I, Who Hate Marine So Much, Have Become A Future Nika?

Chapter 17: Feature - Shadow of the Spirit Beast

Without immediately looking at the power-increasing feature, Zhong Cang's attention was first drawn to the proficiency limit of the Five Beasts Infusion Technique.

"The proficiency limit for the 2nd realm is 1800, higher than the 800 (2nd realm) of the Qi Consumption Technique, but far lower than the 3600 of the Ignorant Heart Sword Art... As expected, among the three techniques, the Ignorant Heart Sword Art is the most difficult and the strongest, surpassing the other two techniques by a large margin."

After sighing with emotion, Zhong Cang's attention finally turned to the feature of the Shadow of the Spirit Beast.

As a body cultivator, the Shadow of the Spirit Beast derived from the Five Beasts Infusion Technique does not allow Zhong Cang to summon the phantom of a Spirit Beast for auxiliary combat abilities.

Instead, it allows Zhong Cang to imitate the appearance of a Spirit Beast and gain the power of the Spirit Beast.

In simpler terms, Zhong Cang can activate a buff by assuming specific postures.

Among them, the White Tiger's Shadow (stretching like a fierce tiger) increases bone strength.

The Explosive Ape's Shadow (pounding the chest like a monkey) enhances muscle explosiveness.

The Spirit Deer's Shadow stimulates the internal organs through sitting and breathing, activating the body's self-healing and recovery abilities. This cannot be used during battle but is effective for healing and recovery.

The Fish Dragon's Shadow requires Zhong Cang to raise both hands above his head and twist like a snake. After this movement, water vapor will surge out from within Zhong Cang's body, making his skin smooth.

This posture reduces air friction and the smooth skin can also absorb some impact... Of course, it cannot defend against sharp cuts or burns.

Finally, the Mountainous Giant Turtle's Shadow is purely a defensive ability. By assuming the posture of a spiritual turtle and sitting still, Zhong Cang's defense is greatly enhanced.

Of course, everything comes at a price.

When displaying the postures of the Spirit Beast and gaining the power of the Spirit Beast, Zhong Cang does not do so without any cost.

Spiritual energy is the foundation of cultivators' practice and the source of all their transcendent abilities.

Assuming special postures can gain power, which is also the function of spiritual energy.

In other words, every time Zhong Cang uses the Shadow of the Spirit Beast, he consumes a large amount of spiritual energy.

At the same time, because he is only proficient in the technique at a certain level, Zhong Cang's understanding of the Five Beasts Infusion Technique is not deep. Therefore, currently, he can only have one Shadow of the Spirit Beast attached to him and cannot simultaneously have all five beasts, bringing good fortune... No, it should be having all five beasts present.

"Moreover, because of the influence of the beast's shadow, my cultivation method has also changed. From now on, every time I cultivate, I can have the beast's shadow possess me, which should greatly increase the efficiency of my cultivation and body tempering..."

Zhong Cang didn't think too much about this aspect.

It's not that he doesn't care about cultivation, but continuous defeats in battle have accumulated countless fighting spirit and anger in Zhong Cang's heart.

At this moment, his cultivation advanced (physical body) and he gained an explosive feature, greatly increasing Zhong Cang's combat power.

He couldn't wait to wipe away his past shame!

"Yan Lingdie, here I come!"

...

With a heart full of fighting spirit, Zhong Cang arrived at the training ground, waiting for Yan Lingdie to arrive.

However, what made him frowned was that he had been waiting under the tree all morning and still hadn't seen Yan Lingdie's figure.

She didn't come in the afternoon either.

This scene made Zhong Cang feel a bit frustrated.

"She's not coming? She happened to give up sparring with me on the day I advanced... How unlucky."

Unable to wipe away his past shame, Zhong Cang showed a bitter expression.

This scene was seen by You Tao, who thought that Zhong Cang was feeling bitter because he had been "abandoned."

"A few days ago, Brother Zhong could defeat Yan Lingdie, but now he can't win even once. That lady doesn't even want to come anymore. If it were me, I would feel uncomfortable too."

Thinking like this, he didn't take pleasure in others' misfortune but deliberately came over to comfort Zhong Cang.

"Brother Zhong, don't worry too much. The cultivation families have abundant resources, and it's normal for us to not catch up with their progress. Your strength is already very good."

"And don't worry too much about making money. With your swordsmanship, there are plenty of people willing to hire you as a sparring partner."

"Uh..."

Zhong Cang could sense the reason why You Tao came to comfort him. With his mouth slightly open, he really wanted to say that You Tao got it wrong. He wasn't feeling bitter because he was abandoned, but because his strength had greatly improved while his opponent ran away.

But in the end, he didn't say anything.

After a few words of agreement, Zhong Cang closed his eyes and began to meditate under the tree.

He resumed his practice of the Ignorant Heart Sword Art and Qi Consumption Technique.

On this day, Yan Lingdie did not come.

The next day, she still did not come.

Just when Zhong Cang thought that Yan Lingdie would not come again in the short term, on the third day, Yan Lingdie reappeared on the training ground.

Upon seeing her, Zhong Cang's three days of accumulated fighting spirit were completely ignited, and his eyes instantly became sharp.

The Sword Intent can suppress others with one's will.

A Gold Core level sword cultivator can directly break the opponent's mind with Sword Intent, making them fearful and unable to resist.

A Nascent Soul level sword cultivator can even kill the opponent's soul with Sword Intent.

Although Zhong Cang had not reached this level, under the influence of Sword Heart, those who were stared at by him would still feel a connection.

Just like Yan Lingdie, when she was stared at by Zhong Cang's sharp eyes, she felt a chill despite her body being heated up from practicing the Heavenly Flame Spirit Scripture.

Yan Lingdie noticed this slight anomaly and subconsciously looked in the direction that caused her physical reaction.

Then, she saw Zhong Cang's sharp and bright eyes.

After discovering Zhong Cang, Yan Lingdie was momentarily stunned. After hesitating for a moment, she still walked towards Zhong Cang with her sword.

Shui Bo, who was beside them, also saw Zhong Cang.

After seeing Miss Yan Lingdie walking towards Zhong Cang, he hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Miss, you have an appointment and time is running out."

"I know. But I don't need much time to deal with him. What's his name again... this Zhong?" Yan Lingdie thought for a moment but couldn't remember Zhong Cang's name, so she said indifferently, "Never mind, it's not important... This sparring partner was the first person to defeat me on the training ground, and he taught me how to fight. He is an important milestone on my cultivation path."

"Although he can't keep up with my progress now, I still want to say goodbye to him formally, as a farewell to the weak me."

"Also, Shui Bo, after this battle, give him fifty spirit stones."

Spirit stones are precious, but Shui Bo did not object to Yan Lingdie's act of giving fifty spirit stones as a reward. Instead, he nodded in agreement, "He has helped you, so it is indeed appropriate to reward him."

It can only be said that in the Immortal Cultivation World, due to the difference in strength, the wealth gap is also ridiculously large.

...

While giving instructions to the guardian, Yan Lingdie looked at Zhong Cang and fell into reminiscence.

She recalled every detail of her battles with Zhong Cang, from the initial frustration of losing to him, to the excitement of barely winning, and now, the boredom of easily defeating him.

Looking at the once powerful enemy who is now almost no match for her, the young Yan Lingdie suddenly felt a sense of change.

At the same time, she also deeply understood what her mother meant when she said that the cultivation path is a lonely one.

"In the process of cultivation, I will encounter countless people, but not everyone can accompany me to the end, so I must learn to let go... Mother, I have understood the meaning of your words."

"...Shui Bo, increase the reward to one hundred spirit stones."

Zhong Cang did not know what Yan Lingdie was thinking, but he could hear her words.

Upon learning that she wanted to reward him with one hundred spirit stones, Zhong Cang, who was not stupid, instantly understood that in Yan Lingdie's eyes, this would be their final battle.

Thinking of this, Zhong Cang chuckled self-deprecatingly.

"I really am being underestimated."

...

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(End of this chapter)