Chapter 20: Comprehension

Two identical chills and two identical countdowns. Through multiple attempts, Zhang Yu discovered that the direction of pressure exerted by these two ritualistic forces was different.

One stopped counting down immediately after he breathed in spiritual energy.

The other stopped counting down immediately after he comprehended the *Heaven-Man Martial Arts Diagram*.

Zhang Yu became increasingly certain of one thing: one of these two countdowns was fake.

"It's likely an effect brought about by the *Heaven-Man Martial Arts Diagram*."

"Facing the terror in my heart... so it recreated the pressure of the ritualistic power against me?"

"But I didn't expect that the ritualistic power recreated by the diagram would contradict the true ritualistic power within me."

But among the two ritualistic forces, which one was the fake?

"The one that stops counting down after I breathe?"

"Or the one that stops counting down after I comprehend the diagram?"

Zhang Yu leaned toward the latter, yet he could not make a decision lightly.

Because the price of choosing wrong was death.

"Which side do I choose?"

Listening to the constantly shifting countdowns in his mind, Zhang Yu was torn by extreme hesitation, unable to make a decision for a long time.

"Since I can't choose, I'll just not choose at all."

His gaze sharpened as he made his decision: "I'll simply treat both countdowns as real."

Zhang Yu sat cross-legged on the spot and began to operate the *Circulation Qi-Gathering Method*, breathing in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

As the countdowns in his mind progressed from 10 to 5 and then to 3, Zhang Yu stood up again, looked toward the *Heaven-Man Martial Arts Diagram*, and attempted to comprehend the martial arts contained within.

In this manner, under the simultaneous pressure of the two countdowns, Zhang Yu alternated between the *Circulation Qi-Gathering Method* and the comprehension of the diagram, advancing through both.

Meanwhile, people at the art exhibition gradually began to notice Zhang Yu's odd behavior.

The Songyang City Director of the Xianyun Group looked at Zhang Yu curiously and said, "This kid keeps switching between breathing exercises and standing up to study martial arts. What exactly did he see?"

Beside him, Li Xuelian also cast her gaze toward Zhang Yu, saying thoughtfully, "It looks as if someone is forcing him to breathe."

"Perhaps it is out of reverence for a certain teacher in reality."

Just then, they noticed Zhang Yu change his movements again; he stopped breathing exercises and began practicing the *Thirty-Six Body-Strengthening Forms*.

It turned out that Zhang Yu had suddenly realized something: the countdown that stopped after he breathed might not essentially be forcing him to breathe, but rather forcing him onto the path of studying, practicing, taking college entrance exams, and working to earn money.

Thus, he began to test whether he could practice martial arts while simultaneously observing the *Heaven-Man Martial Arts Diagram*.

Since his *Thirty-Six Body-Strengthening Forms* had long since become muscle memory, if he could practice martial arts while comprehending the diagram, he could devote most of his mental focus to the *Heaven-Man Martial Arts Diagram*.

After all, his primary goal at this moment was to comprehend the martial arts within the diagram.

After this attempt succeeded, he felt that practicing while comprehending was still a bit troublesome. He simply took out his phone to see if he could study his textbooks on his phone while looking at the diagram.

Finding that studying from his phone worked fine, he went a step further and played the textbook audio out loud, comprehending the diagram while listening to the content.

...

Watching Zhang Yu alternate between breathing, martial arts, and studying, Li Xuelian sighed sincerely, "This child must have an incredibly harsh teacher behind him, forcing him to work hard all along, to the point where that teacher has become a figure of immense terror in his heart."

"Now, we shall see if he can break through with his intellect under such heavy pressure..."

Before Li Xuelian could finish her sentence, Zhang Yu actually moved away from the *Heaven-Man Martial Arts Diagram*. He ran straight to the buffet table, grabbed a large plate of seafood, and returned to the diagram to begin comprehending while eating.

He had suddenly remembered that eating should be something the ritual would not obstruct.

Watching this scene, Li Xuelian said with slight surprise, "Oh? Such a quick breakthrough. Under layers of pressure, has he directly established a philosophy of 'letting it rot'? Only then can he face the terror in his heart and continue to comprehend the martial arts in the diagram."

"Perhaps even he hasn't realized that, without knowing it, he has already conquered the fear in his heart and passed this trial of the diagram. Everything is proceeding as normal."

Seeing a security guard attempt to step forward to stop Zhang Yu, Li Xuelian waved him away. She was now quite curious to see how much Zhang Yu could actually comprehend from the diagram.

As he ate lobster while looking at the diagram, Zhang Yu gradually began to see clearly what kind of martial arts that figure was performing.

"It seems to be a set of fist techniques?"

The fist technique itself was not complex. After watching a few times, Zhang Yu had a vague concept, but when he looked at his *Feather Book*, he found no change at all. Clearly, he had not truly learned this martial art, let alone mastered it.

Based on his experience learning high school basic swordplay and the *Circulation Qi-Gathering Method*, a martial art like this should have displayed a "Level 0" in his *Feather Book* after just one viewing.

"What is wrong?"

Just then, Lian Tianji laughed loudly and said with full confidence, "I have already fully comprehended the martial arts within. It is indeed an exquisite palm technique."

Unexpectedly, before his voice had even faded, Qian Shen spoke up from not far away, "What palm technique? This is clearly a leg technique."

Under normal circumstances, Qian Shen, with a total score of 600, would never dare to speak loudly in front of someone with a score of 670.

But at this moment, having just undergone the tempering of his Dao heart by the *Heaven-Man Martial Arts Diagram*, Qian Shen's courage was at its peak.

Their exchange quickly drew opposition from others.

Someone argued, "No, no, what is hidden in the diagram is clearly a saber technique."

Someone else began to mock indiscriminately, "A bunch of blind men, that is clearly a finger technique."

Bai Zhenzhen frowned slightly; what she saw before her eyes was a sword technique.

Clearly, while Zhang Yu was comprehending while eating, an increasing number of students had already completed their comprehension of the diagram.

Hearing the discussion, Lian Tianji turned his gaze toward Li Xuelian and asked, "Ms. Li, I wonder what kind of martial arts are actually hidden in this diagram?"

Seeing everyone looking toward her, Li Xuelian smiled slightly and said, "As for the specific martial art, I have nothing to say."

"However, I will remind you all: there is mystery within the diagram. If anyone here masters the martial arts within, there will be a clear indication."

Everyone understood; this meant that if anyone mastered the martial arts in the diagram, the diagram itself would provide a prompt.

With this in mind, Lian Tianji stepped to the very front without hesitation.

Coming from Ziyun High School, Lian Tianji already possessed the absolute confidence of a top student.

Having passed the recent trial, his confidence had swelled to a peak. He immediately executed the palm technique he had just comprehended from the diagram.

As he struck, bursts of wind and thunder rang out. Surging strength and killing intent erupted from his body, seemingly capable of blowing the entire exhibition away.

From a distance, Zhao Tianxing had been observing the results. Seeing this, a wave of admiration rose in his heart.

"Such high physical strength, such terrifying palm techniques. This is a combat-oriented, lethal martial art."

However, while Lian Tianji's physical strength was considered impressive among first-year high schoolers, there were many cultivators present who had already graduated high school. What surprised them more was the proficiency with which Lian Tianji executed the technique.

Someone marveled inwardly, "Is this truly the palm technique he just comprehended from the diagram? Every move and stance is so practiced. The top students of Ziyun High School are indeed geniuses among geniuses."

But after Lian Tianji finished the set of palm techniques, the *Heaven-Man Martial Arts Diagram* remained motionless, showing no reaction whatsoever.

"How is this possible?" Lian Tianji said in disbelief. "I clearly mastered the martial art in the diagram. How can it not work?"

Qian Shen gave a chuckle and walked up to stand before Lian Tianji. "I told you, it's a leg technique."

Next, he also performed the martial art he had grasped from the diagram in front of the diagram. Although he was not as effortless as Lian Tianji, his movements were already quite practiced.

Watching this, Bai Zhenzhen frowned again. "This is a body-tempering martial art? Specifically for training the legs."

As Qian Shen finished his final move, the *Heaven-Man Martial Arts Diagram* still remained motionless, showing no sign of change.

"How is this possible?"

Saying the same words as Lian Tianji, Qian Shen also looked at the diagram in disbelief.

Following this, students continued to step forward to demonstrate the martial arts they had comprehended.

Including Lian Tianji and Qian Shen, twelve students successively demonstrated nine sets of martial arts: fist, palm, leg, finger, claw, saber, sword, spear, and staff.

Among them, three people's comprehended martial arts overlapped with others.

But after this round of demonstrations, not a single person could trigger a reaction from the *Heaven-Man Martial Arts Diagram*.

Lian Tianji couldn't help but turn to Li Xuelian and ask again, "Ms. Li, out of all of us, is it true that not a single person succeeded?"

Li Xuelian did not answer, merely shaking her head slightly, a hint of disappointment in her eyes.

Just then, Bai Zhenzhen slowly walked forward. Under the gaze of the crowd, she used her finger as a sword and began to practice a sword technique.

Although the swordplay was incomparably sharp and her moves could be considered professional, the crowd lost interest after a few glances.

After all, two others had previously stepped forward to demonstrate sword techniques and failed to trigger any change in the diagram.

But to everyone's surprise, after finishing the sword technique, Bai Zhenzhen's style shifted. She used her hand as a saber and performed a saber technique.

Then came fist, palm, leg...

Zhao Tianxing said in astonishment, "Has Bai Zhenzhen learned all the martial arts everyone else just demonstrated?"

Lian Tianji frowned at this, thinking to himself, *In such a short time, she can actually perform every martial art everyone else demonstrated just by watching once? Which top high school academic star is this woman from?*

Watching Bai Zhenzhen, whose every move looked as if she had practiced them for a long time, Qian Shen's mind was also racing.

On one hand, he marveled that Bai Zhenzhen could actually perform all nine sets of martial arts. On the other hand, doubt surged in his heart: *Can performing all nine sets of martial arts that everyone comprehended really work?*

At that moment, under the astonished gazes of the crowd, the man in the *Heaven-Man Martial Arts Diagram* moved. He actually looked toward Bai Zhenzhen with a smile in his eyes, and two words surfaced on the scroll.

Correct.