Volume 2 Chapter 42: Enlightenment - Martial God

Chapter 42: Enlightenment True Qi, only when it surpasses ordinary martial prowess to become innate True Qi, can it inflict such devastating damage in an instant. It can ignore the defenses of protective arm guards and directly strike Xiao Yi Fan's internal organs. However, by the time this powerful inner energy practitioner realized what had happened, he no longer had the chance to notify his other two brothers. At the moment when his body seemed to lose weight and support as he collapsed, Zhuang Yuan and Xiao Yi Lin had already leaped towards him like birds. Their actions instantly reached their peak. One a master of the ninth level of inner energy, the other of the tenth—both unleashed their ultimate strikes against He Yi Ming without reservation. Zhuang Yuan's entire body seemed to ignite with a trace of red flame. This was him pushing his fire-based power to its limits, and the scorching aura around him faintly carried a hint of sulfuric smell. Even his own clothes began to take on a scorched yellow tint. Even against He Quan Xin's palm strike, he had held back a bit, not going full force. But this time, his internal alarm was triggered. Although facing merely an inconspicuous young man, under an intense sense of imminent crisis, the palm he unleashed became the most potent strike of his life. Xiao Yi Lin might not have had Zhuang Yuan's strength, but his speed was a notch faster. As He Yi Ming released Xiao Yi Fan's arm, Xiao Yi Lin had already reached He Yi Ming's back, launching a lightning-fast strike at the vulnerable spot near his heart. Without any wind, the sleeve of his arm suddenly inflated and tore apart. It was because he had infused the maximum inner energy he could muster in an instant into his golden arm guard. The arm guard augmented the inner energy to a level he couldn't control, causing the sleeve to tear and reveal the dazzling golden glow of the guard beneath. The sharp whoosh of the wind howled like the cries of ghosts and wolves, drilling straight into He Yi Ming's ears. Anyone with mastered inner energy could sense the strength of this strike. If it indeed hit the center of his back, even a master of the tenth level of inner energy would find themselves in deep trouble. "Besiege Wei to rescue Zhao"—this was the strategy he decided to employ. Confronted with the full-force strikes of two great masters, He Yi Ming's face and eyes remained utterly devoid of expression. At that moment, his spirit was elevated to the utmost, and his heart was free of any emotion. Watching them was like observing busy ants, without a trace of emotion. Both hands gently lifted, and with a strange arc, a palm pushed out, instantly diverting Xiao Yi Lin's arm. Another hand met Zhuang Yuan's fiery palm. There was no sound, yet an indescribable shock filled the hearts of both attackers. Their powerful strikes seemed to hit a mass of cotton, leaving them unable to unleash their full force. The force transferred from He Yi Ming's hand didn't seem particularly large, yet they were unable to penetrate the cotton-like barrier to harm him. Following that, He Yi Ming's hands moved fluidly. His speed wasn't particularly rapid, as if he were casually practicing a routine in an open space. The style he practiced was the widely known Gentle Palm of the Water System. Yet, this seemingly ordinary Gentle Palm in his hands exhibited astonishing power. His hands pushed, lifted, pulled, and tugged, the movements clearly visible yet seemingly armed with an immense magnetism, forming a vortex around him several meters wide kept firmly in his control. Neither Zhuang Yuan nor Xiao Yi Lin could break free from this invisible vortex, no matter how desperately they struggled, exhausted as they were, it was impossible to escape his grasp. Their complexions turned extremely pale. It was clear they understood how deep He Yi Ming's abilities ran, beyond fathoming, and they knew the fallen Xiao Yi Fan was unlikely to survive. However, in the very moment, they couldn't even help themselves, let alone each other. Their only option was to struggle within the whirlpool with all their might, hoping to escape. Though it was He Yi Ming's first time using Gentle Palm for combat against opponents, the essence of Gentle Palm was brought out significantly by him; most notably, the firm grip controlling the space around, akin to sticky glue, showed its strength fully under his application. At this time, in Zhuang Yuan and Xiao Yi Lin's eyes, He Yi Ming appeared like an enormous, terrifying humanoid spider. Every palm he sent was like a strand of spider silk, each imbued with intense stickiness, wrapping them layer by layer. Even with Xiao Yi Lin's innate lightness skill, he felt increasingly trapped, struggling to break free. If not for their fear of death, neither would willingly submit. Gradually, they were like insects stuck in a spider's web, flapping their wings desperately yet becoming more entangled, entirely out of options. The only slight hope they clung to was that He Yi Ming's Gentle Palm, aside from its terrifying entangling prowess, did not seem to inflict substantial harm. Perhaps this was the only reason they could persist. In fact, He Yi Ming's palms merely swung carelessly, while his focus concentrated beneath his adversaries' feet. Particularly, Xiao Yi Lin's steps remained profoundly mysterious. If not for He Yi Ming's overwhelming strength, Xiao Yi Lin might have already slipped away. Upon overhearing their conversation, He resolved to eliminate them all—a feeling so urgent and irreversible. However, after defeating Xiao Yi Fan, a sudden realization held him back. He recalled the innate lightness skill displayed by the Xiao Family Brothers at the Yuan Family. This technique, derived from cloud and rain, greatly intrigued and inspired him. Thus, he opted to use Gentle Palm to control the pair, meticulously observe and experience. Experiencing firsthand, as opposed to observing from afar, proved to be vastly different. While he lost some of an observer's objectivity, it allowed him to immerse himself more deeply. In his perception, Xiao Yi Lin was no longer a person but a cloud of mist, constantly changing in a mysterious form, while his palm formed an invisible wall trapping the mist inside. The duration of this state was unclear, yet suddenly, He Yi Ming noticed the mist dispersing, as if evaporating under blazing sunlight. Startled, he awoke from that mystical state. Glancing around, Xiao Yi Lin lay collapsed on the ground, his eyes vacant, his entire being soaked with sweat as if just fished out of water. He Yi Ming could feel his muscles were soft, devoid of the robust aura of a trained practitioner, resembling rather a person paralyzed for years with no resilience left. His body twitched slightly, his breaths shallow, suggesting he might perish at any moment if left unattended. Near He Yi Ming, the heavy, bull-like gasps of another reached him. He turned his head slightly. Zhuang Yuan still circled him, yet within the cover of He Yi Ming's palm strikes, there was no opportunity for him to break through. Every exchange with He Yi Ming's palms drew heavily on Zhuang Yuan’s inner strength, rendering him a spent force, seemingly about to topple at any time. At last, He Yi Ming comprehended. Though he hadn't dealt a fatal blow, due to deep-seated resentment, he naturally hadn't restrained himself against these two. The forces wielded by his palms were consistently maintained at a level, acting like a massive grindstone that steadily wore down their inner strength to the last bit. This was a chilling prospect. Zhuang Yuan and Xiao Yi Lin would have preferred a quick end like Xiao Yi Fan's, rather than being slowly exhausted to death in such disgrace. However, as things stood, their life and death were no longer in their own hands, dictated only by He Yi Ming's whims to continue spinning with his metronome. Only when one finally succumbed did He Yi Ming realize the situation. At this time, Zhuang Yuan's eyes carried none of the previous arrogance, anger, or resentment. Instead, much like Xiao Yi Lin's, there was a daze, as if his consciousness was absent. In his state of utter exhaustion, all emotions were dispelled. Perhaps the lone thought in his mind was the overwhelming desire to lie down and sleep, regardless of all else. The fact he managed to persist was almost instinctual, propelled merely by a desperate will to survive. For some reason, He Yi Ming felt no elation. Instead, he sighed deeply, amplifying his palm strength slightly. With a soft strike, he shattered Zhuang Yuan's defenses with a silent, gentle push on his chest. Immense True Qi surged forth, instantly turning all his internal organs to pulp. Zhuang Yuan's steps suddenly came to a halt, and a sigh of relief escaped his lips. In that final moment, it seemed he awoke from the bewilderment, yet in his gaze, there was only a sense of liberation. He Yi Ming swept his eyes over the ground before lifting his gaze to the sky. The horizon remained dim and shadowed, but he knew dawn was soon to break. The three bodies on the ground certainly could not be left here. He Yi Ming, apart from knowing that their master was named Lu Xin Wen, had no further impression of them. Yet, given their caliber as disciples and their deep confidence in Lu Xin Wen, this person’s strength was surely no less than theirs, possibly even a master of the innate realm. Encountering such figures unexpectedly, even He Yi Ming couldn't suppress a sigh of resignation. He picked up the three bodies. Despite their weight being far greater than the giant saber he had practiced with, they posed no burden to him whatsoever. With long strides, he walked towards the mountains where he had previously trained with the giant saber. Though his speed couldn’t quite match the Xiao Family Brothers, with his innate True Qi as a foundation, he wasn't any slower than Zhuang Yuan. When the first rays of sun appeared on the horizon, he had already ascended the mountain. Striking the ground a few times, he created a large pit. After a moment’s hesitation, He Yi Ming took the golden arm guards from the Xiao Family Brothers, then searched their bodies. Their most valuable possession was undoubtedly a bottle of Energy Golden Pills, besides some gold ingots and money. Unfortunately, the innate lightness skill manual he hoped to find was nowhere to be seen on them. Storing away these items, He Yi Ming tossed the three bodies into the pit and kicked dirt over them to form a mound. Though simple, it was at least a burial. Suddenly, He Yi Ming recalled the incident in Taicang County, when the Cheng Family celebrated, and he encountered a man in black. At that time, he only wanted to seize the so-called manual, but the powerful force of the "Thirty-Six Styles of Opening the Mountain" had killed the man instantly. However, that wasn't his first time taking a life, so he handled it with relative composure. Yet thinking back now, his actions weren't too different from the ruthless Xiao Yi Fan. The Xiao Family Brothers were simply more ruthless than ever. He sighed softly, pondering whether such terrifying thoughts and impulses dwelled within everyone; some showed them thanks to their power, while most people, lacking such power, kept them hidden inside. A bitter smile tugged at his lips. If that were true, the world would indeed be a frightening place. Abruptly, a drop of water fell on his head. He looked up in surprise, noticing that a light rain had begun to fall in the forest. An inexplicable restlessness surged within him, prompting him to leap up and dash towards the mountaintop at the fastest speed. The peak, challenging for ordinary people, was not so daunting for He Yi Ming, though not entirely effortless either. He moved like a large swift monkey, lightly pushing off trees with his feet, covering distances rapidly with each leap. Before long, he reached the mountain's summit. By now, the rain was coming down harder, the droplets forming a net hanging before his eyes. The rustling leaves in sync with the rain's rhythm—sometimes heavy, sometimes gentle—seemed to create beautiful melodies in his heart. He gazed far into the distance. Between the mountains, layers of mist spread. Under the rain, these clouds seemed cleansed, revealing a vibrant spectrum. In an instant, the clouds bloomed brilliantly, like purple-red buds in a competition of beauty. They danced like enchanting maidens swirling in chiffon or resembled blooming fiery red camellia flowers laughing across the mountains, competing in their beauty. It felt as if He Yi Ming’s heart underwent the same cleansing—every speck of worldly dust washed away. No worldly thoughts lingered in his mind. His eyes, clear and pure, mirrored those of a newborn, gazing at the world with curiosity. Within his mind, there appeared a cloud of mist, continually swirling and ever-changing. The ever-morphing, elusive Cloud and Rain Seal on the Cheng Family’s wedding stage in Taicang County. The bizarre, unpredictable footwork of the Xiao Family Brothers at Zheng Tong Jun Yuan’s home. And all the enlightenment he gleaned from Xiao Yi Lin moments ago, suddenly erupted within him. He Yi Ming closed his eyes gently. He no longer viewed the world with his gaze, but felt it with his heart, embracing its wonders. Within, the persistent rain, the rolling clouds, filled him with an indescribable amazement. Nature’s marvels were so powerful. As an innate realm master, he felt insignificant in this vast expanse. In his mind, the constantly shifting mist took the form of a human figure, growing ever clearer, performing astonishing actions. Within these actions, he saw shadows of the Cloud and Rain Seal and echoes of the Xiao brothers’ mystical footwork. Yet beyond that, he found himself seeing the fine rain above, the clouded mist amidst the peaks. He stood silently on the mountain's peak, feeling the astonishing, surging breath of Mother Nature, seemingly blending into the heavens and earth. His consciousness seemed to soar from his body, gliding among the magnificent clouds, eventually becoming a part of them. Abruptly, in his mind, the human figure clarified. Its actions weren’t random but cohesive, forming a flawless system, as intangible and elusive as natural cloud and rain. Finally, the figure ceased its movements. At that moment, He Yi Ming realized the figure was none other than himself... His eyes snapped open, and he looked up. At some point, the mountain rain had stopped. A radiant sun now hung overhead, spreading warm light. Now, with the mist that circled the mountains gone, he could clearly see the distant peaks. He realized the mountain he stood upon, seeming so grand, was merely a mound among the majestic range. In the distance, towering peaks layered upon each other, their rugged heights reaching the clouds exuded imposing grandeur, their presence undeniable. He exhaled gently, feeling an emerging realization. Upon entering the innate realm, it was like stepping atop this mountain. Yet before him lay many more, taller mountains awaiting his ascent. Looking at the seemingly endless horizon, excitement filled his heart. With a sudden burst of laughter, he let his voice echo through the mountains, a bridge to connect with the world around him...