Chapter 168: Endless Spring and Autumn Zen

When Zhang Yu first began to comprehend the Spring-Autumn Unending Zen, he knew nothing about the technique. He merely regarded it as an enhanced version of the Crimson Marrow Primal Qi, a more efficient body-refining martial art that could more effectively train the physical body.

However, after clumsily and haphazardly practicing the entire technique once, he had already developed his own understanding of this body-refining martial art.

Spring-Autumn Unending Zen Level 1 (0/10)

Scenes of practicing the Spring-Autumn Unending Zen flowed through his mind, and memories of the errors and insights encountered during cultivation emerged in his thoughts.

All of this made it seem as if, in just a brief moment, he had experienced the entire process of cultivating the Spring-Autumn Unending Zen from Level 0 to Level 1.

It was only after this cultivation experience that he understood how different this body-refining martial art was from the Crimson Marrow Primal Qi.

But Zhang Yu did not immediately report to the examiners to prove that he had mastered the Spring-Autumn Unending Zen.

"It's too sudden, too high-profile."

"Being high-profile without strength... that's just asking for trouble."

Zhang Yu believed that anyone seeing him fumble through the first attempt like a complete novice, only to become incredibly proficient and achieve a master-like state on the second attempt, would undoubtedly grow suspicious and wonder if he had cheated.

As someone whose potential had been activated by an evil god, Zhang Yu certainly did not want to arouse the curiosity of the righteous gods.

So, he began his second practice session.

Recalling the cultivation experience from Level 0 to Level 1 that had just emerged in his mind, Zhang Yu feigned an unpracticed demeanor as he began his second cultivation attempt.

However, compared to his first attempt, he already seemed to have a certain posture.

Meanwhile, in Zhang Yu's mind, the subtleties of the Spring-Autumn Unending Zen and its differences from the Crimson Marrow Primal Qi continuously emerged.

The first step was to condense a stream of Longevity Mana.

Zhang Yu then sat cross-legged on the ground. As his upper body twisted backward and his hands touched the ground, his internal organs were simultaneously squeezed and exerted force during the twisting motion.

"The Spring-Autumn Unending Zen has forty-nine forms. Each form exercises different parts of the body, refining all the flesh, bones, and internal organs throughout the body."

"When infused with Longevity Mana, it can eliminate waste and impurities remaining in the body after exercise, purifying the flesh and accelerating the body's recovery."

The next moment, as the Longevity Mana surged toward his internal organs, Zhang Yu felt a wave of relief in the organs that had just been exercised.

Zhang Yu mused, "If the forty-nine body-refining movements are like the harshness of autumn, representing the wear and tear of the physical body..."

"Then Longevity Mana is like the flourishing of spring, intended for the body's repair and regrowth."

"With one representing spring and the other autumn, one life and one death, it is between this life and death that the physical body is nourished to become increasingly powerful."

Zhang Yu also understood that with each rotation of the Spring-Autumn Unending Zen's forms, the accumulated medicinal and alchemical toxins in his internal organs would be gradually expelled.

Zhang Yu now deeply understood the path of immortal cultivation in Kunxu.

As the saying goes, three parts practice, seven parts diet, and the remaining ninety parts depend on how you take medicine.

On the path of immortal cultivation, taking medicine was as normal as eating and drinking.

However, taking medicine inevitably left behind impurities or even toxins.

The Spring-Autumn Unending Zen, while exercising the body, simultaneously expelled these impurities and toxins, slowly repairing the damage caused by the medicines.

Thus, even with the same physical strength, cultivators who practiced the Spring-Autumn Unending Zen would undoubtedly be healthier and have more vigorous qi and blood than those who didn't, possessing greater physical endurance and higher explosive power limits.

"What a marvelous divine technique," Zhang Yu thought to himself, "Truly marvelous."

"If it weren't so expensive and difficult, the Spring-Autumn Unending Zen should truly be the sacred body-refining technique for high school."

"With this Spring-Autumn Unending Zen, my progression to Level 10 physical strength will certainly be a natural process."

Simultaneously, Zhang Yu began his third practice of the Spring-Autumn Unending Zen.

This time, following the cultivation experience in his mind, he further improved his performance, becoming more skilled and his movements more standardized.

Observing Zhang Yu, Huang Zichou raised an eyebrow and remarked, "This Zhang Yu improves so quickly. He's only practiced the Spring-Autumn Unending Zen for the third time, yet he already looks quite good."

Meanwhile, the sensor patch Zhang Yu wore continuously uploaded various data regarding his physical strength and mana circulation.

After comparing this data with the standard data for the first level of the Spring-Autumn Unending Zen, Huang Zichou obtained a result.

"The data Zhang Yu currently shows, compared to the normal operating data for Spring-Autumn Unending Zen Level 1, indicates a physical compatibility of approximately 36% and mana compatibility of 15%."

Another minor deity observing also nodded discreetly, "Indeed, his talent is exceptional."

"However, for now, it's just a resemblance in form."

"The key to the Spring-Autumn Unending Zen lies in the coordination between Longevity Mana and the forty-nine forms. It involves the connections between various body parts and the metabolism of the internal organs. It's not that simple..."

Huang Zichou also knew that learning the movements could be fast, but the internal circulation of strength and mana was far more complex.

This was also evident from Zhang Yu's results: 36% physical compatibility and 15% mana compatibility.

However, as Zhang Yu continued practicing for the fourth and fifth times, Huang Zichou's expression grew increasingly astonished.

While observing his movements, Huang Zichou also continuously monitored the data transmitted from the sensor patch on Zhang Yu's body.

Physical compatibility 58%, Mana compatibility 33%Physical compatibility 69%, Mana compatibility 56%

"Such rapid progress!"

"It's as if with every practice, he undergoes a complete transformation, like a typical high school student after months of training."

"Is Zhang Yu's talent truly this terrifying?"

At the same time, Zhang Yu's rapid advancements quickly drew the attention of other minor deities, and even Deng Bingding.

A minor deity exclaimed in surprise, "Sixth attempt... physical compatibility at 87%, mana compatibility at 79%?"

Huang Zichou said, "Moreover, his movements are getting faster, and both his physical body and mana are being consciously and actively adjusted."

"This indicates that during his practice, he is perfectly aware of his problems and errors, and he knows how to adjust himself to the correct path."

"Furthermore, he never repeats a corrected mistake. This level of control over his body is astounding."

"Does he truly not possess a Dharma Skeleton? Or any special bloodline?"

Meanwhile, Zhang Yu had already begun his seventh practice session.

This time, from the very first form of the Spring-Autumn Unending Zen, Zhang Yu's physical and mana compatibility both registered at 100%.

As he then performed the second, third, and fourth forms, and so on, neither his physical compatibility nor mana compatibility ever dropped below that level.

When all forty-nine forms of the Spring-Autumn Unending Zen were completed, the deities, observing the 100% compatibility data, knew that Zhang Yu had succeeded.

He had completely mastered Spring-Autumn Unending Zen Level 1.

As the deities looked on in astonishment, Deng Bingding calmly asked, "How much time has passed?"

Huang Zichou quickly replied, "32 minutes and 15 seconds."

Simultaneously, Zhang Yu raised his hand towards the examiners and said, "Examiners, I'm done."

Then, under everyone's gaze, he calmly stated, "I have mastered it."

Looking at Huang Zichou, who was approaching, Zhang Yu respectfully asked, "Hello, examiner. Would you like me to perform it once?"

Huang Zichou shook his head. "No need. We've received your data, and there are no issues. Please go rest in the lounge over there, and try not to disturb the other students in the examination hall."

So Zhang Yu walked to a nearby lounge, breathing a sigh of relief. "Well, this round of the exam should be considered passed, right?"

Thinking this, Zhang Yu, whose nerves had been constantly taut, felt as if a heavy weight had suddenly lifted. He slumped into a chair, wanting nothing more than a good rest.

Months of cultivation, continuous arduous training, the fatigue accumulated day by day... all seemed to find an opportunity for release at this moment.

In that instant, Zhang Yu only wanted to rest thoroughly today and ideally start preparing for the second round of the exam tomorrow.

However, no sooner had he sat down, before his rear had even settled, a chill ran through him.

Listening to the countdown of the ritual, Zhang Yu sighed helplessly.

"This idiotic thing."

After sitting for another five seconds, Zhang Yu slowly stood up and resumed practicing the Spring-Autumn Unending Zen.

Zhang Yu's success and departure naturally affected the other examinees present.

It was like seeing someone submit their exam early; many students inevitably had various thoughts arise in their minds.

Dai Xingzhi watched Zhang Yu's disappearing back, thinking, "Only half an hour has passed, right? He mastered it so quickly? Could it be a three-star or four-star difficulty technique?"

Ye Lingxiao also checked the time, musing, "32 minutes? Did he deliberately choose a low-star difficulty technique?"

He didn't dwell on it and continued to focus on cultivating his Myriad Swords Without End technique.

Like Dai Xingzhi and Ye Lingxiao, most students simply assumed Zhang Yu had chosen a lower-star difficulty technique, as this seemed to be the most plausible reason to them.

However, on the other side, as Yun Jing watched Zhang Yu's disappearing back, his Dharma Skeleton's eyes registered the number 1.55 million.

This was his Dharma Skeleton's assessment of the cultivation technique Zhang Yu was practicing, made when Yun Jing had just glanced at him.

"A technique worth 1.55 million?" Yun Jing's mind stirred, and basic information about the Spring-Autumn Unending Zen surfaced.

"The Spring-Autumn Unending Zen, according to my recent memory, is rated as an eight-star difficulty technique by the righteous gods."

Yun Jing's gaze sharpened, and he thought in surprise, "32 minutes? He actually mastered an eight-star difficulty technique?"

"Could I do that?"

Yun Jing made a quick calculation, and the answer appeared in his mind.

"No, I couldn't."

"Is this guy's martial arts aptitude stronger than mine?"

"But why did he choose an eight-star difficulty body-refining martial art? If he had chosen a ten-star or even a nine-star technique, he probably would have succeeded too."

"In this exam, the difficulty rating is more important than the time taken. Does he have no interest in competing for first place?"

Yun Jing found it utterly incomprehensible.

Especially as a top student from Xiandu, he had never stopped pursuing first place since childhood.

To him, the behavior of Examinee 55 (Zhang Yu) was utterly bizarre.

"He clearly had a chance to contend for first place, yet he gave it up? Why?"

Yun Jing shook his head, temporarily suppressing his doubts, and continued to focus on cultivating his Myriad Forms of Creation Palm. However, Zhang Yu's actions had, in the end, slightly affected his concentration.