Li Guanyi was dressed in a black patterned robe today, carrying a pouch slung over his shoulder, and he was enamored with this battle spear.
He found that his fondness for heavy swords was diminishing day by day.
Take his current battle spear as an example.
As long as the opponent wielding a sword or blade had not reached the level of internal qi manifesting as sword energy,
Li Guanyi could use a single move, Phoenix Nods, to explode the opponent's forehead.
Even if you used sword energy, my battle spear has a natural reach of seven or eight feet more than yours, striking first despite being later to act. However, once one reaches a certain level, weapons no longer matter. Li Guanyi recalled the day when Yue Qianfeng and Xue Daoyong fought, shaking the ground for dozens of miles.
An old man drew his bow and shot, hundreds of golden rays falling to the ground.
General Xue shot an arrow over three hundred miles, piercing the Sacred Mountain.
At that realm, there was no difference between battle spears and swords; it was all about the martial artist's strength.
Strength, ah...
A flame quietly burned in Li Guanyi's heart. Even though he had come to terms with his past, his thirst for power grew day by day, unbeknownst to himself. The old man took him and Xue Shuangtao to a small courtyard near the Listening Wind Pavilion.
The courtyard was not tall, only two stories.
An old man with white hair and eyebrows, his face covered in wrinkles, sat at the door basking in the sun. Upon seeing Xue Daoyong, he stood up to pay his respects.
Xue Daoyong waved his hand and said, "Today I have come to bring the children to select a few entry-level cultivation techniques."
"Please prepare."
The old man complied and left.
Xue Daoyong, dressed in loose clothing, looked at Li Guanyi and said:
"Since we are looking for entry-level techniques, we should also discuss the realms after entering. A martial artist who has entered the realm can walk the rivers and lakes without worrying about being easily scattered by a band of mountain bandits."
"They can serve as guest protectors in the families of small cities."
"Even in places like the border army, one can hold the position of a squad leader, which Guanyi should know."
Li Guanyi nodded.
Xue Daoyong continued, "To enter the realm in a small place means one is already a person of renown, a martial artist among a hundred. This is enough to ensure a lifetime of food and clothing, and for many, it is the goal of their lives."
"But looking across the world, there are too many heroes; looking back, countless outstanding figures."
"The peak of martial arts is just the beginning."
The old man pointed to a nearby stone tablet, thick as a fist, solid and sturdy, and said:
"For example, an entry-level martial artist cannot break this stone tablet."
"If you don't believe it, try to break this stone tablet with your entry-level skills."
He wanted the young man before him to understand the limits of an entry-level martial artist.
Li Guanyi nodded.
With a movement of his shoulder, the weapon pouch fell, and he raised his hand to grasp the battle spear. With both hands together, it transformed into a long weapon of seven or eight feet. He held it with both hands and swept it suddenly, unleashing his internal qi. Although he still could not use techniques at the level of Rolling Waves, the basic moves were not a problem.
This was the essence of staff techniques, blended into the battle spear.
Utilizing the resilience and elasticity of the rosewood, he perfectly channeled his strength onto the spear's tip.
This was a technique that exploded briefly at a single point.
The stone tablet cracked directly down the middle.
Li Guanyi flicked his wrist, and the battle spear swept through like a heavy sword, arcing smoothly. As for the height, he turned the blade, and with a crescent blade's heavy chop, the stone tablet was directly shattered, swept apart, leaving only a small portion split in the middle.
Li Guanyi retracted his weapon and said, "I broke it."
Xue Daoyong was left speechless.
Xue Shuangtao couldn't help but laugh out loud.
The old man grinned and said, "...you little rascal."
"I said, use your fist!"
He walked to another stone tablet.
Li Guanyi looked at this stone tablet, which was made of standard granite. Hitting it with a fist would undoubtedly hurt, and he was certain of his own strength; he absolutely could not break this stone tablet and would likely injure his knuckles. With the strength of a martial artist, his finger bones would definitely fracture, and breaking them was not out of the question.
The old man finally regained some face and said lightly, "Can't break it, can you?"
"You might even get hurt."
His palm brushed against the stone tablet and said, "Before entering the realm, martial artists temper their bodies with qi."
"How to proceed after entering? Those who advance keep trying and ultimately find the three great thresholds."
"Body Forging, Qi Condensation, Meridian Opening."
"A Body Forging martial artist has a body as tough as iron. Even if this stone tablet cannot be smashed, it won't injure oneself..." He raised his hand and struck out with the strength of an entry-level martial artist. The stone tablet shook slightly, and small fragments of rock fell, while the old man's fist remained unscathed.
"A martial artist at this level has honed their body to the utmost. This is to protect themselves and to bear more explosive internal qi."
"Next is Qi Condensation."
"After entering the realm, internal qi manifests outside the body, but the internal qi you are currently unleashing is scattered and ineffective. It can attack the enemy, but the effect is weak. By condensing the qi, like forging iron into weapons, one can achieve this."
The old man struck out another punch, using the same strength and qi.
But this time, the stone tablet, which was at least a fist thick, was directly broken. When the qi manifested outside the body, it seemed to transform into sharpness, extremely condensed.
Xue Daoyong said, "The third threshold is called Meridian Opening."
"Qi gathers, and the body has been forged; then the strength can be unleashed through the subtle points of the meridians."
He extended his hand and gently pressed on the stone tablet.
When he lifted it, there was already a clear handprint on the stone tablet.
The old man demonstrated the cultivation after entering the realm to Li Guanyi.
"After entering the realm, one first cultivates Body Forging. After Body Forging, one can condense qi. When the body is forged like iron, and the qi is condensed, one can open the meridians. At that time, the body will have all meridians connected, and the internal qi will be as sharp as swords. At this level, when internal qi manifests outside the body, it is incredibly condensed, and even ordinary armor can be shattered with bare hands."
"If one can break through the three thresholds after entering the realm, they can advance further to the second level."
"They can serve as a lieutenant in the army, and in ordinary martial arts sects, they are considered above the rank of steward, responsible for various matters in different regions. The strongest martial artist in an ordinary city would also be at this level."
The old man smiled and encouraged, "Guanyi, you are only thirteen years old, and you will be fourteen in two months."
"With your talent and aptitude, you can reach this level before eighteen."
"A military lieutenant at eighteen."
Xue Shuangtao retorted, "Grandfather, he is already a lieutenant!"
The old man laughed, "Haha, yes, yes, yes, he is a lieutenant now, but this seventh-grade Zhenwei Lieutenant should be a martial artist at this level to command respect. A seventh-grade military officer, in battle, commands three to five hundred soldiers, with dozens of entry-level squad leaders and thirty team leaders."
"Without some means, one cannot suppress them."
Body Forging, Qi Condensation, Meridian Opening.
Li Guanyi looked at the handprint on the stone tablet.
He suddenly understood.
He realized that he had mastered the techniques, yet could not unleash Rolling Waves and Mountain Crushing.
He had not yet undergone Body Forging.
His body could not withstand the force of martial techniques at this level.
The qi was not condensed enough to unleash the momentum of rolling waves.
This was the drawback of mastering high-level martial arts techniques at a low realm; having learned them, he could not use them.
Li Guanyi exhaled, and it seemed he saw a more distant world, saying:
"Old Xue, what about higher-level martial artists?"
The old man replied, "At the third level, one can lead a thousand elite troops, galloping across the battlefield in this chaotic world, and can be called a general by outsiders. The leaders of ordinary martial arts sects are also only at this level, with qi that is majestic and domineering, capable of shattering mountains."
"And every generation of the Xue family must reach the third level to be recognized."
Li Guanyi was puzzled, and the old man smiled and asked, "Do you remember the day I fought that hillbilly Yue Qianfeng? How many arrows did I shoot?"
He couldn't count them all.
Li Guanyi realized.
The old man had not taken any arrows that day.
The old man's eyes sparkled with appreciation as he casually raised his hand, and his qi transformed into an arrow.
Transparent and sharp, it rested in Li Guanyi's palm as he softly said:
"This is the third level."
"Condensing qi into weapons, condensing qi into armor, and there are many other mysterious techniques. At this level, martial artists have other options for close combat, and those who cultivate the three teachings of spirit and qi have physiques that are not inferior to second-level martial artists, allowing them to wield swords and kill."
"This is a level where various sects converge."
"The Daoists can be called true immortals, and the military can be called generals. Thirteen years ago, when Marshal Yue first gained fame, he was at this level."
"At this point in the world, one is no longer a small character."
"Guanyi, strive for it."
Li Guanyi held the arrow, and as it shattered, he thought of the Night Rider Cavalry that had pursued him back then, pretending to be nonchalant as he said, "I've heard that various countries have elite troops. The Night Rider Cavalry of the Chen Kingdom, the Tiger Barbarian Iron Cavalry of the Ying Kingdom, the Iron Floating Tower of the Turks, and the Golden Curved Blade Cavalry of the Western Regions—what about their strength?"
The old man laughed heartily: "And the Xuanjia Army of the Duke of Ying, the Great Halberd Warriors under Yue Qianfeng."
"All are forces of no more than a thousand men, yet they can contend on a battlefield of tens of thousands."
"All are elites, and the soldiers within must possess the strength of ordinary lieutenants."
"They are often gathered from the entire army to form a guard, wearing the best armor, riding swift horses, wielding weapons and crossbows, capable of encircling and killing third-level martial artists. Under the leadership of famous generals, even fourth-level masters can be slain."
Night Rider Cavalry, second level...
Li Guanyi pursed his lips, and the ease that had unconsciously appeared after entering the realm completely vanished.
Then he recalled the Night Rider Cavalry that had been sent to hunt down Yue Qianfeng.
Those sent to carry out such tasks must have been the elite among the Night Rider Cavalry, yet they were easily slain by the injured Yue Qianfeng. Currently, in a one-on-one situation, he was still inferior to one of the cavalrymen who had pursued him that year.
However, the youth looked up at the sky and relaxed slightly.
He was only thirteen years old, with plenty of time ahead; he would surely surpass them in the future.
Why should he be anxious about this every day?
As for his aunt, who was unskilled in martial arts... she must be deceiving him.
He just didn't know what realm the old man before him and that Yue Qianfeng, who could shatter mountains with a single punch, were at.
At that moment, the white-haired guardian in the courtyard softly said, "It is ready."
Xue Daoyong nodded.
He led Li Guanyi and Xue Shuangtao forward, pushing open the door, casually saying, "Entry-level cultivation techniques require the transmission of divine intent. The key is to shape the 'Cultivation Body,' which is the core of everything."
"Different cultivation bodies have their own inclinations; it is essentially body, qi, and spirit."
"The orthodox teachings of Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism focus on qi and spirit; while the various sects outside, such as music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, purely focus on spirit."
"Martial artists?"
"Hahaha, how childish! We martial artists naturally focus on qi and body. The spirit is something to cultivate when reaching the third level. A martial artist with a strong physique and majestic qi can traverse thirty-three steps without restriction, unmatched by Buddhism or Daoism."
In terms of the inclination of the cultivation body, he had clearly distinguished between the crude martial artist and the pedantic scholar.
The old man stopped, pointing to the shelves ahead. Each shelf held a scroll, all of which were special, radiating various divine auras. Incense burned around them, helping to concentrate the mind. The old man warned, "Martial arts cultivation requires divine intent transmission for all techniques after entering the realm; it is not simply a matter of flipping through them."
"You need to comprehend the divine aura within and resonate with it to grasp its true meaning."
The old man said lightly, "Here are the techniques of my Xue family after entering the realm, and the secret transmissions are included. Besides that, seventy percent are collected from outside, including techniques from Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, military arts, Yin-Yang, and the Mo family."
"Although they do not have the top-tier transmissions of each sect, they are sufficient for entry-level cultivation."
Li Guanyi subconsciously asked, "Top-tier transmissions...?"
The old man nodded: "Consider it the ten supreme arts of the Central Plains."
"Among them, the strongest for nurturing qi is the Confucian 'Haoran Righteous Qi.'"
"The strongest for body refining is hard to surpass the Buddhist 'Vajra Dragon Elephant' and the Daoist 'Taiji Soft Cloud.'"
"The methods of slaughter are unparalleled in the military's core transmission 'Hundred Battles,' yet it is in the Central Plains."
"Common methods for nurturing spirit, even superior methods, are extremely rare."
"However, the top-tier transmissions are the most abundant."
"The Daoist 'Taishang Wangqing Pian,' the Buddhist 'Zen,' the Confucian 'Heavenly Mandate,' and the most secretive, even rumored not to be recorded in writing, is the Jiangnan Divine Soldier Murong family, said to have the 'Jiangnan Misty Rain Twelve-Story Pavilion,' which is even above the Divine Sword Decision, yet lacks a cultivation method."
"Passed down from generation to generation."
"The previous generation's successor has gone missing."
"The Murong family no longer has this cultivation method to pass down."
The old man said, "The last two renowned in the world are the imperial techniques of the great emperor of the Central Plains, left behind by that heroic emperor eight hundred years ago. It has been many years since anyone has learned it."
Li Guanyi asked, "What about the Xue family?"
The old man sighed and said:
"Originally, there were transmissions that were not inferior to these, but the ancestors divided the techniques into two parts. The Xue family only received the upper volume, while the lower volume of techniques and the battle spear were separated. Both volumes are top-tier techniques, but combined, they might not be inferior to the divine skills used by the sons of the Duke of Chen to establish the country."
"Unfortunately, that technique and the battle spear have long since gone missing."
"I don't know when they will be reunited, restoring the glory of our ancestors."
"Enough of this; Guanyi, go and try. With so many techniques, there must be one that resonates with your divine aura." The old man pointed ahead. Li Guanyi nodded, filled with anticipation as he stepped inside. Xue Daoyong wore a smile, while the old servant inquired:
"Master, is this the prodigy?"
"Yes."
Xue Daoyong said, "How many do you think he can resonate with?"
The old servant thought for a moment and replied, "Most techniques require the practitioner's comprehension, physique, and internal qi. With his solid foundation, he should be able to grasp superior martial arts, at least resonating with five techniques."
"Perhaps there will be a resonance, leading to the appearance of extraordinary phenomena."
Xue Daoyong laughed heartily and shook his head, proud.
"Perhaps more than that!"
"I'll give you a number: ten!"
"There will be extraordinary phenomena of mountains high and waters long, and literary brilliance."
These were the changes brought about by the resonance of martial artists with their transmissions.
Li Guanyi stepped inside, and the superior fragrance calmed his mind. He reached out and grasped one of the scrolls, the radiant light flowing over it. In this environment, he could truly feel the faint divine aura. Was this what they called the transmission of entry-level cultivation techniques?
Li Guanyi raised his head.
In this repository, various divine auras flowed.
Martial artists could select one, and if their divine aura responded, they could gain the transmission; those who could resonate with superior divine auras would obtain the transmission of superior martial arts. Every martial artist who came here tried their utmost to resonate with these techniques. Li Guanyi calmed his mind and did the same, but he frowned slightly, unable to read the scrolls.
It was a bit too noisy.
The divine auras and radiant lights flowed around him, and for some reason, they felt like strings of a zither.
Many divine auras clashed, and the radiant light flowed, sounding like a cacophony of zither music in his ears.
Li Guanyi, accustomed to playing the zither, casually plucked a string.
How could one play the zither with ethereal divine auras?
Li Guanyi answered in his heart, the zither is the voice of the heart, so one can certainly play it.
With a casual pluck, it was a piece his aunt had taught him, and it was the one he had practiced the most over the past decade.
His mind was like the zither music, not to resonate with the divine auras of this place.
But rather, it was centered on himself, with his mind playing the zither.
Xue Daoyong was arguing with the old servant when he suddenly paused, looking up.
It seemed as if a clear zither sound swept through the air, and all the divine auras of the various techniques froze.
The entire repository of scrolls.
All the divine auras fell silent.
Then, as if gathering a tidal wave, all three hundred eighty-seven entry-level cultivation techniques in the repository lit up!
(End of this chapter)