Chapter Thirteen: True Martial Arts

Within the tranquil chamber, Dong Guzhi regarded his youngest disciple with a complex expression. “You’ve finally encountered a problem in your cultivation?” His tone carried a trace of plaintiveness.

Chen Fan, however, cupped his fists, his voice trembling with excitement. “Master, I feel my vital energy and blood have reached their absolute limit. I can begin practicing the true art!”

Dong Guzhi was taken aback. “So soon?”

Chen Fan nodded. “Lately, I can hardly sense any further increase in my energy and blood during practice.”

Dong Guzhi arched an eyebrow, surprise flickering in his eyes. “It’s true there are those in this world who temper their essence to the utmost. Such individuals either possess extraordinary constitutions, unmatched talent, or have encountered rare opportunities. I thought you would need another two or three years to reach your limit. I never expected you to succeed in less than half a year!”

Chen Fan replied, “Perhaps my natural limit is simply lower than most people’s…”

Dong Guzhi shook his head. “Even so, your foundation is stronger than any of your five senior brothers and sisters. In the entire Qinghe Prefecture, there are few who could compare!”

At this, his feelings grew even more complicated. Chen Fan was always out and about, rarely setting foot in the martial hall, especially in the past two months—yet he had reached the limit of his energies so quickly. It was perplexing.

Chen Fan also caught the nuance in his master’s words: “few could compare,” not “none could compare.” His curiosity grew. Could it be that others in Qinghe Prefecture had also reached the peak of their vital energy?

Given that the population of Qinghe Prefecture was nearly a hundred million, with countless martial artists, it wouldn’t be surprising if a few prodigies stood out. Someone like Yan Lincu, whose vital energy seemed inexhaustible, might even gain more from cultivation than simply reaching the limit.

Clearing his throat, Dong Guzhi continued, “Since you’ve reached your limit, I shall now transmit to you the White Cloud True Art and help you condense the seed of true essence.”

As he spoke, Dong Guzhi retrieved a small booklet from his person and handed it to Chen Fan. “This is my own handwritten copy of the White Cloud True Art, complete with my annotations and explanations. Memorize the contents of the first level.”

Ordinary disciples would only go to the archives to borrow the true art; they could never hope to receive Dong Guzhi’s annotated version.

Chen Fan’s eyes lit up. He took the booklet eagerly and began to study it with great hunger.

The true art marked the beginning of inner cultivation—the first level was the process of transforming breath into true essence. Only those who had mastered the White Cloud Pine Crane Palm could undertake this White Cloud True Art.

Within the span of a cup of tea, Chen Fan had committed the first level’s incantations and principles to memory.

Then Dong Guzhi placed his hand upon Chen Fan’s back. A thread of warm energy flowed from his palm into Chen Fan’s body.

Chen Fan felt a tingling sensation, a current more substantial than inner breath rippling through him.

“This is the seed of true essence,” Dong Guzhi explained. “Continue to circulate the art’s method and you will strengthen your true essence. With your remarkable talent and powerful energy, you should complete the first level in ten days or half a month. As for the later methods of body refinement, follow the manual. If you have any questions, come to me at once.”

The seed of true essence seemed a simple thing, but only those with profound mastery in martial arts could condense it, thus saving tremendous time in the transformation process.

Chen Fan, meanwhile, gazed at the floating interface of the White Cloud True Art before him, his face alight with joy. The first level’s automatic cultivation rate was thirty-five percent per day—meaning he could fully complete the first essence transformation in less than three days!

That was far faster than the ten days or half a month his master had mentioned.

One had to understand: Mu Lei had deliberately suppressed his progress and had still failed to complete this stage after more than a year, while even Lin Qingyu had required nearly six months.

Seeing the look on Chen Fan’s face, Dong Guzhi could only offer more advice, unaware of his disciple’s true thoughts.

“During this period, you should focus on cultivation. Don’t go running about. Pass through the first stage of martial arts as quickly as possible, and don’t choose too many essence techniques. Focus on one movement and one martial skill; devote yourself to them. Let me think—given your vast energy and powerful body, there are a few formidable arts in our White Cloud Dojo that would suit you well...”

Of course, Chen Fan would never admit that he could advance by doing nothing at all. He simply listened quietly and respectfully to his master’s guidance.

Afterwards, Chen Fan first went to the resource office to inform them that he had begun practicing the true art. The resources he would receive in future would change accordingly.

He then visited the techniques pavilion.

…

When he returned home, Chen Fan watched the shimmering runes before him. The Stellar Tempering Method had also entered automatic cultivation mode. Thanks to his bodily transformation, the efficiency had greatly increased; it would take about two months to complete.

At the same time, Chen Fan began his practice of true essence martial skills, choosing one martial technique and one movement art as recommended by his master, Dong Guzhi.

Greed leads to shallow understanding; to reach greater heights, one must focus on a single art. Chen Fan had long heard of the Subtlety Realm. According to his master, above Subtlety there was a Unity Realm.

Subtlety was already extraordinary—Chi Liuguang, at the second stage of martial arts, had attained it and was a rarity among rarities.

Many others, even at the fifth or sixth stage, had never grasped Subtlety. As for the Unity Realm, it was nearly unattainable—one in ten thousand, perhaps.

Li Linliu, even before he comprehended Unity, was counted among the top ten young masters of Qinghe Prefecture. After his breakthrough, he was regarded as one of the top three. It was this very breakthrough that enabled him to cross the final threshold to grandmaster, compelling him to leave Yandu City.

The two arts Chen Fan selected were the Nine Suns Overlord Tiger Fist for offense, and Three Thousand Thundering Steps for movement.

Their names alone exuded a domineering style, reflecting their nature. According to his master, with his vast energy and powerful physique, Chen Fan was best suited to such fierce and unparalleled arts, and several were recommended to him.

Chen Fan chose the two whose concepts he found easiest to grasp.

“When I first started, the force-training art I learned was the Fierce Tiger Fist. Now, the first fist technique I practice after mastering the true art is also tiger-related. It seems I am destined to witness a tiger in the wild one day!”

With his strength rising steadily, Chen Fan felt a surge of confidence. Even if he encountered a tiger in the wild, he would certainly not become its meal. In fact, ordinary tigers might not be his match at all.

When he initiated automatic cultivation, he was even more delighted to find that the number of techniques he could cultivate in parallel had increased!

He had previously occupied two cultivation slots, but now both his martial technique and movement art were running concurrently.

“I can cultivate one more technique at the same time! So, when I advance to a new stage, my ‘auto-cultivation talent’ also improves!”

Chen Fan was ecstatic. Further testing, however, revealed that he could only cultivate one additional technique in parallel—a slight disappointment, but still a tremendous improvement.

These two true martial arts were indeed worthy of their reputation. Even with Chen Fan’s foundation and robust energy, each would require four or five months to reach full completion.

And even when fully complete, he would only have attained the mastery stage; to enter the so-called Subtlety Realm, another breakthrough would be needed.