Sun Lingtong watched Ning Zhuo performing the moves, secretly discussing with him while also helping him to brainstorm.
On the surface, Ning Zhuo was thinking hard alone, but in reality, he had the insightful assistance of Sun Lingtong and the support of Taoist Artifacts!
Quickly, the two of them discussed and created a move.
Ning Zhuo used the knife in his left hand to initiate the Wave-breaking Triple. The knife served as the vanguard, with power unleashed from his waist, chopping down at the imaginary enemy head-on.
Simultaneously, his right hand followed with the bronze sword, executing the fastest and most accurate "Point Stabbing" from the sword techniques at the moment the knife’s momentum waned, the old force fading and new force not yet formed.
The right arm stabbed with precision and speed, compensating for the inherent flaw in the Wave-breaking Triple.
The knife was used with force, the sword with speed. Using the knife as the main attack and the sword as support, making the Continuous Techniques of the Wave-breaking Triple even more perfect.
"Oh?" Observing Cultivators showed expressions of surprise upon seeing this scene.
"So quickly, there’s already progress?"
"Using the knife’s Continuous Techniques as the main strategy and the sword for support is indeed the correct direction for conceptualization."
"If it were me, I could do it too. Overall, it’s not difficult, merely integrating two foundational elements."
"Can you do it at Ning Zhuo’s age?"
"Uh..."
Ning Zhuo continued to demonstrate.
His left arm exerted force, turning his left wrist flexibly, maneuvering the bronze knife, no longer delivering powerful chops, but engaging in continuous entwining combat.
The knife often glided close to the ground, attacking the lower paths, restricting the opponent’s movement and causing chaos.
Suddenly, the bronze sword in Ning Zhuo’s right hand chopped fiercely, like an angry dragon emerging from the sea, slicing from top to bottom, with sword light so chilling it sent shivers down one’s spine.
"Hmm?!" Several Cultivators observing Ning Zhuo were visibly shocked upon witnessing this scene.
Some blinked repeatedly, scarcely believing their eyes, feeling they must have seen wrong.
But after Ning Zhuo displayed this strike, he paused in his place, remained motionless for three breaths, and then started to repeat the demonstration.
After the second execution, the Cultivators confirmed that Ning Zhuo had innovated a new Sword and Saber Combination.
"This time he no longer made the knife the main focus; the knife became auxiliary and preparation, with the true killing intent lying in the sword!"
"He’s using the knife like a sword and chopping with the sword like a knife; truly inventive."
"It seems he is finding commonalities between the knife and the sword; from this move, you can see his understanding of them has reached a new level!"
"Indeed impressive. He paused to innovate a technique and truly succeeded."
The Cultivators’ evaluation of Ning Zhuo rose once again.
Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong’s discussion grew increasingly intense, both immersed in the creation of techniques.
"Wait, Little Zhuo, what did you just say?" Sun Lingtong suddenly had a Spirit Light but failed to grasp it.
Ning Zhuo was puzzled: "Which sentence? I said a lot just now."
He promptly repeated.
Sun Lingtong shook his head continuously: "Not this sentence, ah, nor this one..."
"Forget it, forget it."
Sun Lingtong knew that such moments of mind enlightenment were rare. Seeing it about to fade, he quickly took out a Wooden Cone.
Puff.
He plunged the Wooden Cone deeply into the inside of his thigh.
Confucian Skill—Awl-Thorn Vigilance Art!
Suddenly, the thoughts in Sun Lingtong’s Divine Sea gained penetration, instantly piercing through obstacles, helping Sun Lingtong to accurately grasp that elusive Spirit Light from the void.
He joyfully exclaimed: "Little Zhuo, I have another idea!"
After listening, Ning Zhuo was also delighted.
He began to practice.
He thrust the sword swiftly with his right arm, as the sword god, with the tip flashing cold light, directly stabbing the middle path.
This sword move was named Water Dividing.
Upon contact with the enemy, this move was bound to cause Ning Zhuo to endure the counter-shock force.
Next, Ning Zhuo simulated a counter-shock force with his left arm, seamlessly swinging the bronze knife, drawing a perfect arc from bottom to top.
Precisely the Blade Technique—Moon Raising!
Sun Lingtong was excited: "Little Zhuo, you’ve performed it. The essence of this combination move lies in utilizing the enemy’s force feedback, converting it into the power for your blade techniques."
"This requires profound strength in force transmission, body coordination, and timing."
"Before the counter-shock force transmits, your body must be prepared, a kind of preemptive judgment..."
Sun Lingtong continued speaking fluently.
Ning Zhuo’s eyes flashed with brilliance: "Leader, you’re amazing, to think of such a move!"
"Once the blade technique is blocked, there will still be a counter-shock force, driving the sword technique to attack again."
"Therefore, Water Dividing and Moon Raising these two moves can mutually enhance, endlessly cycling and repeating!"
Ning Zhuo sincerely admired Sun Lingtong.
Sun Lingtong laughed heartily, proudly standing with hands on hips in the Shuyu Pavilion.
He reminded: "Little Zhuo, I feel it’s about right, call me if you need me next."
The three forms they just co-created were temporarily named: Wave-breaking Star-pointing Style, Silk-Twining Mountain-Shatter Stance, and the final one, Water Dividing Moon Raising Technique.
Sun Lingtong knew these three forms were enough for Ning Zhuo to practice for a while.
Ning Zhuo also understood this point, so he temporarily severed the connection and began practicing wholeheartedly.
The Cultivators watching were somewhat speechless.
"He’s still practicing."
"Others have already obtained the fourth bronze artifact, yet he’s still fussing around here."
"The first two forms are decent, but what about the third? Stumbling around, it seems not yet fully created."
The Cultivators present failed to recognize the essence of the Water Dividing Moon Raising Technique. This move requires leveraging the opponent’s counter-shock force. Ning Zhuo was practicing alone with only a hypothetical enemy, thus, the knife and sword lacked solid contact, making the posture ugly and giving a singularly awkward impression.
Ning Zhuo practiced for a good while before setting off again.
"Left Blade and Right Sword, the attack speed has at least doubled, indeed increasing power!"
"The coordination between blade moves and sword moves requires practice. The accompanying movement technique and force application method need adjustment."
"The leader and I sketched out three-form Blade–Sword Combined Strike, but the power is only so much; it certainly can’t compare with Ban Ji’s Blade–Sword Combined Strike."
"He has practiced blade and sword for years, his combined moves forged through countless trials in real battles, perhaps even refined by predecessors over time."
"Even if I can’t match him, being familiar with the nuances of Blade–Sword Combined Strike is advantageous for my next clash with him, fully blocking him!"
Ning Zhuo pondered as he moved forward.
Soon, what appeared before him was a pair of suspended bronze boxing gloves.
The young man was overjoyed!
"What a great weapon."
"Fists and feet are more commonly used than blades and swords. From the life experiences absorbed from those demon cultivators, even magic cultivators without using weapons like swords also possess some fist and foot skills."
"In terms of fists and feet, my foundational strength is deeper."
"At the same time, using both fists and using a blade and sword simultaneously has many commonalities that can be deeply referenced."
"I must study well!"
Ning Zhuo, with bright eyes, eagerly walked towards the bronze boxing gloves.
Meanwhile, a conspiracy was underway.
"Lord Hao, over there someone is willing to offer double the price for your assistance." A Cultivator transmitted thoughts via Divine Sense.
The Cultivator surnamed Hao was one of the Deputy Commanders of Xuan Armor Cave responsible for this Xingyun Trial.
Cultivator Hao: "Over there? Haha, it’s the Ban Family, isn’t it? Previously, they thought my asking price was a bit high, now why change their mind?"
"Never mind, that question is not important."
"Suddenly offering double the price, what do they want me to do?"
"Let me clarify in advance; I won’t do anything excessive."
The Cultivator secretly communicating hurriedly said: "Naturally. They want you to move the bronze knife and sword to Ban Ji’s path."
"At the same time, arrange more obstacles for Ning Zhuo, according to your discretion."
Cultivator Hao sneered, transmitting thoughts via Divine Sense: "Haha, still claim it’s not the Ban Family?"
"On one hand, assisting Ban Ji secretly, on the other, making things difficult for Ning Zhuo."
"Double the reward is reasonable."
"Let me first observe the situation in the field."