Task: Spar with Lin Xia. Reward: A bottle of second-grade Qi and Blood Pills. Completed. Claim reward?
"Don't claim it!"
Hearing the system prompt, Lin Xuan refused to claim the reward in front of Lin Xia. He planned to wait until he returned home.
"Lin Xuan, little brother, you've mastered two martial arts already. You truly have a gift for cultivation. Come with me; I'll take you to the Martial Arts Hall," Lin Xia said happily.
Soon, they arrived at the Martial Arts Hall. Before entering, Lin Xuan created a few tentative tasks:
Task: Obtain a movement martial art. Reward: A pair of iron shoes weighing one hundred pounds.
Task: Obtain a second-grade martial art. Reward: A second-grade Marrow Cleansing Pill.
"It actually works!" Lin Xuan thought, quietly giving the system a thumbs up.
The guards at the Martial Arts Hall recognized Lin Xia. After a brief exchange, they allowed her to bring Lin Xuan inside.
Inside, the hall carried a scholarly scent. Its large space was lined with redwood shelves, crammed with martial arts books.
This wasn't Lin Xuan's first visit, but previously he had only been in the first-grade martial arts section.
"Come, let's choose from the second-grade martial arts," Lin Xia said, leading him past the first-grade shelves to the second-grade section.
Compared to the first-grade area, second-grade martial arts were fewer...just three or four shelves holding about a hundred books.
Lin Xuan focused on movement martial arts first.
"'Soaring Dragon Movement,' second-grade martial art…
'Gale Step,' second-grade martial art…
'Eight Steps Catching Cicadas,' second-grade martial art…"
After browsing a dozen techniques....some focused on bursts of speed, others on agility....Lin Xuan made his choice: 'Eight Steps Catching Cicadas', a lightness skill that emphasized speed and agility, allowing one to catch a flying cicada in eight steps.
"Lin Xuan, little brother, this martial art, although second-grade, is considered top-tier for its rank.
Once mastered, your speed could rival third-grade martial arts.
The reason it wasn't upgraded is that it's extremely difficult to cultivate, requiring precise limb coordination.
No one in the clan has fully mastered it for a long time.
Are you sure you want it?" Lin Xia advised, pointing out its drawbacks.
"I'll give it a try. If it doesn't work, I'll change it later," Lin Xuan joked.
Lin Xia shrugged. "It's fine. We're family. The effort is nothing. Besides, your talent is high. You can handle it."
Next, Lin Xuan followed Lin Xia's suggestion to select a second-grade offensive martial art.
After some consideration, he chose 'Eight Desolate Palms', a popular palm technique previously cultivated by Lin Hong.
This choice suited Lin Xuan. Both were hand techniques, and with his foundation in two fist techniques, he could adapt quickly.
The wide, open movements of 'Eight Desolate Palms' resembled his 'Falling Rock Fist,' making it easier to cultivate.
After leaving the Martial Arts Hall, Lin Xuan and Lin Xia parted ways.
Task: Spar with Lin Xia. Reward: A bottle of second-grade Qi and Blood Pills. Completed. Claim reward?
Task: Obtain a movement martial art. Reward: Iron shoes weighing one hundred pounds. Completed. Claim reward?
Task: Obtain a second-grade martial art. Reward: A second-grade Marrow Cleansing Pill. Completed. Claim reward?
"Claim!"
Back in his small courtyard, Lin Xuan claimed his rewards: a bottle of second-grade Qi and Blood Pills, a Marrow Cleansing Pill, and the heavy iron shoes.
The Marrow Cleansing Pill was milky white, round as a dragon's eye, with a faint fragrance.
It cleansed the marrow, enhanced physique, and improved talent. Lin Xuan swallowed it and refined it.
As the medicine dissolved, impurities were expelled from his body, leaving a layer of black, oily residue on his skin.
After a bath, Lin Xuan began training in 'Eight Steps Catching Cicadas' and 'Penetrating Back Fist'.
The iron shoes were perfect for weighted training. Imagine the speed he would have once he mastered the technique and removed the shoes.
A month later, in his courtyard, Lin Xuan released a cicada from his palm. It flapped wildly, flying tens of meters, trying to escape.
Lin Xuan smiled and waited three seconds. Then, moving with incredible speed despite the heavy shoes, he leaped onto the wall and grabbed the cicada mid-flight.
The insect lay motionless in his hand. It had been released and caught hundreds of times for cultivation purposes, now completely drained of energy.
Task: Cultivate 'Eight Steps Catching Cicadas' 10 times. Reward: Minor Success proficiency +1. Completed. Claim reward?
"Claim!"
Task: Cultivate 'Eight Steps Catching Cicadas' to Great Success. Reward: Movement Talent (Beginner).
Essence Pill: A pill condensed from the essence of heaven and earth, enhancing Yuan Power.
After a month, Lin Xuan finally reached Great Success with 'Eight Steps Catching Cicadas.'
Second-grade martial arts required much more effort than first-grade. He had spent ten days learning the basics and another five days farming experience to reach Great Success.
During this time, he also trained 'Eight Desolate Palms' to Minor Success.
Lin Xuan realized that tasks could only be created for Great Success proficiency, not Beginner or Minor Success.
Rewards for Great Success were equivalent to first-grade Perfection rewards. Seeing this, he created new tasks:
Task: Cultivate 'Eight Steps Catching Cicadas' to Perfection. Reward: Movement Talent (Beginner).
Task: Cultivate 'Eight Desolate Palms' to Great Success. Reward: Second-grade Essence Pills.
Task: Cultivate 'Eight Desolate Palms' to Perfection. Reward: Palm Technique Talent (Beginner).
"Just reaching Perfection grants talent rewards...expected of second-grade martial arts,
" Lin Xuan said, preparing to focus on mastering 'Eight Steps Catching Cicadas' and 'Eight Desolate Palms'.
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