Chapter 50 – Spiritual Techniques of the External Sequence

Originally, Su Ming thought he had already tried to view An Zijin in the highest regard possible.

Being able to learn several Spirit Arts right after enrollment and execute them with remarkable fluency, An Zijin’s talent was undoubtedly exceptional.

At the very least, in terms of pure talent alone, Su Ming didn’t believe he surpassed An Zijin.

This was the evaluation Su Ming had formed after observing An Zijin’s performance throughout the day during missions.

But now, it seemed he had still underestimated An Zijin.

This girl next door had quietly mastered the thirtieth style, renowned as the strongest among the low-level Spirit Arts—something even Su Ming hadn’t anticipated.

Because of this, Su Ming couldn’t help but ask:

“Are you sure you can actually use it, not just that you’ve learned it?”

Su Ming having such a doubt was not surprising.

As mentioned before, the power of Spirit Arts is inherently quite mystical.

Some people might fail to learn even a single low-level Spirit Art, yet instantly grasp a powerful Advanced Spirit Art, soaring to great heights in one step.

Take Su Ming, for example: after obtaining the eighty-eighth style 【Fate Heaven Earth Shift】, he learned it overnight, though he couldn’t successfully execute it due to insufficient Spirit Power.

In contrast, the eighty-first style 【Vast Karma Brahma Scene】, which he had obtained from one of the 147 packages, and another Advanced Spirit Art he had acquired long ago, were still under his study, with no progress made so far.

Under such circumstances, it wasn’t impossible that An Zijin had merely learned the Spell Formula of 【Scorching Sparrow Song】 but couldn’t execute it due to a lack of Spirit Power.

Why was Su Ming’s successful execution of the twenty-first style today so surprising to the team?

It wasn’t for any other reason but that Su Ming could actually use it successfully, not just claim to have learned it.

The learning conditions for Spirit Arts are so enigmatic that anyone suddenly mastering an Advanced Spirit Art wouldn’t be surprising. However, “learning” and “using” are two entirely different matters.

Generally, during the first and second years, even if someone has the Aptitude to learn a high-sequence Spirit Art, their Spirit Power is usually insufficient to support the successful execution of such a high-sequence art.

If An Zijin had only learned 【Scorching Sparrow Song】 without being able to use it, Su Ming wouldn’t have found it strange.

But An Zijin stated clearly:

“I can indeed use it.”

An Zijin showed no intention of hiding anything from Su Ming, answering with utmost directness.

“Alright.”

Su Ming accepted this fact.

Naturally, he didn’t doubt that An Zijin was deceiving him.

There was no need for that.

This girl next door would deceive anyone but him—Su Ming had that feeling.

So, Su Ming patted An Zijin’s head and said, “It seems I’ve underestimated your talent. Your Spirit Power is undoubtedly much higher than that of a typical new student.”

“Hehe.” An Zijin showed a comfortable expression while replying somewhat shyly, “The instructor said the same when he saw me successfully use 【Scorching Sparrow Song】. He said I might very well rank among the top hundred in the Sorcerer Department by my second year, becoming an elite student, and it’s even possible for me to become a top student.”

Such an evaluation was not at all an exaggeration.Su Ming’s ability to execute twenty-one forms was already considered enough to rank within the top two hundred of the Sorcerer Department, yet An Zijin could perform thirty forms right after enrollment. If not for her lack of control, familiarity, and experience with spell formulas, her results would undoubtedly place her within the top one hundred and fifty of the Sorcerer Department.

With such talent, once An Zijin accumulates enough experience, control, and familiarity, she would immediately qualify to learn Intermediate Spirit Arts, striving to become an elite student, or even a top student.

Those who can rank among elite or top students by their second year are rare in the Demon Hunter Academy.

For example, Xu Qianqian, hailed as one of the top three in the Hunter Department, earned elite student status during her first-year annual assessment and achieved top student status in her second year. Now in her third year, she already has the capability to compete for the title of the strongest hunter in the Demon Hunter Academy.

An Zijin’s innate talent might be entirely on par with Xu Qianqian’s.

“Not just in appearance, but even in talent, they seem evenly matched…”

These two might truly be fated to become rivals.

As Su Ming pondered this, An Zijin beside him glanced over curiously.

“Brother Su Ming, why are you suddenly asking me something like this?”

An Zijin inquired with a puzzled expression.

“Nothing,” Su Ming snapped back to reality and, after a moment’s thought, decided to be honest. “I originally intended to teach you a few high-sequence Spirit Arts to improve your strength, but now it seems that might not be necessary.”

This was Su Ming’s purpose for coming.

He had previously considered taking good care of An Zijin during this campaign, helping her gain experience and enhance her strength to prepare for the upcoming war.

Thus, Su Ming had already decided to teach An Zijin several high-sequence Spirit Arts before the entrance to the Spirit Demon Abyss opened.

Unexpectedly, An Zijin could already use thirty forms.

This somewhat disrupted Su Ming’s plans.

After all, he had only planned to teach her Spirit Arts above sequence twenty.

Now, it seemed that to further improve An Zijin’s strength, he would have to teach her Intermediate Spirit Arts.

But…

(If I teach Little Zijin Intermediate Spirit Arts, wouldn’t that reveal some of my hidden capabilities?)

Su Ming pursed his lips.

It wasn’t that Su Ming didn’t know Intermediate Spirit Arts.

Not only did he know them, but he also knew more than one or two.

He might even be able to barely use the eighty-eighth form, [Fate Heaven Earth Shift], let alone Intermediate Spirit Arts.

Under these circumstances, Su Ming had more than enough ability to teach An Zijin Spirit Arts.

However, if he personally taught An Zijin, the fact that he had been hiding his strength would become glaringly obvious.

(Maybe…)

After some thought, Su Ming finally made a decision.

“I’ll give you something.”

Su Ming said this to An Zijin.

“What is it?”

An Zijin was slightly taken aback.

Seizing the moment, Su Ming pretended to reach into his chest while mentally opening the backpack in his mind and retrieving a book.

“Here, take this.”

Su Ming pulled the book out from his chest and handed it to An Zijin.

“What is this?”

An Zijin took it curiously.

Su Ming revealed the book’s true nature.

“This is the spell formula book for the sixty-sixth form, [Octagonal Crystal Barrier].”Su Ming’s words caused An Zijin’s eyes to widen slightly.

“Sixty-sixth Formula?” An Zijin exclaimed in surprise, “Isn’t that one of the most powerful Spell Formulas even among Intermediate Spirit Arts?”

“Correct.” Su Ming nodded and said, “Moreover, it’s not an offensive, binding, or support-type Spirit Art, but rather a defensive Spell Formula. If you can successfully learn and utilize it, your survival capabilities wouldn’t be considered weak even when looking across the entire professional circle.”

Su Ming then handed the Spell Formula book for such a Spirit Art to An Zijin.

Since he couldn’t personally teach her, he would give her the Spell Formula book for self-study.

As for whether An Zijin could learn it or not, that would depend on fate.

Of course, An Zijin herself felt this gift was too precious.

“Brother Su Ming must have put in a lot of effort to obtain a Spell Formula book for such a high-sequence Spirit Art, right?” An Zijin quickly said, “I can’t accept this!”

As she spoke, An Zijin tried to return the Spell Formula book to Su Ming.

However, Su Ming stopped her.

“Take it.” Su Ming said concisely, “You don’t even know if you can learn it yet. Even if you can, with your current Spirit Power, whether you can successfully execute the sixty-sixth sequence Spirit Art remains unknown. There’s no need to refuse.”

“But…” An Zijin still seemed somewhat uneasy.

“Take it.” Su Ming’s tone softened as he said, “You’re my little sister after all. It’s only natural for an older brother to leave good things for his cute little sister, isn’t it?”

Hearing this, An Zijin fell silent.

After a moment, the young girl revealed a vibrant, energetic smile.

“I understand!” An Zijin declared, “I will definitely learn it!”

“Don’t force yourself.” Su Ming advised instead, “After all, this is the sixty-sixth Formula – a high-sequence Intermediate Spirit Art that’s not far from Advanced Spirit Arts. You’re only in your first year, and even with outstanding Spirit Power, the likelihood of successfully mastering this Spell Formula is very low. I just want you to give it a try. If it doesn’t work out, don’t push yourself, understand?”

“Understood~~” An Zijin responded with a cheerful smile.

But whether she would actually listen or not was something only she herself would know.

“Ah, that’s right!”

Suddenly, as if remembering something, An Zijin jumped down from the bed and ran to the suitcase in the corner of the room, inexplicably starting to rummage through it.

“Found it!”

Before Su Ming could even ask, An Zijin let out a delighted exclamation and came before Su Ming, also holding a book in her hands.

“Brother Su Ming! For you!”

An Zijin handed that book to Su Ming.

“Is this a Spell Formula book…?”

Su Ming took it, looking at An Zijin with surprise.

“Yes.” An Zijin nodded as she said, “This is a Spell Formula book from the External Sequence.”

“External Sequence?” Su Ming was taken aback.

The so-called External Sequence refers to Spell Formulas that aren’t included among the hundred formulas of Spirit Arts.

That there are only one hundred Spirit Arts is an established fact.Just as ancient Greek theory posited that the world was composed of only four fundamental elements—wind, fire, water, and earth—the Five Elements similarly consist of only five basic substances: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. When modern humans, under the influence of the Spirit Demon Abyss, undergo the Awakening of their Spirit Constitution, the miracles they obtain—known as “Spirit Arts”—through communicating with the world via their own spirit and Spirit Power are limited to exactly one hundred types.

These hundred Spirit Arts are akin to a foundational framework deeply engraved into the world. When a Sorcerer connects with it using their own spirit and Spirit Power, they can naturally evoke miracles, unleashing power capable of effectively harming creatures like the Phantom Demon.

However, throughout history, there have indeed been exceptionally talented individuals among humanity who, relying on their understanding of Spirit Power, spirit, and Spell Formulas, created arts distinct from the Hundred Spirit Arts.

These arts are known as the non-standard sequence of Spirit Arts.

(End of Chapter)