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

Chapter 412: Using the Heavenly Abyss as a Divine Furnace, Nether Bone Blood Drop Fang Hao began preparations for the Qinghua Realm under the guise of an ingenious scheme, contemplating the setup of a grand array for Qinghua Realm, absorbed in relentless activity. Arranging such a grand formation requires an intimate understanding of the Qinghua Realm. Thus, he was engrossed in studying maps of the Qinghua Realm, treasures held by the three great powers. Additionally, when the actual array is to be laid, he must personally visit key locations for understanding and arrangement. It's a laborious process, one that cannot be completed in just a year or two. Currently, the Heavenly Abyss of Qinghua is in turmoil, and not even the Immortal Heavenly Beings like the Great Yue Sovereign can spare the time to assist. Hence, arranging the array waits upon a more peaceful Heavenly Abyss, freeing these Immortal Heavenly Beings to lend their aid. As for when the Heavenly Abyss might calm, Fang Hao is unsure, though he could take the initiative to quell it. For example, could the Master intervene? Su Lingxiu was also planning her own Dan Medical Alchemy Martial Path, pondering the setup of a Divine Furnace of Heaven and Earth to absorb the Laws of Heaven and Earth, extracting the essence of Natural Laws to refine pills. She had indeed found a way to enhance her strength. Naturally, setting up the Divine Furnace requires a substantial amount of materials and time, but once arranged, it would reach the harvest phase, rapidly increasing her strength, making all efforts worthwhile. Jiang Buping was delving into the crafting of the Extreme Soul Divine Weapon, seeking to grasp the essence of Extreme Soul Divine Abilities. "Your disciple Jiang Buping has comprehended the methodology for crafting the Extreme Soul Divine Weapon. You gain the Supreme Soul Weapon." The Great Dao Golden Book sent this feedback. Atop his Spiritual Platform, a long spear emerged, landing in the hands of the Extreme Soul Physique. The spear exuded a chilling aura, its presence seeming to tear the soul merely with a glance. "Excellent, with this Supreme Soul Weapon, the power of the Extreme Soul Martial Path can truly be unleashed." Li Xuan was elated. "With my current strength, even martial artists beyond the Immortal Realm who are harmonized with Heaven and Earth could not withstand a single strike from me." In the Void Shattering Realm, tearing through the void of creation, this power of void-shattering could thrust a martial artist harmonized with Heaven and Earth out. "The Heaven and Earth Realm signifies a major leap, surpassing the Immortal Realm by several levels." Li Xuan assessed his martial path once more. From the Divine Arts Realm onwards, it no longer correlates one-to-one with the Tai-Cang Martial Realm; the Divine Arts Realm already surpasses the Refining Divine Realm, reaching the Law Condensing Realm and extending even beyond it. The Divine Appearance Realm surpasses the True King Heavenly Venerable of the Refining True Realm, while the Void Shattering Realm, possessing the power to shatter the void of creation, on sheer strength alone, also surpasses the Immortal Heavenly Venerable Realm. "Being unrivaled in Tai Cang draws nearer and nearer." Li Xuan brimmed with anticipation; after becoming unrivaled in Tai Cang, transcendence over Heaven and Earth awaits. To transcend Heaven and Earth, wouldn’t that mean standing shoulder to shoulder with the Master of the Tai Cang Tome? Perhaps, even going beyond? "I mustn't become complacent; there are many truly strong ones still. The Master of the Tai Cang Tome might not be the strongest." Li Xuan cautioned himself against complacency. He continued to focus, delving into the comprehensive Tai Cang Tome. Subsequent to this, Jiang Buping initiated his understanding of the Extreme Soul Divine Abilities, and Li Xuan naturally received the feedback, perfecting the Extreme Soul Martial Path methodology. "The Immortal Heavenly Beings' battle in the Nine Mountain Realm hasn't concluded yet." Li Xuan muttered as he took a glance in the direction of the Nine Mountain Realm, tongue-tied at the sight. "Master, what do you think about using the Heavenly Abyss as the mouth of the Divine Furnace?" Su Lingxiu asked as she massaged her master's shoulders, seeking his advice. After some deliberation, she felt using the Heavenly Abyss as the Divine Furnace of Heaven and Earth seemed the optimal choice. The vast opening of the Heavenly Abyss would serve perfectly as the mouth of the Divine Furnace. What kind of potent pills could be refined from such a grand furnace! "Can you manage such a vast Heavenly Abyss?" Li Xuan raised an eyebrow as he spoke. Admittedly, Su Lingxiu’s idea was indeed brilliant, but with her current strength, controlling such a vast Heavenly Abyss to transform it into a Divine Furnace of Heaven and Earth remained unachievable. "A large Heavenly Abyss is momentarily beyond me, but I can handle a smaller one. It’s merely a matter of time to slowly modify the Abyss." Su Lingxiu exclaimed confidently. "You do what you can." Li Xuan nodded in agreement. "Master, the Heavenly Abyss is wrought with chaos now; it's not easy to manage." Su Lingxiu giggled. "You can find Fengyan to help in pacify a smaller abyss. With his prowess, it's easily within his capacity. Begin with a smaller abyss for practice; cease contemplating Da Yue Abyss for now." Li Xuan shook his head dismissively. This girl had her sights set on Da Yue Abyss, wanting him to intervene, pacify it so she could turn it into a Divine Furnace of Heaven and Earth. "I don’t want to stray too far from Master." Su Lingxiu speculated, "Although Da Yue Abyss is vast, there’s no necessity to transform the entire abyss into a Divine Furnace. I could start with a part, eventually extending across the whole abyss." Li Xuan pondered over Su Lingxiu’s plan as he listened. Da Yue Abyss does seem apt; it is, after all, one of the three great abysses in Qinghua Realm. Transforming it into a Divine Furnace of Heaven and Earth sounds ideal, though the process would take considerable time. As Su Lingxiu mentioned, setting it up gradually seemed desirable, and once successful, the Netherworld Abyssal Qi would be absorbed, refined into pills. The idea appeared beneficial almost irrespective of the angle. "Alright then, for the sake of my disciple's martial advancement, I shall perform (a show off) once more." Li Xuan whispered internally. "Alright, once your fifth junior brother is out of seclusion, I shall assist in pacifying it." Li Xuan feigned helplessness and nodded. "Thank you, Master!" Su Lingxiu rejoiced. As for waiting for the fifth junior brother, it’s clearly to instruct by example, demonstrating the power of Extreme Soul Martial Path, deepening his understanding. Su Lingxiu was filled with anticipation, excited for Master's upcoming intervention, both a rare occasion and an opportunity to witness the prowess of the Extreme Soul Martial Path. In Da Yue Abyss, blood-red waves surged, and the Great Yue Sovereign with several Immortal Heavenly Beings were relying on a grand array to ward off the impending Netherworld Blood Offspring eager to step into the abyss. Meanwhile, numerous True King Heavenly Venerables were sustaining the array's operation, leveraging its power to eradicate the invading blood disciples. Despite this, the blood light continued to seep in, surging like a rolling tide. "Were it not for the array’s support, the abyss would have fallen, forcing us to retreat to the entrance once more." The Great Yue Sovereign lamented. This invasion from the Netherworld was fiercer than any before, more blood offspring intervening, more powerful ones at that, surpassing the abyss’s tolerable power limit. Even with the array’s aid, the Great Yue Sovereign and his fellows felt the strain. The Netherworld’s invasion involved a powerful treasure, even a fraction of its might seeping through rattled the array, shaking the very Laws of Heaven and Earth. The Heavenly Abyss, essentially a void in Heaven and Earth, seemed the enemy’s aim was to further widen this chasm. Yet the Laws of Heaven and Earth were robust, dissipating intruding forces, safeguarding the abyss from expansion. Boom! Suddenly, above the abyss, where the array sealed it, a deep crimson light surged forth. "Attack with full force!" The Great Yue Sovereign was startled inwardly; this deep crimson light gave even him a chilling sense of peril! His mighty halberd unleashed divine might, empowering the array, flowing upwards toward the abyss. The other Immortal Heavenly Beings hurried to assist. However, the deep crimson light neither dissipated nor invaded the abyss; it appeared to coalesce. Along the edge of the abyss, the Laws of Heaven and Earth manifested, intertwining across the barrier, seemingly resisting this crimson light’s infiltration. Faintly within, the essence of Natural Laws loomed. "What is this?" One of the Immortal Heavenly Beings uttered in shock. "Work of the Netherworld Blood Soul!" The Great Yue Sovereign’s face turned dark, secretly astounded as well. "What?" The others were struck with horror. "Could the Netherworld Blood Soul enter the abyss?" Their hearts sank. If the Netherworld Blood Soul could enter the abyss, they couldn’t withstand it. That was a presence surpassing Immortal Heavenly Beings. "The Blood Soul cannot enter the abyss, but it managed to infiltrate an attack, challenging the array’s endurance. Once the array falls, we’ll struggle to keep the Netherworld enemies at bay." "Additionally, the Blood Soul’s attack poses a severe threat; caution is imperative!" The Great Yue Sovereign’s tone was somber. His expression bore immeasurable heaviness; if his assumption holds, Da Yue Abyss would once again fall, reverting to past conditions, withstanding Netherworld enemies at the entrance. Should that unfold, Da Yue Kingdom’s advantage would dissipate. Perhaps, call upon a senior master for intervention? --- ### New Terms and Their Translations: - 青華境 (Qinghua Realm): Translated as "Qinghua Realm" to maintain the original place name. - 天窟 (Heavenly Abyss): Translated as "Heavenly Abyss" to retain its mysterious and grand nature. - 冥獄 (Netherworld Abyss): Translated as "Netherworld Abyss" as it gives a sense of the underworld. - 冥獄血子 (Netherworld Blood Offspring): Translated as "Netherworld Blood Offspring" to denote beings originating from the Netherworld. - 極魂神兵 (Extreme Soul Divine Weapon): Translated as "Extreme Soul Divine Weapon" reflects its powerful nature. - 大道金書 (Great Dao Golden Book): Translated as "Great Dao Golden Book" to indicate its significance and stature. - 極魂神通 (Extreme Soul Divine Abilities): Translated as "Extreme Soul Divine Abilities" for consistency in the martial path they are associated with. - 大嶽皇 (Great Yue Sovereign): Translated as "Great Yue Sovereign" to denote a respected ruler of the Da Yue Abyss. ### Explanation: - **青華境 (Qinghua Realm)**: "Realm" maintains a mystical aspect, aligning with realms in fantasy settings. Alternative: "Qinghua Territory." - **天窟 (Heavenly Abyss)**: "Abyss" fits the context of a deep, sprawling chasm with grand implications. Alternative literal translation could be "Sky Cave," but "Heavenly Abyss" keeps the grandeur and mystique. - **冥獄 (Netherworld Abyss)**: Using "Netherworld" suggests an underworld theme, appropriate for fantasy settings. - **冥獄血子 (Netherworld Blood Offspring)**: This translation maintains origin and distinct ominousness. These translations help maintain the narrative’s fantasy tone, riveting and immersive for readers. Adjustments to capitalize the names of realms and entities enhance their prominence. The Great Yue Sovereign could not bring himself to ask for help, nor did he possess the dignity to do so. Furthermore, would such a senior master willingly lower themselves to intervene? "Be cautious, everyone." Taking a deep breath, the Great Yue Sovereign resigned to relying on their own capabilities. He looked to the True King Heavenly Venerables sustaining the formation and instructed, "Withdraw from here and set up a defensive array on the outer layer." He was prepared for the core of the Heavenly Abyss to fall. However, if the Netherworld’s forces could be confined within the core, that would be acceptable. "Yes!" With a change of expression, the True King Heavenly Venerables retreated, setting up a defensive array outside the core region of the Heavenly Abyss. Boom! Under the solemn gazes of the Great Yue Sovereign and others, a deep crimson droplet, resembling blood, pierced through the barrier of Heaven and Earth, descending. As this droplet fell, an instantaneously terrifying aura, akin to that of purgatory, surged forth. "Execute full power!" The Great Yue Sovereign’s expression changed drastically. Boom! The Immortal Heavenly Beings unleashed their powerful strikes, empowering the array, attempting to resist this blood-like force. Boom! The deep crimson droplet abruptly dispersed, transforming into a scarlet glow, igniting like the blood fires of purgatory. A sinister voice emanated from beyond the barrier of Heaven and Earth. "Mere ants dare to oppose the Nether Bone Blood Drop!" Even though only half its power carried through the barrier, this Nether Bone Blood Drop was overwhelmingly potent, transforming into scarlet blood light that instantly shattered the formation. The edge of the Heavenly Abyss shimmered with the Laws of Heaven and Earth, relentlessly eroding the intruding power, preventing further expansion of the abyss. "Retreat quickly!" A chill ran through the Great Yue Sovereign’s heart, knowing they couldn’t withstand it. If they didn’t retreat, they would be injured by this strike. Once injured, their strength would decline, and resisting the subsequent assault of the Netherworld Blood Offspring would become even harder. The Immortal Heavenly Beings retreated in succession; the formation at the core of the Heavenly Abyss had vanished, and waves of blood surged in, blood-red figures descending one after another. Just as when the Heavenly Abyss initially appeared, they failed to hold the enemy outside the abyss. Boom! An exceptionally powerful blood-red figure, not inferior to the Great Yue Sovereign in the least. The other blood offspring were similarly formidable. "Prepare for battle." The Great Yue Sovereign steadied himself with a deep breath. The core of the Heavenly Abyss had fallen, meaning they couldn’t keep the enemies of the Netherworld from breaching it entirely. Fortunately, outside the abyss’s core, defensive formations remained, aiding in defense and easing the pressure. Furthermore, the power seeping through from the Blood Soul was confined to the core, not impacting the outer regions. No worry about the Blood Soul’s power breaching the outer arrays, then. "Kill!" Blood waves surged, and blood light pierced the sky, with blood-red figures charging madly. The Great Yue Sovereign, wielding his mighty halberd, stood within the formation, confronting the strongest blood offspring. The grand array activated, with Immortal Heavenly Beings and True King Heavenly Venerables drawing upon its power to fend off the Netherworld onslaught. Once more, the Heavenly Abyss plunged into fierce battle. Within the Great Yue Kingdom, True King Heavenly Venerables departed for the Heavenly Abyss one after another, carrying Fang Hao’s crafted array plates. "The Da Yue Abyss has fallen?" Fang Hao was astounded. "Yes, a Netherworld Blood Soul infiltrated, breaking the defensive array." The True King Heavenly Venerable returning for more array plates answered with grim determination. "This is the Ten Absolute Killing Array, take it and arrange it." Fang Hao nodded, producing several array plates and handing them to the Venerable. "Thank you, Dean Fang!" The True King Heavenly Venerable expressed gratitude. Grasping the array plates, just as she prepared to leave for the Da Yue Abyss, news arrived. The Da Yue Abyss had fallen, the Netherworld Blood Offspring blood-refining thousands of blood slaves and dozens of blood disciples, deploying a devastating Netherworld Art, shattering the defensive array. The Great Yue Sovereign and his people were forced to retreat to the Da Yue Abyss entrance. The urgency of the situation surged suddenly, prompting Fang Hao to declare, "I will accompany you." Boom! Even from the capital of Great Yue, one could make out a faint red hue over the Heavenly Abyss, attesting to the resolve of this Netherworld invasion, employing blood refinement to execute lethal arts. Heavenly dominions like thunder and fire converged over the Heavenly Abyss, and Fang Hao utilized the Ingenious Scheme of Heaven and Earth, harnessing these dominions as he set up the grand array. "Setting up the Heavenly Abyss as a Divine Furnace is no small task." Su Lingxiu clicked her tongue. "Yet, the greater the challenge, the greater the reward. I will make this abyss the Divine Furnace of Heaven and Earth!" Jiang Buping emerged from seclusion. A spear, emanating an extreme aura, was held firmly in his hand, appearing crafted from the soul itself. "What kind of divine weapon is this? With one look, I feel my divine intent torn asunder." Shi’er gasped in astonishment. Seeing Jiang Buping exit seclusion, Su Lingxiu was overjoyed, shaking Li Xuan’s arm, "Master, Master, the fifth junior brother is out; it’s your turn!" "Very well." Li Xuan patted her hand, glancing toward the Da Yue Abyss; it was time to intervene once more. The Fifth Path of Wu had emerged; it was time to demonstrate its prowess. --- ### New Terms and Their Translations: - 冥骨血滴 (Nether Bone Blood Drop): Translated as "Nether Bone Blood Drop" to convey the ominous and powerful nature of this entity. - 十絕殺陣 (Ten Absolute Killing Array): Translated as "Ten Absolute Killing Array" to capture its formidable and lethal capability. ### Explanation: - **冥骨血滴 (Nether Bone Blood Drop)**: The term indicates a drop of essence or power from the Netherworld, complicated by notes of dread associated with ‘bone’ and ‘blood’. An alternative could be "Nether Blood Droplet," but the slightly longer form emphasizes its ominous depth. - **十絕殺陣 (Ten Absolute Killing Array)**: The translation preserves the original’s imposing sense of dread, especially fitting for an array likely built on lethal principles. Alternates might include “Ten Ultimate Killing Array,” albeit with a slightly different nuance. The translation helps sustain the theme's dark and intense atmosphere, drawing the reader deeper into the perilous tale. Adjustments to capitalize array names and powers enhance their perceived gravity and distinction in the narrative.