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

Chapter 470: The Spirit of Heaven and Earth in Tai-Cang Border Wilderness, in the State of Wu's palace, inside a small stone house. Tian Zi (天紫) ruffled his disheveled hair, looking expectantly out of the small stone house, only to lower his head in disappointment again. "He really isn't coming back, is he? Without him, it's so boring." Loneliness had become a habit for Tian Zi. When someone suddenly pulled him out of that loneliness, it became unbearable to be alone again. Naturally, Tian Zi wasn't the type to have a calm temperament, content to wait indefinitely. However, circumstances forced him to stay here, gradually turning it into a habit. Li Xuan's arrival disrupted that habit, making it hard for him to remain patient. "If only I had mentioned something valuable." Tian Zi felt a pang of regret. Finally, someone came, someone incredibly powerful with whom he could converse freely and who seemingly had no malicious intent. Yet, his own caution had halted their conversation, and now the person didn't return. "Alas, Tai-Cang tricked me into coming here, locked me away, and then died himself, leaving me in this quandary." Tian Zi heaved a sigh. "Tai-Cang's death is one thing, but protecting this world till the end, it only adds to my plight, and now, what should I do? "This world, too, is beginning to have problems. Tai-Cang's efforts ultimately went unappreciated." As Tian Zi thought of these things, he felt both resentful toward Tai-Cang and deeply troubled. "That guy must be very strong, stronger than Tai-Cang? Stronger even than that fearsome being?" Tian Zi furrowed his brows in contemplation. "If he returns, I'll mention a few things to see his reaction, whether he knows anything." Tian Zi recalled something. "Besides Tai-Cang and that terrifying entity, where else could such power exist? If such a being truly exists, Tai-Cang would know of it, and so would that terrifying entity. "But he isn't that fearsome entity in disguise, nor one of the other six. Could he really be so powerful that neither Tai-Cang nor that terrifying presence know of him?" The more he thought, the more puzzled Tian Zi became. "Though that terrifying presence was immensely powerful, Tai-Cang and the other six had detected it. But he—they've never been mentioned. "Tai-Cang never brought it up, nor did the six. It's strange. If his strength truly exceeded them, why would such a formidable power disregard the heavens and earth? "He wouldn't covet the heavens and earth like that terrifying being, would he?" Tian Zi pondered deeply, considering what to say if he met Li Xuan again and how to probe whether the person was indeed invincibly lonely. "If he's indeed that powerful, he must know about Tai-Cang and that terrifying presence's battle, right?" Suddenly, a thought struck Tian Zi. Maybe he could test him a bit? "Yes, if he comes again, I should test whether he knows of that battle between Tai-Cang and that terrifying entity. If he knows about such a monumental fight, it signals he's from the same era. If not, he's a later arrival—could his strength truly reach such an unfathomable level? "If he's truly surpassed Tai-Cang, it only signifies he's remarkably monstrous for a later arrival, but it seems unlikely!" Feeling proud of his cleverness, Tian Zi thought he had pretty much figured out the key to the puzzle. Waiting left and right, there was still no sign of Li Xuan. Tian Zi grew increasingly anxious, pulling at his hair until it became messier, and finally, he vented his frustration by smashing his last remaining bed within that confined space. He immediately regretted it. "Damn, I'll never have a comfortable place to lie down now. That was a bed made by Tai-Cang, after all!" Tian Zi felt like crying without tears. "Is he really not coming back?" Feeling deflated, Tian Zi slumped onto the floor of the small stone house, his demeanor utterly despondent. He wasn't even sure how long he'd been sitting there in that small stone house. At that moment... "Tian Zi, what's going on with you?" The moment Tian Zi heard this voice, he was overwhelmed with excitement and tears welled up in his eyes. Finally, he had returned. "You...how come..." As Tian Zi looked up, his entire body trembled, and his heart was set into turmoil. His eyes widened as he quickly stood up, subconsciously becoming very tense. "You, you..." Li Xuan, encircled by the Dao Ancestor's radiance, stepped into the small stone house and found Tian Zi's reaction quite satisfactory. "Don't be so surprised, little one," Li Xuan said while setting down a table and brewing a pot of tea. "Come, have some tea." The radiance of the Dao Ancestor gradually dissipated, and he reverted to his ordinary appearance. The more he appeared this way, the more unsettled Tian Zi became, feeling even more tense. Having forgotten his planned inquiries, he downed a cup of tea in one gulp to calm his nerves! Previously, he would have found such tea undrinkable—garbage even. Yet now, he swallowed a cup as if unaware of its taste, pouring and downing two more cups. All to calm his nerves! "That's not how you drink tea. Never mind, you're just a young one, unaware of the subtleties involved," Li Xuan shook his head. By now, Tian Zi gradually calmed his internal shock. Scratching his head, he curiously asked, "Senior, what was that just now?" The scene earlier had been the most astounding sight of his life. "Oh, just a wisp of my true form's power," Li Xuan replied with a casual smile. Inwardly, he was overjoyed—Tian Zi must have been utterly fooled, right? Certainly, with four of his five Martial Paths reaching the Dao Establishment Realm, he felt no need to worry about Tian Zi. Internally, Tian Zi was once again thoroughly shaken. That thread of true form's power was already incredibly profound—just how formidable must his actual strength be? "Senior, you're really strong, aren't you?" Tian Zi couldn't help but ask. "What state signifies strength to you? In my mind, there's no concept of strong, for everything I see is weak and fragile, including this heaven and earth." Li Xuan shook his head and remarked. Tian Zi was left dumbfounded. Even the Tai-Cang heavenly earth, in his eyes, was so frail—wasn't this strong? Even that terrifying being didn't dare underestimate the heaven and earth of Tai-Cang. If the Tai-Cang heavenly earth wasn't powerful, it wouldn't still exist today. But in his eyes, such a powerful world seemed so insignificant? Taking a deep breath, Tian Zi decided to test him. The battle between Tai-Cang and the terrifying entity was earth-shattering and lasted ages. If he knew about this battle, it would indicate he belonged to the same era. If not, a later arrival, could his strength truly reach such unimaginable heights? "When I was trapped here, a battle erupted. I can't recall exactly when, only knowing that the turmoil lasted ten thousand years, and the outer heavens were unstable." "Senior, do you know about this battle? What was the outcome?" Tian Zi asked while staring wide-eyed at Li Xuan. "Seems he knows how to probe now? Is Tian Zi preparing to share something? That battle should be the source of the past anomaly in heaven and earth." Li Xuan was slightly surprised but maintained his calm demeanor. Naturally, he wasn't aware of that battle, nor had he witnessed it, and the outcome was unknown. However, as an unfathomable high figure, Li Xuan had long crafted his own profound and high-status identity. Especially after reaching the Dao Establishment Realm, he had glimpsed the world beyond, preparing himself. Moreover, since he needed to learn the secrets of heaven and earth from Tian Zi, there was the necessity for a reasonable excuse without diminishing his unfathomable persona. Thus, Tian Zi's question posed no difficulty for Li Xuan. "The battle you speak of? That was quite some time ago. Just a group of youngsters playing rough, making quite a ruckus, waking me up. "It's normal for children to quarrel; as the Dao Ancestor, I've witnessed far more intense events than what you've described. "Therefore, I shifted to another spot and went back to sleep. "As for the result, I couldn't be bothered to find out. Throughout the fights I've seen, this one was a minor scuffle, unworthy of mention." Li Xuan nodded, his tone light as if recounting a scene of children in a brawl. Tian Zi was left utterly bewildered. Such an intense battle, yet in his words, was akin to a children's quarrel? Why did it feel like the other was boasting? --- **New Terms:** 1. Tian Zi (天紫) - Name of a character; translates literally to "Heavenly Purple." It suggests a divine connection or celestial origin in Chinese naming conventions. Alternate translations could be "Sky Purple" or simply "Heavenly Purple." 2. Dao Ancestor (道祖) - A title implying a revered and ancient figure within the Daoist framework; someone who has mastered the Dao. It could also be translated as "Grandmaster of the Dao." Alternate translations could be "Progenitor of the Dao" or "Founder of the Dao." No changes to the list above are needed based on the new context, as this chapter's translations fit the existing framework. The newly introduced character, Tian Zi, and the term Dao Ancestor have been translated to maintain the original narrative's tone, calmness, and mystique, essential to convey the awe and respect surrounding these entities. As Tian Zi trembled with shock, he couldn't help but ask, "You said you've witnessed such battles not just once?" Li Xuan nodded. "Indeed, the battle you're referring to is minor in comparison." "Exactly who are you, then? Do you know Tai-Cang?" Tian Zi pressed on. Inwardly, Li Xuan's interest was piqued. Tai-Cang? The owner of the Tai-Cang Scriptures? The master of this realm? "Tai-Cang, you say?" Li Xuan paused as if recalling, then nodded. "I’ve heard of a youngster named Tai-Cang, quite talented!" That's it? Tian Zi was even more bewildered, realizing that Li Xuan's impression of Tai-Cang was merely one of talent. "Tai-Cang has lived a very long time. He existed before the heavens and earth. You refer to Tai-Cang as a youngster, so how long have you lived?" Tian Zi felt uneasy, inadvertently letting slip secrets he shouldn't. Li Xuan was startled. Tai-Cang's influence was that monumental? Existed before the heavens and earth? "Wait, could Tai-Cang have shaped the Tai-Cang heavens and earth?" Li Xuan was amazed. If so, Tai-Cang's power undoubtedly surpassed his current Dao Establishment Realm. With Tian Zi seemingly opening up, it was the perfect time to probe for secrets. Sipping his tea, Li Xuan's gaze grew profound; the Dao Ancestor's halo and a mysterious aura, including the Great Wilderness Divine Form, faintly surfaced as if recalling past events, involuntarily revealing a hint of his true form. Tian Zi had some initial doubts, wondering if Li Xuan was merely boasting. But witnessing the Dao Ancestor's halo, mysterious aura, and Great Wilderness Divine Form, his skepticism melted away! This person was undoubtedly a terrifying being. Even the faint glimmer of true form power was far beyond Tai-Cang's reach. Neither Tai-Cang nor that terrifying presence was this unfathomable. "How long have I lived, you ask?" Li Xuan sighed with faux melancholy, saying, "I don't know how long it's been. When I established the Dao, the Great Dao had not yet been born, time did not exist, there was nothing but void... even chaos hadn't formed yet..." Boasting naturally required grandeur. Confident in his prowess at the art of boasting, Li Xuan continued. Tian Zi listened, bewildered, grasping his hair, bewildered. "...I have seen many mighty beings perish and have guided numerous beings. I've pioneered countless cultivation paths. "I have marched far on the Great Dao. "Some call me the Originator of Martial Arts, others the First God and Demon of Chaos, and others still the Ancestor of the Great Dao... Of course, now some name me the Martial Ancestor of the Great Wilderness. "However, my favorite title is Dao Ancestor." Amidst all the boasting, Li Xuan felt exceptionally pleased. Tian Zi was entirely dazed. Was such a being truly powerful and unfathomable? He established the Dao when the Great Dao was unborn, and time did not exist? Both a Chaos God and Demon, and the Ancestor of the Great Dao, it all sounded so intimidating. "...I've watched too many beings perish, seen too many things. So, in the end, I decided to find a place to sleep, avoiding, ignoring, and eschewing everything. "Those youngsters, consumed by greed, fighting incessantly, are somewhat annoying. Now, awakened, I took a stroll in this realm for fun. "You young one have experienced too little to comprehend the loneliness of invincibility." Li Xuan sighed as if he had lived too long, seen too much, and now, he was merely seeking amusement to pass some time. "As I mentioned, this realm is too weak, lacking certain aspects. It's an incomplete world, with only rules, and the powerful heavens you witness are actually just that." Li Xuan seemed to reminisce as he spoke. "Countless years ago, a being wielding a giant axe cleaved the heavens, creating a vast realm. "That realm, divided into three worlds with reincarnation, far surpassed this place. "Alas, even the mightiest realms can't endure turmoil forever; they eventually vanish in the river of time." Tian Zi swallowed hard, his face marked with shock. Could there have been other realms before Tai-Cang? And even stronger? Such a mighty realm fading away in time. How long had this senior lived? It was terrifying. Even now, Tian Zi felt a tingle at the back of his neck. "Senior, does that mean you've known my identity all along?" Tian Zi inquired cautiously. At this point, he somewhat believed Li Xuan already knew his identity. "Would I deceive a little one like you?" Li Xuan chuckled. At that moment, the Great Dao Golden Book in his spiritual form unfurled, reflecting Tian Zi on its pages as lines of information surfaced. "Spirit of Tai-Cang Heaven and Earth, born at heaven's inception, transformed from the primal violet light..." The Spirit of Tai-Cang Heaven and Earth! Li Xuan, though having some suspicions that Tian Zi wasn't an ordinary being, rather an entity deeply connected to Tai-Cang, hadn't expected him to be the Spirit of Tai-Cang Heaven and Earth. Now he understood why Tian Zi was trapped here. The one who confined him was none other than the master of Tai-Cang, Tai-Cang himself! --- **New Terms:** 1. Tian Zi (天紫) - A character. Translated as "Heavenly Purple." This name gives a sense of celestial or divine attributes. Alternate translations could be "Sky Purple" or simply "Heavenly Purple." The context reveals him as the Spirit of Tai-Cang Heaven and Earth, linking him deeply to the realm itself. 2. Tai-Cang (太蒼) - Refers to a possibly deceased master and the implied creator or ruler of the realm in question. The shocked reaction by Li Xuan upon hearing about Tai-Cang indicates its importance. It signifies a deep-rooted origin or mastery over the surrounding worlds. Alternate translations like "Great Azure" could reflect the vastness, but "Tai-Cang" is maintained for's consistency with canon elements. 3. Tai-Cang Scriptures (太蒼書) - No precise term was outlined, but given it's the realm's title, it refers to a connection between its master and its foundational teachings or texts. 4. Great Dao (大道) - While generally understood as "Great Path" or "Great Way," it traditionally implies the ultimate principle or fundamental essence that supports the universe, particularly in Daoism. It refers to the philosophical and spiritual path beyond simple understanding. The translation aims to retain the narrative’s gravity and mystique, appropriate for the character interactions and storytelling style, ensuring these terms are consistent within the mythic scope and scale of the narrative.