Chapter 55: Arrow Momentum, Shooting the Moon

"The Archer's Art of Yi..."

After giving his instructions, Li Changfeng left with a carefree and dashing stride. Zhou Chen opened the manual and discovered that the Archer's Art of Yi contained three ultimate techniques: "Yi's Arrow Pierces the Firmament," which he had already comprehended, along with "Chasing the Moon" and "Shooting the Sun."

These three ultimate techniques actually represented the three realms of the Archer's Art: Arrow Intent, Arrow Momentum, and Arrow Soul.

The first technique, "Yi's Arrow Pierces the Firmament," which Zhou Chen had comprehended through the accumulation of attribute points and an epiphany on the razor's edge of life and death, belonged to the first realm—Arrow Intent.

Whether one achieved an epiphany through the Archer's Art independently or followed the guidance of the manual, the specific arrow techniques comprehended by every individual were ultimately different.

It was much like the saying: a thousand readers yield a thousand Hamlets.

Yet, this difference remained strictly within the framework of the Archer's Art; anyone familiar with the art would instantly recognize it.

Just as a white horse transformed into a black horse, would you suddenly fail to recognize it as a horse?

[Yi's Arrow Pierces the Firmament (Arrow Intent: 95/1000)]

"Allocate points."

Gancing at the requirement—needing just over nine hundred points to reach mastery in Arrow Intent—Zhou Chen immediately applied them.

In an instant.

It felt as though Zhou Chen had spent years, day and night, embracing the Setting Sun Bow to comprehend the intent of archery. Year after year, like one single day, until a sudden flash of enlightenment struck, bringing his Arrow Intent to perfection.

A terrifyingly sharp and piercing aura emanated from within Zhou Chen's body. Within his eyes, a flicker of arrow-light seemed to flash, shooting straight into the heart of anyone who looked upon him.

[Chasing the Moon (Arrow Momentum: 0/10000)]

"The second technique, Chasing the Moon, actually requires ten thousand points?"

Zhou Chen glanced at his remaining twenty thousand origin points—hard-earned blood and sweat money he had painstakingly amassed over the past few days by clearing out an entire building. Without the slightest hesitation, he poured ten thousand points into it.

After all, this was a formidable ultimate attack, capable of unleashing tenfold or even a hundredfold destructive power under equivalent force.

It had to be upgraded!

In an instant.

It felt as though Zhou Chen held a bow and arrow in every waking moment—whether walking, resting, eating, or drinking—comprehending its mysteries day and night. Even when sleeping at night, the bow never left his side, decade after decade.

Finally.

On a night of a brilliant and full harvest moon, Zhou Chen experienced an epiphany regarding "Chasing the Moon," bringing his Arrow Momentum to perfection.

With a single release of the arrow, a torrential, world-shaking momentum crushed forward. A bright moon rose slowly from the sea, and the arrow shattered the firmament, racing straight toward the moon.

"Hiss!"

Zhou Chen opened his eyes, two bright moons seemingly rising within his pupils, a wave of profound shock washing over his heart.

This technique was simply too powerful.

Zhou Chen felt that if Bai Guinong were to face this arrow, he would likely be unable to withstand it.

This was definitively Zhou Chen's strongest ranged ultimate attack.

As for close-quarters combat, nothing surpassed the utility of the Lightning Jade Hands.

[Shooting the Sun (Arrow Soul: 0/100000)]

"The third technique actually requires one hundred thousand wind-and-moon points, but its power must exceed all imagination!"

Zhou Chen still had ten thousand origin points left, but adding them here would yield little effect, so he decided to keep them in reserve.

"Brother Chen, what are we having for dinner tonight?"

Qin Hongyu walked over, her stomach already rumbling.

Although their new home was spacious, it lacked provisions.

"Tonight, let's go freeload a meal at Senior Sister's place and ask about the situation while we're there."

Withdrawing his aura, Zhou Chen led Qin Hongyu toward Li Changhen's residence.

Li Changhen's estate was located not far from Zhou Chen's, separated by only a few dozen meters, while Li Changfeng's dwelling sat atop the mountain peak.

"Senior Sister, I've come to freeload a meal!"

Zhou Chen knocked on the door and called out inside.

Creak.

The main gate opened, revealing a delicate and beautiful young maiden who bowed gracefully.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Zhou, Madam Zhou!"

"Please, both of you, come inside."

"Many thanks."

Zhou Chen glanced at the young girl; her cultivation appeared to be around the fourth stage of Body Tempering. She was likely an outer sect disciple serving Li Changhen.

The Azure Cloud Sect's standard for recruiting chore disciples required them to be under eighteen years of age and above the second stage of Body Tempering.

Outer sect disciples needed to be under twenty years of age and above the fourth stage of Body Tempering, while inner sect disciples needed to be under thirty years of age and above the seventh stage of Body Tempering.

A figure like Zhang Long, the head constable of Qinghe County, was simply not qualified to even serve as a chore disciple.

As for Chen Feng, the daughter of the Qinghe County magistrate, she had practiced martial arts since childhood and lacked no resources. At sixteen, she had reached the second stage of Body Tempering, meaning she would have had no trouble entering the Azure Cloud Sect as a chore disciple, with a strong possibility of promotion to an outer sect disciple.

Yet, fate had dealt her a cruel hand when she encountered the bandits of Wolong Mountain and suffered brutal assault and humiliation.

Although she survived thanks to the timely rescue of Zhou Chen and Zhang Long, the physical and psychological torment had severely damaged her psyche, leaving her mentally unstable.

She would likely struggle to step out of that dark shadow for the rest of her life.

Such was the unpredictability of the world.

With this thought, Zhou Chen's desire to grow stronger burned even brighter.

Only absolute strength could allow one to master their own destiny.

Arriving at the backyard, Zhou Chen saw Li Changhen practicing archery. She drew the bowstring taut without releasing the arrow, an arcane and profound aura surging around her entire body.

*Eldest Senior Sister has indeed mastered the second technique, Chasing the Moon, and comprehended Arrow Momentum, though she hasn't reached perfection yet...*

Zhou Chen thought to himself.

Yet, given Li Changhen's cultivation at the ninth stage of Body Tempering, even without reaching perfection, the power of a single arrow was certainly something Zhou Chen could not compare to.

"You're here."

Li Changhen lowered her bow, unsurprised by Zhou Chen's arrival.

As a newcomer, Zhou Chen naturally had countless questions, and she knew full well that Li Changfeng would inevitably dump Zhou Chen onto her while he went off to enjoy his own leisure.

"Senior Sister."

Zhou Chen and Qin Hongyu followed Li Changhen into the main hall.

Servants had already prepared a spread of fine dishes and served them.

"Senior Sister, Master said that a grand initiation ceremony for true disciples will be held in a month and told me to prepare properly. What preparations are needed?"

Zhou Chen asked while eating.

"The true disciple ceremony is a rare and grand event for the sect. Although sects of the same tier as the Azure Cloud Sect disdain to attend, the powers under the jurisdiction of the Yunmeng and Qinghe prefectures will certainly come."

Li Changhen explained slowly:

"Although they are not subordinate forces to the Azure Cloud Sect, they naturally must show respect to the hegemon powers of the two prefectures."

"Generally speaking, during the true disciple ceremony, various major factions will dispatch their sect prodigies to test the newly appointed true disciple with a few pointers."

"Of course, it must be within the same cultivation realm, and the age difference cannot exceed five years."

Zhou Chen nodded. With his current strength, he had nothing to worry about.

However...

"Senior Sister, if Master finds someone with an Arrow Spirit physique who hasn't begun cultivating yet, wouldn't it be terribly embarrassing if he loses at the true disciple ceremony?"

Zhou Chen asked in confusion.

"If you can think of it, do you think the countless founding masters who have stood the Azure Cloud Sect for twelve hundred years couldn't?"

Li Changhen shot Zhou Chen a faint glance and explained:

"In a situation like the one you mentioned, the true disciple ceremony would simply be postponed until he advances to the seventh stage of Body Tempering. During that interim, he still enjoys certain privileges accorded to true disciples."

"However, there are regular cultivation progress assessments. If he fails to pass, the true disciple status will be revoked."

"Your true disciple ceremony is being held in a month because Master knows you have already comprehended Arrow Intent, which puts you in good standing even among practitioners of the seventh stage of Body Tempering—quite sufficient to handle the ceremony."

"The Azure Cloud Sect's true disciple ceremony has a history of five hundred years, and no true disciple has ever suffered defeat at the ceremony; at worst, it ends in a draw."

Li Changhen looked at Zhou Chen with a meaningful gaze and said:

"Because even if the opponent's strength is slightly superior, the match will still be settled as a draw."

Zhou Chen: "..."

After all that talk, the Azure Cloud Sect was simply using power to oppress others.

Victory was mandatory; defeat was forbidden.

Though, it made sense.

Cultivation was not merely about fighting and killing; it was also about human connections and worldly sophistication.