Chapter 313: The Number Twenty-Nine, the Heart That Seeks the Dao!

The "Fire of Heaven Hand" is renowned within the Three Truth Sect, yet unknown to most in the martial world.

There are several supreme martial classics in the martial world!

The "Demon Seed of the Dao Heart" from the demonic sect's supreme scripture, the "Heavenly Demon Strategy"; the Sword Sect's ultimate sword scripture, the "Sword Heart Decree"; or the "Subduing Demon Manifestation," accessible only to Buddhist disciples within the Buddhist sect.

Within the Ice Plain Sect lies its foremost technique, the "Nine Dust Cataclysm," cold and tyrannical.

The Great Qian Dynasty's "War Against Heaven Scroll" is a perfect fusion of imperial authority and martial art—imperial martial arts—and the "Song of Vast Righteous Qi" from the White Deer Academy of Great Chu.

These martial arts are all among the world's pinnacle, each carrying the blood, sweat, and toil of countless ancestors, reaching the utmost height.

It takes generations, even dozens of generations, to produce a single heir; yet whenever one appears, they become a force that stirs the martial world and dominates a region.

Six hundred years ago, the Sword Sect's Sword Saint, having perfected the "Sword Heart Decree," annihilated the Qi Sect, ending forever the feud between "Sword" and "Qi" within the Sword Sect.

The White Deer Academy's third headmaster, wielding the supreme power of the "Song of Vast Righteous Qi," not only reached the pinnacle of his cultivation but also founded the Gongsun Clan, whose glory endures to this day.

Lu Yu had gradually studied the "Fire of Heaven Decree," his eyes growing ever brighter.

He immersed himself in the fragmented remnants of the "Fire of Heaven Hand"; the profound mysteries within its words and lines made his gaze even more luminous.

Though only fragments, the cosmic truths contained within were enough to stir his heart, as if he had glimpsed another path of martial cultivation.

Liu Jinchan sighed softly, his eyes, having witnessed countless changes, filled with helplessness and unwillingness.

He had long since read the "Fire of Heaven Hand" countless times, yet it was like an old man encountering a beloved woman—his heart yearned for it, but his strength could not reach it.

Every attempt to cultivate it felt like scratching through boots—it could never touch the profound, elusive truth of the martial Dao.

He had traveled far and wide, leaving footprints across the land, seeking nothing more than a single chance to break through to Grand Master.

Seeing his two disciples—Lu Yu had reached the Heaven-Man realm, and Lu Chen had broken through to Grand Master—he felt both pride and urgency as their master.

The student surpassing the teacher is a joyous thing, yet after fulfilling his heart's wish to strengthen the Three Truth Sect,

his obsession with pursuing higher martial realms had never dimmed.

His desire to reach the summit of martial arts grew stronger with age.

His journey to the northern lands carried the last flicker of hope—that he might find the key to breaking his bottleneck in the final notes of his ancestor Peng Chuan.

Alas!

The threshold of the "Fire of Heaven Hand" was impossibly high—only those of Primordial State could enter it; not a single disciple of the Three Truth Sect across generations had ever reached this realm, making it an insurmountable heavenly gate.

Liu Jinchan himself, though at the peak of Master realm, just one step from Grand Master, found that single step as vast as a chasm, filling him with despair.

The path of martial arts grows ever harder the further one advances; to stand still is to fall back, each step demanding effort beyond ordinary comprehension.

Over the past decade, the four nations had maintained a rare peace; the martial world had been calm, with only occasional ripples, yet overall, tranquility endured.

Yet!

As secrets of the realm beyond Grand Master gradually became known to the world, the entire martial world seemed ignited like kindling beneath a cauldron.

Martial artists across the land eagerly sharpened their skills, eager to climb to higher peaks of martial mastery.

In literature, there is no first; in martial arts, there is no second.

In the past decade!

Countless geniuses emerged like mushrooms after rain, among them prodigies who reached Master realm before age fifteen—youthful talents appeared without end.

The martial world had grown lively!

A tiny few, like children of heaven, were born with the innate talent to sense spiritual energy.

Yet amid this ferment, only a dozen or so martial artists had managed to break through to Grand Master, standing at the pinnacle of martial arts.

There were only thirteen Grand Masters, and according to the Yin-Yang masters' calculations, the total number of those capable of ascending to Grand Master was precisely eighteen.

This number became an invisible shackle binding every martial artist in the world.

Once these eighteen slots were filled, no one else could advance further—unless one of them perished, then another might take their place.

Of course, there was another way: kill a Grand Master, tread upon their corpse, and break through to Grand Master yourself.

Ambushes against Grand Masters began to appear in the martial world.

The martial world grew turbulent with hidden currents!

These thirteen publicly known Grand Masters, along with five hidden ones, together formed the current martial landscape.

Liu Jinchan looked at you—he knew the five unnamed Grand Masters included you, and his eldest disciple, after fifty years of seeking the Dao, had finally succeeded!

Meanwhile,

Lu Yu was immersed in cultivating the "Fire of Heaven Hand"; a faint luminous aura now shimmered over his skin—the sign of his internal force merging with celestial spiritual energy.

He slowly guided his qi, extending both hands straight from his sleeves, and as he gently waved them, a crimson spiritual light gradually enveloped his palms.

This light, like the first rays of dawn, warm and blazing, grew stronger with Lu Yu's cultivation until it fully shrouded his hands.

The crimson light seemed alive, leaping and burning within his palms, radiating heat.

Soon!

The temperature in Lu Yu's hands became unbearably scorching, causing the surrounding air to warp slightly.

You immediately pulled back the "Peng Chuan Notes," fearing the heat might ignite and destroy this precious artifact.

Liu Jinchan's face showed astonishment—he knew the "Fire of Heaven Hand" had six levels.

The first level, "Kindling," required mastering fire in the palms, slowly gathering heat.

Yet Lu Yu, in such a short time, had already reached the second level, "Southern Torch," his hands now as hot as boiling oil in a cauldron.

This talent and power were truly breathtaking.

You and Liu Jinchan exchanged a glance, both eyes filled with the same helplessness and awe.

Lu Yu, this genius seemingly born for the Dao, could grasp the essence of any technique in moments.

For both of you, it was deeply discouraging.

You spent fifty years wandering, aided by the qi of Yan land, refining heaven and earth to become a Grand Master; Lu Yu, in his twenties, had already surpassed you.

You and Liu Jinchan sighed in unison—sometimes, sharing an era with a true prodigy is both blessing and curse.

Fortunately, your heart for the Dao remained steadfast.

A young man climbing the mountain, though slow, will still reach the summit.

Flowing water does not compete for the lead—it competes in ceaseless flow!

Lu Yu slowly opened his eyes; the crimson warmth on his hands faded, and the red mole on his brow grew more distinct.

Lu Yu smiled at you, his smile sincere!

Lu Yu's pure heart found joy whenever his martial arts advanced.

You rejoiced for him!

Facing the "Fire of Heaven Hand," you decided…

The light screen above the great tripod slowly halted.

Yu Ke saw this!

(End of Chapter)