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

Chapter 448: Heavenly God’s Might, Great Yan Dynasty At the peak of the Zhongming realm, Xu Yan stood proudly. A figure descended from the sky, landing atop the mountain peak, bowing respectfully. The person wore a Seven-Leaf Heavenly Fiend Mask. "Where is the headquarters of the Zhongming realm’s Heavenly Fiend Shadowland?" Xu Yan asked coolly. "There are three branches in the Zhongming realm, my lord. I could only locate one of them, but the other two remain undiscovered." The masked Heavenly Fiend offered a map to Xu Yan. Xu Yan took the map, glanced at it, and began to ponder. Despite having infiltrated the Heavenly Fiend Shadowland, none of his pieces had been able to discover the location of their headquarters. Not even the true mission of the Heavenly Fiend Shadowland had been unearthed. Every Heavenly Fiend carried out their own tasks, completely unaware of other missions. Any attempt to investigate beyond one's own assignment triggered the Shadowland's suspicion, leading to the execution of one such infiltrator before. Through continuous conflict against the Heavenly Fiend Shadowland, it had become evident that there was a traitor inside. As a result, they had enhanced their leak prevention mechanisms. "Heavenly Seventeen," Xu Yan murmured. Until now, the most powerful figure known within the Heavenly Fiend Shadowland, even the orchestrator of their missions, was Heavenly Seventeen. According to information from Red Cat, Heavenly Seventeen's strength surpassed the Immortal Realm, suggesting there were even stronger beings hidden within the Heavenly Fiend Shadowland. "To stir the Divine Domain, to unify heaven and earth," Xu Yan contemplated. The plot of the Heavenly Fiend Shadowland aimed at unifying heaven and earth, hinting at a formidable power backing it from behind the scenes. "Continue your infiltration and await my orders," Xu Yan instructed, as the Seven-Leaf Heavenly Fiend departed swiftly. "I should explore the Greater Realms, such as the Tai-Miao Realm, Tai-Kun Realm, or perhaps the Tai-He Realm!" Only in these great realms could more secrets of the Divine Domain be known. Among them, the Tai-He Realm was the greatest and strongest in the Divine Domain, and it even hinted at methods to surpass the limits of the Immortal Realm. "My second junior brother went to the Great Yan Realm. There might be a grand battle with the Wan Bao Alliance. Could they have experts beyond the Immortal Realm?" Xu Yan reflected that though no such experts had ever appeared in the Divine Domain, with its current turmoil, those aiming for unification might bring them forth. "Should I head to the Bi Hai Realm first, or the Tai-Miao Realm? No, I'll visit the Bi Hai Realm. I wonder how Brother Xie is doing." Xu Yan ultimately decided to visit the Bi Hai Realm. With a step forward, he vanished into the void of heaven and earth, emerging thousands of miles away in an instant. ... In the wilderness, Meng Chong sat cross-legged, quietly waiting. "The Wan Bao Alliance is quite something—sending over ten Immortal Heavenly Venerables to chase me. Today, I'll wait for them to arrive." He planned to unleash a massacre. Having been pursued for so long, pent-up rage simmered within him. Now, with his strength advancing, it was time to reveal his divine might and warn the Wan Bao Alliance of the prowess of Meng Chong the Heavenly God. Since the Wan Bao Alliance refused to yield or apologize, believing they could oppress others, he intended to overpower them until they conceded. This wilderness would be the tomb for those chasing him! He wanted these Immortal Heavenly Venerables to see the brutal force of Physical Body Martial Path! Swoosh, swoosh! Over a dozen figures approached from all directions, quickly surrounding Meng Chong. "Meng Chong, today you meet your end!" The leader said coldly. Finally, they had Meng Chong cornered in the wilderness, rendering escape impossible. Though curious about his lack of flight, they thought little of it, assuming he couldn’t match their numbers even if he broke through to the Immortal Realm. "My end?" Meng Chong grinned, rising and looking at the Immortal Heavenly Venerables with icy disdain. "Today is your end. Since your Wan Bao Alliance oppresses unjustly, refusing to admit wrongs, I'll force you to acknowledge them!" "Arrogant!" The leader of the Wan Bao Alliance laughed coldly. Boom! As their auras released, the combined pressure of over a dozen Immortal Heavenly Venerables shook the heavens and earth, sealing their domain. The concentrated power trapped ordinary Immortal Venerables in a quagmire-like sensation. "Arrogant? You haven't seen true arrogance. Today, you shall witness the might of a Heavenly God!" Meng Chong retorted with a sneer. Boom! Golden light erupted as divine tides surged, a great sun appearing behind him, stars circling his form. In an instant, Meng Chong transformed into a giant akin to a mountain. The Immortal Venerables of the Wan Bao Alliance felt a deep shock. This scene was overwhelming. "What kind of Martial Path is this person cultivating?" The thought crossed every mind. At that moment, they grasped why Meng Chong was dubbed "Heavenly God." Such a sight was indeed as if a god had descended! "Take this punch!" Meng Chong snorted, his massive fist crashing down like a great sun, aiming for the leader of the Wan Bao Alliance. Boom! As Meng Chong's punch landed, the controlled domain shattered instantly, heavenly laws emerging as a colossal fist crossed the void to confront the Venerable. "Not good!" As Meng Chong acted, fear struck the Wan Bao Alliance experts' hearts. They realized he had waited purposefully for their arrival. "Attack together!" The Venerable frantically defended, sensing a grave danger in Meng Chong's punch. Despite retreating rapidly, the fist's power remained daunting. "Can you escape?" Meng Chong scoffed, a starry brilliance surging from one of his acupoints. This sudden force quagmired the Immortal Venerables, sapping their speed and strength. Fear overtook the Wan Bao Alliance as they unleashed powerful secret techniques in desperation. Having ascended to the Immortal Venerable rank, they weren't ordinary and couldn’t afford hesitance. "Mere child's play," Meng Chong chuckled coldly. Boom! His already enormous body grew again, embodying divine presence. A radiant sun hovered above, stars densely scattered around him, winds and thunder grasped in his hands, shattering the world with ease! Boom! One Venerable, despite giving it their all, couldn't withstand the force and burst into a bloody pyre, dissolving into ash mid-air. Even the immense assaults on Meng Chong’s colossal form failed to budge him, nor breach his defenses. Meng Chong didn’t even flinch. Witnessing this, despair gripped the Wan Bao Alliance experts. What terrifying opponents these were, employing unfathomably potent techniques. Regret seeped into some hearts, realizing their relentless pursuit of Meng Chong had been a mistake, driven by the Alliance’s misplaced pride and authority. An earth-shattering battle erupted across the wilderness. A giant akin to a deity struck at Venerables, delivering lethal blows as each fell to his relentless might. Some tried to flee, but a peculiar force ensnared them, trapping them as if in a mire, hindering any escape. "Perish!" Meng Chong, embracing one Venerable in his arms, crushed them to dust with a squeeze! Such savage scenes sent tremors through the remaining Venerables. Some began to beg for mercy! "Coward, spineless fool, perish!" Meng Chong declared, smashing the pleading one with ease. "Ah!" In terror, one Venerable’s body collapsed, releasing his soul to flee. He chose to abandon his flesh and make his escape. Once the soul separated, he joyously discovered the mire-like restraint vanished, indicating the quagmire targeted only the physical body! "Can you truly escape?" Meng Chong scoffed, eyes like suns burning into the departing soul. Notes on New Terms: 1. "Clock Sound Realm (鐘鳴境)" - translated as Zhongming realm. The term "鐘鳴" literally translates to "clock/bell sound," indicating perhaps a realm known for certain auditory phenomena, possibly suggesting the time or season. 2. "Seven-Leaf Heavenly Fiend Mask (七葉天煞面具)" - "七葉" translates to "seven leaves," and "天煞" refers to a "heavenly fiend," an entity or mask associated with malevolence or supernatural force. 3. "Heavenly Fiend Shadowland (天煞地影)" - "地影" translates literally as "earth shadow," conveying the clandestine, perhaps dark nature of this organization. 4. "Tai-Kun Realm (太崑境)" - likely a new realm, maintained given the naming convention of regions. 5. "Tai-He Realm (太合境)" - another realm named similarly, suggesting its import within the narrative. 6. "Great Yan Realm (大炎境)"- akin to the naming pattern, this refers to Xu Yan's realm. 7. "Heavenly Seventeen (天十七)" - a character identifier ranked or named for their prominence within their group, suggesting a hierarchical order. 8. "Heavenly Fiend (天煞)" - Extending the use of malevolent or mystic connotations attached to characters or organizations using this term. 9. "Physical Body Martial Path (肉身武道)" - Indicates a path focusing on physique and physical strength. 10. "Heavenly God’s Might (天神之威)" - Alluding to divine or supreme power shown through Meng Chong’s actions. 11. "Immortal Heavenly Venerables (不朽天尊)" - a rank denoting surpassing human ability and nearing the divine. 12. "Tai-Miao Realm (太緲境)" - pointing to another significant realm. 13. "Great Yan Dynasty (大炎王朝)" - Establishing a political or sovereign structure within the story. The large variety of realms and masked organizations in the text suggests a complex hierarchy within the universe, often implying mysterious entities potentially housed within each of these realms or organizations. These realms such as Tai-Kun or Tai-He establish cosmic hierarchies or geography pivotal to the plot’s broader scope. The mention of mysterious “Heavenly Fiend” organizations hints at covert, possibly antagonistic, narrative roles, thread through power struggles or hidden knowledge. Amid the shocked gazes of the remaining Immortal Heavenly Venerables, that soul vanished in an instant, dissipating into nothingness! A soul-destroying technique?! Moreover, its power directly annihilated the soul into nonexistence! At this moment, everyone present realized that escape was no longer an option. "Meng Chong, let's fight to the death!" All of them shouted in unison, pouring their lifelong cultivation into a self-destructive attack, unleashing their strongest assault ever. Boom! Under such furious onslaughts, Meng Chong's body swayed slightly, taking half a step back! But it was just that! Boom! With Meng Chong's fist descending like a great sun, the remaining Immortal Heavenly Venerables were reduced to ashes! "Fantastic!" Meng Chong was exhilarated; this was the kind of ferocious battle that the Physical Body Martial Path should embody. "Let's see if your Wan Bao Alliance will continue to hunt me. I'll kill every single one of you!" Meng Chong smiled coldly. Withdrawing his aura, he looked towards the depths of the wilderness, striding across to head towards the next realm. "This journey leads to one of the great realms of the Divine Domain, the Great Yan Realm." The Great Yan Realm, one of the great realms of the Divine Domain, is distinct as it is ruled by the Great Yan Dynasty! It is also the first dynasty of the Divine Domain! The Great Yan Dynasty, the Zhou Family of the Royal Court, is the supreme dynasty of the Spiritual Domain's Great Zhou Nation. Within the Great Yan Realm lies a Heavenly Abyss, one of the top ten in the Divine Domain, governed by the Great Yan Dynasty. "I wonder how Zi Yun is faring." Meng Chong muttered to himself. Going to the Great Yan Dynasty, he planned to visit an old friend. "After seeing the old friend, continue on to the Tai-Kun Realm." Upon breaking through, Jiang Buping would inevitably head to Tai-Kun Realm to settle some grievances. As his senior brother, naturally, Meng Chong would support him! Great Yan Dynasty, Dongyang County, Dongyang Martial Institute. The Great Yan Realm, under the rule of the Great Yan Dynasty, has any forces within it under dynastic jurisdiction. Almost all have ties to dynasty officials, otherwise survival is nearly impossible. The Dongyang Martial Institute, part of the dynasty, nurtures martial prodigies for the nation. Throughout the Great Yan Dynasty, martial institutes are established, with any prodigy eligible to enter. Local officials recommending a top prodigy gain rewards, considered a meritorious act! The emphasis and system on fostering prodigies by the Great Yan Dynasty ensure that, excluding rare exceptions, virtually all martial prodigies are enlisted under the dynasty, serving the royal family. Even if a prodigy faces injustice and persecution, as long as their talent is exceptional, the martial institutes stand up for them. There are accounts of a prodigy, hailing from humble beginnings, suffering local oppression. After enduring hardships and eventually escaping, they participated in a martial institute's assessment, their extraordinary talent uncovered, enabling their rise and eventual revenge under the institute's protection. In other cases, fearing that a prodigy would gain protection, their enemies killed them on the way to the institute. When such incidents surfaced, the dynasty retaliated with lightning-fast decrees, eradicating those who persecuted the prodigy. Such events have led to the current state where, once a rare prodigy is identified, the Great Yan Dynasty fiercely acts to induct them into a martial institute, rewarding recommending parties. However, some prodigies, arrogant and impudent, believing their talent afforded unbridled actions, were publicly executed by the dynasty! This serves as a reminder that while prodigies might be indulged for extraordinary acts, excesses breaching decency are penalized harshly, quelling rebellious thoughts! Dongyang County is a major county within the dynasty. The Dongyang Martial Institute is renowned, distinct for its role in nurturing prodigies from the Spiritual Domain. Thus, its headmasters hail from the Spiritual Domain. In Dongyang Martial Institute, over half the instructors, including some students, have origins from the Spiritual Domain. Among the many acclaimed prodigies from the Spiritual Domain, there is one renowned figure, the greatest support for the Dongyang Martial Institute and all disciples from the Spiritual Domain. That esteemed figure is, the Great Yan Dynasty's minister, Dongyang Marquis Xiang Zhen! "Finally, I've broken through!" In a secluded room at the Dongyang Martial Institute, a stunning woman in purple opened her eyes. "The Refining True Realm!" Zi Yun exhaled deeply. Since arriving at Dongyang Martial Institute, she had diligently cultivated day and night, finally reaching the Refining True Realm today. She exited the closed room. "I wonder what strength Meng Chong now holds." After not seeing Meng Chong for so long, she missed him dearly. "Junior Sister Zi Yun, congratulations on your breakthrough," a senior sister from the Dongyang Martial Institute remarked warmly. "Lucky, just lucky!" Zi Yun responded modestly. "By the way, Junior Sister Zi Yun, big things have happened in the Divine Domain during your seclusion," the senior sister mentioned. "Oh, what happened?" Zi Yun seemed disinterested in the Divine Domain’s affairs. "Do you know of the Wan Bao Alliance?" "Yes, it's the foremost commercial alliance in the Divine Domain, exceedingly powerful," Zi Yun nodded. "The Wan Bao Alliance has been chasing someone but failed to capture them, while their branches have been repeatedly raided..." As the senior sister spoke, her excitement was palpable. "Yes, yes, I heard that person is really formidable," nearby disciples gradually gathered around. Among these disciples, some came from the Spiritual Domain, arriving slightly earlier than Zi Yun's batch. The senior sister, in fact, was once a county princess of the Great Zhou Nation in the Spiritual Domain. Notes on New Terms: 1. "Clock Sound Realm (鐘鳴境)" - Previously translated. 2. "Seven-Leaf Heavenly Fiend Mask (七葉天煞面具)" - Previously discussed. 3. "Heavenly Fiend Shadowland (天煞地影)" - Previously discussed. 4. "Tai-Kun Realm (太崑境)" - Previously mentioned. 5. "Tai-He Realm (太合境)" - Previously mentioned. 6. "Great Yan Realm (大炎境)" - Previously mentioned. 7. "Heavenly Seventeen (天十七)" - Previously mentioned. 8. "Heavenly Fiend (天煞)" - Previously discussed in context. 9. "Physical Body Martial Path (肉身武道)" - Previously discussed. 10. "Heavenly God’s Might (天神之威)" - Previously discussed. 11. "Immortal Heavenly Venerables (不朽天尊)" - Previously mentioned. 12. "Tai-Miao Realm (太緲境)" - Previously mentioned. 13. "Great Yan Dynasty (大炎王朝)" - Previously mentioned. 14. "Dongyang County (東陽郡)" - Named region within the Great Yan Dynasty, responsible for nursing martial arts excellence under dynastic auspices. 15. "Dongyang Martial Institute (東陽武院)" - A prestigious academy within the dynasty, vital for martial prodigy development. 16. "Heavenly Abyss (天窟)" - Refers to a significant location controlled by the Great Yan Dynasty. The Dongyang Martial Institute as a central location in the narrative emphasizes the rigorous and hierarchical systems supporting martial training. The narrative frames prodigies, talent recognition, and institutional protection and consequences, underscoring societal structures around martial prowess, ambition, and authority. Names like "Dongyang Marquis Xiang Zhen" highlight character and place connections as significant forces within the universe, depicting intricate dynamics of power and influence.