Chapter 158: The Battle Pattern of War

Chapter 158: The Battle Pattern of War

As they passed through Xiao Li Village, Mu Feng and Bai Ziyue stopped to distribute part of their loot among the villagers. The wealth that Ma Li had hoarded was no more than the hard-earned money extorted from these ordinary people.

Upon learning that the Ma Shan bandits had been eradicated, the villagers showered Mu Feng and Bai Ziyue with gratitude. The two didn't linger long; after freshening up, they mounted their beasts and resumed their journey to Tianyun Academy.

A Mysterious Scroll

On the road, Mu Feng sat astride his Snake-Tailed Leopard, examining the scroll in his hands. The intricate sword-like patterns etched on the scroll spoke of mysteries far beyond ordinary inscriptions.

"Where did you get that scroll?" A familiar, melodic voice echoed in his mind.

"Yue'er! You're awake!" Mu Feng exclaimed, a smile breaking across his face. "Take a look—what kind of pattern is this?"

With a flash of light, the Shura Divine Jade absorbed the scroll into its space. Inside the jade realm, Xiyue, clad in her elegant white robe, scrutinized the scroll carefully.

Mu Feng continued his ride, waiting eagerly for her response. After what felt like half an hour, the scroll reappeared in his hands.

"Yue'er, what is it? What's its origin?" Mu Feng asked anxiously.

"This is a rare Battle Pattern of War," Xiyue finally said.

"Battle Pattern of War?" Mu Feng repeated, puzzled.

"Yes," Xiyue began, her tone thoughtful. "In the world of Pattern Masters, most believe that patterns are merely tools for crafting symbols, arrays, and artifacts—not for direct combat. Isn't that what you thought too?"

"Exactly," Mu Feng replied. "Other than Symbol Masters, who can create combat-oriented talismans, the rest are primarily support professions, aren't they?"

"You're wrong," Xiyue corrected him. "There are specialized patterns meant for combat, known as Battle Patterns of War. They're extremely rare. The Shura race never excelled in pattern mastery, so our records of such patterns are limited. Only a few ancient and prestigious families of Pattern Masters possess them."

"This scroll contains one of those battle patterns: Hundred Swords Converging Flow, a Spirit-Level Battle Pattern," Xiyue explained, her tone laced with awe.

The Hierarchy of Patterns

"Spirit-Level Battle Pattern? What does that mean?" Mu Feng asked, intrigued.

"As I've mentioned before, patterns are divided into three main categories, each with three sublevels:

Basic Patterns (Levels 1-3): Known as Yuan Patterns.Advanced Patterns (Levels 4-6): Spirit Patterns.Divine Patterns (Levels 7-9): God Patterns.

"This particular scroll contains a Spirit-Level Battle Pattern—a pattern of immense power and complexity," Xiyue explained.

"Spirit-Level…" Mu Feng murmured, running his fingers over the scroll. The significance of this discovery dawned on him. "How did something so valuable end up in such a small, remote place?"

"Most likely, it was left behind by some ancient master and eventually fell into the hands of those bandits," Xiyue speculated.

A Fragment of the Divine

"Oh, and there's something else," Mu Feng said, pulling out the fragmented Black Jade he had retrieved from the same treasure trove. "Do you know what this is?"

As the Shura Divine Jade absorbed the fragment, Xiyue's voice carried a note of surprise. "This is… Black God Jade!"

"Black God Jade? What's that?" Mu Feng asked, curious.

"It's a divine-grade material," Xiyue explained. "While your Shura Divine Jade was forged from Blood God Jade, Black God Jade is often used to inscribe God Patterns—patterns of unparalleled might. However, this fragment is broken, and the pattern inscribed upon it is incomplete."

"Could this fragment and the scroll have come from the same master?" Mu Feng mused.

"It's very possible," Xiyue agreed. "To shatter Black God Jade requires unimaginable strength. Whoever left this behind could destroy a kingdom like Nan Ling with a mere thought."

Mu Feng felt a chill run down his spine at the sheer magnitude of Xiyue's words.

The Path of Mastery

"Yue'er, can I study the pattern inscribed on the Black God Jade?" Mu Feng asked eagerly.

"You can try," Xiyue replied, "but since the pattern is incomplete, you may not gain much from it. I suggest focusing on the Hundred Swords Converging Flow. If you master it, it will become a formidable weapon—equivalent to a Low-Tier Earth Technique."

Mu Feng's heart leaped. Holding the scroll, he directed his spiritual power into its intricate lines. Instantly, a vivid image materialized in his mind: a hundred swords swirling in the heavens, exuding a killing intent so overwhelming it felt as if the world itself trembled.

Each blade radiated immense power, capable of cleaving mountains and splitting the sky. The scene etched a lasting impression in Mu Feng's soul.

The Limits of Strength

As Mu Feng immersed himself in the scroll's mysteries, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his mind. His vision blurred, and he hastily withdrew his spiritual energy, panting heavily.

"Be careful," Xiyue cautioned. "Battle Patterns of War are not like ordinary patterns. They don't require physical mediums or tools. Instead, they use spiritual energy as the pen and vital energy as the ink to weave their forms.

"To master them, you'll need exceptional control over your energy. Without achieving the Subtlety Realm, attempting to learn this will only drain you."

"The Subtlety Realm?" Mu Feng asked, puzzled.

"It's a classification of control over energy and strength, divided into three levels:

Subtlety: Perfect precision and seamless control, like threading a needle.Light as Heavy: Wielding immense force as if it's weightless.Heavy as Light: Bestowing great weight to the smallest of things—a single grain of sand could carry the mass of a mountain."The Challenge Ahead

"Some practitioners never achieve these realms, no matter how high their cultivation," Xiyue explained. "To wield the Hundred Swords Converging Flow, you'll need to master the first level at minimum."

Mu Feng's face twisted into a grimace. "Yue'er, you make it sound impossible! If even legendary cultivators struggle to reach these realms, how can I?"

"You'll never know unless you try," Xiyue replied with a mischievous laugh. "If you're willing to endure the hardships, I can create a training regimen for you. But be warned—it won't be easy."

Seeing the playful glint in her eyes, Mu Feng felt a shiver of apprehension. A long and grueling road lay ahead, but his resolve burned brighter than ever.