241 - Made-Up Martial Arts, Have You Really Mastered Them, Disciple?

### Chapter 241: Greater Beast vs. Spiritual Beast, Assessing the Spoils "Is this what they call a Spiritual Beast?" The group was deeply curious about the Spiritual Beast, scrutinizing Yu Xiaolong with keen interest. Red Cat, filled with even more curiosity, leaned in closer with wide eyes. Perhaps having long pretended to be a cat, he had naturally adopted a feline curiosity and some of its traits. He couldn't help but raise a paw and pat Yu Xiaolong's head. Yu Xiaolong was utterly bewildered. How audacious could this cat's paw be? Instantly, Yu Xiaolong's body enlarged, sticking out his tongue, and glaring at Red Cat, he said, "You cat, get out of my sight!" Red Cat's eyes widened in shock—this snake could speak? He started writing on the ground with his paw, "Even a dumb snake can talk?" Yu Xiaolong was somewhat taken aback; although he could speak human language, his literacy was limited... Red Cat immediately displayed a look of disdain, writing on the ground, "So, it's an illiterate snake who can't even read!" "Illiterate?" Yu Xiaolong knew these characters. He raised his head to ask Xu Yan, "Is it insulting me?" Everyone, including Xu Yan, was watching with amusement, secretly hoping for the tiger and the snake to go at it. They wanted to see whether the fourth-tier Spiritual Beast, Yu Xiaolong, was stronger, or if the newly-formed Greater Beast, Red Cat, was more powerful. "You could say that," Xu Yan nodded. "Get out of my sight!" Yu Xiaolong was infuriated. With a swoosh of his tail, he swept Red Cat off balance. Caught off guard, Red Cat was enraged, pouncing forward and launching a rapid series of swipes that were so fast only the afterimages of his paws could be seen. Yu Xiaolong was struck a few times and was utterly dumbfounded. Li Xuan watched with a chuckle, as if observing a cat catching a snake. Red Cat was nimble and fast, batting at Yu Xiaolong several times like a cat toying with a snake. "Pesky cat, you've gone too far!" Yu Xiaolong was fuming. Since Xu Yan and the others weren't stopping the fight, they surely wanted to witness his capabilities, right? Red Cat, was it? Even if he's some sort of Greater Beast, a cat shouldn't dare challenge him! Yu Xiaolong possessed the bloodline of a flood dragon! One day, he would transform into a flood dragon, further evolving into a true dragon! Whoosh! With a burst of Spiritual Beast aura, Yu Xiaolong instantly returned to his true form, transforming into a massive serpent over ten zhang long. He raised his head high, sticking out his tongue, looking down at Red Cat. At this moment, Red Cat seemed utterly insignificant beneath Yu Xiaolong's enormous body, easily swallowable in one gulp. Red Cat let out a roar of defiance. With a thunderous sound, a massive striped tiger appeared, body massive as a small mountain, even larger than Yu Xiaolong with his head raised. The power of the Greater Beast was clear, its overwhelming presence as the king of beasts unveiled. Its tiger eyes looked down upon the towering Yu Xiaolong. Yu Xiaolong was stunned, turning to Xu Yan with a confused expression, "Isn't it a cat?" "Well, you could say that," Xu Yan contemplated. Red Cat was usually just a cat; just moments ago, he had been brought over by his mother by the tail. So, indeed, Red Cat was a cat—albeit a very sensible one, knowing how to please people. Otherwise, given his Greater Beast form, Xu Yan's mother, with her lesser strength, wouldn't have been able to lift him. Red Cat was being considerate by allowing himself to be carried. Whack! Red Cat made his move. Yu Xiaolong wasn't to be outdone, turning into a flash of light and disappearing from his original spot, swiftly attacking Red Cat. Yu Xiaolong, after all, was known for his speed. However, Red Cat's agility and speed were astonishing, revealing his prowess as a Greater Beast for the first time. Opening his mouth, he roared a surge of demonic energy, forcing Yu Xiaolong to hurriedly dodge. The snake and the tiger took to the sky, battling over Canglan Island. Red Cat, newly transformed into a Greater Beast, found his strength increasing daily, especially his incredibly robust beast body. Although not as formidable as Meng Chong's Great Sun Immortal Golden Body, it wasn't far behind. In the sky, demonic energies surged, demonic forces roiled. Red Cat swung his paw, launching demonic claw prints, his movements fluid and nimble, at times spitting demonic energy from his mouth. A gust of wind surrounded him, allowing him to seemingly ride the wind. His tail lashed out like a steel whip, catching Yu Xiaolong off guard, extending suddenly to a hundred zhang, smacking the incoming Yu Xiaolong forcefully away. This was a contest between Spiritual Beast and Greater Beast. Li Xuan watched intently, joined by Xu Yan and the others. Yu Xiaolong's attacks seemed somewhat simplistic—his tail couldn't outmatch Red Cat, and his rapid, sword-like strikes failed to gain an advantage. Red Cat's robust physical form rendered Yu Xiaolong unable to deliver a decisive blow. Red Cat launched claw imprints with his paws, deftly maneuvering through the air with an unexpectedly strategic form. Even in mid-swipe, elements of martial arts could be seen in his movements. Under Martial Divine Intent, both Li Xuan and Xu Yan noticed that within Red Cat's body, several acupoints were accumulating demonic might, ready to be unleashed—Red Cat's Great Beast killing technique. This technique evolved from Red Cat's pre-Greater Beast hunting methods as the king of tigers, ascended to a Greater Beast extermination technique. Just as Yu Xiaolong's body swelled again, glowing with a crystalline light, the bulge on his head glowing with sharp brilliance. Red Cat let out a low growl. The striped tiger body surged with a red glow. It crouched slightly before suddenly pouncing forward. Yu Xiaolong's head gleamed with a cutting light. Suddenly, before Red Cat's attack, a fierce tiger apparition appeared. The apparition's paws struck down with a bang, clashing with the brilliance Yu Xiaolong emitted. Both attacks burst apart simultaneously. Yet, Red Cat's true form, concealed by the tiger apparition, had already circled to Yu Xiaolong's side. A massive claw imprint sent the unprepared Yu Xiaolong flying. Roar! Red Cat opened his mouth, unleashing destructive demonic energy, hurling Yu Xiaolong straight into the Cangjiang River. The victor was clear! Red Cat returned triumphantly, proud of not disgracing Canglan Island. "Red Cat's strength has grown so much, hasn't it?" Su Lingxiu remarked in amazement. While her strength still surpassed Red Cat's, subduing him was becoming more challenging. Shier felt increasingly downtrodden as well—how could he ever catch up to Red Cat, no matter how hard he tried? He would have to curry favor with Red Cat, otherwise, things would be tough. "In terms of realm, shouldn't Red Cat be lower than that snake?" Xu Yan mused. Li Xuan nodded. Red Cat, being in the Tongxuan Realm, constantly consumed Dan pills. As a Greater Beast, he had started with discarded pills, making Dan pill consumption his fast-track to advancement. It wouldn’t cause indigestion from overconsumption of Dan pills. The Greater Beast's unique method lies in unlocking acupoints to undergo transformations. Even within these acupoints, special Greater Beast techniques are contained. As the first Greater Beast, Red Cat held a unique fortune, enhancing his power naturally. Defeating Yu Xiaolong wasn't unexpected. Yu Xiaolong's attack methods, tied to his status as a Spiritual Beast, were relatively simple, whereas Red Cat employed a wider range of Greater Beast techniques. He even incorporated martial arts within his dual paw strikes. Yu Xiaolong, having flown back from the Cangjiang, had shrunk back in size. He looked at Red Cat incredulously—how could he, a proud creature, not outmatch this fat cat? Moreover, this fat cat's techniques bore traces of martial arts. Was this the so-called Greater Beast technique Xu Yan mentioned? The skirmish between Red Cat and Yu Xiaolong was just a bout of playful rivalry. Following their fun, Xu Yan began unloading the storage pouches he'd brought back. After pilfering the Dai family's treasury, he still hadn't accounted for everything. Xu Yan started recounting his adventures in the Spiritual Domain. Particularly the Azure Heaven Flood Dragon's tomb, casually releasing the Flood Dragon's massive corpse which shocked everyone. Regarding being hunted by the Yu Shenzong and Su family, Xu Yan kept silent due to his parent's presence, not wishing to worry them. Instead, he told of looting the Dai family treasury. "Younger Brother and Sister, you shouldn't lack spiritual resources to substantiate your foundations anymore." Xu Yan divided the spoils from the Dai family treasury's storage pouches, and everyone eagerly began tallying their bounty. "These are spiritual herbs, first-grade spiritual herbs!" "So many second-grade spiritual herbs?" "Is this a spiritual artifact from the Spiritual Domain?" Indeed, a family's treasury didn't disappoint—not short on first-grade spiritual herbs, and fifth or sixth-grade herbs were countless. "Master, this is spiritual tea from the Spiritual Domain. Please try some." While assessing the Dai family's treasures, they found a large jar of spiritual tea, evidently not ordinary. At least of third-grade quality. "Not bad, not bad, well thought out!" Li Xuan said with a joyful smile. This adventure to the Spiritual Domain had yielded Xu Yan a massive bounty. With such riches, Meng Chong and Su Lingxiu no longer lacked foundational resources and could swiftly advance to the Divine Intent Realm. Xu Junhe and others, too, could achieve breakthroughs to the Tongxuan Realm with higher-grade Dan pill support. In the following days, Canglan Island buzzed with activity. Numerous spiritual herbs collected around Su Lingxiu for her to organize. With so many, it fell on her to manage their usage and effects. For Su Lingxiu, the majority of these spiritual herbs were unfamiliar. Thankfully, with her Marvelous Mind and Spirit Intent, she could discern the function and characteristics of each spiritual herb, meticulously documenting their uses. Moreover, she was able to concoct many potent Dan recipe combinations. For instance, pills necessary for restoring and enhancing Divine Intent in the Divine Intent Realm. **Terms Translated:** 1. 赤貓 (Red Cat): Direct translation. 'Red Cat' conveys the character being a feline and the original color descriptor. 2. 玉小龍 (Yu Xiaolong): Direct translation of the name without altering original phonetics. The name indicates the character's potential connection to dragons. 3. 沧澜岛 (Canglan Island): 'Canglan Island' preserves the phonetic essence and portrays a grand geographical presence. 4. 青天蛟 (Azure Heaven Flood Dragon): Preserves the majestic, ethereal aspect suggested by the original characters. 5. 青天蛟墓 (Azure Heaven Flood Dragon's tomb): Highlights the revered status of the resting place related to the Azure Heaven Flood Dragon. 6. 灵域 (Spiritual Domain): Captures the mystical and otherworldly aspect implied by the original characters. 7. 许神宗 (Yu Shenzong): Translated as 'Yu Shenzong,' maintaining the phonetics of the original name which may denote a religious sect or clan related to Xu Yan's adventures. 8. 素家 (Su family): Simple translation indicating the family name, with possible ties to the narrative context. 9. 储物袋 (Storage Pouch): Direct translation of 'Storage Pouch' implies a bag used for storage, fitting the context related to Xu Yan's looting and gathering. 10. 一品灵药 (First-Grade Spiritual Herb): Translation conveys the rank and quality associated with cultivation context. 11. 灵茶 (Spiritual Tea): Retains the mystic, beneficial characteristic implied by its original context. **Note:** The translations revolve around preserving character essence, cultural nuances, and contextual meanings while ensuring readability and engagement in English. ### Chapter 241: Organizing Spiritual Herbs, Refinement Through Joy Su Lingxiu took delight in the busy task of organizing spiritual herbs, finding joy in the hustle. After Xu Yan reunited with his parents, he, along with his disciples, stood atop the mountain peak of Canglan Island. It was then that Xu Yan recounted his entire journey through the Spiritual Domain, including the pursuits by Yu Shenzong and the Su family. "Yu Shenzong and the Su family, they are truly audacious. When we venture into the Spiritual Domain, we'll settle the score," Meng Chong exclaimed with frustration. "So, the Spiritual Domain is so rigid in its hierarchy, with Spiritual Sect families holding such high positions," Su Lingxiu remarked with a sigh. The plan to establish the Evergreen Pavilion in the Spiritual Domain would have to be delayed; otherwise, it would attract covetous glances from Spiritual Sects and families, and potentially draw the attention of transcendent Spiritual Sects. "Every martial artist at the pinnacle of their path has ascended by stepping on countless others, whether in the Inner Domain or the Spiritual Domain, ultimately the strong are revered. It's just that the Spiritual Domain's hierarchy is much more entrenched," Li Xuan stated calmly. Xu Yan and his peers nodded silently, acknowledging the truth in their master's words. In the Inner Domain, lower-tier martial artists faced their own harsh challenges. However, the Inner Domain did not reach the extremes of the Spiritual Domain, where hierarchy dictated so much. In the Inner Domain, as long as a solitary practitioner had enough strength, they could stand as equals with elites from powerful factions, with no distinction in status. Conversely, in the Spiritual Domain, even if one reached the level of a Refining Divine Heavenly Being, as long as they were a lone cultivator, they couldn't stand on equal footing with the Heavenly Beings from Spiritual Sect families and would still feel the condescension from these families. "Master, can Spiritual Beasts cultivate Greater Beast Martial Paths?" Xu Yan inquired. "Theoretically, they can," Li Xuan nodded. "That snake has some talent. If it cultivates the methods of the Greater Beasts and transforms into a flood dragon, it shouldn't be difficult. Whether it can become a true dragon depends on its own fortune." "Then let's allow it to settle for now and let it become familiar with Red Cat first before proceeding," Xu Yan agreed. Since Xu Yan decided so, Li Xuan refrained from using any beast techniques to pass on to Yu Xiaolong the martial ways of the Greater Beasts, leaving the snake to first adapt and settle. In the time that followed, Canglan Island remained as serene as ever. Xu Yan focused on consolidating his insights from his breakthrough, further enhancing his strength and reflecting on his experience battling a Refining Divine Heavenly Being. He also took the opportunity to guide Meng Chong and Su Lingxiu, advising them on how to transform and elevate themselves when breaking into the Divine Intent Realm—fulfilling his responsibilities as the senior disciple. During this period, Xu Yan occasionally guided Red Cat in its cultivation. The martial path of the Greater Beasts is still a martial path, and Xu Yan was a true pioneer in martial arts. With his exceptional talent and profound comprehension, after understanding the martial path of the Greater Beasts, he was naturally able to offer some guidance to Red Cat. As for Yu Xiaolong, he was still reeling from his defeat, coiled up somewhere deep in thought, questioning his existence. Observing Red Cat pondering over an array diagram, Xu Yan watched for a while, appearing thoughtful. "Have you discerned anything?" Li Xuan asked with some anticipation. His eldest disciple was unquestionably exceptional. Although his talent wasn't primarily in the arts of the Mysterious Martial Path, the Array Path, a subset of it, might yield insights. "I have some realizations that require time to mature into understanding," Xu Yan replied after thinking for a moment. Li Xuan nodded, asking nothing further. Since Xu Yan mentioned having inklings, allowing them time to mature would surely lead to fruitful insights. Meng Chong and Su Lingxiu also spent a few days delving into the array diagram. Whether or not they gained insights, they likely perceived something. Xu Yan was settling and refining his martial path. Although a significant distance remained before he could break through to the small completion of the Divine Intent Realm, his strength continued to grow daily. Both Meng Chong and Su Lingxiu were consolidating their foundations, and their strength was also on the rise. Even Red Cat was experiencing similar growth. One day, as Xu Yan ate with his mother, Red Cat was sprawled beside her like a fat orange cat, with an array diagram and some writing in front of him. Reflecting for a moment, Xu Yan spoke up, "Red Cat, trying to comprehend the array diagram this way is futile; you won't gain much insight, and your talent is limited in this aspect. "If you wish to achieve something, try inscribing the array diagram within one of your acupoints. If you succeed, you might grasp something." Red Cat was taken aback, lost in thought immediately. Xu Yan elaborated, "Of course, you don't need to recreate the entire array diagram in your acupoint. Follow your intuition, inscribing what you can, and ignore the patterns you can't. "After inscribing everything possible within your acupoint, take your time to connect them into a complete diagram." Red Cat, delighted by this suggestion, meowed twice in gratitude. Whether Red Cat could succeed depended entirely on his innate talent. Seeing as his mother had truly taken to treating Red Cat as a pet and that Red Cat was very affectionate towards her, Xu Yan offered more guidance. --- **Translated Terms Explanation:** 1. **沧江 (Cangjiang River):** Translated as 'Cangjiang River,' preserving the phonetic quality and implying a grand natural feature akin to a significant body of water in the narrative context. 2. **沧澜岛 (Canglan Island):** Retains the original phonetic essence, emphasizing its geographical significance within the story. 3. **灵宗 (Spiritual Sect):** Maintains the distinction and status of spiritual sects, aligning with mystical and elevated organizations. 4. **长青阁 (Evergreen Pavilion):** The translation conveys the notion of a structure or establishment (阁) with themes of longevity or prosperity (长青). 5. **奇门武道 (Mysterious Martial Path):** A genre of martial arts that focuses on unique or arcane techniques, distinct from traditional or orthodox martial paths. 6. **大妖武道 (Greater Beast Martial Path):** Translated to relay the idea of strengthening unique to powerful beasts, akin to martial arts but focusing on beasts' capabilities. These translations focus on maintaining not only linguistic integrity but also the cultural and contextual depth necessary for authentic storytelling.