Two identical chills. Two identical countdowns. Through repeated testing, Zhang Yu discovered their triggers differed.
One stopped counting down when he breathed in spiritual machine.
The other stopped when he comprehended the Celestial Combat Painting.
He grew certain: one was fake. A projection of the painting, dredging up his deepest fear — the Ritual Contract's oppression — and turning it against him.
But which was the fake? The one that stopped when he meditated? Or the one that stopped when he comprehended?
He leaned toward the latter but couldn't commit. The penalty for guessing wrong was death.
*Which side do I choose?*
The countdowns flickered in his mind, tying his thoughts in knots.
*If I can't choose, then I won't.*
His eyes hardened. *I'll treat both as real.*
He sat cross-legged and began circulating the Zhou Tian Qi Gathering Method, drawing in spiritual machine. The first countdown stopped. The second ticked: 10, 9, 8, 7—
At 3, he stood and turned to the painting, studying the martial art within. The second countdown stopped. The first resumed: 10, 9—
So he alternated. Meditate. Comprehend. Meditate. Comprehend. Two countdowns, push them both back, back and forth, like a man keeping two plates spinning on sticks.
---
On the exhibition floor, people noticed.
The golden-skinned Director of the Celestial Rhythm Group watched Zhang Yu curiously. "This boy — sitting to meditate, then standing to study the painting, over and over. What is he seeing?"
Li Xuelian observed Zhang Yu thoughtfully. "It looks as though someone is forcing him to meditate."
"Perhaps a fear of a particular teacher. Real-world pressure manifesting as compulsion."
Then Zhang Yu shifted tactics. He stopped meditating and began performing the Body-Forging 36 Forms — martial movements — while keeping his eyes on the painting.
He'd realized something: the countdown that stopped during meditation might not be forcing him to meditate specifically. It might be pushing him along the path of study, cultivation, university, work — the Ritual Contract's core demand. Any form of diligent effort should satisfy it.
The Body-Forging 36 Forms were already muscle memory. He could perform them on autopilot while devoting most of his attention to the painting. This let him satisfy one countdown while comprehending the martial art for the other.
That worked. So he pushed further. He pulled out his phone and opened a textbook, reading while watching the painting. Still fine.
He switched to audio — playing the textbook through his phone's speaker while staring at the painting. Comprehending while studying. Studying while comprehending.
---
Li Xuelian watched Zhang Yu meditate, perform martial forms, study, and now return to the buffet table to grab a massive plate of seafood, which he carried back to the painting to eat while comprehending.
Eating — the Ritual didn't block that either.
"Remarkable," she murmured. "Under this layered oppression, he's broken through with a slacking mindset. He's直面 confronting his terror by... giving up. 'I'll just eat and watch and do whatever.' And in doing so, he's actually overcome the fear. He doesn't even realize it."
She waved off a security guard approaching to stop Zhang Yu. She was curious now — how far could this boy go?
---
Zhang Yu, munching on lobster, squinted at the painting. The figure's movements were becoming clear.
*Looks like a fist technique.*
The technique itself wasn't complex. After watching it several times, he had a general grasp. But when he checked his Feather Book — nothing. No new skill registered. He hadn't truly learned it.
Based on his experience with the High School Basic Sword Technique and the Zhou Tian Qi Gathering Method, he should be able to learn a technique by watching it once and seeing it appear at Level 0 on his Feather Book.
*What am I missing?*
Lian Tianji laughed loudly. "I have fully comprehended the martial art! It is a profound palm technique!"
Before the words faded, Qian Shen spoke up. "Palm technique? It's clearly a leg technique."
Under normal circumstances, a 600-score student would never dare raise his voice before a 670. But the painting's trial had just tempered his Dao Heart. His courage was at its peak.
Arguments erupted.
"You're all wrong — it's a blade technique!"
"Blind fools. It's a finger technique."
Bai Zhenzhen frowned. What she saw was a sword technique.
Clearly, while Zhang Yu ate and observed, more students had finished their comprehension. Each saw something different.
Lian Tianji turned to Li Xuelian. "Ms. Li, what martial art is hidden in the painting?"
She smiled. "I cannot say. But I will remind you — the painting has its own response. If someone successfully masters the technique, the painting will indicate it."
Lian Tianji strode to the front. His confidence — already considerable as a Purple Cloud prodigy — had swelled to bursting after conquering his inner terror.
He unleashed his palm technique. Wind and thunder boomed. Raw power and killing intent erupted from his body, threatening to blow the entire exhibition away.
Zhao Tianxing, watching from a distance, marveled. *Such physical power. Such a fearsome palm technique. A true combat martial art.*
But though Lian Tianji's prowess was impressive for a first-year, many in the crowd were older cultivators. What surprised them was his fluency.
*He just comprehended this from the painting? Every move is perfectly polished. Purple Cloud's finest truly are prodigies among prodigies.*
When he finished, the Celestial Combat Painting didn't move. No response at all.
"Impossible!" Lian Tianji stared. "I mastered it! Why didn't it work?"
Qian Shen stepped up. "I told you — it's a leg technique."
He performed his own comprehension. Though less fluid than Lian Tianji, the moves were practiced and competent.
Bai Zhenzhen frowned watching him. *A body-forging technique? For the legs?*
The painting remained still.
"Impossible!" Qian Shen echoed Lian Tianji's exact words.
More students stepped forward. Twelve in total demonstrated nine distinct martial arts — fist, palm, leg, finger, claw, blade, sword, spear, staff. Three had overlap with others.
Not a single one triggered the painting.
Lian Tianji turned to Li Xuelian again. "Ms. Li — truly no one succeeded?"
She shook her head. Disappointment flickered in her eyes.
Then Bai Zhenzhen walked forward.
Under the crowd's gaze, she used her fingers as a sword and performed a sword technique. The moves were sharp and precise, her execution polished. But the crowd barely paid attention — two others had already demonstrated sword techniques without result.
Then Bai Zhenzhen shifted. She replaced her sword fingers with a blade hand, performing a completely different technique.
Then fists. Then palms. Then legs.
Zhao Tianxing gaped. "She learned everyone's techniques?"
Lian Tianji frowned. *She watched all of us once and can reproduce every technique? What school is she from?*
Qian Shen's thoughts churned. *Nine techniques. She's performing all nine. In mere moments. Is that even possible?*
The crowd fell silent.
Then the painted man moved. He turned his head and looked at Bai Zhenzhen with a smile.
Two characters appeared on the canvas.
*Not bad.*