Martial Saint with Passives

’How could a guy like Jiang Che, who only got this far with a mediocre Root Bone, Elixir Pills, and pure luck, possibly comprehend this faster than me?’

In his eyes, Jiang Che’s move was nothing more than a last-ditch effort—a desperate attempt to grab some attention before being eliminated!

Meanwhile, Shen Mingxuan of the Taiyuan Sect also scoffed in a low voice to a fellow disciple beside him:

"It seems the Cangyun Sect’s new Chief Disciple is nothing special after all. It was one thing to cleverly use his lower Realm as an advantage in the martial strength trial, but now, in the Comprehension trial that tests one’s true foundation, his true colors are showing immediately!"

Even Qin Wuya, who had remained unflappable with a look of disdain, opened his eyes slightly at this moment. He glanced at Jiang Che, then closed them again, the corners of his mouth curling into a faint, mocking smile.

’In his view, Comprehension and Root Bone were two sides of the same coin. Since Jiang Che’s Root Bone was poor, how good could his Comprehension be? This was nothing more than him asking to be humiliated.’

However, not everyone underestimated Jiang Che.

Chen Jiayu waved his folding fan, his eyes glinting with anticipation.

’He had a feeling that this Jiang Che was full of secrets and couldn’t be judged by ordinary standards!’

And Gu Qingxuan, who had been standing silently with her eyes closed, also uncharacteristically opened her eyes—as cold and clear as distant stars—and quietly watched the figure on the stone platform.

She had a faint feeling that this man, who had once taken her "Celestial Fall" strike head-on, might... just might... work another miracle.

Under a flurry of complex gazes.

Jiang Che stood firm in the center of the circular platform, took a deep breath, and slowly closed his eyes.

He didn’t make a move immediately. Instead, he stood still for a moment, as if in silent communion with the ancient space around him.

’Just putting on a show!’ Fang Muye thought with growing contempt.

However, the very instant that thought flashed through his mind...

Jiang Che moved!

His feet were planted naturally as he slowly raised his arms. The opening stance was completely unremarkable, like a simple exercise routine for a village farmer.

But in the next moment, a profound and immense fist intent suddenly erupted from his body!

Jiang Che began to move.

His movements were at times as gentle as clouds drifting from a mountaintop, and at others, as swift as a crack of thunder and a flash of lightning.

The force of his fists was at times wide and sweeping, like a river bursting its banks, and at others, intricate and delicate, like spring rain weaving a web.

What was even more astonishing was that every move, every form he executed...

...seemed to create a wondrous resonance with the chaotic figures depicted in the murals on the wall!

The crowd saw it clearly: as Jiang Che’s Fist Technique flowed, the corresponding figures on the walls actually began to glow with a faint light!

"This... How is this possible?!"

"He... He linked all the murals together?!"

"This Fist Technique... I’ve never seen it before, yet it feels... perfectly formed, without a single flaw!"

A wave of suppressed gasps echoed through the hall!

Everyone was utterly stunned by the scene unfolding before their eyes!

They had racked their brains only to comprehend a move or two, and even those fragments conflicted with one another.

And yet Jiang Che, in such a short time, had managed to master and integrate hundreds, if not thousands, of movements to create a completely new and whole form of Martial Arts!

At that moment, Qin Wuya’s eyes, which had always held a disdainful view of the world, snapped wide open. For the first time, they revealed an emotion: shock!

He, who prided himself on his extraordinary Comprehension, had only just managed to piece together a vague outline.

’And Jiang Che... he’s already finished?!’

He stared intently at Jiang Che’s every move, desperately searching for a flaw.

But he discovered the Fist Technique was perfectly cohesive and self-contained; there was truly not a single flaw to be found!

On Gu Qingxuan’s perpetually stoic, icy face, a trace of emotion finally appeared.

Observing the Fist Technique through her Sword Heart, she could feel the profound state contained within it even more keenly—the principle that the greatest truths are simple, the state of Returning to the Essence!

It wasn’t a simple patchwork of moves, but a profound understanding of the ultimate principles of the Martial Dao!

’This person’s... understanding of the Martial Dao has actually reached such a level?’ For the first time, she felt a genuine sense of curiosity toward someone of her own generation.

The White Jade Folding Fan in Chen Jiayu’s hand fell to the ground with a CLACK, but he didn’t even notice.

He stared at the figure on the platform and muttered to himself, "A monster... truly a monster... I, Chen Jiayu, have always prided myself on my vast knowledge and photographic memory, but compared to him, I’m like a firefly next to the bright moon..."

Lin Qingyun’s knuckles turned white where he gripped his sword.

He had always been conceited about his talent for the Sword Dao, believing his Comprehension to be second to none. But now, watching Jiang Che’s display, his rock-solid confidence showed cracks for the first time.

As for Fang Muye, his expression had shifted from initial disdain to a livid fury, and finally to the pallor of dead ash.

He watched the incomparably exquisite Fist Technique and felt like a pageboy, smugly proud of his ability to write a few simple rhymes, standing before a master scholar who had topped the imperial exams.

Laughable, and pathetic!

The immense gap between them twisted his features with jealousy, his handsome face contorting in an ugly grimace.

Shen Mingxuan of the Taiyuan Sect and the other chosen talents were already staring, dumbfounded. Their minds were completely blank, left with only a single word: "unbelievable."

Amidst the boundless shock of the crowd, Jiang Che slowly brought his movements to a close, completing the Fist Technique with the grace of flowing water.

He let out a long breath of turbid air and opened his eyes.

Just as he’d expected!

This time, the circular platform was not filled with the white light of elimination!

Instead, a pillar of incomparably brilliant yet gentle golden light blasted down from the dome above, completely enveloping Jiang Che!

Within the golden light, there seemed to be an ancient, validating will.

The next moment, under the shocked, complex, envious, and even jealous gazes of everyone present, Jiang Che’s figure slowly faded away within the golden light.