Chapter 200: The Hidden Truth of Martial Arts

The two stood only six or seven zhang apart, each standing straight on a piece of driftwood bobbing with the waves.

With the cultivation base of a figure at the Inheritor level, one could arrive in an instant. It would even be effortless to strike out with a sword, crossing those six or seven zhang to slay the opponent directly.

Zhu Yuzhao chose to stop at this distance, clearly possessing absolute confidence that he could slay Li Youyi in one move, and that Li Youyi could neither dodge nor escape. It was precisely because everything was under his control that he had the leisure to chat for a few moments.

Li Youyi felt that the opponent's combat intent was coiled around him like a chain. The feeling was as if, no matter which direction he fled, he would be immediately dragged back.

The young Wu Xiu on the shore did not notice anything amiss; on the contrary, they were extremely eager for Li Youyi to share some martial arts tips.

Li Youyi knew his own suffering; just as he mobilized the magic power in his body, the jade sword in Zhu Yuzhao's hand slightly left its scabbard, the threat clear.

"Being able to stall for time is also a good thing; perhaps I can find a better opportunity to escape."

Thinking of this, Li Youyi tried to remain as calm and composed as possible, recalling what Master Guan had once said to resolve his doubts: "The power of a martial arts move depends on two parts: Qi and Dao."

"The so-called Dao is the convergence of Heavenly Dao laws, or combat intent; it is the degree of fit between the move and the mysterious laws between heaven and earth."

"With our cultivation at the Five Seas Realm, we can only glimpse the surface. I truly have no face to show off in front of others and would only invite ridicule."

"As for the aspect of Qi, it naturally refers to magic power and physical strength. The stronger the Qi, the greater the power of the move naturally is; one might not even need Heavenly Dao convergence—a casual wave could be earth-shattering."

Zhu Yuzhao appeared extremely eager for knowledge, his expression earnest: "This is precisely what I am curious about! You only have Third-Grade Qi, yet among the challengers, there are at least ten who have cultivated Fourth-Grade Qi. Your move, the Cihang Aperture Opening Finger, can defeat them one after another without even releasing combat intent. Could it be... that this move has already reached a very far place in terms of Dao?"

With his humble and studious appearance, who could have imagined that Li Youyi's life was currently being held in his hand?

The Wu Xiu on the shore, including top figures like Brother Zuoqiu Lanchen and Brother Qi Xiao, all appeared to be listening intently.

Even they believed that in terms of martial arts attainment, they were inferior to Li Youyi, and that only their cultivation bases were ahead.

Li Youyi smiled: "Actually, it is very simple. Every martial arts manual should mention it, but everyone values cultivation realm and magic power intensity more, ignoring these details."

"It is known to all under heaven that the trajectory of the trace meridians born within every Wu Xiu is different, just like the palm prints of a person's hand; one can never find two people with identical trace meridian trajectories."

"Furthermore, depending on the environment the Wu Xiu is in and their mood, the trajectory of the trace meridians within the body will also undergo subtle changes."

"When you choose the martial arts to cultivate, the first thing to consider is the degree of fit between this martial art and your internal trace meridian trajectory. The second is how to circulate magic power when executing the move, and how to change the trace meridian trajectory to enhance the power of the move..."

The shore was already in an uproar.

"Is this known to all under heaven? Why does our Lu family not have relevant manuals describing this kind of martial arts knowledge?"

"Your Lu family is merely a million-strong power clan; how can you be mentioned in the same breath as a ten-million-strong gate? Young Master Li is the son-in-law of the Brother Zuoqiu gate; he can certainly access the most profound private gate manuals."

"Listen carefully; it is rare for someone to be so open-hearted in meeting friends through martial arts and sharing martial arts experience that one cannot usually access. Anyway, I have gained a huge harvest from coming to Qiuzhou this time; I will go into seclusion as soon as I return."

"I was too impetuous before, only pursuing Qi refinement and realm; now I realize I was lacking so much."

Brother Qi Xiao's expression was grave as he reflected in his heart; no wonder he could not enter the top two despite his Nine Springs Pure Immortal Body. It turned out there were so many intricacies regarding trace meridians, a point he had never noticed before.

Perhaps the reason the Inheritors' combat power was so formidable was closely related to these subtle mysteries.

And Brother Zuoqiu Lanchen, as an Inheritor, also had a splitting headache at this moment, because what Li Youyi was talking about was something he was also encountering for the first time. He secretly thought, perhaps the First Inheritor, Ge Xiantong, and those people all had such martial arts cognition; he was indeed inferior, and today he had truly gained knowledge!

After the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, he must go to the library to seclude himself for a period of time to make up for his deficiencies.

Continue listening, continue learning.

A figure dressed as a man, walking among the Wu Xiu crowd, moved along the white stone seawall. She was extremely tall, wearing a bamboo hat and a veil, holding a long sword, walking quickly with her head down, also listening carefully.

What Li Youyi was saying came from Master Guan, this former transcendent, and he truly felt that these things were known to all under heaven.

But he did not know that knowing was one thing, and practicing and implementing it was another.

What Master Guan taught was simply not available in ordinary sects and power clans. Ten-million-strong gates had it, but the detailed cultivation methods were all sealed away, not allowing young Wu Xiu to come into contact with them until their cultivation reached a certain level.

Because facts had proven that when young Wu Xiu came into contact with these extremely subtle martial arts, they were prone to going astray, and while failing to refine their practice, they also wasted cultivation time.

Just as Li Youyi said, when executing martial arts moves, using special Qi circulation methods and changing trace meridian trajectories—if one truly thought about so much during a battle, one would often lose one's life.

Supreme martial arts geniuses could naturally be exceptions.

The reason Master Guan spoke of such profound and subtle things was truly because he was forced by Li Youyi; otherwise, Li Youyi would constantly ask him about the number of trace meridians and the size of the Qi sea from back then, which could anger him to death.

Master Guan just wanted to see how capable he really was.

Just when everyone was waiting for Li Youyi to continue, and Zhu Yuzhao also revealed a thoughtful expression.

Li Youyi seized this rare opportunity, and his voice stopped abruptly.

"Boom!"

The magic power in his body erupted, breaking through the combat intent the opponent had coiled around him, and he executed the Clear Void Cicada-Chasing Step.

"He is a Cinder Spirit!"

With the fewest words, he informed Brother Zuoqiu Lanchen of the danger he was encountering.

At this life-and-death moment, how could he still care about hiding his clumsiness?

Li Youyi pushed his movement technique to the limit, his feet stepping on green smoke and clouds, as fast as chasing the wind and moon, fleeing to the right on the sea surface.

Even though he had exhausted everything to strive for favorable conditions, after just one breath, the sound of wind breaking behind him was already whistling in his ears.

Too fast!

"Where is that sword of yours? I came for it."

Zhu Yuzhao pinched his five fingers in the air, and immediately a flame claw print several zhang long condensed on the sea surface. The five fingers were like fire pillars, the palm like a fire cloud, shrouding Li Youyi.

"It really is Hidden Cinder... Great!"

Li Youyi knew that before Hidden Cinder obtained the Huang Long Sword, he would absolutely not kill him; she was fundamentally different from that madwoman Qi Jin.

As long as the opponent held the idea of capturing him alive, there was a chance of survival today.

He turned around abruptly, the magic power in his body surging toward his right arm, his five fingers forming a finger sword.

Two fingers, unprecedentedly brilliant, bloomed on the sea like a star.

"Whoosh!"

Li Youyi's fifth combat intent condensed, which was vastly different from the first four; it did not look like an old immortal from myths and legends. Instead, it was a young woman with immortal glow blooming all over her body, a red dot between her eyebrows like the morning sun, long hair like a river hanging from the nine heavens, her eyes serene and eternal.

Like the first four moves, it fit a certain law between heaven and earth, attracting a Dao image and transforming into his combat intent.

Just like the combat intent of the Nine Li God and the combat intent of the Thunder Department deity, it represented "Intent Connecting to Divinity."

"Cihang Aperture Opening!"

As he pointed a finger, the goddess combat intent behind him also pointed a finger, the light beam colliding with the flame claw print, forming intense energy ripples.

"Boom!"

The sea surface exploded, and Li Youyi flew backward nearly ten zhang, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth; although injured, he successfully escaped from Zhu Yuzhao's claws.

"Intent connecting to divinity, good finger technique!"

Zhu Yuzhao remained in his polite and peaceful appearance, his figure like a teleportation, rushing out of the chaotic magic power energy area, arriving above Li Youyi's head in an instant, the three-foot jade sword in his hand swinging down with the scabbard.

"Awoo! Awoo..."

One long howl after another rushed out from the bottom of the water under Li Youyi's feet.

The water surface rolled violently.

The five-zhang-long Nine-Headed Demon Flood Dragon combat intent broke through the water with a roar, the nine flood dragon heads ferocious and huge, eighteen eyes shooting light everywhere.

Yin Eleven stood on top of the central flood dragon head, wearing fire-scaled dragon claw gloves on both hands. One claw slapped toward the sky, the momentum like a rainbow, striking out a flame claw print as formidable as the one Zhu Yuzhao had used earlier.

"Bang!"

Two forces collided, one above and one below.

Zhu Yuzhao soared into the sky, falling toward the direction behind him, quickly stabilizing his figure.

Yin Eleven landed back on the water surface, stepping out ripples, retreating backward.

"You came just in time." Li Youyi praised, the lingering fear in his heart not yet gone.

Yin Eleven was not humble at all: "How clever I am! When you emphasized that he came from afar from the Western Region and spoke so much martial arts knowledge that shouldn't have been spoken, I sensed something was wrong!"

Since Li Youyi knew he might be targeted by Hidden Cinder, he naturally had to focus on defense, so Yin Eleven had been hiding on the seabed near the arena.

It just so happened that he had just fused the Nine-Headed Demon Flood Dragon combat intent of the Nine Li God, and could better comprehend and polish it on the seabed.

It could be said that as long as he could withstand one or two moves from Hidden Cinder, Yin Eleven could arrive in time.

Intense and roaring battle sounds came from the shore.

Just when Li Youyi shouted out Zhu Yuzhao's true identity earlier, Brother Zuoqiu Lanchen had just left his seat, and snowflakes in the shape of paper money fell in abundance.

"Brother Zuoqiu Lanchen, where are you going?"

Ming Niansheng laughed loudly, like a cannonball, rushing out from the paper money underworld snow, projecting directly toward him.

"Boom!"

Two experts at the Inheritor level fought together in an instant, their figures sometimes soaring into the sky, sometimes diving into the sea.

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

Four more figures with formidable auras rushed out of the crowd, leaping over the seawall, their targets actually being the five iron boxes containing Spring Coins.

These four were all dressed in monk robes, three men and one woman, each an absolute powerhouse of the Five Seas Realm. One of them was even among the top tier of the Southern Region.

"The Four Truths of Coffin Mountain."

Brother Qi Xiao stood on one of the iron boxes, his eyes sharp, knowing that even if he fought to the death, he could not fight four alone, so he immediately released magic power to activate the defensive array.

Mie Truth laughed wildly: "You have earned too much black-hearted money; it has already caused heaven's anger and people's resentment. This poor monk has come specifically to punish evil and promote good."

Dao Truth, who had been beaten by Jiang Ning until only one arm remained, pinched a seal with his left hand and said melodiously: "We are here for money today, not lives, only for..."

"Alms!"

Ji Truth roared in an extremely high-pitched voice.

Mie Truth said coldly: "Brother Qi Xiao, if you are sensible, open the array yourself; today I will spare your life."

"Compassion is the priority," Ji Truth said.

Brother Qi Xiao was not a three-year-old child; how could he believe that the thieves of Buddha's Crossing would be merciful? He sneered: "You Coffin Mountain people associate with the Far West Cinder Region and are destined not to be tolerated by the Southern Region. Just wait and see, who knows who will die first. Want to rob money? Do you really think we have no preparations? If you have the ability, come and try to break the array."

Brother Qi Xiao naturally had confidence, because the array protecting the Spring Coins under his feet was arranged by a Spirit Nian Master. Seeing an expert appear on the sea to save Li Youyi, he had completely set his heart at ease and had time to wear them down.

"The array is your confidence?"

Mie Truth laughed, took out a jade box from his boundary bag, and unsealed the sealing runes on the surface.

After opening it, the box emitted purple radiance, and wisps of electric light escaped.

"Thunder Method Profound Ice."

Qi Wangshu and Brother Zuoqiu Baiyuan, standing in the defensive array, had their expressions change drastically, both feeling that a great disaster was imminent.

(End of chapter)