Chapter 37

(Listen, I believe everyone is also very curious about what lies beyond the Micro Realm.)

The main street of Fengwu City is wide, capable of accommodating three carriages side by side.

On both sides of the street, shops stand in rows.

In an ordinary teahouse, Chen Zong and Li Zhen Shi sat facing each other, each with a bowl of hot tea and a plate of ordinary pastries in front of them. Compared to the Ascending Dragon Assembly, this was far less grand, but Li Zhen Shi still picked up the pastry and ate it without any disdain, which improved Chen Zong's impression of him even more.

"Beyond the Micro Realm, there is indeed another realm," Li Zhen Shi said with a slight smile, his pace neither too fast nor too slow. Dressed in white martial attire, with a handsome appearance and a graceful demeanor, he drew frequent attention, becoming the focus of the teahouse. Even passersby turned to look, especially young girls.

"Can Brother Li tell me more?" Chen Zong's eyes were filled with hope, and there was a hint of indescribable excitement in his tone.

"Of course. Although this is not widely known, it's not a particularly secret matter," Li Zhen Shi said with a smile. "However, the records about this realm in our Li family are not very complete or clear. I will tell you what I know."

"In fact, the Micro Realm is already the endpoint of martial arts realms. The next level can be considered both a martial arts realm and a martial art itself," Li Zhen Shi said seriously. "This level is called the True Secret Realm, or simply the True Secret."

"True Secret... True Secret Realm..." Chen Zong murmured to himself, sensing a hint of mystery and profundity from these words.

The martial arts realms created by our predecessors have their basis and profundity. For example, the Perfect Realm is achieved by refining a martial art to its utmost, understanding its essence, like drawing a perfect circle, with a beginning and an end, symbolizing completeness.

The Micro Realm, on the other hand, breaks through the limits of the original martial art, jumping out of the circle, transforming from being bound by the circle to mastering it. This represents a new height in the application of one's strength and martial arts, achieving the greatest effect with the least effort, symbolizing the ability to achieve much with little, and meticulous refinement.

Therefore, the True Secret Realm must have its unique significance.

"I am not entirely clear about the profundity of the True Secret Realm, as no one in our Li family has ever refined their sword technique beyond the Micro Realm. However, based on the vague records in the books I read as a child, it should be something like this," Li Zhen Shi recalled. "The True Secret Realm is a deeper understanding of martial arts, surpassing the Micro Realm, and breaking down and reorganizing martial arts into a new martial art that extends the original to its utmost... "

"Can you understand what I mean?" Li Zhen Shi asked after his explanation.

Chen Zong shook his head. Li Zhen Shi's words were scattered, and he couldn't quite grasp the meaning.

"Alright, I'm not sure what I'm saying either," Li Zhen Shi said with a hint of helplessness. "However, if you ever achieve the True Secret Realm, don't be stingy and let me see it."

"Sure," Chen Zong agreed.

"Your quick response makes me think you might achieve the True Secret Realm," Li Zhen Shi said with a smile.

"Thanks for the good words," Chen Zong replied with a smile.

After some more casual conversation, they bid each other farewell and left.

...

"True Secret Realm..."

"What kind of realm is it?"

"Breaking down the original martial art and extending it into a new martial art?"

As Chen Zong returned to the Chen Clan Hall, he pondered these questions.

No matter how he thought about it, he couldn't figure it out. He knew too little, lacked sufficient guidance, and his foundation was not strong enough—these were his shortcomings.

"If I could read more martial arts notes and enrich my knowledge, it might help," Chen Zong thought to himself. In the future, he would have to find more time to read the miscellaneous notes and diaries in the clan hall, which did not require contribution points.

"Chen Zong, you made me wait a long time."

As he approached the gate of the Earth Courtyard, someone blocked his path, speaking coldly, like a north wind.

"Who are you?" Chen Zong, whose thoughts were suddenly interrupted, frowned and asked.

"Remember my name, Chen Waixiu, a disciple of the Heaven Courtyard." The person seemed to feel superior because he was from the Heaven Courtyard.

"What do you want?" Chen Zong's tone was somewhat impatient. Anyone would feel uncomfortable if their thoughts were suddenly interrupted.

"You offended someone you shouldn't have, and I'm here to give you a lesson," Chen Waixiu said with a cold laugh.

"Chen Waixiu, what are you doing in our Earth Courtyard?" A voice called out from the side. A slender, short youth approached swiftly, his gaze landing on Chen Waixiu's face after passing by Chen Zong. "Do you think our Earth Courtyard disciples are easy to bully?"

"Defeated opponent, get lost," Chen Waixiu glanced at the newcomer and sneered.

"Let's fight again and see who the defeated opponent is," the newcomer said, both angry and anxious.

"Get lost, even if we fight a hundred times, you'll still be the defeated opponent," Chen Waixiu waved his hand dismissively.

"Chen Waixiu, this is the Earth Courtyard, and you are not welcome here," another steady voice said. Chen Waixiu turned around, his expression changing slightly.

"Chen Zhong, I am here on the orders of Clan Brother Chen He. If you have any complaints, take them to Clan Brother Chen He," Chen Waixiu said, unafraid because he had support.

"Chen He..." Chen Zhong and the others' expressions changed slightly. After all, Chen He was one of the top ten elite disciples, ranked second.

"Chen Zong, if you obediently kneel and kowtow three times outside Clan Brother Chen He's courtyard, I will let you off this time," Chen Waixiu said with a cold laugh, looking at Chen Zong and threatening him.

"Your cultivation is at the Fourth Level of the Blood Qi Realm, right?" Chen Zong suddenly asked.

The clan hall has a rule that disciples of higher cultivation must not personally attack disciples of lower cultivation, unless the latter provoke them first. Otherwise, it is considered a violation, punishable by a fine of 100 contribution points or a month of unpaid labor in the mines.

A month of mining might not be a big deal, but it would delay cultivation and damage one's reputation.

"Clan Brother Chen Zong, he is indeed at the Fourth Level of the Blood Qi Realm, but he is one year older than you and has reached the peak of the Fourth Level," Chen Zhong said to Chen Zong, his tone somewhat serious.

"What will you do, obediently kowtow to Clan Brother Chen He, or let me give you a lesson?" Chen Waixiu raised his fist, looking somewhat smug.

"Less than a year of cultivation and not yet at the Fifth Level of the Blood Qi Realm..." Chen Zong shook his head.

"It seems you've chosen the latter," Chen Waixiu's face changed, angry and embarrassed. He punched like a hungry wolf, aiming fiercely at Chen Zong's chest.

The sound of metal clashing was piercing, as if piercing through everyone's eardrums. A blinding sword light flashed, and a chill spread through Chen Waixiu's body. He felt as if he was about to be pierced by an extremely sharp blade, suddenly stopping, motionless.

The tip of the sword, sharp to the extreme, was just an inch from his throat. The coldness made him feel a chill, his blood freezing, his body numb, his skin tingling, and goosebumps rising.

"Have the courage not to use the sword," Chen Waixiu's face turned pale. It was too dangerous. At that moment, he reacted quickly, or he would have been finished. Unbeknownst to him, Chen Zong had the confidence to control the sword, or it would have already pierced his throat.

"You have two choices: one, my sword leaves a scar on your neck; two, you go back where you came from," Chen Zong's eyes were sharp, and looking at him for too long would make one feel uncomfortable. His voice was calm but seemed to carry a hint of coldness.

Chen Waixiu quickly retreated, glaring at Chen Zong with great reluctance. He looked at the sword in Chen Zong's hand, surprised. He recognized it as a precious iron sword.

"Relying on the strength of the sword is nothing. Wait and see, offending Clan Brother Chen He won't be that easy," Chen Waixiu said menacingly and left in anger.

"Clan Brother Chen Zong, how did you offend Chen He?" Chen Zhong glanced at the precious iron sword in Chen Zong's hand, his face full of surprise, but he did not envy it since he did not practice swordsmanship.

"Chen He is ranked second among the top ten elite disciples, and you offended him. Truly, you are overestimating yourself," the slender, short youth said with a cold laugh and turned to leave.

"It's nothing, thank you, Clan Brother Chen Zhong," Chen Zong smiled slightly. The reason was simply that he had refused Chen He's entry into the boxing group, which Chen He resented, and had also embarrassed him at the recent Ascending Dragon Assembly. In the end, it was just Chen He's narrow-mindedness.

"As fellow Earth Courtyard disciples, and both from Xiaohu Town, we should help and support each other. If you have any difficulties, feel free to come to me," seeing that Chen Zong did not want to talk about it, Chen Zhong wisely did not press further and smiled, then left.

...

As Chen Waixiu said, it was not that simple. Soon, more trouble came knocking.

"Chen Zong, I am Chen Kaiyue. I heard you have a precious iron sword. With your mere Fourth Level of the Blood Qi Realm, it will only be a pearl in the mud. Why not give it to me?" After the door was knocked and opened, a cold-faced man stood outside, holding a sword in his left hand, clearly a swordsman.

"How many contribution points are you willing to pay?" Chen Zong asked.

"Give me the sword, and I will owe you a favor," Chen Kaiyue's brow furrowed slightly, and he said in a stiff tone.

"A favor..." Chen Zong sneered. He did not care about the favor of a Li family young master like Li Zhen Shi, let alone a mere Heaven Courtyard disciple.

To be honest, Chen Zong was initially not used to the precious iron sword, but now it felt natural. Unless in a special situation, he would continue to use it.

"Chen Zong, are you mocking me? I can take it as a challenge," Chen Kaiyue's eyes were sharp, like a sword drawn, aiming to pierce Chen Zong's eyes, and he said.

"Taking it by force, then." Chen Zong smiled and closed the door.

"Chen Zong, don't regret it," Chen Kaiyue's stiff and cold voice, tinged with anger, came through the door to Chen Zong's ears.

Chen Zong shook his head, feeling a bit reflective. People like Li Zhen Shi, born into distinguished families, yet humble and gentlemanly, made one feel comfortable. But there were also those, born into ordinary families, who thought too highly of themselves. The difference was that great.

(End of the page)

(Start of the page)