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Chapter 376: Reactions from All Sides
Chapter 376: Reactions from All Sides
In the Northern Chill.
At the center of a small island surrounded by water in Songzhou, a solitary figure sat quietly in a secluded pavilion. The person seemed like a wooden statue, unmoving, while the stone platforms and tables around him were covered in a layer of visible dust, indicating they hadn't been touched in a long time. Yet, the simple cloth robe he wore remained untouched by dust.
In front of him, floating in the void, was a sword. It appeared plain and unassuming, as if it too was in a state of quietude. The sword's body was heavy, adorned with intricate patterns, yet it seemed weightless as it hovered in the air.
When martial artists reach the Blood Replacement Realm, they become truly transcendent beings. Each one is a force to be reckoned with, capable of establishing a power as influential as the Seven Mysteries Sect. However, when discussing the strongest individuals in the world, only two names from the eleven states of the Northern Chill are considered: Duke of Northern Defense Yuan Hong and Sky Sword Gong Yang Yu.
These two have reached the third step of enlightenment, attaining the Heaven-Man Unity Realm, making them world-shaking figures. It's challenging to determine a clear hierarchy among them, and there are no public rankings like the Wind and Cloud Rankings or the Grandmaster List.
However, there is still a general distinction in their rankings.
There's a significant debate about whether Yuan Hong can be considered among the top ten in the world. Most believe he ranks within the top twenty, but it's difficult for him to break into the top ten. On the other hand, Gong Yang Yu is acknowledged as one of the top five, or even top three, in the world!
The Sky Sword lineage he founded represents the ultimate pinnacle of swordsmanship, gathering all the sword intents of the present age and transforming them into a supreme path. It is one of the most exceptional existences in the martial world, almost on par with the Celestial Sword Art of the Celestial Sword Sect.
But as for his exact ranking, there is no consensus, and no one dares to make such a list.
Suddenly, a ripple seemed to appear in the void, carrying a message within it.
Below the stone pavilion, Sky Sword Gong Yang Yu, who had been sitting for several years, slowly opened his eyes. His aged and rustic eyes showed no signs of sword intent, making him appear like an ordinary woodcutter.
He stood up slowly, gazing towards the direction of Ice Province. A ripple appeared in his eyes.
"Tuoba Xi, have you left?"
The old man sighed softly.
Tuoba Xi was his fellow disciple, and they had competed in everything since childhood, striving to outdo each other. While Tuoba Xi had won some of these competitions, he had never surpassed Gong Yang Yu in the path of the sword. He always remained a step behind.
Gong Yang Yu never considered Tuoba Xi a true rival, nor did he ever think about competing in the way of the sword. He merely walked his own path and honed his own sword.
As the saying goes, "Only by not competing can one be invincible."
Tuoba Xi always had Sky Sword Gong Yang Yu in his heart, which prevented him from taking that final step. He was stuck at the Grandmaster Realm for over a hundred years. From the beginning, Gong Yang Yu never considered Tuoba Xi's Absolute Blade in his heart.
Perhaps, in his final moments, Tuoba Xi finally understood the true meaning of the sword and why it reigned supreme.
"Chen Mu..."
The ripples in Gong Yang Yu's eyes gradually calmed, and he muttered another name.
In this chaotic world, a truly extraordinary figure had emerged.
Gong Yang Yu gently raised his hand and grasped the Sky Sword that had been floating in the air, striking fear into the world for over a hundred years. As he held the sword, his aura underwent a sudden transformation.
He appeared like an ordinary woodcutter, but when he gripped the Sky Sword, his overwhelming sword intent surged like a heavenly river descending from the nine heavens. Even though he only held the sword, it gave the impression that he could split the very heavens.
He gazed down at the Sky Sword in his hand.
His sword intent wasn't directed at Chen Mu, as Tuoba Xi hadn't died at Chen Mu's hands. He had passed away due to the natural order of the heavens and the mortal lifespan that cannot be defied, even by someone like Sky Sword Gong Yang Yu. Tuoba Xi had lived for over a hundred and fifty years, and even as an Absolute Blade master, his lifespan was comparable to that of an ordinary Grandmaster. Sky Sword Gong Yang Yu, having reached the Blood Replacement Realm, had a much longer lifespan, but his practice of the Sky Sword, a domineering and unrestrained path, didn't focus on longevity. His lifespan was still limited to a couple of hundred years.
"Skin Polishing, Muscle Training, Sinew Transformation, Bone Forging, Organ Refining, Viscera Tempering, Bone Marrow Purification, Blood Replacement."
"Yet, even in the Blood Replacement Realm, one cannot resist the erosion of time."
Gong Yang Yu murmured.
After martial artists reach the Blood Replacement Realm, they can completely seal their essence and blood, but as long as they exist in this world, they must interact with the heavens and earth. It's impossible to completely isolate oneself from the world.
As long as there is contact with the world and as long as one remains a mortal, with the passing of time, vitality will gradually fade, leading to the inevitable end of one's lifespan.
"How can martial arts achieve immortality?"
Gong Yang Yu looked up at the sky.
This was a question he had been pondering for decades, and it was a question that most martial artists who reached the Heaven-Man Unity Realm, the true pinnacle of martial arts, would seek to answer.
The eight realms of the Tempered Body cultivation were never achieved in a single step. They were meticulously developed by countless martial arts pioneers, constantly expanded upon, summarized by others, and eventually solidified.
According to Gong Yang Yu's knowledge, the Blood Exchange Realm had been in existence for nearly ten thousand years, while the path to the Marrow Washing Realm was beyond comprehension.
The ancients could progress from Skin Polishing to Muscle Training, then Sinew Transformation, Bone Forging, and finally, Marrow Washing and Blood Exchange. But the modern cultivators couldn't find the path to the realm beyond Blood Exchange.
In the past ten thousand years, the only advancements in martial arts were the birth of the Heaven-Earth Way and the emergence of the first person to attain mastery in it—the Founding Emperor of Great Xuan, Ji Hao.
However, even Ji Hao, after a lifetime of effort, couldn't fathom the ninth realm of martial arts.
The biggest issue here wasn't a lack of talent but the absence of a reference point. After reaching the Heaven-Man Unity, one stood at the pinnacle of their era, capable of rivaling those Eighth Stage World-Shaking Sky Demons.
Throughout history, the most powerful demonic beings were these Eighth Stage Sky Demons.
The path beyond Blood Exchange should lead to true immortality. However, even these Eighth Stage Sky Demons had a lifespan and would eventually age and decay, leaving no direction to follow.
But.
After decades of exploring the limits of martial arts, Gong Yang Yu wasn't entirely without gains. At the very least, he had two paths in mind.
The first was to create one's own heaven and earth, allowing the inner energy to generate on its own.
The reason cultivators still aged even after reaching the Blood Exchange Realm was that they couldn't create inner energy out of nothing. As long as they existed in this world, they inevitably had to draw power from heaven and earth. Even at the 'Heaven Patching' level, they needed to breathe in the primal energy of heaven and earth to sustain themselves. In this process, they would be eroded by a profound force from heaven and earth.
Unless a cultivator could completely isolate themselves from heaven and earth, having no interaction with the environment, this was a realm Gong Yang Yu couldn't comprehend. Even if a cultivator sat in absolute stillness, not moving a muscle, their heart still beat, and their blood still flowed, no matter how slowly, it consumed primal energy, and this consumption required replenishment from heaven and earth.
If a cultivator could make their primal energy self-generating, creating their own heaven and earth, perhaps it would be possible.
But how could one create their own heaven and earth? Gong Yang Yu couldn't find the answer.
He could think of the all-encompassing Heaven-Earth Way, but Ji Hao, who mastered the Heaven-Earth Way, couldn't achieve this either. It wasn't a matter of simply comprehending Heaven-Earth and using it as a path.
The second path was to merge with heaven and earth.
Cultivators, from refining the Five Organs to the Six Organs Realm, gradually adapted to the power of heaven and earth. Upon reaching the Blood Exchange Realm, they completely merged with the external environment, becoming a body thoroughly refined by the power of heaven and earth, transcending the limitations of flesh and blood, and becoming one with the essence of heaven and earth, naturally free from decay.
However, this path was also incredibly challenging.
Cultivators who reached the Blood Exchange Realm seemed to have thoroughly tempered their bodies with the power of heaven and earth. But to completely merge with the essence of heaven and earth was fundamentally different, just like in the Five Organs Realm, the more they refined their bodies, the more difficult it became.
The more they pushed towards the limits, the harder it was.
Although Gong Yang Yu's body was now almost purely refined by the power of heaven and earth, the condensed heaven and earth energy within his martial energy occupied about ninety percent of his total power. But tempering this final ten percent was an arduous task!
In Gong Yang Yu's view, to thoroughly temper the martial body, reaching the point where, from the inside out, it was entirely composed of the essence of heaven and earth, merging with heaven and earth, and transcending the concept of flesh and blood—this was also a mind-boggling concept.
However.
Compared to the first path of creating one's heaven and earth, this second path was more tangible and visible. But how to walk this path, how to make it work, Gong Yang Yu had little to show for it.
Gong Yang Yu gazed at the sky, and the blade intent on his body gradually subsided.
"You, can you enter the Blood Exchange Realm?"
Gong Yang Yu's heart stirred as he thought of Chen Mu.
In the past ten thousand years, the only advancement in martial arts was the birth of the Heaven-Earth Way, but those who walked this path were too few, and there was only one person who had attained mastery, the Founding Emperor of Great Xuan, Ji Hao, and even he was a figure from over a thousand years ago.
As for the Heaven-Earth Masters, they couldn't even reach the Blood Exchange Realm, let alone touch the realm Gong Yang Yu had reached. They couldn't offer any assistance to his pursuit of martial arts. From a perspective of cultivation, they were on entirely different levels.
Chen Mu,
Can you enter the Blood Exchange Realm?
In the future, can we discuss the limits of martial arts?
...
Yu County.
6◇Book◇Bar
After many years, the outer district remains in constant turmoil.
Many years ago, when Chen Mu was still in Yu County, the chaos in the outer district was due to the standoff between the four major families of the inner district, as their influence spread to every corner of the outer district, resulting in numerous factions and conflicts.
Today, although the four major families have become history, the situation in Yu County is still intricate due to the presence of various sects like the Heaven-Patching Sect and the Harmony Union Sect. For many, the waters are even deeper than before, and they must tread carefully.
In the past, the matter at hand may have only involved the four major families, but now, it could potentially lead to a much larger sect, far beyond the capabilities of those families at that time.
Inner City.
The Yu Family Residence.
The Yu Family now holds an undisputed position as the top noble family in Yu County. Even though, in just a few short years, they haven't surpassed the Xue Family, who once controlled half the county in terms of family members and overt power, when it comes to hidden influence, both the Xue and Xie Families would have to bow down. Even the sect powers would hesitate to move against the Yu Family.
Because behind the Yu Family now stands a towering figure—Chen Mu.
Chen Mu, the Elder of the Seven Profound Sect, the Master of Spirit Profound Peak, the third-ranked on the Wind and Cloud Rankings, and the disciple of Qin Mengjun, one of the two Supreme Elders of the Seven Profound Sect, stands at the pinnacle of martial arts, having reached the Blood Replacement Realm. To ordinary people, he is nothing short of a legendary figure.
In a certain courtyard.
Yu Jiujiang leans back in a reclining chair, his hair and beard completely white, his face etched with more wrinkles, and his vitality greatly diminished, almost to the point of being inferior to some Sinew Transformation Realm cultivators. However, his demeanor is calm and serene as he holds a teacup with a gentle gaze.
Suddenly, he lifts his head, looks towards the entrance, and then chuckles as he sits up, saying, "Lord Yan, what brings you here today? Come, let's have some tea and take a seat."
As he finishes speaking, a maid from a short distance away respectfully responds.
Yan Jingqing enters the courtyard, wearing the long robe of an Inspector General. His expression is calm as he walks in and doesn't stop the servants inside. After they bring a chair, he sits down opposite Yu Jiujiang.
Without delay, he waits for the maid to brew some tea and then gently sips it.
Yu Jiujiang observes Yan Jingqing's behavior, and a hint of surprise flashes in his eyes. He is momentarily unsure of Yan Jingqing's intentions, but he doesn't feel anxious. On one hand, he is already in the twilight of his life, and on the other, the Yu Family, with Chen Mu's support, no longer feels as vulnerable as they once did towards Yan Jingqing. In recent years, Yan Jingqing has even consulted with the Yu Family on many matters.
Of course, Yu Jiujiang is well aware of the source of this change—it's all thanks to Chen Mu.
"..."
After finishing his tea, Yan Jingqing lets out a soft sigh.
This sigh causes Yu Jiujiang's heart to skip a beat, as he is very familiar with Yan Jingqing's temperament. He knows that Yan Jingqing wouldn't visit without a significant reason, and his strange attitude and behavior make Yu Jiujiang subconsciously think of many unpleasant possibilities.
"Has something happened to Chen Mu?"
Yu Jiujiang's first thought is of Chen Mu, and for good reason. It's not every day that Yan Jingqing pays a personal visit, especially bypassing Yu Zuyi and coming directly to him.
"A casual question from back then has become a self-fulfilling prophecy... No, it's too early to say that. But in just a few short years, it's like a dream come true."
Yan Jingqing's response is ambiguous, filled with both admiration and a sense of unreality.
Just as Yu Jiujiang is perplexed, Yan Jingqing gently raises his hand, and a letter of intelligence falls onto Yu Jiujiang's lap.
Yu Jiujiang reaches out and takes it.
After reading the letter carefully, Yu Jiujiang is stunned, as if he has just read an incredible tale.
"This..."
Watching Yu Jiujiang's astonished expression, Yan Jingqing closes his eyes, recalling a conversation from a few years ago when he asked Chen Mu how to pacify a chaotic world.
Chen Mu's answer was that perhaps another great ruler like the Emperor of Great Xuan, or a Martial Saint like Li Hua, would need to emerge.
Those words from years ago still echo clearly in his mind.
What he didn't expect was that in just a few short years, Chen Mu would quietly take such a significant step, and now, he is just one step away.
"This intelligence..."
After a long while, Yu Jiujiang finally snaps out of his shock. Although he understands that Yan Jingqing's information is accurate, he can't help but ask for confirmation.
The content of this intelligence is truly astonishing.
"The intelligence is correct."
Yan Jingqing sighs as he speaks.
"This is truly..."
Yu Jiujiang carefully reads the letter several times before finally looking away, his mind filled with countless thoughts, yet unable to decide which to voice. Eventually, he sighs.
Recently, the Yu Family has been thriving due to their connection with Chen Mu. Although Yu Jiujiang feels his mortality approaching, he has found peace within himself.
However, life often takes unexpected turns.
If he were to pass away now, he would do so with anxiety and regret, as he wouldn't be able to witness Chen Mu's future achievements.
After all, the Heaven-Earth Way, after the Marrow Wash Realm, is just one step away from dominating the world.
(End of Chapter)
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