Extra's Strategy: Cultivate Protagonists, Become Invincible-Chapter 177: Martial Siblings

Among the three paths of cultivation, Monasticism was the least explored path.

Instead of relying on cultivation manuals and techniques that harness nature’s power into extreme forms, Monasticism was centered around fashioning a scheme of progress out of self-actualization.

From his deep dive in the archives, Han Xuhan had discovered that this path was the only direct legacy of the primordial civilization of cultivators.

In the ancient times, there was no Celestial Court supervising the progress of cultivation of all beings. There was no fixed realm of cultivation, no heavenly tribulation, and no recorded cultivation techniques. Enlightenments were the only way to access powers beyond mortal grasp.

Mystic Arts and Martial Arts were just byproducts of powers explored by successful Monastics. Most cultivators weren’t even interested in gaining such abilities. Perfecting themselves in their understanding of the world was the common goal.

However, the concept of pursuing success in Monasticism was itself an erroneous path to set oneself on. Obsession with power and longevity conflicted with the goal of gaining inner peace and outer harmony.

This meant that most cultivators in the monastic path gained very little success, and those who focused on the byproducts—Martial prowess and Mystical abilities, began to rise in both numbers and strength.

As time passed, the primordial civilization became fragmented, and the laws of the cosmos shifted, making it harder for Monastics to grow in comparison to Mystic Artists and Martial Experts.

So, when the Celestial Court was born with the cooperation of unimaginably powerful cultivators from the other two paths, the legacy of Monastic cultivation became a dusty road.

However, watching Xuanyuan Zhou and Mu Ran’s speed of progress in this path, one would be led to believe otherwise. Han Xuhan found himself in this very situation.

"Enlightenment after enlightenment, these guys can experience such blessings even while swinging a sword or listening to someone else yapping about their own problems. Is this talent or fortune?"

With a heart mired deep in despondent envy, he waited for the heavenly phenomenon around Xuanyuan Zhou to end.

In comparison to the enlightenments and breakthroughs of the other two paths of cultivation, the heavenly phenomena attracted by the Monastic path were much milder. In fact, it was almost unnaturally pleasant to be around.

A new kind of wind was blowing across the mountain, soft and cool, carrying a strange fragrance that he could not identify, but could not help sniffing in like a starved man savoring a fresh meal.

Sunlight had dimmed around them, but not enough to release a sense of gloom. There was a distinct tenderness in the rays spearing through the white clouds. The faint, mysterious zither music felt indescribably comforting.

On the trees nearby, he could suddenly see numerous birds, squirrels, and bats, all sitting quietly on the branches as if to enjoy this moment of serenity. The color of the leaves seemed a prettier shade of green and yellow. The barks of the trees exuded a mellow, earthy scent.

Underneath his feet, the grass was leaning away from the sunlight and towards the spot where Xuanyuan Zhou lay ’asleep’. Han Xuhan could even see a circle of insects forming around her, from ants and spiders to beetles and butterflies.

"...This feels somehow a lot better than the sort of cultivation I’m used to. A lot cooler than that lightning tribulation shitshow..."

Han Xuhan was almost tempted to discard his current cultivation plans and restart from scratch on the Monastic path. But he had a good idea of how difficult it would be to make the smallest bit of progress.

"In the current cultivation world, choosing Monasticism as the main path of cultivating is just setting oneself up for failure. Only the people with the protagonist halo can do it..."

About ten minutes later, the heavenly phenomenon began to wane, and the surrounding environment transitioned back to normal. Birds and bats flew off the trees in large numbers, and the insects around Xuanyuan Zhou shrank away in an orderly manner.

Xuanyuan Zhou didn’t sit up immediately after regaining consciousness. An odd smile hung on her face while she stared at the moving clouds in the sky. Han Xuhan was too hesitant to call her, fearing it might ruin her enlightenment in any way.

"Martial Brother Xuhan, thank you," she finally said, breaking the silence.

Han Xuhan was caught off guard by the new mode of addressing. Martial Brother? That sounded like an upgrade from ’Attendant’.

"I didn’t do anything to be thanked for... Martial Sister Zhou," he said with caution, gauging her reaction.

Sure enough, being called ’Martial Sister’ seemed to flip on a switch in her head. Xuanyuan Zhou instantly sat up and glared at him.

"When I’m teaching you, you’ll call me Master."

"So I can call you Martial sister at the other times?"

"...Whatever you wish, I don’t care."

Han Xuhan had to stop himself from mouthing off again. If she didn’t care, why would she make an issue out of it every damn day?

"We’ve wasted enough time of our session today. Let’s put an end to the argument for good. Are you sure you don’t want to pick another Martial Art manual?" freёwebnoѵel.com

"I’m sure. I chose the Lightfoot Swallow Art to avoid being expelled from the sect. The rulebook of the outer court says that a disciple must pass certain levels of cultivation after a fixed period of time.

"When I was a servant disciple under your slot, I didn’t have to worry about these technicalities. I pursued Mystic Arts even though my potential in that path is limited by my cursed physique. But things have changed now.

"Since I cannot keep up with the sect’s requirements for Mystic Artists, I might as well switch to a quick and simple martial art. It’s the only way for me to avoid getting expelled."

"... Alright, I suppose there’s some merit to this argument. You should have said this from the beginning, idiot," Xuanyuan Zhou said after a long sigh.

"Well, it’s a good thing that I didn’t, then, right? It was the argument that led to your enlightenment, hehehe..."

Watching her student’s goofy laughter, Xuanyuan Zhou’s countenance became hard to read.

"The Demon Empress being inspired by an idiot’s philosophy.... I’ll never live down this dishonor," she muttered to herself, even while a smile tried to force its way into her face.

Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m