Enlightenment: Beginning as a Disposable Warrior-Chapter 78 - 72: Torrential Rain Gun Force, Comprehension Transformation!
"Li, among all of Qingyun County, Eighth-Grade Martial Arts are already quite rare. However, our Demon Slayer Bureau does possess several to be exchanged. But to do so requires not only corresponding merit, at minimum you must also hold the identity of a Silver Blade Catcher."
"How can one be promoted to a Silver Token?"
"Just by virtue of you eliminating Zhou Tiande, I had already wished to promote you to Silver Blade Catcher out of turn. However, according to the rules of the Demon Slayer Bureau of Qingzhou Prefecture, there’s one more clause: at least ten rewards must be completed."
"Zhou Tiande counts as five; plus the previous one, that leaves four remaining, correct?" Su Mu spoke calmly.
"That’s right."
Li Zhihe nodded and added, "Of course, I can immediately have someone fetch the list of Grade-Entering Martial Arts."
Before long, a constable brought over a rather exquisite cloth scroll.
"Please, Li, have a look." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚
Su Mu took the scroll with a cupped fist, Li Zhihe watched Su Mu’s every move, a trace of doubt and contemplation flickering in his eyes.
Eighth Grade Bone Forging Realm, mastering Transforming Force, and able to leap an entire major Realm to slay Seventh Grade Zhou Tiande—Su Mu’s strength was truly formidable, not to be judged by conventional standards.
These past days, Li Zhihe had secretly sent men to investigate around Vajra Temple.
Yet this Li Feiyu seemed to appear from thin air; they could not find a single useful clue. It seemed the Vajra Temple did not have a person like this either.
After all, with such talent as Su Mu, in Vajra Temple he would by no means be an obscure nobody, and would certainly receive heavy support from the temple. Such a person could not leave no trace at all.
Furthermore, if Su Mu truly was from Vajra Temple, why seek after the Bone Forging Formula with such hunger? Li Zhihe’s heart had long harbored suspicion, yet dared not conclude.
Today, seeing Su Mu personally request to exchange for Eighth-Grade Martial Arts, he believed it a few points more. In Li Zhihe’s eyes, Su Mu’s origins were a mystery, his body harboring many secrets, but he did not seem to be from a great power.
"When this man went to Great Mist Mountain to kill Zhao Xuan, he casually saved Miss Yan, yet did not demand reward... During this Black Mountain Town escort assignment, according to Cyan Cloud Army Commander Shi Hong’s report, this Li Feiyu appears to have an intense enmity with the Black Mountain Rebel Army. He even personally killed the Flame Banner Master Zhou Tiande..."
"Li Feiyu is upright in heart, and has a feud with the Black Mountain Army... a man worth using!"
After some pondering, Li Zhihe arrived at a conclusion, heart filled with unexpected delight.
Without the Vajra Temple connection, he could instead use this blade, Li Feiyu, even more handily. This was a fortunate turn.
As for Su Mu’s true identity, Li Zhihe had no intention to dig deeper; it sufficed to treat Li Feiyu as a Vajra Temple disciple for now, as everyone on the surface would believe so.
"This Li Feiyu is a talent and worthy of cultivation... Once the situation in Qingyun County stabilizes, perhaps I can submit a memorial to Qingzhou Prefecture. But first, this blade needs further honing."
Su Mu naturally knew nothing of Li Zhihe’s schemes. After receiving the scroll, he opened it. The scroll was packed full—at a glance more than twenty Martial Arts listed.
Yet most were only Ninth-Grade Martial Arts, with only three of Eighth Grade.
As for spending merit to exchange for Ninth-Grade Martial Arts at the Demon Slayer Bureau—there was no need. He might as well go buy several directly at the Black Market.
"’Rain-Repelling Sword Technique,’ ’Seven Kills Saber Technique,’... and ’Demon Subduing Fist.’"
Of the three Eighth-Grade Martial Arts available for exchange at the Bureau, two were Weapon Techniques, one a Fist Technique.
At a glance, Su Mu felt little interest in the two Weapon Techniques. Having once experienced the domineering might of the Great Spear, he was only fond of spear techniques—thus, his choice was merely the ’Demon Subduing Fist.’
"If in the future I can exchange for all, I’d choose the ’Demon Subduing Fist’ first, then those two Weapon Techniques."
Su Mu did not hesitate—his heart made up in an instant.
"These three Eighth-Grade Martial Arts on the scroll each have their strengths, but I think this ’Demon Subduing Fist’ is most suitable for you, Li. It is also the toughest to cultivate. This Fist Technique not only demands extremely high Power, but also a strong physical body; only with a foundation in Cross-Training Martial Arts can one bring out its might. These, Li, you possess."
Li Zhihe’s timely words made Su Mu’s heart stir.
"Thank you for the guidance, Director Li."
Li Zhihe waved with a smile, "Any of these three require ten Level 3 reward certificates for exchange, or three Second-Level Reward certificates."
Su Mu’s gaze flickered, adopting a respectful, listening posture.
"Silver Blade Catchers may accept Second-Level Rewards. Level 3 Rewards are for Eighth Grade Bone Forger Villains; above that, Second-Level Rewards are naturally for those Seventh-Grade Muscle Strengthening Realm Villains."
Su Mu, for now, did not plan to take on more bounty missions. Next, he aimed for Second Bone Forging and Great Success in the Vajra Body. Matters of Eighth-Grade Martial Arts would have to wait—otherwise, it would be to discard the essential for the trivial.
The two exchanged a few more words in the study, during which Li Zhihe offered an extra reminder.
"Li, whatever you exchange from the Bureau, whether prescription or future Martial Arts Secret Manual, must be used only for yourself—never passed to others, or our Demon Slayer Bureau will mete out strict punishment."
Su Mu nodded lightly. Soon, carrying the prescription and fifteen boxes of Bone-Forger Ointment, he took his leave.
...
Leaving the Demon Slayer Bureau, Li Feiyu checked to make sure there were no tails, then quickly vanished into the alleys.
In the residence on Yanque Street, Su Mu could hardly suppress his excitement. Unable to wait, he took out the Bone Forging Formula and carefully studied each ingredient.
A recipe appeared instantly in his mind; Su Mu, with his photographic memory, had already committed it to heart.
"Most of the herbs needed to refine Bone-Forger Ointment are available on the market... but a few I’ve never heard of, and will likely require some effort to find."
But Su Mu was not anxious to refine the ointment. Not only did he have the prescription, but also fifteen whole boxes of ointment—plenty for completing his Second Bone Forging. Achieving the Second Bone Forging was his current priority.
Before beginning, Su Mu opened all the ointment boxes and carefully inspected each, ensuring none were tampered with, before he began application.
Once the ointment was smeared on his arm, within five breaths he felt the medicinal effect. Under the movement of his powerful Force, the ointment rapidly dissolved, further catalyzing the medicine’s efficacy.
The warm current wrapping his bones grew hotter and more scalding, temperature climbing ever higher. Even with such fierce medicinal effect, Su Mu felt it was not enough, intensifying the Power within still more.
Until it felt as though flames baked his bones—fine beads of sweat burst forth, soaking his clothes. Su Mu pulled off his garments, commencing cultivation of Vajra Body at once.
Roar!
A low, deep Tiger Roar lingered above the house, the youth’s breathing steady, quickly entering a state of selfless cultivation.
When one devotes themselves fully to a task, time passes like water flowing through one’s fingers—silently gone. Amid thunder and rain, Qingyun County ushered in early summer.
Two months later.
The night was like ink spilled thick; violent winds tore at the sky, as a sudden rainstorm poured down like a breached river.
Yet in such a torrential downpour, a silhouette moved within the courtyard.
Whoosh, whoosh!
A white wax wood pole spear in the youth’s hand swept like a dragon. Thrust after thrust, spear shadows formed a dense web, swift and continuous, actually holding back the sheets of rain outside.
At a certain moment—
The youth’s aura suddenly surged. With a flick of his wrist, the white wax wood pole spear spun at high speed like a white flood dragon bursting from the sea, stabbing forth. All at once, a sound like a waterfall rushing erupted.
Rainstorm Spear Technique: Hundred Waterfalls Fall!
One sound was followed by a second, then a third. The roaring waterfall sounds did not cease—the most lethal move of the Rainstorm Spear Technique was unleashed repeatedly by the youth!
The spear in the youth’s hand became like a torrent of cascading waterfalls, unleashed with abandon—he even stabbed heavenward, where the waterfall seemed to surge skywards in a mighty flow.
A rare spectacle was born: around a full ten-foot radius of pouring rain was, in that instant, swept upward in defiance of gravity by the force of his upward-thrusting spear—a suspended waterfall roiling to the heavens.
As the move finished, the youth’s whole body gave a sudden shudder; the waterfalls vanished, and the torrential rain drenched him. Yet his eyes shone still brighter.
Torrential Rain Spear Technique (Perfection)
"My spear technique has reached Perfection!"
Light flashed through Su Mu’s eyes; his heart was wild with delight.
The Rainstorm Spear Technique—the first Weapon Technique Su Mu had grasped—was gained from killing a Black Mountain Rebel Army centurion. This spear art, originating from the Southern Border, embodies ’torrential rain pouring, ceaseless and unbroken’; once suppressed by its rhythm, a foe is as if trapped in a rainstorm, unable to break free.
He’d begun cultivating this Spear Technique before ever meeting the Pharmacist of Qingyun City. Over nearly a year’s training with the spear, many had perished beneath it—Zhao Xuan and others among them. Even Zhou Tiande, a Realm higher than Su Mu, had suffered defeat by it.
After the battle with Zhou Tiande, Su Mu’s comprehension of the spear technique deepened. One month later, today, he finally reached new heights—ascending from Great Success to the Realm of Perfection.
In this instant, Su Mu distinctly sensed a brand-new Power arising from his lower abdomen. With Torrential Rain Spear Technique reaching Perfection, its unique force was born within his body.
This Torrential Rain Gun Force rapidly grew within Su Mu, then merged with the river of Power inside him.
With five Martial Arts at Perfection, the river of Power roared and surged—all the more torrential in its momentum.
In this storm, the mighty river of Power inside Su Mu swelled higher, growing ever more solid. The current faintly showed signs of ascending to an even higher level—evolving toward a solid state.
"Hmm?!"
With extraordinary Comprehension, Su Mu, under Introspection, saw this scene; brilliance flashed in his eyes, his body shuddered as he seized a burst of Spiritual Light.
"From liquid water to a more condensed, solid force... Perhaps this is the path to a Fourth Refining Force, after mastering Transforming Force!"
The clouds parted and the sun broke through—a rush of insight flooded his mind. Su Mu ignored peripheral details and, right there in the downpour, sat cross-legged on the ground.
The Power in his body surged; Transforming Force became Invisible Armor, dissipating any rain that fell on him. His clothes remained dry—and in that mysterious process, the Invisible Armor seemed to undergo a subtle change, hinting at becoming something tangible.
Just then—
Crack------
A crisp sound, like shattering porcelain, echoed in Su Mu’s mind—quickly followed by sequential breaks.
The limit of Instant-Insight level comprehension was riddled with cracks. It was as if something spiritual had been born inside Su Mu, unsatisfied with merely the bounds of one-hearing, thousand-insight, longing to break the shackles of its own Comprehension.
Boom!
The shackles shattered completely.
Comprehension: 42!
At this moment, Su Mu could clearly sense a transformation in his Comprehension. A warmth welled from his belly; the newly birthed spiritual presence joyfully roamed his limbs and meridians, finally rising to his brow.
Buzz--------
Just then, Su Mu felt his senses—already far superior to ordinary people, even those of the same Grade Martial Artist—rise explosively once more. In a trance, that sensation of his soul leaving his body returned again.
This time, compared to Instant-Insight, it was far clearer—several, maybe dozens of times stronger!
Su Mu’s soul drifted away, and amidst the rainstorm transformed into a Flood Dragon—wind follows the tiger, clouds follow the dragon.
With a thought, the Flood Dragon soared thousands of feet skyward—as the dragon, Su Mu took in the whole of Qingyun City at a glance. His view stretched out; the mountains, rivers, all around Qingyun City fell into his eyes.
As that marvelous state was about to fade, Su Mu caught sight, to both the north and south of Cyan Cloud, of two glimmers of color—one strong, one faint.
The strong glow was jet-black as ink; the weaker, a strange blood-red.
An instant later, the cloud-riding dragon returned to his brow, becoming a Hidden Dragon in the Abyss.
...
