Time flowed like a river.
In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed.
During this time, Lin Yuan's feat of shaking the imperial palace spread like a whirlwind across the world.
The event was too grand to keep under wraps, even if the palace guards and attendants dared not speak of it.
But those well-versed in martial arts outside the palace could not pretend nothing had ever happened.
They weren't blind or deaf.
Even a middle-aged monk could sense the changes in the palace’s aura.
Naturally, other martial experts could as well.
Especially when the Emperor of Great Li himself stepped out of the palace to bow to Lin Yuan, witnessed by numerous onlookers.
Considering all this, it wasn’t hard for people to piece together the truth—
The imperial palace of the Great Li Dynasty had been overwhelmed by a mysterious monk from the Buddhist sect.
Even the reigning emperor had to come out and admit fault.
The Great Li Dynasty attempted to suppress the story, but it was impossible.
In fact, calling it "overwhelmed" was an understatement, as it implied Lin Yuan had at least exchanged a few moves.
It suggested that the Great Li Dynasty had some ability to resist before ultimately failing.
The truth, however, was that a mere sound technique from Lin Yuan had all the palace's mighty warriors collapsing.
In no time, the world was ablaze with discussion.
Ordinary folk and martial experts alike were engrossed in the tale.
The Great Li Dynasty had ruled unchallenged for nearly two centuries, since the founding grand ancestor left the martial experts gasping for breath, oppressed under his might.
Now that the dynasty had been humiliated and utterly defeated, everyone found great delight in the outcome.
After discussing the fall of the Great Li Dynasty, everyone's attention was captivated by the mysterious monk.
Was the Great Li Dynasty weak?
Certainly not.
In fact, it was terrifyingly strong.
Even though the grandmaster ancestor had passed on, the dynasty's power could still crush the realm.
Yet, despite this, the palace that gathered the most elite forces and countless experts was overcome by a lone, mysterious monk.
The implications of this feat, upon closer thought, left people horrified.
Undoubtedly, the monk’s strength had reached the formidable realm of a supreme grandmaster.
Inside the Great Li Palace’s Martial Hall,
Lin Yuan sat cross-legged, his expression calm.
From the moment he entered the hall half a year ago, he hadn’t left.
The Emperor of Great Li astutely declared the Martial Hall a restricted zone, forbidding anyone from disturbing Lin Yuan.
Moreover, every meal was meticulously prepared,
not only restoring Lin Yuan’s Qi, but also crafted with culinary expertise by royal chefs,
leaving nothing to be desired in flavor.
"Not enough, this martial knowledge isn’t nearly enough."
Lin Yuan sighed quietly in his heart.
It had only taken him half a year to fully comprehend the martial arts within the Martial Hall of the Great Li Palace.
This was not because the martial arts there were inferior to those in the Great Zen Temple’s Scripture Pavilion.
Truthfully, the Martial Hall’s collections far surpassed those.
But circumstances change with time.
Now, Lin Yuan had reached a realm unprecedented—the Mythical Realm.
At the Great Zen Temple, he had been an innate supreme grandmaster.
From his higher vantage, his comprehension speed naturally outpaced that of the past.
Yet even after thoroughly understanding all the martial arts in the Martial Hall,
And enhancing it to the utmost with heaven-defying comprehension, Lin Yuan still couldn’t break through the Mythical Realm.
"Of all martial arts in the world, only a few are recorded and passed down; many more are spread among individual martial artists."
Lin Yuan mused to himself.
These arts might not be of the highest tiers, falling short of superior paths, but they stood unique in perspective.
Some even contrasted starkly with current martial cultivation systems.
If Lin Yuan could understand martial arts from these various perspectives, it might aid in breaking through the Mythical Realm.
"Come in."
Having a rough direction, Lin Yuan slightly raised his head and looked towards the door of the Martial Hall.
“Yes.”
An elderly man approached respectfully.
Being the highest-ranked and strongest ancestor of the Great Li Royal Family,
He had no reason to personally guard the hall and await Lin Yuan’s commands.
But ever since Lin Yuan casually guided him shortly after entering the hall, enlightening the elder, he hadn’t left his post outside.
That guidance made the elder realize that no matter how he trained for ten, twenty, or fifty years,
he could not compare to Lin Yuan's mere words.
"I plan to host a World Martial Arts Tournament, right here in the capital. Any martial artist from the postnatal or innate realm can participate."
“The top ten can choose any three superior martial arts."
Lin Yuan announced.
With his heaven-defying comprehension, Lin Yuan didn't need to learn the martial arts; merely observing others display their techniques would grant him insight.
Years ago, Lin Yuan observed monks in the Great Zen Temple practicing Arhat Fist and from it derived the superior martial art Great Arhat Buddha Fist, serving as an example.
It wasn’t feasible to ask martial artists to write out their secret techniques.
Many wandering martial artists, unbound by sects, would hide in remote mountains if pressed, rendering Lin Yuan helpless.
But by attracting them with a tournament, Lin Yuan’s comprehension would allow him to discreetly unravel their skills.
As for whether these wandering martial artists would attend, the world pursues but two aims:
Fame and profit.
For martial artists, there is also the matter of progressing their martial realm.
By offering superior martial arts as bait, Lin Yuan was confident they would take the lure.
Superior martial arts aren’t common; a single superior art can form the basis of a legacy.
Institutions like the Great Zen Temple, hallowed grounds of Buddhism, harbor only seventy-two superior arts.
Moreover, a tournament led by the Great Li Dynasty would offer fame to anyone who made a mark.
"And the grandmasters..."
Lin Yuan stroked his chin.
Having grandmasters participate held little meaning.
Their numbers were sparse; the public grandmasters of the world could be counted on two hands.
Even if considering reclusive ones, their number couldn’t exceed twenty.
"If a grandmaster comes, they can challenge me. Whether they win or lose, they will receive a spirit martial art."
Lin Yuan slowly explained.
In simple terms, a grandmaster need only appear to receive a spirit martial art.
What are spirit martial arts? They are secret techniques accessible only to supreme grandmasters.
Though grandmasters couldn’t practice spirit martial arts, understanding them consistently would greatly help in reaching the supreme grandmaster stage.
“Yes.”
The elderly man swallowed.
Though the Great Li Prime Ancestor had left behind a few spirit martial arts,
who wouldn’t want more? Exploring different arts, looking from various angles to confirm the supreme grandmaster stage, makes it easier to take that significant step.
As news of the martial tournament spread,
the world erupted; countless martial artists were astounded.
Simply achieving a top ten position in the tournament granted access to choose three superior martial arts?
Without the Emperor of Great Li’s personal commitment, no one would believe it.
Superior martial arts weren’t mere cabbages; merely reaching the top ten afforded such a gift, and a choice, no less.
Initially, some martial artists doubted, but after the first tournament, when the top ten obtained the three superior arts they desired,
the martial artists of the world were driven into a frenzy.
Unceasingly, they flocked to the capital, awaiting the next tournament.
Compared to the enthusiasm of martial artists from postnatal and innate realms,
the thoughts of the grandmasters stationed everywhere began to change.
They saw the emperor’s proclamations about the tournament,
Grandmasters could also participate and challenge the monk who single-handedly overwhelmed the palace.
Regardless of the outcome, they would gain a spirit martial art.
Suddenly, many grandmasters couldn’t contain themselves and headed to the Great Li Capital.
Half a year later.
Great Li Palace.
Outside the Martial Hall,
a large, formidable man carrying a heavy sword appeared.
Beside him was a youth of about fifteen or sixteen years.
"South Sea Sword Saint, I didn’t expect you’d come too."
The elderly man guarding the hall stared solemnly.
Before meeting Lin Yuan, the elder considered himself invincible below a supreme grandmaster.
In the whole world, only a few grandmasters could make him wary.
And the South Sea Sword Saint was one of them.
In terms of strength, the South Sea Sword Saint wasn’t stronger than the elder.
At best, they were evenly matched.
But the South Sea Sword Saint didn’t have ties to major martial houses.
He achieved his current stature step by step.
The elder, coming from the Great Li Royal Family, received guidance from grandmasters since childhood,
regularly contemplating the insights of the prime ancestor.
His journey led him to his present heights.
Yet, without such backing, the South Sea Sword Saint matched stride.
His innate talent and comprehension couldn’t be overlooked.
"You, you’ve begun nurturing spiritual power?"
The elder scrutinized the South Sea Sword Saint, shocked.
He sensed a faint spiritual pressure emanating from him.
This indicated the emergence of spiritual power; once formed, he could step into the supreme grandmaster stage.
The South Sea Sword Saint remained silent.
Since arriving, his gaze hadn’t shifted to the elder,
but remained fixated within the Martial Hall.
"Supreme grandmaster..."
A smile crept upon his lips.
Unlike other arriving grandmasters,
he hadn’t come for spirit martial arts.
While spirit martial arts could aid in forming spiritual power, he no longer needed such assistance.
His true intent was to challenge the enigmatic monk,
the one who single-handedly breached the Great Li Palace.
The South Sea Sword Saint harbored great ambition; he wished to use a supreme grandmaster as a stepping stone on his own path to that same stage.
“Master, are you really going in?”
The youth beside him expressed concern.
After all, the mysterious monk was publicly acknowledged as a supreme grandmaster.
Who else but a supreme grandmaster could single-handedly storm the Great Li Palace?
While the South Sea Sword Saint possessed extreme strength, even beginning to condense spiritual power along the path of a supreme grandmaster,
he hadn’t reached it yet.
Facing a true supreme grandmaster could mean facing death.
"Do not worry."
"With my current strength, just contending with the mental pressure of a supreme grandmaster may push me to break through."
The South Sea Sword Saint exhibited little concern.
Having half a foot already in the supreme grandmaster realm,
all he needed was a push from a true master, and reaching the supreme stage could happen in an instant.
When that moment came, even if he couldn’t defeat the monk, he was confident of leaving unharmed.
"Your Master shall enter."
"Wait outside, my apprentice."
The South Sea Sword Saint’s voice brimming with anticipation, his expression eager.
The doors of the hall soon opened.
The South Sea Sword Saint entered with a heart full of fighting spirit.
In a flash, the youth beside him caught a glimpse.
He saw a young monk in a gray robe seated deep within the hall.
"My master will surely win."
The youth clenched his fists, encouraging himself.
After only a brief moment,
the doors of the Martial Hall opened once more.
The man with the heavy sword emerged, expression numb.
“Master, Master.”
“Is it over so quickly?"
The youth approached, showing concern.
"Let’s go."
The South Sea Sword Saint slightly shook his head and led the youth away from the palace.
Outside the capital,
he finally halted.
Turning towards the direction of the palace, he sat heavily on a stone,
muttering about how overwhelming the monk's strength was, questioning the existence of such a person.
The youth, seeing his master’s demeanor, sensed a clear loss,
and a crushing one at that, or he wouldn’t behave so.
"Master, he didn’t seem all that strong, right? When you become a supreme grandmaster, you can go back and win!"
The youth tried to console.
Truthfully, when the South Sea Sword Saint entered the hall,
the youth had glanced once at the mysterious monk.
Though his aura was deep, the monk didn’t seem insurmountable,
suggesting his master might catch up.
"Not that strong?"
The South Sea Sword Saint remained silent, unsure how to even reply.
After a while of contemplation, he finally found his resolve, speaking slowly:
“Now, you are merely at the innate stage; your perspective is narrow, seeing him is like a frog at the bottom of a well gazing at the moon."
"When you hopefully step into the grandmaster stage or reach a half-step supreme grandmaster like me,"
he continued with an extremely complex tone,
"you will find him like a mayfly aspiring to the heavens."