As Gù Tiānháo finished stabilizing his newfound 3rd Level Body Refinement cultivation, a familiar warmth spread from his chest, originating from the God and Demon Slaying Bead nestled against his skin. It wasn't the passive hum of guidance he occasionally felt, but a distinct pulse of energy, a deliberate communication triggered by his advancement. He closed his eyes, focusing his consciousness inward towards the Bead.
Instantly, a torrent of information flooded his mind, far clearer and more structured than the fragmented knowledge he usually gleaned. It concerned martial techniques, categorized according to a universal ranking system that seemed intrinsic to the Bead's vast knowledge. Techniques, manuals, and artifacts, the information explained, were generally graded across six major Ranks: Yellow, Profound, Earth, Heaven, Half-Immortal, and Immortal. Each Rank was further subdivided into four Levels: Low, Intermediate, Advanced, and Peak. Yellow Rank techniques were the most common, suitable for basic Qi circulation and rudimentary combat, often practiced by mortals or low-level cultivators. Profound Rank techniques were significantly rarer and more powerful, requiring a deeper understanding of Qi manipulation and forming the foundation for true cultivators in many sects. Earth and Heaven Ranks were treasures even for established powers, capable of altering landscapes or defying natural laws. Half-Immortal techniques, the Bead implied, represented the absolute apex of power achievable within the Mortal Realms, incredibly scarce and sought after by peak experts. Immortal Rank techniques belonged to realms beyond his current comprehension.
The Bead, recognizing his advancement to the 3rd Level Body Refinement Realm, had unlocked access to three techniques classified as Low-Level Profound Rank – a significant leap from the basic martial arts he knew from his past life or the crude brawling prevalent in Maplewood. The information settled in his mind, detailing the principles, Qi pathways, and physical movements of each technique.
First was a first art: Divergent Fist (破异拳 - Pò Yì Quán). This technique focused on channeling Qi into powerful, unpredictable strikes designed to bypass conventional defenses and inflict internal damage. It contained four distinct movements, or 'fists':
1.Bone Shattering Fist (碎骨拳 - Suì Gǔ Quán): A direct, forceful punch concentrating Qi to maximize impact force, aimed at breaking bones and disrupting Qi flow. Learnable now.
2.Flash Fist (闪光拳 - Shǎnguāng Quán): Emphasized speed and surprise, delivering a rapid series of jabs almost too fast for the eye to follow, disrupting an opponent's rhythm. Learnable now.
3.Induction Fist (感应拳 - Gǎnyìng Quán): A more subtle move requiring finer Qi control, designed to send resonant Qi vibrations into an opponent's body, causing internal disruption or locating weaknesses. Required Body Refinement Level 3 minimum (or perhaps a higher realm, the Bead's information was slightly ambiguous on the exact Mortal Realm requirement, but Level 3 seemed the entry point).
4.Mountain Toppling Fist (倾山拳 - Qīng Shān Quán): The most powerful move, gathering significant Qi for a devastating blow capable of immense destruction. Also required Body Refinement Level 3 minimum.
Second was a palm technique: Gale Palm (烈风掌 - Liè Fēng Zhǎng). This art focused on agility and channeling Qi to create sharp, wind-like forces with palm strikes, emphasizing speed and cutting power over brute force. It had three movements:
1.Wind Palm (风掌 - Fēng Zhǎng): Basic palm strikes imbued with sharp Qi, fast and difficult to block cleanly.
2.Gust Palm (狂风掌 - Kuángfēng Zhǎng): Multiple palm strikes delivered in rapid succession, creating buffeting forces like a strong gust of wind.
3.Gale Palm (烈风掌 - Liè Fēng Zhǎng): The signature move, concentrating Qi into a powerful, cutting palm wind capable of slicing through defenses.
The Bead indicated all three moves could theoretically be learned at any level, but their true power and effectiveness scaled directly with the user's cultivation base and Qi control.
Third was a movement technique: Nine Mist Steps (九雾步 - Jiǔ Wù Bù). This technique was designed for evasion, speed, and unpredictable movement, particularly effective in environments with obscured visibility like the Black Mist Forest. The Bead revealed the first three 'steps' or movement patterns:
1.Shadow Steps (影步 - Yǐng Bù): Focused on minimizing presence and moving silently, blending with shadows. Learnable from Body Refinement Level 1.
2.Wind Steps (风步 - Fēng Bù): Allowed for short bursts of accelerated movement, like being carried by the wind. Learnable from Body Refinement Level 2.
3.Mist Steps (雾步 - Wù Bù): Utilized subtle Qi manipulation to create momentary visual distortions or after-images, making the user's exact position difficult to track, especially in mist or low light. Learnable from Body Refinement Level 2.
Tiānháo absorbed the information greedily. These weren't just techniques; they were tools, weapons, keys to survival and advancement in this dangerous world. The Divergent Fist offered raw power, the Gale Palm provided speed and versatility, and the Nine Mist Steps granted crucial mobility and evasion. Mastering even the initial stages of these Low-Level Profound Rank techniques would elevate his combat ability significantly beyond simply relying on his enhanced physical attributes and basic knife skills. He felt a surge of anticipation; it was time to turn theory into practice, to forge these techniques into extensions of his own will in the crucible of the forest.