The Mad Freak tilted his head, staring fixedly at Jiang Chen as though trying to see right through his thoughts.
Jiang Chen had a clear conscience. He shrugged, a confident smile spreading across his face. If it really came down to comparing weapons, the only option Jiang Chen could bring out was the Spirit Authentic Rod.
But the prerequisite was that he needed time to refine it and then cultivate a martial art that harmonized with it.
As for martial techniques, naturally Jiang Chen had no shortage. His mind was filled with classical martial arts manuals. Finding one that matched would be no trouble at all.
"Kid, whatever divine weapon you've got, bring it out and let me have a look."
Jiang Chen's palm moved like a magician's — the Spirit Authentic Rod instantly tumbled and rolled at the center of his palm, looking thoroughly dashing.
After a moment, the Spirit Authentic Rod swelled in the wind, stretching to seven or eight chi long.
"This… this is a writing brush?" The Mad Freak's eyes took on a peculiar look as he scrutinized the strange shape of the Spirit Authentic Rod.
It did look rather unusual.
It was quite different from a typical great spear. The general form was somewhat similar, but the blade end of the Spirit Authentic Rod lacked that terrifying sharp edge.
However, compared to ordinary weapons, the Spirit Authentic Rod carried noticeably more depth and gravitas in its bearing — the look of something with profound heritage.
"The Saint Unity Sect's sect-protecting treasure from ancient times — the Spirit Authentic Rod." Jiang Chen gave the treasure a casual shake and smiled. "Senior, give me twelve hours. I'll refine this treasure, cultivate a martial art, and then spar with you on our respective weapon skills. How does that sound?"
"Twelve hours? Are you certain?" Now it was the Mad Freak's turn to be stunned.
What could twelve hours accomplish?
Learning a martial art — without three to five months, or even a year or two of devoted practice, what could one possibly grasp? Could one reach the essence of it? How was that even possible?
The Mad Freak let out a cold snort. "Kid, you're not just trying to give yourself an excuse for when you lose, are you? Twelve hours? You're sure you can do anything meaningful in that little time?"
It was hardly surprising the Mad Freak was skeptical. In the martial world, twelve hours was sometimes simply too short.
Martial cultivation often involved seclusion lasting decades or even centuries. Twelve hours sometimes wasn't enough to complete a single meditation session.
That was precisely why the Mad Freak found the proposition laughable. He figured this young man had simply lost his mind.
But the smile on Jiang Chen's face remained perfectly serene.
"Twelve hours is all I need. But during those twelve hours, I must be completely focused — no interruptions whatsoever." Jiang Chen's tone was calm and composed.
The Mad Freak looked utterly exasperated. Finally he huffed, "Fine, I'll give you one hundred and twenty hours. There's plenty of time. I don't mind waiting a few extra days. That way, when I win, you can't claim I had an unfair advantage. Hmph!"
It was clear this Mad Freak didn't want to take even the slightest edge. This actually came as a pleasant surprise to Jiang Chen. From this alone, he could tell that despite the Mad Freak's wild demeanor, much like the guardians of the previous three trials, he was merely eccentric in temperament — not a treacherous sort by any means.
Jiang Chen thought it over and felt at ease. The first master of the Myriad Buddha Pagoda had been the human race's leader in the great war to seal the demons. When he created the pagoda and chose its guardians, he must have given considerable thought to their character. Unreliable people would never have been selected.
With that settled in his mind, Jiang Chen didn't refuse when the other offered one hundred and twenty hours.
After all, entering the Six Palaces of Legacy didn't require rushing for a few days.
True to his word, the Mad Freak promptly arranged an absolutely quiet space for Jiang Chen, ensuring no disturbances whatsoever.