Chapter 88

Chapter 89: The Wu Kingdom Martial Arts Assembly

"Master, I'll have someone notify him to come over another day," Xu Yan said.

Xu Yan felt relieved that his master had agreed.

Xie Lingfeng was a good person, he could be considered Xu Yan's first martial arts friend, and he had contributed to Xu Yan's enlightenment of sword intent before his breakthrough.

"Master, my junior brother is currently contemplating the mysteries of the Eight Trigrams. I found that his insights differ from mine, so I want to discuss and verify them with him. Perhaps this will lead to new insights," Xu Yan sought his master's opinion.

Li Xuan was taken aback. He suddenly thought of a question: he intended to pass on the Eight Trigrams to each of his disciples, and each disciple's insights would inevitably be different. If they discussed and exchanged ideas, would it trigger more insights?

Not just the Eight Trigrams, but martial arts as well. Xu Yan practiced orthodox martial arts, while Meng Chong practiced corporeal martial arts. However, since they were both martial arts, they could also discuss and verify them with each other. Perhaps the disciples could gain new insights, adding more depth to their martial arts. And Li Xuan himself could also benefit greatly from this.

Thinking this, Li Xuan nodded and said, "The Eight Trigrams contain the profound principles of heaven and earth. Each person's insights at different stages will be different. Discussing and exchanging ideas is also a way to promote deeper understanding. It's good that you and Meng Chong have this idea. As my disciples, you should verify and improve each other's martial arts insights, whether it's orthodox martial arts or corporeal martial arts. Perhaps you can bring new enlightenment to each other, gaining a deeper understanding of martial arts principles."

Xu Yan's eyes lit up, and he said excitedly, "Yes, Master!"

"Go ahead!" Li Xuan nodded.

Xu Yan left excitedly.

"Perhaps Meng Chong is about to comprehend a movement technique?" Li Xuan mused.

Suddenly, the golden finger gave feedback.

"Your disciple Meng Chong has achieved a minor breakthrough in the Great Sun Golden Bell Shield, advancing to the minor stage of the Blood Qi Realm. Your physical strength has been enhanced!"

Enhanced physical strength!

Li Xuan felt his body instantly become more powerful. Meng Chong's minor breakthrough brought a significant enhancement, roughly doubling his physical strength.

With two disciples, the gains were considerable. Li Xuan began to consider whether he should take a third disciple. What kind of martial arts technique should he create for the third disciple? Quality over quantity, after all. Creating new techniques, especially powerful ones, was not an easy task.

"Should I go out and explore more? Staying in Yunshan County all the time, how can I find new disciples?" Li Xuan fell into deep thought.

Perhaps it was because he had been trapped in a small village after crossing over, unable to leave, which made him more reclusive. Especially since he no longer needed to toil and struggle to improve his strength and acquire resources, relying entirely on his disciples, which made him even more reluctant to move.

At this moment, he thought of the current Heavenly Mother of the Heavenly Mother Sect, that young girl.

"This girl has good medical skills and can persuade evildoers to reform. I wonder about her talent. If she doesn't come to Yunshan County, I have no reason to specifically take her as a disciple. Martial arts cultivation ultimately requires some assistance, like elixirs... I should think about whether I can create an elixir-related technique," Li Xuan pondered.

He had an idea for the third branch of martial arts but needed to figure out how to create it and find a suitable disciple who could comprehend it. This required a certain foundation. How could martial arts cultivation be complete without elixirs? While geniuses like Xu Yan and Meng Chong might not need elixirs, other ordinary martial artists might. Moreover, refining golden bones could be assisted by appropriate elixirs. Although golden bones refined with elixirs were not as pure and powerful as those refined through natural talent, they were still golden bones, far surpassing copper bones in terms of foundation.

"The Inner Domain should have elixirs or similar aids for martial arts cultivation. When Xie Lingfeng comes, I'll try to get some information about the Inner Domain. With a reference, it will be easier to create techniques," Li Xuan thought.

Outside Yunshan County, in the forest, Xu Yan and Meng Chong stood on the Eight Trigrams diagram.

"This is Qian, representing heaven, and this is Kun, representing earth..." Xu Yan stepped on the Eight Trigrams pattern, explaining his insights and understanding one by one.

Meng Chong listened silently, deep in thought.

"Junior brother, this is the Light Swallow Movement technique I comprehended," Xu Yan explained, demonstrating the Light Swallow Movement. His movements were swift and silent, almost imperceptible.

He then explained the process of how he comprehended the Light Swallow Movement. Next, he changed his position with a few steps.

"This is the Position Shift technique, which I suddenly understood during my battle with Blood Heartless," Xu Yan explained the Position Shift technique.

Meng Chong, impressed, said, "Brother, your talent surpasses mine."

"Not really, just different strengths," Xu Yan shook his head and replied.

"Brother, these are my insights," Meng Chong shared his recent insights about the Eight Trigrams.

Xu Yan fell into deep thought. Some of Meng Chong's insights were new to him. The two brothers then discussed and exchanged their insights, starting with movement techniques. Xu Yan explained the Position Shift technique, providing Meng Chong with a direction for comprehension. However, Meng Chong felt that the Position Shift technique was not suitable for him, so he needed to comprehend a movement technique that fit him better.

Over the next few days, Xu Yan and Meng Chong exchanged insights on the Eight Trigrams diagram, with most of the time spent on Xu Yan explaining his movement techniques. Li Xuan watched silently, amazed: "I didn't know the Eight Trigrams could be comprehended this way. Even I, as the master, didn't know. This disciple is impressive, his insights are growing!"

He felt that Meng Chong was about to comprehend a movement technique. Xu Yan also gained new insights from the exchange, but it was unclear what powerful movement technique he would comprehend.

After observing a few times, Li Xuan stopped paying attention and instead guided Shi Er in refining his organs. One day, as usual, Li Xuan lay in a chair, contemplating how to create powerful and mysterious martial arts techniques.

Golden light appeared.

"Your disciple Meng Chong has comprehended the Horizontal Shift technique, and you have achieved mastery in the Horizontal Shift technique," the golden finger reported.

Horizontal Shift!

This technique was similar to the Position Shift technique but different. The Horizontal Shift technique involved instantaneous horizontal movement, left or right, forward or backward, and even up or down. The direction of the shift was relatively fixed, but since it could be performed continuously, it also meant constant changes in position. This was a true combat movement technique, allowing for instant proximity to the enemy and instant distance, similar to the Position Shift technique but distinct.

The Horizontal Shift technique was more suitable for Meng Chong's style, with his powerful corporeal martial arts. In close combat, he had an advantage.

Suitability was key.

"Position Shift + Horizontal Shift, you have gained the Heaven and Earth Shift technique, and you have achieved mastery in the Heaven and Earth Shift technique," the golden finger reported again.

Heaven and Earth Shift!

This technique combined the Position Shift and Horizontal Shift techniques, becoming even more profound and unpredictable. If one's strength was sufficient, it could reverse the heavens and earth in an instant.

Li Xuan was thrilled: "Good disciples, you're contributing to my martial arts cause!"

His strength had increased again.

"Genius disciples gathering to exchange martial arts insights can promote each other's understanding and help with martial arts comprehension," Li Xuan thought excitedly.

"Moreover, the techniques I created for my disciples are different. Exchanging and verifying them can lead to the comprehension of new martial arts techniques. Xu Yan and Meng Chong, with their orthodox and corporeal martial arts, should gain new insights and benefits from each other. If successful, the golden finger will provide feedback, greatly promoting my martial arts cause," Li Xuan looked forward to his two disciples continuing to comprehend powerful martial arts techniques for him.

The more martial arts techniques he gained, the more techniques he mastered, making it easier to create new techniques in the future without losing direction.

Meng Chong was thrilled to have comprehended the Horizontal Shift technique, finally finding a combat movement technique suitable for him.

"Master, I have finally comprehended a movement technique," Meng Chong said excitedly upon returning.

"Good, but your movement technique has some limitations. It's effective in combat, but for long-distance travel or pursuing enemies, it's not as effective," Li Xuan nodded, pointing out the limitations of the Horizontal Shift technique.

Meng Chong was taken aback, deep in thought. In combat, within a certain range, his Horizontal Shift technique was extremely fast, allowing him to evade enemy attacks and strike unexpectedly. However, for long-distance pursuits, it was not sufficient. The Horizontal Shift technique excelled in short-distance instantaneous movement and evasion.

"Master, I understand. I will continue to work hard," Meng Chong said with determination.

At that moment, Shi Er returned from outside, holding a chicken and looking hesitant when he saw Meng Chong.

"Do you have something to tell me?" Meng Chong asked, frowning.

"I heard a message from the Wu Kingdom, about you..." Shi Er smiled awkwardly.

"What message?" Meng Chong asked curiously. After escaping from the Wu Kingdom to Yunshan County and becoming Li Xuan's disciple, he had not paid attention to other matters, focusing entirely on martial arts cultivation.

"The Wu Emperor, who offered a reward of ten thousand taels of gold for you, has increased the reward. Whoever captures you will receive a three-thousand-year-old ginseng, ten precious herbs, and a noble title," Shi Er said, somewhat tempted himself.

Meng Chong's eyes widened in surprise: "The Wu Emperor is so generous? I'm that important to him?"

Shi Er's mouth twitched. It was because of Meng Chong that the entire Wu Kingdom's风气 had been corrupted, preventing the Wu Emperor from traveling and confining him to the palace. He must hate Meng Chong deeply.

"Because of this, the Wu Kingdom's martial arts community is preparing to hold a martial arts assembly to elect a Wu Kingdom martial arts alliance leader to capture you and claim the Wu Emperor's reward. It's said that the Wu Emperor has promised to enfeoff the alliance leader as a noble, with a county as a fiefdom!" Shi Er said, marveling at the Wu Emperor's determination to capture Meng Chong.

For the Wu Kingdom's martial arts community, this was a great opportunity to usher in a new era of martial arts. The Wu Kingdom's martial arts experts had gathered to elect a leader and discuss capturing Meng Chong.

Li Xuan also marveled at how much the Wu Emperor hated his second disciple. If Meng Chong had not become his disciple and cultivated powerful martial arts, he would have been captured and met a tragic end.

Meng Chong was immediately energized and asked excitedly, "Where and when is the martial arts assembly in the Wu Kingdom?"

"Three days from now, on Tianping Mountain in the Wu Kingdom," Shi Er replied.

"Tianping Mountain?"

Meng Chong was thrilled, rubbing his bald head. "The Wu Emperor owes me ten thousand taels of gold, a three-thousand-year-old ginseng, ten precious herbs, a noble title, and a fiefdom. I need to claim them."

Shi Er looked at him strangely, silently mourning for the Wu Emperor.

"I don't want the noble title and fiefdom. I'll just take some things from the imperial treasury as compensation," Meng Chong continued, envious of his senior brother who had emptied the Qi Emperor's treasury. Finally, it was his turn to raid the Wu Emperor's treasury.

Shi Er thought of Xu Yan, who had emptied the Qi Emperor's treasury.

"Master, I want to go to the Wu Kingdom," Meng Chong said, rubbing his head and grinning.

"Go if you want to," Li Xuan did not stop him. With Meng Chong's current strength, like Xu Yan before, he could easily dominate the Wu Kingdom. The Wu Emperor was doomed.

"Yes, Master, I'll be back soon," Meng Chong said excitedly.

"By the way, Master, is there anything you like? I can get it from the Wu Emperor," Meng Chong thought for a moment and asked.

Li Xuan considered and said, "Books, like medical books, herb books, and miscellaneous records. I can read them to pass the time when I have nothing to do."

"Understood, Master, I'll definitely get some rare books from the Wu Emperor!" Meng Chong said, realizing that the books Master wanted were not the kind sold on the street.

Li Xuan nodded and said, "Just be mindful of your actions."

Meng Chong grinned and said, "Don't worry, Master. The Wu Emperor has helped me take revenge, so I won't make things too difficult for him." He took his sword and prepared to go to Tianping Mountain to meet the Wu Kingdom's martial arts experts, claim the alliance leader position, and then demand his reward from the Wu Emperor.

Xu Yan then said, "Junior brother, Tianping Mountain is far. You should ride a horse. It's slower but more comfortable than running on foot."

Meng Chong agreed and said, "Thank you, senior brother." He led a horse from the stable and headed excitedly to Tianping Mountain.

"Master, should I send some books?" Xu Yan asked, looking at his master, who was playing with a jade ruyi on the chair.

He almost forgot that his master was a transcendent being, almost a sage, whose remaining pleasures were teaching disciples and reading books. He remembered how his master had looked for books as soon as he arrived in Yunshan County. He felt a bit guilty: "I was so focused on my own cultivation that I forgot about Master's interests."

He asked for the monthly vote.