Chapter 21: The Heavenly Martial Heart Refinement
Seeing those words, the surrounding students were startled, thinking Bai Zhenzhen had succeeded.
But then Li Xuelian let out a soft sigh, her gaze shifting toward Bai Zhenzhen. "To master the forms of nine martial arts in such a short time—your talent is truly once in a million."
"Still… you fell just short of your father’s standards."
Hearing this, some students exhaled in relief, while others were silently stunned.
Zhao Tianxing thought to himself: Even this isn’t enough? Just how extraordinary does this Xinghuo Immortal expect his disciple to be?
Meanwhile, Bai Zhenzhen let out a quiet breath in her heart. She hadn’t expected her movements to trigger any change in the Martial Arts Diagram. For a moment, she’d genuinely thought she’d succeeded—so much so that she nearly opened her mouth to refuse Xinghuo Immortal’s offer in panic.
Thank goodness I didn’t say anything, she thought. I’d have been utterly humiliated. I knew there was something missing all along.
After Bai Zhenzhen’s attempt, others stepped forward, trying to perform the nine martial arts one by one—but none managed to stir any change in the Celestial Martial Arts Diagram.
On the contrary, Lian Tianji—once brimming with overconfidence—hesitated, not daring to step up again. He stood there, deep in thought, trying to figure out what had been missing in Bai Zhenzhen’s attempt. What crucial element had they all overlooked?
Silence settled over the entire hall. Without realizing it, everyone had stopped trying.
Just as Li Xuelian was about to declare the session over, Zhang Yu walked forward, phone in hand.
"Hmm?" Li Xuelian perked up instantly. After watching so many fail, he still has the nerve to try? He must have some confidence—perhaps even a secret plan.
But then her expression darkened.
Because Zhang Yu began playing a video on his phone—repeating Bai Zhenzhen’s movements exactly as shown in the recording.
He’d clearly filmed her entire performance.
Watching Zhang Yu mimic the video frame by frame, Li Xuelian’s frown deepened. It was obvious that aside from his own original martial style, he was unfamiliar with the other eight forms. Though he copied Bai Zhenzhen’s motions precisely, the difference in understanding between them became painfully clear.
From afar, Zhao Tianxing watched Zhang Yu—dressed in his security uniform—awkwardly mimicking Bai Zhenzhen’s movements under everyone’s gaze, like a man imitating a master he’d never met.
The sight made his skin crawl. His toes felt like they were digging into the ground, ready to carve out a three-room, one-living-room apartment.
Just watching it, he could feel the scorn and mockery in the eyes of the onlookers. He couldn’t even imagine how unbearable it must feel to be standing there, doing this—being the laughingstock of the entire hall.
Stop it, Zhang Yu! Zhao Tianxing screamed in his mind. It’s too embarrassing! You’re already being treated like a fool!
Of course, Zhang Yu couldn’t hear him. Nor did he care what these people thought.
He focused entirely, flawlessly replicating each of the nine martial arts, following the video frame by frame.
And when he finished the final move, a flood of experience and sensation surged into his mind—so intense it felt as if he’d trained for tens of thousands of repetitions.
In that instant, his understanding of the Celestial Martial Arts Diagram shifted completely.
The specific forms vanished from his mind, replaced by nine distinct, elusive mental states flickering like shadows.
Suddenly, Zhang Yu realized it.
The nine martial arts weren’t about technique.
They were about intention.
The true purpose of the training was to cultivate Martial Dao Intention—to understand the spirit behind each move.
The killing intent that could shatter ten thousand armies.
The unyielding resolve that would survive nine deaths.
The fearless momentum that never looked back.
These were not just fighting skills.
They were tools to forge the Dao Heart.
This isn’t a combat or physical cultivation art.
It’s a spiritual refinement technique—designed to strengthen the Dao Heart.
Martial Dao Intention—what the Top Ten Sects had systematized from concepts like sword intent, fist intent, blade intent—was the core of this.
At its most basic, it fortified the spirit, hardened the will, and elevated the Dao Heart Level.
Even someone as powerful as Xinghuo Immortal could embed their Martial Dao Intention into paintings, influencing the minds of others.
As Zhang Yu stood there, a palpable shift occurred within him.
Kill intent. Unbreakable will. Bold courage. Fierce determination—each surged from his body like waves, threatening to coalesce into a true Martial Dao Intention.
At the same time, the figure on the Celestial Martial Arts Diagram grew sharper, more vivid—its lines now tinged with color, as if it had come alive, locking eyes with Zhang Yu as his transformation unfolded.
The onlookers gasped.
This was the strongest reaction the diagram had ever shown today.
Lian Tianji, Qian Shen, Bai Zhenzhen—everyone stared at Zhang Yu, their minds racing with the same impossible thought:
Could he… really do it?
But then—suddenly—the transformation shattered.
The Martial Dao Intention, so close to forming, dissolved into nothing.
A voice emerged from the painting:
"Too bad. A prodigy, yet one move off the mark."
Zhang Yu, however, showed no surprise.
On the Feather Scroll, a new martial art appeared:
Tianwu Cultivation of the Heart Scripture – Level 0 (1/1, 8.3/8 Martial Energy, 0.85/0.8 Physical Strength Level, 1/3 Dao Heart Level)
This was the result of Zhang Yu’s relentless study—of analyzing the Celestial Martial Arts Diagram, observing countless students, and replaying Bai Zhenzhen’s video again and again.
Unlike any other martial art he’d learned, this one had requirements in Martial Energy, Physical Strength Level, and Dao Heart.
“In addition to mastering every form—punch, kick, palm strike—your Martial Energy must reach 8, Physical Strength Level 0.8, and Dao Heart Level 3.”
All the other requirements were met… except for Dao Heart Level 3.
Zhang Yu’s own Dao Heart was still only Level 1.
After all this effort, he’d been stopped at the final step.
This Tianwu Cultivation of the Heart Scripture—once achieved, is meant to forge Martial Dao Intention, using it to strengthen the will and refine the Dao Heart.
Zhang Yu thought: A Dao Heart Level 3? That’s impossible for a first-year high school student just three months into school.
Li Xuelian, watching Zhang Yu’s failure, eyes gleamed with excitement.
She had never truly expected anyone here to succeed.
From the security company’s report, this boy is Zhang Yu, a first-year student at Songyang High School.
To reach this far—this is truly a prodigy.
Recalling his performance, she murmured in admiration: Remarkable. I almost missed it.
His movements were stiff, his punches and kicks awkward and clumsy—but he still grasped the essence behind them.
He focused on intent, not form. He saw the secret of the Heavenly Martial Heart Refinement Scripture from the start.
Excellent. My father will gain another outstanding disciple.
In truth, Li Xuelian had already known this test was unlikely to succeed.
Anyone capable of mastering the Celestial Martial Arts Diagram on the spot was either from a powerful family or already a second- or third-year student—someone already signed by a sect.
They simply wouldn’t be here.
Finding someone who could master the Tianwu Cultivation of the Heart Scripture on the spot? The odds were astronomical.
But that didn’t mean no one could become a disciple.
If a student could withstand the冲击 of Martial Dao Intention, learn all the forms instantly, and understand the essence within—then even if they failed to complete the final step, they were still a genius.
Such a person, if they came a year later, would surely succeed.
But now—by finding them early, before they’d fully grown—her father could sign them to a contract years ahead of schedule.
She was certain her father would welcome such a talent.
And the fact that Zhang Yu failed to complete the scripture? That wasn’t a flaw.
It was an advantage.
It gave her room to negotiate harder when signing the contract.
With that thought, she smiled warmly at Zhang Yu.
"Though you didn’t complete the Tianwu Cultivation of the Heart Scripture," she said, "you’ve already grasped its essence. With time, mastery is inevitable."
"I’ll speak to my father right away—ask if he’d be willing to take you as a disciple."
The words sent shockwaves through the crowd.
Lian Tianji turned to his phone, snapping a quick photo of Zhang Yu—determined to find out who this mysterious security guard really was.
Qian Shen stared, stunned. Impossible! How can someone with 550 points get chosen by a Golden Core Immortal? Am I dreaming? Is the Celestial Martial Arts Diagram still testing me?
Bai Zhenzhen whispered, "Yuzi… did he just… break the game?"
She felt disoriented. Her longtime friend—someone who’d once been behind her in everything, even sharing debts—had suddenly soared above her.
She wasn’t unhappy for him. She’d have celebrated if he’d just ranked in the top ten, or even top five. But now he’d surpassed her, and everyone else?
But… if he’s now under Xinghuo Immortal’s wing, he’ll attract massive investment. I need to make the most of this. I’ll borrow from him—big time.
Then her expression darkened.
Wait… his Golden Core cultivation was halved. He’s been optimized by a major sect. No resources. No background. If he really joins, he’ll be nothing but a lifetime servant.
No… no. We’re brothers. I should warn him. Don’t let the title ‘Golden Core’ blind you. Refuse the offer.
Meanwhile, Zhao Tianxing stood frozen, his mind blank.
Then he remembered his earlier advice—his mocking words.
So embarrassing…
He’s a true genius. And I just made a fool of myself in front of him.
As Bai Zhenzhen stepped forward, a wave of students closed in around Zhang Yu—some asking for his contact info, others begging to know the secrets of the Celestial Martial Arts Diagram, others wanting photos.
Meanwhile, Li Xuelian quietly lifted her phone.
"Dad," she said, smiling, "I found a promising talent here in Songyang City…"
(End of Chapter)
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