Chapter 753: Assistance from Righteous Gods, Formless Martial Arts Drill (66)

Chapter 753: Divine Aid and the Formless Martial Trial (66)

Watching Yun Zhiguang’s movements, Zhang Yu immediately shouted, “Headmistress! Stop at once! If you keep acting recklessly like this, I’ll summon the Celestial Deities!”

Behind Yun Zhiguang, radiant beams of divine light erupted violently, pinning Zhang Yu firmly to the ground. Her classically beautiful face was frosted with cold disdain. As she calibrated her stance and coordinates, she let out a mocking laugh. “Go ahead and try. Even if you scream yourself hoarse, you won’t stop me.”

No sooner had Zhang Yu sent his message into the Spirit Realm than several Celestial Deities descended upon the scene—among them none other than Deng Bingding, an old acquaintance.

Observing the situation, the deities exchanged glances of varying expressions—but none moved to intervene.

Zhang Yu cried out in desperation, “Honored Deities! Yun Zhiguang has gone mad! She intends to forcibly cultivate with me—please stop her at once!”

Still unmoved, the deities remained silent. Deng Bingding stepped forward to explain, “Her actions are currently legal. We have no grounds to interfere.”

Legal? Zhang Yu was stunned. How on earth could something like this be legal?

Deng Bingding elaborated further, “Yun Zhiguang holds a Forcible Cultivation Permit. Each year, she is allotted a quota for such acts. In theory… as long as she pays the required fee, causes no harm, and doesn’t steal the other party’s spiritual seed, she may forcibly cultivate with whomever she chooses.”

“Heh heh heh heh heh…”

Amidst her delicate laughter, a projection of her permit materialized above Yun Zhiguang’s head.

Seeing the three bold characters—“Forcible Cultivation Permit”—even Zhang Yu, seasoned as he was from his trials in Kunxu, found himself momentarily speechless.

Yun Zhiguang smiled sweetly. “Retroactive approval, specially sanctioned by the Heavenly Court—this is my right. Whether you consent or not, today I claim you.”

Enraged, Zhang Yu roared and thrashed violently.

Within him, the *Heavenly Kunlun Mountain-Shifting Divine Strength* surged wildly, while his immortal sect technique, *Kunlun Within the Palm*, twisted layers of space around him into strange distortions.

But one of the nearby deities quickly warned, “Cease at once, True Lord Zhuyi! Yun Zhiguang possesses a valid Forcible Cultivation Permit—her act is lawful and compliant. Should you resort to violence and injure her, that would constitute intentional assault—a clear violation of celestial law—and we will be compelled to stop you.”

Deng Bingding added gravely, “Do not fight back. You’re at a critical juncture in your Sect Examination. One entanglement in legal trouble, and all your efforts will be undone.”

Damn it all! Zhang Yu cursed inwardly. “This place is too corrupt—the heavens of Kunxu are pitch black! How can such a permit even exist? Where the hell is it issued? How does one even obtain it?”

It dawned on him then: to the deities, being forcibly cultivated by Yun Zhiguang wasn’t a big deal—it wouldn’t affect his exam. So why not just let it happen?

“In fact,” he realized bitterly, “they probably assume I’ve already internalized sect ideology—and thus shouldn’t object to forcible cultivation at all.”

But Zhang Yu refused. This was his innermost boundary, the very line that distinguished him from countless Kunxu students and sect elders. It was his anchor against total assimilation into Kunxu’s ways.

Feeling her shapely form press against him, Zhang Yu thought desperately, “No—I can’t fall here! Wait… how could I possibly stand up here?”

Though only a heartbeat had passed since Yun Zhiguang’s arrival and his subsequent pinning to the ground, Zhang Yu’s mind raced at blinding speed, searching for a way out of this predicament.

“I wonder how Kuang Tianqing handled eight Nascent Soul cultivators back then? Should I ask him?”

Meanwhile, Yun Zhiguang watched Zhang Yu’s persistent resistance and noncompliance. A flicker of suspicion crossed her eyes. “There’s definitely something off about him.”

“A mere forcible cultivation provokes such fierce opposition? With that temperament, how did he even pass the preliminary trial and gain sect admission?”

“If he truly embraced sect ideology—if he saw through the sect’s grand vision—he’d never refuse me. He’d cooperate willingly.”

“The fact that he passed despite this… clearly means the Heavenly Court has been secretly aiding him.”

Resolved, Yun Zhiguang decided then and there to thoroughly deal with Zhang Yu.

At that moment, Yue Mulan—who had been observing silently from the sidelines—sent Zhang Yu a private message.

Ever since the second round of exams ended, Yue Mulan had frequently trained and studied alongside Zhang Yu. Thus, when Yun Zhiguang arrived, she had stood nearby, both shocked and intently watching.

In that careful observation, a question stirred within her:

“Why does Yun Zhiguang want to forcibly cultivate with Zhang Yu? What is her true goal?”

Vaguely, Yue Mulan sensed that answering this question held the key to unraveling the current crisis.

Upon reading her message, a flash of insight struck Zhang Yu. “Right—Yun Zhiguang’s motive…”

“From a sect perspective, I shouldn’t fear forcible cultivation at all.”

“Does she know my personal boundaries? Does she know I’ve sealed my Sect Examination memories? Or does she believe I lack sect-mindedness entirely?”

He dismissed each possibility one by one, until his mind returned to their first meeting.

“Extreme Emotion Sword Dao!” The realization hit him like lightning. “I told her I practiced the Extreme Emotion Sword Dao! Could it be… she’s testing me? Trying to break my cultivation so I suffer backlash and fail the interview?”

“I must do the opposite—make her understand that dual cultivation won’t harm me… it will empower me.”

In that instant, clarity dawned. Zhang Yu knew what he must do.

He thought resolutely, “If that’s the case, I can’t yield. On the contrary—I must charge forward with reckless abandon!”

In the next heartbeat, Zhang Yu released his Sect Examination avatar. A torrent of scholarly qi burst forth from his body, transforming him utterly.

“Hmm?” Yun Zhiguang paused, sensing the sudden shift beneath her.

To her eyes, Zhang Yu’s gaze now appeared flustered—but it was merely a facade. Beneath it surged such overwhelming lust that even she was taken aback.

“Come on, come on!” the Sect Examination avatar roared inwardly. “Dual cultivation? After years of solitary study, endless nights under dim lamps, stifled and frustrated—how could I not crave dual cultivation? To ascend the peaks of immortality, to climb to the highest echelons of the sect—how could I not desire cultivation with a Nascent Soul Sovereign?”

“Yun Zhiguang! You think to trigger my backlash? Little do you know—I intend to use you to fuel my own breakthrough!”

Yun Zhiguang felt Zhang Yu’s blood and spiritual energy, though tightly restrained, slowly gathering toward his lower dantian. More tellingly, his entire body now thrummed with readiness—nothing like someone unwilling to engage in dual cultivation.

“Has this brat deceived me? If he truly cultivates the Extreme Emotion Sword Dao, how could he react like this?”

“Or… has he already reached the ‘Love-the-Sect’ stage of the Extreme Emotion Sword Dao—capable of dual cultivation for the sect’s sake? Was everything before just an act? Has he actually been eager to cultivate with me all along—to reap its benefits?”

The thought sparked a gleam in Yun Zhiguang’s eyes.

Especially considering the “Love-the-Sect” stage—it was a recent innovation by the Heaven Sword Sect, introduced only a few years ago and not yet disseminated to the mortal realms.

“If Zhang Yu truly possesses this ability, it must be another sign of the Heavenly Court’s covert support.”

Convinced, Yun Zhiguang abruptly halted her advance. Gazing at Zhang Yu—now flushed with reluctant desire, even straining to rise toward her—she gave a soft laugh and stepped backward.

The nearby deities watched, instantly understanding.

Deng Bingding mused inwardly, “So that’s it. The True Lord was feigning reluctance, even summoning us as bait to lure her in. Alas, Yun Zhiguang saw through the ruse.”

Relief washed over Zhang Yu’s true self. He knew he’d narrowly escaped disaster—avoiding the grim fate of becoming Yun Zhiguang’s target for forcible cultivation.

Quickly, he resealed his Sect Examination avatar and reclaimed full control of his body.

Just then, Yu Xinghan burst in, roaring, “Release Zhang Yu! If you have a quarrel, take it up with me!”

Since the second exam concluded, not only Yue Mulan but also Yu Xinghan and Bai Zhenzhen had stayed close to Zhang Yu, forming a mutual support pact to guard against last-minute mishaps before the final interview.

As Yu Xinghan arrived, he also sent Zhang Yu a private message: *Don’t worry—I covered for you. Bai Zhenzhen doesn’t know what happened here.*

Zhang Yu replied simply: *Good brother.*

Yun Zhiguang glanced coolly at the group—but had no intention of using forcible cultivation again. Now certain it wouldn’t work on Zhang Yu, why waste her precious permit quota and hand him an advantage?

“If he truly embodies sect thinking,” she murmured, “then we shall proceed in the proper sect manner.”

With a thought, she dispatched documents to the three present—contracts addressed individually to Zhang Yu, Yu Xinghan, and Yue Mulan.

Skimming the contents, Yu Xinghan’s heart sank. It was an outsourcing agreement.

According to its terms, it offered employment at Level 11, full sponsorship for the Sect Civil Service Examination, optimal conditions for taking the Sect Admission Exam until successful enrollment, and additional rewards upon joining the sect.

In essence: join Level 11, enter Wanfa Sect, ride the promotion ladder, and scale the summit of immortality.

As Yun Zhiguang distributed the contracts, the Celestial Deities sprang into coordinated action. Deng Bingding spoke aloud, “Yun Zhiguang, do not interfere with examinees.”

Yun Zhiguang smiled faintly and said, "I am merely offering them an outsourcing contract, a fresh opportunity. I am hardly stopping them from taking the sect examination, so how can this be deemed as interfering with the candidates?"

With those words, Yun Zhiguang began to recede, her voice drifting back as she retreated: "Zhang Yu, Yu Xinghan, Le Mulan—you are all clever individuals. You should understand perfectly well the current state of affairs regarding this examination."

She adopted a tone that carried a distinct, chilling edge of warning: "I am afraid the difficulty of your upcoming interviews will be anything but low. It is entirely possible that for the posts you desire, exactly zero applicants will pass."

"Conversely, if you remain on the eleventh floor, you shall have countless opportunities to attempt the sect examination with my assistance..."

Having delivered her piece, Yun Zhiguang let out a soft chuckle and vanished from everyone's sight.

Deng Dingding then turned to Zhang Yu, Yu Xinghan, and Le Mulan, reassuring them: "Please rest easy, the three of you. The Heavenly Court will absolutely guarantee total fairness and justice in the upcoming interviews. With your talents, you are bound to pass."

"Yun Zhiguang is merely a cornered beast acting out of desperation, spewing nonsense in her panic. Do not take it to heart."

"In truth, those sect disciples are already mobilizing their influence, trying desperately to unearth any evidence of cheating on your part, hoping to expose damning scandals at this critical juncture."

Yu Xinghan looked astonished: "Evidence of cheating?"

Deng Dingding laughed and said, "Do not worry, the three of you. You did not cheat in the first place, so how could there be any evidence of it? The schemes of Yun Zhiguang and her cohort are destined to be an exercise in futility."

"As for whatever underhanded methods they might employ, we shall block them all on your behalf. You three need only focus your energies on preparing for the interviews."

Naturally, it was impossible for Zhang Yu to completely dismiss the matter. He believed that Yun Zhiguang was right about one thing: the upcoming interviews would be anything but simple.

The conservative faction within the sect would undoubtedly exhaust every possible mean to bar them from passing.

Though the Heavenly Court would support them from the shadows, the covert wrestling match between these two titanic forces would inevitably affect them.

"I must seize every moment to continue my studies and cultivation, to grow stronger so that I may meet the challenge."

As for the so-called outsourcing contract, Zhang Yu never gave it a single thought. At this very moment, Yun Zhiguang and those sect disciples only accommodated them because they were forced to by the current political climate.

Once they ascended to the higher realms and the sect no longer required anything from them, heaven only knew how they would be treated.

To accept would be to hand over his entire destiny and future into the hands of others, a choice Zhang Yu refused to make.

He did not seek success in the years to come; he demanded it now, in this very session, to enter the sect.

Thus, over the following days, Zhang Yu once more threw his whole heart and soul into his studies and cultivation.

In particular, the ten martial arts of the "Formless Martial Play" became an essential part of his daily regimen.

This was not only because Zhang Yu could sense the profound, boundless depth within these ten styles, but also because of a hint Deng Dingding had previously dropped. "True Lord Zhu Yi, the questions in the second round of examinations often carry deep significance, possessing profound connections to the positions being applied for. They are well worth the extra effort to investigate thoroughly."

Zhang Yu sensed that Deng Dingding's words were a covert piece of advice. Consequently, he chose to rotate the specialized martial art of the Feathered Book every single day, intending to push all ten styles of the "Formless Martial Play" to the peak of the Nascent Soul stage—level 40—before the interviews commenced.

Fortunately, possessing a level 12 Nascent Soul Holy Body and aided by his sixteen demonic avatars, his speed of martial cultivation was unprecedented, allowing him to drive a single martial art straight to level 40 almost every day.

In fact, had it not been for the mandatory one-day delay required to switch the specialization of the Feathered Book, his pace of cultivation would have been swifter still.

Even as Zhang Yu immersed himself in his daily training, he could sense the undercurrents surging around him. Many factions and messages attempted to approach and influence him, only to be entirely deflected by the Righteous Gods.

No matter how violently the two factions clashed in the shadows outside, Zhang Yu remained indifferent to the external world, dedicating his entire being to his cultivation.

In the blink of an eye, six days passed. Zhang Yu had already pushed the "Formless Martial Play" to the sixth tier, mastering six of the techniques within this linked diagram to level 40, the absolute maximum for the Nascent Soul realm.

Elementary-level Formless Martial Play (6/6): Mimics martial arts; power cannot exceed 50% of the original version.

When he first beheld this effect, Zhang Yu found it utterly ordinary, perhaps even inferior to the Divine Three-Eye Ability.

After all, the Divine Three-Eye Ability allowed him to learn a technique simply by witnessing someone else execute it, free from any upper limit on its power.

The Formless Martial Play, as Zhang Yu discovered through experimentation, required him to understand the underlying mechanics of the opponent's martial art beforehand in order to simulate it.

"It feels rather cumbersome to use."

Yet, as Zhang Yu began to test it, following the natural flow of Style One, Style Two, Style Three... technique after technique, he discovered the true marvel of the Formless Martial Play.

"The Formless Martial Play utilizes the ten styles within the set to simulate all categories of martial arts under heaven."

Astral qi erupted from Zhang Yu's body, and countless palm silhouettes charged into the sky with a force that threatened to rend the heavens and split the earth, only to be quietly reeled back by him.

"This simulation can actually unleash the exact subtleties of a level 40 martial art instantaneously?"

At this moment, what Zhang Yu was simulating was precisely the Great Wasteland Mountain-Shifting Strength from the Seven Desolations of Earth and Wood.

He did not execute that actual martial art; instead, using the Formless Martial Play to simulate it, he directly manifested the profound subtleties of the Great Wasteland Mountain-Shifting Strength at level 10, level 20, level 30, and even level 40.

"The power does not exceed fifty percent of the original..."

Zhang Yu thought to himself, "The raw numbers are lacking, but the mechanics are perfectly replicated."

At this juncture, Zhang Yu gained a profound understanding of the difference between the Divine Three-Eye Ability and the Formless Martial Play.

"With the Divine Three-Eye Ability, I can learn a technique at a single glance, but I must still cultivate it from level 1, advancing step by step."

"With the Formless Martial Play, once I comprehend the underlying mechanics of a martial art, I can instantly simulate and execute the profound subtleties of a level 40 technique in a single breath."

Zhang Yu understood that the reason it was capped at level 40 was solely because his own mastery of the ten component styles of the Formless Martial Play was only at level 40.

If he were to push Style One through Style Ten all the way to level 50, he would be able to directly simulate the subtleties of a level 50 technique. By extension, pushing the ten styles to level 60 would allow him to instantly simulate the subtleties of a level 60 technique...

Of course, the prerequisite was that the simulated martial art itself had to possess content corresponding to those higher levels.

As for the process of understanding the underlying mechanics...

"This is the sole defect: it requires me to read the secret manuals."

"With the aid of the Formless Martial Play, I only need to browse through a secret manual once to simulate the high-level effects of any martial art."

"However..."

Zhang Yu thought of the Divine Three-Eye Ability: "If I observe with the Divine Three-Eye Ability and then combine it with the simulation of the Formless Martial Play... could I directly simulate and advance an opponent's martial art merely by watching them execute it, without ever reading their manuals?"

The thought sent a sudden rush of excitement through Zhang Yu's heart.

But in the next breath, he let out a sigh: "Ah, first of all, I do not own the copyright to their martial arts."

"Second... I only possess the examination-room copyright for Style One through Style Ten, meaning I can only use them within the testing grounds."

"There is no way for me to employ this method openly and legitimately."

Yet immediately afterward, Zhang Yu's eyes gleamed once more: "But if I manage to pass the examination into the Palace of Royal Law, I should be able to use it then, shouldn't I?"

As he continued to delve into the Formless Martial Play over the past few days, a faint suspicion regarding this technique began to form in his mind.

He wondered in his heart, "These ten styles gather a hundred rivers and encompass all creation, containing the principles of all martial arts in the world. It is precisely because of this that they can be used to simulate any technique under heaven."

"Perhaps within the Palace of Royal Law, this very method is used to simulate techniques before granting approval and jurisdiction."

With this thought, Zhang Yu continued to seize every moment to practice his martial arts, eagerly anticipating what the subsequent two effects of the Formless Martial Play would be.

...

While Zhang Yu was making continuous progress each day, various investigations targeting him were quietly unfolding across the first to the fifth floors, spreading like a massive net over the entire world.

And the first to bear the brunt of this pressure was Lu Xuanzhi, who served as an examiner.

Looking at the sect disciples arrayed before him, Lu Xuanzhi declared firmly, "Zhang Yu absolutely did not cheat within the examination grounds. This is something I can personally guarantee."

Whether Lu Xuanzhi wished it or not, his status as an examiner bound him to the same boat as Zhang Yu.

No matter how the sect disciples questioned or investigated him, he maintained a steadfast stance, testifying that Zhang Yu had committed no fraudulent acts within the testing grounds.

Concurrently, many individuals associated with Zhang Yu were drawn into the mire one by one.

"Scandals regarding Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen?"

"I've spoken. Are you absolutely certain you will give me that many spiritual coins?"

Zhou Chechen stared at the stranger before him. “This is their crucial moment for the Sect Examination—why do you want dirt on them? Are you trying to sabotage their chances?”

Hearing the other party raise their price again, Zhou Chechen quickly blurted out, “They bullied classmates back in high school—and by the way, Bai Zhenzhen even stole electricity!”

At those words, Yun Zhiguang’s eyes flickered. “Stole electricity? Did they steal anything else? Were they caught?”

As Zhou went on to describe how Bai Zhenzhen had plugged countless chargers into sockets across various classrooms, Yun Zhiguang grimaced in disgust. “Is that all you’ve got? That counts as theft? Sounds more like you’re praising her for saving energy.”

“I need something more substantial,” Yun Zhiguang scoffed coldly. “Preferably something they never got caught for. Anything else?”

After further questioning yielded nothing useful, Zhou Chechen watched the other walk away empty-handed and thought to himself, *Zhang Yu, Bai Zhenzhen… if there really were any scandals about you two… well, forget it.*

“Just get into the sect already—stop dragging others into this mess.”

Just then, Deng Bingding appeared before him and said reassuringly, “Don’t worry, classmate. This time, they’ll definitely pass the Sect Examination.”

“They’ll be the ones to break open the gates of the Lower Sect Examinations. From now on, such exams will become routine—and you’ll have your own chance to enter a sect someday.”

*Sect Examination…* The words sent a shiver through Zhou Chechen’s heart. His blood, long cooled, seemed to warm once more.

A deep, primal urge stirred within him—an unshakable yearning for the Immortal Path—so powerful that he was willing to cast aside all past grudges and resentments, even eager to help Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen succeed.

…

Wang Yin gazed coldly at the person before him. “I hold no grudge against Zhang Yu or Bai Zhenzhen.”

“We were just messing around.”

“‘Messing around’?” Yun Zhiguang frowned. “Think carefully, Wang Yin. If you give me useful information, I can get you outsourced work on Level 11—or even a spot in the Sect Examination.”

Wang Yin remained silent. Watching Yun Zhiguang vanish into the distance, he muttered inwardly, *Zhang Yu—you lot better get into that sect. I gave up a Level 11 outsourcing opportunity for you.*

Whether driven by instinct or memories of the Sect Examination, Wang Yin knew clearly: once these exams became standardized, he’d dominate the competition in the lower levels and seize his best chance yet.

…

“Xiang Shan, doesn’t Zhang Yu harbor serious prejudice against yaogu (demon-blooded individuals)?”

“And that environmental damage incident—wasn’t he responsible? Didn’t it lead to losses in the medicinal fields?”

Facing Yun Zhiguang and the others, Xiang Shan’s mind flashed with images of the red envelope he’d received, his tripled salary, the entirety of his savings poured into Yu Bonds, and the intelligence passed on by Deng Bingding.

After a moment’s reflection, he replied flatly, “Zhang Yu doesn’t discriminate against yaogu, nor did he damage the environment. It was all my own carelessness.”

Inwardly, he wondered, *Will I… ever get a chance at the Sect Examination myself?*

Meanwhile, investigations targeting Zhang Yu and his group pressed forward—but under Heaven Court’s strict surveillance, sect disciples resorted only to inducements and standard inquiries, avoiding any unlawful methods.

Ying Mingchi of Tianyao University declared, “True Lord Zhuyi is my elder—he possesses a genuine demon-heart.”

Mo Shengjin of Wanfa University stated, “I don’t recall the True Lord committing any crimes or violations during his time at the construction site.”

Ye Xingli added, “My senior brother has always been impartial—how could he possibly embezzle funds?”

Reading through the mounting reports, Yun Zhiguang snorted in disdain. “A bunch of scum from the mortal realm, banding together just so Zhang Yu passes—hoping it opens doors for themselves too?”

Recalling the constant obstacles during her investigation and certain emerging clues, Yun Zhiguang grew even more convinced of her original suspicion.

“Zhang Pianpian—that woman is key.”

“And True Lord Xinghuo… his demotion by one level wasn’t random after all.”

“Zhang Yu, Yu Xinghan, Le Mulan, Bai Zhenzhen—their strengths align far too perfectly with the exam topics.”

“Heaven Court clearly laid this groundwork long ago.”

Sighing heavily, Yun Zhiguang acknowledged defeat. With Heaven Court’s thorough preparations, she had no recourse.

“All that’s left is the interview.”

And as time flowed onward, Zhang Yu and his companions finally arrived at the final stage of the Sect Examination—the interview.

(End of Chapter)