Chapter 131

"A person in adversity can unleash limitless potential." Yan Chu brought Luo Qi to one of the perilous zones within the Tan Valley King City Realm—the "Fish Dragon Water Marsh"—where a vast "Honghai" stretched endlessly, resembling a sea yet not a sea; apart from its freshwater, every aspect, including tides, was indistinguishable from a true ocean.

Yan Chu pointed ahead—

Whoosh!

Waves churned.

Ying Jifeng stood alone in the waves, letting them crash against him without moving an inch.

Yan Chu said: "Brother Ying cultivates the 'Absorbing Star Great Art'—neither wholly good nor wholly evil. His internal energy is vast yet chaotic, always teetering on the brink of explosion. Yet through his struggle against the raging tides, his chaotic energy is tempered; he constantly resists it, and eventually, beyond 'dispersing energy' and 'gathering energy,' he finally comprehended the method of 'fusing energy'—one of the keys to his attainment of the Primordial State."

"The 'Absorbing Star Great Art'?"

"Resisting giant waves?"

That's it?

That's enough to reach the Primordial State?

If so, Luo Qi wanted to say—

"You could do it too?"

"No, no, no."

Yan Chu shook his head: "I've said it before—the 'Absorbing Star Great Art' and the giant waves are only one part. The key is comprehending the 'fusing energy' method, but even that is just one crucial piece. Brother Ying achieved the Primordial State largely because he also cultivates the 'Sorrowful Soul Palm'—"

Sorrowful soul? Only parting can cause it!

In adversity, Ying Jifeng accumulated internal energy to forge a torrential force capable of resisting mountain floods and giant waves, running counter to the internal arts of every sect and school. The Absorbing Star Great Art grew stronger the more he absorbed; when attacking, his energy flowed freely—truly, "defend, and the sea lies calm; strike, and heaven and earth shatter."

Yet fused with Ying Jifeng's own wild arrogance—he had once been the most promising Imperial Prince, the foremost of the Eight Great Vajras of the Eight Phases Mountain, disciple of "Wind God" Lü Xuan—his ferocious nature and domineering spirit were woven into it, making it truly the "Wrath of the Sea."

The sea's vastness, boundless and still for ten thousand li; the flood surging, white waves linking like mountains, endlessly shifting, hiding deadly peril.

Sometimes roaring and furious, sometimes hidden currents swift and treacherous.

When wielding the 'Sorrowful Soul Palm' in battle, its transformations are unfathomable, its power like thunder, unmatched across the four seas. His internal energy merges with the boundless sea's might, multiplying his strength at astonishing speed. The sea absorbs all rivers, gathers them within the body for one's own use; at its peak, one can command objects with internal force.

This is the essence of the 'Sorrowful Soul Palm.'

But the key to all this lies in—

"Sorrowful soul!"

…

"Martial arts are easy to cultivate; inner state is hard to attain," Yan Chu said. "The 'Absorbing Star Great Art' and the 'Sorrowful Soul Palm' suit Brother Ying, so he reached the Primordial State quickly. But they won't suit Brother Luo—forcing them would be useless."

After hearing Yan Chu's detailed explanation of Ying Jifeng and the two martial arts, Luo Qi understood they were unsuited to him—he realized Ying Jifeng's path was not his own.

Yet Luo Qi truly wanted to reach the Primordial State!

"Brother Yan!" Luo Qi bowed sincerely to Yan Chu: "Brother Yan, your genius is unmatched. Please craft a unique martial art for me. Whether I reach the Primordial State or not, I will serve you loyally, at your command!"

At this point, Luo Qi finally lowered his pride as a "half-step Primordial" cultivator, emulating Ding Xiang, Ying Jifeng, Peng Fa, and others—offering himself to Yan Chu, seeking only a unique art.

"Brother Luo, you flatter me," Yan Chu lifted him up. "But I do have one unique art that might suit you."

"Already?" Luo Qi was startled. How quickly?

"The inspiration came like this," Yan Chu smiled. What did Luo Qi know about creating unique arts?

He deceived Luo Qi: "I came here to observe the sea, and inspiration struck—quite coincidental. But it's still just a rough outline; I'll need one or two months to clarify its structure and refine the details."

Two more months?

That's fine!

Luo Qi had truly feared Yan Chu would just pull out some fake art to fool him.

Yan Chu never fooled people: "This art is still only a concept, but you can begin training now. From today, observe the sea here—watch with your heart, listen with your heart. Nothing is harder than sincerity. When I complete this art, perhaps that will be your day of attaining the Primordial State."

…

"Senior Brother!"

"I've become a living trademark with Brother Ying!"

Ding Xiang watched Liu Xin depart—this was the fourth Cangshan prodigy, since her and Ying Jifeng's attaining of the Primordial State, who had come to Yan Chu requesting a customized art—

Luo Qi, Guo Xi, Jing Bao, Liu Xin!

Added to those who had already received customized arts from Yan Chu—Peng Fa, Ban Xianfo, Lu Yuru, Ma Hongniang—and the newly attained Primordial State cultivators Ding Xiang and Jing Bao, plus Yan Chu's fellow townsfolk Wang Ge and Fu Yunzhan, and the earlier attainers Chen Ze and Wang Zhengyi—

"All the prodigies of the First Cangshan Sword Forum have fallen into Senior Brother's net!" Ding Xiang's eyes curved like crescent moons, her smile blooming.

"The wise hear the Dao at different times—don't say that," Yan Chu shook his head.

But Ding Xiang was right. Half a year later, the landscape of Tan Valley King City had changed utterly.

When they first arrived in July last year, Ban Xianfo, Jing Bao, Peng Fa, Luo Qi, and others all acted as if they answered only to themselves, putting on airs. Each pretended harmony, yet inwardly they were arrogant—after all, they were all among the Top Twelve of the Cangshan Sword Forum, top-tier prodigies of Great Yan. Why should one be above another?

Many held this mindset.

Until the appearance of the "Ladder City" and the "Demon Sound Continent King City Battle," some of their arrogance was crushed—and Yan Chu gained his first followers: Ding Xiang, Peng Fa, Ban Xianfo, Lu Yuru.

Later, as Yan Chu and Wang Zhengyi attained the Primordial State, others began to stir.

Until Ding Xiang and Ying Jifeng unexpectedly reached the Primordial State—everyone could no longer sit still, and came flooding in.

To attain the Primordial State!

No humiliation!

Thus, Tan Valley King City became unified, solid as iron.

"Senior Brother is always so humble," Ding Xiang loved him more. She looked at Yan Chu: "Tan Valley has no war. Senior Brother teaches martial arts in the Tan Valley army—from the 'Dragon Elephant Samadhi Power' to the Five Fists—these past two days you've reached the 'Little Luo Han Array,' the 'Eighteen Bronze Men Array,' and the 'Twenty-Four Luo Han Array.' May I boldly ask—will you be leaving again soon?"

Last time, Yan Chu had taught continuously for half a month in the Tan Valley army, thoroughly explaining the Five Fists, then transmitted the 'Little Luo Han Array' and the 'Dragon Elephant Samadhi Power' before departing.

Ding Xiang guessed this would be the same.

She was right.

"Indeed," Yan Chu did not hide it.

In Tan Valley King City, every newly attained Primordial State cultivator he knew well—nearly all were training his customized arts, which also aided his own progress. But in the end, it was still just one pot of meat stewed in one pot—the cake couldn't grow faster.

Yan Chu still had to go out; in fact, his first choice was still Hunxi Wang Cheng.

"Hunxi Wang Cheng?" Ding Xiang was startled.

She had read the new installment of the "Heavenly Ranking," in which she not only saw herself and Ying Jifeng on the list, but also saw Yan Chu's ranking surge to eleventh place, and saw Yan Chu's battle record in Hunxi Wang Cheng. Precisely because of this, she was puzzled: Hunxi Wang Cheng had the "Sijiasan Sect," and Yan Chu had killed a second-rank Divine General of the Fu family there, offending two third-rank Divine Generals of the Fu family — under such circumstances, how could he dare go back again?

Was he not afraid of death?

"The Lishan Sect, one of the Sijiasan Sect of Hunxi, has invited me to serve as a guest elder of a branch court. The Lishan Sect has Primordial experts like clouds and ultimate arts like rain — such an opportunity is rare, and I want to go take a look." This was the truth from Yan Chu.

For him—

Primordial Divine Generals!

Ultimate arts and classics!

These were the foundation of his "Teaching Benefits Both" and "Method Derivation," and were of tremendous help in raising his martial attainment and accelerating the derivation of various martial arts.

The Lishan Sect!

A fine place to go!

For himself, that was one point.

In addition, his master Cheng Fengxiao was cultivating in the Jiujiang Court of the Lishan Sect, practicing the "Four Seas Convergence Art." Yan Chu wanted to go to the Lishan Sect, wanted to go to the Jiujiang Court, also wanting to obtain more feedback on the "Four Seas Convergence Art" from a host of Primordial experts, so that his own attainment in this divine art would be higher, and then feed it back to Cheng Fengxiao, letting his master better comprehend it and attain the Dao faster.

For himself!

For his master!

This Hunxi Wang Cheng, this Lishan Sect, this Jiujiang Court — Yan Chu was prepared to make another trip to all of them!

"But Senior Brother has offended the Fu family, and in Nanxiong City revealed the terrifying explosive power of slaying a Primordial Sixth Layer while at Primordial Second Layer and shaking off a Primordial Twelvefold. I worry that not only will the Fu family continue to investigate Senior Brother's whereabouts, even within the Lishan Sect there may be someone covetous, and thus harbor ill intent!" Ding Xiang was worried.

But Yan Chuang had a clear grasp in his heart.

First, he had ample "Fire Bud Crystals," his strength changing day by day, always improving. For instance, after the battle of Nanxiong City, he had only been back in Tan Valley Wang Cheng for half a month when he refined another 6 Fire Bud Crystals, his physical body's strength closing in on Primordial Fifth Layer—

Although "physical body strength" is also classified by Primordial Fourth Layer, Primordial Fifth Layer, etc., benchmarked against the Heavenly Twentyfold, the so-called "Primordial Fifth Layer physical body strength" does not mean "the physical body strength of a martial artist at the Primordial Fifth Layer heaven," but rather means "a physical body that can withstand a full-force strike of Primordial Fifth Layer without breaking"!

The gap between these two is truly greater than that between clouds and mud—

"A Primordial Fifth Layer martial artist, without using internal force or martial arts and relying only on his physical body, can be breached by any newly advanced Primordial expert who comes along, so his 'physical body strength' is not even up to Primordial First Layer."

"And for me right now, my 'physical body strength' is closing in on Primordial Fifth Layer — with just my fleshly body, I can withstand a full-force strike from Primordial Fourth Layer, provided there is no explosive burst and no life-or-death effort!"

This is the true definition of "physical body strength"!

Yan Chuang had ample "Fire Bud Crystals," his physical body changing day by day, improving every moment, his strength rising every instant.

"If the Fu family dispatches corresponding Primordial experts to deal with me based on the strength I displayed in Nanxiong City, at most they'll send a few more third-rank Divine Generals; to be exceedingly cautious, sending a fourth-rank Divine General would be the absolute limit!"

A fourth-rank Divine General!

At minimum, Primordial Fifteenfold!

Not only powerful in strength, but also of lofty status.

In the Lishan Sect, the admission standard for the Nine Courts' Ten Elders is fourth-rank — for example, Zhou Shun, he is Primordial Fifteenfold.

Yan Chuang killed a second-rank Divine General of the Fu family; even if the Fu family pursues him, at most they would dispatch a fourth-rank Divine General, and even that is not very likely.

And Yan Chuang?

"Once I raise my physical body strength to Primordial Fifth Layer, Primordial Sixth Layer, and then unleash it, even a fourth-rank Divine General will not be able to hold me down or kill me."

Fire Bud Crystals!

Invincible physical body!

Changing day by day!

This is one of the sources of Yan Chuang's confidence.

In addition.

Second.

"I also have 'Teaching Benefits Both' — as long as I can enter the Lishan Sect, in the Jiujiang Court, from Primordial experts down to those at the Limit, each one who listens to me lecture on martial arts can give me feedback."

The Lishan Sect!

The Jiujiang Court!

This is an enormous reservoir of experience!

"Teaching Benefits Both," leaving no trace, heaps upon heaps of experience for Yan Chuang to harvest, becoming nourishment for his growth.

With "Fire Bud Crystals," Yan Chuang's physical body changes day by day, his hard strength continuously growing.

With "Teaching Benefits Both," within the Lishan Sect, Yan Chuang's martial attainment can also change day by day, his soft strength continuously growing.

Both hard and soft combined!

Who can predict Yan Chuang's strength?

Simply cannot pin it down.

When a third-rank Divine General comes, Yan Chuang can match a fourth-rank.

When a fourth-rank Divine General comes, Yan Chuang can match a fifth-rank.

When a fifth-rank Divine General comes, Yan Chuang can match a sixth-rank.

As long as he hides his true limits well, always keeping one card concealed, Yan Chuang will forever remain safe.

What Yan Chuang feared was not the Fu family on the surface, but rather that someone within the Lishan Sect might act against him, that some big shot within the Lishan Sect might have his eyes on him.

This was an uncontrollable factor.

But even facing the Lishan Sect, Yan Chuang still had a final response—

"If things truly cannot be done, at worst I'll use Old Wang's 'Monkey King Avatar' to open the 'Soul Channel' and run!"

With Old Wang!

With the "Soul Channel"!

Yan Chuang could completely achieve peace of mind.

With so many trump cards on hand, and even the "three hairs on the back of the head," Hunxi Wang Cheng, Lishan Sect—Yan Chu certainly had the nerve to go and try his luck!

……

Seeing she couldn't dissuade Yan Chuang, Ding Xiang immediately changed tack: "Senior brother, can you take me along?"

Her "Mind-Reading Art" had to be within a sufficiently close distance of Yan Chuang to trigger. Ding Xiang truly couldn't bear to be separated from Yan Chuang. For instance, this time—if she had stayed by Yan Chuang's side earlier and consulted him constantly, she might have attained her Dao even sooner.

When Ding Xiang attained her Dao, everyone—even Yan Chuang—felt it was too fast, too abrupt, completely unexpected. Only Ding Xiang herself knew—

"If he hadn't disappeared for two months, I could have done it even earlier!"

Having learned from the last "lesson," seeing Yan Chuang about to leave again, Ding Xiang of course wanted to follow. She gazed at Yan Chuang with eager, pleading eyes: "I want to stay by senior brother's side every single moment, constantly seeking your guidance. Besides, I'm already at the Primordial Realm now—although I only just broke through—every bit of ability I have, senior brother knows better than anyone. I'm best at lightness-skills and body techniques; at the very least, protecting myself isn't hard. I absolutely won't hold senior brother back."

Ding Xiang wanted so badly to be together with Yan Chuang.

But Yan Chu still shook his head: "You also know the Fu family won't let me off. My trip to Hunxi Wang Cheng is extremely dangerous; I can't even guarantee my own safety. Although Junior Sister Ding's lightness-skill isn't bad, when facing third-tier or even fourth-tier Divine Generals, it's far from enough."

Of course he also wanted to bring Ding Xiang along.

After all, among all the prodigies and all those at the Primordial Realm, Ding Xiang's "comprehension" was the best. She had extremely high talent in the domain of lightness-skills and body techniques, could easily digest all of Yan Chuang's teachings, and then push beyond them—taking Yan Chuang's output, reprocessing it, and feeding it back to him.

Put it this way!

The feeling Ding Xiang gave Yan Chuang was like a "plug-in device" in his domain of lightness-skills and body techniques. Yan Chuang would input his own understanding and insights about lightness-skills and body techniques into this "plug-in device," where they would be transformed, and then output as new things at more levels and from more angles—causing Yan Chuang's lightness-skills and body techniques to also surge upward at a furious pace, progress flying.

……

(End of this chapter)