Chapter 18: Celestial Martial Arts

Under the gazes of the guests, a tall woman walked slowly, surrounded by a crowd of attendants.

Her long silver hair reflected a metallic luster unique to metal.

Zhang Yu guessed whether that beautiful head of hair was a Dharma Skeleton, wondering how much a single strand of hair was worth.

The woman’s red evening gown was covered with traces of flowing flames, as if clusters of fire were dancing within it, radiating powerful fluctuations of magic power.

Zhao Tianxing thought that the gown itself seemed to be a magic treasure, probably worth a fortune.

At the same time, the director of Xianyun Group, whose entire body seemed to be plated with gold leaf, took the initiative to greet Li Xuelian.

Then two other rich people at the Foundation Establishment stage also

joined the exchange between the two.

Surrounding them was a crowd of wealthy celebrities, each eager to chat with the four and get on familiar terms.

But it didn’t give these people too much

opportunity; after chatting with the three for a few sentences, Li Xuelian walked over to the curtain of the Celestial Martial Diagram.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming to this painting exhibition today.”

Amid applause, Li Xuelian gave a slight smile and continued, “In this moment full of creativity and inspiration, we gather together…”

Listening to Li Xuelian’s speech, Zhang Yu yawned boredly, thinking that he might as well take this time to practice breathing exercises.

Suddenly his gaze shifted, and he thought about how he had been cultivating more diligently recently, wondering if it was because he had grown accustomed to the pressure of the ritual, or if it was the subtle influence of this world and society on him.

Fortunately, Li Xuelian’s speech was not long; as Zhang Yu was pondering, she had already started talking about the topic that interested the many cultivation prodigies present the most.

Li Xuelian: “Over the past few years, my father has been trying to find a disciple to inherit his legacy, passing on his martial arts and Dao arts.”

“Unfortunately, his standards are quite high; after searching for many years, he has yet to find a disciple who truly meets his requirements.”

“So he personally painted this Celestial Martial Diagram, and within this painting, he concealed a set of martial arts.”

“If any young prodigy under the age of eighteen can master the martial arts within, my father is willing to take them as a disciple and spare no effort in training them to enter a top-tier university.”

“However, this painting contains a trace of my father’s martial Dao intent. Viewing this painting will subject you to the impact of this trace of intent, which risks damaging your Dao heart.”

“In the process of comprehension that follows, I ask everyone to act within your abilities, lest you be harmed by the martial Dao intent within…”

As Li Xuelian made this introduction, her hand slowly pulled open the curtain, revealing the Celestial Martial Diagram behind it.

Inside a frame over two meters tall, a blurry figure gradually emerged.

“So this is a painting by a Golden Core great power?” Zhang Yu looked at the painting and felt it was like a simple human figure scribbled randomly, no better than a grade-schooler’s doodle.

Just as Zhang Yu thought this, someone shouted, “What a painting!”

“This painting has vivid rhythm and spirit, with boneless brushwork. True Man Starfire’s work is supremely exquisite, making our generation feel ashamed.”

Immediately someone followed up with flattery: “It’s so beautiful! The painting seems simple on the surface, but it contains a profound artistic conception. The more you look, the more endlessly intriguing it becomes.”

As more and more people began praising the Celestial Martial Diagram, Li Xuelian couldn’t help but cough, interrupting their chatter.

Then she explained, “Everyone, to prevent this painting from accidentally harming people, my father applied a special technique: only when you approach within five meters can you see the true content of the painting, but you will also be affected by the martial Dao intent within.”

“Young prodigies who wish to comprehend the painting, please step forward a few paces to view it.”

Hearing Li Xuelian’s words, the few people who had been flattering immediately flushed red and fell silent in embarrassment.

But someone had already taken a step forward toward the Celestial Martial Diagram—it was Lian Tianji from Ziyun High School, who had just been speaking with “Gu He Gu.”

“Haha, let me, Lian Tianji, see what mysteries this Celestial Martial Diagram holds.”

And so Lian Tianji, laughing as he walked, quickly strode toward the Celestial Martial Diagram.

Watching this scene, Qian Shen’s eyes flickered, and he said to himself, “That’s Lian Tianji from Ziyun High School. Last month’s monthly exam total score of 670—he’s a tough opponent. He’s one of the enemies I must defeat after overcoming Bai Zhenzhen.”

As Lian Tianji stepped closer to the Celestial Martial Diagram, in his eyes, the figure in the painting became clearer and clearer, until it seemed he could see a middle-aged man slowly performing a set of profound martial arts.

Lian Tianji’s mind was gradually drawn in, until finally he saw the man in the painting suddenly throw a punch at him across the void.

Bang!

A dull thud seemed to ring in the air.

Lian Tianji abruptly stopped, his eyes wide with anger, staring intently in the direction of the Celestial Martial Arts Illustration.

Seeing him stand there motionless, everyone felt that Lian Tianji had already immersed himself in the Celestial Martial Arts Illustration, comprehending its mysterious martial arts.

Li Xuelian, not far away, explained calmly, "In order to select disciples with strong will and extraordinary spirit... while comprehending the Celestial Martial Arts Illustration, the viewer will confront their inner terrors."

"Only by strengthening the spirit and overcoming inner weaknesses can one comprehend the mysteries within the painting."

Upon hearing this, the crowd was again surprised, curiously looking at the dazed Lian Tianji, guessing what he was seeing.

At that moment, in Lian Tianji's eyes, the world around him shifted, and he unknowingly returned to the classroom, as if he had forgotten the art exhibition, Li Xuelian, the Celestial Martial Arts Illustration... everything.

The homeroom teacher was on the podium announcing the results of the last monthly exam. But from the first place onward, he never heard his own name.

10th place, not him...

20th place, not him...

50th place, still not him...

As the scores called out grew lower and lower, Lian Tianji's heart grew more and more nervous...

At the exhibition, watching Lian Tianji still comprehending the Celestial Martial Arts Illustration, Li Xuelian said, "The Celestial Martial Arts Illustration can be comprehended together. Any young heroes interested, please come before the painting."

Qian Shen and a few nearby classmates exchanged glances and together walked toward the Celestial Martial Arts Illustration.

At the same time, other youths who had come to comprehend the Celestial Martial Arts Illustration also stepped forward one after another.

Zhang Yu looked at Zhou Tianyi beside him and asked curiously, "Aren't you going to give it a try?"

Zhou Tianyi chuckled and shrugged, "I'm just here to watch the fun. I'd rather not go up and embarrass myself."

!.

Zhang Yu turned to look at Bai Zhenzhen beside him and asked, "What about you? Not going either?"

Bai Zhenzhen glanced toward the Celestial Martial Arts Illustration and said indifferently, "I'm still deciding."

Zhang Yu asked curiously, "What's there to decide?"

Bai Zhenzhen: "I don't want to find myself a master."

She thought to herself, "Becoming a disciple means signing a contract with that Sparkfire True Man, which is basically an indenture agreement."

Bai Zhenzhen sighed inwardly, "Let alone other things... just choosing which university or major, I'd probably be under his control, and I'd be deeply in debt, not even knowing how the interest is calculated..."

Hearing Bai Zhenzhen's hesitation, Zhang Yu immediately said, "Then if you don't master this martial art, you don't have to become Sparkfire True Man's disciple."

Zhang Yu looked toward the Celestial Martial Arts Illustration and smiled slightly. "This martial art left by a Golden Core True Man, even if it's a martial art for the Qi Refining stage, if we had to buy the usage rights ourselves, it'd cost at least tens of thousands, right? Since there's a chance to learn it for free, why not go for it?"

"If you don't want to be Sparkfire True Man's disciple, just don't master this martial art today. That's all."

Zhao Tianxing, standing nearby, secretly curled his lip upon hearing this, feeling that Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen were both speaking too arrogantly. At the same time, he stepped back a bit, afraid that people around would look at him and think he was equally arrogant and ignorant.

Bai Zhenzhen looked at Zhang Yu speechlessly, thinking, "What kind of debt collection from small loan platforms drove him to such a mental state?"

Zhou Tianyi laughed and said, "That makes sense. Since comprehending it doesn't cost anything, let's all give it a try together."

Zhao Tianxing, however, refused Zhang Yu and Zhou Tianyi's request. Just thinking about himself in a security guard or waiter uniform, comprehending the Celestial Martial Arts Illustration in front of everyone, felt too embarrassing.

But watching Zhang Yu's back as he walked up, he suddenly felt a bit of admiration for the other's thick skin.

Just then, the walkie-talkie at Zhao Tianxing's waist rang. The security captain yelled, "What are you doing? You're security guards. Who told him to leave his post to comprehend the Martial Arts Illustration? Quickly call him back!"

Zhao Tianxing, drenched in sweat from the scolding, hurriedly shouted and ran forward, trying to pull Zhang Yu back.

As Zhao Tianxing approached the Celestial Martial Arts Illustration step by step, the figure in the painting gradually became clear, and bursts of laughter came from all around.

Zhao Tianxing turned to look and found that everyone at the exhibition was staring at him, pointing and whispering, laughing at his overestimation of himself—just a mere security guard wanting to comprehend the Martial Arts Illustration.

Amid the jeers of countless people, Zhao Tianxing slowly stopped, awkward and at a loss, his hands alternately touching his head and ears, not even knowing how to stand.

At the same time, as Zhang Yu and his two companions approached the Celestial Martial Arts Illustration, the blurry figure in the painting gradually became clear, turning into a stern-faced middle-aged man, who ultimately threw a punch at them from across the distance.

Bai Zhenzhen felt the world dim before her eyes, and then her phone vibrated wildly.

She picked it up and saw it was a collection message from a loan platform.

"Regarding your overdue 'Qianbei' loan, as multiple collection attempts have been ineffective and the situation is serious, please settle the outstanding amount within three days of receiving this message. If you continue to default, we will proceed according to relevant laws..."

"Continue to owe money, and an investigation will be conducted at your background check location..."

"Deadbeat, owing this little money and losing all face, how about your whole family helps you pick up bottles to pay it back..."

More and more collection text messages, their content increasingly unscrupulous, from simple reminders to full-scale, all-encompassing insults, abuse, threats...

Bai Zhenzhen looked at the endless stream of collection text messages on her phone, sweating profusely and tensing up all over, until the phone rang as well.

But looking at the phone that kept ringing, Bai Zhenzhen hesitated to answer.

But even though she didn't do anything, the phone answered automatically.

Under her terrified gaze, a cold male voice came from the phone.

"Due to your credit fraud and overdue payment, you have committed a serious breach of contract. Your location has been locked via the Celestial Net. If the debt is not settled within three days, a tribulation lightning will be cast down..."

A muffled thunderclap sounded.

Bai Zhenzhen suddenly looked up and saw faint glimmers of lightning flashing in the sky above.