Gu Chengming thanked Ren Wencai, exchanged a few polite words with Jiang Lu, and then returned to his small courtyard under the moonlight.
He weighed the Flowing Light Sword Shadow in his hand. The paper felt a bit rough, but it couldn't conceal the faintly emanating sharp sword intent within.
If it were anyone else, they would probably be eager to read the secret manual by now, perhaps even practice a few moves on the spot.
But Gu Chengming was not in a hurry to open this cultivation method. Firstly, it was unclear if he could even practice it...
Secondly, with a clear path to "conquer" Hundred Bones Resonating, the correct approach was definitely to first max out its favorability.
In the following days, Gu Chengming continued to use dragon blood grass to raise favorability as usual.
"What strong medicinal power! As expected of dragon blood grass!"
"Hundred Bones Resonating! Help me suppress this fiend!"
【Hundred Bones Resonating felt the non-existent immense medicinal power raging!】
【To live up to this peerless divine medicine, to live up to your trust, it operated with all its might, just to digest the medicinal power!】
Thus, days passed in this harmonious atmosphere of "I lie to you, you believe me, and we both have a beautiful future."
Finally, on a clear, starry night.
As the last blood activating grass was consumed, the steadily rising favorability bar finally broke through that critical node.
【Hundred Bones Resonating thought to itself, it had seen countless people in its life, but only you were the most likely genius to accompany it from obscurity and establish itself in the world.】
【If you die, it will surely reshape your physical body for you, just like in the storybooks you wrote!】
【Favorability +2】
【Current Favorability: 60】
【Status Change: From 【Friendly】 to 【Like】】
The leap in favorability status brought one fixed attribute point and one free attribute point.
Without the slightest hesitation, Gu Chengming's mind stirred, and he poured that free attribute point entirely into the "Constitution" category.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
His heart began to beat violently.
His originally somewhat pale skin gradually took on a healthy, rosy glow, his bones crackled, and his muscle lines, though not exaggeratedly bulging, became tighter and tougher.
【Current Constitution: 5 -> 7】
And the data below this line also underwent the most intuitive change.
【Current Remaining Lifespan: Six Years】
From a precarious more than seven hundred days, it directly surged to six years!
"Hoo..."
Gu Chengming let out a long breath.
But the surprises didn't stop there.
The leap in constitution directly led to an increase in the maximum capacity for spiritual energy within his body.
The bottleneck he was stuck at in First Realm, Fourth Level, under the surge of such immense vitality, broke like a paper window with a single poke.
There was no need for deliberate guidance.
The abundant vital energy and spiritual power within his body cheered, surging up along the meridians, breaking through obstacles, and converging into his dantian.
Buzz—
The air vibrated slightly, and the surrounding spiritual energy seemed to be drawn in.
First Realm, Fifth Level, a natural progression.
..................................................
With his cultivation breakthrough and extended lifespan, Gu Chengming, in high spirits, did not choose to rest and celebrate.
Striking while the iron was hot, he took out a jade slip from his embrace.
That was the advanced sword move, Flowing Light Sword Shadow, previously gifted to him by Ren Wencai.
This sword move was quite well-known within Wenjian Sect, primarily focusing on "speed." When cultivated to mastery, the sword would move like flowing light, shadows following the body, making reality and illusion indistinguishable; it was a lethal weapon.
Sword moves are different from sword arts. Strictly speaking, a sword move is just a type of stance, like... a skill?
So, logically, it shouldn't have very high attribute requirements.
Of course, in contrast, it probably wouldn't trigger a "conquest option."
As Gu Chengming thought this, he extended his spiritual sense into the jade slip.
【System Prompt: Detected host attempting to cultivate Flowing Light Sword Shadow.】
【Constitution attribute not met】【Agility attribute not met】【Strength attribute not met】
【Flowing Cloud Following Moon Sword Art (Incomplete), failed to meet conquest requirements】
Gu Chengming looked at the string of red warnings and couldn't help but curse inwardly.
"What the hell..."
So this damn thing was a sword move taken from another sword art?
No wonder the attribute requirements are so high... Is this something a human can even practice?
"Sigh..."
Gu Chengming sighed helplessly and tossed the jade slip back onto the table.
He also knew this couldn't be rushed.
The more advanced the sword art, the higher the requirements for physical fitness and mental control. Although he had boosted his constitution with Hundred Bones Resonating, other aspects were indeed still shortcomings.
"It seems I can only enshrine this thing for now and wait until I have enough attribute points..."
Just as Gu Chengming was about to give up, turn to writing some storybooks, and use Qingxin Art to calm his mood.
The Huiyuan Sword Manual, which had been dormant deep in his mind, completely silent since its favorability reached 90, suddenly flickered.
To be honest, ever since the favorability of this basic sword manual reached the "admiration" milestone of 90 points, it had become extremely quiet.
It was like an unsung, long-suffering wife, quietly staying in a corner, watching Gu Chengming flirt with those stronger, flashier new cultivation methods.
Its favorability also remained stuck at 90, completely motionless.
Gu Chengming had previously guessed that this might be because no "special bond event" had been triggered, causing the favorability to be locked.
But the trigger conditions for this bond event were completely unknown, so he temporarily put aside the "conquest" of the Huiyuan Sword Manual.
Unexpectedly, today, at this moment of hitting a wall, it reacted.
Lines of text, carrying a faint aura of melancholy, slowly appeared before Gu Chengming's eyes.
【Huiyuan Sword Manual has been watching you.】
【It watched you rack your brains to become stronger, watched you sigh in disappointment because you couldn't cultivate advanced sword arts.】
【It knows very well that it is just the most basic, most introductory sword manual.】
【It doesn't have dazzling sword moves like Flowing Light Sword Shadow, nor does it have enhancements like Hundred Bones Resonating; it is ordinary, even a bit crude.】
【It knows that as your realm gets higher and higher, and the enemies you encounter become stronger and stronger, one day it will eventually be forgotten by you in a corner, covered in dust.】
【This is its destiny; it has long accepted its fate.】
【It doesn't hope to accompany you to the end of the immortal path, but... it still hopes to accompany you for as long as possible. Even one more step is good.】
【It doesn't want to become your burden now, doesn't want to see you frown because you lack a suitable sword art.】
Looking at these words, Gu Chengming was somewhat stunned.
Just as Gu Chengming didn't know how to respond, the last paragraph of text popped out.
【Huiyuan Sword Manual mustered its courage and made a request to you.】
【It asked, could it... try out that Flowing Light Sword Shadow?】
【Although its aptitude is dull and it cannot let you learn directly, it is willing to try to analyze, imitate, and even devour the sword intent within it.】
"?"
Countless strange thoughts flashed through Gu Chengming's mind instantly.
There's even a plotline of "taking a concubine for her husband"?
........................................................................
Rate on N.U.
