Chapter 56

At the Holy Fire Cave, the leader of the Mingjiao sect, Fang La, stood under the moonlight with a grave expression, his hands behind his back. The night wind was refreshing, and the moonlight was enchanting, making it a beautiful night. However, the heaviness in Fang La's heart was not something the bright moon could alleviate.

Beside him, a beautiful woman quietly approached and draped a large cloak over his shoulders, softly saying, "The night is cool; how can you be so careless? Are you still troubled by the matters concerning Stone Dharma King and Deng the Monk?"

Fang La turned and held the woman's hand, his brows furrowed with an indescribable gravity. He slowly said, "This time, I feel extremely uneasy! Do you know how many people in this world can surpass the combined strength of the two Dharma Kings?"

The woman frowned and replied, "The two Dharma Kings are both extraordinary talents. There are not many people in the world who can surpass them. If they join forces, the number of people who can defeat them would not exceed the fingers of one hand."

"If we count, Shaolin would have one, the old witch from Western Xia would be another, and the leader of the Beggar Sect, Qiao Feng, would count as one. Including me, even if we consider the recluses, there would not be more than ten!" Fang La sighed, "If it were just these experts, it would be fine, but the injuries of Shi Bao..."

"What's wrong? Didn't they say that Southern Dharma King was only severely injured?" the woman asked in surprise.

Fang La pondered for a moment, then finally let out a light sigh, "At this point, I won't hide it from you! Shi Bao's injuries are not ordinary; they are a living martial arts secret! That person's methods are unfathomable, hiding a supreme martial arts technique within Shi Bao's injuries. It is truly terrifying, awe-inspiring, and respectable."

He emphasized the word "can" three times, showing his inner turmoil.

"What?" the woman exclaimed in shock, "Is there such a thing in this world?"

"If it weren't for my mastery of the Sixth Level of the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth, I wouldn't have been able to figure this out. That person calculated the power of my Great Shift of Heaven and Earth and deliberately used Shi Bao to deliver this great gift," Fang La said solemnly.

"But how did he do it?" the woman, standing behind Fang La, asked with a hint of unease in her eyes, which Fang La did not notice.

"The essence of the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth is to reverse the two energies of Yin and Yang. As the saying goes, 'following the path leads to life, reversing it leads to death.' I reverse these energies, making it the supreme method of channeling energy. With a thought, my energy flows throughout my body, bursting forth at will."

"Regardless of the martial arts from any school, I can use them. After long practice, I can understand any method of channeling energy at a glance, making it the ultimate guide to martial arts. Our sect has a complex background, and most members bring their own arts when they join. Without this comprehensive martial arts guide, how could the successive leaders instruct the Dharma Kings?"

The woman's mouth opened slightly, her eyes revealing a hint of greed. She feigned a gentle tone, "The divine transmission of the Holy One is indeed marvelous. Why have the successive leaders of the Persian sect failed to reach the Seventh Level? Did they tamper with it?"

"Persian sect!" Fang La sneered, "You overestimate them! The divine martial arts of the Central Plains are not something the Persian sect could create. This divine skill was secretly passed down by the first leader of our sect and has nothing to do with the Persians. On the contrary, they have tried to obtain this skill from our sect, even offering the Holy Fire Order in exchange."

"The relationship between our sect and the Persian sect has been strained because of this. They are a group of wolves with ambitions to control our sect!"

Fang La stood with his hands behind his back, his presence imposing. "As for why the successive leaders have failed to master the Seventh Level of the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth, it is because the skill is incomplete. The extraordinary person who created this skill did not reach the realm of Yin and Yang complementing each other. Therefore, his conjecture about the Seventh Level is just a castle in the air. Only when Yin reaches its extreme and transforms into Yang, and Yang reaches its extreme and transforms into Yin, can the skill be perfected."

"The successive leaders left a message: unless one possesses a supreme skill that harmonizes Yin and Yang, one should not attempt the Seventh Level. I thought this highest realm was just talk, but I never expected... I never expected..."

"Expected what!" the woman asked urgently.

Fang La, his emotions stirred, did not notice her agitation. He muttered, "I never expected that the lifelong wish of the successive leaders would be delivered by a great enemy of our sect. Is this the will of fate, or..."

At this point, Fang La could not continue.

The woman reminded him, "Is it related to the injuries of Stone Dharma King?"

Fang La nodded, closing his eyes. "Yes, that person is the most arrogant and the most terrifying person I have ever met. His terror does not lie in his martial arts but in his heroic spirit and his confidence in defying everything."

"He hid the principles of Yin and Yang within a stream of energy in Shi Bao's body, reversing Yin and Yang, disrupting water and fire. The principles of Yin and Yang are fully described, making it a supreme martial arts skill, and one that complements the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth. If I can resolve this stream of energy, it would be as if he had personally taught me this divine skill."

Fang La sighed, "Although we are enemies, I must admit his magnanimity and heroism. In comparison, the rule that only the leader of our sect can practice the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth seems outdated. Who in this world would dare to teach their mortal enemy everything they know, and who has the courage to face a peak battle?"

He looked up at the moon and laughed aloud, "If I am weak and die at the hands of such a hero, it would be a great fortune."

"Rouzhi, if I die in this battle, you must spread the word. The world must not forget that two heroes fought at the peak of the Holy Fire. They must know that I died a worthy death."

"Leader, why do you say such things?" the woman's face showed concern, as if worried, "The battle has not even started. Why speak of defeat? This is not the leader I know!"

"Ha ha ha! You're right. I, the leader, am a man of great deeds. How can I easily admit defeat? I will go into seclusion with Deng the Monk and not come out until I reach the Seventh Level!" Fang La laughed, his presence unassailable.

The woman's eyes showed a hidden joy, and she asked softly, "What if that person suddenly attacks?"

"It won't happen!" Fang La laughed, "Such a person would not do such a despicable thing. He will wait for me to come out of seclusion and face him in a fair battle, with no regrets about the outcome."

"The next full moon will be the time of my battle with the leader of the Mingjiao sect!"

On the other side, Chen Ang looked up at the endless moonlight and smiled at Huang Shang.

They were staying in a small courtyard of the local governor. Chen Ang spent his days reading and compiling books, showing no signs of tension. He often discussed Daoism and the essence of martial arts with Huang Shang, who was rapidly transforming. From Chen Ang, Huang Shang learned many unprecedented things, including not only exquisite martial arts but also astronomy, geography, ancient scripts, farming, weaving, music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Many unheard-of and unseen principles and knowledge broadened Huang Shang's horizons, giving him a wealth of knowledge, akin to a rebirth. In particular, Chen Ang's "Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber" was the most exquisite and unparalleled medical and martial arts skill Huang Shang had ever seen.

"Scholar, your scholarship makes me look up to you!" Huang Shang stroked the light yellow cover of the "Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber" and sighed, "Since I read this book, you have revised it three times, adding and organizing much content. Now, thinking about it, such continuous improvement and daily progress is the way of scholarship!"

Chen Ang smiled, "You can also write a book to record your knowledge and pass it down to future generations!"

"If I write a book, it would be like a clumsy imitation, a laughingstock! My knowledge does not surpass what has been said before. Why write a book?" Huang Shang said self-deprecatingly, "If I write one, it would just be a 'Comprehensive Outline of the Ten Thousand Longevity Daoist Canon'! Perhaps when I have fully integrated what you have taught me, I will write it."

"The 'Comprehensive Outline of the Ten Thousand Longevity Daoist Canon' is interesting! Why not write a martial arts version called the 'Nine Yin Manual'?" Chen Ang suddenly laughed, "The way of heaven is to diminish what is excessive and supplement what is insufficient, so the void overcomes the solid, and the insufficient overcomes the excessive! If you write this book, I will certainly write a preface for it."

"Scholar, why do you say that?" Huang Shang asked in surprise, "This martial arts 'Outline' is neither profound nor extensive. It is just my personal ramblings. The sea of learning is boundless, and I only seek to be sincere and dedicated. Why should I be distracted by martial arts?"

"You are the head of the Prohibition Martial Hall. Can you escape the affairs of the world?" Chen Ang laughed, "Let's not talk about other things for now. When you return, first organize the imperial martial arts library, annotate and revise the martial arts within, and write a 'Comprehensive Outline of Imperial Martial Arts'! The 'Nine Yin Manual' can wait until you are ready to write it."

Despite his reluctance, Huang Shang agreed.

Chen Ang, seeing his scholarly demeanor, sighed inwardly. Without the revenge, where would Huang Shang be? Without the sharp and fierce emotions, would there be a second volume of the 'Nine Yin Manual'?

Huang Shang's knowledge had long surpassed the scope of the 'Ten Thousand Longevity Daoist Canon.' After this baptism of martial arts from the library, his martial arts foundation was undoubtedly profound. What he lacked was forty years of solitude and dedication.

As the second greatest enforcer of the court and a great villain in the martial world, Huang Shang would inevitably go through blood and fire. He would surely reach an unknown peak in martial arts, and such a 'Nine Yin Manual' would be worth looking forward to.