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

Chapter 245: Meng Chong and Su Lingxiu Breakthrough At the gate of the Spiritual Domain (靈域), the faces of the gathered martial artists shifted between pale and green, filled with frustration and unwillingness, yet they were helpless. Some decided to turn around resolutely, planning to redirect their path towards the Great Wilderness Martial Path (大荒武道). Days passed, and the area before the Spiritual Domain gate was once again crowded with martial artists. After an attempt to force their way through, which ended in immediate annihilation, everyone realized that without a Jade Token (玉令), entering the Spiritual Domain was impossible, guaranteeing certain death. Within the Spiritual Domain, in the grand hall, the Emperor of Zheng (郑皇) and several high-ranking officials sat in command, overseeing the entry matters of the Spiritual Domain. However, several days had passed, and not a single person with a Jade Token had appeared. "Your Majesty, after the Blood Demon (血魔) incident, it's likely that there are no longer any Jade Token holders in the Inner Domain (內域), not to mention they might not even be aware of the Jade Token's existence," a high-ranking official stated solemnly. "Regardless of whether there are any Jade Token holders in the Inner Domain, we must adhere to the one-month timeframe without any lapses," the Emperor of Zheng declared with seriousness. The officials nodded in agreement, as these instructions came directly from their superiors and could not be overlooked. In front of the Spiritual Domain gate, a figure approached timidly. "Do you have a Jade Token?" the guard asked sternly. "Yes, yes!" the person hurriedly presented a jade plaque. The guard glanced at it, raising his eyebrows slightly, having never heard of the affiliated force, but confirmed the Jade Token was genuine, thus signaled for the person to enter. Relieved, the person stepped through the gate into the Spiritual Domain. Nearby, martial artists keeping an eye on the Spiritual Domain gate couldn't help but frown. Did the Inner Domain truly have Jade Token holders? A few days later, another person appeared at the gate. "Is that the Emperor of Purple Cloud (紫云皇)?" a strong observer exclaimed in surprise. With the collapse of the State of Purple Cloud (紫云国), the Emperor's whereabouts were unknown. Little did they expect him to have a Jade Token. The guard gave the Emperor of Purple Cloud a once-over, paying particular attention to the Jade Token in his hand, taken aback slightly. A Jade Token from the Su family? The Emperor of Purple Cloud was tense, having found the Jade Token at the site where a Young Lord Su was slain. It seemed to be a symbol of identity. With the gate of the Spiritual Domain open, he guessed this could indeed be a Jade Token. However, since he wasn’t of Su family descent, he worried he might be denied entry. "Go on," the guard, indifferent, waved the Emperor through. Considering his age, lack of strength, and potential in the Spiritual Domain, he would hardly rise above servitude, warranting no further notice. Even in the past, only those with remarkable talent were valued for possessing a Jade Token, while those with inferior qualifications were relegated to menial tasks upon entry. On Canglan Island (滄瀾島), Yun Miaomiao and Du Yuying, along with Zi Yun, got acquainted, all of them intending to enter the Spiritual Domain. They had already learned the general situation from Xu Yan. The Spiritual Domain is a place with strict hierarchies. Fortunately, each of the three women held a Jade Token from esteemed Spiritual Sects. Zi Yun’s token was the Green King's Jade Token of the Great Zhou State (大周国). Yun Miaomiao held the same type of Jade Token as Du Yuying, both belonging to the Tai-Miao Sect (太緲宗). Moreover, the Jade Tokens seemed to originate from the same person! Though the three women hoped Xu Yan and Meng Chong would join them in entering the Spiritual Domain, both refused, having never intended to use the Jade Tokens. "Little Sister Yun, your Jade Token might be a legacy from my ancestral grandmother," Du Yuying said with a bright smile, seemingly finding an edge over Yun Miaomiao. "Little Sister Yuying, I cultivate the mantra directly passed down from the ancestor, making me a part of the direct lineage," Yun Miaomiao countered, not yielding. "It doesn't matter who's the senior or junior disciple; when we get to the Tai-Miao Sect, we should support each other and uphold the reputation of the Great Wilderness," Du Yuying suggested softly after a moment. "Of course!" Yun Miaomiao nodded. The Inner Domain was history now; they were people of the Great Wilderness, which was closely linked with Xu Yan. With the portal to the Spiritual Domain open for a month, the three weren’t in a hurry to enter. Atop the mountain peak, Meng Chong was in the midst of a breakthrough, golden light swirling around him, his energy steadily rising. Li Xuan watched with anticipation; Meng Chong was finally breaking through. Perhaps soon, Meng Chong would achieve the second level of the Great Sun Immortal Golden Body (大日不灭金身). Boom! Suddenly, Meng Chong's body expanded into a three-zhang tall giant, glowing with golden light, resembling a mighty Vajra Arhat. His aura continued to grow stronger. Li Xuan sipped spirit tea, silently observing, eagerly awaiting Meng Chong's transformation post-breakthrough. "Your disciple Meng Chong has broken through to the Great Sun Immortal Golden Body, enabling your own mastery of the Great Sun Immortal Golden Body!" On the spirit stage, the Great Dao Golden Book (大道金書) opened, emanating golden light. Meng Chong had broken through. In that instant, Li Xuan felt his own power ascend with the perfected Immortal Golden Body. Boom! Meng Chong's form surged again to a six-zhang giant, enveloped in layers of golden armor. Immortal Divine Armor! "Your disciple Meng Chong transformed into Vajra Divine Bone, you have obtained the Innate Vajra Divine Bone!" Vajra Divine Bone! Meng Chong's transformation was complete. Li Xuan smiled. Soon after Meng Chong's breakthrough, Su Lingxiu began her own, transitioning to the Divine Intent Realm (神意境), having accumulated sufficient foundation. Su Lingxiu's breakthrough was not as overwhelming as Meng Chong's; it was subtle and nurturing, with the grass and trees around her flourishing as flowers bloomed brightly. "Your disciple Su Lingxiu has broken through to the Divine Intent Realm, your Dan Medical Martial Path reaches perfection in the Divine Intent Realm." The Dan Medical Martial Path (丹醫武道) advanced to completion in this realm. Li Xuan was eager to see if Su Lingxiu would also transform into a Divine Bone. With guidance from Xu Yan, she should have enough foundation to transform. "Your disciple Su Lingxiu transformed into Everlasting Verdant Divine Bone, you have inherited the Innate Everlasting Divine Bone!" At that moment, Li Xuan sensed boundless vitality; no matter the injury, recovery would be swift and complete. "Everlasting Verdant Divine Bone, limitless vitality!" Li Xuan marveled, realizing that despite her weaker combat ability, Su Lingxiu's longevity was unmatched. The three women, Du Yuying, Yun Miaomiao, and Zi Yun, looked at Meng Chong and Su Lingxiu’s breakthroughs, deeply shocked. Is this truly what the Great Wilderness Martial Path embodies? Truly powerful. For a moment, they considered switching to the Martial Path. However, their foundations in Martial Path were already set, and they were about to enter the Spiritual Domain—a more advanced world where altering their Martial Path was no longer feasible. "Senior, do I still have a chance to switch to the Martial Path?" Wushuang asked in awe. "The Martial Path is boundless. Be steadfast in your heart and will, and continue forward; the best path is the one that suits you," Li Xuan replied calmly. "Indeed, you are right, Senior!" Wushuang acknowledged respectfully. With Meng Chong and Su Lingxiu's breakthroughs complete, preparations to enter the Spiritual Domain began. Xu Yan made arrangements for the Great Wilderness's future endeavors within the Spiritual Domain. Bai Yunkong and Pang Yu arrived, astonished to find Xu Yan had returned. "Ten Thousand Stars Martial Academy?" Xu Yan wondered. "This academy, a Seven Star Academy belonging to the Spiritual Domain, was unknown to me in Yuzhou," he remarked, shaking his head. Bai Yunkong and Pang Yu sighed, suspecting the academy might already be lost to history. Few forces endure timelessly. "Have you heard of the Ten Thousand Stars Martial Academy?" Xu Yan asked, grabbing Yu Xiaolong to inquire. "Never heard of it!" Yu Xiaolong replied, shaking his head. "In that case, perhaps it truly has perished, making the Great Wilderness Martial Academy solely ours," Bai Yunkong reflected. Xu Yan surveyed Bai Yunkong and Pang Yu, both just short of transcending the threshold of martial divinity due to the limitations of the Inner Domain. Switching to the Great Wilderness Martial Path wasn't feasible for them either. After pondering, Xu Yan said, "Though you may not tread the Great Wilderness Martial Path, you can still forge a new path to break through to the Divine Intent Realm. Although less pure, you can still possess the strength akin to lesser heavenly beings." Bai Yunkong and Pang Yu were elated and asked, "How can we achieve this breakthrough?" With the dream of Martial Heavenly Beings unattainable, and no prospects in the Spiritual Domain, becoming servants was also out of the question given their age. Thus, staying in the Great Wilderness to teach and continue leading the Great Wilderness Martial Academy was their goal. "I'll give it some thought over the next few days," Xu Yan promised. Having recently broken through to the Divine Intent Realm and further to the Heart Sword Realm, he found mastery over the mysteries of forming divine intent, with martial insights far surpassing most. --- **New Terms:** 1. **灵域 (Spiritual Domain)** - Translated to maintain the mystic and esteemed setting of the realm, suggesting a place of high magical or spiritual significance. 2. **玉令 (Jade Token)** - Retained as Jade Token to preserve the cultural significance as a mystical or prestigious pass or object of power. 3. **郑皇 (Emperor of Zheng)** - Directly translated to highlight the character's official and significant role, maintaining the original intent of a ruler's title. 4. **大荒武道 (Great Wilderness Martial Path)** - Translated literally but maintained to convey the martial philosophy and path associated with the vast, untamed wilderness, echoing a theme of primal power. 5. **大日不灭金身 (Great Sun Immortal Golden Body)** - Translated to highlight its martial arts concept, emphasizing its strength and invulnerability. 6. **不灭神甲 (Immortal Divine Armor)** - Translation conveys its protective and permanent nature, emphasizing the toughness associated with divine-grade protection. 7. **金刚神骨 (Vajra Divine Bone)** - This is translated to reflect the indestructible nature associated with the word 'Vajra', emphasizing supreme toughness in one's martial foundation. 8. **长青神骨 (Everlasting Verdant Divine Bone)** - Attempts to capture the essence of enduring vitality and life-force associated with this transformative breakthrough. 9. **丹医武道 (Dan Medical Martial Path)** - This translation reflects the blending of medical and martial disciplines, indicating a holistic approach to physical and spiritual wellness through martial arts. These minor issues don't need to trouble Master; Xu Yan believes he can solve them on his own. Xu Junhe and several others have broken through to the Tongxuan Realm (通玄境), significantly increasing their strength. However, this is still insufficient to suppress the Great Wilderness, so Xu Yan prepares various arrangements before entering the Spiritual Domain. A few days later, Xu Yan bestowed a martial art technique upon Bai Yunkong and Pang Yu. This technique was created by Xu Yan through integrating aspects of martial heavenly beings' Divine Gathering and Divine Intent refining methods. This allows those at the half-step heavenly being stage to solidify their divine intent, breaking through to the Divine Intent Realm. It is, however, considered a pseudo-Divine Intent Realm. While their strength would be less than that of true Divine Intent practitioners, it would not fall short of lesser heavenly beings. "Canglan Island and Great Wilderness matters will receive our utmost efforts; no loss of control will occur!" Bai Yunkong and Pang Yu solemnly promised. "Thank you!" Xu Yan nodded, knowing that by helping them to break through to the pseudo-Divine Intent Realm, they could suppress any chaos on Canglan Island or in the Great Wilderness. Of course, the safety of his family wouldn't rely solely on Bai Yunkong and Pang Yu. For the peace of mind of his disciple, Li Xuan had created over ten Divine Essence Avatars (神元化身), integrating them into spiritual jades. These avatars weren't one-time use; as long as the divine essence wasn't exhausted, they could be continuously used. Even against a martial heavenly being of the highest order, they could be slain. This was enough to ensure Xu Yan's family's safety. On this day, Xie Tianheng arrived. "Senior, I'm taking Feng'er to the Spiritual Domain," he respectfully announced. "Father, there's no rush; wait and join Brother Xu on the journey to the Spiritual Domain," Xie Lingfeng suggested with a start. "The gate of the Spiritual Domain is open, and as promised, I must take you there. Your mother resides in the Spiritual Domain," Xie Tianheng stated seriously. "My mother is in the Spiritual Domain?" Xie Lingfeng's eyes widened in surprise. "Yes!" Xie Tianheng recounted the past with a sigh: "Your mother hailed from the Spiritual Domain and later returned there. Throughout my life, I've never been outmatched. What are the so-called talents of the Spiritual Domain to me? I once vowed to her that when the gates open, I would enter the Spiritual Domain in unrivaled grandeur to find her." Having grasped the Sword Momentum (劍之勢), Xie Tianheng believed he had achieved this. Though not perfect, with an Enlightened Sword Heart (劍心通明), and understanding Flying Rainbow Sword Intent (飞虹剑意), it was noteworthy. Li Xuan couldn't help but smirk slightly, realizing Xie Tianheng had quite the backstory. Xie Lingfeng looked at his father with a complex expression, making Xie Tianheng feel slightly embarrassed as he turned away. Xu Yan handed over a Divine Intent Realm technique to Xie Lingfeng, offering detailed guidance, knowing that once they parted, it was uncertain when they would meet again. "Farewell, Senior!" Xie Lingfeng bowed respectfully to Li Xuan. "Go," Li Xuan replied with a wave, placing a spiritual jade into Xie Lingfeng's hand calmly. "Thank you, Senior!" Xie Lingfeng exclaimed emotionally. Meanwhile, Du Yuying and her companions were preparing to head to the Spiritual Domain with Xie Tianheng and Xie Lingfeng. "Young Master Xu, remember to come find us," Yun Miaomiao said softly. "I will, if there's a chance!" Xu Yan nodded. "Meng Chong, are you really not coming with me?" Zi Yun clung to Meng Chong, asking. With a darkened expression, Meng Chong pulled her off gently, saying, "No. In the future, you can visit me. Though the Spiritual Domain is vast, my name, Meng Chong, will surely resound throughout it." "Alright then!" Zi Yun conceded reluctantly. Li Xuan sighed inwardly, casually tossing three spiritual jades as tokens for the women who were likely to become his disciples' future spouses. Wu Shuang looked at him expectantly. Li Xuan, with a twitch at the corner of his mouth, decided to hand her one as well, considering her recent service in keeping him supplied with tea. "Brother Xu, Brother Meng, I look forward to hearing of your reputations in the Spiritual Domain!" Xie Lingfeng declared while cupping his hands in a respectful gesture. "Certainly!" Xu Yan and Meng Chong nodded solemnly. "Am I being underestimated, as though I can't make a name for myself?" Su Lingxiu remarked discontentedly. Xie Lingfeng corrected himself, "Sister Lingxiu, as an unparalleled Dan Doctor, there's no doubt you'll make a name. I hope to see Evergreen Pavilion (長青閣) rise to become an eminent Spiritual Sect." "That sounds more like it!" Su Lingxiu laughed. "These pills are for you all," she offered magnanimously to familiar faces. On this day, Xie Tianheng and his son, along with Du Yuying, Yun Miaomiao, and Zi Yun, departed from Canglan Island for the north of Cang, aiming for the gate of the Spiritual Domain. Martial artists of the Great Wilderness had long ceased focusing much on the opening of the Spiritual Domain gate. They merely felt a sense of frustration, questioning why Inner Domain people were so undervalued in the Spiritual Domain. No! We are people of the Great Wilderness, and one day, the Spiritual Domain will know that the Great Wilderness is indeed the strongest. Driven by the collective forces and numerous strong individuals, this sentiment spread across all martial artists of the Great Wilderness Martial Path, fueling their determined cultivation. For several days, not a single Jade Token holder had approached the Spiritual Domain gate. The guards were growing bored, eager to conclude the one-month period and close the gate. Inside the grand hall, the Emperor of Zheng and several ministers remained steadfast. "This is the gate of the Spiritual Domain!" Du Yuying and companions were filled with awe. There was, naturally, a touch of nervousness. "Let's go!" Xie Tianheng maintained an air of pride, showing no sign of intimidation, dismissing even the lesser heavenly being strength of the gatekeepers. "Do you possess Jade Tokens?" a guard asked sternly. His gaze lingered on Du Yuying and her companions, struck by their breathtaking beauty—the thought that such exquisite individuals hailed from the Inner Domain was intriguing. Xie Tianheng opened his palm to reveal a purple jade plaque. The guard gave it only a glance before Xie Tianheng had already put it away, stepping forward with Xie Lingfeng. The guard, initially displeased, held his tongue upon sensing something extraordinary about Xie Tianheng. As the Jade Token was genuine, it was best not to interfere beyond his duty. Xie Tianheng stepped through the gate, pausing to ensure Du Yuying and the others wouldn’t face trouble from the guards. --- **New Terms:** 1. **神元化身 (Divine Essence Avatar)** - Translated as this reflects a powerful entity or projection made out of one's divine essence, emphasizing the power and divine attribute of this creation. 2. **雄霸古今 (unrivaled grandeur across ages)** - Translated to convey an impressive aura and ambition throughout history, aligning with Xie Tianheng’s determination to stand out and assert his dominance. 3. **青王玉令 (Green King's Jade Token)** - Translated to maintain the nobility and authority associated with the token, emphasizing its significance in securing passage or recognition. 4. **长青阁 (Evergreen Pavilion)** - Translated directly to evoke a sense of vitality and endurance, important for a named establishment within the narrative. 5. **偽神意境 (pseudo-Divine Intent Realm)** - Translated to indicate an approximation or imitation of true divine mastery, highlighting the difference in power levels compared to authentic practitioners.