I'm a body cultivator, so it's normal for me to destroy a star with one punch, right?

Chapter 106 The 36th Grotto-Heaven: The Ugly Son-in-Law Meets His Father-in-Law!

Chapter 106 Thirty-Six Grotto-Heavens, The Ugly Son-in-Law Meets His Father-in-Law!
"Man and sword as one?"

Jiang He was stunned.

He had seen this kind of word many times in novels, but a person is a person, and a knife is a knife... How can a person and a knife become one?

Jiang He humbly sought advice.

Liu Feng, also a master of the sword, smiled and pointed out, "In swordsmanship, different understandings of the sword lead to different levels of mastery. The same applies to other martial arts such as body techniques, fist techniques, and sword techniques."

"We generally divide the realm of martial arts into five levels: beginner, minor achievement, subtlety, perfection, and artistic conception."

"The so-called entry level is simple; as long as you have a solid foundation, you can reach it... But achieving minor success is difficult. Whether it's movement techniques, swordsmanship, or anything else, you need a lot of practice and a lot of real combat experience to master what you've learned to the extreme. Only when you can use it reflexively in actual combat can you be considered to have achieved minor success."

Jiang He thought for a moment and said, "I practice my swordsmanship every day. I have killed several hundred ferocious beasts, forty or fifty black-robed members of the Heavenly Demon Sect, and quite a few peak sixth-rank cultivators. I have a lot of practical experience."

"During combat, I can use any sword technique—slashing, chopping, thrusting, or hacking—without even thinking. Would that be considered a minor mastery of swordsmanship?"

Liu Feng said speechlessly, "Is that even considered swordsmanship? You're just hacking around blindly."

"Uncle Liu, you can't say that."

Jiang He said, "Chopping, splitting, stabbing, slashing, flicking, chopping, picking, intercepting, etc., are the most basic sword techniques. As the saying goes, the great principles are all the same, and all methods lead to the same goal. The great principles are simple and consistent. No matter how profound a sword technique is, isn't it all derived from basic sword techniques?"

"........."

Liu Feng suddenly went silent on the other end of the phone.

"Uncle Liu?"

"Uncle Liu...why aren't you saying anything?"

"Uncle Liu, are you there?"

After a full ten seconds, Liu Feng finally murmured, "The great Dao is diverse yet the same; all methods return to one. The great Dao is simple and unifying..."

"The great principles are all the same, yet all methods lead to the same goal; the great principles are simple, and are consistent throughout..."

He kept repeating these words, then suddenly burst into laughter: "Hahahaha... I understand, I understand!"

Beep beep!

The call was hung up.

"???"

What did you realize?
Jiang He was completely bewildered.

My problem hasn't even been solved yet, and you've already figured it out?
"Brother Jiang, Brother Jiang!"

As soon as Jiang He hung up the phone, Wei Jian, who had just been feeling hopeless and furious, came up to him with a cheeky grin and said, "Brother Jiang, I understand the concept of man and sword as one, and I also know the five realms of martial arts."

"Oh?"

Jiang He's eyes flickered slightly, and he thought to himself that he was indeed Wei Erhe's son. He immediately said, "Come... tell me in detail."

Wei Jian coughed a few times, cleared his throat, and said, "There are five realms of martial arts. The person on the phone just now mentioned the basic and minor achievements realms. Next is the subtle realm..."

"This level of detail is actually quite simple to understand."

"This represents absolute control over one's own power, which is what we often call meticulous control, free and easy use, and the ability to control power, swordsmanship, fist techniques, or body movements within an extremely precise range."

"When my father taught me swordsmanship, he said that the realm of entering the microscopic level cannot be achieved through hard work alone. It requires a lot of actual combat and fighting. Martial artists who often travel in the wilderness can usually reach the microscopic level after practicing for eight to ten years."

Jiang He suddenly realized and nodded, saying, "As expected of a grandmaster's son, he really has something!"

"hey-hey!"

Wei Jian scratched the back of his head and said, "Actually, these things are all basic martial arts courses. They are in the textbooks. The teacher taught them in junior high school... The so-called unity of man and sword is actually the perfect level. As for the level of intent... the book doesn't explain it in detail."

Jiang He, unashamed to ask, inquired, "Then how does one achieve perfect harmony between man and sword?"

Wei Jian: "I don't know either."

Hey!
I don't know what you're talking about!

But Wei Jian then added, "Man and sword as one, that sounds very abstract. Why don't you try imagining yourself as the sword in your mind when you practice, Brother Jiang?"

"This……"

How can I, a living, breathing person, imagine myself as a knife?

Jiang He thought this was ridiculous.

But you can give it a try.

When practicing his swordsmanship again, Jiang He did not rush to slash.

Instead, imagine it in your mind first.

Imagine yourself as a knife...

Then practice basic martial arts sword techniques, trying to incorporate the hidden strength of the Great Sage Fist into the sword techniques.

However, the effect was not significant.

Jiang He changed his approach again, imagining that the knife was his own arm, a part of his own body, in order to understand Liu Feng's saying that "weapons are an extension of the hands and feet".

As they practiced...

I'm starting to get the hang of it.

"Ding!"

"A balanced diet can increase your strength by 10kg."

"Ding!"

"Rational use of medication, strength +10kg."

After dinner and taking his medicine, Jiang He got up, intending to practice his knife skills for a while longer, when...

The phone rang.

He picked it up and saw that it was a call from Chen Jingzhou.

"Hey, Uncle Chen."

When the call connected, Chen Jingzhou first asked a few questions with concern, inquiring about Jiang He's daily cultivation routine, before saying, "Jiang He, I've gotten the earth dragon blood you wanted for you."

"Based on the merit points you have earned for your contributions this time, you can exchange them for two portions of Earth Dragon Blood."

"what?"

Jiang He asked in surprise, "Why are there only two portions? Last time I killed Fang Tailai and Xiang Rongshan, I got two portions each!"

Chen Jingzhou explained, "Last time it was one portion. Earth Dragon Blood is made by refining the essence blood of the Earth Dragon King with a large number of precious medicinal herbs. It even contains the essence of spiritual herbs. Its power is too strong, so each portion of Earth Dragon Blood is divided into two tubes."

He paused.

He added, "Earth Dragon Blood sells for as much as 5 million per dose through the Martial Arts Administration's internal channels. Your merit points last time weren't enough to exchange for Earth Dragon Blood. I had to help you gather some to get it."

"Even these two samples of Earth Dragon Blood were only approved for you because you killed the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Demon Sect."

5...

5 million?
Or is it through internal channels?

The rivers were all startled.

If this weren't from internal channels, it would have cost seven or eight hundred million.
I thought one serving of Earth Dragon Blood would be enough for about one or two small goals, but it turns out it's much less.

Chen Jingzhou brought up some things that had been circulating online recently, saying, "The identity of the Black-Robed War God Feng Shaoyu has been established by us as a martial arts genius cultivated by the Wucheng Martial Arts Administration. Currently, who knows about your identity? You can inform them and tell them not to spread it."

There's also the story of Jiang He defeating Ye Zhongwen.

The Martial Arts Administration publicly stated that Sun Yao, the deputy captain of the Yongcheng Law Enforcement Brigade, was responsible for this incident.

“Recently, our operations against the Heavenly Demon Sect have been very successful, and the Heavenly Demon Sect has suffered heavy losses. Knowing their nature, they will definitely retaliate... I know that you are now very powerful, with combat strength comparable to a half-step Grandmaster.”

"But when it's time to be low-key, you have to learn to be low-key."

Jiang He laughed and said, "Developing quietly... Uncle, I understand. I'm best at being a sneaky old fox."

Chen Jingzhou: "..."

He always felt that Jiang He was implying something about him, but he had no evidence, so he instructed, "I will arrange for someone to deliver the Earth Dragon Blood to you tomorrow morning. During this time, don't run around. Focus on your cultivation and improve your strength as soon as possible."

Practice swordsmanship.

Night running is a form of exercise.

Take medicine.

Fruit after dinner.

【night snack】.

Another simple and unpretentious day has quickly passed.

9 month 20 day.

morning.

"Ding!"

"A balanced diet can increase your strength by 10kg."

"Ding!"

"Rational use of medication, strength +10kg."

Jiang He had just finished breakfast and taken his medicine when the "delivery call" came in.

He rushed to the hospital entrance and saw a scene that seemed familiar.

Holding a stick, Jia Baoan said arrogantly, "No... I don't care who you are, if you want to enter our hospital, you must sign a form and state your reason!"

"Martial Arts Administration Bureau?"

"Humph!"

"Without a valid reason, even if your bureau chief comes, you won't be allowed to step into the hospital!"

Get out of my way!

Jiang He punched Jia Baoan away, then looked at the two men in black trench coats and said, "Hello, I am Jiang He... I am familiar with your procedures. You need to verify my identity first, right?"

Jiang He handed over his ID card.

"Mr. Jiang, are you sure it's you?"

A clear female voice rang out, and one of the women, who was looking down and wearing a black baseball cap and a black trench coat, looked up, waved Jiang He's ID card, and said, "Your ID photo has hair on it!"

"Wife?"

Looking at that beautiful face, Jiang He subconsciously called out, then realized what he meant and quickly corrected himself, "Yun Yanchen... how come it's you? Didn't you say you were going to get special training from your master?"

"How did you end up joining the Martial Arts Administration Bureau and running errands?"

Yun Yanchen is a "water-type" transcendent awakener.

Even if she joined the Martial Arts Administration Bureau, she would never be asked to do errands or deliveries.

Yun Yanchen smiled and said, "My master is a member of the Martial Arts Administration Bureau, so I am also considered half a member of the Martial Arts Administration Bureau. This special training was arranged by my master to be conducted in a secret realm in our Northwest."

"I just came out of the secret realm yesterday. When I went to visit my teacher today, I happened to run into them delivering your goods. I happened to be going back to Wucheng anyway... so I came here on my way."

while talking.

Yun Yanchen, who had been staring at Jiang He's head, couldn't help but burst out laughing again.
Jiang He's face turned green.

He touched his head.

Unlike a few days ago, I now have short, stiff stubble on my head.

While following the "identity verification" process, Yun Yanchen handed over a contract and asked, "But speaking of which, why did you suddenly decide to shave your head... and your skin seems different from before."

Sign your name at the very bottom of the contract.

Jiang He handed the contract to Yun Yanchen and said, "Don't mention it... A few days ago, Zhuo Bufan, the Azure Dragon Swordsman, advanced to the Martial Arts Celestial Realm in the wilderness area, which attracted a Heavenly Tribulation. Director Liu insisted on dragging me to observe the Heavenly Tribulation, and as a result, I was accidentally struck by the aftershocks of the lightning tribulation."

"My hair was burned off, and my face was covered in new skin, which is why I look like this now."

"........."

Yun Yanchen and the other man in black trench coat both looked shocked.

The man in the black trench coat was quite powerful, a sixth-rank martial artist; otherwise, he wouldn't have been qualified to give away such a precious item as "Earth Dragon Blood."

He naturally knew about Zhuo Bufan's advancement to the Martial Dao Celestial Realm, and he also knew that a martial artist advancing to the Martial Dao Celestial Realm or a ferocious beast advancing to the Ferocious Beast King Realm would attract a Heavenly Tribulation.

Although he didn't know exactly how powerful the heavenly tribulation was...

However, he knew that when a ninth-grade ferocious beast advanced to the king level, there was a high chance that it would fail during the tribulation and be reduced to ashes under the lightning tribulation... This meant that the power of the lightning tribulation was definitely more powerful than the attack unleashed by a peak ninth-grade beast!
Jiang He was struck by the aftershocks of the heavenly calamity, yet he can still stand here chatting and laughing. If word gets out, it will definitely shock everyone!
After calming himself down, the man in the black trench coat handed the two silver alloy boxes containing the dragon's blood to Jiang He and said, "Mr. Jiang, I wish you a pleasant cultivation journey."

Then he looked at Yun Yanchen and said, "Miss Yun, I'm going back to the base city first."

Say it.

He turned and got into an SUV, quickly driving away. (At the hospital entrance.)

All that remains are rivers, clouds, smoke, and dust.

And Jia, the security guard who was punched by Jiang He and is now hiding in the security room applying an ice pack to his face.

"By the way, what treasure is in this box?"

Yun Yanchen pointed to the silver alloy box in Jiang He's hand and asked, "Pan Xuecheng is the squad leader of the base city's law enforcement team. His cultivation level has long reached the peak of the sixth rank. The bureau sent him to deliver the goods to you. The things inside should be quite valuable."

There was nothing to hide from Yun Yanchen.

Jiang He said, "Earth Dragon Blood."

"land……"

"Earth dragon blood?"

Yun Yanchen looked surprised: "Is it Earth Dragon Blood refined from the essence of the Earth Dragon King? I remember that two years ago, the Martial Arts Administration Bureau sold three portions on its official website, priced at 888888888 yuan. Later, the Martial Arts Administration Bureau announced that it had been sold out."

"I obtained it through internal channels of the Martial Arts Administration."

Jiang He said, "And it didn't cost any money; it was obtained with merit points."

Yun Yanchen was even more surprised.

Exchange with merit points?

How much merit would that require?

However, Jiang He didn't bring it up, and she wouldn't ask about it. Instead, she excitedly told Jiang He about what she had seen and heard in the "secret realm".

"Jiang He, this has truly broadened my horizons!"

"I always thought the secret realm was small... but I never imagined it was so big!"

"The secret realm I'm going to this time is one that our Great Xia developed in 2012. It is said to be one of the thirty-six minor grotto heavens in mythology. There is an ancient city inside, and there are many opportunities within it."

A hidden world?

Myths and legends?

Thirty-six small grotto heavens?
Jiang He's eyes flickered slightly. He always felt that this world was shrouded in mystery and was not as simple as people perceived it to be!
"Is that secret realm in our Western Xia? Can I go in?"

Jiang He inquired.

They were very curious about the secret world that Yun Yanchen had mentioned.

"That secret realm is not in Western Xia, but in the Cangwu Mountains near Ningyuan City in the Nanhu Base. My master told me that the secret realm is called the Cangwu Secret Realm, also known as the [Chaozhen Taixu Heaven]."

Yun Yanchen said, "It is said that there are nine secret realms that the Great Xia has developed for the public, but only one of them, [Zi Xuan Dong Zhao Tian], is truly open to the public. It is said that as long as one's cultivation reaches the level of Martial Arts Grandmaster or one's extraordinary awakening ability reaches level A, one can enter the secret realm after paying a certain fee."

"The other secret realms can only be opened by the Martial Arts Administration Bureau."

Jiang He: "So you mean we have to ask the Martial Arts Administration for a spot?"

Yun Yanchen nodded and said, "This [Purple Profound Cave Illuminates the Sky] was opened by the Martial Arts Administration Bureau... I only got a spot because of my master."

Yun Yanchen's master, Jiang He, knew.

Shui Qianyun.

A water-type super-powered awakener, extremely strong, comparable to a peak ninth-grade grandmaster, with the potential to advance to S-rank!
The S-rank of a super-powered awakener corresponds to the realm of martial arts mastery.

If Chen Jingzhou is the number one martial artist in Xixia, then Shui Qianyun is the strongest awakened one in Xixia... Of course, this is only on the surface. Jiang He believes that the true strength of the Great Xia is definitely not as simple as it seems.

It is said that in the early days of the spiritual energy revival, many "opportunities" were created, and some people even soared to the sky and quickly gained the strength of martial arts masters and S-level awakened individuals.

Where are these people now?
"I had a great opportunity during my trip to [Zixuan Cave Illuminating the Sky], and my strength has improved tremendously, reaching the peak of B-level... My master said that I should have the potential to break into the top 50 of this year's National Youth Martial Arts Competition."

Yun Yanchen clenched his fist, revealing two small tiger teeth, and chuckled, "How about it? Scared yet? My strength is now incredibly high; ordinary peak sixth-grade martial artists are definitely no match for me."

She stretched out her hand.

Wow.

A ball of water condensed above the palm of the hand.

The water sphere slowly grew larger, containing an extremely powerful force. When the water sphere reached a diameter of 1 meter, Yun Yanchen waved his hand, and the water sphere flew high into the air, entered the clouds, and exploded with a "pop," turning into a shower of rain.

However, this patch of rain automatically avoided the clouds and dust as it approached.

Jiang He stared, his eyes practically popping out of their sockets!
Isn’t this too handsome?

He's practically a magician!
He suddenly remembered that he had once possessed extraordinary awakened abilities, and couldn't help but grit his teeth, silently cursing the Heavenly Demon Sect once more in his heart, before saying, "How can we only aim for the top fifty? If you ask me, let's set our sights higher and aim directly for the championship!"

"Even if we don't win the championship, we have to aim for the top 10!"

"champion?"

Yun Yanchen smiled bitterly: "I would like to take it, but with my strength, I can only dream about it... This National Youth Martial Arts League has gathered almost all the geniuses from major base cities and garrisons across the country. There are nearly 20 experts on the Earth Ranking alone. What can I use to compete with them?"

The Earth Ranking is also known as the "Quasi-Grandmaster Ranking".

Those who make it onto the list have the potential to reach the Martial Arts Grandmaster or even Grandmaster level. Almost all of them are half-step Martial Arts Grandmasters. There are a total of seventy-two rankings.

This does not mean that only seventy-two people in the Great Xia Dynasty have the potential to reach the Grandmaster realm.

However, there are age restrictions on the rankings.

Those aged 35 and above are ineligible for the list.

Jiang He had heard Wei Jian mention this list before. Wei Jian had even boasted that his father had once been on the Earthly Ranking, but he had only been on it for three months before being removed...

I'm over 35!
The age limit for the National Youth Martial Arts Competition is 28 years old or younger.

Jiang He laughed and said, "What are you afraid of? I'm here! I'll personally take charge, and I guarantee you'll make it into the top 10!"

Yun Yanchen joked, "You're not participating, so how can you help me break into the top 10? You can't just knock out all my opponents so they can't even get on the field, can you?"

Jiang He pondered for a moment and said, "It's not impossible."

The clouds and dust are just a joke played by the rivers and lakes.

after all……

Jianghe's strength is undeniable.

Yun Yanchen had also seen the video of Jiang He's bloody battle against ten veteran sixth-rank masters in the street. He estimated that Jiang He's physical strength alone should be comparable to the early stage of a sixth-rank master. It was only with the support of the Burning Heavenly Demon Disintegration Technique and the Great Sage Fist that he was able to unleash such combat power.

Her master commented at the time, saying, "This child has the potential to become a grandmaster, what a pity... what a pity." She then called Liu Feng and berated him, calling him a good-for-nothing for failing to protect Jiang He, causing him to unleash the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Technique, damaging his foundation, and ruining his own path in martial arts.

Thinking of this, Yun Yanchen felt a pang of sympathy for Jiang He.

Having been poisoned and barely escaped from dire straits, he was forced to ruin his future by a Blood Kill Order from the Heavenly Demon Sect...

"Damn the Heavenly Demon Sect!"

Yun Yanchen silently cursed a few times in his heart.

The two chatted for a while at the hospital entrance, and then Yun Yanchen received a call from her parents.

She went aside to chat for a few minutes, then came to Jiang He and said, "Jiang He... my dad just called. He knows I'm here to see you, so he asked me to take you back to have lunch with us."

"what?"

Jiang He was stunned for a moment.

This is……

Are you going to see your father-in-law?

He felt a little apprehensive, but thinking that he was destined to be an "ugly son-in-law," he thought for a moment and said, "No problem... Do I need to prepare any gifts? What are Dad's hobbies? You can tell me in advance."

"Bah bah bah!"

Yun Yanchen blushed and spat, "How can you be getting more and more shameless? What do you mean, 'our dad'? He's my dad!"

However, her expression revealed an undisguised happiness as she added, "We're all family, why bring gifts? It's such a waste."

She took out her phone, glanced at the time, and said, "It's still early. I'll go home and get ready first, then I'll drive to pick you up."

"Row!"

Jiang He agreed, saying, "I also need to go back and make some preparations."

The two said goodbye.

Jiang He carried two silver boxes toward the inpatient department.

"Jiang He!"

Chen Yu jumped out of the green belt, holding a roast chicken in his arms, his mouth dripping with oil, and asked, "Who was that girl just now?"

Jiang He looked Chen Yu up and down and asked, "Where did you get your roast chicken?"

Chen Yu: "I bought it."

Jiang He became even more curious: "Where did you get the money?"

Chen Yu: "I won the dean's money playing mahjong yesterday..."

"???"

What the hell!

Jiang He put his hand to his forehead, utterly speechless... He even suspected that Dean An had been possessed by some mentally ill person, how could he let Chen Yu win money while playing mahjong with a group of patients?
He pressed further, "Where did you buy the roast chicken?"

Chen Yu: "Outside."

"Will Jia Baoan let you out?"

"No, but I can burrow underground!"

Jiang He's forehead veins bulged as he cursed, "You think you're a pangolin... Why don't you just say you can fly?"

Chen Yu panicked: "How could I burrow underground? You won't believe me, just look..."

He put the roast chicken on the ground.

Then he struck a pose, making hand gestures, and shouted, "Whoosh..."

Jiang He: "..."

Chen Yu: "Huh? Why am I still in the same spot? I must have done something wrong. Wait here, I'll try again... Swoosh... Swoosh? Swoosh swoosh swoosh!!!"

"Nima!"

"I must have taken the wrong medicine to waste my precious time on this lunatic!"

Snapped!
Jiang He was furious and kicked him.

"Ding!"

"You have survived a battle, strength +10kg."

Then, he turned around and walked towards the inpatient department without looking back.

Jiang He walked straight to the entrance of the inpatient department, but then froze.

He turned around, ran back, and found Chen Yu.

"Chen Yu!"

"what?"

Chen Yu was sitting on the ground eating roast chicken. He was furious after being kicked by Jiang He. He turned around with his back to Jiang He and said, "You kicked me for no reason and called me a lunatic. I'm not going to be friends with you anymore!"

Jiang He: "..."

He lifted his foot.

He kicked Chen Yu again.

"Ding!"

"You have survived a battle, strength +10kg."

"Ahhhh!!!"

Chen Yu jumped up in anger, his eyes red as he questioned, "Jiang He, why did you hit me?"

Jiang He opened his mouth, unsure how to explain.

I was deeply shocked!

Chen Yu said angrily, "Forget it... don't bother explaining to me. If I can't afford to offend you, can't I at least avoid you? Whoosh!"

Jiang He's pupils contracted!
Chen Yu...

Gone?