Swallowing the Stars: Reboot, The Eternal Serpent!

Chapter 18: The Art of Speed ​​and Slowness!

Jiang Zhe was somewhat frustrated upon realizing the flaws in his power-generating technique.

But he quickly adjusted, restoring his mind to a state of calm and tranquility, and his mind raced as he actively explored more possibilities.

"I need to master a higher level of skill; I want to reach the realm of artistic conception!"

A movement technique at the level of artistic conception or a spear technique at the level of artistic conception!

"Both are fine!"

"The former enables guerrilla tactics, and the artistic level movement technique is enough to toy with lord-level monsters, and can make up for the exposed flaws when unleashing full power."

"The latter relies on a single, decisive blow!"

"As long as my body can withstand the impact of the first collision, the battle will be over without a second one."

Jiang Zhe still did not give up on challenging strong opponents.

……

That night, the uncle who was in charge of delivering supplies and experience packs arrived, and Jiang Zhe temporarily stopped cultivating his genetic energy.

As soon as I opened my eyes, I heard my uncle's deep voice coming from afar.

Jiang Chengbo, a middle-aged man with a square face, is nearly two meters tall and has an imposing figure. His presence alone gives people a sense of security and inspires their trust.

"He's already mastered the second stage? It took me three whole years to get to this point..." The uncle's tone was filled with mixed emotions.

The old man said leisurely, "Haven't you noticed yet? Xiao Zhe is very good at 'cultivating the body,' whether it's exerting force or genetic energy."

After thinking for a moment, Jiang Chengbo nodded and said, "It looks a lot like Thor!"

A smile played on the old man's lips. "Stronger than Thor, much stronger. He's already exerting ten times his normal power!"

"Yes, ten times!" Jiang Chengbo laughed. "I can't wait to see the birth of Earth's first secret manual!"

The old man waved his hand. "Let me summarize. Don't let these trivial matters interfere with Xiao Zhe's cultivation. I got some inspiration from him and have some ideas."

"Yes, indeed. Xiao Zhe should focus on cultivation first; there's no rush to compile the secret manual."

Jiang Chengbo responded with a word of agreement, then suddenly asked curiously, "By the way, Dad, what about those lord-level golden apes over there?"

"Xiao Zhe killed him."

"Huh? You've been training Xiao Zhe's mental cultivation techniques these past few days?"

"No, Xiao Zhe wanted to challenge a lord-level monster using martial arts techniques, so I found this golden-haired ape for him. He was caught off guard and only managed to turn the tables and kill it by using the techniques of a mentalist."

Jiang Chengbo's expression was strange. "Dad, are you trying to dampen Xiao Zhe's spirits? Otherwise, why not choose a pig-type lord for him? Don't underestimate Xiao Zhe just because he's only a junior general. He has the ability to exert force tenfold, so he can barely handle it using martial arts techniques."

Jiang Chul, who was eavesdropping: "???"

Only then did he realize that different types of monsters have different combat strengths at the same level.

The strongest are those mysteriously mutated dragon beasts.

Humanoid lord-level monsters are definitely stronger than war gods of the same level.

The old man coughed twice. "I'll see through it but not say anything! Let this silly boy be frustrated for a while, and let him hone his marksmanship to perfection first."

Jiang Zhe: ...

She immediately closed her eyes, pretending not to know her uncle's arrival, and went back to cultivating her genetic energy.

"A 10x power output is equivalent to a high-yield artillery shell, which I can't use for a suicide attack and guarantee my survival. Therefore, I need to build a launcher to fire the shell and cause the best possible damage."

……

Day eleven of training in the wilderness.

Due to limitations, the third stage of spear thrusting training—"thrusting the mirror"—was not conducted.

In the morning, Jiang Zhe and his uncle had a shooting practice session.

Then, he was completely overwhelmed by a martial arts routine called "Seven Probes of the Snake Coiling Spear".

Seven attacks, continuous and relentless, like water being poured out, the spearheads tracing the outlines around him, the strong winds scraping his skin and making his hair stand on end.

At this moment, Jiang Zhe felt that the spear in his hand was more superfluous than ever before, and that it was a hindrance to him.

This is an illusion!

Jiang Zhe knew very well what was going on.

With such perfect spear skills, even if he used a shield or a mace to counter, he would still feel that the "fire poker" in his hand was superfluous.

In terms of marksmanship, I am far from good enough; I cannot even achieve "man and gun as one."

Soon, the balance of power shifted.

He attacked with his gun, while his uncle only defended.

Jiang Zhe was eager to prove himself and show his uncle the spear-thrusting skills he had painstakingly honed.

Then came the "Seven Probes of the Snake Coiling Spear," which nearly made Jiang Zhe vomit.

One set of marksmanship, two ways to use it; equally formidable in defense.

When his uncle wielded his spear, Jiang Zhe felt as if a giant snake was coiled around him, and anyone who tried to get close would be whipped away by its tail.

The Jiang family actually has many more spear techniques like this, which fall under the category of traditional martial arts and have not been adapted into modern manuals.

They are categorized as "free-style techniques" along with other methods such as "secret weapons," and are all located in the folder on the computer in the audio-visual room on the ninth floor of the Traditional Martial Arts Hall.

Through repeated sparring sessions with his uncle, Jiang Zhe was like a dry sponge that had fallen into water, frantically absorbing knowledge and improving his marksmanship.

As the saying goes, a wooden bucket can hold as much water as its shortest stave.

Relying solely on spear thrusting, Jiang Zhe's spear skills are at a highly specialized level.

However, if he elevates all other basic spear techniques to a specialized level, and then connects all the parts with his superb spear thrusting skills, then his spear technique will be perfect!

This is not wishful thinking.

This possibility is rapidly approaching realization through repeated exchanges with my uncle.

In the afternoon, Jiang Zhe witnessed a new trick.

The old man flew to the top of the waterfall and poured out the wild chestnuts he had picked.

He stood in the pool below the waterfall, where the water was up to his thighs deep. In this environment, he was to wield his spear and shatter the wild chestnuts mixed in with the waterfall's flow.

This is specialized training in spear thrusting, waist control, and footwork, which is also why the old man valued this waterfall.

And so, Jiang Zhe forgot about fighting the lord-level monster and focused on honing his spear skills.

Until the tenth day, which was also the twenty-first day of their wilderness training.

Jiang Zhe thrust his spear straight out, breaking through the "giant snake's" layers of coils. The silver spear tip streaked across like a comet, finally stopping one centimeter from Jiang Chengbo's brow.

Jiang Chengbo stood calmly in place, without making the slightest move to dodge. He didn't even blink when the spear tip came at him; he just smiled faintly.

He believed that Jiang Zhe could control the thrust perfectly.

The progress made in these ten days is undeniable.

"Incredible! You've only been practicing martial arts for a little over forty days, and you've already mastered perfect movement techniques and flawless spear skills... If word got out, it would probably shatter the beliefs of many martial artists. Even I feel inferior in your presence, like I'm incredibly stupid!"

That's right, there's also a perfect-level movement technique.

It was his uncle chasing him with a gun that led to his defeat. Jiang Zhe often had to try to use everything around him to avoid his uncle's attacks during sparring sessions.

Over time, you'll master it.

For mentalists, both subtlety and perfect movement techniques come with innate proficiency, allowing them to quickly learn and master them.

Jiang Chengbo couldn't help but sigh, "Perhaps within the next year or two, you will surpass me."

Jiang Zhe smiled and said, "Then I am also a member of the Jiang family. I was taught by you and Grandpa, and the glory belongs to the Jiang family!"

The eldest uncle paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, "Yes! Yes! The glory belongs to the Jiang family!"

"Good lad, you know how to talk!"

"I believe you can surpass Hong and Lei Shen and become a new legend! The legend belongs to our Jiang family!"

"Didn't you want to challenge a lord-level monster? Your uncle knows which monsters are suitable as sparring partners for you. I'll have your grandfather catch a few for you."

The uncle patted Jiang Zhe on the shoulder with a cheerful smile, completely ignoring the death stare his father was giving him.

Go and get me a few piglets.

But a pig lord is still a lord!

Jiang Zhe was eager to test the boost that perfect-level movement techniques and perfect spear techniques would provide to his combat power.

I learned from my previous defeat; I dare to take on the challenge again this time.

A martial artist who doesn't dare to savor the thrill of killing opponents of higher levels is destined for mediocrity.

My uncle is still the best to me!

Grandpa, disregarding martial ethics, immediately put me on the hard difficulty level, while my uncle, who cared about me, let me level up slowly from the easy difficulty level.

The old man couldn't help but speak up: "Xiao Zhe still needs to learn techniques at the realm of intent, so there are no plans for him to practice against lord-level monsters for the time being."

Then he glared at his restless eldest son.

Under Jiang Zhe's expectant gaze—

I'm currently reading the error-free version! This is the first time I've published this novel.

The nephew's young and innocent gaze was nothing compared to his father's death stare.

Jiang Chengbo immediately changed his tune, saying, "Reaching the realm of intent is more important. Come here, Xiao Zhe, let me show you my intent-level spear technique."

Uh? You want to see marksmanship at the artistic level? That's fine too.

Jiang Zhe felt it was acceptable.

After nodding, he saw his uncle immediately swing his gun and deliver a powerful blow.

The sharp, whistling sound of the wind cutting through the air was uncomfortable to the ears.

A simple slash with the spear nearly suffocated Jiang Zhe, his eyes widening and his pupils shrinking.

The silver Overlord Spear seemed to magnify before our eyes, crashing down like the toppled Mount Buzhou, its unique mountain-like heaviness pressing down upon us.

At this moment, Jiang Zhe felt as if he were in a quagmire, sinking deeper and deeper, and all he could do was watch helplessly as the "mountain" collapsed.

The "mountain" eventually shifted.

It landed not far to Jiang Zhe's right and smashed a round rock that was half a meter high into countless fist-sized pieces.

With a surge of mental power, he caught the many flying pebbles and tossed them into the pool, skipping them several times.

"Tsk, it's so convenient for a mentalist to do anything." The uncle sheathed the Overlord Spear and slung it behind his back, sighing.

Jiang Zhe seemed not to hear, still savoring the feeling from just now.

The old man suddenly said, "Xiao Zhe, my artistic conception is similar to that of your uncle. Take a look at mine."

As soon as Jiang Zhe looked up, he saw the old man holding the Eight Treasures Dragon Spear in one hand, thrusting out a simple and unadorned spear strike.

This shot seemed weak and powerless.

But in Jiang Zhe's eyes, it was a different story.

The needle-like spear tip drew ever closer!

A biting wind suddenly arose, seeping into his body and making his hands and feet feel numb, as if he were in an ice cave and about to be frozen inside.

The two techniques at the artistic level are indeed similar.

The same sense of stagnation, expressed in a different way, made him feel unable to break free.

The old man didn't stop, but then an accident happened.

A single drop of water splashing from the waterfall intruded into the scene, passing right in front of Jiang Zhe and disrupting the overall harmony of the atmosphere.

Bang!

Bang!

Jiang Zhe felt as if he had just been in a maze of mirrors, and suddenly all the mirrors were shattered, and he fell into a dark void.

The speed of time becomes blurred in our perception.

Only a flash of light passed by, and a "comet" streaked across the sky.

It seems fast, it seems slow, and it has a unique charm.

Jiang Zhe instinctively raised his spear, mimicking the unique style he had just experienced, and combined it with the memory of thrusting spears etched into his body.

Using his most familiar techniques, he recreated the trajectory of that "comet"!

扎！

The spear tip drew a silver arc, smashing through the old man's Eight Treasures Dragon Spear at incredible speed, and piercing straight towards the old man's brow.

For the first time, the old man was moved, and a deep sense of shock appeared in his eyes.

He had fought against many martial artists who had mastered the essence of martial arts, and had witnessed the lightness of the wind, the explosiveness of fire, the speed of thunder... but he had never seen such a strange essence of martial arts.

Yes, it's eerie.

A contradictory combination that seems both fast and slow!

Facing the thrust of the spear, the silver glint at the tip magnified before my eyes.

You might think it's incredibly slow, like a slow-motion replay in sports footage, but that's just your illusion. It's actually incredibly fast, like a shooting star streaking across the sky.

When you try to slowly raise your hand to do something, it's too late; you can't grasp anything!

Jiang Chengbo also felt that sense of disconnect from his perspective.

It's both fast and slow, it's completely mind-blowing!

He couldn't help but mutter to himself, "What kind of artistic conception is this?"

The old man was, after all, a planetary-level martial artist. Jiang Zhe's level was no challenge for him. He broke free from the contradiction between fast and slow, raised his hand and grabbed the spear tip that was thrusting towards his brow.

A drop of crimson blossomed between his brows, slid down the tip of his nose, and splattered on the ground as a flower of blood.

Jiang Chengbo looked utterly astonished: "In the end, it was still too late..."

"Haha, great! Great! What a wonderful artistic conception!"

After freezing the wound between his eyebrows, the old man laughed heartily. This eerie atmosphere gave him more confidence in Jiang Zhe's future.

It took Jiang Zhe about two or three minutes to come to his senses.

Recalling what had just happened, Jiang Zhe felt somewhat guilty. "Grandpa, I..."

"It's alright, I'd love for you to do it again." The old man waved his hand, beaming. "Quick, how was your grasp of that feeling just now?"

Jiang Zhe frowned and pondered for a moment, "I should... have remembered it pretty well."

"Come try it, come at me!"

Jiang Zhe nodded, raised his spear and thrust it forward, the tip of the spear drawing a silver arc of light, the speed was unbelievable.

But... that's all.

"Why is half gone? Wait a minute!" Jiang Chengbo exclaimed in surprise, noticing the difference.

This time, the old man easily grasped the gun barrel and looked at Jiang Zhe with concern.

The artistic conception is still there, but only half of it remains. The speed at which the spear thrust out is unbelievable, making it difficult for anyone to react.

The only difference is the lack of the sense of "slow," which means it no longer gives people that sense of separation between fast and slow.

Jiang Zhe smiled wryly: "I really only remember half of it. I'll think about the rest later. I shouldn't forget it, right?"

"Okay, focus on consolidating your skills later and try to regain that feeling. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Actually, the remaining half is also quite good; after all, it's still at the realm of artistic conception, and extreme speed is very powerful!"

After offering a word of comfort, the old man encouraged you, "Give a name to this new understanding of the concept."

"A name?" Jiang Zhe thought of a possibility, "Time!"

"Let's call it the artistic conception of time!"

"Time? Time!"

The old man repeated it twice, his expression slightly taken aback, "Time acceleration? That's quite fitting!"

(End of this chapter)