Xu Qi’an strode forwards, took the book titled The Method of Advancing to Half-step Martial God from the shelf, and looked at the very first line.
Under heaven all systems stand beyond the three realms, but within the five elements. Only martial artists remain in the three realms, yet outside the five elements.
The difference between martial artists and the other systems lies in being “inside or outside the Three Realms”… Xu Qi’an frowned and mulled over the sentence. Apart from realising that martial artists were different from the other systems, he could draw no further meaning from it.
*Perhaps “Three Realms” and “Five Elements” had specific meanings in Arcanist terminology.
Forcing an interpretation might not be accurate. I’ll ask Senior Brother Song later. He impatiently turned to the next page.
This page contained the Jianzheng’s explanation of first rank martial artists. The book mentioned that a first rank martial artist fused essence, qi, and spirit into one, forming a self-contained cycle that no longer interacted with the outside world… At this point, the Jianzheng had even thoughtfully added a note:
What is meant by not interacting with the outside world is that one does not borrow the power of heaven and earth, including but not limited to forces such as yin and yang, the Five Elements, thunder, lightning, and so on.
Normal circulation of qi and breathing in spiritual energy doesn’t count within this category. Hmm, among the first ranks I know, Sarun Agu, Luo Yuheng, and the Buddhist Bodhisattvas all have means of borrowing the power of heaven and earth and turning it to their own use… Only martial artists rely on their own strength and qi…
This note from the Jianzheng is written far too plainly. It feels like it’s meant for someone with no brains at all… At that thought, Xu Qi’an’s face suddenly stiffened.
Because he remembered that this book had been left behind by the Jianzheng long ago, and the first rank martial artist the Jianzheng had supported seemed, apparently, very much to be him.
Who the hell are you looking down on… Xu Qi’an flew into a rage.
He thought to himself that he’d let it slide, for the sake of that old bastard currently being away on his ocean voyage, and wouldn’t stoop to his level.
He kept reading, and finally reached the part about Half-step Martial God.
The Jianzheng had provided two lines of thought. One was gradual tempering, just as peak fourth rank experts tempered their fleshly bodies, causing their cells to evolve, shedding the mortal body and becoming a god-like existence.
For a first rank martial artist to advance to Half-step Martial God, he likewise had to keep tempering the body and filling up his qi. But throughout history, there had been almost no martial artists who could push first rank to its very end and become a Half-step Martial God.
As far as the Jianzheng knew, the only one was Shenshu, who had been sealed in Sangpo Lake five hundred years ago.
Because martial artists who advanced to first rank through fortune had lifespans of no more than a hundred years. In a hundred years, it was simply impossible to reach Half-step Martial God. As for those who became first rank through their own talent and effort, they were exterminated over the long years by the Warlock God and the Buddha.
The Gu God once said that they feared the appearance of a Martial God. From this it can be seen that if the so-called great calamity is to be quelled, then most likely only the birth of a Martial God can do it. And from that, one may infer, is the Jianzheng’s goal to create a Martial God?
As the gatekeeper, had he always been planning and working towards this way of resolving the great calamity…
The other method was to follow the “blood pill” route, using the life essence of powerful beings in the same domain to accelerate advancement.
When I first learnt that the Zhenbei King was refining blood pills, I had a feeling the martial artist system might be extremely cruel, Xu Qi’an sighed.
The first method had no shortcuts. It depended on talent and effort. The second method did have a shortcut.
Xu Qi’an perked up and eagerly turned to the second half of the book. Then he silently closed it, returned to Song Qing’s side, and said with a straight face:
“The Jianzheng did leave behind the corresponding refining formation and materials. The level’s decent, pretty interesting. Want a look?”
Song Qing’s eyes first lit up, brimming with thirst for knowledge. Then he grew awkward and unwilling.
“I want to rely on myself, not on Teacher Jianzheng.”
Xu Qi’an said gravely:
“Learning knowledge is a very joyful process. If you don’t need to pay any price during it, then it’s double the joy.”
Translated into words familiar to us:
Freeloading makes us happy.
Song Qing thought it over and felt it made sense, so he took the old bastard Jianzheng’s work and patiently began to read.
“Well?” Xu Qi’an asked.
Song Qing looked up, face blank.
“I can’t really understand it…”
Then he looked at Xu Qi’an with hopeful eyes.
“Can Young Master Xu understand it?”
Xu Qi’an smiled.
“I just skimmed through it a bit. What the Jianzheng wrote was very interesting. After reading it, six of my seven apertures opened.”
Song Qing looked astonished.
“In such a short time, Young Master Xu could already understand so much alchemical content. The only unopened aperture must be formations, I suppose.”
…
Xu Qi’an nodded with a solemn expression, then swiftly changed the subject.
“What does Senior Brother Song make of the opening line?”
Song Qing did as asked, turned back to the beginning, reread the sentence, and pondered.
“The Three Realms refer to the Realm of Form, the Realm of Desire, and the Realm of No-form. Young Master Xu may simply understand them as the mundane world. To step beyond the Three Realms means cutting off worldly thoughts and desires…”
To put it bluntly, it means no longer having worldly desires… Xu Qi’an slowly nodded.
“If Young Master Xu observes carefully, it isn’t hard to discover that among the beyond-mortal experts of all major systems, the higher their level, the more they seem like solitary people. Many desires, including lust, are almost entirely cut away. Well, the Human Sect counts as an exception, but that’s because of karmic fire. Without karmic fire, Luo Yuheng would most likely also be free of desire and without pursuit.”
No wonder nearly every beyond-mortal expert I’ve met is basically single. Only I, as a martial artist, strive daily to pound stakes… Xu Qi’an laughed despite himself.
But the next moment, he stood there dazed, a thought flashing through his mind.
Was Xu Pingfeng’s cold-heartedness and lack of affection influenced by this as well? The higher the level, the fainter the seven emotions and six desires.
He then thought back to Daoist Jinlian, Zhao Shou, Sarun Agu and the other beyond-mortal experts, and to his horror discovered that not a single one of them was an LSP.
So only martial artists preserve the most complete set of seven emotions and six desires? Xu Qi’an thought.
Song Qing continued:
“The meaning of being within the Five Elements is easy to understand. All the major systems need to rely on the power of heaven and earth, controlling earth, wind, water, fire, yin, yang, and the Five Elements. But martial artists don’t. martial artists rely entirely on their fists. Tsk tsk, how crude.
“Ah, I didn’t mean to belittle Silver Gong Xu. What I was belittling was the martial artist system.”
Is there even a difference? Don’t misunderstand, I’m not targeting you, I’m targeting all martial artists under heaven? Xu Qi’an’s mind was full of complaints.
…
Mount Jing City.
Mount Jing was barren of even a blade of grass. Between the poor sandy soil lay exposed black rocks, and the entire main peak held no trace of life.
In the distance, the vast sea rose and fell, glittering with shimmering light. At the meeting line of blue sky and ocean, a flock of seabirds wheeled in flight.
This place stood by the sea. The wind was strong, and a faint fishy tang blew head-on. Sarun Agu sat cross-legged at the summit. Before him stood a small table, and on it lay a row of bamboo slips, marked respectively with:
Xu Qi’an, Luo Yuheng, Li Miaozhen, al-Asura…
And also: Agaruka, Vaidurya, Samantabhadra, Du’e!
Behind Sarun Agu stood the Master of Rain Nalan Tianlu, the Master of Wisdom Uda Batu, and Irbu.
The Great Warlock drew a simple, rounded tortoise shell from beneath his cloak, bit his fingertip, and smeared the blood that welled out along the shell’s markings.
Then he repeated the process, dripping blood into the cup Irbu handed him.
The bead of blood spread in swirls, turning the entire cup of clear water pale red.
Sarun Agu closed his eyes, formed a hand seal with both hands, and remained completely motionless.
To an outsider, he was merely meditating ordinarily. But in the eyes of the three beyond-mortal Warlocks, the Great Warlock at that moment seemed to merge with heaven and earth, existing in a profound and mysterious state as he communicated with Heaven’s secrets hidden in the unseen.
This was an extremely high-level spell within divination. At the realm of a Great Warlock, one could use divination to glimpse Heaven’s secrets, making it even more precise and direct than ordinary divination.
A moment later, Sarun Agu opened his eyes, raised the teacup, took the pale bloody water into his mouth, and with a pfft sprayed it over the bamboo slips.
In an instant, the bamboo slips trembled gently.
These slips inscribed with names such as “Xu Qi’an” and “Li Miaozhen” suddenly began to bleed, staining the names red.
And the smear of blood on the tortoise shell slowly flowed along the shell’s veins until the entire back of the shell was dyed red.
Sarun Agu stared at the divination signs for a long while, then slowly let out a breath.
“Nalan, go to the Western Regions and tell Agaruka that a bloody disaster is approaching. Tell them to prepare.”
Nalan Tianlu first nodded, then stared at the bamboo slips bearing “Xu Qi’an” and “Agaruka”, and said thoughtfully:
“They face the greatest risk of falling…”
This was the Master of Rain’s interpretation based on the divination signs. The beyond-mortal experts of both sides all had signs of bloody disaster, indicating a risk of death.
Of course, in a battle of this level, no one could guarantee survival. Risk was normal.
But the bloody disaster surrounding Xu Qi’an and Agaruka was especially severe.
Irbu frowned.
“He’s now a first rank martial artist. Who else could kill him?”
The moment the words left his mouth, his brow twitched and he guessed the answer.
The Buddha!
Sarun Agu said:
“A Beyond-rank won’t tolerate the growth of a first rank martial artist. Xu Qi’an wants to seize back Shenshu’s head. The one inside Ananda may well also be waiting for this chance, setting a trap and waiting for him to walk into it. As for Agaruka…”
He frowned, unable to give an interpretation.
By rights, among the three Bodhisattvas, Agaruka should have been the safest. The Immovable Wisdom King and Vajra Dharma Aspect were enough to ensure his life was free from danger.
Unless the beyond-mortal experts on the side of the Great Feng were deliberately targeting this Bodhisattva.
But why?
Sarun Agu did not think further. He looked towards Nalan Tianlu.
“After you arrive in the Western Regions, have the Buddhists send Arhat Du’e to the Central Plains. We need the power of the Executioner Phala. As for you, remain in Ananda and watch how things develop. If the timing is right, do not miss the chance to strike at Xu Qi’an.”
Having said that, the Great Warlock glanced at “Agaruka” and said coolly:
“If the timing’s about right, give him a hand as well.”
Nalan Tianlu nodded in understanding.
…
The Western Regions.
In a certain city-state in the south, Arhat Du’e sat cross-legged before the great hall. Below him sat several hundred people, some monks in kasaya and rag robes, others believers from the city-state.
“The dharma and the self are both empty, all things are false. Save oneself and save others, enlighten oneself and enlighten others, ferry others and ferry oneself, all beings may become Buddhas…”
Seated upon the high platform, Arhat Du’e expounded scripture and preached doctrine, explaining his Mahayana Buddhist ideals.
Below, believers and monks alike listened in utter fascination.
Compared with the Buddhism of Ananda, which emphasised saving oneself, the Buddhism Arhat Du’e had brought back from the eastern land of the Great Feng was more readily accepted by monks of the lower ranks and ordinary people.
To save others and save oneself, that was true great love.
And this matched people’s moral outlook perfectly, while also fitting the instinct of the hardship-ridden people of the Western Regions, who longed to be redeemed and longed to redeem others.
Coupled with the prestige of a Buddhist Arhat, Du’e’s path of preaching had gone rather smoothly.
Apart from being halted once by Bodhisattva Agaruka, he had encountered almost no obstruction.
At this moment, a raggedly dressed, dark-skinned middle-aged man who looked weather-beaten rose to his feet, pressed his palms together, and asked:
“Arhat Du’e, can we truly become Buddhas?”
“Across three thousand worlds, the Buddha is everywhere. All living beings possess Buddha-nature. Buddhahood is a fruit of attainment, not something belonging to one person or a few…”
Before Arhat Du’e could finish, he suddenly stopped. In his eyes, the many believers below lost their “colour”.
He turned his head and looked to the left. At some unknown moment, a female Bodhisattva of waterfall-like black hair and breathtaking beauty had appeared at his side.
Her bare feet were as white as snow, her white robes fluttered lightly. Her eyes were like two colourless glazed beads, lacking emotion, yet somehow making one instinctively feel that they were beautiful.
“Samantabhadra has already compromised and no longer supports Mahayana Buddhism. You’ve travelled all over the Western Regions, preaching Mahayana everywhere. Aren’t you afraid of punishment afterwards?”
Vaidurya Bodhisattva said coolly.
Du’e said calmly:
“I am merely walking my own path.”
The corners of Vaidurya Bodhisattva’s lips curved faintly, and she smiled.
“Your affairs are none of my concern. I came to notify you. Go to the Central Plains at once and join hands with the Church of the Warlock God to level the capital.”
Du’e shook his head.
“I won’t strike against mortals.”
The wind stirred Vaidurya’s hair, brushing it lightly against her fair face, smooth as congealed cream. She said coolly:
“Then deal with the beyond-mortals.”
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