Chapter 387: All Points into Spirit!

Wangchuan noticed something.

When he practiced 《Raging Tide Sword Art》, he had not yet used its “doubled internal energy infusion.”

Under normal cultivation, with normal internal energy infusion, each strike consumed 2 points.

If he truly wanted to trigger the increase in attack power, then he needed to infuse double the internal energy, unleash the true profundity of 《Raging Tide Sword Art》, and reveal its real edge.

An ordinary move consumed 2 points of internal energy. Under doubled infusion, each move would consume 4 points!

“The third strike… surely it doesn’t keep doubling the infusion on top of the previous amount?”

No one could sustain many moves if it multiplied like that.

With that thought in mind, Wangchuan immediately tested it.

He aimed at the Iron Dummy Stake!

Then launched into a rapid assault.

The first strike used normal internal energy infusion.

A sword mark instantly appeared on the Iron Dummy Stake, slicing through two layers of iron plating and sending sparks flying.

Immediately afterward, he infused double the internal energy, consuming 4 points…

Its edge suddenly grew far fiercer, drawing out a sharper sword cry as it tore through three layers of iron plating in one go!

Wangchuan continued pouring in internal energy!

Internal energy consumed… 6 points!

The sword edge swept past, cutting through all three layers of iron plating on the dummy stake and nearly severing half of it. The power was already extraordinary.

A smile appeared on Wangchuan’s face.

If the third strike only consumed 6 points of internal energy, then that was manageable…

Manageable, my foot!

At higher realms, the fourth strike would consume 8 points of internal energy, the fifth strike 10 points, and so on. At that rate, even his internal energy would not endure forty strikes—especially since in actual combat he would also need to activate 《Xuanwu Art》, 《Dragon-Elephant Body-Protection Technique》, and 《Cloud Ladder》, all of which consumed internal energy as well.

“The higher the rank of a martial art, the greater its demand for internal energy!”

“But a high realm in an internal cultivation method alone only brings limited advantages.”

“My Spirit Attribute is too low.”

“My internal energy cap is right here.”

“This is frustrating.”

At that moment, Wangchuan suddenly realized that keeping his Free Attribute Points in reserve had apparently been the right decision.

Those points ought to be used on the Spirit Attribute, not blindly spent on forcing breakthroughs into higher ranks.

Once things truly reached the later stages, when everyone’s martial arts realms had risen, the decisive factor in victory would most likely be internal energy.

With that question in mind, he logged off and asked Li Na.

Although Li Na was only a second-rank martial artist, behind her stood the spirit realm Online Guidance Center.

Li Na told him:

“The further you go, the more important the Spirit Attribute really becomes. Right now, many powerful experts and noble elites are all searching for martial arts that can increase Spirit!”

“The ways to increase the Spirit Attribute are these: once all kinds of martial arts are cultivated to the Perfect Mastery realm or higher, they grant 1 point of Spirit. Once they reach the Apex realm, they grant 2 points of Spirit. Beyond that, you have to seek out ultimate arts.”

Li Na then revealed an important piece of information to him:

“Every year, as the end-of-year holiday period approaches, a batch of ultimate arts is released in various places. In the capital especially, I’ve heard it always triggers fierce battles among all kinds of factions and studios. If you can obtain even a single ultimate art, a martial artist’s strength will soar!”

“What kind of ultimate arts?”

Wangchuan was immediately intrigued.

Li Na replied:

“For example, among Shaolin’s Seventy-Two Ultimate Arts, there are things like 《Great Strength Vajra Leg》, 《Dharma Staff Art》, and 《Flower-Twirling Finger》. Then there are arts from the Emei Sect like 《Emei Kill》 and 《Wild Tempest Sword Art》, from Wudang things like 《Pure Yang Infinity Art》, 《Taiji Fist》, and 《Silken Soft Sword》, from Kongtong things like 《Seven-Injuries Fist》, and so on…”

“There are also ultimate arts from great clans and famous families.”

Wangchuan froze, deeply astonished.

“If these are their ultimate arts, why would they release them? Aren’t those the very means they rely on to survive?”

When ordinary martial arts manuals were leaked, every sect and school would hunt the offender to the ends of the earth. By all rights, these ultimate arts should never appear at all.

“We had our doubts too, actually.”

Li Na said,

“But the people above us blocked the question on the grounds that our clearance was insufficient. Perhaps you can ask the higher-ups yourself, boss. After all, you already have a certain amount of Jianghu Reputation now.”

“What Jianghu Reputation? My current ranking is beyond two hundred thousand. At that rate, I don’t even know how many years it’ll take me to reach the front.”

Li Na looked at him with eyes full of admiration.

“Boss, if you ever borrow the Caobang’s platform again and hold an even larger martial tournament, I think you would definitely be able to gain far more Jianghu Reputation.”

“Forget it.”

Wangchuan had already seen through it.

“The Caobang’s foundation is enough to hold a martial tournament for those below third rank. Anything above that, and they simply can’t suppress the field.”

Through the Caobang’s Armory Manual Vault, he had already seen its foundations and its limits.

That road was impossible.

“Compared to holding another martial tournament, it would be better if one of the famous sects held one and I just went to compete for a ranking. That might give me a little hope.”

“…”

Li Na fell into thought, then said:

“Actually, this martial tournament has given the spirit realm Online Guidance Center some inspiration as well. If we can find a suitable sect and get the proposal approved, then we really might be able to help a group of people obtain much higher Jianghu Reputation.”

At those words, Wangchuan’s heart stirred.

“That would be excellent. When the time comes, perhaps I’ll have another chance to gain another batch of Jianghu Reputation.”

“All right. I’ll continue following up on it. If the Center gets any similar news, I’ll let you know in advance,” Li Na replied.

Wangchuan nodded in satisfaction.

Although Li Na did not have that much day-to-day overlap with him in terms of work, the fact that she had managed a studio of one thousand people so efficiently, without causing him trouble, was already impressive enough.

“Good!”

With the conversation over,

Wangchuan logged back in and, without hesitation, placed all 12 Free Attribute Points into Spirit.

Wangchuan: Male (Hunger 99/100)

(Life Profession: Blacksmith)

(Combat Profession: Fourth-Rank Martial Artist)

Strength 80; Attack 26–27;

Agility 117; Defense 23.4; Speed +117;

Stamina 86; HP 860/860;

Spirit 41: Internal Energy 410/410.

Free Attributes: 0;

(Martial Arts Folded)

His internal energy cap had risen to 410.

The amount of time he could train in the training ground increased accordingly. Each session now gained him 8 to 9 points of experience.

After spending two solid days and two nights grinding away there, he finally raised 《Raging Tide Sword Art》 to the Practice Makes Perfect realm.

“Ding!”

The system prompt sounded:

“《Raging Tide Sword Art》 has advanced from ‘Minor Mastery’ to ‘Practice Makes Perfect.’ Reward: +2 Agility.”

《Raging Tide Sword Art》 had now entered a bottleneck. To continue improving it, he would need actual combat.

Without pausing for even a moment, Wangchuan prepared to cultivate 《Star-Plucking Hand》 and 《Flying Dragon Hand Technique》.

He would train 《Star-Plucking Hand》 first, lest once 《Flying Dragon Hand Technique》 rose in realm, 《Star-Plucking Hand》 would no longer be able to provide Attribute rewards.

However!

To train hidden weapon techniques here, he first needed to get hold of a batch of hidden weapons.

Wangchuan found Lin Zhentao and asked him to help procure a batch of them.

Lin Zhentao complied immediately.

Before long, he delivered Iron Caltrops, throwing knives, and darts—one full chest of each.

But soon afterward, two fourth-rank martial artists moved into the west wing under Lin Zhentao’s guidance, becoming Wangchuan’s neighbors.

One came from Heitu Commandery, and one from Shenyu Commandery. Both were Deputy Hall Masters.

Then Elder Wan Xiwen arrived.

After meeting the two Deputy Hall Masters,

the two of them were exceedingly polite. Each of them produced a Gold Note.

“Elder Wan, whether we brothers can become Hall Masters this time will depend entirely on you, sir.”