Chapter 142: Such Martial Arts Exist in This World?

Chapter 142: Such Martial Arts Exist in This World?

Xu Yan sat down with a solemn expression, observing the group of Martial Arts Scholars before him. These individuals were obsessed with martial arts, and he wondered if they possessed unique insights or cultivated exceptional martial arts techniques.

"Strange, not a single practitioner of True Martial Arts among them?" Xu Yan scanned the group, his curiosity piqued. "Could it be that the Seven Stars Academy doesn't teach True Martial Arts either? If that's the case, the Inner Domain warriors are truly pitiable."

"These people are fanatics. If I tell them that they've been practicing a false form of martial arts, they might not be able to handle the truth."

"So, I'll just discuss the fundamentals of martial arts without mentioning authenticity. That way, I won't overwhelm them."

"Although they practice a false form, their dedication might have led them to develop some unique insights." Xu Yan's spirits lifted as he anticipated the upcoming discussion, hoping to gain new insights.

"For this martial arts discourse, do you want us to share our understanding of martial arts first, or would you like to begin, young friend?" One of the Martial Arts Scholars asked.

"You are older, so please go ahead," Xu Yan replied.

"Then I shall start," the first Martial Arts Scholar said. "I've always believed that martial arts are about strengthening oneself and pursuing transcendence. It begins with the Nine Ranks of Body Tempering to enhance one's physique and power..."

The scholar went on to explain his understanding of each martial arts realm, from the Nine Ranks to the Grand Master realm.

Xu Yan listened quietly, already having a general understanding of the Inner Domain's martial arts. However, he wanted to learn more about the differences between each realm.

As the scholar elaborated, Xu Yan gained a more detailed comprehension of the Inner Domain's martial arts.

"My master had his reasons for not discussing true and false martial arts. The Inner Domain's martial arts are indeed a complete system, but it's not perfect. Or perhaps, it hasn't reached its fundamental essence."

"Take the Nine Ranks, for example. It's about body tempering, but it only focuses on enhancing the physique, strength, and bones. It doesn't involve tempering the skin, bones, or internal organs. It seems to only skim the surface without delving deeper." Xu Yan sighed as he listened.

The first Martial Arts Scholar explained his understanding from the Nine Ranks to the Grand Master realm.

This was the first time Xu Yan had heard a comprehensive explanation of the Inner Domain warriors' cultivation method, and he couldn't help but marvel, "Although it's a well-established system, the cultivation always feels superficial. Calling it a false martial art isn't entirely inaccurate."

After the first scholar finished, the second and third scholars shared their insights...

One by one, the Martial Arts Scholars presented their understanding of martial arts, each with their unique take but still confined within the framework of the Inner Domain's martial arts.

"It's your turn, young friend!" The last Martial Arts Scholar smiled at Xu Yan after sharing his perspective.

Xu Yan nodded. He had gained some insights from this discussion, realizing that these scholars had a deeper understanding of the Inner Domain's martial arts than the warriors from the outside world. Their passion and research had sparked new ideas in him.

"The foundation of martial arts lies in its fundamentals," Xu Yan began, his expression solemn. "My master once said, 'A tree as big as an embrace grows from a tiny sprout, and a nine-story tower rises from piled-up soil.' Thus, the beginning of martial arts lies in refining the skin, bones, and organs..."

The group of Martial Arts Scholars, as well as Fu Yun Tian, were left bewildered by Xu Yan's words.

Refine the skin? Refine the bones? Refine the organs? How?

"Young friend, wait a moment," one of the scholars interrupted, his expression confused. "What do you mean by refining the skin, bones, and organs? Is this how martial arts are supposed to be practiced from the beginning?"

"Of course!" Xu Yan nodded firmly. "True martial arts involve refining oneself from the inside out and the outside in. It's about transcending the mundane and striving for immortality!"

The scholars swallowed, feeling that the goal Xu Yan described was incredibly lofty. Throughout history, who had ever achieved immortality?

"Young friend, could you explain what you mean by refining the skin?" One of the scholars asked, intrigued.

This novel way of practicing martial arts piqued their curiosity.

"Refining the skin involves sensing qi and blood and using them to temper the skin. Once refined, ordinary swords and knives will struggle to inflict harm..." Xu Yan explained.

"Impossible!" A scholar exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Even a third-rank warrior, relying solely on their physical body, couldn't achieve immunity to swords and knives. This is just the first step of martial arts, according to what you said. It's absolutely impossible to be impervious to blades at this stage."

The rest of the scholars nodded in agreement.

Xu Yan looked at them with pity, thinking of them as frogs at the bottom of a well. If he told them about the vastness of the sky, they would immediately jump up to refute it, insisting that the sky was only as big as a lid.

"What's that look for?" The scholar with the dark circles under his eyes asked, feeling offended by Xu Yan's gaze.

"It's not strange for refined skin to resist ordinary blades," Xu Yan replied, his gaze softening. "As for the third-rank warrior you mentioned, their method of cultivation is different. Their skin is only slightly tougher than that of a regular person, naturally offering some protection against blades."

"Just because you haven't seen or heard of something doesn't mean it doesn't exist," Xu Yan added, his eyes now holding a touch of pity.

"Impossible! I refuse to believe it!" The skeptical scholar shook his head. "And what's this about qi and blood? How can they be used to temper the skin? It's nonsense!"

"Don't interrupt," another scholar chided. "Let the young friend continue."

"Alright, go on," Xu Yan said. "After refining the skin, we move on to refining the bones. This process includes stages such as Iron Bones, Bronze Bones, Golden Bones, and Jade Bones. Iron Bones are ordinary, but Bronze Bones are impressive. With Golden Bones, one can remain unrotten even after being buried underground for ten thousand years. As for Jade Bones, I don't think there's a need to elaborate."

The group of scholars listened, their eyes widening in astonishment. Iron Bones, Bronze Bones, Golden Bones—it all sounded so fantastical and unreliable. No matter how they looked at Xu Yan, they couldn't shake the feeling that he had lost his wits after reading some fictional tale.

Fu Yun Tian, too, wore an expression of bewilderment.

"Continue," a scholar urged, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"After refining the bones, we move on to refining the organs..." Xu Yan continued, "...when the tendons and bones thunder and the qi and blood surge like a torrent, one achieves the Qi and Blood Realm. By connecting to the Heavenly Bridge and absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, refining it into innate true qi, one reaches the Innate Realm!"

Xu Yan concluded his explanation of martial arts.

The Martial Arts Scholars stared at him, their eyes wide with disbelief.

"Are you making all this up?" One of them blurted out, unable to contain his skepticism any longer.

It all sounded so fantastical—the thundering tendons and bones, the surging qi and blood, the connection to the Heavenly Bridge, and the absorption of spiritual energy. Qi and Blood Realm? Innate Realm? These were realms that didn't exist in martial arts!

"How could this be made up?" Xu Yan looked at them with a mixture of pity and exasperation. "Look at my arm. Can any ordinary sword or knife harm it?"

"Impossible!" A scholar shook his head. "What you're saying goes against all logic and reality."

If what Xu Yan described was true, then what had they been cultivating all this time? In comparison, their martial arts seemed inferior in every way—in concept and in name.

The group of Martial Arts Scholars eagerly demonstrated their martial arts and elaborated on their understanding of its fundamentals and strengths.

As the discussion progressed, the scholars were left dumbfounded, their faces filled with disbelief.

Whether it was in terms of theory, where Xu Yan's ideas sounded more profound and powerful, or in terms of strength and the mysteries of martial arts, he had completely overwhelmed them.

In that moment, they felt a tremendous shock to their core.

"Could there really be such martial arts in this world? Is there a problem with what I've been cultivating?"

One of the Martial Arts Scholars sank into deep thought.

Xu Yan stood up, a satisfied smile on his face. These people were finally realizing how insignificant and weak their understanding of martial arts was compared to his.

"Everyone, go back and ponder upon what we discussed today. Perhaps you'll gain some new insights," Xu Yan said as he turned to leave. He had gained some new ideas himself and planned to find a place to stay while he completed the separation of his true qi.

"Young friend, don't leave yet. Let's continue the discussion," one of the Martial Arts Scholars called out.

After this eye-opening exchange, they felt like their entire perspective on martial arts was crumbling. Their state of mind was shaken, and they even began to doubt if what they had been cultivating for most of their lives was wrong.

"I don't have time now, but we can chat again another day!" Xu Yan replied as he headed downstairs.

Fu Yun Tian saw him off and couldn't help but ask, "Were you making all that up? Were you deceiving them?"

"What do you think?" Xu Yan smiled.

The more obsessed one was with martial arts, the more likely they were to be trapped in their limited understanding. When such individuals were exposed to the true theories of martial arts, their state of mind would be easily disturbed, and they would start questioning their own practices.

Fu Yun Tian, however, did not seem to be plagued by such intense self-doubt.

"These Martial Arts Scholars are truly fanatical about martial arts. If we want to spread the true martial arts, starting with them might be a good approach," Xu Yan thought to himself.

Fu Yun Tian opened his mouth as if to ask something further, but ultimately decided against it.

It was clear that the Seven Stars Academy had lost this debate on martial arts.

Regardless of whether Xu Yan was making things up or not, the group of scholars had been thoroughly defeated, both in terms of their understanding of martial arts and their mental fortitude.

As Xu Yan exited the library, he saw a large crowd gathered outside, all there to catch a glimpse of him.

"Thank you, Young Master Xie!" a young female warrior shouted.

"Is this Xie Lingfeng? He's so young!"

"What a monster! If I had his talent, I wouldn't be lacking in female admirers," another exclaimed.

"No, if I had even half of Xie Lingfeng's good looks, I wouldn't be lacking either!"

Xu Yan didn't linger and continued on his way, his mind focused on finding a place to stay so he could complete the separation of his true qi.

"Xie Lingfeng's reputation is growing bigger and bigger!" he thought to himself, feeling happy for his friend.

"Farewell!" Xu Yan bid goodbye to Fu Yun Tian and, with a few quick movements, slipped through the crowd. He strode towards the exit of the Seven Stars Academy.

Fu Yun Tian's pupils constricted as he witnessed Xu Yan's swift movement.

Xu Yan hurriedly left the Seven Stars Academy and made his way to the nearest Seven Stars City. He intended to find a place to stay temporarily so he could complete the separation of his true qi and, at the same time, break through to the Great Perfection stage of the Innate Realm.

After perusing various tomes in the library and engaging in discussions with the Martial Arts Scholars, Xu Yan had gained some new insights.

He realized that he could now quickly complete the separation of his true qi! Once he fully understood the mysteries of true qi, breaking through to the Great Perfection stage of the Innate Realm would be effortless.

"I need to find a quiet place to cultivate. Staying at an inn won't be suitable. I need to find a secluded courtyard, but it might not be cheap," Xu Yan thought, already dreading the amount of spirit crystals he would have to spend.

Although he had a considerable number of spirit crystals, buying spirit medicines would also require a substantial sum. In reality, he was still quite poor.

"I wonder where my senior martial sister's enemies are located. If I could set up multiple branches, I might get rich very quickly," Xu Yan mused.

Suddenly, a figure rushed forward and blocked his path.

"I am Leng Qiu of the Sword Sovereign Cliff. May I ask why you are impersonating my Senior Brother Xie?" Leng Qiu asked, his face serious.

Xu Yan raised an eyebrow. A disciple of the Sword Sovereign Cliff?

"Don't spout nonsense. What do you mean by impersonating? I'm doing this with Senior Brother Xie's permission!" Xu Yan replied, annoyed.

Leng Qiu was taken aback. "Senior Brother Xie gave you permission?"

"Of course. Senior Brother Xie said that in the Inner Domain, I can use his name for anything," Xu Yan affirmed with a nod.

"I think you misunderstood. Senior Brother meant for you to use his name, not for you to..." Leng Qiu trailed off, feeling confused. Was this how one used another's name?

Xu Yan gave him a look that said he thought Leng Qiu was an idiot. "Are you stupid? This is how you use someone's name. How else would you do it? Would you say you're a friend of Xie Lingfeng? Do you think anyone would pay attention to that? Anyone could claim to be his friend, and it holds no weight."

"Do you even know how to use someone's name properly? Of course, I would say I am Xie Lingfeng, and that's how I got into the Seven Stars Academy's library," Xu Yan explained, his gaze now softening.

Leng Qiu was left speechless, his mouth hanging open as he tried to process what Xu Yan had said.

It all made sense!

How could the friends of Xie Lingfeng have the same influence as the man himself?

"So, it really was with my Senior Brother's permission?" Leng Qiu asked, still finding it hard to believe.

He couldn't wrap his head around the idea that his senior brother would allow someone to borrow his name like this.

"Of course!" Xu Yan confirmed.

Then, his eyes lit up, and he placed a hand on Leng Qiu's shoulder, his face full of enthusiasm. "Tell Senior Brother Xie that I, Xu Yan, have arrived in the Inner Domain, and I've helped spread his name. You don't need to thank me!"

Leng Qiu's jaw twitched. He had no idea how his senior brother would react when he found out that his name was already reverberating through the Seven Stars Academy.

"I've already informed Senior Brother, and he should be on his way here," Leng Qiu said, still feeling bewildered by Xu Yan's excessive enthusiasm.

"Brother Leng, since you're a disciple of the Sword Sovereign Cliff, you must have accommodations in Seven Stars City, right? A separate courtyard, perhaps?" Xu Yan asked eagerly.

"Yes, the Sword Sovereign Cliff has several courtyards in Seven Stars City, and I reside in one of them," Leng Qiu nodded.

"Wonderful! Let's go to your courtyard. I'll wait there for Senior Brother Xie to arrive," Xu Yan exclaimed happily.

He was thrilled at the prospect of saving some spirit crystals. Using Xie Lingfeng's name was worth the cost of staying at the Sword Sovereign Cliff's courtyard.

"Okay, okay!" Leng Qiu's head was spinning. He felt like Xu Yan was taking advantage of their hospitality, but he couldn't deny that it made sense for a friend of Senior Brother Xie to stay at their courtyard.

Led by Leng Qiu, Xu Yan arrived at a secluded courtyard in Seven Stars City, one of the Sword Sovereign Cliff's properties. Aside from Leng Qiu, there were no other disciples present at the moment.

Perhaps the other disciples resided in the other courtyards.

"This place is nice and quiet. Even if I make some noise during my cultivation, I won't disturb anyone," Xu Yan said, looking pleased.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end