[Protagonist's Comprehension Halo]:The ability to understand various martial arts techniques significantly increases. If you can't grasp the essence at first glance, can you still be called a protagonist?
"Understanding with just one look... This is truly remarkable!" Su Zhan smiled with satisfaction as he examined the system interface.
"Zhan'er, I never expected you to possess such formidable power!" Su Tianhai exclaimed, his voice filled with astonishment.
However, concern quickly clouded his features. "But Zhan'er, revealing your strength so boldly may not have been wise. Now that the three great families know of your capabilities, they will undoubtedly seek to eliminate you by any means necessary!"
Su Zhan chuckled softly, his expression remaining calm. "Father, do you truly believe that if I had concealed my strength, those families would have allowed our Su clan to live in peace?"
Su Tianhai fell silent, his weathered face reflecting deep contemplation. As the patriarch of the family, he understood the harsh reality all too well. The three major families had always viewed the Su clan as their target, and now they seemed to have formed an alliance specifically to pressure them into submission.
A heavy sigh escaped his lips.
Seeing his father's troubled expression, Su Zhan maintained his confident smile, feeling no pressure whatsoever. The patriarchs of the three great families had only reached the peak of the Qi Sea Realm, while he had already attained the middle stage. With his cultivation halo's assistance, surpassing them was merely a matter of time.
Moreover, now that he possessed the comprehension halo, his concerns about the three families had diminished even further.
"Su Zhan! How dare you assault my servant!"
An enraged voice suddenly echoed from outside the hall. Su Heng, the Su family's most talented genius, stormed into the room with fury blazing in his eyes. Behind him followed the servant who had been thoroughly beaten by Su Zhan earlier, his face still bearing the marks of their encounter.
After offering a respectful bow to Su Tianhai, the servant immediately pointed an accusatory finger at Su Zhan. "Young Master, he not only struck this humble servant but also declared that you should keep your dog properly leashed to prevent it from making disgusting spectacles of itself!"
Su Heng's face darkened as he restrained himself slightly in Su Tianhai's presence. "Su Zhan," he said through gritted teeth, "how do you explain this?"
Su Zhan's response was immediate and unapologetic. "Explain? What exactly should I explain? I did indeed strike your dog and speak those words. What do you intend to do about it?"
Su Heng's anger flared at this brazen admission. "Insolent... You're so arrogant... Very well! I challenge you to a duel!"
"A challenge?" Su Zhan rose from his chair with casual confidence. "Excellent. That is, if you're truly capable of backing up those words."
The moment Su Zhan stood, an overwhelming wave of true qi erupted from his body, forcing Su Heng to stagger backward several steps.
Qi Sea Realm!
More than that—he had clearly reached the middle stage of the Qi Sea Realm!
How could Su Zhan have become so powerful?
Terror gripped Su Heng's heart as the reality of the situation became clear. A formal challenge could determine not only victory and defeat but life and death itself. With the cultivation level Su Zhan now displayed, attempting to fight him would be tantamount to suicide.
"Come now, show me what you're capable of! Didn't you want to challenge me just moments ago?" Su Zhan's aura continued to intensify, his true qi fluctuations ready to explode at any moment.
Su Heng immediately retreated, maintaining a distance of ten meters as he stammered, "No, no, no! I misspoke earlier! Yes, I completely misspoke! I never intended to challenge you!"
"If you never intended to challenge me, then why did you come seeking me out?"
"I came to find you because..." Su Heng's mind raced desperately as he glanced at his equally stunned servant, then quickly found an escape route. "I came to apologize!"
"Young Master, I—"
"Kneel!" Su Heng commanded sharply.
The servant immediately dropped to his knees, trembling with fear. Initially, he had assumed Su Zhan was only marginally stronger than Su Heng, but now it was evident that Su Zhan far surpassed even the Su family's greatest genius. Had he known this earlier, even with a hundred lives, he wouldn't have dared to provoke Su Zhan!
"An apology... very well. In the future, pay closer attention to your dog's behavior so it doesn't disturb others around you," Su Zhan said with obvious disappointment, his cold gaze fixed on the servant.
Under that intimidating stare, the servant trembled even more violently.
"Yes, I will certainly be more vigilant!" Su Heng nodded frantically while glaring furiously at his servant.
How dare this fool provoke Su Zhan? Does he have a death wish?
Bastard!
SLAP!
The blow sent the servant tumbling, blood streaming from his mouth.
"Young Master, I—"
SLAP!
Another vicious strike followed.
"Su Heng, this is the main hall. If you wish to discipline your servant, do so elsewhere!" Su Tianhai interjected with a disapproving frown.
"My apologies! My anger got the better of me, and I showed disrespect to the patriarch," Su Heng replied with a respectful bow before immediately seizing his bloodied servant and dragging him away.
"Please, no! I know I was wrong! Forgive me, Young Master Su Heng!" the servant pleaded desperately, fully aware of Su Heng's cruel methods of punishment.
But his pleas fell on deaf ears.
"Young Master Su Zhan, please! Have mercy on me! Young Master Su Zhan..."
The terrified, regretful cries gradually faded as they disappeared from the hall.
Su Zhan paid no attention to the servant's fate. After a brief conversation with Su Tianhai, he returned to his residence and retrieved a martial arts manual from his wardrobe.
This was a high-grade mortal-level sword technique belonging to the Su family—the Heavenly Frost Sword Technique, their clan's most powerful sword art!
Ordinary disciples were not qualified to practice it, but as the family head's son, Su Zhan had been granted access to this technique since childhood. However, due to his previously poor talent, he had been unable to comprehend its complexities, leaving the manual untouched until now.
With his new comprehension halo activated, he was ready to attempt it once more.
Taking a deep breath, Su Zhan opened to the first page. The previously incomprehensible and obscure passages now appeared remarkably simple and clear. Moreover, just by reading the instructions, he felt as though he could execute the techniques immediately.
"This might just be an illusion," he murmured with slight hesitation. "Understanding the theory doesn't necessarily mean I can master it in practice, right?"
Despite his doubts, Su Zhan retrieved his sword and made his way to the courtyard outside his chambers. Recalling the Heavenly Frost Sword Technique's principles, he began to channel his energy into the blade.
Heavenly Frost Sword Technique!
True qi flowed through the sword as he executed a horizontal slash, releasing a crescent-shaped blade of ice-infused energy that flew five meters before striking a peach tree in the courtyard. The attack cleanly severed the trunk, leaving a layer of frost coating the cut surface.
"Incredible! I truly have mastered this technique!" Su Zhan felt as though he were experiencing a dream.
Mastery of martial arts was divided into four distinct stages: Entry Level, Minor Achievement, Major Achievement, and Perfection. Typically, it took an ordinary person at least two weeks just to reach the Entry Level of the Heavenly Frost Sword Technique, yet he had achieved it merely by reading the manual once.
This was absolutely extraordinary!
Filled with excitement, Su Zhan continued practicing the Heavenly Frost Sword Technique with dedicated focus.
Three days later, just as he achieved Perfection in the technique, the familiar sound of the system chimed in his mind.
"Ding! Achievement task 'Reaching Perfection in Your First Martial Technique' completed! You have unlocked a new halo: [Protagonist's Intent Halo]!"
[Protagonist's Intent Halo]:No matter how ordinary a martial arts technique may be, it can develop intent—that's what makes someone a true protagonist!
"Intent?" Su Zhan paused in surprise.
Wasn't intent a realm that could only be achieved through Xuan-level martial arts techniques combined with a cultivation foundation in the Yuan Condensation Realm?
Curious, Su Zhan attempted to practice the Heavenly Frost Sword Technique once more. To his amazement, the technique that had already reached Perfection managed to advance even further!
Before his sword even made contact with its target, the weapon's intent had already enveloped the strike zone with invisible pressure.
"I actually succeeded in cultivating Heavenly Frost Sword Intent!"
Su Zhan's eyes lit up with excitement. A sword technique imbued with intent was several times more powerful than one without it! With his current strength, he didn't even need to draw his blade—simply releasing his sword intent could suppress all cultivators below the Qi Sea Realm and render them incapable of fighting!
This was merely a preliminary understanding of Sword Intent. Once his comprehension reached an extraordinary level of perfection, even powerful experts in the Yuan Condensation Realm would struggle to withstand his attacks!
"Young Master, the guests have arrived and the birthday celebration will begin shortly. The patriarch has summoned you to attend immediately," announced a servant who appeared at the courtyard entrance, speaking with the utmost respect.
"Have the people from the three major families already arrived?" Su Zhan inquired.
The servant answered nervously, "The patriarchs of the three major families along with more than a dozen elders have already assembled!"
"So many have come... it seems they're determined to make their move today. Excellent—this saves me the trouble of visiting their compounds individually."
Su Zhan's eyes gleamed with anticipation as he sheathed his sword and strode purposefully from the courtyard.