Chapter 96: with translation of title

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling fell silent, unable to help but speculate how profound the martial arts of this youth, roughly their own age, had become.

It definitely isn't the innate realm; from the masters they've previously interacted with, up to comparing with their own current strength.

Yuwen Huaji, Song Lu, and their own mother likely never reached the master level; at most they are top-tier experts in the innate realm.

Seeing that the blue-clad youth killed Yuwen Huaji with a casual strike and easily shattered their mother's heart meridian, he is evidently a master-level expert.

From his familiarity with martial realms, his arrogant bearing, they felt there was more; especially after flipping through the 'Longevity Secret' once, he grasped the essence of the treasure, secretly thinking:

「Could he be a grand master? 」

「As your teacher, if I taught you nothing, that would be hard to justify. 」

The blue-clad youth landed, unhurriedly walking toward an open space.

「Theoretically speaking, the 'Longevity Secret' is not a martial art, but a secret technique that intertwines the profound principles of heaven and earth. 」

「Its concept is that the human body is a small universe, while the exterior is another universe; thus, by grasping the natural principles of these two realms, the inner and outer universes merge into one, achieving the unity of man and heaven. 」

「Therefore, the 'Longevity Secret' is the pinnacle secret of this man-heaven unity concept. 」

Zhuang Buran stood with his hands behind his back, speaking lightly:

「It will forge for you the most suitable martial foundation; nowadays you need not study the so-called Dao, merely learn the art of self-defense and preservation, then temper yourselves in slaughter, and you will rise step by step. 」

He pondered for a moment:

「I must teach you some formidable martial arts; if your skill isn't strong and your methods aren't ruthless, what fun is there in killing your master? 」

「How could the disciple dare to be disrespectful to the master? 」

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, fearing this might be another test, hurried over and bowed deeply.

Zhuang Buran said slowly:

「As your teacher, I ask just one thing: do you wish to learn a supreme skill that lets you roam the martial world? 」

The two exchanged a glance, unable to believe the blue-clad youth would be so kind; perhaps he was trying to trap them again, yet saying they didn't want to learn would be utterly unwilling.

Kou Zhong, feeling more aggrieved the more he thought, respectfully replied:

「Disciple wishes to learn blade technique; may I? 」

「Disciple Ziling, how about you? 」 the blue-clad youth said noncommittally.

「Whatever the master teaches, the disciple will learn. 」 Xu Ziling likewise was extremely respectful.

「Indeed, whatever you wish to learn depends on what I want to teach. 」

The blue-clad youth's words left Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling silent; since it's all up to his mood, there's no point asking more, and they dared not speculate further, fearing reprisal.

「The 'Six Emptinesses Circulating' technique can be applied to all things; I previously used only the water and wind energies from the Eight Energies of the Six Emptinesses to wipe out Yuwen Huaji and his gang—would you like to learn it? 」

Upon hearing this, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling immediately recalled that miraculous martial art, their hearts stirred; just as they were about to speak, they heard the following words and instantly dismissed the thought.

「This art studies numerology, probes medical principles, follows the innate eight trigrams, and creates eight internal energies, each with different qualities; united by the heart method, they form a mass of chaotic qi. 」

「This mass of true qi differs from any internal art in the world; it needs no guidance, grows naturally, and using it to resist enemies leaves none able to withstand it—but if one cannot master its method, the eight energies will run wild and backfire on the practitioner. 」

「Once cultivated, it generates and grows within the body incessantly; it cannot be stopped until the true qi exceeds the practitioner's meridians' capacity, at which point it will burst the practitioner—this is the heavenly tribulation, also called the Six Emptinesses Poison. 」

「Furthermore, this heavenly tribulation occurs not only once during training but every twenty years thereafter; one must rebuild the meridians, retrain the heart method, to accommodate the excess true qi—success brings great martial advancement, failure leads to dissipated qi, lost skill, even bodily destruction. 」

「Thus, cycling repeatedly, the practitioner ultimately dies in the heavenly tribulation. 」

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling listened with grim faces, feeling that someone somehow knows only netherworldly martial arts, forever entangled with the heavenly tribulation in an inextricable, chaotic relation.

Having already been tormented by the dark heavenly tribulation to the point of unbearable pain, they dare not add another heavenly tribulation to themselves—are they afraid they won't die fast enough?

Thus, Xu Ziling bowed deeply:

「We lack the fortune to bear this art; please, Master, have mercy. 」

「This divine skill is too extraordinary; we truly cannot learn it. 」 Kou Zhong followed with a bow.

The blue-clad youth spoke faintly:

「When a person is born, the innate qi coalesces into the limbs and bones; this is following the natural order, which accords with heavenly principle yet cannot escape death, thus one must reverse-cultivate back to the primordial qi. 」

「I also possess a divine art that refines spirit and body into the qi of emptiness, seeking to ascend to heaven; would you like to learn it? 」

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling feared falling into another trap, scrutinizing every word; upon hearing that this art ultimately refines the body into nothingness, they found it hard to imagine—how could this be anything but courting death under the guise of seeking heavenly ascent?

「By the way, I forgot to mention: to master this art to the level of entry carries the risk of breaking through the barrier—lightly, tendons and bones suffer injury causing disability; heavily, the five viscera are ruined and life is lost. 」

The blue-clad youth's added words completely dispelled Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling's intention to study.

「Master, are all your divine arts like this? 」 Xu Ziling couldn't help but ask.

「You're asking why my martial arts are inseparable from death, aren't you? 」 Zhuang Buran chuckled.

「Disciple dare not. 」 Xu Ziling hastily shook his head.

「Fine wine harms the liver, yet why drink? Delicious food harms the stomach, yet why eat? Lust harms the heart and vitality, yet why do some indulge without tiring? In the end, all must die. 」

The blue-clad youth's smile was excessively radiant:

「To me, dying in martial practice is nothing more than dying in the right place, with utmost joy. 」

Instantly, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling understood; such a martial-obsessed, life-loving madman's nature explains why he now possesses profound, inscrutable martial arts.

「You won't learn this, nor that, leaving me unsure what to teach. 」 Zhuang Buran said helplessly.

「I truly wish to teach you some martial arts that could let you roam the world! 」

Xu Ziling spoke:

「We disciples truly dare not trouble the master's heart; is there any martial art with modest power that merely grants self-protection? 」

「If you fear death, how will you ever avenge your great grudge in the future? 」 the blue-clad youth sighed softly.

「Disciple dare not harbor such a thought. 」 Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling replied in unison.

「Well, lately the master, bored and idle, has worked out two rather ordinary martial arts. 」

「One, based on the 'Heavenly Mountain Plucking Palm,' encompasses all we've learned, named 'Heavenly Weapon Blade,' formed from internal energy, with the principle that all things under heaven are my blade. 」

「If you master this supreme art, channeling true qi internal energy onto the fists and palms, they will transform into blades that cut metal and shatter jade. 」

Directing true qi and internal strength onto the paper's grass stems turns them into steel blades and iron rods, capable of cutting through anything.

When one reaches the pinnacle, all kinds of weapon techniques can be incorporated into fist techniques, being more agile and wondrous than actual swords, spears, swords, and halberds.

Another martial art: I dislike the Swordplay Technique learned from the Rakshasa woman, for its essence of human swordplay is too petty; how can a mere human body compare to the myriad phenomena of heaven and earth?

Thus, using the Circulating Six Emptinesses, applying the principles of all things, combining with numerology, taking the essence of the Return to the Hidden, and blending it with the sword techniques I know, I created a school called the Return to the Hidden Sword.

There are eight major sword paths, divided into Heaven, Earth, Wind, Water, Fire, Mountain, Lake, Thunder; following the principles of the Return to the Hidden, they mutually generate and evolve, transforming the myriad phenomena of heaven and earth.

The eight sword paths are merely the basics of the Return to the Hidden Sword, just like the five tones; alone they are dull to the extreme, but once harmonized by a musician, they can linger for three days and give rise to myriad variations.

Kou and Xu felt their hearts surge with excitement, yet they also feared something was amiss, thinking perhaps a pit had been dug in the dark for them to fall into.

Master, are there any other aspects of these two martial arts that you haven't mentioned? Xu Ziling asked cautiously.

Are you questioning your master? Zhuang Buran raised his eyebrows slightly.

I dare not. Xu Ziling quickly lowered his head.

Little Zhong, given Zi Ling's doubts, you shall study the Return to the Hidden Sword. The blue‑clad youth glanced at Kou Zhong.

The Way of the Blade is hardly such an inconvenient thing; I await the day you transform the Return to the Hidden Sword into the Return to the Hidden Blade and show it to me.

Of course, as your master I also look forward to the day you innovate upon the Return to the Hidden Sword.

In the future, if you wish to exchange your secret arts, that's fine; I will treat it as you wanting to graduate, and then I will give you a test.

He said leisurely:

Those with divided loyalties and weak resolve, this feeble lot, are not even fit to be my servants, let alone my disciples.

Disciple dares not.

Kou and Xu hurriedly spoke up.

(End of chapter)