Chapter 95: The Cardification of Fate Arts

Aside from a few special secret arts, the basics of most life techniques are usually not hard to learn; the difficult part is advancing further.

The first level of War-Array Art was likewise not difficult to begin. As long as one’s aptitude was not abysmal, most people in the Black Iron stage could master the first layer within three days.

Under the careful guidance of the instructor assigned to the cultivation crystal for War-Array Art, Lin Huang slowly divided the vital energy within his body into separate strands.

What had originally been like a clear stream of vital energy began to split in two, then into three, then into four, refined again and again, until at last he had divided it into twelve strands. It was like taking a complete army and splitting it into twelve separate forces.

At first Lin Huang had been somewhat puzzled as to why the vital energy needed to be dispersed, but after watching the middle-aged man’s demonstration in the projection, he immediately understood.

He saw that once the vital energy had been divided into twelve strands, the strands began to entwine and twist, rapidly binding themselves into the shape of a hemp rope before spinning at high speed, like an electric drill.

“No wonder so many people hold War-Array Art in such high regard. This technique can actually change the form of vital energy.” Lin Huang’s eyes lit up. What he thought of was not merely attacking in the shape of a drill; it could also be transformed into many other forms.

Under the guidance of the middle-aged man’s video instruction, Lin Huang’s understanding of how to use vital energy opened onto an entirely new horizon.

He finally understood why this technique was called War-Array Art. All vital energy could be subdivided into ranks upon ranks of troops. What sort of offensive or defensive formation those troops assumed depended solely on a single command from their master. That was the essence of War-Array Art.

Though the vital energy had been split into twelve strands, wielding those twelve forces as naturally as one’s own limbs was by no means simple.

It took Lin Huang nearly nine hours to barely complete mastery of the drill form, and at last he finished cultivating the first layer of War-Array Art. His pace was still considered rather good, barely enough to count as entering the ranks of geniuses, though he was still far from being a true monster among men.

According to the information Lin Huang had found online, the fastest person ever to cultivate War-Array Art was An Luoyu, from more than twenty years ago. He supposedly completed the first layer in about half an hour, a genuine freak of nature.

Once the first layer of War-Array Art was complete, Little Black’s prompt immediately appeared.

A life art has been detected within the host. Would you like to convert it into a card?

“Will that consume card fragments?” Lin Huang asked.

No. This life art was learned and mastered by the host himself, so converting it into a card requires no cost whatsoever.

“Then convert it into a card.” Lin Huang finally nodded.

Card conversion complete. The host has obtained a rare life art card.

Lin Huang immediately opened the card to take a look.

Life Art Card

Life Art Name: War-Array Art

Rarity: Rare

Mastery Level: First Layer

Effect: Vital energy circulation speed increased by 12 percent; vital energy attack power and defense increased by 12 percent each.

Note: For the first five layers, each level increases all effects on vital energy by 12 percent.

Card Rating: Usable

“One layer is twelve percent. Five layers make sixty percent. By the sixth layer, the boost would rise to at least seventy-two percent. At that point, it would indeed count as a top-grade life art.” Lin Huang had also carefully studied the various bonuses produced by life arts of different grades.

Low-grade life arts usually increased vital energy flow rate, attack power, and defense by less than 30 percent.

Mid-grade life arts usually increased those effects by 30 to 50 percent.

High-grade life arts usually increased them by 50 to 70 percent.

Top-grade life arts usually increased them by 70 to 100 percent.

“Little Black, once a life art is converted into a card, can I gain fragments through cultivation?” Lin Huang could not help asking.

You can gain fragments.

“How do the advancement rules work?”

Two hundred life art fragments are required to advance to the second layer. After advancing to the second layer, four hundred life art fragments are required to advance to the third layer. After advancing to the third layer, eight hundred life art fragments are required to advance to the fourth layer. After advancing to the fourth layer, sixteen hundred life art fragments are required to advance to the fifth layer.

From the sixth layer onward, the rules change. To advance from the fifth layer to the sixth, ten thousand life art fragments must be accumulated. Advancing from the sixth to the seventh requires thirty thousand fragments. Advancing from the seventh to the eighth requires ninety thousand fragments.

Advancing from the eighth to the ninth layer changes the rules again and requires 810,000 life art fragments.

“Eight hundred and ten thousand...” Seeing the number required for the ninth layer, Lin Huang was almost speechless. “Well, at least reaching the sixth layer isn’t too hard.”

Not long after the life art card was created, Lin Xin happened to come home from school.

Hearing the sound of the door opening outside, Lin Huang unlocked the room door and stepped out.

“Brother, I’m back!” Lin Xin’s voice soon rang out.

“Want something to eat? Come pick in the kitchen,” Lin Huang said as he slowly came down the stairs and walked straight toward the kitchen, where he once again laid out the snacks he had brought back earlier.

The snacks he had brought were enough to last for many days, and they all tasted better than anything he made himself. There were almost no dishes Lin Xin did not love.

After changing her shoes, Lin Xin skipped and hopped her way into the kitchen and quickly chose three dishes.

Only then did Lin Huang steam the rice. “I was delayed by something today and forgot to start the rice. Dinner will be a little late.”

“It’s fine, I’m not hungry yet.” After speaking, Lin Xin dragged Lin Huang to the sofa in the living room, opened the picture storage on her Heart of the Emperor ring, and popped up one scenic image after another. “Brother, I’ve chosen! Let’s go to Summer Palace City!”

Summer Palace City was famous for the ruins of a palace.

Those ruins lay about eighty kilometers west of Summer Palace City. Some said they were a relic left behind from the old era; others claimed they were evidence that the gods had once lingered in this world. As for the truth, no exact conclusion had ever been reached.

The ruins had now become a popular tourist attraction, drawing tens of thousands of visitors every day, with tourists arriving in an endless stream.

“If we’re going to Summer Palace City, a spaceship leaves next Monday. If you’re sure about it, I’ll book the tickets now.” Lin Huang looked at Lin Xin.

“Let’s go to Summer Palace City!” Lin Xin nodded vigorously.

“Alright!”

Lin Huang opened the booking page and checked. There were still several seats left on next Monday’s ship, and, just conveniently, two adjacent rooms were still available. He immediately booked tickets for those two rooms.

“You still have class tomorrow. The day after tomorrow, Saturday, we’ll head to Mighty City first thing in the morning. We can still have two days to play around on Saturday and Sunday. On Monday morning, we’ll board the ship from Mighty City.” Lin Huang quickly arranged their itinerary.

~~~~~~

I really have no words. Last night I saw a reader mention it in a chapter comment, and I searched it myself only to discover that War-Array Art repeated the name of a cultivation technique written by a great master on another site... and his setting was also derived from yet another technique. Running into this kind of collision is truly awkward... I honestly hadn’t read that book of his. If I had known earlier, either my setting or at least the name of this technique at the start would definitely have been changed to avoid this kind of overlap.