The Demon Lord of All Forms

Chapter 51, Second Grandmaster

The most important factor in advancing from Grandmaster to Grandmaster is not the physical body and blood, but the "true meaning of martial arts".

The true meaning of martial arts is a power between divine sense and physical strength. It can both perceive external objects and enhance oneself. The Grandmaster realm possesses the complete true meaning of martial arts, and can split rivers and cleave mountains with bare hands. The strength of their physical body and the power of their divine will far exceed that of ordinary people. Therefore, in the Canghuang Realm, the Grandmaster is also known as: the Land Immortal.

The true meaning of martial arts sounds a lot like the Refining God Realm in Tianyuan Jiuzhou, which is to fuse the acquired Yin God and the original Yang God in one's own soul into a primordial spirit.

However, the true meaning of martial arts in the Canghuang Realm is very mysterious and vague, and there is no standard method of advancement. The advancement experiences recorded in this notebook are mostly mentioned in passing with words such as "sudden enlightenment", "chance encounter" and "divine gift", without being detailed.

Yun Weiyang recalled the sword light that had just faded away.

Zhou Jin's sword light surged like a mighty river, endless and unstoppable. When they clashed, Yun Weiyang truly felt that she was not fighting against a person, but rather as if she were fighting against a great river. That kind of "momentum" and that kind of "intention" should be the prototype of the true meaning of martial arts. Although Zhou Jin was only a grandmaster, he already had the true meaning of martial arts, but it was not yet perfected.

"First comes true meaning, then comes the primordial spirit." Yun Weiyang closed the last scroll of the manuscript, a flash of enlightenment in her eyes: "The grandmasters of the Canghuang Realm are not lacking in aptitude or techniques, but in spiritual inspiration."

With limited spiritual energy, the true essence of martial arts cannot draw enough nourishment from heaven and earth to complete its transformation; it can only accumulate little by little over a long period of time.

Grandmasters who have lived for hundreds of years may naturally advance to the rank of Grandmaster over time, but young grandmasters like Xiao Qianshan and Zhou Jin are not lacking in talent, but rather in time.

"A flash of inspiration... I have one."

Yun Weiyang's lips curled up slightly.

The next morning, Yun Weiyang issued an edict canceling the morning court session.

He summoned all the Grandmasters of the Great Xia Dynasty in the Chengming Hall, including five Grandmasters from the Secret Guard and seven Grandmasters from the army, a total of twelve people.

The twelve people entered Chengming Hall and bowed down in unison.

"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, pay our respects!"

Yun Weiyang sat behind the imperial desk, her gaze sweeping over the twelve people. The five guards were dressed in black, their faces were cold and their aura was restrained, like five sharp blades hidden in their sheaths; the seven soldiers were clad in armor, their aura radiating outwards, their blood and qi flowing like dragons, clearly veterans who had been through many battles.

"Rise." Yun Weiyang stood up, stepped out of the imperial desk, and walked towards the outside of the hall. "Follow me."

The twelve people exchanged glances, their faces showing confusion, but they dared not ask any questions. They followed Yun Weiyang to the martial arts arena deep within the palace.

The training ground covered an area of ​​100 zhang (approximately 33 meters), with the ground paved with bluestone. Weapon racks were erected all around, with swords, spears, halberds, and other weapons readily available. This was where the royal children practiced martial arts, but at this moment, it was deserted.

Yun Weiyang stood in the center of the training ground, turned around, and looked at the twelve people.

"Pair up and begin the fight."

The twelve people were stunned.

An old general in the army clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, this..."

"I want to see your strength," Yun Weiyang said calmly, yet with an undeniable authority. "Make your move."

Without further hesitation, the twelve men each found an opponent and began to fight.

The fists cleaved and the swords flashed.

The master of the secret guards was ruthless, with concise moves that targeted vital points; the master of the army was even more fierce, with wide, powerful, and heavy attacks. For a time, the martial arts arena was filled with flying energy, and cracks were left on the bluestone ground.

Yun Weiyang stood on the sidelines, watching the twelve grandmasters fight, her brows gradually furrowing.

"stop."

The twelve people stopped and all looked at Yun Weiyang.

"I said, you must use your full strength." Yun Weiyang's voice turned cold. "Are you trying to fool me by saying I'm not a Grandmaster?"

The expressions on the twelve people changed slightly.

"Give it your all. I want to see your understanding of martial arts. Unleash your strongest killing moves."

One of the master guards couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, once this deadly move is unleashed, people might die..."

"With me here, no one will die." Yun Weiyang glanced at him, her gaze calm as still water, yet it sent a chill down the spine of this grandmaster.

"Make your move."

The twelve people exchanged glances and then made no further hesitation.

The first to make a move was a master swordsman among the secret guards. He drew his sword, and the sword light was like rain, turning into a scattering curtain of rain that fell from the sky.

The rain was misty and cold, each drop a deadly sword light, carrying extreme killing intent, enveloping the military master opposite them.

The military master roared, unleashing both palms with surging energy that transformed into a mighty eagle, tearing through the rain curtain.

The eagle's cry was sharp and piercing, making the weapon racks around the training ground buzz.

On the other side, a veteran general unleashed a punch as fierce as a tiger, his power transforming into a roaring tiger as he pounced on his opponent. Wherever the tiger passed, the bluestone ground shattered, and fragments of stone flew everywhere.

The sword of a woman among the guards was cold and lonely, like the bright moon hanging high. The sword light fell and forced her opponent to retreat repeatedly.

A burly master of the secret guard crossed his arms, his inner energy coalescing into a towering mountain, unmoving and steadfast, withstanding three deadly blows from his opponent without flinching.

A young general in the army wielded a sword with the brilliance of a shooting star, one strike after another, falling from the sky, dazzling and tearing open gaps in the opponent's defenses.

One after another, nascent martial arts essences blossomed on the training ground, some like eagles soaring in the sky, some like tigers roaring in the mountains, some like the bright moon in the sky, some like towering mountains, and some like meteors falling to earth.

Yun Weiyang stood at the sidelines, a faint light gleaming in her eyes. The "Demon Seal Scripture" was activated, recording the flow of qi and blood, the way they exerted their power, and the frequency and trajectory of their soul vibrations in the souls of these twelve people.

At the same time, "I am not myself" was operating in the dark, imitating the state of these people, and searching through their memories for insights into the true meaning of martial arts.

This was a fierce and exhilarating battle.

But this also meant that things wouldn't be peaceful.

A scream.

The master swordsman severed his opponent's left arm with a single strike. The severed arm spun in the air, spraying blood as it fell onto the bluestone ground—a gruesome sight.

The fighting on the training ground stopped instantly.

The twelve men looked at the severed arm on the ground and the pale-faced military master, each with a different expression.

Yun Weiyang walked over, bent down to pick up the severed arm, and went to the injured grandmaster.

The military master gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, but he did not let out a second scream.

Yun Weiyang pressed the severed arm against the wound, using the life force within her body to stimulate flesh and blood regeneration. The effect was not as good as a cultivator's healing supernatural power, but it was more than enough to reconnect the severed arm.

To everyone's astonishment, the severed arm and wound healed together, the flesh writhed, and the bones rejoined. After a few breaths, the military master moved his left hand, and his five fingers were as flexible as ever, without even a scar.

"Your Majesty...this..." The military grandmaster's eyes widened.

Yun Weiyang didn't explain, but turned around and looked at the twelve people.

"To be continued tomorrow."