Chapter 342: Heaven-Man Unity

Chapter 342: Heaven-Man Unity

By the mountainside, Chen Mu's eyes were like a calm and fathomless well, but his entire being exuded an inexplicable sense of vicissitude. This sense of world-weariness was not something one would expect from a man in his thirties, yet if one were to gaze into his profound eyes, they would glimpse a vicissitude as if he had witnessed the ebb and flow of all things in the world.

This aura was not an illusion.

At the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm, a Grandmaster of the Martial Way, one stood above the rest, having reached a state of returning to simplicity and purity. Their understanding and accumulation of the Martial Way were such that they were nearly unbound by any specific techniques or skills. Their Martial Body exuded formidable power with every movement and gesture.

For a month and a half, Chen Mu had been connected to the Cosmic Dragon Lock Array's Qi Flow, essentially becoming one with the Seven Mystic Peaks Mountain Range during this time. His thoughts and vision were intertwined with the entire mountain range, making him a part of it. He felt like a mountain god, witnessing the rise and fall of the sun and moon, the swaying of the stars.

"Humans have emotions, but Heaven does not. The Martial Way, when reaching its heights, is about using human emotions to control the will of Heaven."

The sense of vicissitude in Chen Mu's eyes gradually faded, and he soon returned to his usual state, casting his gaze towards the distance, sweeping across the entire Qi Xuan Sect. He murmured softly.

Humans have their limits. With the mortal body and flesh, no matter how one perceives and understands the Heaven and Earth, it is impossible to truly become a part of it. However, if one were to merge with the Heaven and Earth, connecting with it fundamentally, and comprehend the vastness of the sky dome and its myriad beings, it would be easy to gradually lose one's humanity, erase emotions, and slowly transform into a Supreme State of detachment and desirelessness.

Indeed, some Martial Ways pursue the Path of Emotionlessness.

But even the so-called 'Emotionless' path does not mean severing one's self as a human. It implies being unbound by emotions, unaffected by love, hate, and other feelings, and unconstrained by blood ties or any other attachments. It seeks transcendence and self-surpassing, not the complete abandonment of one's humanity.

Otherwise, if one were to lose one's self in the end, becoming a part of the Heaven and Earth, it would be utterly meaningless. After all, this is the Martial Way, not some 'Immortal Way', and the pursuit has never been longevity but strength.

If one loses their self, what use is strength?

Hence, there is the concept of Martial Will.

Only by relying on Martial Will to clarify one's nature can one, in the later stages of cultivation and even after becoming a Grandmaster, continue to perceive the Heaven and Earth without gradually being influenced by it and losing one's self.

Chen Mu, for a month and a half, had essentially become one with the Seven Mystic Peaks Mountain Range, a vast area spanning hundreds of miles, replacing his form to comprehend the Heaven and Earth. If a typical Five Viscera Realm Martial Artist with slightly weaker Martial Will were to meditate in such a state for a month, their consciousness would likely be obliterated by the Heaven and Earth.

Even for an ordinary Grandmaster, with slightly weaker Martial Will, borrowing the power of the Cosmic Dragon Lock Array for an extended period of time to sense the Heaven and Earth would still carry some degree of risk.

But Chen Mu was different now.

His Martial Will had reached the 'No Return Inquiry, Natural Dao Law' realm, the final step.

With this will, the strength of his consciousness was like a reef amidst raging waves, unyielding to the crashing of the sea. Even this description falls short; it was more akin to 'Bodhi has no tree, I am not me', a state of ethereal purity. The so-called waves couldn't even touch him, let alone cause erosion.

After withdrawing from this state of meditation, it took but a fleeting thought to dispel the sense of vicissitude, the feeling of being one with the Heaven and Earth, returning to a normal state.

"The Master's Martial Will is likely the same as mine, no wonder she was the youngest top Grandmaster in Cold North, an unparalleled genius of her time."

Chen Mu's heart echoed with admiration.

Although Qin Mengjun's Profound Heart Soul had been damaged, she could rely on the Cosmic Dragon Lock Array to merge with the Heaven and Earth, repairing the damage. This was likely due to her Martial Will reaching this domain; otherwise, it would be uncertain if she could slowly heal her soul core. With slightly weaker Martial Will, connecting to the Qi Flow of the Cosmic Dragon Lock Array in such a state would undoubtedly risk losing one's self.

Chen Mu was almost certain that even if Qin Mengjun had reached the ultimate realm of the Martial Way, merging with the Cosmic Dragon Lock Array while her soul core was damaged would still carry risks. Yet, she chose to take the risk for healing and cultivation, eventually repairing her soul core and taking the final step into the Blood-Exchange Realm.

Every Martial Artist who enters the Blood-Exchange Realm does so through countless trials and tribulations, forging themselves through calamities.

[Martial Way: Heaven-Earth Concept (Step 2)]



[Experience: 10,023 points]



[Available Simulations: 0 times]



Chen Mu gathered his thoughts, and with a thought, he summoned the system panel. As he had predicted, this month and a half of cultivation and meditation had earned him just enough experience for another simulation.

This was the eighth simulation since he fully comprehended the Heaven-Earth Concept, and he could clearly sense that he was just one small step away from the peak of the second step of the Heaven-Earth Concept.

"Let's begin."

Chen Mu closed his eyes, converting his experience points into simulation attempts, and with a thought, he initiated the process.

Hummm!

If his previous meditation, relying on the Cosmic Dragon Lock Array, was like merging his entire being into the Seven Mystic Peaks Mountain Range, becoming one with the mountains and perceiving the world through the eyes of a hundred-mile-long mountain range, then now, using the system panel for his final simulation, he felt his physical body disappear without a trace.

His consciousness soared, instantly merging with the hundreds of miles of the Seven Mystic Peaks Mountain Range, and it didn't stop there. It continued to extend to even more distant places.

He became one with the gentle breeze,

One with the trees and plants,

One with the vast earth,

One with the sky dome!

Even with his 'No Return Inquiry' Martial Will, Chen Mu's thoughts and consciousness became incredibly sluggish at this moment, as if they couldn't function at all. The world he perceived was too vast, far beyond what an ordinary person could comprehend.

In this vast land spanning a thousand miles, it seemed he could clearly perceive the fluttering of a butterfly's wings in any corner, and hear every word spoken by any ordinary person. Infinite information and insights flooded into his mind, and because he could sense and experience everything, his thoughts were infinitely suppressed, unable to move even an inch.

It was so difficult to gather a single thread of self-awareness, as if it required countless days and nights.

"This is... the Heaven and Earth?"

Chen Mu's consciousness was like a faint and weak flame, flickering as if it could extinguish at any moment, yet also vast and boundless, majestic and immense, the very embodiment of the Heaven and Earth.

His gaze fell upon the Qixuan Sect, and wherever his eyes reached, the entire Qixuan Sect's Cosmic Dragon Lock Array revealed no secrets, as if he were perceiving all things from the perspective of the Heaven and Earth.

Jin Ling'er, who was practicing the sword,

Meng Danyu, who was in seclusion and enlightenment,

Shen Lin, who was reporting to the sect,

...

His vision swept over each familiar person, and wherever his eyes fell, there seemed to be no secrets. All the qi and inner energy were crystal clear, yet regardless of whether it was Jin Ling'er or Meng Danyu, none of them were aware.

Chen Mu's gaze fell upon the depths of Lingxuan Peak, where he saw Chu Jingshu still in seclusion and cultivating, attempting to break through the Mystic Gate. He then turned his gaze towards the other peaks, looking at the several Peak Masters and Elders returning to the Qixuan Sect, but they too were unaware.

Finally.

Until Chen Mu's gaze fell upon the forbidden grounds of the Qixuan Sect, where a figure stood silently beneath a withered pine tree. Suddenly, the figure opened its eyes, as if sensing something, and looked up at the sky, saying, "Which esteemed guest has come to visit? I apologize for not welcoming you from afar."

The figure beneath the withered pine was Yin Heng, the Supreme Elder of the Qixuan Sect.

He spoke in a detached manner, but his eyes revealed an unprecedented gravity, and his qi had already connected with the Cosmic Dragon Lock Array, allowing him to manipulate the earth's power beneath the entire Seven Mystic Peaks Mountain Range at any time.

However, as time passed, the feeling of being secretly observed from the heavens quickly faded, as if the gaze from the high heavens had shifted its position, no longer focused on the Qixuan Sect, but directed elsewhere.

Yin Heng sensed this.

His heart slightly calmed, but he still did not untangle the connection between his qi and the Cosmic Dragon Lock Array, maintaining a sense of vigilance as he gazed up at the sky, murmuring, "The third step of the Concept, Heaven-Man Unity? Who is it?"

The third step of the Concept.

Glimpse, Touch, and Heaven-Man Unity.

The so-called Martial Domain is actually based on the extreme limit of the second step, with a slight grasp of 'Heaven-Man Unity'. However, compared to the true third step, it is vastly different.

Once the Concept reaches the third step and achieves true Heaven-Man Unity, almost in an instant, consciousness can merge with the heaven and earth within a few hundred miles or even a thousand miles. Wherever the gaze falls, there are almost no secrets in the world.

But even in the Blood-Exchange Realm, those who can cultivate the third step of the Concept and achieve true Heaven-Man Unity are very few.

At least.

For Yin Heng, within the Qixuan Sect's headquarters, he relied on the Cosmic Dragon Lock Array and was unafraid of such figures. However, if he encountered such an existence in the outside world, even he could only do his best to escape. Facing them head-on was not an option.

The gaze from high above, like the merging of heaven and earth with one's consciousness, was also very familiar to him. It must be 'Heaven-Man Unity' without a doubt. However, in the entire Cold Northern Region's eleven provinces, only two people had reached that level, and the one who had just peered at them did not seem to be either of these two.

"Is it someone from another region, coming for Meng Jun?"

Yin Heng muttered to himself.

Qin Mengjun, having entered the Blood-Exchange Realm, as a newly ascended Supreme, could indeed attract the attention of some top figures from other regions. However, Qin Mengjun was not currently in the sect, which caused a slight worry to rise in Yin Heng's heart.

If it were him, facing such a figure, even outside the sect, he would have some confidence in retreating. But Qin Mengjun, being new to the Blood-Exchange Realm, if he were to encounter such a figure with malicious intent, escaping unscathed would be extremely difficult.

After all,

Such existences have the qualifications to be revered as Saints in the Martial Way!

In the vast Cold Northern Region's eleven provinces, there were only two such individuals. One was the Northern King Yuan Hong, and the other was the 'Heavenly Blade' Gongshe Yu, also known as the Cold Northern Sword Saint!

Apart from those who have truly reached the Heaven-Man Unity Realm, even a powerful figure like Yin Heng in the Blood-Exchange Realm would not dare to casually bestow upon themselves titles like 'Martial Saint'.

Yin Heng's heart was momentarily unsettled, but he still could not contact Qin Mengjun to have him return to the sect.

...

Chen Mu noticed Yin Heng's tension earlier, but at this moment, his thoughts were sluggish, almost as if he were being forced by the system to merge with the heaven and earth, making it difficult to gather complete thoughts.

Even if he could produce normal thoughts and awareness, he wouldn't pay much attention to Yin Heng's tension. He was well aware of his current state, which was being forcibly elevated by the system to a state similar to 'Heaven-Man Unity', allowing him to experience the heaven and earth from this perspective ahead of time, rather than truly reaching that realm.

If the merging of qi with the Cosmic Dragon Lock Array allowed him to experience the wonders of heaven and earth as one, then now the system panel forcibly elevated his perspective, enabling him to merge with the heaven and earth, and every moment he experienced countless wonders!

While these insights almost overwhelmed his thoughts, they were indeed being absorbed into his consciousness.

Like this,

He wasn't sure how much time had passed.

Chen Mu felt his consciousness suddenly lighten, and the heavy feeling disappeared without a trace. The constant influx of profound insights into his consciousness also abruptly ceased, and his awareness returned to his body.

"..."

He slowly opened his eyes.

He looked around, gazing at the rocks and ancient trees behind Lingxuan Peak, then at his own body, and finally shook his head, sighing softly.

Although his Heaven-Earth Body was the ultimate perfection, flawless and agile after cultivation, compared to the previous state similar to 'Heaven-Man Unity', it felt much heavier.

In the previous state, it was like forgetting one's self.

In a state of profound immersion, Chen Mu's consciousness had transcended his physical form, and even his thoughts seemed to merge with the vastness of heaven and earth. It was as if he had become one with the world around him.

Suddenly, he returned to his physical body, and the overwhelming sensation of the boundless heavens and earth vanished, leaving him with a faint sense of disappointment as he realized he was back in the body of a Marrow Washing Grandmaster.

However, this fleeting feeling of loss was just a passing thought in his mind.

The system panel's calculations had guided him, showing him the direction to take. He understood that this was the third step of the Heaven and Earth Concept, the unity of heaven and man, and he knew that one day, he would step into that domain.

"I haven't gotten much stronger."

Chen Mu clenched his fist, testing the Heaven and Earth Concept by summoning a bit of Heavenly Power. The result was not significantly different from the seventh calculation; it was similar to the previous attempts.

The only difference was that his will had finally reached the second step's limit. Not only could he glimpse the concept of a 'domain,' but with the system panel's calculations, he could see the true third step of the unity of heaven and man.

[Martial Way: Heaven and Earth Concept (Second Step)]



[Experience: 23 points]



[Remaining Calculations: 0]



Chen Mu's thoughts stirred, and he summoned the system panel once more. The description of his concept remained at the second step.

"Now that I've reached the second step's limit, I wonder if another calculation will lead me to the domain or... directly to the third step?"

An idea suddenly flashed through Chen Mu's mind.

The so-called martial domain was actually a small step between the second and third steps. For the system panel, it might not interpret this step, or perhaps the second step's limit was as far as it could go, and the next step would be the third one.

Chen Mu attempted to further enhance his concept.

As expected, the system panel displayed a prompt about insufficient 'calculations.'

"Insufficient calculations..."

Chen Mu muttered to himself, feeling no different from before.

After a brief pause, Chen Mu's thoughts shifted, and he adjusted the system panel, switching to another section.

[Technique: Heaven-Earth Seal (Sixth Layer)]



[Experience: 355]



Ever since he had practiced the Heaven-Earth Seal to the sixth layer, he had been stuck there. Not only was the experience gain extremely slow, but the system panel directly indicated 'insufficient conditions,' preventing him from proceeding to the next layer's calculation.

However, this time, when Chen Mu attempted to improve his Heaven-Earth Seal, the prompt displayed was 'insufficient experience.'

Insufficient conditions and insufficient experience were two different concepts.

Insufficient conditions were similar to his previous inability to comprehend the concept without external assistance. It required the cultivation of various techniques within the lineage to cultivate multiple styles, and then reverse-engineer the concept. In contrast, insufficient experience simply meant that he needed more experience to directly improve.

Previously, he couldn't directly advance the Heaven-Earth Seal to the seventh layer because the corresponding seventh layer was the 'Heaven-Earth Domain.' Since his concept had not reached the second step's limit, he lacked the necessary conditions to comprehend the domain without external assistance.

But now, after his concept had undergone eight calculations and reached the second step's limit, he naturally gained the ability to cultivate the domain.

"Indeed, the martial domain is not a true step in the concept. It's a small step forward after reaching the second step's limit, relying on the ultimate technique to inch closer to the next stage."

"Just like how I cultivated the Three-Foot Forbidden Domain through Flower Falling Without Trace, once the concept reaches the second step's limit, it's natural to cultivate the Heaven-Earth Domain through the Heaven-Earth Seal."

Chen Mu nodded slightly as he looked at the system panel.

If this was the case, mastering the Heaven-Earth Domain would be easier. After all, the experience points required for concept cultivation increased with each step, making it more challenging to obtain. In comparison, advancing the Heaven-Earth Seal to the seventh layer seemed simpler. With his current efficiency in cultivating the Heaven-Earth Seal, it might not even take a month to reach the seventh layer and grasp the Heaven-Earth Domain!

The previous 'unity of heaven and man' state was ultimately just a preview provided by the system. His painstakingly cultivated Heaven and Earth Body and the soon-to-be-completed Heaven-Earth Domain were truly his own accomplishments.

"The one in the forbidden area is probably Elder Supreme Yin."

Chen Mu recalled his previous experience in the system's heightened insights. The figure he had seen in his vision, whose gaze had reached the high heavens, was indeed in the forbidden area. The aura of that figure was indeed different from any grandmaster, even surpassing his master, Qin Mengjun.

Within the entire Qiuan Sect, no one, including the grandmasters and elders, could detect his gaze. Only the figure in the forbidden area could see him, clearly demonstrating the enhanced perception of the Blood Replacement Realm.

Qiuan Sect's Supreme Elder, Yin.

This Blood Replacement Realm Elder had dominated the world for over a hundred years, and his strength surpassed even the Sky Demon Sect's Sky Demon Ancestor. Even the Sacred Turtle at its peak might not be able to suppress this elder alone.

Although Chen Mu's Heaven and Earth Body was only partially formed, and his concept had reached the second step's limit, there was still a significant gap between him and such a powerful existence.

However, after another month of cultivation, when Chen Mu perfected the seventh layer of the Heaven-Earth Seal and cultivated the Heaven-Earth Domain, the qualitative gap between him and Elder Yin would likely disappear. Even if he couldn't surpass Elder Yin, he would at least be able to glimpse that level of power!

Blood Replacement Realm.

The final stage of body tempering, the pinnacle of the Martial Way.

Chen Mu was now thirty-two years old, and it had been twelve years since he came to this world. After a decade of martial cultivation, he was finally approaching the threshold, able to glimpse the ultimate level of the Martial Way. This journey had been arduous, forged with every drop of sweat.

Chen Mu's thoughts drifted like a gentle breeze, rising into the clouds, but he quickly regained his composure, collecting his thoughts and taking a step forward, quietly disappearing into the back cliff of Spirit Profound Peak.

From then on, Chen Mu devoted himself to cultivating the Heaven-Earth Seal and mastering the Heaven-Earth Domain.

Qin Mengjun was still traveling outside and had not returned.

Chen Mu hoped that when Qin Mengjun returned, he could comprehend the Heaven-Earth Domain and have a true contest with the Blood Replacement Realm Elder to see who would prevail.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end