Book 3 Chapter 12: One's Own Path - Martial God

Chapter 12: One's Own Path Yuan Li Xun had just finished tidying up the bedding and clothes when a rich aroma wafted to her nose. Raising her head in surprise, she saw He Yi Ming standing in the room, holding a food container that was larger than usual. With a gentle sway of the food container in his hand, He Yi Ming said with a cheerful smile, “Li Xun, let's eat together.” The sound He Yi Ming had heard earlier was simply Yuan Li Xun’s stomach growling out of hunger. As an innate expert, he could go days without eating or drinking, but expecting the same from Yuan Li Xun would clearly be ridiculous. Seeing the food container in He Yi Ming’s hands, Yuan Li Xun froze for a moment, then felt a warm sensation spreading in her heart. Deep inside, she whispered to herself, “Mother, following him was worth it...” What He Yi Ming didn’t know was that this simple gesture had significantly warmed Yuan Li Xun’s feelings toward him. After the two of them finished their meal by candlelight, Yuan Li Xun willingly cleaned up the dishes and took them out. Watching her nimble and petite figure, He Yi Ming felt a deep sense of fulfillment. His thoughts slowly drifted back to his own body, as he quietly sensed the changes brought about by his recent enlightenment. This enlightenment could entirely be considered a surprise, though, in this world, every innate strong one’s enlightenment could be considered a surprise. Enlightenment is what all innate experts dream of, yet none of them can predict when it will occur. It requires years of accumulation, followed by a serendipitous environment that allows it to burst forth, advancing their cultivation significantly in a single day. In the past, Cheng Fu traveled barefoot for tens of thousands of miles, enduring twenty years of arduous cultivation in the tumultuous southern islands before achieving an enlightenment upon witnessing a volcanic eruption and creating a set of fire-based martial arts fused with molten lava. The creator of the Cloud and Rain Seal was the same; without years of observing and understanding such natural wonders, entering such a marvelous state would be impossible. He Yi Ming was different. Though he lacked such experience, somewhere in the depths of his mind, it seemed like the truths of the universe were already etched into his soul. When he encountered a scene that moved him, a fantastic intuition naturally arose, assisting him in reaching this state. That painting was precisely the trigger. Who knows what the artist who painted this had in mind, to encapsulate his understanding of the flowing water of the Cloudwind Mountain Range entirely within it. Of course, those with insufficient cultivation or different teachings would not grasp the mystery. Yet, for He Yi Ming, amidst the coincidence of glaring sunlight and the exhilaration after an intense battle, he finally comprehended the profound meaning in the painting. At that moment, he achieved another "enlightenment." Vast and seemingly limitless true energy surged into his body, reaching an astonishing level. At any minor thought, this enormous true energy would immediately ravage his body like a storm. His over three hundred meridian points were filled with true energy. However, it was somewhat different from what Yu Jing Lei described. The true energy in these meridian points didn’t have different attributes but, like his dantian, appeared pitch black, resembling an abyssal black hole. No, there were a total of three hundred and sixty black holes capable of containing limitless power. In He Yi Ming’s perception, these black holes seemed to be on the verge of overflowing, like a water tank filled to the brim, with just a ladle needed for it to overflow. Of course, this was just a feeling, and who knew how long the final ladle would actually take to fill. It was certainly longer than He Yi Ming anticipated. Taking a deep breath, the true energy within He Yi Ming’s body subsided once more. He understood that today’s inexplicable enlightenment had saved him decades in his martial arts cultivation. Once that final ladle was filled, the phrase "when the conditions are right, success will follow naturally" would be perfectly exemplified by him. He retrieved the painting from his pocket and spread it out once more, quietly contemplating everything within— the sky, the earth, the mountains, the water, the clouds, the mist...and the seemingly existent sound of rain and wind. After a long while, He Yi Ming slowly folded the painting, his eyes filled with admiration. Although he didn’t know who created this painting, one thing was certain: this individual must be an unparalleled and awe-inspiring innate master. Before such a master, the power He Yi Ming wielded was like child’s play, insignificant by comparison. He wasn't exaggerating at all. The painter, in depicting this work, painted not the external scenery but the hills and valleys of his heart. Within that person’s heart lay an entire world, a piece of heaven and earth fully grasped. Only with such mastery could he depict this world in ink and brush and preserve it. For human will and body to encompass an entire universe—it was a terrifying notion. Not even Yu Jing Lei could achieve such a feat. Thus, though both Yu Jing Lei and Yao Dao Ren had seen this ink painting on the great tree and sensed its uniqueness, they couldn’t perceive the vast information it contained as He Yi Ming did. The door quietly opened, and without looking back, He Yi Ming knew who had entered. Yuan Li Xun walked to a corner of the room, lit an incense stick, and remarked lightly, “Young Lord, are we continuing with the lessons today?” He Yi Ming nodded steadily, a hint of joy in his voice, “Of course. Today’s enlightenment was incredibly significant for me. Not only did my cultivation improve, but I also understood some previously incomprehensible truths.” He sighed slightly, “It's a pity that such opportunities are as rare as they are invaluable.” Yuan Li Xun nodded elegantly, sharing in his sentiment, “Indeed, the Young Lord's chances for enlightenment are too few. If you could attain enlightenment every day, the path of martial arts wouldn’t be so arduous.” He Yi Ming was startled for a moment but then exchanged a smile with Yuan Li Xun. Though both knew it was an unattainable wish, saying it aloud brightened their spirits considerably. Yuan Li Xun sat beside He Yi Ming, mimicking his posture while asking offhandedly, “Young Lord, what truth did you come to understand?” He Yi Ming replied earnestly, “I realized the philosophy of following my own path amidst countless choices.” Yuan Li Xun blinked her beautiful eyes twice, her moist gaze filled with confusion. He Yi Ming chuckled, “Before I arrived at Hengshan, Master Shui Xuan Jin reminded me of the numerous mystical skills and arts left by past masters, and the myriad extreme attribute capabilities one can cultivate. He advised me to choose a single path to rapidly climb to the summit of enlightenment.” Yuan Li Xun thought seriously for a moment and said, “Master Shui’s words make sense.” He Yi Ming smiled slightly, “But today, when I met the Hengshan Elder Yu Jing Lei, he told me that possessing the talent to cultivate four out of the five elemental forces gives me a significant advantage in martial arts, especially when nurturing meridian points and connecting the line of life and death.” Yuan Li Xun paused, pondering for a moment, then finally said, “If it’s wisdom from the Elder himself, then it certainly holds truth. The Young Lord should remember it well.” He Yi Ming laughed, “Both have their reasons. So, how should I choose?” Yuan Li Xun furrowed her brows, but given her level of martial knowledge, solving this dilemma was akin to fishing for the moon in a well—impossible. He Yi Ming reached out and gently smoothed the furrow between her brows, saying, “Don't worry so much. The answer is simple: listen to both, yet don’t rely solely on either.” Yuan Li Xun’s eyes widened in surprise; she hadn't expected such an ambiguous answer. He Yi Ming calmly explained, his voice low yet imbued with a magical charm that lulled like a dream. "Every individual is unique, and each person's physique is entirely distinct. The martial arts methods created by those predecessors, however powerful they may be, are designed according to their own physical characteristics. Even if future generations practice these methods to their utmost, they cannot surpass their creators. Moreover, everyone has their own insights during cultivation, which may be ideal for themselves but perhaps not correct for others." Indeed, there are no two identical humans in the world. Even twins have differences. With the same materials and teaching, the students produced still show a variance in abilities. It was only after his conversation with Yu Jing Lei and his enlightenment that day that He Yi Ming understood this. Without this opportunity, he would still be at a loss about how to choose his path in martial arts. With a devout attitude, He Yi Ming laid the painting flat on his hands. Gradually, his hands became crimson, and the ordinary piece of paper naturally curled, yellowed, and charred with the rising temperature, ultimately turning to black ash. Yuan Li Xun watched He Yi Ming in surprise. She understood the painting's value and knew that his breakthrough today was because of it. Yet, she couldn't comprehend why He Yi Ming would choose to destroy it. However, she didn't inquire and instead watched quietly. He Yi Ming silently watched the ash disperse, and though his voice remained low, it conveyed an unyielding resolve that words could scarcely capture: "From now on, all mystical skills and secret arts will be mere references. I aim to forge a path that belongs solely to me." Yuan Li Xun's eyes sparkled with realization as she understood He Yi Ming's intention. This overly young man was setting out to carve his own unique way in martial arts. For a moment, admiration filled Yuan Li Xun's big eyes as she looked at him, as if he was her entire world. Having declared his grand aspiration, He Yi Ming felt a weight lift. He glanced at the now virtually vanished dark ash, thinking to himself: Someday, I too will craft a realm of my own... ※※※※ Time swiftly passed, and now it was February again. Lingyao Peak remained tranquil. Despite having received recognition from Tai Shang Elder Yu Jing Lei, which allowed He Yi Ming to choose any nearby peak to construct a personal palace, he opted not to mobilize everyone but continued living on Lingyao Peak. Apart from pursuing his martial arts training, he sought the guidance of Yao Dao Ren in the art of alchemy. Having immersed himself in alchemy for over a century, Yao Dao Ren was overjoyed by He Yi Ming's genuine interest and shared everything without reservation. His only worry seemed to be that He Yi Ming might suddenly lose interest, leading to the loss of his life's learnings. During these two months, the only significant event was the elder Lian Yi’s return from the distant mountains and forests of Fenghuo Peak. His luck seemed off, for he only brought back a spirit beast’s core, yet it was not an innate core over five hundred years old. Given Hengshan's abundant spiritual energy, such a core was rather dispensable. Living in this place, talented individuals reaching the tenth level of internal strength were not rare. This was the envy of many aristocratic families. Lian Yi was equally pleased to hear He Yi Ming had joined Hengshan. Thus, except for Yu Xi Chen, who remained yet to return after advancing thanks to the Golden Core, all other key figures of Hengshan had gathered. However, Yu Jing Lei and others, seemingly impatient, quickly made the decision with He Yi Ming and other elders to have Yao Dao Ren refine the innate Golden Core. By now, He Yi Ming knew significantly more about medicinal pills than before, yet when it came to the intricate preparation for refining the innate Golden Core, he still wasn't involved. Learning from the harsh lessons of forty years ago, Yao Dao Ren personally selected each auxiliary material this time. He meticulously inspected everything multiple times, ensuring there were no flaws. Seeing these materials, He Yi Ming finally understood why He Wu De insisted on sending these two innate Golden Cores away. The auxiliary materials required for the core were unimaginably expensive and included rare plants over a thousand years old. While not as valuable as innate cores, they were still considered extraordinary treasures by ordinary people, even the royal families of the Northwest nations. Without Lingyao Peak’s unique geographical setting and precious herbal garden, Hengshan couldn’t have gathered such rare materials. It took another half month to process these materials through sun exposure, grinding, and other steps. Finally, just before the new year, Yao Dao Ren and the others completed all preparations and began secluding themselves to refine the innate Golden Core. The entrance to the exclusive alchemy chamber slowly closed under everyone's gaze, and even with Yu Jing Lei's status as the Tai Shang Elder, permission to enter was denied. On Lingyao Peak, at this final stage of refining the innate Golden Core, Yao Dao Ren's authority was absolute, and no one could contradict his wishes. Standing side by side in the foremost alchemy room of the cavern, Yao Dao Ren and He Yi Ming faced the bronze cauldron, both filled with sincere devotion. Originally, He Wu Jin had been meant to act as the alchemy assistant, but with He Yi Ming now present, he was no longer needed. Furthermore, during the refining process, the temperature in the alchemy room would reach extreme levels, beyond what a posterior master like He Wu Jin could endure. Thus, Yao Dao Ren decided to let He Yi Ming, who had studied for merely a month, take He Wu Jin's place. For He Yi Ming, this was a rare opportunity, and he readily agreed. The two stood before the bronze cauldron, conducting one final check. He Yi Ming patted his chest, gathering courage, and asked, “Elder Yao, how confident are you in this refining attempt?” Yao Dao Ren chuckled, “No one can ever claim absolute certainty in refining an innate Golden Core. But since you're providing a mutated spirit beast core, the chances of success should be relatively high.” He Yi Ming nodded subtly, then took a small item from his chest, asking, “Elder Yao, do you think this can be useful?” Yao Dao Ren looked in surprise and suddenly his eyes widened. Snatching the item, he examined it closely, exclaiming with delight, “Wu Berry? How did you acquire such a rare treasure?” He Yi Ming chuckled, “I happened upon it by chance. Can it be used?” “Absolutely.” Yao Dao Ren nodded without hesitation. “Originally, I had only half a chance of successfully refining both innate Golden Cores, but with the Wu Berry, the success rate leaps to over eighty percent.” He Yi Ming nodded lightly, finally understanding the item’s true value. No wonder Xie Nuan Yi had been ecstatic upon acquiring the Wu Berry; it indeed had unimaginable uses.