Chapter Twenty-Eight: Perhaps I Am a Genius

Liu Ming’s brows furrowed.

The Seventy-Two Pillars Formless Array was unpredictable—its jade pillars shifted without pattern or rhyme, and the deeper one ventured into the array, the swifter and wilder the changes became. Such rapid transformations tested every facet of a person: stamina, willpower, spirit. Even Liu Ming himself, when facing the array, felt as if he were navigating a lone boat through a raging storm, unable to afford the slightest carelessness.

A single misstep could result in a disastrous fall.

That Liu Ji was able to persist for half an hour had already exceeded the expectations of everyone present; it was quite impressive, yet the current speed and strangeness of the array’s changes far surpassed what had come before. Moreover, after half an hour of effort, Liu Ji must have reached the limits of his endurance—his energy, strength, and spirit no longer at their peak. Coping with these swiftly shifting pillars would be an arduous task.

A mistake now could lead to injury.

With these thoughts, Liu Ming spoke, “Liu Ji, the speed of the Seventy-Two Pillars Formless Array has become dangerously fast, likely beyond your capacity to withstand. In my opinion, you should rest for a while and continue your training gradually.”

But at this moment, Liu Ji was wholly immersed, mind and body united. He ignored the outside world; in his eyes, only the rapidly changing jade pillars existed. It was as if this world contained nothing but himself and the Seventy-Two Pillars Formless Array.

With each swift shift of the pillars, his feet responded instinctively, keeping his body from falling.

As Liu Ming had said, if one were to fall, the rising and dropping jade pillars would strike like a charging bull—no less devastating.

Thus, in this state of selfless cultivation, Liu Ji seemed to forget everything else. His stamina burned away, his spirit waned, his blood surged, and his will was constantly being forged and refined.

His limits were being broken again and again…

And he remained oblivious.

In the end, his movements became almost entirely instinctive, reacting to the shifting pillars with fluid, powerful steps. There were faint afterimages as he moved, lending him an imposing presence.

Liu Ji was so deeply absorbed in his training that his mind emptied, unaware of all but the rapidly transforming Seventy-Two Pillars Formless Array before him.

How much time passed, he did not know.

At a certain moment, he suddenly lost focus, his right foot missed its mark, and a wave of dizziness pulled him from that mystical state. Next, he felt himself caught in a firm embrace—those arms were strong and steady.

He came to his senses and saw Liu Ming’s face, rather ordinary compared to his own, peering down at him. Clearly, Liu Ming had caught him.

He covered his face with his hand. “Put me down.”

Liu Ming obliged, but the moment Liu Ji’s feet touched the ground, his legs gave way. If not for Liu Ming’s timely support, he would have collapsed.

At this moment, his whole body ached, especially his legs, which trembled with pain. He managed a wry smile—evidently, his muscles were strained.

He glanced up and saw the crowd looking at him with expressions of shock and complicated emotions, disbelief shining in their eyes.

He asked, puzzled, “What’s wrong with you all?”

A gulp sounded somewhere in the crowd, and someone stepped forward, giving Liu Ji a heartfelt thumbs-up. “My lord, we truly underestimated you before. Today, you’ve opened our eyes!”

Liu Ji smiled, unconcerned.

Liu Ming, too, regarded him with a complex expression. “Do you know how long you lasted?”

“How long?”

“You don’t know?”

“No—I only had eyes, mind, and soul for those rapidly shifting jade pillars. I paid no attention to anything else.”

Liu Ming was stunned by his reply, and after a long pause, he stared at Liu Ji. “I suspect you’re showing off!”

The others wore strange looks as well.

Damn it, it was hard enough for them just to stand atop the pillars and maintain their balance for any length of time.

Yet Liu Ji not only lasted far longer than any of them but also entered a state of enlightenment amidst the rapidly shifting Seventy-Two Pillars Formless Array—a feat nearly impossible. Their confidence was deeply shaken.

Was their young lord some kind of monster?

The crowd exchanged glances, beginning to doubt whether this Liu Ji was truly the infamous wastrel of the Liu family as they remembered. Still, they didn’t dwell on it.

The Liu clan had found a worthy successor; for the family and for the members of the Southern Tiger Cavalry, this was a stroke of immense fortune!

If the Liu family had no heir, the Southern Tiger Cavalry would lose its purpose, and their proud, honored army might fade from the annals of the empire.

Liu Ming sighed, “You lasted about two-thirds of a stick of incense. For your first attempt, that’s astonishing!”

Liu Ji nodded.

Training atop the Seventy-Two Pillars Formless Array consumed stamina, spirit, and energy at an extraordinary rate. For his first time to endure so long was already remarkable compared to the others.

He believed that, had he used his spiritual power to replenish his depleted energy, spirit, and blood, he might have lasted even longer.

But it mattered little; the system was an external aid. If he could, he would rather temper his own will, for willpower was crucial on the path of martial cultivation.

The short-haired woman with the fiery figure remarked, “My lord, you’re incredible! To last so long your first time training in the Seventy-Two Pillars Formless Array—such talent puts us all to shame!”

Liu Ji joked, “Perhaps I am a genius.”

The others burst into laughter.

“All right, you can all disperse,” Liu Ming said, waving his hand. The surrounding crowd went off to their own tasks. Liu Ji glanced at them and quietly asked, “Do you think… they’ll spread word of this?”

Liu Ming was taken aback, then smiled and shook his head. “Rest assured, they’re all your uncle’s trusted men. They know well what should and shouldn’t be said.”

He paused and snorted softly, “Besides, even if they wish to speak, they dare not. The Southern Prince’s Palace gives them generous treatment, abundant resources, cares well for their families. If they lack discretion, they can only blame the palace for its severity.”

Liu Ji clicked his tongue inwardly.

He realized their families were a form of leverage—a most effective restraint. If these men served the palace loyally, they received privileges ten times greater than outsiders.

Their families were protected, enjoying prosperity no less than the great aristocratic clans of Southern Prince City.

But if they rebelled, their punishment would not fall only on themselves, but their whole clan. While perhaps not exterminating nine generations, mercy would not be expected.

The Southern Prince’s Palace could raise or destroy a clan with ease; such was the Liu family’s power.

Liu Ming said, “Your current physical state isn’t suited for further training. Why not return and rest, and come back tomorrow?”

“All right, thank you,” Liu Ji replied.

“No need for thanks.”

Liu Ming patted Liu Ji’s shoulder and watched him depart.

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