CHAPTER 53: CHAPTER 53 DIVINE INTENT

The moon shone like silver, and the stars twinkled.

"Here, I’ve got the moves."

Shang Yunfang pushed open the door, tossed a scroll in front of Ke Yansheng, and without intending to say anything more, turned to leave.

Ke Yansheng didn’t have time to check the Ultimate Skill and hurriedly caught up to ask, "Elder Shang, what condition did you agree on? What made Elder Yang willing to part with this technique?"

"What else? Just a lot of pestering and persuasion," Shang Yunfang hummed, dissatisfied. "I simply promised him that if Jinshi Academy ever has anyone who practices Bladesmanship, I won’t keep secrets."

"Brilliant!" Ke Yansheng gave a thumbs up.

Although Medicine King Hall was united from top to bottom, and its branches were like one family, when it came down to individuals, there wasn’t a complete lack of selfishness. Even true brothers settle accounts clearly, let alone separately managed branches.

However, this condition indeed wasn’t a loss. Perhaps if Jinshi Academy encountered a Bladesmanship genius in the future, they might even be able to poach him...

Suddenly, Ke Yansheng gasped, "Could it be that Elder Yang also harbors this thought?"

"That’s why I made sure to get it today. So even if you hand it to that kid, he won’t be able to master anything in a short time. That old fellow might suspect our branch has a talent suitable for his Stick Technique, but he won’t be able to pinpoint who for the moment..." Shang Yunfang said indifferently. "You should weigh that for yourself. After all, it’s not the theft we fear, but being targeted by the thief. It would be best to settle the master-disciple relationship within this year. Just take him as your direct disciple, and you can completely dispel others’ thoughts."

Ke Yansheng said with a wry smile, "I’m just afraid of leading someone astray..."

Shang Yunfang said nothing. He left with his hands behind his back.

Ke Yansheng turned around, holding the Ultimate Skill, and went to Chen Ku’s room. He pushed open the door and said, "Kid, I found something suitable for you to practice. Take a look."

Chen Ku wasn’t prepared when Ke Yansheng pushed the door open. He got up to perform a salute, but then a sheepskin-like scroll was tossed into his hands.

He instinctively unrolled it to see four large characters written vertically in the upper right corner of the scroll.

"Skyward Strike?" Chen Ku whispered.

Ke Yansheng stood with his hands behind his back and a smile. "Take a closer look."

Chen Ku unrolled the entire scroll to find a sheepskin about one meter long. In the center of the sheepskin, a Spirit Ape was vividly drawn. Its fur bristled, with silver eyes and a red nose, it stood majestically as though a giant, holding an iron rod, plummeting down from the sky—the very moment it fiercely swung and smashed the rod downwards!

Seeing this picture of the Spirit Ape wielding a rod, Chen Ku immediately felt an intense, wild, and domineering aura transmit through the scroll, striking his very spirit and heart.

"This is?" Chen Ku muttered. He had never experienced anything like this before; just a picture alone could actually give him such an impact!

"This is the Martial Art I’ve sought for you, suitable for your practice. It is one of Medicine King Hall’s six Ultimate Skills, the Skyward Strike from the Furious Ape Mighty Staff. Although it’s only one move... every technique of the Furious Ape Mighty Staff is an Absolute Skill Level Martial Art."

Ke Yansheng explained in detail to Chen Ku, "What you see is the ’Fundamental Diagram’ for this technique; the text below is the ’Secret Fighting Technique’ that includes the flow of Force Power, the angle of the moves, and the direction of force projection."

"Ultimate Skill?" Chen Ku was in a daze. "What level is that?"

Ke Yansheng had long regarded Chen Ku as the future hope of Butcher Court and answered any question. "An Ultimate Skill refers to a Unique Skill that is extremely difficult for ordinary people to master. It is also one of the levels of Martial Arts classification, far above Superior Martial Arts. Let me put it this way: in Baojiao County, Ultimate Skills are the pinnacle of Martial Arts, belonging to the secret treasures of all major forces, gangs, and even the Yamen. It’s generally taught by a master to their disciple. Now that I’ve sought one for you ahead of time, do you realize your good fortune?"

"Thank you, Master Ke!" How could Chen Ku not understand? He bowed with clasped fists. "Disciple feels ashamed."

"Don’t talk like that. I didn’t get this for you; Elder Shang sought it for you. If you really feel grateful..." Ke Yansheng pondered for a moment. "I’ll give you one year to practice this technique to Minor Achievement, or within one year, advance your Cultivation through the Three Combinations, stepping into the Inner Qi Realm. Can you do that?"

"One year?" Chen Ku’s expression shifted slightly. He hadn’t had the chance to tell Master Ke that he managed to conduct Force Power through his Four Extremities in just a month, and now a new significant goal was set for him. Reach the Inner Qi Realm or achieve Minor Achievement in an Ultimate Skill within a year?

He took a deep breath and said, "Disciple will do his utmost and never slack off."

"Alright." Seeing Chen Ku’s reaction, Ke Yansheng looked relieved and said, "Well, the progress of your cultivation with this diagram all depends on your Root Bone and Talent. When you have time, ponder over the ’Divine Intent’ on the Fundamental Diagram, and combine it with the ’Secret Fighting Technique’. Your training in the Internal Tri-Integration will be found within."

Having said that, Ke Yansheng let Chen Ku figure it out himself, turned around, closed the door, and left. After all, he had never practiced Martial Arts at the Absolute Skill Level and couldn’t offer much guidance. Having managed to obtain this technique for Chen Ku was already the best he could do. The rest would be up to him...

After stepping out of Chen Ku’s room, Ke Yansheng looked back once more, thinking to himself, If you really manage to achieve the two objectives I mentioned within a year, I’d go to any lengths, even if it means swallowing my pride, to persuade Elder Shang to accept you. And moreover... He muttered inwardly, If this lad can reach the Inner Qi Realm within a year, why can’t he practice both Bladesmanship and Stick Technique? The treasures of Medicine King Hall are not for outsiders, after all.

After watching Ke Yansheng walk away, Chen Ku murmured softly in his heart, Master Ke is truly good to me.

Then, looking at the Fundamental Diagram in his hand, he felt the spiritual impact emanating from it. How is something like this drawn? Divine Intent? Is it emotion? Or conviction? Or perhaps something else entirely?

Internal Tri-Integration.

Unity of Move and Force requires the Secret Fighting Technique, the imparting of Secretly Transmitted Force Power, combined with the moves.

Integrating Force Power with Divine Intent requires the Fundamental Diagram, the imparting of Divine Intent, combined with Force Power.

This diagram had both the Fundamental Diagram and the Secret Fighting Technique. It could be said that Ke Yansheng had laid out the entire path to the Inner Qi Realm for him, using Martial Arts of the Peerless Level to build his foundation.

The debt of gratitude is as deep as the ocean. Chen Ku etched this kindness deeply into his memory.

Then, looking at the Transformation Diagram, he thought to himself, With my own Talent, I can only feel this impact. I’d better start practicing the Spirit Ape Transformation!

Leaving Medicine King Hall, he went to a secluded courtyard. Grabbing a random iron rod, he transformed into a small Spirit Ape and readjusted the settings of the Transformation Diagram. This allowed him, even as a small ape, to possess the strength of over 4,000 catties.

Skyward Strike... the essence of the Secret Fighting Technique described here is to make one’s Force Power form a Hollow Force. Thus, when swinging the staff down from above, in addition to one’s own Force Power, it can also draw in the surrounding airflow to create additional pressure!

Chen Ku, in his Spirit Ape Incarnation, transferred his Force Power to the tip of the rod, as effortlessly as moving his own limbs. Then, like a Fierce Ape, he leaped up and fiercely smashed it toward the earth below!

BANG!

A faint wisp of evening mist was drawn towards the tip of the rod, but in the next instant...

CLANG!

The iron rod in his hands suddenly snapped, flying backward as if it were the sharpest hidden weapon, and embedded itself into the door!

"That felt right!" Chen Ku sighed, "This rod isn’t up to the task. What should I do now!"

With his strength, now over 4,000 catties and transformed into Force Power, he could strike with precision. Combined with the Skyward Strike, an Ultimate Skill technique, the unleashed power was formidable. Even though he was just at the entry-level... a common iron rod was simply not up to the task.

I must buy a proper weapon! he thought, but then remembered he was out of money.

Left with no choice, he went to sleep. The next day, ready to spend more money, he prepared to buy a heavy Refined Iron Rod that weighed several hundred catties for his practice.

But the familiar ringing of the bells from the Three Great Courtyards reminded Chen Ku that it was time for the monthly examination again.

However, the apprentice’s monthly exam was clearly different from the clerks’, having half the number of participants. It was also more liberal, simply an exchange of insights between the Three Great Courtyards.

Chen Ku, finding himself among the apprentices’ group, went to the training field where some discussed pharmacology while others practiced Martial Arts.

I’ll just pick someone at random to get it over with, he thought. This kind of exam is unrelated to promotion and won’t affect my future, so there’s no need to put in too much effort or dedication.

But just as Chen Ku was planning to slack off, "Junior Brother Chen..."

Jiang Shaoyou came over from Jinshi Academy, smiling as he said, "It’s been a month; would you be interested in sparring with me?"