https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-377-The-Foremost-Grandmaster-in-the-World/13026672/
Chapter 378: Discussing the Forbidden Grounds
Chapter 378: Discussing the Forbidden Grounds
The top Grandmaster of Cold North.
Or perhaps, the foremost Grandmaster in the world, was unaware of the commotion he had caused in the Great Xuan Dynasty, or maybe he had anticipated it all along and wasn't bothered by it anymore, remaining calm amidst the changes.
At this moment, Chen Mu stood in a secluded valley, a restricted area within the Seven Profound Sect's mountain gate. Even elders were not allowed to enter casually; only the Supreme Elder and the Sect Leader himself could move freely within.
In the past, only Yin Heng, Qin Mengjun, and Qi Zhiyuan had the freedom to come and go here.
Now, there was one more person—Chen Mu.
This quiet valley was sunken, but at its center stood an extremely heavy dragon pillar, the heart of the Heaven-Earth Locking Dragon Array, also known as the Heaven-Earth Locking Dragon Pillar. It was crafted from secret metal and earth pulse-stabilizing stones, and within it were top-grade spiritual treasures like the Yellow Stone, making the entire pillar a supreme spiritual armament treasure.
Only with such a spiritual armament treasure at its core could the earth pulse power beneath the Seven Profound Mountains be suppressed and directed. Otherwise, even with human strength, a Heaven-Human Unity master could only sense and communicate with a thousand miles of heaven and earth, but the actual control range was far less extensive, at most only a few miles or even ten miles. Otherwise, it would be like the legendary gods and buddhas.
Of course.
The earth pulse power that the Heaven-Earth Locking Dragon Pillar could command, although covering a range of over a hundred miles, was actually very sluggish. Even if Yin Heng stood at the heart of the array, the power that could be exerted was barely one-fifth of its potential.
This power, though capable of rivaling Heaven-Human Unity martial artists, was still insufficient to suppress them.
In reality, possessing such a top-grade earth pulse array was akin to having an immobile 'Heaven-Human Unity' master, which was also the foundation of confidence for top-tier sects like the Seven Profound Sect to dominate an entire state.
If it weren't for the Ice Absolute Palace coincidentally encountering a heaven-earth anomaly and the opening of the Earth Abyss that caused the earth pulse to scatter, even if the four tribes of the foreign races joined forces with the Heavenly Demon Sect and the Heavenly Corpse Sect, they wouldn't have been able to breach their mountain gate and force them to relocate.
To destroy such an earth pulse array, even with one or two Heaven-Human Unity masters, it would take at least half a year to cause significant damage, unless there were three or four such masters... But Heaven-Human Unity masters were not common; in the entire Cold North, there were only two.
In the entire Great Xuan Dynasty, there were barely over twenty.
"This Void Crystal is indeed extraordinarily profound."
Yin Heng stood tall beside the Heaven-Earth Locking Dragon Pillar, his gaze fixed on a crystal floating in the void, so absorbed that he couldn't help but exclaim after a long while.
Near the Void Crystal were Chen Mu and Qin Mengjun, the three top experts of the Seven Profound Sect at this time, all gathered here to study the profundities of the Void Crystal.
"There aren't many objects in this world that can touch the profundities of the void."
Chen Mu was also staring at the Void Crystal.
After settling Xu Hongyu and the others at Spirit Profound Peak, he began sorting through the gains from the Earth Abyss expedition. Among the most precious items, the Heaven-Patching Stone and Chaos Essence, he had some understanding of, but the Void Crystal was completely unfamiliar.
After some thought, he visited the forbidden grounds of the sect to consult Yin Heng about the mysteries of the Void Crystal.
Heng had also never seen the Void Crystal with his own eyes, but with his hundred years of experience, he knew about it. He was aware that it was one of the few objects that contained the profundities of the void and was a key ingredient in refining spatial spiritual armaments.
Chen Mu was astonished to learn that the Void Crystal could refine spatial spiritual armaments and immediately asked Heng how to do so. Coincidentally, Heng also knew the process, but it required several crucial conditions.
Firstly, there must be at least two Blood Exchange Realm cultivators.
The Seven Profound Sect just met this requirement, as both Yin Heng and Qin Mengjun were in the Blood Exchange Realm.
Secondly, there must be a Heaven-Earth Grandmaster.
In fact, this condition was much more challenging, as only ten Heaven-Earth Grandmasters had been born in the current world. Coincidentally, Chen Mu was the tenth, making this most difficult condition not an issue.
Thirdly, a powerful enough earth pulse array was needed.
The Seven Profound Sect's grand array, the Heaven-Earth Locking Dragon Array, was a top-grade earth pulse array, perfectly meeting this requirement.
Fourthly, the Void Crystal alone couldn't directly refine spatial spiritual armaments; another rare object capable of bearing the Void Crystal was needed. There were several options, but all were incredibly rare.
Coincidentally, Chen Mu possessed one of them—the Heaven-Patching Stone.
Born from the creation and destruction of the Cavern Void, it was one of the few objects capable of bearing the power of the void and was also the other primary material compatible with the Void Crystal. Its birth alongside the Void Crystal during the collapse of the Stone Pulse Cavern Void was a stroke of good fortune.
All four critical conditions were met!
It was well-known that spatial spiritual armaments were so rare and challenging to create because satisfying these four conditions simultaneously was incredibly difficult. Yet, the Seven Profound Sect, as if by heaven's design, fulfilled them all.
"What do you think, Mengjun?"
Heng turned to look at Qin Mengjun not far away.
Qin Mengjun was also observing the Void Crystal, sensing its mysteries. Hearing Heng's words, she snapped out of her trance, gathered her thoughts, and shook her head slightly, saying, "It's like gazing at mist, hard to discern the truth."
Although she was also in the Blood Exchange Realm, her body tempering martial arts had almost reached its limit, and even with all her strength, she could only shake the void itself, creating void fissures. But the profundities of the void remained beyond her comprehension.
Chen Mu also observed the Void Crystal.
In fact, ever since obtaining it, he had been studying the crystal along the way. Its intriguing nature lay in its seemingly contradictory structure, as if it were a product that shouldn't exist in this world.
Within that transparent crystal, countless edges and structures seemed to be encapsulated, its essence akin to a compressed void, not belonging to any material of the world. Even with Chen Mu's mastery of the Eight Cosmic Aspects and his understanding of the Heaven-Earth Way, he couldn't completely penetrate and control it.
"If the Void Way were so easy to comprehend, it would have long been documented as one of the martial arts in ancient texts."
Listening to Qin Mengjun's response, Yin Heng couldn't help but sigh, "Once a martial practitioner reaches the Heaven-Man Unity, they stand at the world's peak, at the end of the current martial path."
"But does the martial path truly have an end?"
"Ten thousand years ago, the Marrow Wash Realm was the end, but then someone opened up the Blood Replacement Realm, giving birth to the first Heaven-Man."
"Even further back, the Six Organ Realm was the limit, and those who could comprehend domains were extremely rare."
"In today's martial arts, the third step of the Concept is considered the ultimate, and the Body Tempering and Blood Replacement are also seen as the pinnacle. All those who reach the end of the path yearn to forge a new path, be it the ninth realm of Body Tempering or the fourth step of the Concept."
Yin Heng slowly narrated.
At this moment, both Chen Mu and Qin Mengjun averted their gazes, listening intently. Although Qin Mengjun had reached the Blood Replacement Realm, and Chen Mu possessed strength comparable to it, they had attained this level much later than Yin Heng. In terms of experience after Blood Replacement, Yin Heng's knowledge far surpassed theirs.
"Is there truly a ninth realm in Body Tempering?"
Chen Mu asked this question with a thoughtful expression.
Yin Heng shook his head first, then nodded.
Seeing his reaction, Chen Mu quietly awaited his next words, while Qin Mengjun remained silent, listening attentively.
"There isn't one now, but in the future, perhaps there will be."
Yin Heng spoke slowly, "You've entered the Blood Replacement Realm, Mengjun, and you should know that in this realm, unlike the Marrow Wash where there are stages like Initial Success, Minor Success, and Major Success, once you enter Blood Replacement, within just two to three years, your entire essence and blood can transform into 'Martial Blood', imbued with the power of Heaven-Earth, flowing throughout your body, bringing your martial body to a state of perfect flawlessness."
"But this flawlessness doesn't mean there's no room for further tempering. Some believe that the practice of Body Tempering Martial Arts is a process of refining the fleshly body to a state akin to the essence of Heaven-Earth. From Skin Polishing and Muscle Training, to Marrow Wash and Blood Replacement, each step brings one closer to the essence of Heaven-Earth. The next step, perhaps, is to completely alter the nature of the fleshly body.
"The path is laid out, but no one knows how to take that step. In this world, the one who has ventured the farthest is probably the Abbot Zhen Ding of the Great Zen Temple, known as the Ancient Buddha Golden Body. His strength is said to be enough to rank among the top in the Great Xuan Empire, but as far as I know, even he, in essence, remains a fleshly body, unable to break free from this shackle."
Listening to Yin Heng's narrative, Qin Mengjun's expression turned pensive.
Martial arts have always progressed. The eight realms of Body Tempering weren't born all at once but were derived step by step. However, the Blood Replacement Realm is somewhat different. At this stage, nearly every part of the body has been thoroughly tempered, reaching a state of perfection. Whether there's a ninth realm beyond this is indeed something no one knows.
Some firmly believe that there will be a ninth realm of Body Tempering, while others, like Yin Heng, are not so sure.
On the other side.
After hearing Yin Heng's words, Chen Mu's eyes flickered with surprise.
When it came to altering the nature of the fleshly body, he thought of himself. His intensely tempered five organs and six entrails seemed to be a way of transcending the fleshly body, approaching the essence of Heaven-Earth.
For most, a shattered heart, even for Marrow Wash Masters and Blood Replacement practitioners, is a fatal injury. But for Chen Mu, even with a shattered heart, he can still heal himself, and the healing process is remarkably fast.
This isn't mere speculation.
In the 1619 edition of the book, there is no mistake!
He had once used a non-essential organ to test this. Using his Essence Qi Breath, he left a subtle wound, but the wound didn't bleed, and within moments, it healed, its essence now distinct from that of the fleshly body.
However, the issue lies in the fact that Chen Mu himself has only reached the Marrow Wash Realm. He hasn't even stepped into Blood Replacement, and his transformation is merely the result of intensely tempering his five organs and six entrails. If, as Yin Heng said, there is a ninth realm of Body Tempering, then wouldn't Chen Mu already be considered half a 'ninth realm' practitioner?
After a brief contemplation, Chen Mu didn't voice these thoughts, not out of intentional concealment, but because he himself only had a partial understanding, and narration would be meaningless.
He wasn't sure if the world would have a ninth realm of Body Tempering, but at the very least, with his peerless talent, he would undoubtedly push the Marrow Wash Realm and Blood Replacement Realm to their limits, reaching the true pinnacle.
If the ninth realm exists, then at that time, he should be able to glimpse it.
Though the idea of transcending the confines of flesh and blood, and emulating the vastness of heaven and earth, may sound ethereal, it is a reasonable deduction based on the path of Body Tempering Martial Arts. However, as no one has achieved this feat, it remains uncertain if it is the correct path.
"Senior Yin, you just mentioned the fourth step of the Concept, right?"
After some contemplation, Chen Mu directed his question at Yin Heng.
As far as Chen Mu knew, the end of the Martial Dao was the third step of the Concept, and those who reached this stage, attaining Heaven-Human Unity, were all peerless geniuses with unparalleled talent and great wisdom. Upon reaching the pinnacle, they would naturally seek to explore the world's paths, wondering if there was a way to progress further, delving into the ethereal fourth step of the Concept.
However, these were matters not even recorded in ancient historical texts, known only to the most exceptional beings of the current era. Perhaps, only among themselves, they might discuss and share their insights, but their true extent of exploration remained a mystery.
"Indeed," Yin Heng glanced at Chen Mu and said, "You cultivate the Heaven and Earth Way, encompassing all within this heaven and earth. But by now, you should also feel that Heaven and Earth are not the entirety of existence, they are merely the entirety within this particular heaven and earth."
"The essence of the Void, beyond the boundaries of Heaven and Earth, lies outside the scope of Heaven and Earth... Thus, some speculate that if one can comprehend the Void Way and control its power, they will have taken the fourth step beyond the Concept."
Listening to Yin Heng, Chen Mu didn't show much surprise.
Even he had made similar speculations, let alone those who had ventured further in the Martial Dao.
However, the Void Way was still ethereal to him. Despite being able to create void rifts, he lacked the understanding of how to progress from within Heaven and Earth to beyond. It was as if he was missing a crucial clue, unable to grasp the transition from the confines of Heaven and Earth to the boundless Void.
"In fact, there are other concepts regarding the fourth step of the Concept. For instance, some believe that Time is also a path. Heaven and Earth, originating from Chaos, differentiate into Yin and Yang, and eventually Heaven and Earth. This process is Time. If one can comprehend and control the power of Time, they will surpass the third step of the Concept, ascending to a higher realm."
Yin Heng smiled as he looked at Chen Mu and Qin Mengjun.
Although there was still a slight gap between them and him, they were essentially on the same level. He didn't have much more to teach them, but it felt good to share what he knew as a senior.
"Time?"
Qin Mengjun was slightly taken aback, then her expression turned thoughtful.
Time leaves no trace, yet it exists, symbolizing the principle of change in Heaven and Earth. If one could understand this 'change' itself, it might lead to a deeper comprehension of Heaven and Earth, transcending the third step of the Concept.
However, for Qin Mengjun, who was still some distance away from mastering the third step and attaining Heaven-Man Unity, contemplating the ethereal concepts of 'Time' and 'Void' as the fourth step seemed overly ambitious.
After listening to Yin Heng, Chen Mu also fell into a brief contemplation.
While Yin Heng's understanding of the Great Xuan Dynasty might be more profound due to his century of experience, Chen Mu's grasp of the world was far broader.
Up and down, left and right, is the Universe.
Past and future, is Time.
Once one comprehends the eight aspects of Wind, Thunder, Water, and Fire within this heaven and earth, the next step is to reach beyond, to the Universe and Time. These are what Yin Heng referred to as 'Void' and 'Time'.
At least in Chen Mu's view, both paths might be correct, but the world's Martial Arts had not yet advanced to that level. No one had reached such heights, and they were still in the stage of exploration and experimentation.
"Enough of this. You'll come across and understand these things eventually. There's no point in pondering them now. Let's continue studying the Void Crystal and figure out how to refine it."
After a while, seeing Chen Mu and Qin Mengjun deep in thought, Yin Heng smiled and interrupted.
Void, Time,
These are not things easily comprehended. Even the third step of the Concept, Heaven-Man Unity, is a realm that only a handful of people can attain among the countless masses.
A human's lifespan is limited. Even with Blood Replacement, it's only two hundred years. Even with mastery of breath control and nourishment, living past three hundred years is difficult. In his opinion, unless the limitation of lifespan is broken, granting more time, comprehending the Concept to a higher level is impossible. Otherwise, it's just a castle in the air, without foundation.
He was more inclined towards the concept of the ninth realm of Body Tempering.
As for Void and Time, even if they are the correct paths, he likely won't live to see them in this lifetime.
"Mhm."
Qin Mengjun had regained her composure and nodded slightly, then continued her research on the Void Crystal.
Yin Heng had a rough idea of how to refine spatial Spiritual Armaments, and all the conditions were met. However, he lacked experience in this matter and naturally approached it with caution. Further discussion and confirmation of every detail were necessary before attempting the refinement.
Chen Mu also treated this matter with utmost care. Having a spatial Spiritual Armament would greatly facilitate his actions, and such an opportunity was not to be taken lightly. He meticulously considered every detail to ensure nothing went wrong.
(End of Chapter)
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