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Chapter 48: The Six Ultimate Arts of the Tang Sect
Hearing Bai Chen's request, Zhen Hua seemed to think of something and subconsciously glanced at Zang Xin.
As a Divine Craftsman, Zhen Hua was familiar with many of the continent's hidden secrets, and the matter of the Blood God Legion was among them.
The Four-Word Battle Armor of the Ruthless Douluo had even been crafted with his help. In his view, the Abyssal creatures were a perfect match for the kind of targets Bai Chen had described.
Killing people was absolutely unacceptable.
Killing soul beasts might also cause serious ecological damage.
But killing Abyssal creatures would not raise either of those problems.
Zang Xin noticed the meaning in Zhen Hua's gaze.
However, he shook his head slightly, rejecting the idea.
Bai Chen could not go to the Abyss—at least, not now.
War was never a trivial matter, especially not a battlefield between different species where the conflict was a fight to the death.
Bai Chen was still far too weak. If anything unexpected happened, he would have no ability to protect himself.
It was no exaggeration to say that the shockwaves from battles between powerful experts alone could shatter him.
A genius of Bai Chen's level could not be casually placed in such danger. Until Bai Chen possessed the strength to contend with a Soul Sage, Zang Xin would never allow him to risk himself on the Abyss battlefield.
Zang Xin coughed lightly and said,
"I know of a method that might allow you to grow stronger. I'll take you to try it tomorrow. For now, let's put that topic aside and talk about joining the Tang Sect."
At this point, his expression became serious.
"You may not realize it, but the assessment you just completed wasn't only testing your strength. It also determines the待遇 you receive when first joining the Tang Sect."
"As time has passed, the benefits for new Tang Sect members have changed many times. But there is one benefit that has never changed."
"That benefit is the Six Ultimate Arts of the Tang Sect."
Zang Xin spread his hands as he spoke.
"Mysterious Heaven Technique, Controlling Crane and Capturing Dragon, Purple Demon Eye, Mysterious Jade Hands, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, and Hundred Interpretations of Hidden Weapons."
"These six special techniques were the original foundation upon which the Tang Sect was built. Even after so many years, they can still greatly enhance a soul master's abilities."
"Normally, a disciple who has just joined the Tang Sect can only obtain one basic technique, which is the Mysterious Heaven Technique."
"But your situation is special. Because you passed the Ultimate Assessment, you can learn all six Tang Sect techniques, and in addition choose one more exclusive Tang Sect skill."
Just as Zang Xin explained, the more levels one passed in the Hall of Heroes assessment, the better the benefits when joining the Tang Sect.
Passing no stages: learn only Mysterious Heaven Technique
Passing Intermediate Assessment: one additional technique
Passing Advanced Assessment: two additional techniques
Passing Ultimate Assessment: three additional techniques
The rewards increased dramatically with each stage.
Since Bai Chen had cleared the Ultimate Assessment, he now had the right to learn seven techniques in total.
Zang Xin tapped the wall, and the screen that had appeared earlier lit up again.
After typing on the keyboard, numerous icons appeared across the screen.
"These are the techniques you can choose from," Zang Xin said.
"Pick the one that interests you."
In truth, considering Bai Chen's extraordinary talent, even if he wanted to learn all of them, Zang Xin wouldn't have been reluctant.
However, in Zang Xin's opinion, skill lies in mastery, not quantity. Trying to learn too much at once would only result in mediocrity.
Bai Chen was still a child. He had plenty of time in the future.
It was better to master these seven techniques first, and only then consider learning others.
Bai Chen quickly scanned the icons on the screen.
Soon, his eyes lit up.
He reached out and pointed to one of them.
"Senior Zang Xin, I want this one."
"Hm?"
Seeing his choice, Zang Xin froze for a moment.
"This one? Are you sure?"
Below the icon Bai Chen pointed to were five large characters:
"Medical Canon and Poison Canon."
"Yes. I want this one."
Bai Chen nodded firmly.
"This…"
Zang Xin immediately showed a troubled expression.
It wasn't that he felt Bai Chen was taking something important. On the contrary, he felt that Bai Chen's choice was actually a loss.
He couldn't help but advise him.
"Child, although pharmaceutical science is indeed one of the Tang Sect's specialties, its usefulness for soul masters nowadays is quite limited. I don't really recommend it."
As he spoke, he pointed to another icon on the screen—a hammer symbol.
"I would actually recommend this: the Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique."
"This is the hammer technique of the former number-one sect in the world—the Clear Sky Sect. Since you're a blacksmith, it should greatly assist your forging."
Just as Zang Xin said, the Medical Canon and Poison Canon weren't particularly valuable in the modern era.
Although they could effectively counter poison-type soul masters, such soul masters were extremely rare.
It simply wasn't worth spending so much effort studying an entire discipline just to deal with them.
Rather than learning complex detoxification techniques, it was easier to overpower opponents with sheer strength.
As for poison-making…
Ever since the Tang Sect's core industry shifted from hidden weapons to soul tools, poison had rarely played an important role.
Although some agility-type soul masters had once studied the Poison Canon and applied poison to their weapons—achieving some success—this path clearly didn't suit Bai Chen.
After all, Bai Chen's Evil Explosion Technique was far more destructive than poison.
Yet Bai Chen still said firmly,
"Please. I want to learn this."
"You…"
Zang Xin was about to continue persuading him when he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder.
Turning around, he saw Zhen Hua smiling cheerfully.
"Alright. Since the child is interested in this technique, just let him learn it," Zhen Hua said.
"It's not something harmful. You shouldn't discourage a child's enthusiasm for learning."
"…You're right."
Zang Xin remained silent for a moment before sighing and finally nodding.
Bai Chen immediately let out a breath of relief and smiled.
"Thank you, Vice Sect Master."
Zang Xin waved his hand.
"No need to thank me. This is something you earned by passing the assessment. If you want to thank someone, thank the version of yourself who passed the Ultimate Assessment."
He turned around and typed on the keyboard again.
A small compartment opened in the wall. From it, he retrieved a device shaped like a mobile phone and handed it to Bai Chen.
"Here. This contains all of the Tang Sect's research on medicine and toxicology."
"Don't try to learn everything at once. Study selectively. And don't let outsiders see it. Understood?"
"Understood!"
Bai Chen accepted the device, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
With this, another small goal had been achieved.
The reason he had deliberately requested the Medical Canon and Poison Canon was not because he wanted to pursue medicine.
Rather, he planned to use the knowledge within them to solve the poisonous curse plaguing the Dugu Bo family.
The advancement of the era was not limited to the field of soul tools.
Medical science had also progressed tremendously.