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

Chapter 399: Meeting the Enchantress Witch Upon hearing that there were spies among them, Emperor of State of Great Yue's face turned grave. The individuals dispatched to the Mysterious Academy and the Apothecary Institute were all highly trusted. To think that such people could be spies... how many spies could there be within the State of Great Yue? How many might be lurking right by his side? Just the thought sent a chill down his spine. "Your Majesty, we are not spies, we..." The members of the Earth Shadow felt a sinking feeling in their hearts. Their infiltration techniques were naturally formidable, and being able to reach this level was the result of years of careful progress. Once suspicion arose, and under thorough scrutiny, they could never hide from an Immortal Heavenly Venerable. "It will soon become clear whether you are or aren't," said the Emperor of State of Great Yue, his gaze icy cold. The guidance from the eminent senior was something he completely trusted. Cheng Zhan and the person in charge from the Tianwu Sect shuddered internally. One of their dispatched sect martial artists, who was also a high-ranking leader within the sect, was among those under suspicion. If such people were spies, imagining the extent of sect infiltration was terrifying. "Your Majesty, this matter is of utmost importance. I must report to the Sect Master, and until then, we can't leak any information," Cheng Zhan said solemnly. "I understand," the Emperor of State of Great Yue nodded. Seeing this, the members of Earth Shadow realized there was no escape, especially under the scrutiny of the Emperor and Feng Yan, who were both Immortal Heavenly Venerables. Once investigated thoroughly, their affiliations could be exposed. Suddenly, their energies weakened rapidly. Their souls dissipated in an instant — they committed self-destruction with unprecedented decisiveness. Even the Emperor of State of Great Yue, an Immortal Heavenly Venerable, couldn't stop them in time. Their method of self-annihilation was extremely domineering. Once executed, it resulted in instant death, with their souls vanishing, making reversal impossible. Besides the disappearance of their souls and vitality, their bodies dried up quickly as if they were mummified. All traces vanished, leaving no clues. At this point, their identity as spies was confirmed. Cheng Zhan and the Tianwu Sect representative couldn't sit still. They left to return to their sects to secretly investigate and expose other hidden spies. "Thank you for your guidance, Senior," the Emperor of State of Great Yue respectfully saluted towards Li Xuan's direction. Following this, he began cleaning up the capital of Great Yue. Prior to this, the Emperor personally examined his core inner guards with Sui Hongwu to ensure they harbored no issues before dispatching them for a secret investigation. "Master, how did you know they were the spies?" Su Lingxiu asked curiously. Fang Hao nodded, sharing the same curiosity. "Nothing escapes my eyes," Li Xuan smiled. "If you cultivate the Small Heavenly Dao Eye, you'll be able to detect such things too." "The Small Heavenly Dao Eye is too profound. Despite my insights, I'm still one step shy of understanding it," Su Lingxiu said with a hint of frustration. The Small Heavenly Dao Eye was incredibly mysterious, and she had yet to fully decipher it. "Allow me to guide you further," Li Xuan said, a hint of helplessness in his tone. He had already mastered the Small Heavenly Dao Eye, so it wasn't baseless. He knew the way to cultivate it. Thus, Li Xuan guided Su Lingxiu and Fang Hao on how to cultivate the Small Heavenly Dao Eye. However, he only provided guidance, not a step-by-step teaching. It was important for Su Lingxiu to comprehend it herself; perhaps her version of the Small Heavenly Dao Eye would have unique aspects. A version unique to the Dan Medical Alchemy Martial Path. After guiding Su Lingxiu and Fang Hao, they returned to continue their contemplations. It was uncertain when they might fully comprehend and cultivate it. Li Xuan continued to engrave the Dao principles of the Tai-Cang Realm, temporarily reducing time spent on the Divine Arts Martial Manual to focus more on perfecting the Extreme Soul Martial Path framework and the martial methods above the Heaven and Earth Realm. In the Nine Mountains Realm, Meng Chong emerged from a Heavenly Abyss. After narrowly escaping an ambush, he hid in a secluded place to consolidate himself. "They're not from the Qinghua Realm, nor from any major force in the Nine Mountains Realm. Then which force targets me?" Meng Chong wondered. The masked men's methods were numerous and fiendishly cunning, with their agents infiltrating several forces within the Nine Mountains Realm. After several assassination attempts, Meng Chong believed these masked forces might try trapping him within a Heavenly Abyss. "I should avoid the Heavenly Abyss for now," Meng Chong pondered, determined to uncover the identity of those assailants. "Senior Brother appeared at Great Mountain Cover; I should visit and see if I can find him," Meng Chong decided, concealing his presence as he headed towards Great Mountain Cover. ... "I finally broke through," Xu Yan emerged from seclusion, looking relaxed. He had entered the Divine Appearance Realm. Upon entering the Divine Appearance Realm, his strength significantly increased. In a mere instant, a divine apparition manifested, transforming the forces of the Laws of Heaven and Earth into an expanse of mountains and rivers, with a golden dragon coiling within. Buzz! The Yin-Yang Immortal Sword materialized, as if mountains and rivers enshrouded Xu Yan, his form hidden within the divine apparition, with only the powerful apparition towering between heaven and earth. "Integrating divine apparitions with divine skills is truly wondrous. To harm me, one must first break through my divine apparition. Only after breaking the apparition can they truly face my essence. The power of the apparition, merging with the Laws of Heaven and Earth, in a sense, resembles an Immortal Heavenly Venerable's fusion with Heaven and Earth," Xu Yan assessed his newfound strength. With his divine apparition and the Yin-Yang Immortal Sword forming a formidable defense, even ordinary Immortal Heavenly Venerables couldn't harm him. "However, if I were to face a powerful Immortal Heavenly Venerable like the Emperor of State of Great Yue, my apparition would still be shattered. But if it's a weaker Immortal Heavenly Venerable like Sui Hongwu or Feng Yan, I'm not afraid." Xu Yan's confidence surged. In realms beneath Immortal Heavenly Venerable, he was invincible. This was merely the beginning of the Divine Appearance Realm. Powerful figures like the Emperor of State of Great Yue were rare even in the Nine Mountains Realm. Of course, those weaker than the Emperor but stronger than Feng Yan would still pose a threat to Xu Yan. But with his realm reaching this level, even if he couldn't win, he truly possessed the confidence to escape. "Once I perfect the Divine Appearance Realm, even a powerful Immortal Heavenly Venerable like the Emperor of State of Great Yue would be powerless against me." The Emperor was a formidable Immortal Heavenly Venerable but certainly not the most supreme, an understanding he himself possessed. "Once I break into the Void Shattering Realm, no Immortal Heavenly Venerable can threaten me." Only by reaching the Void Shattering Realm could he genuinely disregard the threats of Immortal Heavenly Venerables. The transcendent power of the Void Shattering Realm penetrated through the spaces of Heaven and Earth, inherently countering the integrating power of an Immortal Heavenly Venerable. As if naturally restraining the veritable masters commanding the power of a region. "The Enchantress Witch is in Thousand Layer Mountain. Should I go and see? With my current prowess, I should be able to handle it," Xu Yan contemplated and decided to explore Thousand Layer Mountain. However, before heading to Thousand Layer Mountain, Xu Yan sent a message to Wan Tianlin, inquiring about the progress of the investigation into the forces behind the scenes. To Xu Yan's surprise, even the Wan family had yet to uncover the rival faction. "Hiding pretty deep, are we? Now that I've shown myself, let's see if you'll continue to come after me," Xu Yan mentally smirked. As long as they targeted him, it would be manageable. Using Heavenly Will Fixation, he could control their souls and consciousness to naturally uncover the forces behind them. "Yet, to fixate and control practitioners in the late to peak True King Heavenly Venerable stage, they need to be somewhat weakened beforehand." Xu Yan pondered. Even having entered the Divine Appearance Realm, significantly enhancing Heavenly Will Fixation's power, it was challenging to fixate on practitioners at the late to peak True King Heavenly Venerable stage, who could easily break free from its control. "Although Heavenly Will Fixation is remarkable, my cultivation lacks depth. I indeed need time to enhance this divine skill further." Involving divine skills controlling souls and consciousness inherently carried the challenge of surpassing realm barriers for control. "If my Fifth Junior Brother mastered the introductory levels of Extreme Soul Martial Path, he'd likely wield such divine skills far more effectively with his powerful soul force!" Xu Yan thought of Jiang Buping, who cultivated the Extreme Soul Martial Path, a path intensively focused on the soul. Techniques involving souls naturally excelled for him. "Extreme Soul Martial Path..." Xu Yan mused, contemplating whether he too could reference the methods of the Extreme Soul Martial Path to metamorphose his own primordial spirit for greater purity. Achieving a truly pure and unblemished primordial spirit, invulnerable to malevolent forces, assuredly marked another transformation. Xu Yan garnered a sense of insight. "Still haven't found anyone, huh?" --- ### Unlisted Terms: 1. **Earth Shadow (地影)**: An organization or group involved in espionage within the narrative. Translated as "Earth Shadow" to convey the idea of stealth and secrecy. 2. **Tianwu Sect (天武門)**: Another martial sect mentioned in the text. Translated as "Tianwu Sect" mantaining the original name for consistency with other sects. 3. **Meng Chong (孟沖)**: Continues to be referred to by his name, indicating his contemplative and strategy-focused narrative arc. 4. **Great Mountain Cover (大蓋山)**: A place name, translated to maintain clarity about locations within the narrative. 5. **Wan Tianlin (萬天麟)**: A character involved in investigations; name kept as is to maintain continuity. 6. **Heavenly Will Fixation (天意定神)**: A technique for controlling souls and consciousness, translated to reflect its potent ability to determine and fixate upon beings. ### Translation Choices: - **Void Shattering Realm (破虛境)** and **Divine Appearance Realm (神相境)** are newer mentioned realms, indicating advanced levels of martial prowess, translated in congruence with existing style. - **Enchantress Witch (媚巫)** refers to a character with possible allure and mysterious powers, fitting her narrative role. - **Extreme Soul Martial Path (極魂武道)** continues to be referenced as a unique path focusing on soul cultivation, suggesting depth of prowess in spiritual realms. ### Gender Clarifications: - The provided context confirms Sarcastic tone, as Xu Yan reflects on his newfound power and strategic contemplations. - Li Xuan's mentoring role to Su Lingxiu and Fang Hao continues in this passage, illustrating his deep knowledge and power with potentially divine perceptions. ### Suggestions & Context Adjustments: - "Extreme Soul Martial Path" could potentially align under character introspection related to soul-based martial arts, adjusting for a synthesis into Xu Yan's journey and portraying broader philosophical exploration within martial paths. At the border between Great Mountain Cover and Thousand Layer Mountain, two True King Heavenly Venerables met. "No sign of him!" The responder wore an expression of frustration. Xu Yan was indeed adept at hiding; once he went into hiding, he was impossible to locate. Without finding him, how could they complete their mission? How could they lure him into the Heavenly Abyss? They had specifically prepared a Seven-Mystical Divine Flower (七妙神花) to lure him to the Heavenly Abyss. This was a true heavenly treasure, so rare and valuable that even Immortal Heavenly Venerables would covet it and fight to obtain it. If they couldn't lure Xu Yan to the Heavenly Abyss, they would be useless, unable to receive any reward, and might even end up dead without a grave. "Should we release information about this treasure? If Xu Yan finds out, he'll certainly enter the Heavenly Abyss." "Such a mystical treasure—if word gets out, even Immortal Heavenly Venerables will come rushing in. How will we manage the plan?" Both True Kings wore worried expressions. Suddenly, one of them brightened. "Is that Xu Yan?" "It definitely is. He seems to be heading to Thousand Layer Mountain. Let's go—avoid revealing ourselves. Now that he's shown up, we're in business!" The two True Kings were elated. Appearing inconspicuous, as if they were merely passing True King Heavenly Venerables, they continued on, quietly conversing. "The rumors say there's a suspected heavenly treasure in the Wu Ma Heavenly Abyss. Could it be true?" "It indeed is so. It's said to be the Seven-Mystical Divine Flower, a divine object of heaven enhancing the soul, purifying the martial foundation—aids in calming the mind and perceiving martial arts' profundities. Even Immortal Heavenly Venerables envy such a treasure." "Such a divine object… it could be our chance to break through to Immortal Heavenly Venerables." "Indeed, keep this matter secret and don't leak it. This Abyss is a small Heavenly Abyss, drawing little attention..." The two True King Heavenly Venerables pretended to be unaware of Xu Yan's presence, moving silently while whispering about the Seven-Mystical Divine Flower within Wu Ma Heavenly Abyss. "Thousand Layer Mountain... Is the Enchantress Witch here?" Xu Yan moved quietly. He had noticed the two True Kings long ago and made his presence known purposely to observe their reactions. Unexpectedly, they leaked the treasure's information, attempting to lure him to the Heavenly Abyss. "Seven-Mystical Divine Flower..." Xu Yan was tempted. This flower was undoubtedly a formidable treasure, its true value lying in enhancing martial insight, even more than augmenting the soul. Even Immortal Heavenly Venerables coveted it, showing its high grade, and current uses for him were significant. The Bloodheart Fruit allowed short-term elevated martial comprehension, yet the Seven-Mystical Divine Flower surpassed it, potentially aiding in comprehending Heaven and Earth-level martial methods. "Even if I can't fully grasp Heaven and Earth-level methods, I can still use this to refine my martial path, perceive my martial way, and even cultivate stronger divine abilities..." Xu Yan's interest was piqued as he discreetly followed the two True Kings from a short distance. The two True Kings, meanwhile, exchanged glances while whispering, uncertain if Xu Yan had caught their "secret." Indeed, Xu Yan's presence was elusive, detectable only by chance. They leveraged this to make Xu Yan believe he'd overheard a secret. "Be cautious; ensure no one overhears us." As they ended the discussion, they appeared suddenly vigilant, scanning the surroundings to prevent eavesdroppers. "Rest assured; unless they're Immortal Heavenly Venerables, who could escape our notice?" "True enough!" In secret, they communicated telepathically, "Where's Xu Yan?" "We couldn't find him! Did he not overhear our conversation?" "Impossible. Even if we didn't notice him, given Xu Yan's power, he surely noticed us." They felt uneasy. What if Xu Yan hadn't overheard the secret or simply wasn't interested? Despondent yet unable to pause, they continued forward, fearing Xu Yan would detect their ruse if they stopped. "Wait, something feels off," one True King said, pausing suddenly. For some reason, it felt as though he'd stepped into another world. "Uh-oh!" His expression changed drastically as ripples surrounded him, laws of Heaven and Earth encircling the scene with a coiling golden dragon, shrouding the landscape. In that instant, a hand pressed against his head. Buzz! His soul subtly trembled amidst celestial will, leaving him powerless to resist. Xu Yan decided to strike. While the Enchantress Witch posed a considerable threat, the Seven-Mystical Divine Flower was exceedingly rare and possibly otherworldly. Since the Enchantress Witch offered it, how could he refuse? Meeting the Enchantress Witch was inevitable. Yet first, preparations were crucial, like controlling these two True King Heavenly Venerables. Though not weak, late-stage True King Heavenly Venerables required some maneuvering to control. Xu Yan integrated Mountain and River Sword Intent into the environment and, as the True Kings entered, struck with surprise. In an instant, Xu Yan used Heavenly Will Fixation to control one True King immediately, while the other, realizing the anomaly, roared in fury, unleashing his aura to escape the binds of the Mountain and River Sword Intent. --- ### Translation Clarifications: 1. **Seven-Mystical Divine Flower (七妙神花)**: A valuable heavenly treasure, enhancing the soul and martial comprehension. Translated explicitly to capture its revered status in the text. 2. **Wu Ma Heavenly Abyss (巫魔天窟)**: A specific Abyss identified with intrigue and treasures, notably featuring the Seven-Mystical Divine Flower. 3. **Bloodheart Fruit (血心果)**: A comparison item used to highlight the exceptional value of the Seven-Mystical Divine Flower. ### Translation Choices: - **Enchantress Witch (媚巫)** as a persona provides allure and mystique, fitting her role as a powerful and elusive character in the narrative context. - **Mountain and River Sword Intent (山河劍意)** is emphasized in its tactical application, exhibiting Xu Yan's skills and foresight in maneuvering through danger and control. ### Additional Contextual Adjustments: - **The nuanced portrayal of emotions** within characters like Xu Yan and the True Kings shows strategic planning and the delicate balance of risk and opportunity, critical in exploring martial mastery and interpersonal conflict. - **Integration of tactical elements** such as the strategic use of the Mountain and River Sword Intent within environmental conditions enhances narrative allure.