Narration System for the Journey of Martial Arts

Page 175

"Unfortunately, neither Fang Daoyuan nor anyone else believed it," Su Yuchen added.

Xu Xingzhi gave a bitter laugh:

“Now, almost all the powerful members of the Fang clan in Jingling City are infatuated with that woman. Their destruction is imminent.”

"Since Master Shi knows this person, could you please tell me who this woman is?"

Su Yuchen nodded: "Have you ever heard of the Yin Kui Sect?"

P.S.: I can't guarantee I'll be off work during the Chinese New Year, but I guarantee I won't be off work during the Chinese New Year.

Chapter 369 The Strange Man of Jingling 2

"The Yin Kui Sect of the two paths and six factions of the Demonic Sect?" Xu Xingzhi was surprised, with six parts realization and three parts fear.

Seeing Xu Xingzhi's expression, Su Yuchen wasn't surprised that he knew about the Yin Kui Sect, and nodded, saying: ...

"This woman's name is Wanwan, and she is the current Holy Maiden of the Yin Kui Sect."

"Although I have never seen her, it is said that her 'Heavenly Demon Technique' has reached the seventeenth level, and her power is infinitely close to that of 'Empress Yin' Zhu Yuyan. She is also the most promising person in the Yin Kui Sect to master the eighteenth level of the 'Heavenly Demon Technique'."

“With such a person, Fang Daoyuan’s defeat was not unjust,” Xu Xingzhi sighed.

Then he changed the subject, saying, "Although I don't know why she infiltrated the Duba Manor in Jingling, I'm afraid her goal will be difficult to achieve."

"If Du Fuwei doesn't want to sit and wait for death, he urgently needs to bypass Yangzhou. His next target is likely to be Jingling. If the Demonic Sect wants to occupy Jingling, then they will have to confront the Jianghuai Army directly."

"The same applies to the other side. If the Demonic Sect wants to use its power to dominate the manor to fight against the Jianghuai Army, Jingling's strength will also make it difficult to succeed."

"At this moment, the only ones most capable of curbing the development of the Jianghuai Army are Shi Shi and the Song Clan. Is Shi Shi's trip here with the intention of consolidating the forces in Yangzhou?"

Su Yuchen shook his head and said, "No rush! I want you to meet Song Shidao first. As the saying goes, a ruler chooses his ministers, and a minister chooses his lord. If you, Mr. Xu, feel that this person is not worthy of your assistance, I am willing to let you leave, or you can live in seclusion in Yangzhou."

"If you find it acceptable, then leave all matters in Yangzhou to you. I am truly impatient with these mundane affairs. They are utterly boring."

Xu Xingzhi asked curiously, "Master Shi doesn't think highly of Master Song?"

Su Yuchen shook his head:

“You’ll be working with him from now on, so of course I’ll show you.”

"In my opinion, he is gentle on the outside but firm on the inside, and his temperament is not bad. He is the most promising person to end this chaotic world, and even if he becomes emperor in the future, he will not massacre his meritorious officials. Would you like to meet Xingzhi?"

Xu Xingzhi stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "How dare I disobey!"

………………

As dusk fell, Su Yuchen and Xu Xingzhi left the Xinghua Restaurant. They hadn't gone far when they saw a group of soldiers escorting a carriage toward the City Lord's Mansion on the main road.

Su Yuchen didn't care at first, but as the car moved, the curtain on the window was rolled up by a breeze, revealing a face that was as innocent as a young girl, yet with a bewitching and enchanting look in her eyes, like an elf in the dark, attracting more and more attention.

As the carriage curtain slid down, the woman glanced over unintentionally, and for a moment her eyes met Su Yuchen's. She looked like a startled fawn, exceptionally pitiful.

【You met Wanwan】

In the instant your eyes met, she sensed no infatuation, fear, or surprise in your gaze; instead, she felt as if she had fallen into a bottomless, icy pool.

She's already planning to visit you tonight.

Xu Xingzhi glanced at the procession and already knew who was sitting in the carriage. Seeing that Su Yuchen was interested, he introduced, "This person is Dang Daogong, the head steward of Fang Zetao's mansion, and a member of the Fang clan. He is probably escorting that demoness back from sightseeing outside the city."

Su Yuchen shook his head. He had originally planned to rest at an inn in the city for the night, but now he didn't want to cause any more trouble. He changed the subject and said, "I'll stay at Mr. Xu's residence for the night."

………………

Shortly after the two had gone, on a carriage that had passed them, the bright and alluring woman coughed up a mouthful of blood, a blush flashing across her face as she seemed lost in thought.

"Does Steward Fang remember that scholar and Taoist priest by the roadside just now?"

Hearing the voice coming from the carriage, Fang Daogong's eyes flashed with a mixture of heat and pity. Without hesitation, he replied, "I don't know that Taoist priest. But that scholar is General Fang's clerk. He often comes to the manor to deliver documents and letters. I've seen him a few times."

"Steward Fang is able to assist the city lord in managing the vast Jingling City. He is indeed learned and knowledgeable, able to remember even a small document."

Hearing the praise from inside the carriage, Fang Daogong was overjoyed and continued to show off. In no time, he had recounted the entire story of Xu Xingzhi.

Wanwan's eyes flashed with mockery as she rode in the carriage. By this time, the carriage had arrived outside the city lord's mansion. Fang Daogong regained his composure and waved for the guards accompanying him to disperse.

Just before entering the door, Wanwan clenched her right hand, and the blood-stained bright red handkerchief was twisted into shreds by her true energy. She casually tossed the shreds out of the car window, where they were blown away by the wind and disappeared into who knows where.

………………

Jingling in the dead of night.

"Is Master Shi waiting for that demoness?" Xu Xingzhi brought over a cup of hot tea and sat down next to Su Yuchen.

This is a small courtyard with three main rooms and six side rooms on the left and right. Though small, it has everything you need. There are also two osmanthus trees planted in the courtyard, which look quite charming under the moonlight.

"Oh? Mr. Xu guessed it?" Su Yuchen said nonchalantly. His gaze fell on the book in his hand, "The Vast Heavenly Gang Technique," which was the martial arts path that Su Yuchen had asked Xu Xingzhi to cultivate.

You have obtained one-third of the complete "Haoran Tiangang Manual".

[The vast and righteous spirit of the heavens, supremely strong and boundless, embodies a heart of righteousness, and its power is naturally formidable.]

This technique was the orthodox Confucian practice during the Hundred Schools of Thought period, but it was lost during the chaos of wars between the various schools of thought. The Confucian practices we know today are all derived from later developments.

Seeing that Su Yuchen didn't seem to care about the demoness, Xu Xingzhi changed the subject and brought up the secret manual Su Yuchen was holding...

"I don't actually know who passed this manual down to me. It was just by chance that I found it on the stone wall of a cave. At that time, the stone wall was severely weathered, and much of the text had fallen off. All that could be pieced together was this half of the book."

"Is Master Shi interested in this? If so, Xingzhi can take Master Shi to see it when we detour."

Su Yuchen shook his head and said...

"If it were the complete text, I might be interested in reading it, but there's no need for the fragments. This martial arts manual has an extremely high ceiling, with the mind and qi in harmony, already reaching the realm of innate true qi. If you could obtain the complete text, Mr. Xu might be able to glimpse the realm of a grandmaster."

"However, Mr. Xu's ability to achieve consistency between words and deeds and become a first-rate person in his time based on the fragments is still beyond my expectations."

"In the past, by chance, I received part of the true teachings of a martial arts master. His philosophy combined Confucianism, Taoism, and the influence of chivalrous thought, which is quite similar to this martial art."

"Once I've sorted it out, I'll send it to Mr. Yu. Consider it a reward for Mr. Xu's willingness to come out of seclusion. This is all the martial arts I can offer."

Hearing Su Yuchen's self-deprecation, Xu Xingzhi smiled but remained silent. Through their long interactions, he had come to understand that this Daoist master possessed a heart for helping the needy and compassion for the world, but he was more like the lofty and unchanging Heavenly Dao, timeless and impervious to change.

"Alright, here she is! I thought she would continue to hide."

Chapter 370 Wanwan Spying

As soon as Su Yuchen finished speaking, Xu Xingzhi's vision blurred, and the space in the courtyard seemed to turn into a concave-convex mirror, as if the shattered space made him feel so uncomfortable that he wanted to vomit blood.

Before Xu Xingzhi could react, a figure as elfin as an elf shot down from the night sky and pounced on the two people in the courtyard.

His aura arrived before he did.

The figure flicked its right hand, and a ribbon spun like a wheel on its wrist, leaving afterimages as it swept in. A strange suction force, like a twisted abyss, sucked up all the air in the courtyard, making it hard to breathe.

"Heavenly Demon Art!"

A name he had only heard of in rumors instantly flashed into Xu Xingzhi's mind.

Just as Xu Xingzhi was struggling to defend himself, a wisp of Su Yuchen's hair swayed slightly in the moonlight, and the three-foot space around Xu Xingzhi instantly returned to normal. Without any visible movement from Xu Xingzhi, he disappeared and reappeared in front of Wanwan.

With a slap of his right hand, a surge of supremely powerful true energy, strong and righteous, aimed directly at Wanwan, repelling all evil spirits and demons.

Wanwan, suspended in mid-air, let out a charming laugh, a blend of childlike innocence and succubus allure. An indescribable, strange feeling echoed in the courtyard, making one feel a pang of pity: "Master Xu, with your martial arts skills, you show me no mercy, yet it makes my heart shed tears!"

Seeing that Xu Xingzhi's expression remained unchanged and the true energy in his palm showed no sign of wavering, Wanwan sighed softly, "Mr. Xu is so heartless, but Wanwan can't help but want to kill him."

As she spoke, Wanwan's falling figure suddenly paused, no longer descending, but instead rising into the air. This was precisely when Xu Xingzhi's palm power was exhausted.

Before Xu Xingzhi could react, Wanwan lunged down again, a strange suction force devouring all of Xu Xingzhi's palm strike. The ribbons, like the Grim Reaper's lasso, coiled around Xu Xingzhi. At the same time, she split into three, flanking Xu Xingzhi from the left, right, and front, three palms appearing out of thin air and striking towards Xu Xingzhi's chest.

For the first time, Xu Xingzhi gained an understanding of the Heavenly Demon Art. After only one exchange, he felt like prey caught in a spider's web. The more he struggled, the stronger the strange suction became, and he was just waiting for the executioner's blade to fall.

Before Wanwan could even rejoice, her prey vanished from the net in a flash. Without hesitation, she moved swiftly, and a dozen figures seemed to appear in the air, rushing off in all directions.

Just as Wanwan exhaled, her face turned extremely ugly, because when she landed, she not only failed to leave the courtyard as she had expected, but instead stood strangely by the stone table in the courtyard.

The prey from before was sitting perfectly still beside the stone table, seemingly unmoved. Looking at the Taoist priest who hadn't even glanced at her, Wanwan uttered each word clearly: "Heavenly Demon Art!!!"

Su Yuchen finally looked up at her, his clear eyes devoid of any emotion, as if he were commenting on a trivial matter...

"You just used three martial arts techniques in succession: the Heavenly Demon Great Art, the Heavenly Demon Sound, and the Heavenly Demon Wonderful Dance. It was good for trapping the enemy, confusing the enemy, and escaping, but unfortunately there were still flaws."

"There are still problems with the connection between your martial arts techniques, you should...; and the circulation of your internal energy is not smooth enough, you should..."

"Your Heavenly Demon Force Field is probably passed down from the Yin-Yang School, but it is biased, only having an attraction and repulsion force field. If you want to advance to the eighteenth level, in addition to fully understanding what I have said, you also need to integrate your stance into your every word and action."

"If you can use the illusionary power of the Heavenly Demon Sound fused with the Heavenly Demon Force Field to change a person's sense of space and time through their five senses, then you can be considered to have achieved minor success. If you want to achieve major success, you need to do what I just did, to subtly change a person's sense of space and time from the depths of their heart."

"I've heard that your Heavenly Demon Technique is no less powerful than Zhu Yuyan's. If this is all the skill you and your master possess, then I'm truly disappointed."

Wanwan's expression changed, and she seemed like an obedient child, her tone carrying a hint of innocence: "So you are a senior from the Holy Sect. I don't know how to address you, senior? Is there something you need me to do for you in Jingling?"

Su Yuchen glanced at her, and Wanwan felt as if the blood in her body was about to freeze, sensing a pressure emanating from a higher level.

"Stop testing me. I am not a member of the Demonic Sect, and the only thing in the Demonic Sect that still interests me is the 'Great Demon Seed of the Dao Heart'. Don't bother showing off your Heavenly Demon Great Art; it's utterly unoriginal."

"Times have changed, and the Taoist school has long since incorporated the ideas of the Yin-Yang school. The so-called Yin-Yang is nothing more than a part of Taoist thought."

"Sigh! I didn't expect that since Cang Qu created 'The Heavenly Demon Strategy', you people have only been stuck in your ways and have never been innovative."

Wanwan stood to the side, like a scolded child, her words tinged with grievance: "Even Master has not mastered the highest level of the Heavenly Demon Technique. Everything needs to be explored by Wanwan herself. No one has ever explained the Heavenly Demon Technique as clearly as you, senior."

Su Yuchen couldn't help but sigh. This woman had already integrated the ever-changing allure of the Heavenly Demon into her life. Every word, action, frown, and smile was imbued with the nature of the Heavenly Demon, making her a promising candidate for cultivating the demonic path.

Shi Qingxuan was merely using sound to approach the Dao; she was still the only 'pathfinder' to have entered the demonic path.

“Since I entered this world, there have been quite a few people whose talent and ability are no less than yours. Apart from the two hooligans from Yangzhou, there is Mr. Xu, Shi Qingxuan, and you, Wanwan.”

"But in terms of cultivation level, apart from Shi Qingxuan, Wanwan, your cultivation level is the highest. There are very few people in this world who can practice their own path like you. I will not kill you today."

As soon as she finished speaking, Wanwan felt a surge of secret joy, as if she had been reborn. The death wish that had been weighing on her heart vanished without a trace.

With the gloom dissipating, Wanwan's previously stagnant mind became active again. She quickly extracted the key points she wanted from the words and immediately became even more respectful...

"It turns out to be Master Shi in person, but Wanwan is too blind to recognize him."

"Since Master Shi took Shi Qingxuan away from Wang Tong’s residence, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling have become famous throughout the land. It is said that the two of them were taught by Master Shi in Yangzhou and have already learned the Longevity Formula, which no one has ever mastered before."

"Some time ago, Martial Venerable Bi Xuan also sent people into the Central Plains, wanting to borrow the 'Longevity Manual' to take a look; even 'Sanren' Ning Daoqi was curious."

Su Yuchen shook his head and said:

"The Longevity Manual is a Taoist practiced by Guang Chengzi. It is purely Taoist and requires one to unite with the Tao. It can only be done through great opportunity."

"Anyone else who tries to uncover the secrets of the Longevity Manual is only courting death. Even Ning Daoqi's intentions are impure, and he is no longer destined for the Dao."

Hearing Su Yuchen say this, Wanwan and Xu Xingzhi were also very curious, wondering what the secrets of the "Longevity Manual" were. After the deeds of Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were revealed, cultivators all over the world became even more eager to learn about the "Longevity Manual".

Su Yuchen, however, didn't care about these things. He knew he would inevitably encounter a fellow practitioner who could put their principles into practice, so he couldn't help but offer some advice:

"If you can integrate and understand my thoughts, it won't be difficult for you to reach the eighteenth level of the Heavenly Demon Technique, a level that even Zhu Yuyan has not been able to achieve."

"However, it is not difficult to step into the Grandmaster realm through this, but it is not enough if you want to explore a further realm. Although the Heavenly Demon Great Art has a far-reaching purpose, its level is not high."

"A higher realm? Is it the realm of a Stone Master?" Wanwan asked.

Upon hearing this, even Xu Xingzhi was startled and wanted to hear what this number one person in the world had to say.

Chapter 371 The Secret of Cultivation

Su Yuchen didn't mind giving her pointers, and said frankly:

"The realm above Grandmaster has already been recorded by Cang Qu in his 'Records of Demonic Thoughts'. In his words, it is called 'Demonic Embryo'."

"Upon reaching Cihang Jingzhai, it is called 'Immortal Embryo'. In my words, it is refining Qi into spirit and cultivating divine consciousness."

"The wonder of divine sense is that it can be in harmony with heaven and earth at all times. Most importantly, it can make up for the shortcomings of one's own cultivation techniques, thereby continuously improving oneself in order to achieve the next step of 'shattering the void'."

"As for the realms beyond 'shattering the void,' they are beyond your comprehension. Even if I explained them, you wouldn't understand."

Upon hearing the secrets of cultivation realms for the first time, Xu Xingzhi and Wanwan were greatly impressed and silently memorized these words.

………………

You constantly refine the primordial energy of heaven and earth, breaking through the three-hundred-year barrier in true qi.

[You have become one with heaven and earth. You have successfully planted the seeds of the Five Elements in your five internal organs. The divine light of the Five Elements has begun to condense initially. It will take 1,500 years of true qi to achieve minor success.]

The narration system suddenly spoke.

As Su Yuchen's primordial spirit stirred, he felt a seed, seemingly illusory, fall into his five internal organs, connecting with them. Instantly, the primordial energy of heaven and earth surged down, like a whale swallowing its prey, forming a funnel of true energy above his head. The clouds and mist in the surrounding dozens of miles dissipated, revealing a clear sky.