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Chapter 377: The Foremost Grandmaster in the World
Chapter 377: The Foremost Grandmaster in the World
In the Central State, deep within a secluded mountain range, a Daoist temple stood midway up a hillside.
The temple didn't appear overly grand, and it seemed that there weren't many worshippers either. However, both the temple halls and the plaque above the main entrance were spotlessly clean, without a trace of dust. On the plaque, three large characters were inscribed.
Heavenly Tranquility Daoist Temple.
In the innermost courtyard of the temple, by an ancient pine tree, a middle-aged Daoist, clad in a simple robe, sat cross-legged on the edge of a small branch extending from the tree.
As a gentle breeze brushed past, the ancient pine swayed slightly, its branches rustling, and the middle-aged Daoist followed the tree's movement, gently rocking back and forth as if he were a feather, weightless and invisible.
This display of effortless grace, blending with the heavens and earth, was beyond the reach of ordinary martial artists. Even some grandmasters would find it challenging to achieve such a natural and seamless state, leaving no trace of their True Energy's ripples.
The Daoist's name was not widely known, but his reputation, once spoken, would make countless people across the Great Xuan Empire, even in the remote Cold North, tremble as if struck by thunder.
Master Heavenly Tranquility!
The ultimate martial state of Heaven-Human Unity, one of the few standing at the pinnacle of martial arts in this era!
Rumors had it that he was once a royal descendant of the Great Xuan Empire. After embracing the Dao, he renounced his identity and embarked on a journey across the land, eventually attaining profound insights into the Yin and Yang of heaven and earth, elevating him to the ranks of the strongest martial artists of his time.
"Senior Brother, Senior Brother!"
As the breeze blew, and the Daoist swayed with the pine tree, a voice suddenly called out.
Master Heavenly Tranquility slowly opened his eyes, looking towards the courtyard entrance. There, an old Daoist with tattered clothes and unkempt appearance stood, grinning widely as he strolled into the courtyard and plopped down on a nearby stone table.
"What happened on your journey this time?"
Master Heavenly Tranquility paid no mind to the old Daoist's carefree attitude, continuing to sway with the pine branch as he casually replied.
The old Daoist chuckled, grabbing the teapot from the stone table and pouring out a stream of cold tea, which he gulped down. Then, he said, "This time's matter, even you, Senior Brother, would be shocked to hear about it!"
"Oh?"
Master Heavenly Tranquility's gaze remained calm.
This old Daoist had a penchant for traveling the world, seeking to understand the laws of heaven and fate. Many others pursued this path, like the Mystic Mechanism Pavilion in the Cold North and the Life Mandate Pavilion in the Central State, but his unique approach was to observe without interference, to witness fate without taking action, embodying the principle of non-action.
The heavens are merciless and unyielding. After witnessing fate, whether one tries to defy it or follow its course, a trace of human desire remains. The more one acts, the further they stray. Only by observing without interference can one approach the laws of heaven, and this was the path he chose.
At this level and height of cultivation, there was no distinction between right and wrong; all paths were different.
Although this old Daoist's martial prowess was not as advanced as Master Heavenly Tranquility's, his understanding and insights into the principles of heaven and earth were no less inferior. After each of his journeys, their discussions provided Master Heavenly Tranquility with newfound enlightenment.
"The Eleven Provinces of Cold North, a land of bitter cold."
The old Daoist sighed, setting down his teacup and shaking his head. "In a thousand years, only a few remarkable figures have emerged. Only the Sky Sword and the Celestial Sword, several hundred years ago, came close to the true nature of heaven and earth."
Master Heavenly Tranquility listened quietly, not interrupting. He merely reached out and lightly touched the teapot on the stone table.
Suddenly, the teapot, which the old Daoist had set down, now empty, began to glow with a faint light of black and white. Tea reappeared inside the pot, gradually lightening from dark to light, cooling from hot to cold.
Any grandmaster witnessing this scene would be astounded, for this was not merely manipulating the Five Elements to brew tea anew. Instead, it was the Yin and Yang in perpetual motion, reversing the changes within the teapot to restore it to a state from an unknown time ago, as if the tea had never been brewed.
This feat could also be accomplished by Xia Yuye, who mastered the Yin and Yang domain, but not with the effortless grace of Master Heavenly Tranquility. His profound understanding and insight into the Yin and Yang's perpetual motion and the changes of heaven and earth had reached unfathomable depths.
This was a true demonstration of 'skill reaching the realm of the Dao.'
The teapot tilted slightly, pouring out a stream of clear tea into a nearby cup, which, with a wave of Master Heavenly Tranquility's hand, floated gently into his grasp. He raised the cup to his lips and took a small sip.
Even the old Daoist, well-aware of Master Heavenly Tranquility's abilities and cultivation, was momentarily stunned by this display. "Senior Brother, your control over the Yin and Yang's perpetual motion has become even more exquisite. I can barely discern any traces, as if you've touched upon the Dao of time itself!"
"It's like gazing at flowers in the mist or reaching for the moon in a well."
Master Heavenly Tranquility's gaze remained calm.
Most martial artists who reached the Heaven-Human Unity realm had pushed their cultivation to the extreme, reaching a point where there seemed to be no further path ahead. To progress, they had to rely on their own exploration and discovery.
Some sought the refinement of martial techniques, while others pursued the internalization of heaven and earth. Master Heavenly Tranquility, however, chose a different path—to comprehend the perpetual motion of Yin and Yang, to witness the flow of time. He believed that the Eight Aspects of Heaven and Earth did not encompass everything, and time existed outside these aspects but within the heavens and earth. Thus, there must be a path of time.
And so, the levels of this path would undoubtedly surpass all other aspects of the heavens and earth.
He had a premonition that if he could use the Yin and Yang cycle as a guide and touch the true path of time, grasping that power, then perhaps he could surpass the third step of the Concept and reach a level beyond the unity of heaven and man!
After contemplating for decades, he still felt like he was groping in the dark, making little progress. However, everyone had their own path, and he firmly believed that his chosen way was the right one. At his current stage, there was no such thing as 'self-confidence'; his martial will was as unshakable as a mountain and as clear as a calm mirror, leaving no room for doubt.
"The higher the level, the greater the difference. Throughout history, countless people have likely sought the path of time, but no relevant records have been passed down."
The old Daoist sighed.
Reaching the end of the martial path and entering the unity of heaven and man, or seeking to explore the ninth realm of body tempering, or striving to comprehend the fourth step of the Concept—none had succeeded thus far. Some might have spent half their lives in contemplation, seemingly on the verge of a breakthrough, like his senior brother, Master Heavenly Tranquility, who seemed just one step away. But this step might very well be an insurmountable chasm.
The realm beyond the unity of heaven and man could be like a mirage, always appearing just one step away, infinitely close yet eternally out of reach. This was the ultimate destination for all martial artists after the emergence of the Blood Replacement Realm and the unity of heaven and man.
Furthermore, the old Daoist understood that the path Master Heavenly Tranquility had chosen was probably much more difficult than those seeking the ninth realm of body tempering. After all, the Concept was more ethereal and elusive compared to the martial body.
It was almost impossible to comprehend the Concept and know how to proceed through its steps without clear guidance from ancient texts. Each step was the result of countless predecessors' exploration and refinement, sharing insights and eventually, some managed to cross over. In contrast, tempering the martial body was a more tangible endeavor.
"You haven't told me what you encountered."
Master Heavenly Tranquility took a sip of tea and turned to the old Daoist, speaking in a calm tone.
The old Daoist laughed and set aside his chaotic thoughts. "Earlier, I mentioned that the Cold North was barren, and in a thousand years, only two notable figures have emerged. But this time, a formidable fellow has appeared."
"A 33-year-old Heaven-Earth Grandmaster has entered the Bone Marrow Purification Realm and already comprehended the Heaven-Earth Domain. Even the old demon Yuwen Hao was repelled by him. In my opinion, his foundation is even more solid than Ji Hao's!"
The old Daoist narrowed his eyes and continued, "Before he entered the Five Organs Realm, I happened to see him once. The fate I divined for him was very strange. It was an ordinary fate, similar to those with uncertain fates, but it was fundamentally different. It seemed like a predetermined fate, but I don't know why it deviated so much."
"It's a pity that the young man didn't want me to divine his fate at that time. Otherwise, I might have seen more clearly."
His path of divination provided clearer insights than the Mystic Mechanism Pavilion, but it also bound him in a way. He couldn't interfere with the normal operation of fate, not even a tiny bit. Even for something as small as divination, he couldn't force it; it had to be entirely voluntary. Otherwise, the results would be completely chaotic.
"Oh?"
Master Heavenly Tranquility slowly put down his teacup and asked, "Is there such a thing?"
A 33-year-old Heaven-Earth Grandmaster,
Repelling Yuwen Hao,
With a foundation surpassing Ji Hao's,
Indeed... not bad.
A faint glimmer flashed in Master Heavenly Tranquility's eyes, but it quickly faded, and he closed them again.
Seeing Master Heavenly Tranquility's indifferent reaction, the old Daoist immediately showed a bored expression and said, "You're still so uninteresting, brother. A 33-year-old Heaven-Earth Grandmaster is unprecedented."
"Oh."
Master Heavenly Tranquility responded indifferently, "Wait until he enters the Blood Replacement Realm, then come and tell me."
Before entering the Blood Replacement Realm, he's still an ant. This saying might not be entirely accurate for Chen Feng, who could repel Yuwen Hao. But only those at the unity of heaven and man could capture his attention.
Even then, only those closest to the end of the martial path would do. Those few, and none other—not even the Duke of Zhenbei, Yuan Hong, or others. He had no interest in the chaos of the world; his gaze was fixed on the depths of the martial path.
Chen Feng had just entered the Bone Marrow Purification Realm; his journey had only begun. At the very least, he would have to wait until he entered the Blood Replacement Realm to barely stand before him and discuss the Heaven-Earth Way. Until then, no matter how talented, there was nothing to speak of.
Having reached his realm, he cared not for talent or comprehension, for he stood at the pinnacle of martial arts. Only those who reached his level could enter his sight; otherwise, they were simply not there.
"How boring."
The old Taoist couldn't help but shake his head with a wry smile as he observed the Master of Heavenly Tranquility. But soon, he chuckled and said, "However, those people in the court might be in for a shock. I'll go and see what's happening."
In the 16th year of the 9th month, he read the error-free version of the book.
Without further ado, he rose, and with a whoosh, he vanished from the courtyard.
Only the Master of Heavenly Tranquility remained, his eyes closed, shaking his head slightly. He continued to sit on the edge of the pine branch, and as the ancient pine swayed gently, the quiet courtyard once again fell into silence.
...
The Imperial City.
A figure dressed in black glided silently across the rooftops until he reached the heart of the Imperial Court.
As soon as he landed, several figures appeared nearby, each with an aura as deep as an abyss, surrounding him.
The man in black remained silent, quietly releasing a strand of his aura and inner breath, and then taking out a command token.
Whoosh.
The surrounding figures sensed the aura and saw the token, then silently retreated, leaving the man in black standing inside the Imperial Court. He then proceeded towards the majestic palace ahead.
After bypassing the central palace, grand and imposing, he arrived at a side hall at the rear.
Outside the side hall stood multiple eunuchs.
As he approached, one of them stepped forward.
The man in black bowed and handed over the command token, whispering, "Lord Wei, urgent news from Cold North."
"His Majesty has retired for the night. You may inform me, and I will present it to His Majesty when he awakens."
Lord Wei, clad in a black eunuch's robe, exuded a gentle demeanor, walking with a relaxed pace. But upon closer inspection, he gave off an indefinable sense of awe. At this moment, he whispered to the man in black.
Lord Wei He.
The head of the Imperial Protocols Bureau and the leader of the Palace Guards Bureau.
In terms of official rank, he was only a third-rank official, but his status couldn't be measured by his position. After the Xuan Emperor's episodes of madness and lucidity, Lord Wei He became the only channel connecting the Emperor to the outside world.
The last time the Xuan Emperor appeared in public was over a decade ago. Even the Dukes of Jin, Yan, and Chu, as well as the Imperial consorts and the Empress herself, hadn't seen the Emperor in person for over ten years. Only Lord Wei He had the privilege of an audience with the Emperor.
The man in black didn't hesitate and immediately opened his mouth, his voice thin as a silk thread, whispering into Lord Wei He's ear.
"..."
As Lord Wei He listened to the report, his eyes gradually narrowed, and an intangible aura rose from his body, causing the man in black to feel his breath catch, his back instantly damp with cold sweat.
But this aura came and went in an instant, leaving no trace.
Lord Wei He regained his gentle demeanor and spoke softly, "Alright, I understand. I will present this to His Majesty. You may withdraw and continue monitoring the Cold North. Report any developments to me immediately."
"Yes."
The man in black struggled to steady his breath, bowed his head, and after a respectful bow, he turned and left.
Lord Wei He watched the man in black depart, then slowly made his way towards the side hall, gently pushing open the hall doors and entering. He closed the doors behind him, not making a sound throughout the entire process.
Inside the side hall, a figure clad in a yellow imperial robe sat with closed eyes, his half-black, half-white hair flowing down his back, and his aura was faint to the extreme.
"Your Majesty, there's urgent news from Cold North."
Lord Wei He spoke softly.
His voice echoed in the dim side hall.
However, the figure in the imperial robe didn't react, remaining silent and still.
Lord Wei He shook his head slightly.
He waited for a while, and when there was no response, he slowly turned and made his way out of the hall, a chill flashing in his eyes.
...
Soon after, several figures emerged from the Imperial Court, heading in different directions.
Some went to the Jin Prince's Mansion, others to the Yan Prince's Mansion, and some to the Imperial Court's backyard. No one knew their purpose, but after they left these important places, the mansions of the eight princes and other critical locations fell into temporary silence.
Finally.
A piece of news gradually spread throughout the Imperial City and beyond.
In the Cold North, the Jade State's Qi Xuan Sect, and the Spirit Profound Peak Master Chen Mu, at only thirty years old, mastered the Heaven and Earth Way, breaking through the Mystic Gate, entering the Marrow Wash Realm, defeating the Boneless Marquis, defeating Jiang Changsheng, and repelling the Sky Demon Yuwen Hao... entered the World Grandmaster List!
The first position on the Great Xuan Dynasty's Grandmaster List changed hands, with the Jin Prince, Ji Xuan, falling to second place.
And the new addition to the Grandmaster List, Chen Mu.
Ranked first!
(End of Chapter)
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