Ma Hongjun suddenly realized the key point.
He had been too focused on distraction and control.
Actually, distraction control isn't about dividing your mind into several parts or controlling multiple objects simultaneously.
It's a matter of reaction.
Like playing Fruit Ninja, you need to identify what you see—cut the fruit, place the bomb—it's a matter of quick reaction.
Like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's assistance, to provide different effects to different people simultaneously, you need to understand your target, to the point where you know what kind of assistance to give them the moment you see them.
Ultimately, it's a process of information gathering, rapid reaction, and skillful operation.
This requires adaptability; when facing different environments, different targets, and different opponents, you need to grasp the situation immediately and analyze all aspects of information in your mind.
It's a matter of quick thinking and responsive hands and feet.
Having found the key point, Ma Hongjun resumed his practice. Nothing can be rushed; there's always a learning and mastering process.
However, perhaps because Ma Hongjun was naturally flirtatious, his mind was very flexible and quick to adapt, making his practice effortless.
It's estimated that it won't be long before he reaches the Three Apertures Heart Control realm.
Seven days later, Sword Douluo returned and
began instructing Ma Hongjun.
"Sword techniques originated from the fighting methods of the army. As one enters a higher level of cultivation, sword techniques become more numerous and diverse.
The same applies to spear techniques.
In weapon-type martial souls, besides soul skills, there are also inherent techniques.
Unlike other martial souls, our weapon-type martial souls are inherently killing weapons. The greatest function of soul rings is to grant us power, and soul skills merely extend the direction of our techniques.
The true foundation of strength lies in the techniques we cultivate ourselves.
For example, the Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique inherited by the Clear Sky Sect is no weaker than any soul skill.
This is also the reason why weapon-type martial souls are so powerful in the world of soul masters.
Generally speaking, when a move is cultivated to a certain level, simple techniques are no longer sufficient to explain the power of the technique. At this point, one reaches the understanding of the weapon itself, which is the intent.
Intent is a very wondrous thing ." Things don't have fixed moves; they require gradual understanding and accumulation. When you master a particular move, you'll find its essence is actually quite simple: the application of force.
Skill approaches the Dao, which is a process of cultivating the essence of technique.
We also divide technique into ten realms corresponding to the Soul Master title:
First Realm: Form;
Second Realm: Emptiness; Third Realm: Force
;
Fourth Realm: Mind;
Fifth Realm: Intent;
Sixth Realm: Spirit;
Seventh Realm: Nothingness;
Eighth Realm: Spirit;
Ninth Realm: Dao;
Tenth Realm: Void.
These ten realms progress sequentially.
Take your spear technique, for example.
Form refers to moves; at this level, spear technique is just beginning, still bound by individual moves. The spear technique you cultivate is like painting, requiring fixed operational techniques.
Emptiness is formlessness and freedom; when you make a move, you no longer need to consider which move to use. When you can execute a technique effortlessly, you've entered this realm. "
Power" emphasizes the application of force; at this point, spear techniques have transcended mere forms, simplifying complexity. A casual flick of the wrist is a spear technique, focusing on the application of power. When techniques become second nature, you need to infuse them with power.
This realm can be summed up in four words: man and spear as one.
You are currently in this realm.
"Mind, Intent, and Spirit" refers to the mind, intention, and spirit—meaning your spear techniques have transcended the body, entering a state of mental, spiritual, and divine connection. These three realms are profound; arduous practice alone is insufficient to reach them—a sudden enlightenment is required.
Chen Cheng previously remained at the sixth level, "Spirit," unable to break through due to limited power; relying solely on mortal physical strength, one can only cultivate to this level at most.
The seventh realm, "Nothingness," occurs when your mind and spirit are connected to your weapon, and you possess... The absence of a gun is no longer important. This realm transcends the focus on weaponry; one can be as if carrying a gun without one in hand. The hand, the body, the mind—all can become guns, including the soul power within the body.
Chen Cheng is currently in this realm. We cultivate soul power, the source of our strength. With soul power, we can combine it with our guns and swords.
After Chen Cheng possesses a martial soul, his soul power can be cultivated, transforming into a sword for his use.
The spirit is the spirit of the gun; every weapon possesses a spirit. You must consider the gun in your hand as a living being; you need to truly understand it.
You must acknowledge it, and it must acknowledge you.
The gun is your partner, like marriage; you need to connect with it on a spiritual level.
I am currently in this realm.
As for the Dao and the Void, these are legendary realms.
Legend has it that these two realms are beyond the reach of mortals.
If one can break through to the Dao Realm, one is not far from becoming a god, as legend says.
Ma Hongjun used to cultivate alone, completely unaware of what Sword Douluo was talking about.
Unbeknownst to him, he had already reached the third realm. Sword Douluo was very curious, believing Ma Hongjun's talent was no less than Chen Cheng's.
However, Ma Hongjun knew that although Chen Cheng had Sword Douluo's guidance, he wasn't cultivating alone either, but also had the guidance of the Dragon Soul.
Moreover, the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Spear was far more refined than the rudimentary techniques of this world, making his progress much faster, as it was a comprehensive and systematic spear technique. Therefore,
Chen Cheng's talent was undoubtedly high. Of course, Ma Hongjun's talent wasn't bad either; after all, he wasn't good with swords, but he was an expert with spears, having practiced spears for two lifetimes.
Chen Cheng was now more like a sword master; without using his martial soul and soul power, in a pure physical spear-sword contest, Ma Hongjun was no match for Chen Cheng
. Even if he weren't born into a world like Douluo Continent, or even in Ma Hongjun's previous life's world, Chen Cheng would at least be a Sword Saint.
Ma Hongjun felt he was more like a sword genius from martial arts novels, such as Feng Qingyang or Dugu Qiubai.
Focusing on his spear techniques at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, Ma Hongjun meticulously reviewed everything he had learned.
His ability to reach the state of perfect harmony between man and spear was primarily due to his practice of the Ma Family Spear Technique. In his previous life, Ma Hongjun had only reached this level with the Ma Family Spear Technique.
In other words, Ma Hongjun hadn't made much progress in spear technique mastery.
Under the guidance of Sword Douluo and with Chen Cheng's sparring, Ma Hongjun began to research and integrate the Hundred Birds Paying Homage
to the Phoenix Spear Technique. Previously, he had focused too much on individual moves; although there were combos, they were merely continuous uses, without truly unlocking the essence of the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Spear Technique.
"Your spear techniques are different in form, yet they are interconnected, their operation as one. Have you ever considered, in essence, integrating them into a single technique?" "
This is Chen Cheng's comment on Ma Hongjun's performance of the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Spear. Ma Hongjun has now mastered the first forty-five moves.
Chen Cheng was also inspired by Ma Hongjun's Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Spear and began to research his own swordsmanship.
Ma Hongjun followed Chen Cheng's advice and began to integrate
the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Spear. Gradually, Ma Hongjun discovered that the Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Spear was like a winding river, continuous and unbroken, like undulating mountains, a unified whole.
Although it had countless variations, it was essentially one move.
The Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix was a process, and these one hundred moves of the spear technique were like one hundred ladders to climb, leaping over these one hundred ladders to reach the phoenix.
Vaguely, Ma Hongjun felt that he had grasped something again.
Playing with the spear seemed to be simpler.