Chapter 155: Invisible, Soul Restraint, Exploding Sacrifice, Protecting Dharma, The Four New Straw Man Techniques.

"The effigy technique is truly exquisite; I never imagined it could be so profound... Why did my belt come undone?" Cao Shuang was engrossed in studying a gray effigy when he suddenly noticed his belt had loosened.

"Who, who the hell is casting a spell?!"

Those around him stifled their laughter. Zhao Xing walked over with a grin and snapped his fingers, making the invisible effigy appear.

"Brother Cao, we're all men here. Are you afraid of being seen naked?"

"It's you?" Seeing it was Zhao Xing, Cao Shuang wasn't annoyed. He simply chuckled and fastened his belt. "Bro, I'm not a woman. Why would you untie my belt? I'm not into same-sex relationships."

Zhao Xing laughed, "Your vigilance is too low. If an invisible effigy had scissors, your 'root of life' would be gone, and you'd no longer have a given name, only your surname."

Cao Shuang slapped his crotch and let out a hearty laugh. "Haha, brother, I'm not just well-endowed and good in bed; I'm also incredibly tough. You'd need at least a fifth-rank pair of scissors for that."

Zhao Xing grinned. "Then your sister-in-law must suffer greatly, haha."

"Hahaha."

The two chatted and laughed as they moved aside.

The quickest ways for men to forge friendships are typically two: fighting side-by-side, or going to another place to fight side-by-side.

Ever since training became impossible and Zhao Xing ignited the fighting spirit of the Sinongs, he quickly became well-known during that month.

His relationships with Cao Shuang, Jiang Tianming, Zhuang Ziqing, and others were quite good.

"Little brother, I didn't expect you to have quite a talent for effigies either."

Cao Shuang's expression was so suggestive it was hard not to misunderstand.

"When you say that, could you not have such a lewd look on your face? When the effigy technique comes out of your mouth, it always feels strange," Zhao Xing laughed. "Military life is tough, but don't use effigy techniques for anything weird, brother. It's scandalous."

"With my physique and looks, Old Cao, do I need to resort to such methods?" Cao Shuang patted his chest. "If I stand at the entrance of the Yangcheng Weaving Department, plenty of weavers would throw handkerchiefs at me."

Zhao Xing gave a thumbs-up. Cao Shuang's other skills were unknown, but his confidence was definitely unmatched.

"Alright, enough small talk. How much have you grasped?" Cao Shuang asked.

"I've grasped one technique—this invisible effigy. Seeing you, it came over to say hello," Zhao Xing replied. "And you, how many techniques have you learned?"

"The plaza is full of intermediate effigies; how many could one grasp?" Cao Shuang said. "I've been here for less than half a day, but I've only grasped one technique: the detonating effigy."

"Oh?" Zhao Xing raised an eyebrow. "Where is it? Let me see."

"Over there," Cao Shuang said. "Come on, I'll show you."

Cao Shuang led Zhao Xing to the south side of the plaza, where there was a bamboo grove. The leaves were green, but the bamboo stalks were dark red.

Next to it were many split dark red bamboo strips.

"Firecracker bamboo forest? And they're all third or fourth rank." Zhao Xing was a bit surprised.

"Yes, I was startled when I first arrived too. Such a large firecracker bamboo forest, with so many firecrackers piled next to it. Aren't they afraid of blowing people up?" Cao Shuang said. "I've been studying here, constantly on edge."

"You can relax, brother, ten thousand times over," Zhao Xing pointed to several uniquely shaped stone pillars and exotic beast statues next to the bamboo forest. "It's a Black Tortoise Soul-Locking Array, layered four times. Even if you blow up this bamboo forest, it won't explode."

"Oh? I didn't realize you also studied arrays."

Zhao Xing said, "Brother Cao, I'm quite interested in this effigy technique, so I'll study it here. Care to join?"

Cao Shuang waved his hand. "I won't be here. I'm going to practice the detonating effigy. Head a thousand meters south, then turn left, and there's another courtyard. Inside, effigies are constantly self-detonating. I'll be watching and practicing there. You can come find me after you've learned it."

"Alright," Zhao Xing nodded.

He watched Cao Shuang leave, then began to study the demonstration process of the detonating effigy.

The detonating effigy is a restricted technique.

Among intermediate techniques, it's quite material-intensive.

It usually uses firecrackers as material.

Certain plants with explosive properties can also be used as raw materials.

If these materials aren't used, the power will be greatly reduced.

"The detonating effigy locks the power of the Five Elements within, usually dominated by fire and lightning."

"Materials like firecrackers provide a large amount of fire elemental energy, and their internal circulation constantly compresses air."

"When the hard bamboo nodes burst open, tens of thousands of fragments scatter, capable of blowing a person into a sieve."

Zhao Xing had vivid memories of firecrackers because they played a major role in defeating Wu Mei of the Profound Heaven Sect.

The detonating effigy is more practical than simple firecrackers. Firecrackers need to be buried to achieve their intended effect, and throwing them doesn't do much because they're easy to dodge and can easily harm oneself.

By utilizing the mobility of the detonating effigy, the effect of firecrackers can be perfectly unleashed.

Of course, it's not just firecrackers; many other plants can be used. Zhao Xing isn't in Gucheng anymore; he can access many miraculous plants.

In his previous life, Sinong players developed many uses for the detonating effigy.

For example, the poisonous explosive effigy was a variation of the detonating effigy.

There were also outrageous tactics like adding excrement to detonating effigies.

"An effigy smeared with excrement; touch it and you die, or at least you'll be disgusted to death." Zhao Xing's lips curved into a smile as he recalled the many applications of this technique.

You observe the effigy technique demonstration, and you comprehend the intermediate technique 'Detonating Effigy'.

Detonating Effigy: 1/9999Effect: Utilizes plant properties to trigger an explosion of Five Elements power.

"Zhao Xing, practice the detonating effigy elsewhere."

Just as Zhao Xing was about to try it, a 'Liu' effigy standing by the bamboo grove suddenly spoke.

"Yes," Zhao Xing cupped his hands and left with the detonating effigy to find Cao Shuang.

Just then.

Several more people flew into the palace plaza.

One of them looked familiar.

"Li Feng?"

"This kid really likes summoning builds. He's already reached the third stage of the effigy training course so quickly."

Zhao Xing took a glance and then left the plaza.

After landing, Li Feng also happened to see Zhao Xing's back.

Why did he recognize him just from his back? Because he hated him.

Damn it, he couldn't beat him, and this guy had screwed him over several times.

He was tricked during registration, tricked during the division assignment, and his promotion battle was even ruined by Zhao Xing.

Forget his back, Li Feng would recognize him even if he were reduced to ashes!

"Good, good, good, I found an opportunity so quickly." Li Feng couldn't help but be overjoyed when he saw Zhao Xing. "I might not be better than you in other techniques, but I'm best at effigy techniques!"

"Even the commander said I have talent in effigy techniques."

Li Feng revealed a slight smile.

Because he liked effigy techniques, many of his spells subconsciously leaned towards the summoning style.

"First, I'll learn the technique, then during the ranking competition, I'll definitely have a chance to challenge him."

Li Feng quickly went to the plaza to find suitable effigy techniques to study.

A thousand meters south of the other courtyard, there were many courtyards sealed by arrays. Turning left at the thousand-meter mark, Zhao Xing saw Cao Shuang practicing the detonating effigy inside.

Faint explosions could be heard, but each time, everything within the courtyard was enveloped by the array, preventing any harm to even a blade of grass or a tree.

Cao Shuang stood within a circle, inside the explosion's range, completely unharmed.

He could, in fact, observe the explosions up close.

"Zhao Xing, why are you here? Did you not learn it? Let me teach you... Hmm? You've already learned it?" Cao Shuang thought Zhao Xing had come for guidance, but unexpectedly, he was there to practice.

But it hadn't even been half an hour since they parted, and Zhao Xing had already mastered the detonating effigy? How incredible!

"Luck, just luck," Zhao Xing said. "I happened to have seen the detonating effigy before and had contact with firecrackers. Brother Cao, have you already achieved mastery?"

Achieving mastery means the cultivation progress of a technique has reached the first turn.

Zhao Xing looked at the power of Cao Shuang's detonating effigy; it seemed to have reached the first turn.

It was quick, after all, he arrived on the morning of the twenty-third, at most he'd been there for three hours.

"Just got started. The detonating effigy technique is quite difficult to practice. Its internal Five Elements circulation, being off by a hair's breadth, leads to a mile's difference. The weaving method is also very important; not being able to lock it or locking it too tightly will cause all sorts of problems."

"Take your time; there's still a lot of time. The people behind won't reach the third stage that quickly. Brother Cao, you're already a step ahead. With your talent, one quick step will lead to many quick steps. Isn't a mere effigy technique a piece of cake for you?"

"Haha, Zhao Xing, if you used that mouth to coax young girls, you'd probably be perfectly successful every time." Cao Shuang's somewhat gloomy mood lightened. Being friends with Zhao Xing always provided emotional value.

"I'll cultivate in the neighboring courtyard. Brother Cao, feel free to give me pointers when you have time."

"No problem."

"Bang bang bang bang bang bang!"

Entering the neighboring courtyard, Zhao Xing also began his explosive cultivation process.

His progress accelerated rapidly.

Because there was a system panel recording, if the progress given during practice was high, it meant the cultivation direction was correct.

If a certain progress was particularly low, or there was no progress at all, it meant the direction was wrong and needed correction.

There were countless wrong directions, but Zhao Xing always quickly found his way back to the right path because of his 'Yan San Fortune'.

Even if he closed his eyes and chose, he couldn't deviate too far.

Therefore, Zhao Xing learned everything quickly, not entirely due to talent or comprehension, but also because of his 'cheat'.

"Three turns now."

Zhao Xing glanced at the panel.

In just two hours, the detonating effigy had already reached the third turn.

"If an eight-rank martial artist were hugged by a nine-turn detonating effigy and it exploded, probably only a genius martial artist from the Black Tortoise Martial Department could withstand it."

Among martial artists, the geniuses of the Black Tortoise Martial Department are best at defense.

Among the eight-ranks, many geniuses practice the Black Tortoise Shield externally and the Gluttony Method internally, achieving great mastery in copper skin and iron bones, with blood as dense as mercury, and nascent silver marrow, making them quite resistant.

"However, if the detonating effigy were coated with a layer of poison, the effect would be different."

"Thunder God Vine crushed into juice, Yellow Spring flower powder, wolfsbane—all can be made into potent poisons. If applied to the effigy and exploded inside the body, even a sixth-rank military doctor couldn't save them, unless they knew the Thirteen Needles of Ghost Gate, which could prolong life for twelve hours."

Standing within the array circle, the explosion's impact couldn't reach him. Zhao Xing slowly continued to improve his detonating effigy's progress.

After another half an hour, the detonating effigy technique reached four turns.

Zhao Xing stopped training. One reason was that it was difficult to make a breakthrough in a short time; stagnant progress didn't mean he was wrong, but rather that he lacked accumulation.

To improve, the method was simple: observe other effigy techniques and draw inferences from them.

The Palace of Myriad Techniques might not have many other things, but it certainly had the most effigies.

Zhao Xing left the courtyard and, seeing Cao Shuang still diligently training, decided to wander around the Palace of Myriad Techniques on his own.

Before long, he stopped by a training ground.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"

A dark-gold effigy curled its fingers into a sword, and streaks of sword qi burst forth from its fingertips.

They flew towards the head of a dull-gray effigy opposite it.

Just as they were about to hit, they were blocked by a tortoise shell.

Martial arts secret technique, Black Tortoise Shield.

"Guardian effigy."

Zhao Xing recognized another familiar effigy technique.

Earlier, in Gucheng, Chen Shijie had assigned him a guardian effigy for self-defense.

Guardian Effigy: Can store one technique or martial skill internally.

A nine-turn guardian effigy can store nine different secret techniques, but this does not include movement techniques, unless it's a 'Swift Movement Guardian Effigy' which combines two techniques; otherwise, it lacks the basis for that kind of casting.

It can also store the same secret technique multiple times, but the power won't stack. The power limit of a guardian effigy doesn't depend on the caster, but on the person whose technique was imprinted.

For example, if Zhao Xing asked Xia Jing for a streak of sword qi, the power of that guardian effigy would depend on how strong Xia Jing's sword mastery was.

Of course, the stronger the effigy, the higher its storage limit.

Guardian effigies can store advanced techniques, but the materials are quite expensive, and they need to be able to lock the energy without leakage; otherwise, their cost-effectiveness isn't high.

Guardian effigies are usually used to store martial skills, especially defensive ones, because cultivators themselves know spells.

Learning guardian effigies is mainly to compensate for the weakness in close combat.

At critical moments, a guardian effigy can save a life.

This must be learned.

Zhao Xing observed and learned on the training ground for half an hour. The guardian effigy technique is easy to learn but difficult to master. Zhao Xing quickly grasped it, but mastering it was more difficult than other effigy techniques.

This is because the guardian effigy's practice improves through the process of storing and casting techniques.

Storing one's own techniques doesn't improve it much.

One's own familiar techniques would naturally influence this comprehension process.

It's like giving yourself a test; the training effect is minimal. To improve, it's mainly about storing others' techniques, and preferably martial skills.

Seeing that he had learned the technique, he took a guardian effigy and left, continuing to wander around the Palace of Myriad Techniques.

After aimlessly walking for a while, he suddenly arrived in front of a grand hall. The building inside was solemn and majestic, with an overall black and white color scheme.

Zhao Xing saw two effigy guards at the entrance and was about to leave, but just as he lifted his foot, he stopped.

"Hmm?"

He turned back and carefully looked at the two effigy guards at the entrance. After staring for a while, a look of surprise flashed in Zhao Xing's eyes.

"I misjudged; these are actually two Soul-Capturing Effigies?"

Soul-Capturing Effigies are specifically designed to target Yin souls.

As Great Zhou expanded outwards, its primary enemies were the barbarians and extra-territorial sects. Among the latter, some were skilled in Yin soul evil arts, such as the Venerable Soul Banner.

Powerful individuals like the Blood Spirit Venerable, whose true form should be in the Third-rank Nascent Soul Realm, specialize in Yin soul techniques. His fragmented soul bodies could quickly reform if his followers provided enough blood sacrifices, making them seemingly endless to kill, and their methods were bizarre and insidious.

Outside the dominion, without the protection of Great Zhou's Yin Gods, it would be difficult to deal with them.

Soul-Capturing Effigies can effectively counter such techniques.

However, this technique is somewhat taboo.

Among the Eighty-one Techniques, the Soul-Capturing Effigy was considered an evil art and had always been criticized. The imperial court had long ago removed this technique, prohibiting its spread.

"Sir Liu," Zhao Xing found an effigy with a 'Liu' character imprinted on its clothing.

The effigy paused for a second, then spoke: "What is it?"

"May I learn the Soul-Capturing Effigy technique?"

The effigy paused for another second, as if there was a delay: "You may, but you must remember three rules."

"May I ask, Sir Liu, what are those three rules?" Zhao Xing asked.