Chapter 7 The Way of the Four Supremes (1/2)

”The stage of Qi-gathering is the gateway to the Martial Way; it is necessary to get the basics right… only then will your future progress be smooth,” Zhou Donghuang muttered to himself, sitting cross-legged on the bed.

”Previously, I concentrated on practicing the methods that were popular in Ziyun and had only an average foundation, which put me at a disadvantage from the beginning… Even though I had many encounters later on with the champions of various great civilizations and cultures like star clans and supreme factions, I could only barely manage to remain undefeated.”

”This time, I must choose the best and most suitable practice method for myself!”

Zhou Donghuang's thousand years' worth of memories contained a myriad of practice methods, more than enough for him to take his pick from.

”'Thousand Star Sword Technique' is the pinnacle of sword techniques. If I practice this technique starting from the stage of Qi-gathering, I will be in an unassailable position when I engage other champions in battle.”

The Thousand Star Sword Technique was plundered from the dimensional ring of an enemy that Zhou Donghuang had killed in his previous life. It was the genuine, original technique from one of the supreme sects, the Thousand-Star Sword Sect. This enemy had been the lead disciple of the sect.

In that fight, if Zhou Donghuang had not unintentionally advanced his level of practice, which allowed him to fight at a higher stage, he might not have been able to kill his opponent.

”'The Fiery Thunder Training Regimen' is the pinnacle of physical martial art techniques, and it was mastered by another supreme sect. However, that sect had provoked too many powerful adversaries and was utterly defeated by their combined efforts. He eventually vanished into the tides of history.”

Although the champions of the great civilizations were powerful—it could be said that they stood at the peak of the universe—they were not invincible.

There were still some but not many that could equal them; incur the wrath of them, and it would be difficult to endure.

”If I practice the Fiery Thunder Training Regimen, even if I encounter a prime user of the Thousand Star Sword Technique, all I would have to do is bide my time and wait for an opportunity to get close to him, and I would be able to defeat him easily!”

Zhou Donghuang was inclined to the Fiery Thunder Training Regimen over the Thousand Star Sword Technique.

At that time, the Fiery Thunder Training Regimen was dominant, and its users were bloated with arrogance. In the end, they had made too many enemies and caused their own demise.

Zhou Donghuang had obtained the Fiery Thunder Training Regimen by accident, just like the Thousand Star Sword Technique, and he had memorized its teachings completely.

”'Manual of Unruffled Sage' is an extremely rare and potent practice method that focuses on developing one's divine will in the initial stages and spiritual attacks in the subsequent… If faced with an opponent trained in the Fiery Thunder Training Regimen, its users only need to prevent their opponents closing in, and keep them at a distance and wait for an opportunity to strike. With their divine will… they could destroy their opponent's Primordial Soul completely!

”However, the demands of practicing Manual of Unruffled Sage are harsh… One must forsake all emotions and become completely emotionless. Only then can one maintain an unshakable resolve and successfully develop an unbreakable divine will.”

Zhou Donghuang had come across Manual of Unruffled Sage while he was exploring an ancient and secret place. According to the legends, it was the technique that had the highest probability of elevating its users to divinity.

The disaster of the demon in the heart that was a part of the divine disaster would be no obstacle to an emotionless person.

In addition, a practitioner of this level who mastered Manual of Unruffled Sage would not be defeated by other techniques in a divine disaster.

Zhou Donghuang was also able to completely recall the contents of Manual of Unruffled Sage.

These three techniques were the pinnacle of all the techniques in the universe, and of all the other techniques Zhou Donghuang was familiar with, including those he had previously practiced, none could match these three.

”Why not… choose either the Thousand Star Sword Technique or the Fiery Thunder Training Regimen?” Zhou Donghuang muttered, finding it hard to make up his mind.

Manual of Unruffled Sage did not interest him at all, other than it being a level higher than both the Thousand Star Sword Technique and the Fiery Thunder Training Regimen.

What meaning would life have for an emotionless person?

Why don't I choose the Fiery Thunder Training Regimen?

But the Fiery Thunder Training Regimen is only strong in close combat… it is too weak in ranged combat.

Against an opponent matching or inferior to me in terms of speed, there would be no problem. However, against a faster opponent, even if his combined abilities were no match for me, I would only be able to watch him flee.

The Thousand Star Sword Technique is suitable for both close combat and ranged combat… but it neglects defense completely. It allows for fast, strong attacks but also has obvious weaknesses. By this point, it is far inferior to the Fiery Thunder Training Regimen.

Previously, I practiced a mish-mash of techniques, and the result was excelling in certain areas but appearing merely average in others… if I did not have the miraculous experience of having lived such a long life, I would have had no chance of contending with any of the star clans and supreme factions of the great civilizations.

In the course of practicing, one could switch freely between different techniques.

However, if you didn't stick to the same one technique as you started with, you would not reach the best state later when you completed the practice.

This was the problem Zhou Donghuang had faced in his previous life, and even though he could identify the problem, he had been unable to rectify it.

It would be unrealistic for him to erase all his achievements in the Martial Way, become an ordinary person, and start all over again. Because Zhou Donghuang had previously been at such a disadvantage, he made up his mind this time to choose the most suitable technique for himself and pursue it as far as he could go.

Even though he might have to settle for the second best, he would establish a strong foundation for himself.

That's right… how could I have forgotten?

The Lord Of The Four Supremes!

Previously, when Zhou Donghuang had found the chronospace slate in the Kunlun Mountains on Earth, he had found some jade writing tablets on which a particular technique was recorded .