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

Chapter 483: The Disciples Return, Old Man Xiao's Astonishment After a small gathering with Wan Tianlin, Xu Yan prepared to continue his journey, traversing the boundary gate to return to the Qinghua Realm. Having been adventuring for such an extended period, Xu Yan found himself missing his master. "This Beast Tribe..." Old Man Xiao frowned, gazing at the nine mountains region, particularly in the direction of the Lingzun Mountain. The spiritual beasts seemed to have undergone a transformation, exuding a peculiar aura he had never encountered before. It must be the demonic aura of the Beast Tribe. Something about it seemed off. How had the Tai-Cang World suddenly given rise to this Beast Tribe? Initially, upon hearing the name of the Beast Tribe, Old Man Xiao assumed it was merely a new title for spiritual beasts, a faction created purely for them. But what he witnessed now proved otherwise. The Beast Tribe had transcended the typical bounds of spiritual beasts. The rumored Beast Tribe techniques, allowing them to evolve independently, much like martial artists through cultivation, were not mere fabrication? This realization unsettled Old Man Xiao. The Beast Tribe appeared to pose a significant potential threat, possibly an influence from the Unyielding Land, perhaps a ploy to invade the Tai-Cang World. "The Beast Tribe, founded by Red Cat, who would've thought this big cat truly organized such a vibrant Beast Tribe." Xu Yan chuckled. "You know of the Beast Tribe?" Old Man Xiao expressed surprise. "And who is this Red Cat?" Xu Yan laughed, "Red Cat is just a tiger my master raised. You could see it as a fat cat if you wish. My junior sister fed it many pills, and it even learned my master's Greater Beast Martial Path. "By the way, I'm considered a Supreme of the Beast Tribe." Red Cat was a tiger with a keen sense of discernment, a smart feline that easily won Xu Yan's mother's affection. It was a cultured tiger, having been taught to read and write by his mother. Old Man Xiao was left wide-eyed, his heart in disarray. Xu Yan, Meng Chong, and Jiang Buping all sharing the same master was one thing, but even the Beast Tribe's origins tied back to Xu Yan's master! To think that the founder of the Beast Tribe was merely Xu Yan's master's pet? Somehow, it seemed as if an invisible hand was orchestrating all within the Tai-Cang World, guiding its transformations. And this invisible hand appeared to belong to Xu Yan's master! Caught up in these thoughts, Old Man Xiao couldn't wait to meet Xu Yan's enigmatic master and discern the origin of such planning. "Let's see who you are, and who is making these plots here," Old Man Xiao mused. Despite Xu Yan's grand praises of his master's strength, Old Man Xiao was skeptical, believing Xu Yan’s master was merely weaving an elaborate charade to deceive the young Xu Yan. To Old Man Xiao, Xu Yan seemed but a victim of this deceit! "I know all seven lords of the heavens, even if you hail from the Unyielding Shrine, you still wouldn't fathom such terrifying abilities." Old Man Xiao inwardly mocked, finding the tales of Xu Yan’s master preposterously inflated—unable to withstand the moral of even a single name’s consequence? What sheer nonsense! "Let's go, back to the Qinghua Realm!" Xu Yan chose not to seek out Red Cat but headed directly back to the Qinghua Realm. Crossing the boundary, stepping into the long-missed Qinghua Realm, Xu Yan and his companions couldn't help marveling at how much the realm had changed. The spiritual energy was denser, and Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy far more active. Moreover, the entirety of the Qinghua Realm had undergone a transformation. The great city at the boundary gate had multiple layers of powerful arrays, and it had expanded several times over. Outsiders were unable to cross into the boundary without permission. Even Immortal Heavenly Venerables were no exception! "Our Fourth Junior Brother's expertise in arrays has significantly advanced; this array could easily annihilate an Immortal Heavenly Venerable." Xu Yan sighed. "Indeed!" Meng Chong agreed, nodding. "It's Sword God Xu Yan!" "And Heavenly God Meng Chong!" "That one must be Spear Demon Jiang Buping!" The martial artists within the city became fervent instantly. Sword God Xu Yan, Heavenly God Meng Chong, and Spear Demon Jiang Buping were legendary figures, deeply connected to the Qinghua Sect. All were disciples of the Qinghua Dao Ancestor! Old Man Xiao now stood wide-eyed, his face full of incredulity. "Is this the Qinghua Realm?" Among the thirty-six realms of the God Domain, Qinghua Realm was considered a fringe realm, bordering the Spiritual Domain. Its spiritual energy and Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy were relatively thinner compared to other realms. Yet, the current density of spiritual energy in Qinghua Realm surpassed the other thirty-five realms. Most shocking was that Qinghua Realm seemed to have broken the limit of the Immortal Realm! "What kind of technique is this?" Feeling the boundary gate's grand array, Old Man Xiao was full of curiosity, once again encountering something beyond his experience. "No, why does the Qinghua Realm seem like an independent heaven and earth?" Old Man Xiao was shaken once again. It was as if an invisible force—no, rather, some law—enveloped Qinghua Realm, making it stand independently from the rest of the world. It was most obvious in the undisturbed stability of Qinghua Realm, while the other realms of the God Domain trembled. Qinghua Realm, however, remained steadfast, impervious to any seismic disturbances. "This is the grand array set up by my Fourth Junior Brother," Xu Yan explained on the side. "Grand array?" Old Man Xiao was shocked and puzzled. "Yes, formations. My Fourth Junior Brother practices the Mysterious Martial Path, encompassing Mysterious Schemes, formations, refinements, enchantments, among others!" Xu Yan explained while they advanced. Hearing this, Old Man Xiao's surprise grew, prompting him to inquire, "Were all these taught by your master?" "Of course!" Xu Yan nodded respectfully. "I practice the Orthodox Martial Path; my Second Junior Brother focuses on the Physical Body Martial Path; my Third Junior Sister practices the Dan Medical Alchemy Martial Path; my Fourth Junior Brother follows the Mysterious Martial Path; my Fifth Junior Brother trains in the Extreme Soul Martial Path. "Red Cat, our pet, follows the Greater Beast Martial Path, all taught by my master. "Each martial path is distinct, and collectively we refer to them as the Great Wilderness Martial Path, though the name wasn't given by my master; it’s merely approved by him. "My master's realm has long neared the Great Dao, seemingly ordinary in their actions yet embodying profound truths of the Dao. "If you grasp even a bit of it, it will be a huge opportunity for you!" Hearing the formidable diversity of martial paths imparted by Xu Yan's master, Old Man Xiao's heart wavered briefly before he steeled his skepticism, "Impossible, how could there be such a peerless master? Even the one from the Unyielding Shrine couldn’t possibly compare. "Yet, Xu Yan and Meng Chong’s martial paths are indeed wondrous beyond imagination, something unprecedented.” Old Man Xiao couldn’t help but ask, "How did you cultivate your Sword Dao?" Xu Yan’s Sword Dao was indeed remarkable, defying his comprehension of martial arts. "Naturally, it was my master who imparted it to me." Xu Yan recalled wistfully, "My Sword Dao, along with the Dragon Subduing Palm, both came from my master. In my eyes, the Sword Dao warriors of Tai-Cang haven't even entered the gates of true Sword Dao!" "What do you mean?" Old Man Xiao felt a bit unsettled in his heart. After all, he also considered himself a Sword Dao practitioner, even though not a pure one, but his martial techniques certainly included Sword Dao. "Do you know about Enlightened Sword Heart? Or the Heart Sword Realm? Or Sword Intent?" Xu Yan asked, filled with a proud demeanor. Though Old Man Xiao’s current strength surpassed his, Xu Yan believed his grasp of Sword Dao was far superior. Xu Yan then explained what Enlightened Sword Heart meant, leaving Old Man Xiao utterly perplexed, feeling the profoundness of it all. "How can one attain Enlightened Sword Heart?" he couldn't help but ask finally. Xu Yan pondered for a moment before answering, "To grasp Enlightened Sword Heart, one must cultivate their mindset. Only by reaching a realm where there are no women's distractions in the heart can you touch the Enlightened Sword Heart." After all, that's how he had tempered his mind back then. "An absence of women in the heart?" Old Man Xiao was taken aback. "Are you sure?" Glancing at Du Yuying and Yun Miaomiao, Old Man Xiao suspected Xu Yan was jesting with him. Xu Yan maintained a serious demeanor, "Of course!" Gazing at Old Man Xiao with solemnity, Xu Yan spoke, "My master once said, 'With no women in the heart, one can cultivate divinely.' It’s a subtle realm, being both without women in the heart and not. It is a mindset you wouldn’t understand!" Old Man Xiao, thoroughly befuddled, muttered to himself, "Indeed, I don’t understand!" **New Terms:** - 逍老頭: Old Man Xiao (逍老头, literal: Carefree Old Man) - 靈尊山: Lingzun Mountain (灵尊山, literal: Spiritual Venerable Mountain) - 赤貓: Red Cat (赤猫, literal: Red Cat) - 大妖武道: Greater Beast Martial Path (大妖武道, literal: Big Demon Martial Path) - 青華境: Qinghua Realm (青华境, literal: Blue Flower Realm) - 青華宗: Qinghua Sect (青华宗, translated: Green Splendor Sect, but Qinghua is a name) - 不化之地: Unyielding Land (不化之地, literal: Unchanging Land) - 不化神殿: Unyielding Shrine (不化神殿, literal: Unyielding God Hall) - 大妖: Greater Beast (大妖, literal: Big Demon) - 雲緲緲: Yun Miaomiao (云缈缈) **Explanation:** - "Old Man Xiao" is translated as such from 逍老头 for clarity and to impart a colloquial familiarity in addressing an elder, fitting the context. - "Lingzun Mountain" keeps the pinyin for a mystical tone and keeps the meaning intact. - "Red Cat" is maintained for his importance and character consistency in the story. - "Greater Beast Martial Path" reflects the extraordinary nature of this martial practice, which ties into the concept of "妖". - "Qinghua Realm" and "Qinghua Sect" maintain the pinyin for association with a name, as names are preserved. - Translation choices are crafted to preserve cultural significance and narrative consistency, ensuring the intended awe and mysterious undertones are maintained. Xu Yan couldn't help but ask, “Your Sword Dao is so strong, have you truly reached a state where there are no women in your heart?” Xu Yan nodded affirmatively, "Of course! I long ago achieved a state where there are no women in my heart, having transcended that mental realm!" Old Man Xiao glanced once more at Du Yuying and Yun Miaomiao, these two stunning beauties, and couldn't help but retort, "You call this a state where there are no women in your heart?" Xu Yan gave him a disdainful look, "Your comprehension is lacking; you’re destined never to grasp Sword Dao!" "My comprehension lacking?" Old Man Xiao ruffled his beard, rather irritably saying, "Then explain, how can you claim no women in your heart when this is the case?" Xu Yan sighed, "You're truly dull-witted; no women in the heart doesn't equate to no women by your side!" Old Man Xiao was dumbfounded—could it actually be understood this way? "It's about state of mind; you cannot comprehend the profundity of this mind state, yet you've achieved this level of strength, which is commendable in itself." Xu Yan shook his head, lamenting. Old Man Xiao felt utterly helpless! ... "My disciples are returning." Li Xuan wore a beaming smile, witnessing his disciples' return, each on the brink of a breakthrough. This signified he could now impart martial techniques beyond the Dao Establishment Realm. "To surpass the Dao Establishment Realm is to truly fortify one's foundation." Li Xuan looked skyward, his gaze piercing through the heavens, landing on the chaotic, unyielding lands outside. "The Unyielding Shrine's experts, powerful as they are, once I advance beyond the Dao Establishment Realm, I should surpass them." Based on his assessment, beyond the Dao Establishment Realm, his strength would certainly exceed that of Tai-Cang. Though Tai-Cang had perished, the Tai-Cang World still stood, indicating the opponent, although stronger than Tai-Cang, was not excessively so, or perhaps Tai-Cang had used means to inflict severe damage upon them. "A realm lord, that's rather intriguing." Li Xuan reclined comfortably in his chair, awaiting his disciples' return, and that of Old Man Xiao, a realm-lord-level expert. With his current strength, suppressing a realm lord would be a walk in the park. "The Dao Ancestor aura won’t be necessary, let’s try the Heavenly Dao Mark, to let you experience what Heavenly Dao truly is." Li Xuan mused inwardly. Cai Ling'er was attending to him by his side. "Master, I'm back!" Xu Yan declared respectfully, yet with joy. "Greetings, Master!" Meng Chong and Jiang Buping followed Xu Yan in venerating their master. "Good." Li Xuan nodded with gentle assurance. Aside from Xie Tianheng and Xie Lingfeng, all familiar faces were present. Including Xin Mengrou, whom he was not as familiar with. Wu Tiannan, an oddity with uncommon fortune, but Li Xuan didn't comment on it; that peculiar fortune related to Wu Tiannan’s martial path guide. "Greetings, Senior!" Du Yuying and Yun Miaomiao excitedly greeted. "Greetings, Senior!" Wu Tiannan and Xin Mengrou also paid their respects. "Eldest Brother, Second Brother... Fifth Junior Brother!" Su Lingxiu rushed over. "Third Junior Sister!" Right behind her, Fang Hao hurried to join them. Brotherhood and sisterhood reunited, basking in shared joy. Zi Yun also arrived, clinging onto Meng Chong in excitement. The courtyard resonated with the happiness of reunion, while Old Man Xiao couldn't help but scrutinize Li Xuan, his brow furrowing in disbelief. This person seemed utterly ordinary, like any commoner, devoid of any potent aura, sitting there at ease, attended by a stunning Sea-Spirit Tribe woman. Precisely because of his plain demeanor, Old Man Xiao was all the more perplexed. Xu Yan and his peers' master couldn’t possibly be an ordinary individual; his strength must surely rival his own. Yet with his own power, he couldn’t fathom him—implying this person might indeed be stronger! The most bewildering shock to Old Man Xiao was that he had no recognition of this person! He knew all powerful beings in Tai-Cang World, not a single one was unfamiliar, not a single one unseen! Yet this individual was so inexplicably foreign! If he belongs from beyond this realm, how does he enter Tai-Cang World without a whisper? Moreover, why is there no response from Tai-Cang World at all? Such anomalies suggest deep mysteries! He found nothing, absolutely nothing beyond appearance! Taking a deep breath, Old Man Xiao assumed a grave expression, stepping forward, gradually revealing his aura. Xu Yan and the others immediately noticed, the entire courtyard momentarily startled. "I am Xiao Yao, may I ask who you might be..." Old Man Xiao inquired gravely. Li Xuan's smile remained unchanged, idly toying with a jade ruyi, "Young man, do not act rashly, maintain inner calm, undisturbed by outside influences—this is the discipline a martial achiever should possess..." His tone was placid, carrying undertones of teaching a child. Old Man Xiao’s face darkened instantly as his aura grew even stronger. "I, Old Man Xiao, am no longer young, and yet you..." Before he could finish, a hand rested on his shoulder. It just lightly patted his shoulder twice. "Young man, calm your heart, don't be rash. Although you appear as an old man, it doesn't mean your age is great. From my view, this world is merely a newborn infant, let alone you." Old Man Xiao felt waves surging within his heart! How had that hand reached him, he hadn't noticed at all. Even more frighteningly, the aura he'd been gathering dissipated instantly when the hand gently pressed his shoulder. Moreover, a vast, unfathomable majesty, inscrutable and immense, lightly descended upon him, appearing to settle upon his very soul. It descended gently, yet to him, it felt akin to an ant facing the daunting might of the heavens! **New Terms:** - 逍遙: Xiao Yao (逍遥, literal: Carefree Wanderer) - 玉如意: Jade Ruyi (玉如意, literal: Jade Wish-Granting Scepter) - 天道印: Heavenly Dao Mark (天道印, literal: Heaven's Way Mark) - 不化之地: Unyielding Land (不化之地, literal: Unchanging Land) - 不化神殿: Unyielding Shrine (不化神殿, literal: Unyielding God Hall) - 海靈族: Sea-Spirit Tribe (海灵族, literal: Sea Spirit Race) **Explanation:** - "Xiao Yao" retains the pinyin for the nuance of a namesake. - "Jade Ruyi" is maintained, as ruyi is a culturally significant object, conveying power and auspiciousness; "jade" emphasizes its elegance. - "Heavenly Dao Mark" and similar terms convey a celestial, profound authority, aligning with the theme of cosmic law and might. - Choices are made considering narrative impact, ensuring the mystical and grandeur elements are coherently translated while maintaining the cultural essence.