Narration System for the Journey of Martial Arts

"Zhongli Quan's path is either life or death, which is not what I seek. Fortunately, I read a lot of fantasy novels in my previous life, and I learned about the difference between the Dao Ancestor's alchemy and the path of refining the spirit."

"The Dao Ancestor can refine the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir and the Great Elixir of Heaven and Earth. I can emulate the Dao Ancestor and refine the Yin Spirit as a Golden Elixir."

"I have now achieved the Yin Spirit and reached the pinnacle of refining Qi into Spirit. If I want to go further and refine the Spirit into Emptiness, I need to transform the Yin Spirit into Yang."

"This newly mastered supernatural power can circulate the essence of the sun and moon, and the yin and yang energies. Now I use my physical body as a cauldron and the supernatural power as the fuel to ignite the cauldron, refining the yin spirit through nine cycles and a hundred times, until the wisdom light generates yang, and with a single thought, the yang flames rise. Then I can step into the yang spirit."

"Once the Yang Spirit is perfected, it will be combined with the indestructible body of the Hundred Refined Vajra. With a single thought, the physical body can undergo countless transformations, allowing one to refine the void and merge with the Dao, thus stepping into the Great Luo realm."

"This...this seems somewhat similar to the legendary 'Eight-Nine Arcane Technique'? But there's no need to think that far ahead."

"Now that I think about it, every time the system traveled through time, it had a purpose. Otherwise, how could I have happened to master the supernatural power of Yin and Yang energies of heaven and earth?"

"However, I also need to make some plans..."

As soon as the thought arose, the phantom dragon and phoenix behind him cried out, as if in response, and their movements became smoother. Su Yuchen's mind went blank, and he once again fell into a state of enlightenment.

[You have attained enlightenment on the path of Yang Shen, completed the nine cycles of cultivation, and the path to Yang Shen is now within reach.]

The narration system silently announced a sentence before disappearing again.

………………

Several days passed in the blink of an eye.

Su Yuchen sat in the small building, with dragons and phoenixes moving around him. Illusory purple-gold flames and silver-white radiance ignited around him, flashing alternately. Faint light rain subtly matched his breathing, and each movement was a step forward.

"Young Master, Yang Kang has come again. This time, he is accompanied by Master Qiu from the Quanzhen Sect," said Steward Su.

"My cultivation has reached a critical juncture. You can deal with it. The rules cannot be broken. If there is any trouble, just kick them out," Su Yuchen said calmly.

Looking at the atmosphere that was completely different from usual, even though he didn't know what kind of martial arts Su Yuchen was practicing, he knew from the alternating flashes of different lights that it must be something extraordinary and should not be disturbed. So he nodded immediately.

………………

At the entrance of Zhige Tower.

By this time, the area outside the door was already crowded with martial arts practitioners who were watching the spectacle with schadenfreude, as if they were expecting something.

In the center of the crowd stood a righteous, powerful, and somewhat aloof Taoist priest, carrying a long sword and holding a whisk, silently staring at the stone tablet at the entrance that read "Prohibition of Martial Arts and Ceasefire." Beside him, Yang Kang, respectfully bowing his head, stared at the ground, only occasionally letting a glint of cunning flash in his eyes, clearly harboring ulterior motives.

Opposite them, two employees of Zhigelou blocked the entrance, their faces expressionless, showing neither resentment nor welcome, waiting for Steward Su's order.

Although the snowstorm had stopped, some snow had not yet melted. A gust of north wind blew, and a wisp of snow was lifted up and swirled around their feet. Yang Kang looked up and muttered, "It would be so embarrassing to be blocked at the door."

Qiu Chuji's expression changed, realizing that his disciple seemed to have a point; he couldn't afford to embarrass the Quanzhen Sect. He immediately stepped forward, flicked his whisk, and said, "To block guests from entering—what kind of hospitality is this?"

Qiu Chuji was no weakling in martial arts. In just a few steps, he had covered a distance of three to five zhang and closed in on the two waiters. He swept his whisk towards their chests.

The two gatekeepers exchanged a glance and sneered in unison. Without saying a word, the man on the left flicked the towel on his shoulder with his left hand. The towel, straight as a bronze rod, made a sharp whistling sound and struck the whisk.

This move alone caused Qiu Chuji's expression to change. The soft towel was cleaved into a staff, requiring a level of internal energy that ordinary martial artists could not achieve. Immediately, he silently channeled his internal energy, causing the silver strands on his whisk to become as straight as swords.

With a "bang," the whisk and the towel collided, the former scattering in all directions, each strand exploding, while the latter's front end burst open, sending clumps of fluff flying everywhere.

A burst of air exploded outwards, and a cold north wind howled and swept across the area. Everyone present shivered and involuntarily shrank their necks, only then realizing that the two people fighting before them were both top-notch martial arts masters.

A hint of regret flashed in Yang Kang's eyes, who had been secretly pleased with himself. His intuition told him that he might have made a mistake today, but unfortunately, he had already messed things up and could no longer say anything.

The waiter chuckled coldly and said, "Impressive skill." The towel in his left hand spun like the wind, creating a suction force that drew it towards the whisk in Qiu Chuji's hand. With his right hand, he unleashed a palm strike filled with true energy, aiming at Qiu Chuji, and said, "Since you're so eager to cause trouble, Daoist Master, why not try my skills?"

In the blink of an eye, Qiu Chuji had no time to think. He channeled his inner energy into his left hand and unleashed a "Frost-Treading, Ice-Breaking Palm" strike at the waiter's right hand. The two palms collided with a resounding "hum," causing a sharp pain in the ears of the onlookers, who felt a ringing in their ears.

Both fighters jolted and immediately retreated. The onlookers cursed under their breath and scattered, clearing a space of about five or six zhang.

The man stepped back, shifted his feet, and used the momentum to bounce back, covering several meters in the blink of an eye to reach Qiu Chuji. He then curled his right hand into a claw and grabbed at Qiu Chuji's wrist.

"What a brilliant technique! Using the opponent's force to deflect their own, when did such a master start doing menial tasks? Yang Kang has misled me," Qiu Chuji thought to himself in shock.

However, he reacted quickly. As the claws approached, he twisted his wrist, slipping like a fish, and tried to escape from the claws. At the same time, he flipped his wrist, and the wooden handle of his whisk pointed at the waiter's wrist like a sword.

The shopkeeper's hand flickered, leaving behind many afterimages. With just a slight movement, his fingertips swept across the area and snapped the wooden handle of the whisk. At the same time, his right hand traveled up Qiu Chuji's arm, grabbing at several vital acupoints on his arm.

Qiu Chuji's eyes narrowed: He thought to himself, "What amazing claw technique! It looks so familiar. Where have I heard of it before?"

He snorted coldly, his left sleeve billowed out, and his true energy formed an impenetrable wall in front of his chest. With his right hand, he threw down his whisk and pointed his fingers like a sword at the waiter's wrist.

The shopkeeper grabbed Qiu Chuji's sleeve with one claw, producing a screech like metal. The shopkeeper chuckled and with a cold snort, a few white lights appeared at his fingertips as he was about to tear Qiu Chuji's sleeve apart.

Before the two could continue their fight, a sleeve, seemingly weightless yet as flexible as steel, fluttered and slipped between them. With a ripple of its movement, a gentle force sent Qiu Chuji and his companion staggering backward.

Chapter 444 The Encounter with Qiu Chuji, On Yang Kang

"Manager," the waiter greeted respectfully as he stepped back to the restaurant entrance.

The newcomer was none other than Steward Su. He nodded, looked at Qiu Chuji and Yang Kang opposite him, and said expressionlessly, "I don't want to say more about right and wrong. Daoist, you may leave."

Qiu Chuji snorted coldly, rubbing his wrist, his face showing both embarrassment and anger, and said, "I dare not ask for your guidance?"

Steward Su cupped his hands and said, "My surname is Su. I have earned the trust of my young master and have been temporarily appointed as the manager."

After saying that, Steward Su glanced coldly at Yang Kang, who was bowing his head and remaining silent, and said coldly, "Young Prince, from today onwards, Zhige Tower does not welcome you. Don't come again, or you'll only be asking for trouble."

With a "whoosh," the surrounding martial arts practitioners were in an uproar upon hearing this obvious intention to expel the young prince of the Zhao family. In this Daxing Prefecture, only this family dared to openly expel the young prince of the Zhao family.

Yang Kang suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with resentment. However, Butler Su's eyes were cold, devoid of his usual gentleness, clearly indicating that he was not joking. After a moment of stubbornness, he lowered his head again.

Butler Su couldn't help but shake his head inwardly. With such a temperament, he would back down at the first sign of trouble, only knowing how to secretly sow discord, and he had no cunning whatsoever. Who would want him?

He immediately ignored him and said to Qiu Chuji, whose face was ashen, "From today onwards, Zhige Tower will not welcome either of you. Whatever methods you have, Daoist, I will accept them."

Although Qiu Chuji knew he might be being used as a pawn by Yang Kang, he was already in a difficult situation. He gripped the hilt of his sword with his right hand, said "excuse me," and immediately attacked with his sword.

With light steps and agile movements, she reached Steward Su in just a few steps. With a flick of her longsword, she thrust it straight at Steward Su's face.

This move was fierce and swift, as fast as lightning. Butler Su nodded in approval as he watched. His right hand moved faster than the sword tip, flicking the tip with his finger. The sword hummed under the force.

"Flick of the finger technique? Who are you from Peach Blossom Island?" Qiu Chuji's eyes narrowed as he asked.

Butler Su shook his head and said, "I have no connection with Peach Blossom Island, nor am I a member of the martial arts world."

Despite his initial setback, Qiu Chuji was not discouraged. He immediately moved with his sword, his movements as fluid as water, combining strength and gentleness, while his body moved like a wild goose, advancing and retreating with perfect control.

He unleashed a set of sword techniques, truly impenetrable and unpredictable. His sword moves flowed like the Yangtze River, never ceasing. Before the force of the previous move had dissipated, the next move had already arrived. His techniques were fluid and ever-changing, without any flaws.

"Excellent swordsmanship! Daoist has grasped the true essence of the Quanzhen Sword Technique."

Steward Su exclaimed in admiration, his feet never stopping, his body aligning with the Bagua, creating layers of illusions, always skillfully avoiding the sword's edge, occasionally flicking or pointing with his fingers, directly targeting the core of the sword technique, cutting off changes, breaking through all subsequent moves, forcing Qiu Chuji to change his moves again.

The more Qiu Chuji fought, the more alarmed he became. The person he was fighting not only had eyesight and internal energy that were no less than his own, but also extraordinary knowledge. It seemed that he knew the Quanzhen Sword Technique like the back of his hand.

Unbeknownst to him, over the course of seven or eight years, Su Yuchen had also frequently mentioned and demonstrated the martial arts of the Five Great Masters while teaching the others.

Therefore, although the people in Zhige Tower do not leave the martial arts world, their vision and knowledge are beyond those of ordinary people. They have a certain understanding of the famous martial arts in the martial arts world, and some of them have even studied hard.

In no time, the two had exchanged nearly a hundred blows. The arena was filled with countless figures and flashing swords, leaving the surrounding martial arts practitioners dumbfounded. Even Yang Kang looked on in astonishment, as if he were recognizing the sword technique he had learned for the first time.

After an unknown amount of time, Qiu Chuji suddenly stepped back, looked at the calm and collected Steward Su, and sighed, "It is I, Qiu, who have lost!"

Butler Su said calmly, "We're evenly matched, so it's a draw. Please, both of you, make yourselves at home."

Qiu Chuji glanced at Yang Kang, making him feel guilty, before letting out a cold snort and using his lightness skill to instantly disappear into the distance.

"Master," Yang Kang called out, but seeing that Qiu Chuji didn't turn around, he could only follow him stammeringly.

Seeing that the duel was over, the heroes of the martial arts world exchanged glances and then scattered in all directions, restoring the tranquility of Zhige Tower to its former state.

………………

The second floor of the backyard.

After listening to Butler Su's account, Su Yuchen said it was a pity.

"Qiu Chuji has a strong and unyielding character, and influenced by his past vows, he has gone astray and lost all his Daoist nature. If this continues, I'm afraid his future cultivation will be difficult."

"Alas! The Quanzhen Sect in this world is originally a Jianghu sect, and Wang Chongyang was a righteous man who resisted the Jin dynasty, not a great Taoist scholar. Although the Quanzhen Sect is a Taoist sect, it does not value Taoist scholarship..."

"I originally thought that if Yang Kang wasn't inherently bad, I might as well give him a chance for the sake of the Yang family's descendants. But it seems today... never mind! Let's not talk about this anymore."

Listening to Su Yuchen's mutterings, Butler Su pondered inwardly, thinking: "This realm? So there are two realms, Heaven and Earth, the Heavenly Court and the Underworld? Could it really be a god reincarnated?"

Thinking about all this, he wondered if it was necessary to burn more paper money for his deceased brothers and comrades, so that they wouldn't suffer in life and then have to worry about not having enough money after death.

"Burn more for the brothers, and burn some for myself too. I'm destined to be lonely all my life, and I won't have any descendants to worship me after I die. It'll save me from having no money to spend after I'm gone," Butler Su thought to himself.

Su Yuchen had no idea what was going through his mind. Seeing him standing there in a daze, he asked, "Is there anything else?"

Butler Su's expression turned serious. "Young Master just said that Yang Kang is a descendant of the Yang family. I wonder which Yang family he is referring to..."

Su Yuchen said "Oh," and then said:

"This happened a long time ago, and I've forgotten about it. You don't even know it."

“Yang Zaixing’s descendant, Yang Tiexin, lived in seclusion near Lin’an. Later, during the peace negotiations between the Song and Jin dynasties, Yang Tiexin also met with an accident, and his wife, Bao Xiruo, was captured by Wanyan Honglie and taken back to the Zhao Prince’s Mansion. Yang Kang is a descendant of the Yang family.”

Butler Su couldn't help but ask, "General Yang spent his life fighting against the Jurchens, yet his descendants have ended up here. How could Yang Kang recognize a traitor as his father?"

Su Yuchen shook his head and said:

“Yang Kang should not know yet, but judging from his current nature, I'm afraid that if he knew, he would not only not appreciate it, but might even feel ashamed and be content to be his little prince.”

"Ha, Wanyan Honglie is quite capable. Yang Kang has been spoiled by him and lived a life of luxury since childhood, developing a spoiled nature. Unless he is corrected now, in a few years, I'm afraid it will be too late to change his ways and he will be beyond saving."

"Alas, it's one thing for Bao Xiruo to be a woman with limited experience. But Qiu Chuji is a strange man. Why didn't he take Yang Kang back to Zhongnan Mountain to train him? Was it because Wanyan Honglie forbade it?"

"Never mind, Uncle Su, you go ahead."

Shaking his head, he realized these were all minor matters; Yang Kang's fate was unimportant to Su Yuchen.

Once the small building returned to tranquility, illusory flames and silver light reignited around Su Yuchen, enveloping him completely.

Chapter 445 The Scripture of Divine Foot

After that day.

Steward Su felt even more disgusted with Yang Kang and also lost all goodwill towards Qiu Chuji.

Afterwards, Yang Kang led a group of people to deliver gifts several times, but he failed to enter the gate of Zhige Tower. Faced with the mocking looks of the crowd, he could only grit his teeth and retreat.

Just when everyone thought that the Zhao Prince's Mansion would never let the matter rest, Prince Zhao, Wanyan Honglie, unusually lost his temper. He punished Yang Kang with family discipline and severely punished the servants in the mansion, suppressing the restless thoughts of Lingzhi Shangren, Peng Lianhu, and others.

The reason for this was later revealed to be that someone exposed Wanyan Honglie's hidden spies in the army, which aroused the emperor's suspicion. For a time, the emperor and his ministers fought fiercely. In addition, for some reason unknown to others, Wanyan Honglie had no choice but to accept it.

Not long after, King Zhao, Wanyan Honglie, was sent as an envoy to Mongolia.

At this time, the various Mongol tribes were constantly fighting amongst themselves, and several tribes were already showing signs of unifying Mongolia, which the Later Jin court absolutely could not allow. Wanyan Honglie's mission was to instigate internal strife within Mongolia and weaken the power of all sides.

If it succeeds, it is simply a matter of duty and should be done accordingly. The Prince of Zhao's residence has nothing more to offer, so a word of praise is all that's needed. If it fails, it means that the emperor has failed to live up to his expectations, that the talent is useless, and that a reprimand is a minor matter; taking this opportunity to reduce power is a major matter.

Faced with such a situation, how could Wanyan Honglie not be angry?

With Wanyan Honglie's departure, the Four Ghosts of the Yellow River, who had sought refuge with him, and Liang Ziweng's men followed him north to protect him. The Zhao Prince's mansion fell into silence; everyone lived cautiously, fearing to arouse the emperor's suspicion.

The troubles of the Zhao Prince's Mansion are unknown to outsiders, but the power of Zhige Tower is widely known and deeply ingrained in the hearts of heroes in the martial arts world. Everyone understands that this restaurant has a secret that no one knows.

The restaurants, which were already bustling with customers, became even more prosperous, with more and more people choosing to stay there. They even started a reservation system. No wonder, these days, safety is more important than anything else when you're traveling.

………………

The backyard of Zhigelou.

"Thank you for troubling me again, young master."

Su Yuchen smiled and said nonchalantly, "Zhige Tower was originally my idea to build, so it's my duty to deal with any trouble it may cause. Uncle Su, why be so formal? Is there anything else you need, Uncle Su?"

Steward Su skipped over the matter and said, "Today a guest came to stay, but he wanted to sell us some information. I couldn't make up my mind, so I specifically asked you, young master, to decide."

"Oh?"

Su Yuchen was surprised for a moment, but then he understood. Although Zhige Tower was no longer in the martial arts world, its legend had already spread. As an entity capable of directly confronting the Zhao Prince's Mansion, Zhige Tower had likely acquired a mysterious aura among the martial arts community.

"What kind of information does he want to sell?" Su Yuchen asked curiously.

Butler Su said helplessly, "He refuses to tell us. He only agrees to kill someone for us. But he doesn't seem like a江湖人 (jianghu person, someone from the martial arts world). His speech and behavior are more like a hunter."

Su Yuchen chuckled and said speechlessly, "Then kick them out."

Watching Su Yuchen close his eyes and the light and flames that once again surrounded him, Butler Su nodded and turned to leave.

After a moment, he returned, looking strange, and said, "The other party said that the secret concerns a book called the 'Divine Foot Scripture.' They want us to consider it."

After a moment's thought, Su Yuchen considered a possibility and said:

"The 'Divine Foot Sutra' he mentioned should be the 'Divine Foot Sutra for the Cessation of Practice in the Desire for Samadhi.' Ah, this is Indian martial arts, which I'm afraid has been lost in India. The only time it appeared in the world was during the Northern Song Dynasty, when it appeared at the same time as the Shaolin 'Damo Yijinjing'."