.

Clearing the first level grants one hundred points; thereafter, each level up doubles the points awarded for clearing.

After clearing the chosen level, if there is still time left, there will be one opportunity to challenge a higher level; however, failure likewise results in death.

Alright, begin choosing now; each level can accommodate up to one thousand people at once.

In terms of martial arts, his expertise undoubtedly lies in staff technique and fist technique.

It is obvious that he is the only one on this level.

Because choosing fist technique would give him a considerable advantage to exploit.

The terrifying force sent this humanoid mechanical puppet flying backward over ten zhang while skimming the ground, slamming hard into the arena's fence!

The crowd slowly walked toward the stone tower.

Yet this restriction's effect was not too great; his figure flashed agilely like a spirit monkey, arriving before a humanoid mechanical puppet, and Fang Xu threw a fierce punch!

As the fist swung out, a low tiger's roar faintly sounded!

Boom!

The massive fist directly struck the puppet's hard armor, blasting it flying away!

Rumble!

Rumble!

Rumble!

The heavy barriers to the left, right, and front of the arena slowly rose; thereafter, three humanoid mechanical puppets clad in black armor stepped out slowly.

Guiding Fang Xu into the stone chamber, Wu Ling pointed to the rows of stone steles and bookshelves and said directly: "Here are all the martial arts manuals you may observe, including fist, palm, leg, claw techniques, movement methods, and spears, staves, swords, halberds, etc."

But those puppets lack the ability to project force outward; yet these three puppets, whose strength reaches Martial Master Seventh Level, actually possess outward force projection, undoubtedly making him somewhat hard to cope with!

Yet Fang Xu could manage to release his blood qi outward; although it was suppressed back in an instant, he was certain it was blood qi external release!

Most importantly, Wu Ling could see that Fang Xu's current strength is merely Martial Apprentice Eighth Level; this means that, without the suppressive restriction, his true cultivation is Martial Apprentice Eighth Level, not yet broken through to Martial Master!

This brat!

His thoughts raced wildly, considering whether any external force could forcibly fuse the four figurines together!

Roar!

Deep in the sea of consciousness, a huge blood-red demon ape apparition appeared!

Divine Ability: Demon Ape Three Transformations!

Helpless, Fang Xu prepared to use the insights from the Demon Ape Three Transformations to try forcibly fusing the four figurines together!

After the blood-red demon ape apparition appeared, a pair of large hands completely covered the four figurines beneath its palms!

The old man curiously glanced at him and said: "Little one, did you directly choose this level?"

The Ascension Immortal Association's annual examination lets many martial artists observe the Cliffside Heavenly Scripture; each examinee who gains a martial technique, skill, or secret method from the Scripture will copy down what they comprehended and hand it over to the Association for safekeeping.

Seeing her face brimming with confidence, Fang Xu blinked slightly, then smiled and said: "In that case, I can rest assured."

Kuang Qing's last sentence caused the faces of many martial artists present to instantly change!

Alas!

If the currently selected level is full, it will automatically advance to the next level.

Although this figurine looks more solid, it actually hasn't reached that previous height at all.

During the Second Stage, he barely made it out as the ending bell rang; Yun Wan, Lu Qingluo, and Long Long also didn't emerge much earlier than him.

You have three days to observe and comprehend, then create a brand-new martial technique.

Compared between the two, Fang Xu leans more toward fist technique.

In his previous life in the army, numerous martial grand masters combined a series of martial arts systems, specially creating for them a killing technique more suited to slaughter.

As his consciousness calmly watched the figurines' drills, the ferocity on Fang Xu's face gradually returned to calm.

This thing is actually what Fang Xu comprehended during the Second Stage examination.

Soon after finishing the book in his hands, Fang Xu did not seek other books, but turned to the row of damaged stone steles that the Ascension Immortal Association had apparently moved from somewhere.

In the sea of consciousness, the blood-red demon ape's apparition slowly faded, replaced by a dilapidated bronze grand cauldron!

Hearing his words, Wu Ling's eyes flashed with appreciation; he couldn't help but laugh and say: "You kid, your insight into the martial way is quite profound."

The stone tower's first level difficulty is roughly equivalent to Martial Apprentice Fifth Level; the second level's difficulty increases by fifty percent over the first, so difficulty at least reaches Martial Apprentice Seventh to Eighth Level; calculating thus, up to the fourth or fifth level, difficulty surpasses the Martial Apprentice Realm and reaches Martial Master.

But in fact, what he has comprehended is merely a prototype, not yet perfected.

Fang Xu had barely opened his eyes before he saw Wu Ling already standing before him.

'Certain.' Fang Xu nodded.

Fang Xu hadn't even taken in his surroundings when a venerable voice came from the huge stone chamber nearby, startling him into a shudder.

As a Transmission Elder of the Ascension Immortal Association, over the years he has seen many prodigious disciples fall like Fang Xu during the process of creating techniques; he no longer thinks much of it.

Those who abandoned the Second Stage to take the safe option, having emerged earlier, now stand at the front of the queue; undoubtedly they have priority in selection.

His consciousness controlled the four figurines in constant attempts to fuse, yet the figurines repel each other like like poles of magnets—the closer they get, the stronger the repulsion; no matter how he tries, they cannot fuse further.

Fang Xu grew anxious.

'I advise you: this idea can be pondered after you enter the gate; for now… preserving life is urgent.'

Fang Xu's expression shifted slightly upon hearing: 'Senior, after entering the gate, will I still have a chance to enter this stone tower?'

On the stands beside the dueling arena, seeing Fang Xu frantically dodge the blade light slashed by the mechanized puppet, his face showing astonishment, he couldn't help but chuckle and say: 'Kid, the stone tower's suppressive restriction holds back your cultivation, but it does not include the mechanized puppet or myself.'

'Come on, your time is precious.'

But judging by the humanoid mechanism puppets encountered during the first-level examination, Fang Xu felt that the strength of these three humanoid mechanism puppets before him was absolutely not inferior to that of a Martial Master Seventh Level!

Huh!

The three humanoid mechanism puppets had just appeared, only pausing briefly before they all charged at Fang Xu together!

At the same time, one of the puppets actually swung the horse‑slaying saber in its hand, unleashing a terrifying blade of light!

Internal energy leaving the body!?

Fang Xu was somewhat startled!

No!

No!

At the moment he felt a pang of pity, Fang Xu's figure had already rushed into the midst of the three humanoid mechanism puppets!

The moment the blood‑qi phantom on his surface was forcibly pressed back by the restriction, Fang Xu felt somewhat uncomfortable.

As these little figures continually merged, the swords, spears, fists and claws in their hands gradually blurred; eventually, all the images fused together and the number of little figures dwindled.

All along, he had roughly calculated the difficulty of clearing each level.

He only needed to firmly choose any one of the little figures and let the others dissipate on their own; then he could resolve his immediate predicament while also obtaining a decent martial technique.

"This year's examinees don't seem to be that many, do they?"

"With nearly ten thousand people present, following this pattern, when it's our turn with a few people, it will at least be the eighth or ninth level."

But Fang Xu's punch was terrifyingly strong!

While the heavy horse‑slaying saber's blade blocked his punch, it was also forcibly bent!

Actually, upon reflection, it's understandable.

"I am Wu Ling, the Transmission of Skill Elder of the Ascension Immortal Society."

"Each layer can hold only a thousand people; if it's full, those behind are forced to choose the next layer…"

"When observing the Cliffside Heavenly Scripture in the second level, outwardly he had failed and gained nothing."

"Rules are dead, people are alive; he believes that even if he did this, Jiang Feng, as the Head Elder, would not blame him."

"But no matter how the big hand kneaded them, the four little figures, though pressed together and deformed, still showed no sign of merging."

"Wu Ling glanced at him, doubting, and said lightly, 'You've already gone overtime by fifteen minutes.'"

"Fang Xu silently regarded the remaining little figures, pondering how to fuse them again."

"Everyone has two chances to challenge; securing one and striving for the second is the most stable strategy for most people."

"Fang Xu slightly cupped his hands toward him, then began searching for what he wanted inside the huge stone chamber."

"When three days have passed, even if I wanted to help you, I would still have to follow the rules."

"Fang Xu smiled faintly and said, 'Senior, all laws share the same source; I believe that a jade from another mountain can cut stone, and what I seek is a principle that can be applied by analogy.'"

"A huge palm slammed fiercely at that humanoid mechanism puppet!"

"The palm's crimson light faintly formed the phantom of a violent bear's paw, imprinting onto the puppet's chest!"

"Bang!"

"The terrifying force dented the armor on the puppet's chest!"

"Using the rebound force, his figure leapt high; in midair, like a bird spreading its wings, he dove down at the sole remaining humanoid mechanism puppet."

"Bird transforms into tiger!"

"Fist technique can give rise to sword, spear, and palm techniques; likewise, spear, sword, etc., can evolve into fist technique."

"Ignoring Wu Ling, he immediately focused all his energy on this spear technique manual."

"Wu Ling had already secretly made a decision: if Fang Xu failed to lower the three humanoid puppets later, he would have to intervene to save him."

"Your opponents are three; go in."

"A terrifying fist smashed straight into the humanoid mechanism puppet!"

"This humanoid mechanism puppet reacted swiftly; seeing Fang Xu lunge, it immediately raised its horse‑slaying saber to block!"

"But I interrupted you once earlier; this fifteen minutes counts as compensation."

"The first level was filled, then the second, the third…"

"The two seem to have some coordination; one long saber slashes at Fang Xu's head, the other at his feet!"

"Faced with this seemingly unavoidable attack, Fang Xu leaned forward slightly, his feet leaving the ground as a monkey phantom flickered across his surface; he swiftly spun between the two deadly long sabers and launched an attack on one of the humanoid mechanism puppets."

"Watching Fang Xu enter the arena, Wu Ling pressed the button beside him."

"Inside the stone tower lies a restriction that can suppress any external release of internal energy."

"Gradually, the countless classics he had browsed also turned into one shining little figure after another in his mind, constantly rehearsing various martial techniques."

"Swish!"

"While sending that puppet flying, the two mechanism puppets beside him simultaneously launched an attack!"

"He had encountered many mechanism puppets before, some of which were as strong as Martial Venerables."

"The difficulty of clearing the twelfth level is roughly equivalent to a Martial Master Eighth or Ninth Level; with his strength, clearing it wouldn't be too hard, and clearing the twelfth level in one go would net him over two hundred thousand points."

"Gazing at the options, Fang Xu hesitated and said, 'The twelfth level, then.'"

"Within that day, Fang Xu browsed nearly a hundred martial arts classics, grasped their essences, and memorized the blood‑qi flow and move patterns of these techniques."

"\"Kid, I've seen you keep looking at fist‑related classics; why are you now reading spear techniques? \" Inside the stone chamber, Wu Ling saw Fang Xu avidly reading an eighth‑rank spear manual and couldn't help but say, \"If you go on like this, you'll hardly create a technique capable of defeating the mechanism puppets. \""

"Wu Ling sighed and also stopped paying attention to Fang Xu."

"The Ascension Immortal Society disciple examined him seriously and then handed over a token engraved with twelve characters."

"Under mental control, Fang Xu slowly placed all four little figures into the bronze great cauldron."

"After the little figures appeared, what they practiced was a brand‑new martial technique."

"With the Martial Apprentice Realm, being able to break the rules and use the internal‑energy external release that only a Martial Master Realm can possess undoubtedly proves how monstrous Fang Xu's martial talent is."

After several attempts, Fang Xu helplessly found that this move wouldn't work.

Placing these low-grade martial arts manuals in the Stone Tower, letting other examination disciples browse and refine them, then creating higher-grade martial skills, this cycle continues, so the Ascension Association will only obtain more and more high-grade martial skills.

"Kid, awake?"

"The direction is still wrong."

"Under the rules, one can change freely, but once such a change touches the rules, it will inevitably suffer backlash."

"In the scene, if someone worries, someone else rejoices."

"All along, this killing technique also exerted unexpected power."

"With a slight stir of the mind, the Flame Spirit True Explanation turned into flames, beginning to burn rapidly beneath the Great Cauldron."

"Hearing his words, Fang Xu had no distraction, his eyes locked on the three humanoid puppets that had rushed up to him, his body slightly leaning forward like a leopard poised to strike, his fists flashing with streaks of red light as he surged forward!"

"The humanoid puppet emitted no aura; its exact strength was unknown to Fang Xu."

"The two walked out of the Stone Chamber and quickly arrived at a plaza resembling an arena."

"Enjoy yourself."

"\"Please confirm which level you wish to choose. \" At the Stone Tower gate, an Ascension Association disciple said expressionlessly."

"As expected, many martial artists ahead promptly chose the first level."

"When he arrived, Huang Qingzhou had warned him to earn as many points as possible, saying there would be a big surprise after joining."

"\"Later I will take you to challenge the puppets. \""

"After a long while——"

"Seeing an old man in a loose blue robe with white hair walk out of the Stone Chamber, Fang Xu quickly clasped his hands and said, \"Senior. \""

"\"Naturally, the first level costs a thousand contribution points per day, and each subsequent level adds another thousand; calculate for yourself how many points the twelve levels require per day. \""

"By the next day, he had examined all the martial arts manuals related to fist techniques in the Stone Chamber and began browsing other categories of skills."

"Taking the token, Fang Xu entered the tower."

"But he was still unsatisfied, continuing to diligently browse the many manuals before him."

"Such rules naturally do not reach the imagined height, but the backlash, when it comes, is also severe."

"\"Good luck. \""

"Then the demon ape's big hand began to exert force, kneading the four little figures together."

"\"Take your time looking; I won't disturb you. \""

"The difficulty of the eighth and ninth levels must at least be that of a Martial Master Fifth Stage, right?"

"I myself am fine, Yun Wan and Long Long should also be fine, but Lu Qingluo..."

"But this fusion clearly becomes harder the further one goes; it's not that his understanding of the martial path is off, but purely due to his insufficient foundation, his cultivation and martial insight being inadequate."

"For some seventh- and sixth-grade martial skills, he merely needs to watch and practice the moves and blood flow a few times to grasp them roughly."

"Time trickled by, and soon a day had passed."

"\"Huh? \""

"Though called a Bronze Great Cauldron, it actually looks like a lump of bronze blank, like a chunk of copper."

"\"Let's go. \""

"After so many years of accumulation, the Ascension Association's stored martial arts manuals likely amount to a vast quantity."

"\"Hey! \""

"Inside the Stone Chamber, with no one disturbing him, Fang Xu could leisurely browse any manual he wished."

"\"But don't forget, this is an examination; you only have three days, and two have already passed. \""

"But he did not want to give up."

"When it was Fang Xu's group's turn, the first eight levels were full; without hesitation, Yun Wan, Lu Qingluo, and Long Long all chose the ninth level."

"Boom—rumble—rumble!"

"As Fang Xu had just entered, the stone gate behind him slammed shut."

"Fang Xu examined closely, his palm lightly touching the marks left by swords, spears, and halberds, vaguely sensing the scenes of those martial artists striking."

"\"Confirm the twelfth level? \""

"As for these, Fang Xu didn't really care."

"Before him, an inner-disciple of the Ascension Association, hearing Fang Xu's choice, asked in surprise."

"\"Qi deviation? \""

"Looking at Fang Xu's appearance, he faintly felt that Fang Xu was now on the brink of qi deviation."

"Contribution points again!"

"It seems the Ascension Association's daily cultivation and life cannot do without contribution points."

"As the blank of the Bronze Great Cauldron appeared in the sea of consciousness, the entire sea of consciousness trembled slightly, and the four figures practicing martial arts froze in unison."

"Wu Ling, seeing this, walked over with some surprise and doubt."

"Strolling before the bookshelves, Fang Xu sought the martial arts manuals that interested him, browsing, observing, and drawing inspiration."

"Using the token in his hand to open the stone gate of the twelfth level, Fang Xu walked in slowly."

"Before the stone stele, in Fang Xu's sea of consciousness, the four figures continued practicing their martial arts moves."

"Fang Xu quickly rose and followed Wu Ling out of the Stone Chamber."

"After the additional spirit attribute reached 75, his comprehension reached a new height; for some ninth- and eighth-grade martial skills, merely reading through them once let him roughly grasp their essence."

"Within the Ascension Association there seem to be artisans skilled in puppet mechanism techniques; the twelve levels of the Stone Tower need not be climbed by Fang Xu level by level, as he can directly take a device similar to an elevator to reach the twelfth level."

"Actually, at that time Fang Xu had a retreat."

"Beads of sweat poured onto his forehead, Fang Xu's eyes tightly shut and brows furrowed, his whole body trembling."

On these broken stone steles, most lack any complete martial techniques; only fragments remain, and some even have only a few crude marks.

The martial path is one; all laws share the same origin.

Hehe……

The old man nodded appreciatively and said with a smile:

Gradually, the four little figures melted away; thereafter, the martial insights formed from the fusion of those four figures began to slowly merge together, and from them a completely new little figure slowly came into being.

The grades of these martial arts manuals are not particularly high; most are below fifth rank, and the occasional higher‑rank ones are all fragmented editions.

At the moment of his charge, a faint blood‑qi shadow resembling a fierce tiger flashed across his body surface!

Although that blood‑qi shadow was only a fleeting glimpse, Wuling still managed to catch it with his keen perception.

In this situation, one must still use the newly comprehended to fight; undoubtedly, all martial artists would surely choose to start from the first level, first secure this baseline of a hundred points, and then decide depending on circumstances whether to challenge higher levels.

Wuling's expression inevitably turned solemn.

He turned his head to glance at Lu Qingluo beside him, but Fang Xu noticed that her face showed little worry, and he couldn't help wondering aloud: 'Senior Sister, do you have confidence to pass the trial?'

Because this undoubtedly limits one's own strength.

Doing so, although it violates the rules, can prevent the Ascension Immortal Association from losing a talent with enormous potential.

Relying on the Three Transformations of the Magic Ape to perfect the martial technique I newly created is still the wrong path.

Among the many people ahead, except that occasionally during the first five layers someone will skip a level that still has openings and opt for the next layer.

Fang Xu: "……"

Fang Xu nodded.

Lu Qingluo gave a mysterious smile and said: 'Don't underestimate me—I am your senior sister.'

Although the martial path is said to let all laws contend in brilliance, not bound by fixed forms, all things in the universe must still follow some invisible rules.

If placed outside, obtaining these manuals would cost an astronomical sum, but here in the stone chamber they lie like ordinary books, casually scattered about for anyone to flip through at will.

Today, taking advantage of this opportunity, he intends to combine some fist techniques from his previous life with present‑day martial arts and all his current experience, to create something more suitable for martial artists, so that the ancient martial arts heritage of China may also shine brightly in this world.

Such a bizarre regulation—let alone other martial artists, even Fang Xu furrowed his brows slightly.

But nowadays, when he more often employs this killing technique, Fang Xu relies solely on his brute strength, failing to display the true effect of the martial skill.

After Wuling finished speaking, he sat cross‑legged on a futon and slowly closed his eyes.

But such leaps usually mean just skipping a single level, and as the quotas for the first five layers fill up, few people thereafter will bypass a level that still has openings to aim for a higher one.

These messy images played in his mind like a movie, flashing frame by frame.

Before his body even touched the ground, Fang Xu thrust his feet out, kicking repeatedly at the humanoid mechanism puppet!

Then, using the rebound force, after his body landed he nimbly leapt back a few times and surged forward again!

Watching Fang Xu's movements, Wuling on the stands was dumbfounded!

"This kid, how is he like a ferocious beast……"

(End of chapter)