Chapter 49

Chen Xun recounted the events at Dagu Peak and the peculiarities of the stone cliff at Xiaogu Peak to his grandfather Zong Tu.

"Perhaps the Python Map is truly hidden within that isolated peak's stone cliff..." After listening to Chen Xun describe the terrain around Dagu Peak and the peculiarities of the stone cliff, Zong Tu knew that even if there was no Python Map, the stone cliff must conceal some extraordinary treasure. However, thinking about the dangers of Dagu Peak, he sighed.

Not to mention the ferocious beasts that could make even a Rebirth Realm expert retreat, the beast trapped in the stone cliff could release electric snakes and lightning to kill a divine ape with immense strength. This stone cliff was certainly not a place that ordinary martial artists could easily enter.

"Su Tang is returning to Canglan. The secret of Dagu Peak is probably not unknown to the Su Clan. They might send experts to explore it. If they get the Python Map first..." Chen Xun was alarmed at this possibility. If the Su Clan obtained the Python Map first, it would mean that the Black Python might never have the chance to revive.

"This is fate," Zong Tu, who had lived for most of his life, had already seen through many things. He said, "It's also possible that someone has already entered the stone cliff. Otherwise, the beast wouldn't be trapped there for no reason. The Black Python has been searching for the Python Map for thousands of years without success, and there was only a faint hope left. Even if the Su Clan gets it first, it's a destiny that the Black Python cannot resist. There's no need to be too concerned."

"..." Chen Xun sighed inwardly. Even if Su Tang didn't tell the clan about Dagu Peak, he didn't know how many decades it would take before he had the ability to suppress that beast and enter the stone cliff.

"Don't tell Nanliao and Zongsang about this. They might be unwilling to accept it," Zong Tu warned Chen Xun again.

Chen Xun thought about it and agreed. Dagu Peak was not a place that even a peak Ninth Layer Martial Artist like Zongsang or Nanliao could easily enter.

The reason he and Su Tang could enter was not only because they were familiar with the beast's nest but also because the wolf pack had not yet gathered there.

If the divine wolf that ultimately obtained the divine ape's corpse decided to stay at Dagu Peak, it might attract tens of thousands of blue wolves to gather in the primeval forest. Not to mention the beast trapped in the stone cliff, or the possibility that the divine wolf might further evolve after consuming the divine ape's flesh, even just the tens of thousands of blue wolves gathered around Dagu Peak would form an impenetrable barrier. Few people from the Su Clan could break through it.

If Zongsang and Nanliao were unwilling to accept this and tried to enter Dagu Peak, they would only lose their lives in vain. The Black Python could not afford to lose another high-level martial artist.

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The terrain map was easy to remember, but Chen Xun still copied down the hundreds of ancient characters from the残图. If he could advance to the Rebirth Realm and become a Heavenly Martial Artist in the future, these ancient characters might be the key to entering the stone cliff.

When Chen Xun came out of the stone hall, he saw Zong Ya holding a black-sheathed long sword, waiting for him in front of the altar.

Chen Xun had promised Zong Ya to teach him how to integrate the five postures of the Great Peng Secret Fist into sword techniques, and he naturally wouldn't break his promise.

Zong Ya, whose left arm had been bitten off by a giant wolf, could no longer wield a heavy spear with both hands. The long sword was the only weapon he could practice with at the moment.

Although the Great Peng Secret Fist was rudimentary, it was the foundation of all martial arts.

When Chen Xun, in the stone village, angrily cut down a man-eating wolf, his divine soul's wisdom flashed, and he unintentionally integrated the Great Peng Secret Fist into his sword technique. After several months of hard practice, he finally managed to thoroughly integrate the five postures of the Great Peng Secret Fist with his sword skills. The human figure in his divine soul's sea seemed to hold a long sword and swing it.

Only those who could align with the Dao and the natural laws could manifest their martial arts in the soul sea and draw on the divine essence of blood and qi. This was what made them true Heavenly Martial Arts.

Although the changes from fist to sword seemed minor, they were not easy to achieve.

Otherwise, the Black Python's Nine Abyss War Spear, which was considered a true martial art, would not have only one posture, the Inverted Scale, that was truly powerful.

Chen Xun demonstrated the changes of the five postures to Zong Ya, but whether Zong Ya could master them and when he could achieve the subtle realm of body and mind integration, and when he could comprehend them in his soul sea, would depend on his insight and perseverance.

Otherwise, these five postures would be just ordinary sword techniques, with a vast difference in power compared to the ultimate martial arts that could draw on the divine essence of the soul and form a martial aura.

Chen Xun couldn't help but think that if the Great Peng Secret Fist could be integrated into sword techniques, could it also be integrated into the Nine Abyss War Spear, making it a relatively complete Heavenly Martial Art?

Although the Nine Abyss War Spear had nine postures, only the Inverted Scale was a powerful Heavenly Martial Art. The other eight postures were ordinary combat techniques.

The difference between "posture" and "technique" was significant. Only those who could align with the natural laws and the Dao could manifest their martial arts in the soul sea, draw on the divine essence of blood and qi, and be called Heavenly Martial Arts. They could also channel the earth's qi and the sky's essence after advancing to the Heavenly Martial Realm.

Before Zong Ya practiced, Chen Xun sat cross-legged and meditated. At noon, they ate some meat and drank some water, then continued their hard practice.

In the afternoon, Zongsang and Nanliao returned to the village. Zongsang saw Zong Ya practicing sword techniques in front of the altar and squatted down to ask Chen Xun, who was sitting cross-legged, "Can the Great Peng Secret Fist really be integrated into sword techniques?"

He was still skeptical about integrating the Great Peng Secret Fist into sword techniques, thinking it was just something Chen Xun said to comfort Zong Ya. He knew Zong Ya was stubborn and might stick to it without giving up. If there was no guarantee, he would have to persuade Zong Ya to give up early.

Although Zongsang was in his thirties and was one of the two main pillars of the Black Python, he was straightforward and didn't hide his thoughts. From his eyes, it was clear that he didn't believe he could integrate the five postures of the Great Peng Secret Fist into sword techniques.

Chen Xun had no choice but to let Zong Ya hand him the black-sheathed long sword. He swung the sword diagonally, and black martial aura surged out, like a thin layer of black mist enveloping the long sword, exuding a faint aura of killing intent.

"Uncle, try to block my two strikes..."

"Sure!" Zongsang didn't feel it was unfair to fight a younger opponent, and he drew his heavy spear to spar with Chen Xun.

"Zongsang, you can't use the Inverted Scale!" Nanliao reminded him.

Nanliao had higher expectations for Chen Xun:

After all, the Black Python was a small tribe with only a thousand members, and Chen Xun's talent was so high that even in the entire Canglan, he could be considered a prodigy. The Black Python might achieve in Chen Xun's hands what it had failed to do for dozens of generations.

However, Nanliao also knew that in terms of absolute strength, Chen Xun was still inferior to Zongsang, who was at the peak of the Martial Artist realm. As long as Zongsang didn't use Heavenly Martial Arts, and Chen Xun could truly integrate the Great Peng Secret Fist into sword techniques, the two might be able to balance each other.

"I know, I can't let this little brat think I'm bullying him," Zongsang chuckled and swung his heavy spear diagonally.

Zongsang's casual strike seemed simple and slow, but the next moment, boundless power surged from the heavy spear. In the twilight, boundless qi waves turned into a fierce wind, rushing towards Chen Xun.

Zongsang was afraid of hurting Chen Xun, so he only directed the power towards Chen Xun's long sword, intending to disperse Chen Xun's weak sword technique.

Chen Xun's figure slightly condensed, and he didn't retreat. He swung his long sword, splitting several black sword auras, all striking the heavy spear. The air crackled, and he effortlessly deflected Zongsang's attack, even with some force left over to strike the heavy spear.

Zongsang, feeling the immense force from the sword aura transformed from the divine essence of the soul, and the chilling sensation, exclaimed, "This little brat is really not weak!"

He immediately stopped holding back, and the heavy spear in his hands turned into a series of spear shadows, like a towering mountain and a deep abyss, pressing down on Chen Xun.

The heavy spear needed to be wielded by a powerful martial artist like Zongsang to unleash its full power.

Even without using the Inverted Scale, the spear shadows contained flashes of martial aura, like faint lightning in the clouds, crackling like thunder, and stirring up boundless qi waves, attacking Chen Xun.

If Chen Xun's body were slightly weaker, he wouldn't be able to directly counter the heavy spear with boundless power, and would be crushed by the overwhelming qi waves.

This was the power of a peak Ninth Layer Martial Artist.

Even without using Heavenly Martial Arts, the difference in absolute strength made it difficult for Chen Xun to face Zongsang head-on. However, with his agile figure, he swung his long sword, and the martial auras seemed to form sharp blades, tearing apart the qi waves. He then leaped left and right, his sword flashing, defusing Zongsang's endless attacks one by one...

Chen Xun rarely found such a good opponent to practice with.

Zongsang's strength was above Chen Xun's, so he didn't need to hold back for fear of hurting Zongsang. He could fully unleash his divine essence of the soul, making his blood boil, and the boundless divine essence of the soul overflowed, transforming into black sword auras, merging into the endless sword light, like layers of black clouds rolling, stirring up silent wind and thunder.

In the end, Chen Xun was completely enveloped in the black martial aura, and the crowd could only see a black light entwining Zongsang's heavy spear.

The qi waves rolled in front of the altar, and even the residual power made it difficult for ordinary martial artists to approach within ten meters. The bone-chilling cold made the crowd shiver, and they realized that in a close combat, they wouldn't be able to withstand such a fierce attack, and the extreme cold would freeze their blood.

The shattered qi waves formed a howling wind, breaking branches and trees, and stirring up rocks and wood, creating a terrifying scene, no different from a life-and-death battle between two peak martial artists.

The shattered martial auras, carrying extreme cold, spread and oscillated, causing countless white frost flowers to fall from the air—those watching, including Nanliao, were shocked: What kind of divine essence of the soul was Chen Xun cultivating, to be so mysterious and powerful?

Seeing Chen Xun's great power after integrating the Great Peng Secret Fist into sword techniques, Zong Ya was naturally the most excited.

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