Narration System for the Journey of Martial Arts

Page 24

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You have learned Tai Chi.

You have grasped Zhang Sanfeng's philosophy of Yin and Yang as the foundation, movement and stillness as the manifestation, and strength and gentleness as the application.

[You have grasped some of the wondrous uses of the Innate Skill: The Innate One absorbs the essence of the sun and moon, and gathers the life force of heaven and earth to strengthen the body and spirit.]

You have entered the stage of Qi Refining and Spirit Transformation. Your Golden Lock Illuminating Spirit Technique has reached the seventh level, strengthening your inner spirit.

When your mind, body, and energy enter a stage of simultaneous cultivation, you can absorb the essence of the sun and moon externally and strengthen your body internally.

[Your inner light grows stronger, and your sixth sense awakens. You will be able to sense, to some degree, any conspiracy or scheme against you that involves life or death.]

Don't ignore your intuition; it might be a warning sign from your inner light.

As Linghu Chong and the other two left, Yue Yuchen calmed his mind and began to reflect on what he had learned from Zhang Zhenren's handwriting, while system notifications continued to pop up.

As he entered a state of deep meditation, Yue Yuchen's inner light manifested in the void, resembling a round ball radiating a golden and warm, illusory sun.

At this moment, the external body reveals its feminine essence, carrying the illusory light of the mind, unaffected by the assimilation of heaven and earth.

Under the light of his heart, Yue Yuchen could feel the flow of qi and blood in his meridians and the pulsation of his internal organs.

At this moment, Yue Yuchen understood the meaning of "the microcosm within the human body".

As Yue Yuchen entered a deep state of tranquility, with each breath...

At noon, the sunlight streaming through the window seemed to flicker, as if breathing in sync with the sun.

As night fell, at midnight, as Yue Yuchen fell into a deep meditation, the moonlight that shone in seemed to dance with his breath.

Yue Yuchen silently cultivated himself, feeling the gifts that heaven and earth bestow upon him, and comprehending the synchronization between himself and heaven and earth, as time flowed by like water.

………………

Time flies like water, never ceasing day or night.

Yue Buqun and his wife personally went to Wudang Mountain and returned the "Tai Chi Classics" that had been stolen by the Demonic Sect years ago.

Master Chongxu of Wudang reciprocated, further easing tensions between the two branches of Taoism and indirectly helping Mount Hua fend off some of Shaolin's underhanded tactics.

As time passed, Dongfang Bubai reappeared in the martial arts world, single-handedly entering Shaolin Temple and stealing the "Damo Yijinjing" and some martial arts manuals from the Shaolin Sutra Pavilion.

As Dongfang Bubai made three entries and exits from Shaolin Temple, treating all the heroes of the world as nothing, Yue Yuchen's reputation grew ever stronger.

Although he was no longer active in the martial arts world, his legend was still widespread. He was the only opponent that Dongfang Bubai could acknowledge.

Unfortunately, this swordsman, recognized by the righteous sects as the greatest swordsman in the world, never appeared in the martial world again after the battle of Hengshan. Although everyone knew he was on Mount Hua.

Chapter 47 The Prince of Mouning 3

Inside the Sutra Pavilion.

Linghu Chong pushed a scripture in front of Yue Yuchen and clicked his tongue in admiration...

"This was just sent by Dongfang Bubai."

"Tsk, since she dared to storm Shaolin and steal this 'Yi Jin Jing', why did she give it to you?"

Yue Yuchen's expression remained unchanged. He glanced through the Yi Jin Jing (Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic) and said calmly, "Because she can't understand it!"

Upon hearing this, Linghu Chong's expression froze, and he said strangely...

"I remember you said that once you and Dongfang Bubai reach that level, there should be very few martial arts techniques that you can't understand!"

"Besides, if she can't understand it herself, why is she so sure you can? Isn't she afraid that you won't understand it either?"

"I really can't understand it either!" Yue Yuchen nodded, closed the scripture, and said...

"The bald monk is cunning. Most of the scriptures in this book are Buddhist coded language. Those who are not well-versed in Buddhism cannot understand them at all, let alone practice them."

"If one can understand it, then one must be a person with profound Buddhist knowledge. At that time, one will naturally convert to Buddhism, adding a master to Buddhism for no reason. Therefore, the intentions of these monks cannot be said to be anything but good."

"You said before that Dongfang Bubai entered Shaolin three times, probably hoping to find a way to decipher the code in the Shaolin Sutra Pavilion. Now it seems that she didn't find it."

"So, seeing that it was useless, she simply gave it to me. Firstly, to test whether I could decipher the scripture; secondly, to deepen the conflict between us and Shaolin."

"I'm afraid Shaolin already knows that this Yi Jin Jing is in my hands."

Linghu Chong clicked his tongue in admiration, clearly having thought of this as well. He raised the scripture and said...

"So we're just going to return it to Shaolin like this?"

"Those bald monks are shameless. Even if we don't pay them back, they'll still try to test our attitude, both openly and secretly!"

"To be honest, with you here, I'm not afraid they'll dare to steal from me, I'm just afraid they'll be disgusting."

………………

"Of course we can't just give it back to them like this," Yue Yuchen thought, listening to the system's notification in his mind...

You have obtained the "Damo Yijinjing" (易筋经), a revised version by later generations.

The original version of the *Damo Yijinjing* requires profound Buddhist cultivation and a certain state of mind. One must reach a state of mind that is "not on this shore, not on the other shore, not in between," and without any intention of cultivation before one can even begin to understand it.

This sutra was originally intended for Bodhidharma to protect the path, and it was an obstacle to the Buddha's practice of the Dharma. It was not something that was studied out of necessity.

The entry threshold for the *Damo Yijinjing* is too high, and few Shaolin monks have mastered it. Therefore, some Shaolin monks have removed parts of the original content, thus losing the marrow-cleansing effect of the *Yijing*, retaining only the methods for accumulating true qi and harmonizing all qi.

To study this sutra, one needs to decipher its hidden meanings and consult the sixth volume of the Lotus Sutra, the second volume of the Diamond Sutra, the first volume of the Avatamsaka Sutra, the third volume of the Heart Sutra, the second volume of the Surangama Sutra, and so on.

Yue Yuchen smiled; the system had indeed not disappointed him.

He looked at Linghu Chong and said...

"Since Dongfang Bubai trusts me so much, I certainly can't let her down. I'll give her a copy of the Yi Jin Jing."

"Go downstairs and bring up the sixth volume of the Lotus Sutra, the second volume of the Diamond Sutra, the first volume of the Avatamsaka Sutra, and so on."

"Hiss..." Linghu Chong was taken aback, then understood. "I'll go right away, I'll be right back."

Soon, stacks of scriptures were brought up, and Yue Yuchen pointed to the writing brush and ink on the table: "I will dictate, and you will write it down."

"Good!" Linghu Chong couldn't help but feel happy. He was obviously overjoyed to have cracked the fundamental Shaolin scriptures and recouped some of the interest.

While flipping through the "Damo Yijinjing" given to him by Dongfang Bubai, Yue Yuchen also followed the system prompts to peruse the Buddhist scriptures in his right hand...

"This sutra is divided into two parts: dynamic and static. It is necessary to practice both dynamic and static methods together."

"The first part of the meditation: focus your mind on the dantian, and unite your body and mind... Five points facing the sky, without losing or pushing... Empty and spirited at the top of the head, and sink your qi to the dantian."

"The second part of the exercise consists of twelve movements:"

Wei Tuo Offering the Pestle Posture: Hands clasped at chest level, breath calm and spirit collected... Toes gripping the ground, hands outstretched... Palms supporting the Heavenly Gate, eyes looking upwards, toes touching the ground, body upright, strength circulating through legs and ribs as if planted...

Star-Picking and Dipper-Changing Style: Hold one hand to the sky, palm over head, and gaze into the eyes from within the palm... Inhale through the nose and regulate your breath... Forcefully retract to the left and right sides.

……

Azure Dragon Probing Claw Style: Azure Dragon Probing Claw, the left side emerges from the right, the palm energy is even and solid.

Okay, that’s all.”

Yue Yuchen put the scripture aside, while Linghu Chong rubbed his wrist and silently looked at his handwritten manuscript of the Yi Jin Jing.

Suddenly, he frowned and said, "The Yi Jin Jing is said to be the foundation of Buddhism, but what I see is..."

"It doesn't seem as profound as you thought?" Yue Yuchen said with a smile.

Linghu Chong nodded, indicating that this was indeed the case.

Yue Yuchen explained...

"This is not the original version of the Yijinjing by Bodhidharma; it was modified later by Shaolin monks. The Yijinjing was originally a convenient method for Bodhidharma to change his tendons and marrow, and to protect the Tao and save people."

"But the required level of Buddhist understanding is extremely high, and very few people in Shaolin can even get started."

"This revised version by later generations only retains the original methods for accumulating true qi and harmonizing different types of true qi, but it lacks the most fundamental part of Yi Jin Xi Sui. What a pity!"

"However, you don't need such a high level of Buddhist cultivation. You can also practice the Yi Jin Jing in conjunction with the Zixia Manual."

"This revised version of the Yi Jin Jing has undergone numerous revisions and trials by senior members of the Shaolin Temple, and it has many unique features."

Linghu Chong picked up the manuscript and said, "Then I will make another copy later and have someone send it to Dongfang Bubai."

"Hmm..." Linghu Chong's eyes darted around. "I can send this scripture and the cracked version to Dongfang Bubai and see what Shaolin says!"

Yue Yuchen chuckled and said, "Aren't you afraid that Shaolin will cause you trouble?"

Linghu Chong laughed upon hearing this, "No one can prove that this scripture is in our hands. In any case, Dongfang Bubai certainly wouldn't mind leaving it at Blackwood Cliff."

Yue Yuchen told him to do as he pleased, so the fellow disciples skipped the matter and started talking about the Prince of Ning.

………………

At this point, Linghu Chong's expression became much more serious...

“We received information from within the court that not long ago, Imperial Censor Xiao Huai submitted a memorial exposing the crimes of Prince Ning.”

“It has been almost explicitly stated that: ‘Prince Ning has disregarded ancestral teachings, harbors treacherous intentions, and has recruited fugitives; his rebellious nature is already evident.’ Now, there is much discussion in the court and among the people, who all say: ‘If this is not addressed soon, the future troubles will be incalculable.’”

"The Emperor has issued a decree, dispatching Imperial Son-in-Law Cui Yuan, Imperial Censor Yan Yishou, and Eunuch Lai Yi to Jiangxi with the imperial edict to arrest the guards of Prince Ning and order them to return the government and civilian lands that have been seized."

"If Prince Ning does not wish to die, a rebellion is likely imminent."

Yue sighed and asked, "How are things going with Third Junior Brother and Junior Brother Lin?"

Linghu Chong said with great joy...

"Lin Zhennan was extremely cooperative. Under the guise of escorting goods through the镖局 (escort agency), my third junior brother has already amassed a large amount of grain and fodder for that Lord Wang in Jiangxi."

"I have selected two hundred of the most loyal and reliable disciples in the sect, some of whom have already infiltrated Nanchang City."

"At that time, with the help of both inside and outside forces, we can open the city gates and welcome Lord Wang into the city."

"Now that Junior Brother Lin and Junior Sister Zhou have completed the betrothal ceremony, they are just waiting for us to set off to escort them to the wedding."

"The roc rises with the wind, soaring straight up to the heavens!" Yue Yuchen stood up and said.

Chapter 48 The Prince of Mouning 4

In July of the fourteenth year of the Zhengde reign, Zhou Ruolan, a disciple of Ning Zhongze of the Huashan School, married Lin Pingzhi, the only son of the Lin family in Fuzhou.

Yue Buqun, the leader of the Huashan Sect, along with his two direct disciples Yue Yuchen and Linghu Chong, led more than thirty disciples to Fuzhou to escort the bride.

The martial arts world was in an uproar. Some people said that this Miss Zhou was the illegitimate daughter of a high-ranking official of the current dynasty, so the Huashan Sect had to take her seriously.

Some say that this Miss Zhou was the posthumous child of a former patriarch of Mount Hua, and because it was difficult to acknowledge her kinship, she was betrothed to one of his disciples.

However, fearing that it would bring up old grudges and conflicts, she married far away to Fuzhou, hoping to avoid seeing or worrying about the past.

Some people say that this Miss Zhou is bound by the marriage alliance between the Huashan Sect and the Fuwei Escort Agency. Once she marries, the Fuwei Escort Agency will be completely incorporated into the Huashan Sect.

Some say that the Huashan Sect's act of sending a bride was a ruse, and their true intention was to expand their influence throughout the southern coastal areas, marking the beginning of the Huashan Sect showing its true colors.

Amidst the various speculations, the disciples of the Huashan Sect had already escorted Miss Zhou on her journey. What attracted the most attention was that Yue Yuchen, known as the greatest swordsman in the world, was also among those accompanying her.

For a time, opinions were divided.

………………

In August, the Huashan Sect arrived in Fuzhou.

On the carriage, Yue Yuchen looked at the city gate of Fuzhou and couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. The past month had been anything but peaceful.

Various forces kept probing, from small bandits and road bullies along the way to medium-sized forces like the Songshan Sect who were still unwilling to give up; and also forces like Shaolin and Longhu Mountain were secretly watching.

Yue Yuchen used ruthless methods, killing many people to deter those restless forces, and then safely arrived in Fuzhou.

Whether facing a group attack or a one-on-one duel, this greatest swordsman in the world has never disappointed.

And Yue Yuchen's strength, after so long, was revealed to the world for the first time through the blood shed under his sword.

Despite any lingering hope, both the legitimate and illegitimate factions of the martial arts world have acknowledged his strength, making him a figure who coexists with Dongfang Bubai.

Some say that with his existence, the Huashan Sect will share the martial arts world equally with Blackwood Cliff within the next fifty years.

………………

August 15th, the fourteenth year of Zhengde.

Fuzhou, Fuwei Escort Agency.

This day was the wedding day of Lin Pingzhi, the only son of the Lin family, and a disciple of the Huashan Sect.