We're practicing all martial arts, so why did you switch to easy mode?

Chapter 253 The Secret Realm Opens, Rebuilding the Path of Martial Arts (5K)

Huanghu Mountain Villa.

Hidden and secluded, it is a natural refuge from disaster, and few people come here.

After Song Yang left, he handed the manor over to Li Mo. After Li Mo inherited the manor, he dismissed all the servants.

After Su Chen left, Li Mo followed Su Chen's advice and led everyone to move away from the imperial city overnight.

No one knew that the people who had disappeared from the ruins had actually moved to a mountain villa and lived a secluded life thereafter.

The villa was inhabited by Li Mo's relatives and friends, who quickly recognized Su Chen after he appeared.

Then, Hong Ming, Li Mo, and others rushed over upon hearing the news.

"Master, senior brother..." Su Chen looked over and greeted them one by one.

Eight years had passed since they last met. Hong Ming and Li Mo had not aged at all. On the contrary, thanks to the many pills left by Su Chen, they had broken through their cultivation levels, their lifespans had increased, and they had become even younger.

Everyone was overjoyed to see Su Chen return, and welcomed him inside with laughter and cheers.

Unlike the gathering with Qiao Qiliang, the gathering with Hong Ming, Li Mo, and others felt more like a family reunion.

This gradually gave Su Chen's wandering heart a sense of belonging.

The huge villa became lively, filled with laughter and cheerful voices, giving Su Chen a different feeling.

The dinner was like a family dinner, telling the story of the changes over the years.

Hong Ming and Qin Xue were devoted to each other and deeply in love. With Hong Chen's consent, they happily got married.

Li Mo and Zhang Wan'er welcomed another son, completing their family with both a son and a daughter, bringing them a fulfilling life.

The girl from back then has now grown into a beautiful young woman.

Despite not having seen Su Chen for many years, he felt no sense of unfamiliarity with her. On the contrary, because he had often heard stories about Su Chen, he enjoyed following him.

Fang Rou's father, Fang Youwei, and his family also lived in the villa, and he learned about Fang Rou's recent news from Fang Youwei.

She continued her cultivation at the Xuan Yin Sect and had become a formal disciple. Two years ago, she even made a special trip to visit Fang Youwei.

They chatted like old friends, exchanging words with Su Chen.

We ate a meal very late, very late...

Su Chen settled down at the villa for the time being.

The carefree life made Su Chen forget Mingxin and Wanyigong, and with the company of his relatives and friends, his heart became at peace.

He finally understood why he didn't want to stay in Whitestone City any longer.

There, a feeling called loneliness lingered in my heart.

Things only improved slightly after arriving in Dafeng City, and the ordinary life with Qiao Qiliang briefly dispelled this feeling.

They didn't disappear completely until they arrived at the mountain villa.

Perhaps that's why he came back.

The days passed.

Su Chen seemed to have taken root in the mountain villa, living a simple yet fulfilling life every day.

The resort has fields, ponds, orchards... it's like a paradise.

Everything is self-sufficient.

Soon after, Hong Ming and Li Mo noticed something was wrong with Su Chen.

It wasn't because Su Chen had stayed at the manor for too long, but because Su Chen's strength and blood energy seemed to be inferior even to Li Yue's.

This made it hard for them to believe that Li Yue had only reached the Internal Organs Realm and her Qi and Blood were not particularly strong.

Su Chen's strength is enough to be considered the strongest in the Great Qian Dynasty. How could his blood and qi be inferior to Li Yue's?

The two believed that their low strength was the reason for this misconception.

Until Li Yue asked her this question unintentionally.

This day.

Li Yue found Su Chen and asked, full of confusion, "Uncle Chen, I heard from my grandmaster and parents that you are very powerful, but why do I feel that your blood and energy are not as strong as mine?"

Spending every day with Su Chen, she naturally noticed the difference in him.

Unlike Hong Ming and Li Mo, she didn't have as many concerns and asked questions as soon as she thought of them.

Hong Ming and Li Mo were also present, and they listened attentively to what they heard.

Su Chen patted Li Yue's head nonchalantly and laughed, "Your feeling is right. In terms of cultivation level alone, my strength is not as good as Yueyue's."

He didn't elaborate, but his words were enough to give Hong Ming and Li Mo a jolt.

"Xiao Chen, what exactly is going on?"

Li Mo asked Zhang Wan'er to take Li Yue away.

Hong Ming led Su Chen to a secluded courtyard and asked him cautiously and seriously.

Li Mo didn't speak, but his eyes were full of worry and his heart was filled with unease.

Su Chen did not hide anything and briefly told the two about his training experience.

Upon learning that Su Chen had not truly lost his cultivation, but rather was undergoing a cultivation process, both of them breathed a sigh of relief.

"So, you want to comprehend the true meaning of martial arts by sealing your cultivation?" The two were no longer frogs in a well; they had naturally heard of the true meaning of martial arts, but they didn't expect Su Chen to use such a method.

"Mm." Su Chen nodded.

"It's okay."

The two were relieved and did not ask Su Chen how well he had comprehended the material; they trusted him.

"However, Xiao Chen, after you've lost your cultivation, can you start cultivating again?" Hong Ming suddenly asked.

He was somewhat worried, after all, this was the first time he had ever seen someone deliberately abandon their cultivation level.

What if he can't cultivate back to his original state later?
After all, he had never heard of anyone voluntarily abandoning their cultivation and then cultivating back to it.

Li Mo also looked at Su Chen, realizing this as well.

"Yes," Su Chen replied affirmatively.

His self-inflicted loss of cultivation was different from what the two thought; he merely sealed his profound meridians, rather than destroying them.

Once the mystic veins are opened, it will naturally recover.

As for restoring qi and blood, it's simple: just take more medicine.

However, Hong Ming's words made Su Chen feel a little apprehensive.

Will this behavior affect my subsequent cultivation?

Seeing the worried look on Su Chen's face, the two exchanged a glance, and Hong Ming asked, "What's wrong?"

Su Chen shook his head: "It's okay, I'll recover by then."

With the control panel available, there shouldn't be any major problems.

After hearing this, Li Mo asked curiously, "Junior brother, can you still cultivate now?"

Su Chen nodded, then looked at Li Mo with a puzzled expression.

Li Mo explained, "I suddenly had an idea. Didn't you want to experience the myriad aspects of life and comprehend the true meaning of martial arts?"
You've experienced being a high-ranking official, a beggar, and an ordinary civilian, but it seems you've never experienced being a martial artist.

"Even though you were once a martial artist, would you feel differently if you experienced it again?"

After glancing at Su Chen, Li Mo continued, "I was thinking, if you were to start cultivating again, would it help you comprehend the true meaning of martial arts?"

His thinking was simple: since Su Chen had high talent and cultivated quickly, he didn't care about a year or two.

If one were to start cultivating again, one might gain new insights during the process.

After all, the true meaning of martial arts is, in any case, a part of a martial artist's cultivation, and he always felt that it would be easier to comprehend it from the perspective of a martial artist.

Of course, this was just his conjecture; with his cultivation level, he was not yet capable of reaching that level.

I just thought of it now, so I'm sharing it for Su Chen's reference.

However, even if Su Chen didn't succeed in the end, he could still fill in the gaps and improve his cultivation by practicing again.

From both a moral and logical standpoint, neither party is at a loss.

Li Mo briefly explained his thoughts, and Su Chen fell into even deeper silence, standing there like a wooden stake, unable to recover for a long time.

"Grandmaster, Father, what's wrong with Uncle Chen? Why is he not moving or saying anything?"

Half an hour passed, and Su Chen was still standing there. Li Yue ran over, wanting to play with Su Chen, but was stopped by Li Mo.

She noticed that something was wrong with Su Chen, so she asked him.

"Shh, don't disturb your Uncle Chen, he's thinking about something," Li Mo whispered.

Li Yue quickly shut up, covered her mouth, and pulled Li Mo to a nearby place.

"Is Uncle Chen worried about his cultivation level?" Li Yue asked in a low voice. She patted her chest and said confidently, "Don't worry, Uncle Chen. I will protect you."

Hong Ming and Li Mo were both amused and exasperated upon hearing this.

Just then, Su Chen regained consciousness.

"Xiao Chen, are you alright?" Hong Ming and Li Mo asked as they saw this.

Su Chen suddenly laughed a few times and shook his head, saying, "I'm fine. On the contrary, I feel very comfortable now. Thanks to you, Senior Brother, I've figured some things out."

The two looked at each other, their faces full of confusion.

To their surprise, after that conversation, Su Chen only stayed for a few days before deciding to leave.

Only after asking did he learn that it was Li Mo's words that inspired Su Chen, and he decided to rebuild his martial arts path.

Upon learning this result, Hong Ming's gaze sharpened like a knife, sending shivers down Li Mo's spine.

If he had known, he wouldn't have said anything.

In that case, Su Chen might be able to stay a little longer. However, he also knew that Su Chen would leave sooner or later, and Hong Ming didn't really blame him.

After bidding farewell to his relatives and friends, Su Chen returned to the imperial city.

Since he was going to rebuild it, he couldn't be too perfunctory. This time, Su Chen planned to start from all aspects.

Qi and blood, strength, and physique are all taken into consideration.

To encompass all these areas, one would naturally need to find many cultivation techniques, and fortunately, the imperial palace possessed numerous cultivation manuals.

Upon revealing his identity, no one dared to stop him. Emperor Qian personally greeted him and brought him to the palace, where he was warmly received.

The current Great Qian Dynasty is almost a hegemon among the surrounding dynasties, and no dynasty dares to compete with it.

Emperor Qian naturally knew that all of this stemmed from Su Chen, and dared not be negligent in the slightest.

Upon learning that Su Chen intended to go to the Scripture Pavilion, Emperor Qian did not ask any questions and directly sealed off the Scripture Pavilion, opening it only for Su Chen.

……

Guiran Mountain.

The mountain peaks soar into the clouds, overlooking the earth, resembling a coiled dragon, exuding an aura of ancient desolation.

As far as the eye can see, there is a lush green landscape with ancient trees stretching to the horizon.

The occasional growls of wild beasts echoed through the air, adding a touch of desolation to the vast forest.

The area at the foot of the mountain was already overcrowded.

Today marks the opening of the Guiyi Secret Realm. Major powers from all sides of the Holy Yuan Kingdom have gathered, creating a grand spectacle comparable to a grand gathering.

In the sky, streaks of light occasionally streaked across the sky, each carrying a unique and powerful aura as they descended with a thunderous roar.

"Look, the people from the Ziyang Sect are here."

Like a thunderclap from a clear sky, the unique aura of the Ziyang Sect swept across the sky, causing waves of excitement among the crowd below.

In the blink of an eye, the sun set, its light faded, revealing ten figures from the Ziyang Sect.

One of them was an elder of the Ziyang Sect, and the remaining nine were the disciples who entered the Guiyi Secret Realm this time.

What caught everyone's attention was not the elders and disciples, but the figure that had not yet appeared.

Their gazes swept across the room, but they still couldn't spot Su Chen.

The crowd looked at each other with different expressions, and the once lively scene was now so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

A somber atmosphere spread, and everyone remained silent, staring blankly at the Ziyang Sect's group.

For a long time, a series of soft whispers rose up like a fountain.

"Su Chen didn't come!"

"He actually gave up his spot in the Guiyi Secret Realm."

"Really..."

Surprise, regret, ridicule, indifference, relief... all these emotions were present.

At that moment, a familiar figure stepped forward, breaking the crowd's discussion.

Jue Wuya approached Shang Shuo and coldly asked, "Su Chen, why isn't he here?"

In one sentence, he expressed the question in everyone's mind.

Nine years have passed, and Shang Shuo has become more mature and composed, but what has changed even more is his strength.

Shang Shuo has now surpassed Chang Yuan and the other two, reaching the perfect Nascent Soul realm, and has become a prominent figure in the Ziyang Sect after Su Chen.

With his talent for cultivation, he naturally deserves a spot in the Guiyi Secret Realm.

Upon hearing Jue Wuya's words, Shang Shuo remained calm and simply replied, "Su Chen has his own plans."

"Is it that you don't want to come, or that you don't dare to come?" Jue Wuya sneered, drawing many unusual glances.

Seeing that Shang Shuo remained silent, Jue Wuya did not give up and asked again, "Where is he?"

Before coming, he inquired about Su Chen's whereabouts and only knew that Su Chen was not in the Ziyang Sect. He had left nine years ago and there had been no news of him since.

The fact that he hadn't seen him for so long, without any news, led him to believe that there was only one possibility: Su Chen had failed to comprehend the true meaning of martial arts.

This was just what he wanted.

He has already achieved enlightenment, and this time, entering the Guiyi Secret Realm will allow him to take the opportunity to comprehend the true meaning of martial arts.

The day he returns will be the day he seeks revenge on Su Chen!
Jue Wuya was not the only one with this idea.

Among those present were many martial artists who had participated in the Battle of Peaks back then.

Nine years have passed, and those who can represent their sect to obtain a spot in the Guiyi Secret Realm are no longer the same as before.

They are incredibly strong and progress rapidly; some are even just one step away from grasping the true essence of martial arts.

This made them even more eager to see Su Chen.

Even now, they haven't forgotten the humiliation Su Chen brought them back then, and they're holding back their anger, waiting to vent it.

Everyone listened intently, awaiting Shang Shuo's reply.

Shang Shuo remained silent, because even he didn't know where Su Chen was.

"Yuan Wu is here!"

Just then, a figure streaking across the sky broke the tense atmosphere, and an extremely powerful aura arrived in the blink of an eye.

It's the Shangyuan Palace's team.

Unlike in the past, this time the Shangyuan Palace team only had seven people.

One elder and six disciples.

In the past, Shangyuan Palace always had nine slots for entering the Guiyi Secret Realm.

This time there were only six, enjoying the same treatment as the other seven major sects.

And all of this is because of Su Chen.

Yuan Wu naturally noticed the strange looks from the martial artists, but he just snorted and turned his gaze towards the Ziyang Sect.

"Where is Su Chen?" Upon seeing the members of the Ziyang Sect team, Yuan Wu asked the same question as Jue Wuya.

Moreover, there was anger hidden in his voice, as if he was very dissatisfied that Su Chen had not appeared.

Upon hearing this, the elder of the Ziyang Sect said helplessly, "He didn't come."

Yuan Wu remained silent, his expression grim. An eerie atmosphere descended upon the scene, and no one spoke.

Despite their strength and composure, the disciples of the Ziyang Sect, who were at the center of the storm, all showed an unnatural expression.

"I've heard that there's a prodigy in the Ziyang Sect named Su Chen. I wonder where he is now?"

A gentle yet slightly authoritative voice rang out, and everyone looked in the direction of the voice, suddenly startled.

"The Eighteenth Prince!"

The newcomer was dressed in the yellow robe unique to the royal family of the Holy Yuan Kingdom, and possessed a dignified and noble air.

Behind him followed five equally distinguished young men, each with a restrained yet undeniable presence.

This is the team of the Holy Yuan Kingdom's royal family that entered the Guiyi Secret Realm.

"Reporting to the Eighteenth Prince, Su Chen has not yet arrived," someone said.

"Oh? That's a pity. I was hoping to get to know this person." The eighteenth prince was taken aback upon hearing this, then chuckled softly, with a hint of regret.

Everyone had different expressions, not expecting the Eighteenth Prince to value Su Chen so much.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, the eighteenth prince asked, "Since Su Chen didn't come, has he grasped the true meaning of martial arts?"

His gaze fell upon the people of the Ziyang Sect.

The elder of the Ziyang Sect shook his head: "Your Highness, there has been no news of Su Chen back to the Ziyang Sect yet."

Upon hearing this, the eighteenth prince sighed softly as if in sudden realization: "So that's how it is."

Everyone understood the implied meaning, and their expressions changed.

Immediately, the eighteenth prince turned to Yuanwu, noticed the change in him, and exclaimed in surprise, "Yuanwu, the aura on your body..."

This reminder immediately drew everyone's attention to Yuan Wu.

"The true meaning of martial arts!"

Soon, they noticed the completely different aura emanating from Yuan Wu, and exclamations of surprise rippled through the crowd.

They stared at Yuan Wu in disbelief, never expecting that he had actually grasped the true meaning of martial arts.

Yuan Wu paid no attention to the gazes of the crowd and said with a faint smile, "I thought I had concealed my aura, but I did not expect that the prince would still discover it. Your Highness is indeed insightful. I admire you."

The eighteenth prince shook his head after hearing this: "It was just a coincidence for me. I just didn't expect Young Master Yuan to be so unassuming and quick to act."

"Your Highness flatters me. I have only grasped the basics and cannot be considered to have truly comprehended the essence of martial arts."

Yuan Wu shook his head and said that he knew his own situation. Based on his current understanding of the true meaning of martial arts, he could not yet claim to have grasped the true meaning of martial arts.

At most, it's ninety-nine out of a hundred steps; there's still one step left to cross the threshold of the true meaning of martial arts.

"Haha, Brother Yuan is too modest. I'm sure you'll succeed in this secret realm." The change in address signified a shift in the Eighteenth Prince's attitude. With the most difficult step of understanding the mind already overcome, Yuan Wu's talent meant that entering the Divine Intent Realm was a certainty.

Yuanwu naturally noticed this, and a faint smile appeared on his lips: "Thank you for your kind words, Your Highness."

The two chatted happily.

Time passed slowly, and more and more large sects' teams arrived.

Glancing at the sky, the elder of the Ziyang Sect stepped forward, his voice echoing like a tidal wave:
"Time's up, open the secret realm."

Amidst everyone's laughter and conversation, the Guiyi Secret Realm will finally open.

(End of this chapter)