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

### Chapter 249: In The Blink of an Eye, Everything Becomes a Sword Fang Hao belatedly realized that something was amiss. "Why did I just spill everything earlier?" He nearly revealed his entire background. "This time, I was too happy, too excited, and ended up saying everything. Next time I must be cautious and remember to be careful!" Fang Hao admonished himself silently. He couldn't afford to be so careless again, answering whatever was asked by others. What he did not realize was that with his strength, he was powerless against Li Xuan's Divine Intent. Unknowingly, he had laid everything bare. Divine Intent is akin to Heaven's Will, and Heaven's Will is hard to defy! How could a martial artist of his level, a Great Grandmaster, resist it? He didn't even notice anything was wrong. Fang Hao didn't dwell on it, instead he focused on the array diagram. The more he looked, the more he felt it contained profound and extraordinary principles. "A great opportunity?" he mumbled to himself. Fully immersing himself in the study of the array diagram, he pondered how to incorporate it into a magical weapon, and what shape the weapon should take. "It seems one weapon cannot accommodate the entire pattern. Judging by the configuration, it seems to be part of a set? "A main weapon accompanied by several auxiliary ones, forming a combination?" Gradually, Fang Hao began to formulate some ideas. Since there were no restrictions on the magical weapons or their numbers, he could follow his own vision. Enthusiastically, Fang Hao dedicated himself to crafting, feeling invigorated throughout. ... Li Xuan returned to the small manor with a battle puppet. "Master, what is this?" Su Lingxiu approached curiously. "A dummy? Made with so many precious materials? This is such a waste!" she exclaimed in surprise after examining it. "This is a battle puppet. It was poorly crafted, lacking in essence, making it rather useless." Li Xuan flicked a hint of Divine Essence into the battle puppet. The puppet started to move, repeating a few attack maneuvers. Su Lingxiu widened her eyes in amazement, "It can fight? But it's too crude, and not very powerful. It could only handle martial artists below the first-grade." "No, maybe below the third-grade. Just evade one of its moves, and its flaw becomes evident. Only a third-grade or weaker martial artist might fall to its attacks," she commented. Shi'er, Zhou Ying, and Meng Shushu approached out of curiosity and nodded in agreement with Su Lingxiu. "So it is quite useless," Li Xuan chuckled. "It's alright as a toy." The puppet halted, and Su Lingxiu curiously fed her True Essence into it, making it move again. "Master, the puppet seems too fragile to handle much True Essence or it might collapse," she observed, frowning. Li Xuan nodded in agreement. Even a small thread of his Divine Essence was almost too much for the puppet to bear. "It's indeed just a toy." Su Lingxiu lost interest after playing with it for a while. Shi'er, on the other hand, found it intriguing and moved it aside to inspect further. "Fang Hao has innovative ideas and talent, he should be able to pass the test. Truly, finding disciples is about fate," Li Xuan mused internally. Fang Hao's talent in crafting was extraordinary. Whether it was battle puppets or other magical artifacts, they were unique to the Spiritual Domain, showcasing his originality. Clearly, his talent was well-suited for the Mysterious Martial Path. However, considering that the Mysterious Martial Path encompasses crafting, formations, and prohibitions, further testing was required. If Fang Hao could incorporate the array diagram into a magical weapon, it would indicate his aptitude in both crafting and formations. "Finding a suitable disciple in the vast Spiritual Domain is not easy. Hopefully, Fang Hao is the one," Li Xuan thought silently. He opened the Great Dao Golden Book to review the Mysterious Martial Path. He continually sought to perfect this martial path, though significant progress had been elusive. Mysterious Martial Path: - Technique Completeness: Above Average - Cultivation Difficulty: High - Comprehension Difficulty: High Basic Formation in Mysterious Martial Path: - Completeness: High - Comprehension Difficulty: High Basic Crafting in Mysterious Martial Path: - Completeness: Medium - Comprehension Difficulty: High Looking at the assessments provided by the Great Dao Golden Book, Li Xuan sighed. The array formations, due to the Thirty-Six Array Diagrams, had reached high completeness. However, even so, the comprehension difficulty remained unchanged. "These are just basic formations. Even with the nine Great Arrays, they're considered basic. Of course, the Great Arrays and Small Arrays differ based on setup and level. "Array formations remain profound. "The array I gave Fang Hao is the simplest among the twenty-seven small arrays, called the Bewildering Reversal Array. It's a type of illusion array. "I compiled this after traversing the Northern Azure Lands, incorporating some Laws of Heaven and Earth. "If he can't comprehend even this one, the rest of the Great Arrays and the entire Mysterious Martial Path would be impossible to grasp." Li Xuan contemplated silently. He took out the Tai-Cang Book and continued to study the Laws of Heaven and Earth. As his understanding deepened, he developed more refined concepts regarding the post-divine realm and harnessing the Laws for personal use. ... The Dai Family. After Xu Yan's turmoil, the Dai Family repaired their destroyed structure, but losing a treasury and a Refining Divine Heavenly Being was a heavy blow. Originally aspiring to ascend further, with even a slim chance of joining an exalted Spiritual Sect, their hopes were dashed when Dai Yingying was slain. The perpetrator remained unpunished, and swiftly the treasury was plundered, and the Refining Divine Heavenly Being slain. Reduced from a second-tier to a third-tier family. Family and sect rankings influence not only their voice but also the resources they control. Falling from the second tier meant the Dai Family would gradually lose resources, eventually claiming only what suited a third-tier family. Restoration to second-tier would require a new Refining Divine Heavenly Being, a difficult hope. Currently, their only chance lay in further advancing Dai Sheng, but breakthroughs at every small stage pose challenges beyond imagination. For the Dai family, being third-tier wasn't too terrible, as they still belonged to the family ranking, and had Dai Sheng, a Refining Divine Heavenly Being, among them. Xu Yan and Meng Chong had been covertly observing the Dai Family for days. They had identified the family's strength and the location of their remaining treasury. Of course, whether there were more hidden reserves was yet unknown. "The Dai's are not weak; they have more than a few Heavenly Beings. Can you handle it, Junior Brother?" Xu Yan asked cautiously. "Rest assured, Brother. As soon as I enter, I will unleash the Six Zhang Golden Body. Even if their Heavenly Beings possess spiritual weapons, they can't break through my Immortal Divine Armor. "I will raid the treasury first, then deal with them. It's you I'm worried about; Dai Sheng, a Refining Divine Heavenly Being, is no weakling." Meng Chong said solemnly. "I'm well aware of Dai Sheng's strength; I confronted him a few times before. Currently, I've improved significantly and even surpassed to the Heart Sword Realm. "Even if I can't defeat Dai Sheng, he can't do much against me." Xu Yan spoke with confidence. Yu Xiaolong coiled around Xu Yan's wrist, felt that these brothers were truly insane; they planned to raid an entire family. If successful, it would unsettle all of Yuzhou. Even the Yu God Sect and Su Family would be on edge. "Be wary of other families or Spiritual Sects intervening. Many families are intermarried. If faced with annihilation, allied families will likely intervene to uphold their honor." Yu Xiaolong advised. "Not a major issue. Yu God Sect or Su Family wouldn't suspect us raiding the Dai's. By the time other experts arrive, we would have long finished." Xu Yan smirked coldly. They might not be able to kill Dai Sheng, but plundering the treasury would be enough for now. "Once you're inside, scour the treasury," Xu Yan instructed, pulling Yu Xiaolong out and placing him into Meng Chong's pocket. "I'll clean it out as best as I can," Yu Xiaolong nodded. Given the circumstances, there was no retreat. Unless he didn’t want to follow Xu Yan or seek the Greater Beast Arts. Moreover, he found it quite exhilarating! Taking down a family was undeniably a major event in the martial world. The night descended! --- ### New Terms and Translations: 1. **Nine-Leaf Lingzhi (九叶元芝)**: This isn't explicitly mentioned, but it's the translated format for herbal names. Had it been present, the essence would be preserved by keeping the Chinese name alongside the translation to maintain its uniqueness and cultural essence. 2. **Bewildering Reversal Array (迷亂顛倒陣)**: A type of illusion array given to Fang Hao for testing. The translation captures its deceptive and disorienting nature, retaining the exotic feel of the original Chinese term "迷亂顛倒陣." 3. **Tai-Cang Book (太蒼書)**: Refers to a special book used by Li Xuan, probably containing profound wisdom. The translation retains the phonetic elements of the original to highlight its unique importance and possible historical or mythical link within the narrative context. 4. **Six Zhang Golden Body (六丈金身)**: A martial technique used by Meng Chong, highlighting its unique method of defense or attack. The term "Zhang" a Chinese unit of length, is preserved to emphasize its cultural and contextual fidelity. 5. **Immortal Divine Armor (不灭神甲)**: A protective technique or weaponry highlighting indestructibility. The translation uses "Immortal," enhancing the grandeur and mythical aspect, resonant with the martial arts genre. --- ### Cultural Nuances: The phrase "一念之間，萬物皆為劍" (In The Blink of an Eye, Everything Becomes a Sword) metaphorically portrays the transformative perception of a sword practitioner. It captures the heightened state where one's mind envisions or utilizes all things as extensions of a sword's will and intent, embodying the timeless zen of martial philosophies. There is a linguistic play here, indicating the swift and all-encompassing power of transmutable perception within martial arts mysticism. Dai Sheng was deep in cultivation when suddenly he felt an icy chill and snapped his eyes open. "An enemy attack!" An elder from the Dai family roared. With a resounding roar, a golden dragon descended, smashing directly through a building, and a figure flew out from within. "You seek your own doom, then I shall oblige!" Dai Sheng grasped a spirit weapon long blade in his hand. With a single strike, the blade's light cleaved through the night sky, the might of a Refining Divine Heavenly Being shaking the surroundings. Xu Yan raised his hand with a sword, and the Xun Wind Sword Intent surged, clashing with Dai Sheng's divine soul power, subtly suppressing it. This prevented Dai Sheng from fully utilizing the strength of his divine soul power. Dai Sheng's expression drastically changed, feeling his divine soul under immense pressure. He hurriedly circulated his technique to consolidate his soul, knowing that any slight slackening could cause damage. "What is this technique?" Dai Sheng thought, frowning. His divine soul felt as if it was being swept over by a tempest, occasionally swaying, and the pressure his soul used to exert was now greatly diminished. Boom! Xu Yan's gaze was cold. "Old ghost of the Dai family, behold the sword!" Mountains and rivers materialized, thunder roared, and Xu Yan relentlessly unleashed sword strike after sword strike, engaging in fierce combat with Dai Sheng. Dai Sheng's heart was filled with dread. The last time he faced Xu Yan, the latter was no match and had to flee. How long ago was that? His strength had improved to such a terrifying degree so quickly! "He's neither in the Refining Divine Realm nor the Harmonizing Divine Realm. His cultivation technique seems unparalleled!" Dai Sheng's heart brimmed with killing intent. Tonight, no matter what, he couldn't allow Xu Yan to escape, or it would spell endless trouble in the future. With his speed of progress, how could Dai Sheng hope to match him soon? Boom! Blade light shook the air. At that moment, Dai Sheng dared not relax in the slightest, as layers of blade light reflected in the sky, clearly demonstrating the might of a Refining Divine Heavenly Being. The elders of the Dai family were all extremely tense, fearing that Dai Sheng might not be able to withstand this. If so, the entire Dai family would be in grave danger. A Mother-Son Pearl was crushed! This was a call for aid to allied families and Spiritual Sects. "Refining Divine Heavenly Beings are truly formidable and shouldn't be underestimated." Xu Yan's expression was solemn. He had reached the Threshold of the Divine Intent Realm, nearing a small achievement in Divine Intent, with his Xun Wind Sword Intent targeting the soul. Despite this, he still found himself at a disadvantage against Dai Sheng. Xu Yan felt the pressure mounting. "The Martial Path is no easy journey. This is a fine opportunity to sharpen myself!" Xu Yan showed no fear, his aura shining brilliantly, exuding a divine charm. Unleashing the Mountain and River Sword Path, strike after strike, he continued refining his technique in battle. Swish! Two beams of sword light suddenly shot forth, transforming into a sword wheel, sweeping towards Dai Sheng! Wheel of Life and Death Sword! The fierce battle utterly occupied Dai Sheng, leaving him unable to spare any attention for the surroundings. With precision, Meng Chong made his move! Boom! A towering golden-armored giant descended from the heavens like a god, causing cold sweat to broke out on the brows of the Dai family elders! Transformed into a six-zhang giant, Meng Chong deployed the Immortal Divine Armor, his body seemingly encased in golden armor, radiant like burning golden flames. He ignored the elders and dashed directly towards one of the treasuries. "Stop him!" The elders shouted frantically. Elders with Great Heavenly Being strength launched attacks, their formidable power continuously pouring forth. Yet, when these assaults struck the giant, they inflicted little damage. The armor was only momentarily damaged before swiftly restoring itself! Boom! A colossal fist, imbued with the aura of wind and thunder, lashed out! Thud! A massive hole was blasted in the Dai family ancestral hall, instantly revealing the hidden treasury inside. Swish! Yu Xiaolong dashed into the treasury, his body expanding instantly, opening his mouth, ravenously devouring its contents. Turning swiftly, Meng Chong blocked the treasury entrance, hindering the Dai family elders. With one fierce punch after another, his explosive power overwhelmed attack after attack, leaving Dai family elders in shock and fear. Splash! Another elder was obliterated in an instant! At that moment, the elders were driven to despair. Who was this person? Where did this golden-armored giant come from, and when had giants ever existed in the Spiritual Domain? His defenses were terrifying; not even spiritual weapons could harm him, only tearing his golden armor momentarily before it immediately regenerated. Hurting the giant was practically impossible! The giant relied solely on his immense physical strength to withstand attacks, while the elders, if careless, faced immediate obliteration! Their power levels were not even comparable! "Who are you?" Dai Sheng's face twisted in shock, unleashing several powerful slashes to force Xu Yan back slightly, intending to deal with the mysterious golden-armored giant! Yet suddenly, Dai Sheng's expression changed drastically! Ignoring the giant, with a roar, his blade light formed a protective shield around him! In that instant, buildings and plants soared into the sky, transforming into razor-sharp swords, attacking from all directions! Xu Yan advanced step by step, calm and indifferent. Behind him, buildings and flora suspended in the air, filling the sky above the Dai family with countless swords! In the blink of an eye, everything became a sword! Dai Sheng's face turned pale with terror, a chill spreading through him. What kind of technique was this? What kind of monstrous talent was this? ### New Terms and Translations: 1. **Refining Divine Realm (煉神境) & Harmonizing Divine Realm (合神境)**: These realms were used to contrast Dai Sheng's and Xu Yan's power levels. The translation uses "Refining" and "Harmonizing" to indicate stages of spiritual and martial blending, essential for the reader to grasp progress within the martial arts hierarchy. 2. **Xun Wind Sword Intent (巽風劍意)**: A specialized sword intent focusing on disrupting soul power, retaining the character for "Xun," one of the Eight Trigrams associated with wind, to enrich the cultural context. 3. **Mother-Son Pearl (子母珠)**: A communication or signaling device, the name retains the familial metaphor, conveying its functionality in summoning aid, highlighting its unique martial world dynamics and alliances. 4. **Golden-Armored Giant (金甲巨人)**: Refers to Meng Chong's transformation, emphasizing his monumental form and invulnerability, suited to embody transformation into a god-like, invincible figure. 5. **Ancestral Hall (祖祠)**: Represents an important location for the Dai family, translating it directly helps preserve the cultural heritage aspect as the site of familial reverence. This passage cleverly plays with the metaphysical aspect of martial prowess in the martial arts narrative, using the natural surroundings to transform into weapons, echoing the profound concept of utilizing the environment and essence into one's martial path, a staple of cultivated mastery.