Chapter 9

As human martial arts cultivation improves, the functions of the human body and lifespan will grow in stages. In this world, martial arts civilization is extremely advanced. Not only is people's daily life inseparable from the word "martial," but the political system of this world is also related to "martial" and is influenced by it. After countless generations of martial arts masters summarized their knowledge, they finally established the "Nine Stages of Martial Arts," a cultivation system known as the "Nine Ascensions to Heaven." These "Nine Ascensions to Heaven" are ranked from low to high as follows: "Three Foundation-Building Stages" — Body Tempering, Essence Strengthening, and Qi Gathering. These three stages are all part of the initial foundation-building phase, so they are collectively known as the Foundation-Building Realm. "Three Postnatal Stages" — Creation, True Qi, and Earth Essence. These three stages rely on postnatal cultivation, hence they are also called the Postnatal Realm. "Three Prenatal Stages" — Prenatal, Void Entry, and Divine Transformation. The experts in these three stages have transcended the prenatal stage, and their qi can communicate with the elemental qi of heaven and earth, condensing qi into form. Their power can level mountains and fill seas, far surpassing ordinary human capabilities. According to legend, above the "Nine Ascensions to Heaven," there exists a realm called the Void-Breaking Realm, where one can "shatter the void." However, for thousands of years, no one has seen this realm, so everything about it remains in the realm of legend. Once a martial artist breaks through to a new martial arts realm, not only does their internal strength greatly increase, but they also refine their essence and marrow, gaining an extraordinary lifespan. For example, an expert who has entered the Prenatal Realm, if they have no extraordinary encounters or hidden injuries, can live for up to three hundred years. The "Nine Ascensions to Heaven" each have ten levels, and taking the lowest realm, Body Tempering, as an example, the first three levels involve practicing exercises to strengthen the body and reach a state of abundant qi and blood. The subsequent levels focus on enhancing qi and blood, strengthening tendons and bones, and tempering the skin and membranes. This continues until the body and mind are fully adjusted to a high level, with abundant spirit, qi, and essence. Only then can the excess essence and qi be used to refine the meridians, completing the process. A skyscraper rises from the ground, and each of the "Nine Ascensions to Heaven" is extremely important, especially the "Three Foundation-Building Stages." The depth of one's foundation in these stages determines their future achievements. There are cultivation methods that can quickly advance through the lower realms, but without the necessary refinement, there is always a risk of an unstable foundation in the future. Every Chinese person has a martial arts dream, and unexpectedly, a car accident made this dream come true for Ye Qingxuan, a laid-back and spontaneous otaku in his previous life. As for the previous complaints and rants, they were merely a way to pass the time when he was bored. ********** Yunzhou, located in the southwest of the Nine Provinces, has a climate like spring all year round. In the southwest of Yunzhou lies the largest mountain range in the region, Kunwu Mountain. Kunwu Mountain is vast, spanning ten thousand miles, with clouds and mist shrouding the mountains, home to countless rare birds and beasts, and filled with dangers that ordinary humans cannot enter. The peaks of Kunwu Mountain rise high into the clouds, and it is said that "the vast Kunwu Mountain stretches for ten thousand miles, piercing the nine heavens." The peaks are covered in snow year-round, forming a long snow-covered mountain range that spans over ten thousand miles. The three major rivers in Yunzhou all originate from here. The highest peak, Lingjuezhen, stands at 108,000 feet, with the mountain shrouded in mist from the waist up, making the peak rarely visible. Beyond the Kunwu Mountain range, further southwest, lies the wilderness, the land of the barbarians. It is said to be an endless primeval forest, where the trees block out the sun, casting the forest in perpetual darkness, making it eerie and terrifying. Countless savage beasts roam the forest, engaging in bloody hunts, making it a living hell. There are also numerous wild tribes, collectively known as the "barbarians," who constantly envy and covet the prosperity and stability of the Nine Provinces, often attempting to invade. The vast Kunwu Mountain range serves as the first line of defense against the barbarian invasions. The second line of defense is the various martial arts sects in the southwest of the Nine Provinces. Yunzhou stands at the forefront of this defense. Qingyang Town is a small town in Yunzhou, neither a major transportation hub nor known for any local specialties, just an ordinary place. Thirty miles southwest of Qingyang Town lies Qing Song Slope. The side of Qing Song Slope facing the town is gently sloping, but the terrain gradually rises to over two hundred meters, where it suddenly becomes a sheer cliff face. Beyond the cliff lies a wilderness of dense pine and cypress forests. The slope is covered with lush green pines and towering ancient cypresses, with flowers blooming everywhere and butterflies dancing. A stone path winds through the area, leading to a mysterious place. For the unremarkable town of Qingyang, Qing Song Slope, thirty miles away, is a notable scenic spot. The green-tiled and green-roofed Qingyun Temple, located on the slope, is a gathering place for devout believers. The people of Qingyang Town lead ordinary lives, and their only entertainment, apart from hard work, is the monthly temple fair. The temple fair is also a market. On the 15th of every month, not only the townspeople but also those from surrounding villages gather at Qing Song Slope, thirty miles away, to burn incense, make wishes, and shop at the market. Qingyun Temple is not only a secular temple for burning incense and making wishes but also a minor martial arts sect. This small sect is so ordinary that it lacks the strength to register as an official martial arts sect with the government. In the Divine Martial Continent, all official martial arts sects must register with the government. Martial arts sects are divided into nine ranks, and to register as the lowest ninth-rank sect, one needs at least one hundred inner disciples, a territory spanning over a hundred miles, and must perform several good deeds such as bandit suppression and beast extermination. They must also gain a good reputation locally and receive recommendations from local gentry and scholars, along with an evaluation report from the government. Additionally, they need endorsements from several established sects to qualify for official registration, which grants them the right to open a school and take on disciples. Given the complex and numerous martial arts feuds, the temple master, Lingxu Zhenren, has always chosen a path of self-preservation and strength accumulation, avoiding the establishment of a sect and instead choosing to remain dormant. Of course, these are the things Qingyun Temple openly displays. In reality, Qingxuan, the young Taoist who has lived here for over eight years, has a vague feeling that things are not as simple as they seem. His master and this humble sect are far from the mundane appearance they present. The sect hides many secrets, and Qingxuan is not fully aware of everything. For example, even a child growing up in the temple like himself has not easily obtained true transmission. His master seems to have concealed the sect's profound martial arts too strictly. Having lived in this world for over eight years, Qingxuan often buys the otherworldly magazine "Martial Arts Chronicles," so he has a basic understanding of this world. Martial arts are divided into ten levels from low to high: Gray, White, Green, Blue, Cyan, Yellow, Orange, Red, Purple, and Gold. Each level is further divided into three grades: Upper, Middle, and Lower, making a total of "Ten Colors and Thirty Grades." According to Qingxuan's analysis, a minor sect like Qingyun Temple would have, at most, a second-level White-grade martial art in the "Ten Colors and Thirty Grades" system, far from reaching the Green grade. Otherwise, it would have already gained fame in the martial arts world. At least, that's the case in Yunzhou. However, if the martial arts are so common, there's no reason for them to be so concealed. Recalling the mysterious aura of his master and the few senior disciples, as well as the fact that his master's face has never shown a single wrinkle in six years, Qingxuan, who harbors the dream of becoming a martial arts expert, firmly believes that his sect is not as simple as it appears.