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

Chapter 281: Supreme Power of the Hall of Ten Thousand Martial, Realization of Divine Arts The face of Hall Master Hong was darkened. The strength of the opponent was overwhelming, suppressing him completely. The remnants of the Ten Thousand Stars Martial Institute were indeed not to be underestimated! "May I ask which remnant of the Ten Thousand Stars you are?" Hall Master Hong swung his sword again and again, but the elderly man blocked each strike effortlessly. The alliance leader of Luozhou sighed with relief, realizing a surviving mighty one from the Ten Thousand Stars Martial Institute had come to their aid. He cupped his hands, "Thank you, elder, for your assistance!" Turning, he charged towards an elder of Sword Hermitage. The elderly man tapped his cane, and the luminous wheel of the bright moon behind him grew brighter, albeit still incomplete. Boom! The radiant light, akin to a full moon's glow, cascaded down, dulling Hall Master Hong's sword light, stripping it of its sharpness, rendering it slow and gentle. Hall Master Hong's expression changed. Yet, the old man's face turned a sickly red flush, indicating the exertion of such power was taxing on him. "With such strength, could you be one of the Thirty-Six Heroes of Ten Thousand Stars?" Hall Master Hong asked, face grim. The Thirty-Six Heroes of the Ten Thousand Stars Martial Institute were legendary, each a prodigy with an innate spiritual physique, rivaling the prodigies of the transcendental Spiritual Sects. "Ah, him—the moon illuminating the long sky, Yue Changming, possessing the Clear Moon Spiritual Physique, truly extraordinary. Even when his physique was shattered in the past, he not only survived but grew stronger." "You must admit, Yue Changming, you are quite the character!" Suddenly, a haughty voice echoed. Accompanying the voice was a spear. It struck with such force that Yue Changming's cane nearly flew from his grip, his body staggering backward. The incomplete moon behind him trembled, seeming on the brink of shattering. Yue Changming's expression changed as he retreated, looking towards the newcomer with a grim face, "Huang Liang, it's you!" "Indeed, it's me!" The newcomer, holding a long spear, sported rough sideburns and carried a cold, murderous gaze. "Elder Huang, what brings you here?" Hall Master Hong hastily saluted. Huang Liang replied indifferently, "Rumors of a peerless Xu Yan among the itinerant cultivators reached me. His sword intent is said to be exceptional. Upon investigation, I discovered that his sword path was none other than our stolen secret from the Hall of Ten Thousand Martial. "I'm here today to eliminate the thief and reclaim our secret!" Hall Master Hong nodded, "I see!" Sword Hermitage's techniques originated from the Hall of Ten Thousand Martial. Thus, if it was a stolen secret from Sword Hermitage, it naturally was also from the Hall of Ten Thousand Martial. There was no distinction. "Shameless! Your Hall of Ten Thousand Martial remains shameless as ever!" Yue Changming sneered in anger. "You wretched dog, what place do you have to speak? Today, I'll cut down you, the wretched dog that you are!" Huang Liang raised his spear, and suddenly, a vast and mighty force infused into it, causing the surrounding space to ripple. It was as if this immense power was stirring the very heavens and earth. A vast aura, like that of the heavens, emanated from Huang Liang. A faint yellow light shone from him, and Hall Master Hong felt as if a mountain was pressing down on him. Startled, Hall Master Hong quickly withdrew. Is this the might of a supreme power of the transcendental Spiritual Sect? "Do you see this? This is the power of a supreme from the transcendental Spiritual Sect, beyond the comprehension of mere itinerant cultivators. In years past, my teacher-uncle vanquished your spiritual physique with such power; today, I shall utterly obliterate you!" Huang Liang stared coldly at Yue Changming. Yue Changming's expression turned drastically, his eyes burning with anger, unwillingness, and a profound sense of helplessness. The transcendental Spiritual Sect's strength was unimaginable. "Unbelievable, Huang Liang, you worthless bastard, have reached this level, becoming such a formidable being!" Yue Changming laughed mockingly. Someone he never paid heed to in the past had now become a supreme power! "Yue Changming, as of now, you're the worthless one!" Huang Liang retorted coldly. "Moon illuminating the long sky? What a joke that was; you should disappear!" Huang Liang thrust his spear, reportedly infused with the force of the heavens and earth, and even before the spear reached him, Yue Changming was already sputtering blood, his body stumbling back, his very flesh seemingly cracked. "Is this the power of a supreme? Back then, even my teacher couldn't withstand it, and now I can't either!" Yue Changming deeply felt his powerlessness. Back then, a supreme power of the Hall of Ten Thousand Martial had struck, and his teacher couldn't withstand it, causing his spiritual physique to collapse from a single blow, just as it did now. Only upon truly facing such a blow, did Yue Changming realize the terrifying nature of it, and what kind of devastation his teacher had faced! It was as if the might of the heavens and earth was pouring into it. "That young man's methods, though impressive, cannot withstand this strike!" In his mind, Yue Changming envisioned the powerful killing technique executed by the young man who once raised a hand while mounted on that large cat. The might was indeed considerable, and the aura grand, the momentum of heaven as if a dragon was descending. However, it likely couldn't resist a strike that seemingly absorbed the might of the heavens and earth! This was the might of a supreme from the transcendental Spiritual Sect! Boom! Yue Changming’s expression grew solemn, his eyes icy. "Huang Liang, you worthless bastard, even if I perish in the hands of children and women, I won't fall by your hand. "You're not worthy!" He roared furiously, and the fragment of the bright moon within him suddenly radiated outward, as if transforming into a truly incomplete moon. Suddenly, his cane shattered, a formidable force surging from Yue Changming, pouring into the moon. Boom! All at once, the moon released an overwhelming energy, exploding and emitting blinding light, illuminating the surroundings and interrupting the spear for a few fleeting moments. When the dazzling light receded, Yue Changming was no longer there. Huang Liang snorted coldly, "Yue Changming, I never expected you could cultivate your spiritual physique's might to such an extent. Now, you've used your spiritual physique's essence to stall me briefly, but you're completely finished. "You won't live long, and the moon illuminating the long sky has truly vanished!" Huang Liang did not pursue; Yue Changming was finished, and even if he chased, he might not catch up quickly. Casting indifferent eyes towards the scattered cultivators of the Wan Shi Alliance, he declared, "Vile itinerant cultivators dare to rebel and must be eradicated!" Sweeping his spear, he struck fiercely, instantly killing two Refining Divine martial artists! "Flee!" the alliance leader of Luozhou shouted, his eyes bloodshot. Huang Liang was too strong; a Refining Divine Heavenly Being facing him was akin to a Lesser Heavenly Being facing a Refining Divine Heavenly Being, the disparity in strength like heaven and earth! The might of a supreme from the transcendental Spiritual Sect! "Flee? Let's see how many can escape!" Huang Liang's tone was indifferent. He stepped forward, thrusting his spear, a weight like a mountain pressuring down. The martial artists attempting to flee were momentarily frozen in place. When they struggled free from that overwhelming pressure and tried to escape, the spear light had already annihilated them. "Kill!" The alliance leader of Luozhou roared, along with two other Refining Divine peak cultivators, charging at Huang Liang, burning their blood essence, and unleashing desperate martial secret arts. Simply to stall Huang Liang for a moment, giving others a chance to flee! Boom! The Wan Shi Alliance in Luozhou was nearly annihilated. The alliance leader along with several strong members all perished in battle. Few Refining Divine martial artists escaped. Huang Liang, holding his spear, gazed towards the land of Yuzhou, saying indifferently, "It's time to reclaim the stolen sword path of my Hall of Ten Thousand Martial!" He began making his way to Yuzhou. ... "Grandfather, what happened, don't scare me!" Yue'er's face was streaked with tears as she looked at her grandfather, face devoid of blood and barely breathing. Fumbling, she pulled out herb after herb, feeding them to her grandfather. "Yue'er, go, if you haven't reached the Refining Divine, don't reveal yourself, or flee beyond the blue sea. Grandfather can't hold on much longer!" Yue Changming spoke weakly. Yue'er hurriedly carried her grandfather on her back, fleeing through the forest, her tears streaming as she asked, "Grandfather, who hurt you? I must avenge you!" Yue Changming stroked her head, his eyes filled with tenderness, "Yue'er, let go of revenge, cultivate well, as long as you're happy, that's enough." "No, without you, grandfather, I won't be happy unless I avenge you." Yue'er bit her lip. *Cough* "...I can hold on for a few more years; I'm not dead just yet!" Yue Changming coughed a few times, then remembered something. "Yue'er, take me to the cave, when I'm healing, seek out Xu Yan and tell him the supreme of the Hall of Ten Thousand Martial is coming to steal his sword path, shamelessly claiming he stole their secret sword technique. "Tell him he must flee, flee beyond the blue sea for even a glimmer of hope." Yue'er bit her lip, "I understand, grandfather; it's those bastards from the Hall of Ten Thousand Martial; I will kill them!" Yue Changming smiled bitterly. "Yue'er, promise me, until you become a supreme, do not reveal your identity, do not act!" "Grandfather, I promise!" Yue'er nodded in agreement. ... In the manor, serenity reigned as usual. --- **New Terms and Translation Notes:** 1. **洪齋主 (Hong Zhaizhu):** Translated as "Hall Master Hong" to retain the authoritative post within the context. 2. **黃亮 (Huang Liang):** Retained as is, no specific title indicating the translation. Alternative names include "Huang the Bright" for descriptive purposes. 3. **月長明 (Yue Changming):** Translated with the pun "moon illuminating the long sky," as 月 (Yue) means "moon," emphasizing his spiritual physique and legacy. Alternative: Yue Changming remains unaltered for terseness. 4. **月兒 (Yue'er):** Transliterated as "Yue'er" for personal attachment and depiction of youth. 5. **殘缺的明月 (Incomplete Moon):** Used to describe the visual emanation of Yue Changming's strength, sticking to the visual poetic nature present in the original. 6. **少天人 (Lesser Heavenly Being):** Equivalent to "small divine being," aligned with cultivation rankings stated earlier. 7. **至強者 (Supreme Power):** An applicable and direct translation of those at the peak of might within organizations. 8. **煉神天人 (Refining Divine Heavenly Being):** Kept consistent with user input, presenting martial rank. This selection reflects the tale's strong reliance on cultivation-based characterization. No substantial changes are suggested for the existing list, as it is comprehensive and accurate given the context presented in the chapter. Neither Li Xuan nor Xu Yan, nor any others anticipated that the Hall of Ten Thousand Martial would be so shameless, intending to seize the sword path while falsely accusing Xu Yan of stealing their secret techniques. "The Laws of Heaven and Earth are indeed profound," Li Xuan mused, "I merely noted them down but have yet to utilize them. Trying to wield the Laws of Heaven and Earth with the power at the Divine Essence Realm is ultimately impossible. "If I reach the Divine Arts Realm, with my understanding of these laws, I should be able to use them. "The realm beyond Divine Arts is where one controls the Laws of Heaven and Earth for personal use. It should be ready soon, though Xu Yan has not yet comprehended any martial divine skills." Li Xuan sighed internally. "Whoever wrote the 'Book of Tai-Cang (太苍书)' was truly extraordinary. It described the Laws of Heaven and Earth of the Tai-Cang Realm. What level of might and understanding must one possess to achieve this? "As far as I know, the Spiritual Domain does not have such powerful beings. "Moreover, the Spiritual Domain is just one part of the Tai-Cang realm. Why do I feel like the Tai-Cang heaven and earth are divided into several regions?" Li Xuan was consumed with curiosity. Meng Chong had obtained the 'Book of Tai-Cang' in the royal palace of the State of Wu, a treasure of such value—why would it be in the Border Wilderness? And who created this 'Book of Tai-Cang'? "All the better, having the 'Book of Tai-Cang' in my possession helps me compile martial arts. With it as reference, the martial arts I develop may surpass those of Tai-Cang." Li Xuan was focusing on memorizing the eighth page of the 'Book of Tai-Cang.' "Fang Hao’s strength has increased again, not at a slow pace either," Li Xuan nodded in satisfaction. Meng Chong and Su Lingxiu were also on the brink of breakthroughs, while Xu Yan was not far from perfecting his Divine Intent Realm. ... Xu Yan was delving into the Wisdom Sword Realm. The deeper he delved, the more profound it felt, leading him to marvel at the mystical depth of the third realm of the sword path, beyond his current comprehension. "Master was right; if I could cultivate the Martial Spirit, I might be able to comprehend the Wisdom Sword Realm." With this thought, Xu Yan began contemplating the martial path to the Divine Arts Realm. Over a long period, he had understood the martial path of the Divine Essence Realm, but he still hadn’t grasped the arts of divine skills. "Divine Arts involve forming the Martial Spirit, and once it's formed, divine skills are naturally born... but how can divine skills naturally arise?" This was the most challenging aspect to comprehend. Cultivating the Martial Spirit involves merging Divine Essence and Martial Divine Intent, leading to transformation and the formation of the Martial Spirit, also enhancing the physical body’s strength. This transformation of the Divine Essence elevates the martial artist to a higher level. Xu Yan’s mind was filled with the patterns of the Laws of Heaven and Earth, imparted by his master, suggesting they ponder these whenever possible. With prolonged study, Xu Yan had made some progress. In his mind, he pictured his master reading and moving with a casual grace, a peerless expert yet as ordinary as a common person. "Dao follows nature? Returning to the original state..." His thoughts drifted to the scenes of his master’s performance during the battle of prodigies, where the great momentum of heaven and earth was triggered, a grand spectacle unleashed, all while the master suppressed his cultivation to a level understandable for the fourth junior brother. "The great momentum of heaven and earth is undetectable until it is triggered, unseen yet present throughout, just as Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy is unseen, felt only when it acts. "Because of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, practitioners can cultivate. The presence of soft spiritual energy allows martial artists to forge and blend it with their Qi. "The Laws of Heaven and Earth are elusive, challenging to understand and command. This is the source of the rules of heaven and earth. "If one could wield the Laws of Heaven and Earth, what level would that represent?" Xu Yan pondered and contemplated. "Do martial arts have laws as well? If a martial artist mirrors the heavens, can they forge laws themselves?" In that moment, a flash of insight struck Xu Yan. "That's it, Divine Skills!" He became excited. "The Divine Arts Realm, where the Martial Spirit is cultivated, and divine skills naturally emerge—does this not mean the martial laws? The Laws of Heaven and Earth encompass all within it; "Meanwhile, divine skills are a martial artist’s laws, their martial laws, their personal laws. "When the Martial Spirit emerges, the laws become clear, and divine skills are born; divine skills are a martial artist’s laws, akin to the Laws of Heaven and Earth. "The path of martial arts is endless, divine skills naturally arise, signifying the birth of one's martial laws. Continued cultivation could eventually lead to transcending the constraints of heaven and earth. "Unbound by its restrictions, this is perhaps the pinnacle of martial arts?" Overwhelmed with excitement, Xu Yan felt he'd grasped the essence of the martial path in Divine Arts. Divine skills naturally arising indicate the emergence of one's martial laws. "Master exists within the heavens and earth, yet they remain unaware of him because he has transcended them, standing atop the martial peak, close to the Great Dao? "It must be so, which is why every move of the master appears ordinary, yet returns to its true form, for the master has transcended heaven and earth and is no longer bound by their constraints!" Xu Yan’s face lit up with excitement, then he took a deep breath, collecting his thoughts, meticulously contemplating the martial path to Divine Arts. He had grasped the essence of cultivating the Divine Arts Realm and simply needed to organize his insights to thoroughly comprehend the martial path to divine skills! --- **New Terms and Translation Notes:** 1. **太蒼書 (Book of Tai-Cang):** Retained its original name as it is a unique artifact, suggesting profound significance and ties to the Tai-Cang realm. 2. **月照長空 (Yue Changming):** The translation was explored before, emphasizing the name’s poetic quality and spiritual connection. 3. **神通境 (Divine Arts Realm):** Direct transliteration focusing on the cultivation level suggesting mastery and inner skills associated with spiritual awareness. 4. **慧劍境 (Wisdom Sword Realm):** Translated for fidelity to the narrative of the realm of sword cultivation indicating clear thought and insight. 5. **天地靈機 (Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy):** Translated directly to illustrate the unseen, pervasive empowerment inherent in the world setting for martial practitioners. 6. **返璞歸真 (Returning to the Original State):** Reflects returning to simplicity or a fundamental, authentic state, capturing the philosophical essence found in the martial journey. 7. **道法自然 (Dao Follows Nature):** Rendered as is for philosophical depth reflecting alignment with natural forces. The translations capture thematic undertones of the martial cultivation journey, delicately interweaving philosophy consistent with the protagonist’s epiphanies and fulfillments within higher martial realms. The list's details are comprehensive and reflect the extended lore and narrative techniques within the web novel series, offering no additional changes.