When Chen Qiuqiao was determined to consume the Earth's Fire Red Lotus to break through his strength and utterly defeat Mu Jinyu in the Outer Gate's major examination to prove himself, Mu Jinyu had also selected a sword-based Divine Skill suitable for him.
Here, we need to first discuss, what is the difference between Divine Skills and Techniques?
The so-called Techniques, to put it simply, are spells like "Fire Control Secrets" and "Thunder Summoning Secrets" that are cast using True Yuan, and also require hand signs and silently reciting spells to unleash!
These Techniques have considerable destructive power, much stronger than martial techniques, but only cultivators in the Divinity Transformation Realm can use them when they have both True Yuan and Divine Sense.
Otherwise, without the guidance of Divine Sense, they can easily go out of control and lead to self-immolation!
However, even though cultivators can smoothly control Techniques after reaching the Divinity Transformation Realm, on the battlefield where situations change in the blink of an eye, and the next second could bring a lethal move, who has the time to slowly make hand signs and recite spells?
In such a situation, the opponent might be more proficient with martial techniques and could step forward while you're busy with hand signs and spells, and just punch you to death!
Therefore, under normal circumstances, powerful cultivators in the Divinity Transformation Realm tend to use their Divine Sense to control Magic Artifacts and Magic Treasures for long-range combat during battles, while they hide behind, sneakily casting spells for surprise attacks!
Divine Skills, on the other hand, do not require hand signs and spells to be recited in advance like Techniques do.
If Techniques are firearms that need magazine changes and cocking before use, which is cumbersome, then Divine Skills are like swords strapped to the waist, ready to be drawn and slash at the enemy!
Divine Skills are innate abilities that a cultivator can unleash with a mere thought after cultivation, just like using one's own limbs, as natural as moving one's arm; they don't require Divine Sense or Spiritual Thought to drive, truly moving as the heart desires.
It's just like Nameless's Invisibility Ability, which is not only an innate special power but also a type of innate Divine Skill.
Just like the Heavenly Vision discussed in the Buddhist Sect, it belongs to innate Divine Skills.
The only difference is the magnitude of their power.
And powerful Divine Skills can even grow stronger as the cultivator becomes more powerful, unlike Techniques such as "Fire Control Secrets" or "Water Avoidance Secrets," which inherently have limitations, no matter how proficient you become; even after a hundred years of practice, their power has its limits and cannot be enhanced further.
Unless improved, by transforming "Fire Control Secrets" into something like "Red Dragon Scorching Fire Secrets" or "Phoenix's Intense Flames Secrets," which just from the name, one can tell have become quite formidable.
The sword-based Divine Skill that Mu Jinyu found suitable for him is called "Great Freedom Heavenly Wood Sword Qi."
Just from the name, one can tell this is a wood attribute Sword Dao Divine Skill.
The conditions to cultivate it are quite stringent; aside from needing exceptional comprehension, one must also possess a Wood Element Spiritual Root.
As a result, this Divine Skill has been placed on the first layer of the Scripture Pavilion for many years, virtually untouched by Outer Gate disciples. They would skim through the beginning and then put it back in its place, ceasing to entertain the hope of learning it, letting it collect dust for years.
Mu Jinyu, on the other hand, was quite satisfied with it. Even though the "Great Freedom Heavenly Wood Sword Qi" did not specify its rank, he felt that its power should at least be at the Mid-Profound Rank Quality after only reading the description.
This "Great Freedom Heavenly Wood Sword Qi," at the beginning of cultivation, is just like the "Six Meridian Divine Sword," only shooting out wood attribute Sword Qi with astonishing force. However, as one progresses, a single Sword Qi can transform into a wooden sword, or even a tree.
Imagine, in combat with someone, without needing to make hand signs or recite spells, towering trees fly from all directions. If that doesn't pummel the opponent into mush, they're lucky, and if they somehow survive, they can be buried alive in a wooden coffin!
Mu Jinyu was quite pleased with the effects of this Divine Skill and felt that, with his Life Source Energy, the power of the "Great Freedom Heavenly Wood Sword Qi" he unleashed would probably increase even further!
After browsing it briefly, Mu Jinyu confirmed it was the secret manual he needed, so he put it away and then looked at Jian Ruyan and Wen Rou beside him, asking, "Have you both found what you were looking for?"
"We've been ready for a while now, just waiting for you," Wen Rou responded.
Jian Ruyan was nowhere to be seen.
"Oh, sorry, I was so absorbed in reading just now. Let's head out now," Mu Jinyu said, seeing that Jian Ruyan was no longer around, knowing her two-hour browsing time must have passed and she must have left earlier.
"Mm," nodded Wen Rou softly, whispering, "I wonder if Sister Ruyan has become anxious waiting outside."
"They must have gone back to practice by now," Mu Jinyu surmised, smiling faintly as he and Wen Rou walked out of the Scripture Pavilion together.
Indeed, there was no sign of Jian Ruyan outside the Scripture Pavilion.
Mu Jinyu felt no disappointment; it was typical of Jian Ruyan's character.
After Mu Jinyu and Wen Rou registered the secret manuals they wanted to borrow with the Guardian Elder, the elder looked up in surprise when he saw "Great Freedom Heavenly Wood Sword Qi," but he did not say much. He only warned, "Remember, you must return the manuals within a month. Do not transcribe them without authorization, do not divulge their contents privately, do not damage the manuals…"
After the warning, the Guardian Elder let them leave and closed his eyes again.
While Mu Jinyu and Wen Rou were walking back, they looked back curiously at the Guardian Elder.
Wen Rou whispered, "Strange, why didn't he let us copy the manuals to take back? Why did he let us take the originals instead? Isn't he afraid we might accidentally damage them? If that happens, even if he kills us in rage, the manuals won't be coming back."
Mu Jinyu replied, "Maybe the ones we have are not the original manuals, but transcripts instead. Otherwise, they wouldn't let us take them away like this."
"Hmm, that makes sense, but we still need to be careful. If we really damage them by accident, I guess we'll be in big trouble," Wen Rou added.
Time flew by, and ten days passed in a hurry.
Over those ten days, both Jian Ruyan and Wen Rou hadn't yet mastered the divine skills they were learning, whereas Mu Jinyu had already grasped the "Great Freedom Heavenly Wood Sword Qi," able to release strands of Heavenly Wood Sword Qi at will.
"Swoosh!"
Mu Jinyu stood motionless as sword qi burst forth, turning an old tree in front of him into a sieve on the spot.
"Boom!"
Finally, it collapsed with a roar, scattering into a cloud of wood shavings.
"The power is decent. Once I've fully mastered it, I reckon with the strength of the early stage of the Divine Realm, I could beat Ye Wushuang to death!" Mu Jinyu watched the falling wood shavings, muttering to himself.
Then, thinking of the sect tasks that Outer Sect Disciples had to complete, Mu Jinyu decided to take advantage of just having learned "Great Freedom Heavenly Wood Sword Qi." He planned to hunt ferocious beasts to test his skill while simultaneously accomplishing these sect tasks.
After explaining his plans to Jian Ruyan and Wen Rou, and instructing them not to wander off, Mu Jinyu set out alone, taking on three sect tasks, heading towards the nearby mountains rampant with ferocious beasts.
At the same time.
In another room of Outer Sect Disciples.
The two disciples who had received Mu Jinyu's gifts ten days earlier had finally broken through from the peak of the Body Refinement Realm to the First Layer of the Divine Transformation Realm after taking the First Grade Top-Quality Pills with Six Paths Elixir Patterns that Mu Jinyu had given them.
The two opened their eyes, exclaimed, "The medicinal effect of this fine elixir is really good!"
"Thump thump thump!"
Just then, a series of urgent knocks on the door came from outside.
"Who's inside? Open the door quickly, or I'll kick it down!"
Hearing this, the disciple with connections to the Inner Sect Disciples changed his expression, recognizing the voice of an Inner Sect Elder, and hurried to open the door.
As soon as the door opened, an old man with the appearance of a young boy, with white hair and a youthful face, glanced at them. As he twitched his nostrils, he said, "You've just broken through to the Divine Realm? What is this scent? The Fragrance of a Fine Quality Elixir? No, is it Fine Elixirs?!"
Upon saying this, the old man's expression changed, and he shouted excitedly, "What pill did you just take? Do you have more? Show me quickly!"