Meanwhile, from Ji Wuye's perspective...
image [https://i.ibb.co/dkcvMHw/Notif-2.webp]
image [https://i.ibb.co/dkcvMHw/Notif-2.webp]
image [https://i.ibb.co/dkcvMHw/Notif-2.webp]
Translucent screens flickered into view, bathing his face in their ethereal glow as he observed Song Jia perform the first graceful movement of her Master's sword art.
His eyes narrowed, focusing intently on each fluid motion of her lithe form as if committing it to memory.
One transparent pane in particular caught his keen attention, the text shimmering with an otherworldly radiance.
image [https://i.ibb.co/qnk19G1/Notif-1.webp]
A faint smile ghosted across Ji Wuye's lips as the message manifested before him. 'Finally,' the thought echoed through his mind, a sense of quiet satisfaction washing over him.
image [https://i.ibb.co/X31n5dx/Notif-2.webp]
Though the description appeared plain compared to other skills' or martial arts' descriptions, he knew the true significance of having this martial art recognized by the Tower system.
image [https://i.ibb.co/kcJ9WsS/Notif-3.webp]
His gaze sharpened as a new entry materialized on the ephemeral screen.
image [https://i.ibb.co/VQm3tXd/Notif-4.webp]
This was his aim, the culmination of his efforts - but of course this was not gained by glimpsing Song Jia's movements that made it look like he had finally gained enlightenment, nor by his Quick Adaptation skill that finally succeeded in copying her second move.
Rather, it was the inscrutable mechanisms of the Tower that governed such advancements.
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'It's really mysterious...' Ji Wuye's brow furrowed slightly as the thought surfaced. None could discern how this sudden enigmatic Tower acquired its vast repositories of knowledge. Yet the fact that it could elevate their martial arts to unprecedented heights had also been known in the previous timeline.
Thus, martial artist raced feverishly to have their martial arts acknowledged by the Tower's systems.
However...
'It's not as simple as it looks,' he mused inwardly. For this truth extended beyond martial arts - skills too could be enhanced, as evidenced by his own Quick Adaptation ability ascending from an unremarkable F-grade to a more potent E-rank.
To trick or gain advantage of the Tower's system after their martial arts were recognized or registered in the Tower's system, one could constantly practice and hone martial arts physically, increasing their proficiency.
Yet this cannot be applied to skills, which demanded an expenditure of Qi. Qi could be drained or depleted, which made increasing skill ranks much harder. In the case of passive abilities like his Deflecting Blow skill, specific conditions necessitated fulfillment.
Now...
As Ji Wuye finally mastered the first elegant form of the Pulse of Blade Sword Art and unlocked the secrets of the second move, a torrent of strange knowledge flooded his mind, accompanied by a piercing anguish akin to needles lancing into his thoughts.
Ji Wuye grimaced, squeezing his eyes shut as he focused intently on absorbing the profound insights while enduring the searing pain.
"H-hero?" A weak, feeble voice reached his ears, that of the trembling coachman. Unwavering in his meditation, Ji Wuye remained outwardly motionless.
"HOWL!" Across the field, the wolves cry rang out, the coachman's eyes wide and breath ragged as he watched Song Jia, her own chest heaving with exertion, finally wrest her jian free from the gaping maw of the towering wolf.
"Esteemed hero!" The coachman's hoarse pleas pierced the air once more, punctuated by a fit of violent coughing as searing pain blossomed across his chest from the grievous wound inflicted by the leader of wolves.
Yet, the coachman saw Ji Wuye didn't budge, and his chest had been bleeding continuously.
Slumping to the grassy earth, he gazed upward at the brilliance of the cerulean sky, a bitter smile tugging at his bloodied lips as he prepared to surrender to the beckoning darkness.
But then...
SWOOSH-!
Ji Wuye, having finally assimilated the profound knowledge of the new move, vanished from his position only to rematerialize beside Song Jia in the blink of an eye. His right leg arced through the air, unleashing a devastating kick that sent the hulking wolf hurtling through the air, its massive body crumpling from the sheer force of the blow.
On the other hand, Ji Wuye's crimson eyes flickered towards Song Jia, taking in her sweat-drenched white robes now stained crimson, her heaving chest as she half-knelt, gripping the hilt of her jian embedded in the earth to support her trembling form.
"Sister Song," Ji Wuye's words paused, seeing the miserable condition of Song Jia. "What are you doing? Are you trying to get yourself killed?" he then continued, his voice taking on a sharper edge as he swiveled to face her, simultaneously swinging his right arm in a wide arc.
BOOM!
Another towering obsidian-furred wolf, jaws agape to swallow Ji Wuye whole, was violently flung aside. His thunderous punch impacted one of its dagger-like fangs, shattering the razor-sharp tooth from its maw with devastating force.
"I-I..." Song Jia stammered, her eyes wide with shock and incredulity at the display of Ji Wuye's prowess.
But, a frown creased his features as he regarded her faltering state.
It didn't matter whether she was stunned or not; his intent in bringing her along was to catalyze her growth through crucible experience. "You can't even speak properly. No wonder you lost to Senior Sister Mu."
The disdainful words struck a nerve as he purposefully invoked the name of Mu Lan Rou, snapping Song Jia from her daze like a phoenix reborn from smoldering ashes.
"Y-you! I didn't lose to her!" She shot back defiantly, her trembling form surging upright as newfound fire blazed in her eyes. Though her hands still quivered gripping the jian's hilt, her glare bored into Ji Wuye with resolute determination.
Inwardly nodding with approval at her resurgent spirit, Ji Wuye casually turned his attention to survey their surroundings.
Sinuous forms prowled in ever-tightening circles, a handful of gigantic wolves boxing them in from all sides. Ji Wuye and Song Jia instinctively shifted closer, sheltering the prone coachman at the center of their defensive formation.
The obsidian-furred alpha struggled to its feet, limping heavily as gore seeped from the deep furrows gouged into its flanks by Ji Wuye's devastating kick. Its lupine muzzle twisted in a pained snarl, baring wickedly curved fangs.
"Dark wolves," Ji Wuye casually muttered the creature's name, the menacing moniker pricking Song Jia's ears as she stood poised nearby, drinking in every detail.