Chapter 772: The Rippling Rainbow Dance

The body's movements were truly too abnormal; if forced to explain, it could only be said that a heart demon had struck, which would also be simpler.

Otherwise, once he mentioned having no thoughts or reflections, it would involve the witch soul, and the more he said, the more complicated it would become.

As for the other party having discovered the soul earlier, as long as he didn't admit it was his, there was no way to trace it anyway.

"Heart demon?"

Sure enough, upon hearing his words, the woman in the air stopped. Although the attack ceased, she did not believe him in her heart, and the cage still remained.

It seemed that as soon as he made a mistake in his words, she would strike immediately.

"Exactly. I am a new student of the academy. I originally planned to go to the library to read and study for the assessment of the Jinghong Master. Just as I arrived here, a sudden enlightenment came to me. To avoid being disturbed by others, I had to hide in the tree..."

Zhang Xuan quickly explained.

"Enlightenment?" The woman frowned.

Enlightenment for a cultivator comes quickly and goes quickly. For this reason, the academy had built countless pavilions to provide teachers and students with a time free from disturbance.

If this fellow had truly suddenly gained enlightenment and hidden himself in the tree trunk to avoid disturbance, that would be plausible.

"What is your relationship with that thing that was hiding in the library?"

Of course, this was only a possibility; she did not believe it.

An invisible uninvited guest had suddenly appeared in the library, and this fellow had fallen from the tree—if there was no connection between the two, it was absolutely impossible!

"I do not know what you mean, senior. I was previously contemplating the details of the 'Rainbow Ripple Dance' and had an epiphany, which nearly caused me to go berserk. I have just recovered and am unaware of anything happening in the outside world!" Zhang Xuan said.

He could not get involved in this matter; he had to deny it completely. Otherwise, he would be unable to explain himself and would never be able to clear his name.

"Rainbow Ripple Dance? That is a dance technique studied only by Six-Star Startled Swan Masters, reaching the sixth grade. You, a freshman, are contemplating this? Trying to fool me?" The woman frowned and snorted.

Thunder rumbled in her palm again, as if she might strike at any moment.

This fellow before her, around twenty years old, had just claimed to be a freshman and now said he was contemplating a sixth-grade dance technique—how could she not be suspicious?

Seeing that mentioning this dance technique had indeed drawn her attention, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief. He flipped his wrist, and a badge appeared before him: "I am a Six-Star Artifact Master. Contemplating a sixth-grade Startled Swan Dance should not be a problem, should it?"

"Six-Star Artifact Master?"

Seeing the six stars shining on the badge, the woman frowned.

An artificer's badge could not be forged; that is, the other party was truly a six-star artificer.

An artificer was a profession of the highest rank. If one could achieve that, studying a sixth-level dance technique was indeed nothing special.

"Yes, the Nishang Lianyi Dance is a relatively powerful sixth-level dance technique. If executed well, it can even confuse Saint Domain experts, trapping them and making them unable to extricate themselves. However, from my observation, although this move is powerful, it also has several obvious flaws that need correction."

Seeing the other party's attention focused, Zhang Xuan smiled slightly and continued: "First, the Nishang Lianyi Dance, as the name implies, requires luxurious attire to achieve its maximum effect. But once danger arises and battle is imminent, how could the opponent let you change clothes? This is the biggest flaw. Second, although this dance technique is stunning, it is not to the point of being undefendable. Especially when dancing, the soul wanders, consuming a great deal of energy, easily making one feel fatigued. Killing a thousand enemies while losing eight hundred of your own—this is the second flaw..."

"...This is the third!"

"...The fourth!"

...

"...The seventeenth!"

Zhang Xuan's voice was like a machine gun, not giving the other party a chance to interject, and in one breath he listed seventeen flaws of the Nishang Lianyi Dance.

This dance technique was described in detail in many books collected in the library. He had glanced at them and knew the content; now, finding the flaws was very simple.

To prevent the other party from pursuing the matter of the witch soul, he had to seize the initiative in speech.

The Nishang Lianyi Dance was the most commonly used dance technique of six-star Jinghong Masters. Directly pointing out its flaws would shock them, and now it seemed the desired effect had been achieved.

"So many flaws... Did you notice them?"

The woman found it hard to believe.

She often used this dance technique herself, yet had not discovered so many problems. To hear this young man list them all in one breath—it was impossible not to be shocked.

As a six-star Jinghong Master, upon careful consideration, she immediately understood that every word he said was true, not a single falsehood!

That is, the Nishang Lianyi Dance indeed had so many flaws, without any mistake!

Even she could not see them, but he had... What kind of insight was this? Could it be that this guy really came to take the Jinghong Master assessment?

"Exactly!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

"Is there a solution?"

Seeing his confidence, the woman could not help but ask.

"Before enlightenment, there was indeed no way, but now, knowing more about the profession of Jinghong, I can already solve some problems!"

Zhang Xuan nodded: "The first flaw I just mentioned is that one must dress luxuriously. Actually, this is a misconception. This dance technique emphasizes ripples, not gorgeous clothes. Ripples mean waves. What immerses people is not luxurious attire, but the stirring ripples. Like me now, dressed plainly, but if I perform this dance technique, I still have considerable attack power..."

As he spoke, he raised his hand and gently swept it in front of him.

Hum!

True qi stirred on his body surface, rippling out layer upon layer of ripples, like a stone thrown into a pool, waves curling, aura suddenly emerging.

The woman looked forward. Although the young man before her was plainly dressed, against the backdrop of the ripples, he seemed like a nine-heaven dance god in luxurious attire, invading the soul, giving an unusual enjoyment and beauty.

It was as if this single move had not only changed his temperament but also changed his clothes, from the dirty figure who had just hit the wall to a prince attending a banquet in some country.

One couldn't help but fall into it, unable to extricate oneself.

Shaking her head, she came to her senses and found that he had already stopped, still in ordinary clothes, without much change.

"Impressive!"

Her heart trembled.

She was a six-star peak Jinghong master, usually only capable of bewitching others. The other party hadn't even changed clothes and yet made her lose composure. It seemed that this person's understanding of dance techniques had surpassed hers, reaching a more profound realm.

"The second flaw I just mentioned is 'kill one thousand enemies, lose eight hundred of your own.' If you circulate soul power according to my method, it can be avoided..."

Seeing her shock, Zhang Xuan knew she had believed his identity. He breathed a sigh of relief, smiled again, and continued.

The flaws of the Nishang Lianyi Dance, with his current understanding of Jinghong, he could find ways to solve them without difficulty.

This dance technique consumed a lot of soul power, harming oneself while harming others. But if his method was used, the degree of self-harm would be greatly reduced, and one could even unleash greater power at less than a third of the previous cost!

"This, this..."

Hearing the method, she pondered carefully, and the more she thought, the more shocked she became. Her eyes widened, full of disbelief.

With her experience, and having just tested it, what he said was completely correct!

That is to say... this person had not only modified the Nishang Lianyi Dance but also made it more powerful and less costly!

"As for the third flaw..."

While she was still in shock, she heard his words continue without pause.

The third, fourth, fifth...

He had actually solved all seventeen flaws he had just mentioned with special methods.

"If the modified version is compiled into a manual... the power of the Nishang Lianyi Dance will more than double. If I perform it, not to mention Saint Domain first level, even second level might be immersed in it and controlled..."

Her throat dry, the woman's body went stiff.

With her insight, she could naturally see the preciousness and terror of the modified Nishang Lianyi Dance.

Having casually glanced and pointed out seventeen flaws, and then modified them... this young man, though not old, had an understanding of Jinghong that even she could not hope to match!

"Alright, this is my understanding of the Nishang Lianyi Dance that I just realized. I hope it's useful to you. If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask me. If I can answer, I certainly won't hide it!" Zhang Xuan smiled and looked over.

He was forced by circumstances to learn and apply on the spot.

Otherwise, with the other party being a Saint Domain powerhouse, if they fought, ten of him wouldn't be a match.

"I do have some questions about the Piaoxiang Dance Technique. Every time I practice, I feel a tightness in my heart, and I don't know how to resolve it..." The woman hesitated for a moment, then spoke.

She indeed had difficulties in cultivation that had troubled her for a long time without resolution. Could this person, who could even modify the Nishang Lianyi Dance, help her?

"Piaoxiang Dance Technique... Are you referring to the one created by the six-star peak Jinghong master Zui Linglong three thousand years ago?"

Zhang Xuan looked over.

"Exactly!"

The woman nodded.

"When performed, it not only stirs the soul but also spreads fragrance for ten miles, making birds and bees dance along. It is a top-level sixth-grade dance technique, very powerful. If you feel tightness when performing it, if I'm not mistaken..."

Frowning, Zhang Xuan paused, then looked over: "You've never been in love, have you?"

"I... no!" The woman shook her head.

Her whole life was devoted to Jinghong, only cultivating, never having any man catch her eye, so naturally she had never been in love.

"That's it! When Zui Linglong created the Piaoxiang Dance Technique, she was in the throes of budding love, planning to grow old with her lover. This dance technique seems like just a few simple moves, but actually it embodies her fantasies and expectations of a beautiful future. Since you've never been in love, you naturally don't understand this longing. When you perform it, your state of mind cannot merge. Not only is it ineffective, but if forced, I'm afraid... it will backfire!"

Zhang Xuan explained: "How about this: I'll modify the cultivation formula of this dance technique to eliminate this hidden danger. If you want to learn..."

Smiling lightly, Zhang Xuan looked over.

"I can teach you."