Chapter 165: Chapter 128: Absolute Focus, the Smoke Ring’s Second Transformation

Every subtle variation of the Mural Saber Skill—the principles behind it, the trajectory of its movements, the flow of energy, the guidance of intent—was now as clear to him as the lines on his own palm.

And at that very moment, as Li Wen entered a state of Absolute Focus,

The smoke ring above his head underwent a second transformation.

It split from a single ring into two.

Li Wen, completely immersed in the world of the mural, didn’t notice a thing. But the crowd in the plaza outside was quick to spot the change.

"This... Could this be... the legendary second transformation of the Azure Jade Smoke Ring?" a senior student exclaimed in shock.

"A second transformation? This thing can change twice?"

"That’s just what I’ve heard. They say this phenomenon occurs when someone enters a state of absolute meditative focus."

...

If even a senior student knew of this, the marquises and kings on the main dais naturally understood its significance even better. All their eyes lit up.

The calm that had returned to the Chuhe King’s eyes slowly gave way to a renewed brightness.

...

An hour slipped by almost unnoticed as Li Wen’s mind remained completely submerged in the profound torrent of information.

"DONG!"

A clear, distant chime, one that seemed to cleanse the very soul, suddenly echoed throughout the Enlightenment Room, heralding the end of the enlightenment period for this group of geniuses.

The flowing radiance on the mural instantly vanished, and it reverted to its seemingly ordinary appearance as a stone carving.

The smoke rings enveloping Li Wen, as if startled by the chime, began to disintegrate wisp by wisp. They drifted away, melting back into the dense mist that filled the Enlightenment Room.

The profound, well-like depth in his eyes quietly faded.

Li Wen instinctively closed his eyes, swiftly reining in the remnants of the sharp saber aura that felt ready to erupt from his body.

He slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, tinged with the scent of green smoke, and deactivated his Absolute Focus state.

His surroundings came back into focus. He saw his fellow geniuses, one after another, being roused from their own states of immersion, their faces showing a mix of satisfaction, regret, and confusion.

Soon after, the two hundred participants were guided out of the intoxicating yet exhausting Enlightenment Room by attendants. They filed back onto the vast White Jade Plaza, which was now filled with a strange, pervasive silence.

Upon the plaza, every single gaze—from the magnates like the Chuhe King and Marquis Qingyuan on the high dais, to the teeming masses of enrolled students from Torchbearer University below,

as well as the other geniuses of their cohort who had either finished or were awaiting their assessment—all were drawn by an invisible thread, locked firmly onto the figure who had just emerged from the doorway: Li Wen.

The second transformation of the Azure Jade Smoke Ring had been too stunning, leaving an indelible mark on everyone’s minds.

Now, they were desperate to know what terrifying results this strange phenomenon had produced. Had he truly surpassed that other monstrously talented prodigy?

According to the rules, all participants had to take turns in the open space at the center of the plaza. They were to use the provided standard-issue weapons to demonstrate the techniques they had comprehended from the mural.

Each technique they successfully demonstrated would count as one comprehended form.

The participants before him took their turns, demonstrating two, three, or Five Forms, drawing scattered or widespread gasps of admiration and sighs of pity.

However, the true focus of everyone’s attention remained on Li Wen.

When the attendant in charge of calling names took a deep breath and shouted, "Li Wen, step forward!" the entire White Jade Plaza plunged from a clamor into a breathless, deathly silence.

All noise ceased as if severed by a sharp blade. Even the sound of breathing grew faint.

Thousands of gazes converged, creating an invisible pressure that focused on the young man, whose expression remained placid and whose eyes had regained their steady calm.

Feeling the countless gazes upon him—filled with expectation, curiosity, doubt, and scrutiny—Li Wen’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. He was as calm as the still, cold water of an ancient pond.

With steady steps, he walked to the center of the field and casually drew a Standard Rapier from the weapon rack.

There were no superfluous movements, no need to build up his aura.

He simply stood there, rapier in one hand. Then, he moved.

With a flick of his wrist, the rapier moved—not with thunderous force, nor along some strange, unpredictable arc.

On the contrary, his first strike seemed utterly basic—a straight downward cut.

But the instant the blade’s light fell, an indescribable rhythm manifested from thin air. The trajectory of the blade seemed to momentarily freeze a sliver of space, carrying a harmonious, profound simplicity. The air released a low hum.

It was followed by a second diagonal slash and a third horizontal cut. The movements remained simple and direct, as if he were merely practicing the most basic of saber forms.

Yet, with every swing of the blade, strange, greyish-white afterimages of saber energy—solid and un-dissipating—appeared before him.

The blade-shadows interwove, flowed, and flickered in and out of existence. After each cut, the afterimage didn’t vanish. Instead, it remained like a brand imbued with life, connecting intimately with the next strike.

Five forms!

There were now five distinct afterimages, like five sharp gateways guarding him.

Some of the onlookers couldn’t help but murmur, "Truly extraordinary." After all, mastering Five Forms was already an excellent achievement.

Six forms!

The sixth afterimage merged into the web of light, and his aura intensified, drawing glances from many of the other geniuses. The group from the Jiangnan province, especially those like Chu Feng and Nangong Xue who knew Li Wen or were following his assessment, were now watching with extreme focus.

Seven forms!

As the seventh blade-shadow took shape, the web of light suddenly expanded, faintly exuding an aura that seemed to lock down the surrounding space.

The crowd erupted once more!

Seven forms! He had already matched Du Yun.

"That’s the seventh form! And it looks like he’s not stopping!" someone cried out in astonishment.