Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

Chapter 53: Chapter 36: Sudden Enlightenment_1

Translator: 549690339

And so, half a month later.

Inside the Security Hall, within the quiet chamber.

Xu Yang was sitting cross-legged on a bed bitterly cold to the touch, with four martial arts scriptures including the Ice Mysterious Power laid out before him.

They were the ransom Yuwen Huaji used to redeem himself and others, all four capable of “Condensing Spirit and Unifying Dao,” top-tier martial arts.

Although they were top-tier martial arts, in terms of their intricacy, they were still inferior to the Great Zhou Martial Scriptures. The only noteworthy aspect was the method of Condensing Spirit and Unifying Dao.

Condensing Spirit and Unifying Dao essentially involved two steps: first, condensing the spirit; second, unifying with the Dao.

The so-called condensing spirit involves concentrating divine intent into one’s martial arts, transforming them profoundly, reaching an extraordinary level of mastery.

How to condense the spirit?

According to the descriptions in these four martial arts scriptures, it is impossible to concentrate the power of the divine soul by relying solely on the body’s strength; one must use the power of “the Dao.”

What is “the Dao”?

All things are part of the Dao!

All things in the world, the natural elements, and everything between heaven and earth can be referred to as the Dao.

As long as martial artists concentrate their spirit on the Dao and focus on it, channeling the essence of their martial arts to connect with the ambience of the Dao, they can strengthen their divine souls and condense divine intent.

This might sound a bit mystical. To put it simply, it’s a visualization technique!

Visualize one thing, focus on one thing, to strengthen one’s own spirit, and then infuse that spirit into the martial arts, transforming tangible Gang Qi into the Condensing Spirit Gang Yuan, and one can step into the realm of Condensing Spirit.

This is the visualization technique.

Hence, martial artists who have reached the Four-Realm Condensing Spirit will endow their emotions onto something, whether it be the dao of sword, the dao of blade, the Natural Way, the Yin and Yang Dao, or even poetic and artistic sentiments. In fact, even indulgences like eating, drinking, and gambling can serve as the physical manifestations of “the Dao.”

Taking the Ice Mysterious Power as an example, to condense the spirit, one must comprehend the Dao of “Mysterious Ice.” The most direct method of cultivation is to find a land of ice and snow, visualize and feel the power of

“Mysterious Ice,” and ultimately merge the spirit that is rich with “Mysterious Ice ambience” into the martial arts. Only then is the Ice Mysterious Power truly developed.

The ambience of the Dao is critically important, as it directly affects the effectiveness of condensing the spirit and the power of the martial arts.

Again using the Ice Mysterious Power as an example: due to the Dao of “Mysterious Ice,” the Ice Mysterious Power possesses traits like “freezing” and “extreme cold,” and its power can be enhanced several fold in snowy and icy environments.

Therefore, the choice of “the Dao” is crucial.

What should Xu Yang choose as his Dao to contemplate, to condense, and to integrate?

Sword and blade?

Fist and foot?

Or the Five Elements and Four Laws, Taiji Yin and Yang?

Xu Yang was indecisive at that moment.

Although there is a saying, “Three thousand Daos lead to the same destination,” theoretically, all ambiances of Dao can reach the utmost state without any distinction of superiority.

Take the three world-renowned Grandmasters for example. The Martial Path of the esteemed Bi Xuan was conjoined with the Dao of Yan Yang, both part of the Five Elements and Four Laws as the Ice Mysterious Power of Yuwen Huaji, but the difference in strength between them was like heaven and earth.

And as for the hermit Ning Daoqi and the grandmaster swordsman Fu Cailin, who cultivated the Natural Way which belongs to the Dao of Heaven and Earth, their aims were profound. However, Song Que, who focused on “the dao of blade,” was not a bit inferior to them.

Therefore, theoretically, there is no hierarchy among the Daos. As long as your insight is deep enough, and your aptitude is sufficient, even if you contemplate a piece of that… you could also become a great Grandmaster.

But theory is just theory. In reality, there are still differences in strength and suitability.

For instance, martial arts like the Ice Mysterious Power, which belong to the Five Elements and Four Laws, generally have limited utility, heavily influenced by the environment. In snowy and icy conditions, they are almost invincible, but their strength diminishes immediately once away from such environments. In the blistering heat of summer or the expanse of a desert, only a fraction of their power remains effective.

On the other hand, the dao of sword and blade is highly adaptable. As long as one has a weapon in hand, one can exhibit its power. Although the enhancement may not compare to that of the Five Elements and Four Laws borrowing the power of heaven and earth, it has the advantage of consistency and is not affected by external factors.

Regarding the conceptual ambiances of Dao like Heaven and Earth, Nature, Yin and Yang, and Wuji, although they are highly adaptable and powerful, they require extremely high levels of aptitude and comprehension and also necessitate studying scriptures from Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. Most martial artists would find it difficult to reach such a level.

So, what should Xu Yang choose, or rather, what would be the most appropriate choice for him?

Looking at the four martial arts scriptures before him, Xu Yang furrowed his brows tightly, falling silent.

Suddenly, a spark of inspiration appeared in his mind like a bolt from the blue, exploding in his head.

The Dao?

What was his Dao?

What was his greatest advantage?

Xu Yang lifted his hands and stared blankly, slowly a bold idea rose in his mind.

Could he… visualize himself?

Are humans not a part of nature and everything in the world?

The mystique of the human body, the power of self – is this not called… the Martial Path?

The Martial Path, could it be comprehended, visualized, entrusted with one’s spirit, strengthening the soul?

If possible, then its strength, its effects, its range of applicability… would it be the strongest?

In a flash of enlightenment, Xu Yang closed his eyes, emptied his mind, and amidst the consciousness in his mind, an image of the human anatomical structure suddenly appeared.

In the image, there were countless lines and nodes, which represent the circulation routes and vital points of the body through which True Qi flows, and the key locations within the body.

Suddenly, a glow lit up, True Qi began circulating, and the entire structure of the human body brightened up, clearly indicating the operation of the “Martial Arts Scripture.”

As the Martial Arts Scripture operated, his spirit extended, faintly touching upon something.

“Boom!”

Inside the quiet room, without any wind stirring waves, Xu Yang’s body slowly lifted, suspended in midair, drawing the airflow from all directions, forming a cyclone around his body.

The first step of Condensing Spirit and Co-Dao is visualization, which is followed by strengthening the spirit, then connecting the spirit with the intentions of the Dao, thereby absorbing the power of heaven and earth into the body, converting Gang Qi into Yuan!

Xu Yang had practiced the Great Zhou Martial Scriptures for sixteen years, with the assistance of various Skill Traits; both his power and spirit were nearing perfection.

Now that he had an epiphany, his accumulation became completely full, and he was totally ready for the final assault.

The final assault was to absorb the power of heaven and earth and merge Divine Intent into the body.

How to absorb it?

Condense the intent of the Dao with the spirit, practice the Cultivation Techniques with the body, unify the human with nature internally and externally, and resonate to draw upon the power of heaven and earth.

Therefore, the intent of the Dao is key, and the location is also key. If one cultivates the Ice Mysterious Power, it is best to break through in a world of ice and snow because there, the Ice Mysterious Power is abundant and enriches the chances of success and the effect afterward.

Now that Xu Yang is visualizing his body, using martial arts as the Dao, can he draw upon the power of heaven and earth?

Of course he can!

Humans are also one of the myriad things in the world; how can they not draw upon the power of heaven and earth?

Xu Yang sat cross-legged, floating in the air, with qi flowing in a vortex around his body, constantly merging into his physique.

The human body is also one of the myriad things; the human body’s power is the power of heaven and earth, so the power of heaven and earth that Xu Yang needs to absorb is the Qi Blood strength that constitutes the human body.

Qi is the origin!

Blood is the essence!

Not only did a cyclone form around him, but even the food stored in his stomach was rapidly digested at this moment, turned into nutrients, and merged into the body.

But this was not enough!

Xu Yang made no move, simply shifting the airflow, causing the bottles of elixirs placed on the shelves to instantly shatter, drawing the precious herbs turned elixirs into the vortex. They didn’t need to be swallowed; their essence was drawn out directly, turning into ashes.

In the end, only a vortex, condensed from the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and the essence of the elixirs, enveloped Xu Yang’s body, spinning violently in the void.

After an unknown amount of time, finally…

“Whooosh!”

Within the vortex, a true vacuum formed, swallowing all the spiritual energy and elixir essences, revealing a semi-transparent body. The meridians and acupoints could clearly be seen, along with the circulation of Qi Blood, like trains…

“Whooosh!”

A mighty surge of energy burst forth. His tightly closed eyes opened, and all surrounding objects, including the precious Cold Jade Bed beneath him, turned to dust in an instant, leaving only Xu Yang standing in the void.

He stood there, so conspicuous, so undeniable, as if he attracted the attention of all beings in the world, even the sun, moon, and stars seemed to focus and watch him.

If the sensation Yuwen Huaji gave off when he pushed the Ice Mysterious Power to its limit was like a thousand-year-old block of ice, then Xu Yang standing there was like the sun, a realm of space, or even a whole world!

That strong sense of self, that feeling of independence, made it impossible for anyone or anything to ignore his presence, just like the sun in the dark universe, forever the focal point of the world.

This was the meaning of the Martial Path, “I am Wudi, only I am revered, all mighty power returns to the self,” the intent of the Martial path!

Xu Yang, feeling such a state within himself, finally understood the meaning of

“Martial Path Communicates with God.”

Before, although he had developed the Skill Trait of Martial Path Communicates with God, he did not understand the principle nor could he teach the method to others so that they could gain the same power.

But now, he understood.

Why does the Martial Path communicate with God?

It’s because “I” have endowed it with power, making it undergo rebirth and become divine.

The Martial Path is the way of the self; I am the martial, the martial is me, with me there is no enemy, only martial is revered.

Now, even if he removed the ‘Martial Path Communicates with God” trait from his Attribute Panel, Xu Yang could still use the power of the self to exhibit the martial arts of godly communication.

Of course, there is no need for that, because the Martial Path Communicates with God granted by the Skill Traits is not in conflict with the Martial Path he has cultivated on his own; instead, they can stack and enhance the effect of the “Divine Intent of the Martial Path.”

This is important. According to Xu Yang’s own information gathering and

Yuwen Huaji’s testimonies, the world’s experts, including the three

Grandmasters, Evil King, and Heavenly Blade Song Que, are all in the realm of “Condensing Spirit” and none has set foot into the “Co-Dao” threshold because once one is “Co-Dao,” they possess the power to break the Void and no longer remain human.

If everyone is in the realm of Condensing Spirit, how do we differentiate their strength?

It depends on the strength of the “Divine Intent of the Martial Path.”

The stronger the Divine Intent of the Martial Path, the stronger the actual combat power. Yuwen Huaji and his likes are just average in the realm of Condensing Spirit, while Yuwen Sect’s leader Yuwen Shang, Dugu Sect founder You Chuhong, and Underworld Queen Zhu Yuyan rank higher.

And the three Grandmasters, Heavenly Blade Song Que, are at the peak of their realms, with hopes of reaching Co-Dao and smashing the Void!

Now although Xu Yang has just entered the realm of Condensing Spirit, combining the power of “Martial Path Communicates with God” with the mystery of the Martial Scriptures and the strength of the Martial Path, he might well challenge the three Grandmasters and contend for the title of “The

Unsurpassed of the World.”

Does that mean he is unrivaled under heaven again?

No, no, not yet unrivaled truly; at most, he could defeat a Grandmaster. If the opponents joined forces or multiple enemies besieged him in a relentless onslaught, he might not be able to dominate as he desired.

Ironically, within Buddhism, there are four notorious old fellows who enjoy ganging up!

So… he’d better wait some time before knocking on their door..

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