Outside the Martial Hall.
Yuwen Pan, the thin old man, watched as the figure of the South Sea Sword Saint disappeared from view.
"Thinking of using Grandmaster Huizhen as a stepping stone to break through to the Supreme Grandmaster realm... this is truly..."
Yuwen Pan didn't know what to say for a moment, a faint look of sympathy on his face.
Actually, this method of using the pressure of life and death to break through bottlenecks isn't anything unusual.
With the talent and comprehension of the South Sea Sword Saint, being pressured by a Supreme Grandmaster does indeed give him a chance of success.
After all, compared to Yuwen Pan, the South Sea Sword Saint reached his current state purely on his own.
There's no need to mention his potential.
The biggest mistake the South Sea Sword Saint made was setting his sights on Grandmaster Huizhen.
Because in Yuwen Pan's eyes, Lin Yuan's strength undoubtedly surpasses that of an ordinary Supreme Grandmaster.
He could even be considered the strongest among all the Supreme Grandmasters throughout history.
Having spent almost a year with him, Yuwen Pan was almost certain of this.
In fact, Yuwen Pan had an even more terrifying suspicion.
"Has the Grandmaster's power truly broken through to that step?"
Just the thought of it made Yuwen Pan shudder.
Throughout history, spanning thousands of years, the Supreme Grandmaster has been recognized as the undisputed strongest, the ultimate realm pursued by all martial artists.
As for what lies beyond the Supreme Grandmaster, Yuwen Pan dared not think about it.
It was like pondering why the sun hangs in the sky—a pointless question.
However, after witnessing the power of Lin Yuan's roar, Yuwen Pan began to wonder.
Perhaps there is a realm higher than the Supreme Grandmaster?
Someone like Lin Yuan, maybe?
It's understandable why Yuwen Pan might think so, as Lin Yuan's combat power was exceedingly beyond normal standards.
A Supreme Grandmaster from the Great Li Dynasty passed not long ago, and Yuwen Pan could remember descriptions of a Supreme Grandmaster clearly.
No matter how strong they were, they weren't this strong.
Furthermore, in the past year under Lin Yuan's occasional guidance, Yuwen Pan noticeably felt the bottleneck of the Supreme Grandmaster.
If the guidance of a Supreme Grandmaster were this effective, the saying that a Supreme Grandmaster couldn't train another wouldn't exist.
Inside the Martial Hall.
Lin Yuan sat cross-legged.
Since half a year ago, when the martial arts tournament started in the capital, he had constantly been learning from watching countless martial artists fight.
Though the martial artists participating might not be highly skilled, the variety of martial arts displayed was vast.
With his heaven-defying comprehension, Lin Yuan could understand the ways of martial arts from countless angles, finding it far more beneficial than merely watching a few superior, profound techniques.
[Your comprehension is heaven-defying.
You have gained insight into worldly martial paths, increasing your understanding of martial arts beyond the Mythical Realm.]
[Your comprehension is heaven-defying.
You have grasped the essence of the world and nature's truth.]
[Your comprehension is heaven-defying.
You have created the 'Cloud and Mist Spirit Refinement Technique.']
[Your comprehension is heaven-defying.
You have begun to perceive the breakthrough paths to higher realms.]
Lin Yuan was fully immersed in the world of enlightenment and wouldn't wake unless faced with a life-threatening situation.
Given Lin Yuan's current physique and the Mythical Realm 'Primordial Force' that protected him, even if a group of Grandmasters attacked, they wouldn't harm him.
Half a month later.
Lin Yuan opened his eyes.
"I've finally found it."
Lin Yuan sighed softly.
With the help of his heaven-defying comprehension, he had finally pinpointed the path beyond the mythical levels.
Of course, he had only pinpointed it; reaching it entirely would require much more effort.
However, as long as the direction was right, it was only a matter of time for Lin Yuan.
"It's time to go back."
Lin Yuan stood up and walked towards the Martial Hall's exit.
Though with his current strength, training could be done anywhere, he had become fond of the undisturbed environment on Mount Shaoshi after spending ten years at the Great Zen Temple.
To advance beyond the Mythical Realm would require significant time, so Lin Yuan preferred to return to Mount Shaoshi.
Clang.
The doors of the Martial Hall opened.
Yuwen Pan, who had been standing vigil outside, was startled.
"Master."
Out of instinct, Yuwen Pan glanced inside the Martial Hall, only to find that the young monk who had been sitting inside was nowhere to be seen.
"Has the Master left?"
Yuwen Pan stood there, somewhat forlorn.
Though he had anticipated it, knowing that a strong figure like Lin Yuan couldn't possibly stay in the palace forever, he still felt as though something was lost.
At the Great Zen Temple.
Abbot Huiyuan, the head of the Martial Monk Academy, Huimen, and several other heads gathered at the temple gates, their faces filled with worry.
A year ago, the Great Li palace was pierced through by a mysterious monk supposedly at the Supreme Grandmaster level, something the Great Zen Temple had of course heard about.
Unlike other martial artists or factions speculating about the monk's origins, Abbot Huiyuan and the academy heads were almost immediately convinced the monk was their temple's own disciple.
They couldn't help it.
Not only was he a young monk, but he also possessed Supreme Grandmaster prowess.
Such a precise description could only refer to the Buddhist disciple who had recently entered the world.
At first, they marveled at Lin Yuan's power.
A hundred years ago, the Supreme Grandmaster ancestor from the Great Li Dynasty attacked Mount Shaoshi.
Now the Buddhist disciple of the Great Zen Temple had single-handedly pierced through the Great Li Royal Palace; it seemed only fitting.
But as time passed, the Abbot and academy heads sensed something amiss.
It seemed the Buddhist disciple intended to stay permanently in the Great Li Royal Palace?
Abbot Huiyuan and others never thought Lin Yuan would abandon the Great Zen Temple.
Rather, they feared what plots the Great Li Dynasty might hatch.
Open challenges were easy to dodge, but hidden plots were hard to prevent.
Indeed, no one in the Great Li Dynasty could match Lin Yuan's strength, but what if they resorted to some underhanded tactics? After all, the Royal Palace was once the residence of their Supreme Grandmaster ancestor; it's not impossible they have means to deal with Supreme Grandmasters.
Long-term residence in the Great Li Royal Palace could be risk-prone for Lin Yuan.
Moreover, Abbot Huiyuan had deeper concerns.
With the martial arts tournament ongoing and several Grandmasters visiting the capital to spar with Lin Yuan, rumors about Lin Yuan's prowess had only grown.
Supreme Grandmaster.
Peak Supreme Grandmaster.
Invincible Supreme Grandmaster.
First Supreme Grandmaster of the Ages, and so on.
These rumors came from other Grandmasters and left little room for doubt regarding their authenticity.
Consequently, Lin Yuan's fame became unparalleled, even surpassing Patriarch Bodhidharma from centuries ago or the Great Li ancestor from over a century prior.
This situation might not affect other Supreme Grandmasters, who took decades to reach their level and whose hearts have been tempered by countless trials.
But Abbot Huiyuan knew well: their Buddhist disciple was only in his teens.
Could one so young withstand the influences of fame and fortune from the martial world?
"Let's wait a bit longer. The disciple has only been in the world for a year; the time is short. Even if he gets swayed by worldly matters, he can still turn back," the head of the Discipline Academy said solemnly.
For an ordinary martial artist, a year in the world was brief, akin to the early stages of their journey.
"The disciple's mind is pure," the head of the Martial Monk Academy frowned, about to speak further.
At that moment, a young monk walked step by step up the narrow mountain path of Mount Shaoshi, wearing monk robes and cloth shoes.
"The disciple has returned."
Abbot Huiyuan was the first to spot Lin Yuan.
Moments later, Lin Yuan arrived at the entrance of the Great Zen Temple.
"Disciple," several of them bowed slightly to Lin Yuan, wanting to speak but pausing.
"Everything is settled," Lin Yuan simply said before heading to the third floor of the Scripture Pavilion, away from the mundane world, away from the martial world.
On this day, the young disciple on Mount Shaoshi, in his monk's robes and cloth shoes, entered the world only to exit it again.
(The chapter ends here)