The Dynasty of Cultivating Immortality

C35 – Realization on the Spot

Ni Huibo had made a promise to the clan leader to conceal his true power, and as a result, he had restrained his cultivation to the late stage of the first level.

In this situation, he was unable to utilize many of his second-level abilities. Thankfully, the first level was primarily a foundation for further cultivation and didn’t offer much in the way of power; it focused more on physical prowess, so there was little cause for concern.

What’s more, he was only displaying the late stage of the first level, while Ni Zhenlin was merely at the middle stage.

Ni Zhenlin, noticing Ni Huibo’s proactive stance, furrowed his brow but showed no sign of intimidation.

The clan was already abuzz with the news of Ni Zongzhao’s defeat at Ni Huibo’s hands. Ni Zongzhao had barely reached the middle stage of the first level, and Ni Zhenlin was confident he could defeat him with ease.

“I’m not Ni Zongzhao; you’d do well to be cautious,” Ni Zhenlin warned abruptly. His long sword traced an eerie arc as it thrust towards Ni Huibo.

​The attack was incredibly swift and unexpected. Caught off guard, Ni Huibo had no time to evade and was forced to quickly adapt, swinging his long sword in a half-circle to narrowly deflect the blow.

“What is this…?”

“Low-grade fifth-level cultivation method, Centrifugal Formula,” Ni Zhenlin stated flatly, pointing his wooden sword straight at Ni Huibo and thrusting it forward.

​The sword’s path seemed straightforward, yet Ni Huibo struggled to discern it clearly. One moment he thought the sword targeted his heart meridian, the next his abdomen. The sword’s pace also varied unpredictably, adding to its mysteriousness.

​”Is this the strength of your cultivation method?” Ni Huibo inquired, arching an eyebrow. He chose not to meet the attack directly, instead retreating several steps.

​”Perfect, this is an excellent chance to practice the High Clarity Mantra,” he mused silently, immediately quieting his mind and concentrating intently on Ni Zhenlin’s sword.

He had previously seized the opportunity to practice the High Clarity Mantra during his fight with Ni Zongzhao. But Ni Zongzhao’s arrogance had crossed a line, and Ni Huibo, unable to tolerate it any longer, had brought their confrontation to an abrupt end.

At that moment, Ni Huibo was presented with yet another chance to grasp the essence of the High Clarity Mantra.

“Forget the techniques; every stroke has the potential for infinite variation.”

He mulled over the book’s description, perplexed but still eager to give it a try.

Ni Zhenlin’s wooden sword came at him with an eerie frequency, and in an instant, it was upon Ni Huibo. The tip of the sword flickered ceaselessly, blurring his vision.

Ni Huibo struck out without a second thought for Ni Zhenlin’s strategy. His style was aggressive and domineering.

Ni Zhenlin’s face lit up with pleasure at the sight.

In such close-quarters combat, wide and forceful swings were a grave mistake. Ni Huibo was exposing himself to attack; any gap could be exploited, leaving him no chance to counter.

Ni Zhenlin gave a soft laugh as his wooden sword unnaturally recoiled, defying logic.

Only after Ni Huibo’s sword came crashing down did Ni Zhenlin resume his forward thrust.

“Not good! I’ve made a mistake!”

Ni Huibo was taken aback. His lack of combat experience, compounded by Ni Zhenlin’s unconventional tactics, had left him unprepared.

As his sword continued its downward trajectory, Ni Huibo had no time to evade Ni Zhenlin’s piercing attack.

Frustration creased Ni Huibo’s brow as he watched the wooden sword loom larger before him. His mind raced for an escape, but the outcome seemed inevitable.

For him, still at the first level of cultivation, dodging the sword was nothing short of a fantasy.

Yet, he refused to surrender. His thoughts whirled even faster, and to his eyes, the incoming wooden sword appeared to freeze in place.

The sensation was fleeting, and reality snapped back into focus.

Out of nowhere, an impulse struck him, and his sword hand instinctively twitched. The descending force of his blade seemed to invert, and the wooden sword swung upwards with a fierce motion.

Ni Zhenlin was incredibly swift, his wooden sword almost instantly at Ni Huibo’s face. But Ni Huibo’s responsive strike deflected it to the side, sending Ni Zhenlin’s arm flailing uncontrollably backward.

“What’s happening?”

“Ni Huibo just changed his move so unexpectedly. Could it be because he has mastered the Centrifugal Formula?”

Spectators around the arena witnessed the scene with astonishment written all over their faces.

Ni Huibo’s ability to adapt his moves on the fly was impressive. Moreover, it seemed that Ni Zhenlin might have also been relying on the Centrifugal Formula.

The Centrifugal Formula, also known as the Centrifugal Sword, is a technique specifically designed for swordsmanship. It enjoys a certain reputation within the Ni family. However, due to the difficulty of mastering it and the limited potential for advancement, it’s rarely practiced.

This technique is particularly effective at the lower levels of cultivation. Its ability to alter sword strikes can often take opponents by surprise, which has been Ni Zhenlin’s main advantage.

Just moments ago, almost everyone was convinced that Ni Zhenlin was on the verge of victory, considering they were all first-level cultivators without any unique abilities.

Yet, to everyone’s surprise, Ni Huibo was also versed in the Centrifugal Formula.

“You’ve actually trained in the Centrifugal Formula!”

Ni Zhenlin’s expression grew serious. He watched Ni Huibo warily and discreetly stepped back. The numbness in his hand from Ni Huibo’s recent strike suggested that Ni Huibo’s cultivation might be slightly superior to his own.

If Ni Huibo was proficient in the Centrifugal Formula, he might very well be the victor.

“Is the Centrifugal Formula the technique you’ve been practicing?”

Ni Huibo, somewhat perplexed, uttered the question and then glanced at his hands.

The events of that brief moment had left him feeling bewildered. He experienced an odd sensation that led him to instinctively execute that strike.

He wasn’t familiar with the Centrifugal Formula and was certain he had never practiced it.

“Upper Clarity Formula!”

As Ni Huibo pondered, the name suddenly sprang to mind.

“I’ve forgotten the moves, yet now I have a myriad at my disposal. Could it be that I’ve just reached this state?”

He wasn’t foolish. Reflecting briefly on his recent experience, he quickly made a connection.

He had been cornered with no moves left to counter. After racking his brain to no avail, he felt a wave of dizziness, and then, in an instant, he reversed his sword strike.

Even if he had already swung his long sword, he was capable of changing its direction mid-strike.

“It should be so. The Centrifugal Formula truly is extraordinary. I’ve practiced it diligently for many days to no avail, but now I’ve finally made some headway.”

Ni Huibo felt a surge of happiness. Although he was uncertain if he could reach that same level again, this at least signified that he had found the right path and had taken the first step.

Ni Zhenlin stood at a distance, observing Ni Huibo. The sight of Ni Huibo’s elation caused Ni Zhenlin’s brow to furrow in hesitation.

“Thank you, cousin.”

As Ni Zhenlin debated whether to press on with his attack, Ni Huibo abruptly straightened up. He bowed solemnly, his expression serious, as a gesture of thanks.