Chapter 4: Substitute God Statue

Chapter 4: Substitute God Statue

Inside the dantian, there stood a Daoist statue.

Seated on a lotus throne, it was ancient, with blurred features and a robe whose creases had been worn smooth over time.

At first glance, it seemed ordinary, much like the ancient relics found in remote areas, but atop its head and on both shoulders, there burned three blue flames.

This was the very object responsible for his transmigration!

In his past life, Li Yan often traveled for work and would always visit museums and antique markets in every city he went to, a hobby he enjoyed.

Of course, he knew his limits. Though he had some knowledge, he wasn’t a professional, so he only observed and never made any purchases.

Except for this particular item. It sat on a vendor's stall, looking like a cheap, aged fake, yet he was inexplicably drawn to it and bought it.

Not long after, he awoke to find himself in this new world.

Over the years, he had been studying it.

The origin of this treasure was mysterious, but he had figured out its function—it was similar to a voodoo doll.

The three flames on its head and shoulders could substitute for his life.

Each time he faced a fatal threat, one of the flames would extinguish.

In other words, he had three more chances at rebirth.

Another function of the statue was to transfer injuries.

Whether internal injuries, poisoning, or wounds from weapons, they could all be transferred to the statue in an instant.

In simpler terms, it was like a limited version of Deadpool's healing ability.

A small claw mark now appeared on the statue’s neck.

This was why Li Yan dared to hunt the One-Eyed Elder Wolf. With this treasure as a safety net, he had no fear.

Moreover, over the years, he had trained in martial arts with a fervor bordering on obsession, pushing his body to its limits time and again, all while using the Substitute God Statue to transfer his injuries.

As the saying goes, "A long illness makes a good doctor." His mastery over his body, honed through countless injuries, was a testament to this.

His pale skin was a side effect of the injury transfers.

Though the statue appeared intact, its interior was riddled with cracks.

Li Yan knew he had to be cautious in the future, not relying too heavily on it. If too many injuries accumulated, it might extinguish one of the flames.

However, with his current control over his body, he could easily push his limits without getting hurt. The Ten Great Disciplines were as familiar to him as breathing, and he was confident he wouldn’t suffer any injuries.

After warming up, Li Yan began his training.

His movements seemed routine, but each technique was unpredictable and varied.

These were his family’s true combat techniques: Thirty-Six Cloud Hands, Nine-Path Leg Technique, and Thirty-Six Grappling Locks. They were based on slashing and chopping, forming a fluid and integrated sequence.

True combat techniques might not be as visually appealing as choreographed forms, but as the saying goes, laymen see the spectacle, while experts see the essence. Li Yan’s seemingly simple and unassuming movements were filled with lethal intent.

Back in the village, Hei Dan was once considered the strongest among the young men. But after seeing Li Yan’s training by chance, he broke out in a cold sweat, realizing there were always stronger people out there.

Each of Li Yan’s techniques was powerful and fluid, his body moving with a resounding crack.

His muscles and bones resounded with each movement, a sign that he had reached the peak of the Mingjin stage, according to the Martial Compendium.

Don’t underestimate this. Reaching this level was no small feat. He could earn a living at any escort agency in the martial world.

And he was only fourteen years old.

The next step was to develop Hidden Strength, where the qi membrane swells and the tendons form a circle, allowing for even greater power.

In this world, where martial arts were highly advanced, Hidden Strength was a respectable skill, capable of leading a group of guards or even venturing out like his father.

At his age, if Li Yan’s abilities were known in the capital, Chang’an, some martial academies would surely offer him a place, perhaps even grooming him to become a future pillar of their school.

However, an unharmonious voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Hmph, what good is all this training!"

The voice was old and belonged to Li Yan’s grandfather, Li Gui.

The old man had returned to the courtyard with his cane.

Li Yan smiled and said, "Grandpa, why are you so upset? It’s just an animal, and I can handle it easily."

"An animal? It’s nothing."

Li Gui tapped the ash from his pipe, still frowning. "I shouldn’t have passed on the martial arts. Once you learn, you develop a killer’s heart and invite trouble."

"Your father didn’t listen and became a knife fighter. He died, and you’re no better. Are you going to cut off our family line?"

Li Yan laughed and didn’t argue.

This world was similar to his past life in many ways, yet different in others.

For example, martial arts. In his previous life, concepts like forming a core or reversing the innate were only found in novels, but in this world, they were real.

The geography was similar, but the historical eras were different.

It was now the ninth year of the Yuanheng Era in the Great Xuan Dynasty, which had been established for a century.

Another difference was the astonishing personal strength of some individuals. Renowned masters could decapitate enemies in the midst of a thousand soldiers and boldly infiltrate palaces to assassinate.

During times of chaos, these masters could change the course of history.

Li Yan’s grandfather had once been a fierce soldier, reaching the peak of Hidden Strength, just one step away from Transformational Strength. He had a bright future until he lost a leg while quelling a border rebellion.

He also offended his superior, and after years of military service, he only received some land and a plaque from the Ministry of War, “Hundred Battles Indomitable.”

That plaque hung outside the door.

The “Hundred Battles Indomitable” plaque was not easily earned. With it, his father could have become a constable in the county, but he chose to become a knife fighter, a decision that left a thorn in his grandfather’s heart.

Of course, one must respect one’s elders, but not necessarily agree with them.

The world was relatively peaceful now, and his grandfather wanted him to live a stable life as a farmer.

But Li Yan knew that in any era, strength was essential.

Having a weapon and not using it was different from not having one at all.

Seeing that his grandfather was still upset, Li Yan had an idea. He sat on the threshold and said with a grin, "Grandpa, can you tell me more about the Frostland?"

Li Gui huffed. "How many times have I told you? Again?"

Despite his words, he lit his pipe, took a few puffs, and seemed to fall into a reverie. "That place is no fit for humans..."

"At the time, the northern general rebelled and allied with foreign tribes to invade the south. We were ordered to suppress the rebellion and, under General Zhang, entered the extreme north of the Frostland to eliminate the remaining rebels..."

"The landscape was covered in ice and snow. The forests were filled with enormous tigers, bears, and wolves. The One-Eyed Elder Wolf you killed is nothing compared to the creatures there..."

"The worst part was the weather. Ice fog obscured everything, and many men froze to death..."

"Besides the rebels, there were people in the forest, pale-skinned with red hair and blue eyes, dressed in animal skins. They ran away when they saw us."

"The accompanying scholar said they were the Rakshasa People’s shamans from even further north. I never thought anyone could live in such a place..."

"More and more men died, and they began having nightmares. They would freeze into ice statues in their sleep, their faces frozen in smiles, which was truly terrifying..."

"We finally caught up with the enemy, but during the battle, a whiteout wind came, and many of our comrades died. The remaining rebels froze to death, and we only survived by digging ice caves..."

"Though I lost a leg, I’m luckier than those who are buried in the Frostland..."

Listening to the old man’s story, Li Yan remained silent.

The geography of this world was similar to his past life, and based on his grandfather’s account, the place they went to was likely Siberia, though it seemed even more dangerous.

He had heard these stories many times, but asking again was a way to shift his grandfather’s focus.

Though he scolded harshly, Li Yan knew how much his father’s death, a younger man burying an older one, had affected his grandfather.

Elders often reminisce about the past. The Frostland expedition was his grandfather’s greatest achievement. Talking about it would help him avoid thinking about the painful memories.

After a while, the old man’s story ended, but he seemed to drift off, his eyes glazed over. He looked at Li Yan for a moment and suddenly said, "Yan, remember..."

"Grandpa, what is it?"

"Remember to find a wife with a big bottom."

"A big bottom is ugly."

"You don’t understand. A big bottom means she can bear children well."

"Alright, I’ll do as you say..."

Li Yan smiled, but his eyes were somber.

In the past two years, his grandfather had become increasingly forgetful and frail.

When his father was alive, he would visit a few times a year, telling stories of the martial world, the secret language, and the strange and legendary tales.

Though interesting, Li Yan would rather stay in the small village forever if it meant his grandfather could live a few more years...

...

At the village entrance, the old willow tree hung the corpse of the One-Eyed Elder Wolf.

The adults from Li Family Fortress glanced at it briefly as they passed, then hurried to their fields. After all, they had seen many wolves before.

The One-Eyed Elder Wolf, once a fearsome predator, was now just a laughing matter. The fields were more important.

The village children, however, found it entertaining and picked up stones.

"Hit the One-Eyed Elder Wolf!"

"Smash it, smash it!"

With laughter and shouts, stones flew, and the wolf’s hanging corpse, already bloodied and battered, swung wildly...

...

As night fell, the moonlight was cold and clear.

Tonight was different.

No insects chirped, no birds sang, and even the frogs in the river were silent.

At the village entrance, the old willow tree hung the mutilated corpse of the One-Eyed Elder Wolf, its blood now blackened.

From the distant wheat fields, several small shadows emerged, lifting their heads to the moonlight. They were wolves.

The village chief, Li Huai Ren, was wrong.

Wolves could cooperate to hunt, and they could also hunt their own kind.

The old veterans of Li Family Fortress had once driven away wolf packs, but that was because there were many of them, and the hanging wolf corpses had been numerous, creating a strong deterrent.

The scent of a lone wolf’s corpse, however, would attract nearby wolves.

But as they circled the hanging corpse of the One-Eyed Elder Wolf, they seemed wary and did not approach.

Suddenly, they were frightened, whining and scattering into the wheat fields, disappearing into the darkness.

A cold wind blew, and the willow tree rustled, its shadows flickering like a prowling beast...

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end