Urban Martial Saint

Ye Qing felt a bit shaken inside. Although Fu Qingping spoke modestly, Ye Qing understood him well. This Xiantian Nine Steps must be his self-created technique.

Creating martial arts isn’t all that difficult. What’s difficult is crafting powerful martial arts.

Take Fu Qingping’s Xiantian Nine Steps, for instance. Every step he takes follows the trajectory of the Dao, encapsulating all the profound truths of the Innate Nine Diagrams within. This is incredibly challenging. The difficulty is akin to recreating an Innate Nine Diagram.

Moreover, the Innate Skill is the foundation of all Taoist Sect cultivation techniques. No matter which technique one learns within the Scholarly Dao Sect, without the Innate Skill, it’s impossible to reach the deepest realms. Innate Skill is essentially the root of the Dao. And the Innate Nine Diagrams are the very basis of the Innate Skill, thus a foundation upon a foundation. In fact, the more foundational something is, the more it encompasses the profound truths of the Dao; this is a conclusion verified by countless people.

The fact that Fu Qingping could evolve the Xiantian Nine Steps from the Innate Nine Diagrams indicates he has already penetrated the fundamentals of the Dao, which is incredibly crucial. Though many masters have emerged in the Taoist Sect over the ages, how many have truly understood the foundation of the Dao?

Ye Qing looked at Fu Qingping, and suddenly, a thought surged in his heart, ”Master Ancestor, have you already broken through the barriers of acme?”

”Almost there!” Fu Qingping replied with a faint smile.

”Still a bit away?” Ye Qing couldn’t help but feel downcast. The Mount Tai battle was about to commence, and Fu Qingping hadn’t yet broken the shackles of acme. He would be in danger during this battle.

Seeing Ye Qing’s expression, Fu Qingping smiled slightly, saying, ”However, I am confident I can kill The Immortal Lord!”

”Huh?” Ye Qing looked at Fu Qingping in astonishment, ”Really?”

”Of course!” Fu Qingping smiled faintly, saying, ”Actually, my studies focus on the sword dao, which inherently is offensive. Though I’ve not broken through the acme barrier, my combat power is on par with a beyond peerless master!”

”That…that is great!” Ye Qing was overjoyed, pointing to the Tianzhu Sword nearby, saying, ”Master Ancestor, the Tianzhu Sword still contains most of the Master Duwang’s power. With this strength assisting you, your combat power can definitely increase a notch, raising the odds against The Immortal Lord!”

Fu Qingping glanced at the Tianzhu Sword and shook his head slowly, saying, ”This sword isn’t suitable for me.”

”Not suitable?” Ye Qing was surprised. Fu Qingping could manifest the power contained within the Tianzhu Sword even without using the Tianzhu Sword Technique. Logically, it’s the sword most suitable for him, so why did he say it’s not suitable? Could it be that Fu Qingping still wants to use the Qingping Sword?

However, thinking it over carefully, many of Fu Qingping’s unique skills can only be executed using the Qingping Sword. Without the Qingping Sword, Fu Qingping would need to craft sword techniques anew, which is somewhat troublesome. Could this be the reason he says the Tianzhu Sword isn’t suitable?

”Master Ancestor, the Seven Steering Committees of the Hong Alliance have already sealed off Chatiang Peak and are fully engaged in locating the Qingping Sword for you,” Ye Qing said, ”But even if the Qingping Sword is found, it will take some time. Master Ancestor, maybe you should try using another sword. If the Qingping Sword can’t be retrieved before the Mount Tai battle, you won’t be caught unprepared!”

Ye Qing didn’t make it explicit, but he knew inside, the Qingping Sword is probably impossible to retrieve. Ye Qing realized clearly, the Qingping Sword was likely taken by the Wanyan Family. And with The Immortal Lord collaborating with the Wanyan Family, in such a situation, the Wanyan Family will undoubtedly try everything to weaken Fu Qingping’s power. Taking away the Qingping Sword surely isn’t a move that would see it returned; Fu Qingping’s chances of retrieving it are quite slim.

”Don’t worry about this matter; I have my own measures!” Fu Qingping slowly walked to the table, sat down, and casually gestured to a stone stool nearby, ”Sit down!”

Ye Qing just began walking toward the stone table, but suddenly realized something was wrong. He seemed to still be standing at the spot where he stood upon entering the courtyard. Yet, Ye Qing distinctly remembered walking nine steps. How was he still in the same place?

Moreover, when Fu Qingping walked to the table, Ye Qing then clearly saw where he stood earlier. He was standing under a tree, and originally, there were many fallen leaves there. But at this moment, those fallen leaves were meticulously arranged together. All the leaves had their tips pointing toward where Fu Qingping stood earlier, with the stems facing backward. The ground was covered with tens of thousands of leaves, one nestled against the other, neatly arranged on the ground as if someone intentionally placed them that way, very strange indeed.

”Master Ancestor, these…these leaves…” Ye Qing said in astonishment, instinctively sensing an indivisible connection between them and Fu Qingping.

Fu Qingping glanced at those leaves, saying, ”Sword Qi permeates, and all things in this world can be swords. A leaf is a longsword. Myriad swords diverge not, seek the source and return to origin. This move is a newfound skill I comprehended, Myriad Swords Return to Origin!”

”Myriad Swords Return to Origin?” Ye Qing was shocked in his heart. Although he didn’t know the true power of this move, just hearing the name made it clear it was far from simple. He wondered which was stronger, the Myriad Swords Return to Origin or the Heavenly Punishment.

No wonder Fu Qingping was so confident. It seemed he had immense faith in this move he recently realized. Looking at the fallen leaves around, Ye Qing was equally shaken. Ever since allowing Fu Qingping to experience the power of the Buddha’s Relic, Fu Qingping’s strength had advanced rapidly, with successive realizations of powerful ultimate moves. The magnificence of Myriad Swords Return to Origin - who knew how powerful it was? Perhaps only in a showdown between Fu Qingping and the Immortal Lord could one witness the true power of this sword!

Slowly walking to the table and sitting down, Ye Qing took a deep breath and said, ”By the way, Master, I clearly took nine steps just now. But why am I still standing in the same spot?”

”Hehehe…” Fu Qingping smiled faintly and said, ”It’s not just that you took nine steps; you also felt a very strong wind, isn’t that so?”

”Yes!” Ye Qing quickly responded, ”The force of that wind was so strong that it felt painful. Master, did you feel it too? However, the wind didn’t even lift my clothes. What is going on?”

”Because, those were all illusions!” Fu Qingping calmly replied.

”Illusions?” Ye Qing was even more astonished. Was the wind an illusion? Then was his stepping technique also an illusion?

”You did not take nine steps, nor did I take nine steps; we both remained standing in the same place,” Fu Qingping said. ”I was merely standing still, silently directing the sword qi of Myriad Swords Return to Origin. This sword qi cannot be felt by ordinary people. But since you and I both studied the Innate Nine Diagrams, and because Myriad Swords Return to Origin evolved from the power of Innate Skills, you could feel its sword qi. However, when you felt this power, it was merely wind sharp enough to prick your face. As for what you saw as me taking nine steps, that was the operational mode of Myriad Swords Return to Origin. You didn’t learn the sword’s power, but due to the Innate Nine Diagrams, the trajectory of the sword appeared to you as nine steps taken by a person.”

”I see!” Ye Qing suddenly understood, feeling even more astounded. It was the first time he had tried learning martial arts in such a way. Fu Qingping’s strength had truly reached an incalculable level.

According to Fu Qingping, he had not yet broken through the limits of acme yet felt confident in defeating the Immortal Lord. What strength would he possess once he did break through? It was unimaginable!

”By the way, why have you come to see me?” Fu Qingping asked.

Ye Qing quickly recounted what Wen’er’s mother said, including the plan they discussed to rescue Huangfu Ziyu.

After hearing Ye Qing’s account, Fu Qingping slowly nodded and said, ”Do as you see fit. If you need my help, just come to me!”

Fu Qingping’s words touched Ye Qing greatly, and he repeatedly nodded, saying, ”Master, thank you very much!”

Fu Qingping smiled lightly and waved his hand, saying, ”By the way, you mentioned the matter of Heavenly Cluster Clouds earlier. Let me add some insight.”

”Master, are you familiar with Heavenly Cluster Clouds?” Ye Qing was surprised. If only Wen’er’s mother knew this, Ye Qing might have doubted its mythological nature. But if even Fu Qingping knew, then the Heavenly Cluster Clouds likely truly existed.

”I have seen some records about Heavenly Cluster Clouds before,” Fu Qingping said. ”Wen’er’s mother wasn’t wrong; Heavenly Cluster Clouds are indeed the transformation of the eight heads of the Yamata no Orochi, containing the creature’s power. But do you know the size of Yamata no Orochi’s heads?”

”Uh…” Ye Qing scratched his head, genuinely unsure of the size of the eight heads, hence unsure how to fabricate stories about Heavenly Cluster Clouds. Previously, when explaining to Handsome Fatty Wang and others, he had mentioned a large package without detailing its size for this reason.

”How big is one of Yamata no Orochi’s heads?” Fu Qingping looked at the building behind him, pointing, ”This pavilion isn’t even half as big as one of its heads.”

”What?” Ye Qing’s eyes widened. If Heavenly Cluster Clouds was truly that size, then it posed a major problem. The people of Iga-ryu could easily investigate something so large; how could he fake it?

”Yamata no Orochi, tall as mountains, capable of overturning mountains and seas, has an incredibly huge body!” Fu Qingping slightly smiled and said, ”However, don’t worry; although its head is large, the Heavenly Cluster Clouds aren’t!”

”Why?” Ye Qing queried, wasn’t the Heavenly Cluster Clouds exactly one of Yamata no Orochi’s heads?