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

### Chapter 244: The Spiritual Domain Gate Opens, Jade Token Bearers May Enter In the palace of the State of Zheng (鄭國), the Monarch of Zheng led a group of strong royal members and several important ministers, kneeling on the ground. In front of them, two figures were seated on chairs. One was male, the other female. The man was fair-skinned with a long beard, dressed in a purple robe and exuding an air of authority without anger. The woman was a beautiful lady, attired in a light green gown, her hair styled in a bun. Her expression was indifferent, reserved in speech. "The Spiritual Domain Gate is to be opened. Convey the message to the Inner Domain—anyone possessing a Jade Token (玉令) may enter the Spiritual Domain, to join the Spiritual Sect or family to which their token is associated. The State of Zheng is responsible for escorting the token holders to their respective powers," the man instructed matter-of-factly. "Understood!" The monarch and his entourage were momentarily stunned. According to initial regulations, it was not yet the time to open the gate of the Spiritual Domain for the Jade Token holders to enter. Why was it moved forward? The Spiritual Domain Gate had already been opened. Thinking of this possibility, cold sweat appeared on the monarch's forehead as he knelt. "Reporting to the superior from the supreme sect, the Spiritual Domain Gate has indeed opened, and people from Mercury Palace have entered the Inner Domain." The man glanced at him indifferently and said, "Simply proceed according to protocol; no need to report." "Yes, my lord from the supreme sect!" The monarch of Zheng breathed a sigh of relief. Following protocol meant that the Spiritual Sects and martial families, who wished to open the Spiritual Domain Gate and enter the Inner Domain, could be permitted. The royal members of the State of Zheng bowed out, beginning to select personnel responsible for arranging the opening of the Spiritual Domain Gate and the escort tasks for the token holders entering. This is the first meaningful opening of the Spiritual Domain Gate in nearly ten thousand years, allowing Inner Domain token holders to enter, to join forces associated with the tokens. No mistakes could be allowed. The task of the Zheng royal family was straightforward; if anything went wrong, it would spell disaster for the State of Zheng. Of course, as long as they did their best, if someone was truly intent on attacking the Jade Token holders and the State of Zheng was unable to protect them, there would be no punishment. A supreme Spiritual Sect would naturally hold any attacker accountable. However, if the State of Zheng were negligent on purpose, it would be a grave offense! Naturally, according to previous regulations, significant token holders would naturally be escorted by the forces associated with the tokens, with no need for the State of Zheng to escort them. But now, the situation was different, and whether there were any token holders in the Inner Domain remained unknown. "Yarong, I didn’t expect for Tai-Miao Mountain to send you. Is Honored Master Xing doing well?" the man addressed the woman. "Thank you for your concern, Adjudicator Qing; Master is well!" Yarong spoke calmly. Qing King was a powerful figure in the royal family of the State of Great Zhou, who had risen over the past century. At over a hundred years old, he was already strong in the later stages of Refining Divine. Reaching the pinnacle of Refining Divine was all but certain for him. It seemed Xiang Qing had grown accustomed to Yarong's aloof demeanor and continued, "When Honored Master entered the Inner Domain in the past and slew the Blood Demon (血魔) Lord, was the Blood Demon completely destroyed?" "The Blood Demon is dead, buried by Master personally." "The Blood Demon is cunning, having faced disaster multiple times yet rising again. Though Honored Master is immensely powerful and the Blood Demon was weakened, between Honored Master and the Blood Demon..." "Shut up!" Yarong’s expression suddenly turned cold. Xiang Qing sighed, "There’s no need for anger. You should know that my grandfather, the previous Qing King, died at the hands of the Blood Demon within the Inner Domain. "My father was mediocre, unable to inherit the Qing King’s name. I struggled immensely to succeed the name; for me, the Blood Demon is a deep-seated enemy. "Though I trust Honored Master, the stealth of the Blood Demon is worrisome, most fear Honored Master might relent." Yarong looked at him coldly, "My Master long abandoned emotions, severed ties with the mundane, shattered obstructions, breaking the shackles..." Xiang Qing was startled, "Honored Master has already moved beyond this stage?" Yarong turned her head away, ignoring him. At the Spiritual Domain Gate, within the hall, two guardians were startled, hurriedly saluting, "Greetings, Majesty!" The Monarch of Zheng had come in person. Could it be confirmed that the youth was indeed the Blood Demon, and the majesty had come to press charges? For a moment, the two guardians were filled with terror. "Open the Spiritual Domain Gate, convey to the Inner Domain that Jade Token holders may enter the Spiritual Domain for a month," the Monarch of Zheng commanded solemnly. "Yes, Majesty!" The two guardians breathed a sigh of relief. Curious about why the opening was moved forward, the Spiritual Domain Gate was indeed opening completely. Following the Monarch of Zheng, an elder stepped into the Spiritual Domain Gate, entering the Inner Domain. ... Boom! In the land of Cangbei, beams of light illuminated, startling the powerful members of the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion (天寶閣). They all stood at the mountain peak, gazing at the location of the Spiritual Domain Gate. "Is this... a complete opening of the Spiritual Domain Gate?" the man with the purple crown uttered in shock. After a while, a massive gate emerged, waves rippling in the sky and earth. Rich spiritual energy gushed into the Inner Domain through the massive gate, instantly doubling the spiritual concentration within a hundred miles around the gate. Within a hundred-mile radius, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy (天地靈機) became even more active. An elder emerged from the Spiritual Domain Gate, frowning slightly at the thin spiritual energy of the Inner Domain. He looked up towards the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion. With a single step, he appeared at the mountain peak of the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion. The purple-crowned man's heart trembled, kneeling down immediately. "Greetings, Honored One!" The other powerful members of the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion quickly knelt, eager to bury their heads in the dirt, fearing the displeasure of the powerful figure behind the pavilion. The elder gazed at the purple-crowned man and said indifferently, "Relay to the Inner Domain that Jade Token holders may enter the Spiritual Domain for a month." "Yes, Honored One!" The purple-crowned man trembled internally, responding with reverence. Deeply shaken, he wondered why the Spiritual Domain Gate was suddenly opened for Jade Token holders? What is a Jade Token? At that moment, the purple-crowned man realized he might have missed crucial information. If he had held a Jade Token, would his circumstances have been different? After delivering his directive, the elder, disliking the meager spiritual energy of the Inner Domain, turned back into the Spiritual Domain Gate. Once the elder entered the gate, the purple-crowned man and his companions dared to stand, hastily sending transmissions across the Inner Domain through the pavilion's channels. As for the Jade Token, those who need to understand, will naturally understand, right? ... On Canglan Island (滄瀾島), Meng Chong was preparing to breakthrough. Outside the island, two figures floated in, both were stunningly beautiful women. "Young Master Xu (許公子)," Yun Miaomiao (云緲緲) smiled at Xu Yan. "Miss Yun, what brings you?" Xu Yan, as usual, was direct. "I, of course, have important matters to discuss." As Yun Miaomiao conversed with Xu Yan, the Wushuang Great Grandmaster (无雙大宗师) frequently glanced at Li Xuan, amazed at how youthful and handsome Xu Yan's master appeared. Li Xuan looked up, meeting the gaze of the now mature beauty. Were it not for his clear, undisturbed heart, even he might have been swayed by her allure. "Wushuang greets the respected elder," she quickly said. "Mm." Li Xuan nodded, shifting his gaze away. Wushuang charmingly approached, exuding an enchanting aura, asking respectfully, "Respected elder, I have a martial doubt. May I request your guidance?" Yun Miaomiao blushed with embarrassment, wondering what her mentor was up to. Was she attempting to charm Xu Yan's master? So disgraceful! "What is the important matter?" Xu Yan was unfazed by the Wushuang Great Grandmaster's antics; such charms were beneath his master's notice. Li Xuan did not pay Wushuang much attention but glanced slightly upward, noticing, whether intentionally or not, her half-exposed snow-white silhouette as she bent for advice. "The peaks are majestic, rounded like jade," he thought. His expression remained unaffected, serene, untainted by allure. He spoke calmly, "Charm can be considered a psychological tactic, disrupting one's mental state and will. Used wisely, it can be effective against enemies; misused, it can lead one astray." Wushuang blushed deeply, "Thank you for your advice, respected elder." However, she was thick-skinned and found Xu Yan's master intriguing, so she stayed close, pouring tea while respectfully asking, "As a master, may I ask you to provide further guidance." Yun Miaomiao glanced at her mentor, deciding to ignore her, thinking her mentor should understand the limits, right? Turning serious, she looked at Xu Yan, "The Spiritual Domain Gate is open." "The Spiritual Domain Gate has been open for a while, I'm aware." --- **New Terms Explanation:** 1. **Adjudicator Qing (青王):** A powerful figure in the State of Great Zhou's royal family. The term "King" or "Ruler" can be associated with "王," however, "Adjudicator" ensures a more unique and fitting translation within this narrative. 2. **Tai-Miao Mountain (太緲山):** A significant location possibly associated with a sect. Retained literal meaning to maintain the cultural nuance. 3. **Mercury Palace (水星宮):** An organization mentioned that has entered the Inner Domain. Translated directly to preserve name association with planets. 4. **Honored One (尊上):** Refers to a respected figure of authority, here translated as "Honored One" for its reverential connotation. 5. **Yarong (雅蓉):** The female elder from Tai-Miao Mountain, reflecting her elegance and connection to her esteemed master, with a literal name translation to preserve character nuances. 6. **Xiang Qing (項青):** A character referenced as the Qing King, retaining the name within the narrative for coherence. Xu Yan remained nonchalant. After all, he had already visited the Spiritual Domain once. "This time, it's fully opened, and messages have been sent across the Inner Domain. Anyone with a Jade Token can enter the Spiritual Domain for a month!" Yun Miaomiao said solemnly. "I see!" Xu Yan realized, thinking of Du Yuying. Since the Spiritual Domain Gate is open, Du Yuying should also enter the Spiritual Domain, right? "Miss Du holds the Tai-Miao Jade Token, and Tai-Miao Sect is one of the transcendent Spiritual Sects." During his time in the Spiritual Domain, Xu Yan had learned basic information about several of the transcendent Spiritual Sects. Tai-Miao Sect is one such sect. Du Yuying wields the Tai-Miao Jade Token and possesses heavenly lineage. Her lineage originates from a powerful figure in Tai-Miao Sect, so upon entering the Spiritual Domain, her status will not be low. "Miss Yun, are you in want of a Jade Token?" Xu Yan queried. Yun Miaomiao had once helped him refine his mindset. Since he had some Jade Tokens, he considered gifting her one as a gesture of gratitude for her past assistance. "I already have a Jade Token." Yun Miaomiao shook her head, with a hint of anticipation on her face. "Young Master Xu, are you going to enter the Spiritual Domain? Why not join me?" Xu Yan was about to politely refuse when two figures, Du Yuying and Cui'er, approached from outside the island. "Young Master Xu!" Du Yuying greeted with a bright smile. "Young Master Xu!" Cui'er, her face flushing, sweetly called out. Yun Miaomiao's brows furrowed slightly as she gazed at Du Yuying, surprised. In the time they hadn’t seen each other, Du Yuying's demeanor had transformed significantly—confident and radiant. "Miss Du, you’re here for the Spiritual Domain Gate as well?" Yun Miaomiao squinted her eyes. "Miss Yun, is that so?" Du Yuying replied gently with a smile. Xu Yan glanced at the two women, pondering, then said, "Both of you intend to enter the Spiritual Domain, where the hierarchy is strict. Though you both hold Jade Tokens, you're ultimately from the Inner Domain. If possible, assisting one another would help establish a foothold in the Spiritual Domain." Even though both women possess Jade Tokens, being from the Inner Domain could be a disadvantage. Even with a Tai-Miao Jade Token, Du Yuying might not face discrimination outside, but within Tai-Miao Sect, nothing is guaranteed. "You speak wisely, Young Master Xu!" Du Yuying heeded his words. Yun Miaomiao, having realized something, smiled as well, saying, "Miaomiao listens to Young Master Xu." Cui'er glared at Yun Miaomiao, evidently displeased. Having offered guidance to Wushuang, Li Xuan occasionally looked at the interactions between Xu Yan and the two women, reflecting proudly on his remarkable disciple. "Respected elder, what’s your opinion on the opening of the Spiritual Domain Gate, allowing entry to Jade Token bearers?" Wushuang inquired curiously. "Whether it’s the Inner Domain or the Spiritual Domain, they’re but mere corners of the world. I hold no opinion," Li Xuan stated calmly. Wushuang was taken aback. In the eyes of the revered elder, even the Spiritual Domain seemed to be a remote outpost. News of the Spiritual Domain Gate opening for Jade Token bearers had spread across the Great Wilderness, with various powers expressing curiosity about what these Jade Tokens entailed. Some entities were racking their brains, pursuing information about Jade Tokens. Those who possessed Jade Tokens, however, remained silent. Within the Great Wilderness Martial Academy, Bai Yunkong frowned. "The timing doesn’t match up, does it? Shouldn't it have been later?" Pang Yu mused. Bai Yunkong revealed three Jade Tokens in his hand. "Perhaps give them to Xu Yan and Meng Chong, and select another?" Pang Yu suggested after some consideration. "Xu Yan and Meng Chong probably don’t need these," Bai Yunkong sighed, ultimately stowing the Jade Tokens away. "The Seven Star Academy is in the past; the tokens are useless now. "Moreover, the state of the Spiritual Domain remains uncertain." Pang Yu fell silent. The status of the Seven Star Academy's counterpart in the Spiritual Domain, as well as the fate of the academy's ancestor, was still unknown. The last visitor hinted that the academy's associated forces in the Spiritual Domain were not faring well. "Xu Yan ventured into the Spiritual Domain. When will he return? Once he does, perhaps inquire if the academy's linked forces still exist?" Bai Yunkong pondered aloud. "Meng Chong is likely to head to the Spiritual Domain. Perhaps consult with him," Pang Yu proposed. "Very well." Bai Yunkong nodded, and the two set off to Canglan Island. In the land of Cangbei, martial artists began to gather, surging towards the Spiritual Domain Gate. Although they lacked Jade Tokens, entering the Spiritual Domain presented a significant opportunity. They had neither undertaken Great Wilderness Martial Dao nor were uncertain if it indeed promised a better future. Even if the Great Wilderness Martial Dao were superior, would training in the Spiritual Domain be more beneficial? "Do you have a Jade Token?" two guardians stationed at the Spiritual Domain Gate asked gravely as martial artists approached. "No, we don’t!" "Without a Jade Token, we’re denied entry?" Emboldened by their numbers, martial artists voiced their concerns. "Without a Jade Token, entry is forbidden!" Boom! The oppressive force of a Martial Heavenly Being erupted, intimidating the mass of martial artists. "Disperse! Should you convene to cause trouble again, you'll face death!" one guardian declared coldly. In an instant, those eager to enter the Spiritual Domain turned pale, feeling as if their spirits were being crushed by a massive mountain, rendering their bodies stiff. Is this the might of a Martial Heavenly Being? "The Spiritual Domain Gate has opened. I have no desire for mass slaughter, but persist in ignorance, and suffer my wrath!" warned a guardian icily. --- **New Terms Explanation:** 1. **Jade Token (玉令):** A significant item allowing entry into the Spiritual Domain. The term "Jade Token" captures both its cultural context and significance in the narrative as an entry pass. 2. **Tai-Miao Sect (太緲宗):** An esteemed sect among the transcendent Spiritual Sects. The name reflects its prominence and connection to the Spiritual Domain. 3. **Bai Yunkong (白雲空):** A character from the Great Wilderness Martial Academy, retaining a direct translation to honor the original cultural context. 4. **Pang Yu (龐餘):** Another character of relevance at the Great Wilderness Martial Academy, preserved in translation for name consistency. 5. **Great Wilderness Martial Academy (大荒武道學院):** An institution of martial learning within the narrative, its name conveys both its geographical and martial focus. These terms have been preserved in translation to maintain consistency with the world-building elements presented in the narrative.