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

Chapter 341: The Challenge of the Azure Sea's Prodigies, Xie Lingfeng's Breakthrough Azure Heaven Blue Sea City became bustling due to the arrival of Xu Yan. On a high tower of the City Lord's Mansion, Fu Tianhai stood in the corridor, flanked by Xie Tianheng and Fu Yun. Initially, Fu Yun was ready to step in, but Fu Tianhai restrained her. "It seems Xu Yan's reputation is well-deserved," Xie Tianheng remarked with a sigh. Then he glanced at his father-in-law, "See? You wouldn't let me intervene, and now it's the City Lord's Mansion that's embarrassed." Fu Tianhai's face turned dark, and he placed his hand on Xie Tianheng's shoulder, laughing, "Do you dare question my decision? Who gave you such courage? Don't think just because you have the title of Sword King that you're all that impressive. In my eyes, you're still not worth much." Xie Tianheng grimaced, feeling as if a massive mountain was pressing down on him, nearly breaking apart his entire body. His father-in-law's strength truly was formidable. Yet, he wasn't convinced, grumbling, "If I were at your realm, you definitely wouldn't be my match!" "Dominating others with realm is also a testament to one's strength!" Fu Tianhai scoffed. "Hah, if I were your age, my cultivation would already surpass yours by several levels. With so many resources and such a long time to cultivate, to have just this bit of strength is rather shameful if you ask me," Xie Tianheng retorted defiantly. Fu Tianhai clenched his fist, remaining silent for a while, and then said, "You're quite unfilial!" Boom! "Damn! Bullying someone younger, aren't you ashamed?" "Which father-in-law beats his son-in-law without feeling disgrace?" Fu Yun shook her head in exasperation. When Xie Tianheng first arrived, he was quite modest, not arrogant at all, and very obedient to his father-in-law, trying to please him in every possible way. It made her wonder if Xie Tianheng was still the man she had once known. Had he changed his personality? It turned out, once his strength improved, he reverted to his previous arrogant self. "Father, take it easy on him!" Fu Yun urged. Hearing her plea, Fu Tianhai's hits became even heavier. In the courtyard, after catching up with Xu Yan, Xie Lingfeng started receiving guidance from him on the martial methods of the Divine Essence Realm. He also provided pills to assist Xie Lingfeng in his training. "Brother Xie, at the peak of the Divine Intent Realm, you have been honing your foundation for a long time and accumulated some power. But it's not enough. Build up a bit more, and when you break through, you'll undergo a transformation. Once you enter the Divine Essence Realm, your power will be even stronger." Xu Yan advised. For the next half-month, Xu Yan focused on guiding Xie Lingfeng in his cultivation and swordsmanship. It wasn't until Xie Lingfeng had built up enough foundation to begin his secluded breakthrough into the Divine Essence Realm that Xu Yan finally met Xie Tianheng and Xie Lingfeng's mother, the City Lord's esteemed daughter Fu Yun. However, Xie Tianheng had a bruised and swollen face as if he'd been beaten severely. Curious, Xu Yan wondered who had dared to beat up the Azure Sea Sword King? "Got any healing pills? Give me one. That old man was too ruthless!" Xie Tianheng said, covering his face. For days, a force lingered on his face, preventing him from healing. With such a look, he couldn't step out, or it would tarnish his dignity as the Sword King, right? Xu Yan realized then—it was his father-in-law who had beaten him. He handed a bottle of pills to Xie Tianheng. After chatting for a bit, Xie Tianheng introduced Fu Yun. Speaking of her, he was quite proud. He had married Fu Yun, an esteemed prodigy of the Spiritual Domain, even while still in the Inner Domain. This was why he had always looked down on others there. "My swordsmanship seems a bit stalled. I feel as though I'm just a step away from breaking through." Xie Tianheng sighed. He had come to seek Xu Yan's insights on the sword path. In the following interaction, Xu Yan guided Xie Tianheng in his swordsmanship. Just after finishing with Xie Tianheng's sword guidance, an attendant hurriedly arrived, saying, "Miss, Li Shao from the Ten Thousand Stars Martial Institute is named specifically to challenge Young Master Xu Yan!" "Li Shao?" Fu Yun was surprised. Xie Tianheng frowned, "Why is that guy coming to challenge?" Xu Yan raised an eyebrow, curious, "Li Shao, how is his strength?" "Li Shao is reputed to be the foremost prodigy of the Ten Thousand Stars Martial Institute, and some even call him the number one prodigy of the Azure Sea. It is said he has already refined three strands of the Laws of Heaven and Earth." Fu Yun explained. Xie Tianheng added, "Rumor has it that Li Shao possesses a spiritual physique." Now intrigued, Xu Yan finally had the chance to battle a prodigy with a spiritual physique, something he'd long desired. No wonder he had already refined three strands of the Laws of Heaven and Earth. Spiritual physiques are closer to the Heaven and Earth's vital energies, making it easier for them to refine strands of Heaven and Earth's rules. He looked at the attendant and said, "Tell Li Shao, if he wants to challenge me, he must first defeat the general. Otherwise, he does not qualify to challenge me." Although curious about this spiritual physique prodigy, not everyone could challenge him at will. Defeating the general first, before challenging him was a condition. If they couldn't even defeat the general, they shouldn't even think about challenging him. "This..." The attendant looked towards Fu Yun. With her permission, he quickly left. Soon after, the attendant hurried back. "Miss, Haibo'er from the Sea-Spirit Tribe has named specifically to challenge Young Master Xu Yan!" Fu Yun was surprised once again. "Haibo'er is the strongest prodigy of the Sea-Spirit Tribe in her generation. It is rumored that her bloodline is exceptional, being the granddaughter of the contemporary Sea Spirit Tribe leader, and she is reputed to have refined three strands of the Laws of Heaven and Earth, just like Li Shao." Fu Yun explained. "Old rules stand, defeat the general, and I'll accept the challenge!" Xu Yan waved his hand dismissively. The attendant hurriedly left again. The general’s face darkened, and seeing the spirited man and woman ready to challenge him, he was nearly ready to vomit blood. They initially came to challenge Xu Yan, but he set a requirement: only by defeating the general would he accept their challenge. This left him feeling frustrated. He even regretted stepping in the first place. Now it was no secret that he, the general, couldn't withstand Xu Yan for even a single round! "General, please instruct us!" Li Shao held a lance, speaking solemnly. The general's face was dark as he stared at Li Shao, "I concede. Now you can go and challenge Xu Yan." To his surprise, Li Shao shook his head, "I, Li Shao, would never engage in such deceitful actions. A battle between prodigies should be an upfront confrontation. If I can't defeat the general, it means I'm not qualified to challenge Xu Yan. "General, please show me some respect!" Looking at the rugged Li Shao with his short dense hair and scruffy beard, the general was about to be driven mad. Could he be any more serious? Damn it! He glared at Haibo'er, "I concede, go challenge Xu Yan." "Utter nonsense. I'm Haibo'er, destined to be the Sea Spirit King; I'd never stoop to deceit. While you, the general, may lack shame, I, Haibo'er, don't!" Damn it! The general’s face darkened further. Haibo'er was a darling of the Sea-Spirit Tribe; even if her words were blunt, he couldn't do anything about it. This girl's temperament was notorious throughout the Azure Sea. He took a deep breath and said, "If that's the case, then you two, go ahead." Holding a cobalt-blue trident, Haibo'er, one of the Sea-Spirit Tribe's divine artifacts, showed a hint of rage on her pretty face, "Who do you think you’re looking down on? Do you think you have the right to let me and Li Shao team up?" Li Shao nodded in agreement! The general almost blew a gasket. Was there no authority left in this for him as the general? It seemed since Xu Yan’s arrival, his prestige as the general had been in gradual decline. ... Xie Lingfeng achieved a breakthrough to the Divine Essence Realm, and Xu Yan didn't wait for challenges from Li Shao and Haibo'er, nor did he pay attention to them. It seemed likely they hadn't managed to defeat the general. Since they couldn't even accomplish that much, they weren't qualified to challenge him. Upon Xie Lingfeng's breakthrough, he underwent a metamorphosis, establishing a firm foundation in martial arts, transforming it into the foundation of the Great Wilderness Martial Path, and gained a Spiritual Bone. Although Xie Lingfeng, newly entering the Divine Essence Realm, couldn't quite compare to Xu Yan's strength in the past, he could easily defeat a Refining Divine Peak martial artist. Even those martial artists who have refined a shred of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, he could contend with. His strength now wasn't far off from Xie Tianheng's. The intricacies of the Divine Essence Realm were just the start; Xie Lingfeng's power would continue to grow, allowing him to once again trample on those he had once defeated. --- **New Terms and Characters:** 1. **Fu Yun (傅雲):** Translated as "Fu Yun" and identified as she/her. She is the mother of Xie Lingfeng and is described as the City Lord's esteemed daughter. 2. **Li Shao (黎紹):** Translated as "Li Shao," he is a prodigy from the Ten Thousand Stars Martial Institute and referred to as a "天驕," meaning prodigy or genius. He's associated with refining three strands of the Laws of Heaven and Earth. 3. **Haibo'er (海波兒):** Translated as "Haibo'er," she is a female prodigy from the Sea-Spirit Tribe, renowned as a strong figure among her peers ("天驕"). 4. **Azure Heaven Blue Sea City (雲天碧海城):** Direct translation of "雲天碧海城," the city where much of the story currently takes place. 5. **Divine Essence Realm (神元境):** This is a direct translation and identifies a realm within the cultivation hierarchy, implying mastery and progression. The text demonstrates the theme of complex martial hierarchy and relationships, particularly through familial power dynamics and the status of prodigies which drive the narrative forward. The playful banter and grudging respect between the characters add a layer of depth to their interactions. As Xie Lingfeng's understanding of the sword path deepens, once he breaks through to the pinnacle of the Divine Essence Realm, his strength might even surpass the City Lord of Azure Heaven Blue Sea City, if not exceed it. Regardless, Xie Lingfeng is still a prodigy, and his strength cannot be measured by ordinary martial artists' standards. Xu Yan began instructing Xie Lingfeng in the martial arts methods of the Divine Arts Realm. This required a detailed explanation over some time, allowing Xie Lingfeng not only to memorize the cultivation technique but also to comprehend it. After imparting the methods for the Divine Arts Realm, Xu Yan also transmitted the techniques for the Divine Appearance Realm to Xie Lingfeng. As for the Void Shattering Realm's martial methods, Xu Yan himself hadn't comprehended them, and thus couldn't teach them. Moreover, for Xie Lingfeng, even the Divine Arts Realm was somewhat distant, let alone the Divine Appearance Realm. This knowledge would suffice for him to cultivate for quite some time. It's not too late to pass on the Void Shattering Realm methods later. Having taught Xie Lingfeng the techniques, guided him in swordsmanship, and left him with pills, Xu Yan's visit to Azure Heaven Blue Sea City came to an end. Xu Yan then planned to explore the Azure Blue Sea in search of divine artifacts. Fu Yun provided Xu Yan with a detailed sea chart of the Azure Blue Sea, highlighting dangerous areas, treasure spots, and regions where divine artifacts might appear. It was far more detailed than what Cai Ling'er had introduced before. Just as Xu Yan was preparing to say his farewells and search for divine artifacts in the Azure Sea, Li Shao and Haibo'er unexpectedly came to challenge him. Both had individually defeated the general. This surprised Xu Yan, and after some inquiries, he learned that initially, Li Shao and Haibo'er had clashed over who should be the first to defeat the general. Consequently, they ended up fighting each other and both got injured. They had to recuperate for a few days before each defeating the general and then came to challenge Xu Yan. "Let me see the capabilities of the Azure Sea's prodigies." Xu Yan chuckled. The battleground was chosen on the sea outside Azure Heaven Blue Sea City, and the news spread, causing upheaval in the city. Countless martial artists gathered at the site of the battle, awaiting the confrontation of the prodigies. On one side was the strongest prodigy of the Azure Sea; on the other was Xu Yan, the renowned Sword God from the Eighteen Provinces, both of whom were famous figures. Xu Yan stood proudly upon the sea's surface, gazing at his opponents. Li Shao gave the impression of a wandering youth, unkempt, with short, messy hair and a scruffy beard, wielding a spear. Haibo'er, with a pretty face and a slightly petite build yet impressive chest, held a Split-Sea Trident in her hand. "You two can come at me together; I'm in a hurry," Xu Yan said nonchalantly, holding his sword. "Xu Yan, you indeed are arrogant, but I, Li Shao, disdain teaming up against opponents. Victory should be honorable, and defeat dignified. I am not like those shameless Lingzong from the Eighteen Provinces." Li Shao advanced, riding the waves, his aura intensifying with every step. Boom! The waves surged up, transforming into a massive spear. A surge of spiritual light emanated from Li Shao as the power of the laws of heaven and earth gathered, merging with his spiritual physique. "So this is a spiritual physique," Xu Yan mused. Spiritual physiques are close to spiritual energy and the vital energies of heaven and earth; they also align well with the power of the laws of heaven and earth, making it easier to gather and fuse with them. Having condensed three fragments of the laws of heaven and earth, this was why Li Shao was stronger than the general. Xu Yan swung his sword, transforming the Azure Sea into mountains and rivers, with waves turning into countless swords that surged instantly, wielding ten thousand swords amidst mountains and rivers. "Kill!" Li Shao's expression solidified as he wielded his spear, deflecting the swords formed by the ocean, advancing unwaveringly. One person, one spear, as if to pierce through mountains and rivers, destroying tens of thousands of swords! Boom! Xu Yan grasped the air, and the surrounding ocean waves surged, forming massive swords. In an instant, the giant swords surrounded him, manifesting a formidable sword array. In mere moments, Li Shao was trapped within the sword array, unable to break free. "Are you not going to make a move?" Xu Yan looked towards Haibo'er and asked. "Humph, then let's have a bout," Haibo'er replied, her expression serious. Wielding her Split-Sea Trident, the sea parted, revealing a powerful force of tumultuous waves emerging from the Azure Sea. The Sea-Spirit Tribe, rulers of the sea, with the Azure Sea as their dominion. Haibo'er borrowed the might of the Azure Sea, enveloping herself within it, concealing her presence as she launched an attack on Xu Yan. Xu Yan smiled slightly, stomping on the sea surface. With a thunderous roar, a golden dragon emerged from the tumultuous waves, forcing Haibo'er out of the Azure Sea in an instant. She even lost her ability to draw power from the Azure Sea. It seemed this part of the sea had changed hands! The spectators were stunned—was this the summoning of a true dragon? The golden dragon form already possessed some of a true dragon’s abilities, including ruling over the sea, a feat no Sea-Spirit Tribe could match. The moment the golden dragon appeared, the battle's outcome was clear. "The result is decided," Fu Tianhai sighed. Beside him was the Sea-Spirit Tribe's leader, who now looked helpless, sighing, "Xu Yan's techniques are truly wondrous, emulating the might of a true dragon?" "The prodigy Xu Yan stands unrivaled in the Spiritual Domain; no one can shake him," Fu Tianhai laughed. "The Lingzong from the Eighteen Provinces can't either?" the Sea-Spirit Chief asked, surprised. "Do you think Li Shao and Haibo'er would lose to them?" Fu Tianhai chuckled. As City Lord, he certainly understood the mission of those transcendent Lingzong figures. Azure Heaven Blue Sea City also fell under the domain of those transcendent Lingzong. The Sea-Spirit Chief nodded, shifting the topic, "Would there be participation from the Azure Sea in the Prodigy Battles?" "Let the young ones decide if they wish to participate. The opening of the Divine Bridge is impending, and opportunities arise again; you and I should ascend the Divine Bridge to its other side," Fu Tianhai said smilingly. The Sea-Spirit Chief nodded, refocusing on the battleground. Everyone was frozen in awe; due to adjustments, updates were temporarily limited to once a day. --- **New Terms and Characters:** 1. **Split-Sea Trident (分海叉):** A divine artifact of the Sea-Spirit Tribe wielded by Haibo'er. 2. **Haibo'er (海波兒):** Identified with she/her pronouns, she's a leading prodigy of the Sea-Spirit Tribe. 3. **Azure Sea Prodigies (碧海天驕):** Describes Li Shao and Haibo'er, notable talents from the Azure Sea region. 4. **Transcendent Lingzong (超然靈宗):** Unmentioned in previous context, this term relates to an elite sect or group above typical spiritual sects. 5. **Spiritual Domain (靈域):** Used to refer to a more mystical or advanced realm of cultivation. **Explanation of Concepts:** - **Spiritual Physiques and Laws of Heaven and Earth:** These elements are related to Xu Yan’s musings. Spiritual physiques provide an affinity to energies and laws, enhancing martial prowess and implying prestige within the cultivation world. - **Golden Dragon Technique:** An advanced martial technique Xu Yan used to demonstrate dominion over opponents, symbolic of absolute power within its realm. These new introductions connect back to ongoing themes of hierarchy, mystical abilities, and martial arts cultivation, further enriching the world-building of this narrative.