Chapter 59: Chapter 54: Spirit Stream Finger - Jie Technique, Advancement, Trait: Bright Mirror Stilled Water - Ripples (2)

[You have gained a new understanding of the Power of Flow. Spirit Stream Finger - Jie Technique progress +371.]

The system’s prompt confirmed for Zhong Ming that this approach worked.

And with that, Zhong Ming felt he had found a trump card.

’If I could channel fatigue, weakness, physical debility, or other malevolent energies into someone else’s body, I could instantly incapacitate them... If I could send the very concept of death...’

With this in mind, Zhong Ming began to experiment.

His first idea was to imitate the Clear Sound Spring Stone and flush the fatigue and pain from his body.

Then, he discovered he was completely incapable of doing so.

’My understanding is still too shallow. I’m no match for the naturally formed Treasure Clear Sound Spring Stone...’

’Mental fatigue and pain... These concepts are too esoteric. I can’t even touch them, let alone flush them away with Magical Power.’

It just went to show that exotic treasures lived up to their name; there was a reason they were so expensive.

Still, though Zhong Ming sighed inwardly, he wasn’t too disappointed.

He opened his status panel for a quick glance, and a sense of satisfaction welled up within him.

There, the progress for his Spirit Stream Finger - Jie Technique had reached [Second Realm Insight (4373/5500)].

’With the Clear Sound Spring Stone as a reference, and the fact that it can refresh my Divine Soul’s state, I won’t even have to wait until tomorrow. This Cultivation Technique will advance to the Third Realm.’

’When it advances, not only will I comprehend a new trait, but it will also allow my five applications of the Flow of Water to stack, and I’ll comprehend another Dao Rhyme on top of that.’

’And at that time, both my raw power and my Daoist Skills will experience a massive leap in growth.’

’If I can get the aid of a Dao Rhyme related to the Flow of Water, I might just be able to flush the fatigue from my body...’

Despite these thoughts, Zhong Ming did not rush his cultivation.

The Clear Sound Spring Stone gave Zhong Ming confidence for the month-end assessment, which in turn gave him some leeway in his cultivation schedule.

Hmm... but the more important reason was that the Clear Sound Spring Stone only emitted that beautiful, melodious Dripping Water Clear Sound—the one that could cleanse his entire Divine Soul—once every six *shichen*.

Six *shichen* was twelve hours.

This gave Zhong Ming ample time to completely exhaust his Heart Soul Divine Intent.

Thus, he didn’t activate Mind Reading consecutively.

Instead, after each activation, he would close his eyes to recall the insight he had just gained, meticulously mulling over the details.

Only when he had fully understood everything did he activate Mind Reading for a second time.

HUMMM...

The Clear Sound Spring Stone was like a book. This time, Zhong Ming turned to the second page and gained a bit more of a superficial understanding of how flowing water could wash away illusory concepts.

But because the concept of Flowing was so advanced, even this superficial understanding yielded great rewards for Zhong Ming.

[You have gained a new understanding of the Power of Flow. Spirit Stream Finger - Jie Technique progress +102.]

[You have gained a new understanding of the Power of Flow. Spirit Stream Finger - Jie Technique progress +76.]

[You have gained a new understanding of the Power of Flow. Spirit Stream Finger - Jie Technique progress +64.]

[You...]

When it was all over, the progress of his Spirit Stream Finger - Jie Technique had increased by another 723 points.

At this point, the total progress for Spirit Stream Finger - Jie Technique had reached [5260/5500] (he had also gained some progress while mulling over his insights).

’Just one more time, and I’ll be able to advance.’

Even so, Zhong Ming did not rush.

Far from being anxious, he grew even more composed and steady.

With his eyes closed, he allowed his mind to recover to a perfect state, waiting until evening fell.

When both the sun and moon hung in the sky, during this transition between day and night—or, one might say, the Flowing of day and night—he finally activated Mind Reading to "read" the Clear Sound Spring Stone in his mind.

HUMMM...

The initial phase of this "reading" was no different from before.

But when he was halfway through activating Mind Reading, at the exact moment the progress for his Spirit Stream Finger - Jie Technique reached [Second Realm Insight (5500/5500)], a strange transformation occurred within Zhong Ming.

PLINK!

It sounded just like a drop of spring water landing on a stone, suddenly ringing out from the depths of Zhong Ming’s Sea of Consciousness.

HUMMM...

Although the sound first originated from the depths of Zhong Ming’s Sea of Consciousness, and although ripples began to spread outward the instant the droplet hit the stone—a phenomenon almost identical to when the Clear Sound Spring Stone’s trait activated—this was not the treasure’s trait being triggered.

The most obvious difference was that these Ripples of Water did not cleanse Zhong Ming’s Divine Soul or eliminate his mental fatigue.

Nor was there a gushing spring of the Power of the Mind welling up from the depths of his Sea of Consciousness to replenish his reserves.

’Still, even if it’s not as good as the treasure, this ability seems quite useful... Also, for this trait to manifest in this particular form, it must have been influenced by the Clear Sound Spring Stone—or rather, empowered by it.’

WHOOSH... 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

As Zhong Ming mused to himself, the ripple of the Power of the Mind burst forth from within his body, spreading out into the world.

HUMMM...

Ultimately, the ripple’s power did not spread infinitely. After extending thirty-three meters from Zhong Ming’s body, it grew too faint to perceive.

But the space within those thirty-three meters became Zhong Ming’s domain.

HUUU...

Sitting cross-legged on the ground, Zhong Ming kept his eyes tightly shut as he assumed a sword-drawing stance.

And though his eyes were not open, everything within the thirty-three-meter radius swept by the ripples of the Power of the Mind was reflected in Zhong Ming’s mind’s eye.

He could perceive every blade of grass and every piece of wood, every flower and every tree. Zhong Ming could also clearly sense the other pebbles, the flowing wind, the running water, and even the insects hidden beneath the ground.

This was Zhong Ming’s domain. In other words, it was the trait he had obtained after Spirit Stream Finger - Jie Technique advanced to the Third Realm: Bright Mirror Stilled Water - Ripples.

As a Third Realm trait of a Magic Technique—and one developed with the aid of the High-grade Earth-level Treasure, the Clear Sound Spring Stone—Bright Mirror Stilled Water - Ripples naturally did more than just let Zhong Ming perceive his surroundings with his eyes closed.

Its most crucial aspect was still the Flowing—or, in other words, "breathing."

HUMMM...

As the Ripples of Water spread outward from Zhong Ming in all directions,

the objects they swept over had not only their external forms reflected upon the lake of his mind,

but he could also sense their internal ripples—or, in other words, their "breathing."

All things have a "breath," which is also called the rhythm of "qi." To sever this breath is to sever their flow and their very life.

’Water, one of the four elements of creation, represents both the flow of all things and life itself...’

If the flow is severed, the life within all things will also pass away. At that point, they will die.

Thus, attacking by following this "breathing" means striking a vital point to kill an opponent instantly. This was the core esoteric principle of the Spirit Stream Finger - Jie Technique.

What made Zhong Ming’s eyes light up was that within his domain, objects not only had a rhythmic breath, but these breaths could also be strong or weak.

’These breaths, whether strong or weak, are all an enemy’s weak points. The weakest of them are the most fatal vital points and flaws.’

’If I strike these fatal points, I can kill an enemy with minimal force... The reason mortal Sword Heroes can slice through steel with ordinary iron must be because they perceive the "breath" of the steel and strike its fatal weakness by following the rhythm.’

’In that case, even without Magical Power, I could be considered a Sword Hero in the mortal world.’

As Zhong Ming was sensing the breath and rhythm of all things around him, his heart filled with emotion, a series of system prompts chimed in his ears.

[You have gained a new understanding of the Power of Flow. Spirit Stream Finger - Jie Technique progress +39.]

[Your Spirit Stream Finger - Jie Technique has leveled up. Current Level: Third Realm Refinement.]

[Spirit Stream Finger - Jie Technique, Third Realm Refinement (1/18800), Traits: 1. Observing the Flow of Water, 2. Bright Mirror Stilled Water - Ripples]