Chapter 326: Martial Sense

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The moment I finally opened my eyes, I felt relieved; what I saw felt truly like an eternity, and it was a vision akin to what I saw when I killed and ate half of Uroboros' soul; it was as if I had seen a glimpse of a primordial being’s past.

It was just a glimpse; a complete Story of this caliber would have most likely destroyed my soul, but it was only a glimpse, a glimpse that remained within me. It was as if the Celestial Golden Dragon Emperor gifted me a small piece of his own Myth.

It was too small to do anything big with it, but it was enough for the Martial Arts to absorb it, growing stronger than before.

Ding!

[The [Celestial Golden Dragon Divine Fist: Tier 5 (Core Martial Arts)] has absorbed enough Comprehension and its Growth has increased!]

[The [Celestial Golden Dragon Divine Fist: Tier 5 (Core Martial Arts)] Tier has increased to Tier 6!]

[New Martial Arts Techniques are now available, as you’ve gained proper Enlightenment.]

[Due to achieving your first Enlightenment related to this Martial Arts, you’ve unlocked the Innate Ability: {Celestial Golden Dragon’s Martial Sense}.]

[The {Small Myth Fragment of the Celestial Golden Dragon Emperor} has been absorbed by the [Celestial Golden Dragon Divine Fist: Tier 6 (Core Martial Arts)]!]

Oh, an Innate Ability?! So it’s kind of like the Cursed Seals and Heart of Hope too?

Let me see…

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[Celestial Golden Dragon Divine Fist: Tier 6 (Core Martial Arts)]

[Comprehension Progress]: [7%/100%]

A Divine Martial Arts designed by the one and only Heavenly Golden Dragon, the God of Murim’s Worldlines and also the creator of the Heavenly Dao. These Martial Arts Techniques have been specifically designed to absorb and transform any other Martial Technique into themselves, the reason being that all Martial Arts derive from these techniques.

It can defend, evade, kick, punch, and even headbutt your foes. By utilizing the ancient techniques of the Golden Dragon, you can manipulate the Essence of Ki to its utmost potential and bring out its maximum power in each technique, dealing several times more damage than any other martial arts.

Additionally, after achieving Enlightenment related to the Martial Arts as long as it is a Core Martial Arts, a special Innate Ability will be unlocked. Only those chosen to become the disciples of the Heavenly Golden Dragon can ever wield these Martial Techniques.

Innate Abilities:

{Celestial Golden Dragon’s Martial Sense}: You can select three Techniques that will be combined with your Martial Senses. Whenever you’re in danger, your Martial Senses will activate and will allow you to seamlessly and automatically unleash Martial Techniques against foes, countering their initial blows if possible. Once chosen, the Martial Techniques cannot be rewritten from the Martial Sense. Selected Martial Techniques: [Slot 1] [Slot 2] [Slot 3]

Available Techniques:

Tier 1: [Celestial Golden Dragon’s Divine Scale Armor] [Heavenly Dragon’s Fist] [Golden Dragon’s Mighty Roar]

Tier 2: [Celestial Dragon’s Aura] [Golden Dragon’s Eyes]

Tier 3: [Golden Dragon’s Ki Blast] [Heavenly Dragon’s Steps]

Tier 4: [Celestial Dragon’s Fury] [Celestial Yellow Dragon’s Stance of Stamina]

Tier 5: [Heavenly Dragon’s Armor-Piercing Fangs] [Celestial Red Dragon’s Stance of Power]

Tier 6: [Wrathful Dragon’s Vital Strike] [Celestial Blue Dragon’s Stance of Fortitude]

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“No way, it’s really good!”

I couldn’t help but scream like a kid; it didn’t give me any stat boost or anything, but it was an authentic Martial Sense! I have yet to even get one of those, but now I have it?!

Pretty much, Martial Senses allow a Martial Artist/Cultivator to unleash their Techniques “automatically” as they are attacked or fight. A simple punch will suddenly become a Mountain-Crushing Fist without them needing to focus or concentrate; it simply… becomes part of them, their very senses.

This is perhaps how the Immortals become so overpowered! Aside from being incredibly tough physically and having super regeneration, they possess Martial Senses, which can increase in Rank and Power as they cultivate more.

For me, it only has three slots; maybe I’ll unlock more later, or maybe not, but what’s important is that I have it!

Now, what Techniques do I even choose?

“Hmm…”

I could probably go for a Stance, as it would allow me to automatically get on a powerful Stance that’ll give me a boost to my Stats.

But I have to choose it carefully; after all, the decision becomes permanent. Well, it’s not completely permanent; maybe if I destroy the knowledge of this martial art and relearn it from scratch…

Whatever, that’s not a possibility right now.

“Martial Sense is pretty much a “Counter” ability all Cultivators have; it is what also makes them so damn annoying and deadly. You just can’t ever ambush them or surprise them; whenever they’re attacked, they’ll instantly know and have at least three techniques ready to blow your ass,” I said. “So if possible, they should benefit from the Counterattacking effect, perhaps also defensive…”

“What are you mumbling about?” Sepa wondered.

“Yeah, you’re weird,” Bastet smiled, mocking me.

“Agh, shut it,” I sighed. “I’m… just look.”

I showed them what I was thinking about, and they quickly understood; apparently, it was a power not even Constellations possessed aside from those from Murim.

“Murim bastards always hoarding all the incredible techniques,” said Sepa, groaning.

“Well, what else can they do? They developed their own techniques and martial arts; those are their treasures,” said Bastet. “Meanwhile, all other Nebulas have incredible Cosmic Relics, they can only rely on their fists and their martial arts.”

“So that’s how it is?” I wondered. “Hmm… So any ideas?”

“I would suggest something aggressive,” said Bastet. “Remember, you already possess the ability to survive a fatal blow with your Hero Title. So in the worst-case scenario, you get almost killed and go all out with a counterattack!”

“Not bad…” I nodded. “Sepa? Any opinions?”

“I have little idea about these things,” Sepa said. “But at least don’t pick the grander and bigger techniques; those drain too much Ki and are too big and dramatic. You have to strike them in the vitals, you know? And then push them away so you can combo with other techniques.”

“Right, yeah! Okay, I think I got a proper idea…”

Ding!

[You have chosen the Martial Techniques: [Celestial Red Dragon’s Stance of Power] [Heavenly Dragon’s Armor-Piercing Fangs] and [Wrathful Dragon’s Vital Strike] for your {Celestial Golden Dragon’s Martial Sense}!]

[Your Martial Sense is in full effect; whenever you’re in danger or when a foe is coming for you, the selected martial arts will automatically activate to counterattack!]

“Awesome.”

I was finally done with that one; I had the Primordial Crystals, and the box left. I decided to feed the Primordial Crystals later and quickly open the treasure box instead.

“Let’s see, give me something nice.”

The treasure chest opened with a metallic sound, revealing shiny contents inside.

[You have opened the [Mechanoid Themed Treasure Chest (S Rank)] x1!]

[You received the Following Items: [Body Strengthening Nanomachine Injection (S Rank)] x1 [Random Mechanoid Skill Scroll (A Rank)] x1 [Electromagnetic Core Crystal (B Rank)] x1 [Mechanoid Power Armor (B Rank)] x1]

“Huh?! These items are weird…”

I glanced at the items inside, a syringe full of liquid metal, mercury? But at a closer look, they were a bunch of tiny little robots, nanobots.

So if I inject myself with this, I strengthen my body? It feels a bit weird; I don’t know if I would ever do that, though. I’m not in a Cyberpunk world or something.

Then there’s the Skill Scroll, it was actually a metallic tablet with letters imprinted on it. That’s a first, I think! I’ll definitely be using that.

Then there’s the Corey Crystal, a big, glowing, blue-colored crystal. Okay, I guess it could be absorbed? Or maybe used as a material or…

For the Mechanoid Power Armor?

It came in a cubic shape, but when I grabbed it, the armor suddenly opened up as if it were all compressed, rapidly dividing around my body, covering me completely with a mechanical bodysuit.

“Woah! T-This is…!”

“Anna?!”

“Hey!”

Sepa and Bastet panicked as they thought a machine was attacking me, but I calmed them down after giggling to myself for a little bit.

Okay, this was pretty awesome!

“Don’t worry, I’m fine; calm down!” I laughed. “I can move just fine; it’s really light.”

I looked at myself in the mirror, noticing the Mechanoid Power Armor had extended around my body and covered it completely. It was very tight against my body and rather thin, but it seemed to offer great protection.

The helmet part even came with some transparent glass or plastic for my eyes to be able to see the surroundings.

However, aside from this, which it could turn from armor to cube at will, there was no other effect, apparently.

“It’s pretty interesting; I like it,” I said. “However, it has nothing special about it aside from that? Like, I think it needs fuel or something… Oh yeah.”

As I grabbed the core in my hands, I quickly realized what I had to do. I placed the spherical core over the cube, and then the cube rapidly absorbed it.

Then, I equipped the armor again; this time, a big, glowing blue core was right within my chest, empowering the rest of the armor.

Neon blue circuits spread across the entire armor, as neon blue lights surged from my shoulders and the rest of my body, even my helmet.

It looked awesome!

And then…

[Initializing Mechanoid Power Armor for Humans…]

[Initializing complete. The Body type has been successfully scanned and adapted to.]

[Electromagnetic Core has been detected; all functions are being restored.]

[The Ability: [Material Absorption] has been added.]

[The Ability: [Weapon Materialization] has been added.]

[The Ability: [Adaptability] has been added.]

[New Abilities can be unlocked as the Mechanoid Power Armor absorbs materials and increases its mass.]

“Nice! It even got abilities!” I said.

“Huh, that’s freaky; it is as if you were wearing the skin of your foe,” said Sepa.

“Well, I like the armor,” said Bastet. “I wish we had that back when Set and my sister betrayed me… I’ve never seen this type of technology within the Constellation Nebulas nor the Realm Beyond or anything.”

“I guess that means these Machine Worlds are very rare as well…” I nodded. “Well, let’s use this and go have breakfast.”

I quickly used the “scroll,” or more like metal tablet, and absorbed its contents in the form of blinding blue light that entered my body.

FLASH!

Then, I felt a new power surge within me; a new Skill was born.

Ding!

[You have used the [Random Mechanoid Skill Scroll (A Rank)] x1, you have been given a Mechanoid-only Skill at Random!]

[You learned the Mechanoid Skill: [Initiate Nanomachine Manipulation (B): Lv1]!]

“Wait, for real?!”

That reverse luck was blessing me well today.

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