Da Xuan Martial Saint

Chapter 278: Chapter 219 Chaos Begins Chapter 278: Chapter 219 Chaos Begins Qin Mengjun spoke in a gentle tone, “The more artistic conceptions one comprehends, and the closer the understood conceptions are to their essence, the harder the ‘Mysterious Pass’ of the Marrow Cleansing Realm will be to break through.

Of course, after entering the realm of a Grandmaster, one will become much stronger.”

“Before a martial artist reaches the age of thirty, the artistic conceptions they can grasp basically set the upper limit of the strength of the Mysterious Pass they can break through.

Therefore, the vast majority of martial artists, after stepping into the Six Viscera Realm, will no longer attempt to comprehend additional artistic conceptions or the essence of Qian Heaven Kun Earth; instead, they turn to deepen their understanding of their current conceptions, solidifying their Martial Arts will, preparing to strike at the Mysterious Pass…”

Qin Mengjun stated slowly.

Chen Mu had some understanding of the ‘Mysterious Pass’ of the Marrow Cleansing Realm, but naturally, it was not as detailed as Qin Mengjun’s knowledge.

Upon hearing Qin Mengjun’s explanation, he now had a clearer grasp of the concept.

The so-called Mysterious Pass is located where the Heavenly Spirit resides, which is in a closed state from birth and serves as the dwelling place of the Soul Heart.

A martial artist, by cultivating artistic conceptions, can mobilize the power of Heaven and Earth, effectively breaking down the barriers between the Soul Heart and the outside world, thereby allowing the martial artist to manipulate Heaven and Earth’s might with their will.

If a martial artist wishes to undergo Marrow Cleansing, they must also break the barriers between the physical body and the outside world, achieving unity of spirit and flesh, convergence of Heaven and Earth, drawing the power of Heaven and Earth into the body, and refining an impeccable Grandmaster’s physique.

Therefore,

The stronger the artistic conception, the harder the Mysterious Pass is to break through, but the Grandmaster’s physique refined after breaking through is also stronger.

What Xun Wind Martial Body, Thunderbolt Martial Body…

naturally, they are not as good as the Yin Yang Martial Body, Five Elements Martial Body, and then, they are all inferior to the unrivaled ‘Qiankun Martial Body’!

“You can comprehend the Qiankun Artistic Conception in such a short time; perhaps you are the one who is most in tune with the Qiankun Eight Phases in the world today.

The future Mysterious Pass may be the hardest in the current era, but it is also the strongest path,” Qin Mengjun said, his voice much calmer.

With Chen Mu’s talents, if he were to focus solely on cultivating the Qian Heaven Artistic Conception, it would likely be almost certain that he could become a Grandmaster in the future.

But with such gifts, he indeed should embark on the most powerful path of Qiankun!

After all, Qian Heaven is common, but Qiankun is rare.

Even though most people might wish to take the path of Qiankun, they do not have the capability or qualifications, for this highest and most difficult path in Martial Arts leads to the pinnacle of martial artists in the world.

Once one truly manages to traverse this path, even if unable to step into the Third Layer, simply achieving Marrow Cleansing would be close to the peak of the martial world.

Qin Mengjun continued, “This path is currently the hardest, but with your talents, I believe you can make it through.

What you need to focus on next is, firstly, to continue understanding the Qiankun Artistic Conception, and secondly, to forge your Martial Arts will…

Only the strongest Martial Arts will can control the strongest Martial Arts Artistic Conception of this era.”

“Thank you for your guidance, Master.”

Chen Mu responded.

Solidifying Martial Arts Will?

A thought flashed through his mind.

He already understood his determination; as for how to further solidify his Martial Arts will, there were many methods.

There was meditative mind-refinement, as well as certain Heaven and Earth Spiritual Items effective for solidifying the will.

Among all these, the most effective method was to unify knowledge and action!

Zuo Qianqiu, who cultivated the Heavenly Sword Artistic Conception, followed the path of triumphing over nature.

Therefore, he traveled the world with his sword, using the sword in his heart to cut through the Wasteland, training both his sword and his will.

With a sword in hand, he was invincible under the heavens.

As for him,

To achieve all things in the world following from the will, the first step must be to become invincible in the world.

“I have already discerned my heart and know which way to steer my Martial Arts will, but as for the comprehension of artistic conceptions…

Master, you had previously sent Sister Meng to tell me that if one wishes to reach the peak of artistic conceptions, one must rely on oneself.

I wonder how exactly I am to rely on myself.”

Chen Mu asked Qin Mengjun the question he most wanted to know.

For him at present, contemplating the Eight Phases Diagram still brought him many Experience Points, but if he were to elevate his Qiankun Artistic Conception further, the efficacy of contemplating the Artistic Conception Map would be greatly reduced.

Although with enough time, he could eventually hone his artistic conception to its peak, he still hoped to do it faster.

After all,

These were chaotic times, and no one knew what changes might happen at any moment.

“Where do the Artistic Conception Maps come from?”

Qin Mengjun gave Chen Mu a glance.

Chen Mu was slightly taken aback, but he already had a vague realization.

Qin Mengjun cracked a slight smile, gazed up at the sky above, and said, “When you had not yet understood artistic conceptions, you needed the guidance of Artistic Conception Maps to get a sense of the essence of this world.

But now that you have mastered the second step of the Qiankun Artistic Conception, do you still need the guidance of Artistic Conception Maps?

Can this vast Heaven and Earth of Qiankun not surpass a mere diagram?”

“I see.

Thank you, Master, for pointing me in the right direction,” Chen Mu inhaled slightly.

He had always followed the guidance of Artistic Conception Maps and had never tried to step away from them to comprehend the world on his own, which was like not seeing the forest for the trees.

Previously, when he was guiding Chen Yue and Xu Hongyu, he had even considered the principle of combining knowledge with action, feeling the essence of the Kan Water Artistic Conception after surveying the world’s rivers, yet he now found himself lost in the fog.

If he could comprehend the mysteries of the world from a single Artistic Conception Map, then after stepping into the second step, he could directly comprehend the wonders of Qiankun from rivers and seas, from Three Mountains and Five Peaks amidst the clear skies.

Artistic Conception Maps.

After all, they merely provided guidance.

Unless it was the legendary original Eight Phases Diagram or the implemented Eight Phases Diagram, they might contain mysteries that could lead to the third step of the conception.

Apart from that, all Imitative Diagrams, Rubbing Maps could at most guide one to the second step.

The reason he became capable of further contemplation on this foundation was due to the excessive strength of the system panel’s functionalities, even allowing him to continue accumulating experience on the basis of the second step.

“Go ahead.”

Qin Mengjun smiled slightly at Chen Mu.

“Disciple takes his leave.”

Chen Mu bowed respectfully, then slowly descended the mountain.

Qin Mengjun gazed at Chen Mu’s departing silhouette, which vanished without a sound, then returned to her seat on the rock.

She waved her hand, beckoning a shower of fallen leaves to drift towards a certain spot.

Then, looking up at the firmament, the brilliance in her eyes gradually faded.

A mere year.

In such a short time, her disciple Chen Mu had brought her considerable astonishment, stirring up many ripples in her heart.

She wondered how far he would have progressed the next time she awoke.

…

After bidding farewell to Qin Mengjun.

Chen Mu returned to his bamboo house.

He didn’t inquire about Qin Mengjun’s current condition, not because he didn’t care about her health, but because this time, unlike last, as his Qiankun Artistic Conception flowed, he didn’t perceive any signs of decline from her.

As a Marrow Cleansing Realm Grandmaster with an exceedingly Solidifying Refinement level of Martial Will, she was far from as frail as ordinary people.

Even with her Heavenly Spirit injured and her Soul Heart damaged, Chen Mu didn’t believe that someone like Qin Mengjun would simply accept her fate.

He surmised that Qin Mengjun, who a year ago could often stay lucid for long periods, shouldn’t have deteriorated so rapidly within a single year.

This prolonged slumber might well have some other cause.

But since Qin Mengjun didn’t bring it up herself, he also chose not to ask.

Even he, as her disciple, had secrets of his own, so naturally, he wouldn’t pry into Qin Mengjun’s affairs.

He, too, hoped that Qin Mengjun’s condition would improve.

“To comprehend heaven and earth…”

Chen Mu murmured to himself.

With Qin Mengjun’s guidance, he now had a clearer direction and understanding of his future path.

However, he still needed to verify a few more things.

Thus, he stepped out of the house and leaped onto the roof of the bamboo dwelling, basking in the sunlight as he gazed at the mountains and skies ahead, minutely contemplating the profundities between heaven, earth, and all landscapes.

After a long while.

He retracted his gaze and summoned the system panel.

[Martial Arts: Qiankun Artistic Conception (Second Step)]

[Experience: 347 points]

“It really is possible.”

Chen Mu saw the added Experience Points on the system panel and sighed inwardly.

After stepping into the second phase of Artistic Conception, it was indeed unnecessary to use an Artistic Conception Map.

Directly comprehending heaven and earth could also yield Experience Points, and the efficiency of acquiring them was quite high, almost matching the rate at which he gleaned insights from Artistic Conception Maps.

This was why, after advancing to the Five Viscera Realm, martial artists—be they Sect Disciples, inheritors of Inner Sects, or those from Martial Arts families—would often journey across the world rather than engage in solitary cultivation behind closed doors.

As depicted in the list of promising talents,

Events about various individuals would come from all directions every few days.

Those who cultivated the Sword of the Mortal Dust sought enlightenment amid the mortal world; those who cultivated the Heavenly Sword followed the path of overcoming fate with human effort; those who practiced the Hehuan Path used desire as their principle, seeking to understand the Yin Yang Path through the interplay of male and female desires.

As for him, cultivating Qiankun Artistic Conception meant traversing mountains and rivers to glimpse into heaven and earth, to observe all things in the world.

However,

There was no rush at the moment.

Continuing to comprehend the Artistic Conception Map offered plenty of Experience Points.

Compared to roaming the world and stepping over thousands of mountains and rivers, and having witnessed all creations of Qiankun, there wouldn’t be much difference for now.

Besides, he still had to practice the Imperial Qi Gathering and Abyssal Ground Shrink techniques, and at the very least, he had to reach the Third Layer of the Heaven and Earth Wheel Seal.

“The time for me to venture down the mountain hasn’t come yet, but it’s probably not far off,”

Chen Mu looked up at the sky.

A year had passed since he left Yu County, and he yearned for Xu Hongyu, Ning He, Chen Yue, and the others, but he wouldn’t let this affect the pursuit of his path in Martial Arts.

After all, his Martial Will had also begun to take shape.

In a turbulent world fraught with danger, even a pinnacle master like Qin Mengjun could fall victim to schemes.

He couldn’t protect Chen Yue and the others forever, at least not yet; his only option was to keep forging ahead.

…

In the year 1429 of the Da Xuan Calendar.

On the 6th day of the 5th month.

Traces of the Sky Demon Sect were discovered on the border between Yu State and Ice State; Sect Executives went to investigate but found nothing.

On the 14th day of the 6th month.

Agitation among foreign races at the Ice State border resulted in abductions; disciples of the Ice Extreme Palace went to quell them, sustaining mutual injuries.

On the 29th day of the 7th month.

A locust and plague outbreak in Qing State led to numerous refugees fleeing towards Yu State, causing turmoil at the border.

On the 2nd day of the 9th month.

A hidden base of the Heavenly Corpse Sect was discovered in Xuan State; the Mysterious Mechanism Pavilion joined forces with the Blood Hidden Pavilion to assault and eradicate countless Corpse Refinement practitioners, but a portion of the Heavenly Corpse Sect remnants escaped and vanished into Yu State, their whereabouts unknown.

Within just half a year,

Chaos had descended upon them.