Super Combat Soldier

Chapter 1037: Chapter 1036: Heavenly Vault Eighteen Forms

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On the Sealing Demon Cliff, only Master Fang Yi stood there, his eyes filled with self-reproach and guilt, as well as disappointment. He originally thought that Ye Tianchen, having cultivated the ”Yijin Jing” treasure book, had a deeper Buddhist connection than other disciples of the Buddhist sect. Who would have known that Ye Tianchen would become a stele in front of eighteen humanoid steles? Is he really dead like this?

”Master Ye, it’s my fault. I, along with Brother Fang Zheng, have come here to observe multiple times, and we have meditated here for half a year. Even without any gains, we never encountered any danger. But I didn’t expect you to face such peril. I shouldn’t have brought you here!” Master Fang Yi said in self-blame.

Indeed, in the years past, especially when Master Fang Zheng was still alive, both Master Fang Yi and Master Fang Zheng, high monks of the Buddhist sect, would come here every ten years. First, to check the egg sealed on Sealing Demon Cliff. Second, to examine the seal of the Eighteen Golden Arhat Array left by the high monks to see if it showed signs of weakening. Third, to comprehend these eighteen humanoid steles left behind by a monk who reached the Emperor Realm. It would not be that simple to understand.

However, over the past several hundred years, Master Fang Yi and Master Fang Zheng gained nothing, apart from watching dumbfounded as the seal on Sealing Demon Cliff showed signs of unravelling, and the egg sealed on the mountainside began to crack, nearing the point of emerging into the world. No other discoveries were made, nor did they encounter any danger. Who could have imagined that Ye Tianchen, on his first visit, while comprehending the mysteries of the eighteen humanoid steles, would himself become a stele. Such things were unexpected and utterly unbelievable, leaving Ye Tianchen powerless to resist, and Master Fang Yi at a loss.

”Master need not blame himself. My being has not perished, though my flesh has turned to stone, my Divine Thought is still alive. I maintain the strength of my Origin and I will not give up. I will continue to comprehend the mysteries of these eighteen humanoid steles.” Ye Tianchen’s voice echoed, emerging from within the stone.

”Master Ye, you... That’s wonderful. But if things continue like this, eventually your Divine Thought will also be devoured by this petrification. Why not join forces with me, manipulating Martial Arts True Power inside and out to shatter this petrification? As long as your Divine Thought is intact, we can find a way to recreate the body.”

Master Fang Yi quickly said, naturally unwilling to see Ye Tianchen in danger. He knew that the secrets of these eighteen humanoid steles were incredibly difficult to comprehend, left by an Emperor Realm monk of the Buddhist sect. Not the secrets average people could understand. Yet Ye Tianchen might decipher them, as he was perhaps the only one in the entire Martial Arts World who had cultivated the ”Yijin Jing” treasure book, passed down from the Buddhist sect. Millions of years ago, that Emperor monk of the Buddhist sect also understood and practiced the Eighteen Golden Arhats Formation from it. If even Ye Tianchen cannot comprehend it, who else could?

If Ye Tianchen were to die, the only hope of suppressing the egg atop Sealing Demon Cliff would be lost. The Buddhist sect, the Human Clan, and the entire Martial Arts World would face great calamities. His death would also signify the complete extinction of the ”Yijin Jing” heritage.

”No risk, no reward. Without madness, there is no survival. Master, let me comprehend the mysteries of these eighteen humanoid steles in this state. Should I fail, I’d rather die...” Ye Tianchen’s voice was resolute as it emerged from the stone.

”But Master Ye...” Master Fang Yi still wished to persuade him, knowing full well that Ye Tianchen’s demise would lead to myriad consequences. Naturally, he hoped for Ye Tianchen’s survival.

”Master, do not dissuade me. I must fully devote myself to comprehending these eighteen humanoid steles...”

Ye Tianchen interrupted Master Fang Yi. After finishing his words, he remained silent. Master Fang Yi, startled for a moment, refrained from speaking further and instead sat in a meditative position on a nearby rock, waiting for the moment Ye Tianchen succeeded.

At this moment, Ye Tianchen discovered that his entire body, whether flesh or bone, had entirely turned to stone. Only his Divine Thought remained undiminished, his soul was still alive. Yet no matter how he manipulated his Dantian, or used his formidable Divine Thought to stimulate the Martial Arts True Power within, he couldn’t sense the flow of Martial Arts True Qi.

”It seems that aside from my Divine Thought, everything else has turned to stone. It’s too mysterious. I felt no warning or abnormality before my body changed like this. Why?” Ye Tianchen couldn’t help but ponder.

Finally, Ye Tianchen neither gave up nor was discouraged. He wasn’t frightened by the prospect of life and death due to his transformation into a humanoid stele. Instead, he completely relaxed, blending into the air currents, as if he were one of the eighteen humanoid steles, as if he were identical to them. Gradually, Ye Tianchen found his Divine Thought leaving his body and entering the first humanoid stele, infusing it with a trace of Life Force. Then, Ye Tianchen seemingly observed the mystery within this first humanoid stele: a bald monk, enveloped in golden light, extremely robust, executed a single palm strike...

Subsequently, Ye Tianchen’s Divine Thought involuntarily moved to the second, third, fourth... all the way to the eighteenth humanoid stele. Each stele revealed one technique, just a single simple move, which deeply shocked Ye Tianchen. He had never imagined these humanoid steles contained such mysteries. But the mystery was indeed there—eighteen bald monks each executing a move, each holding endless secrets, impossible to comprehend thoroughly in one short moment. Nevertheless, they were indelibly imprinted in Ye Tianchen’s mind, offering incomparable benefit if fully understood.

”Eighteen Arhats, eighteen palms, this is one of the most powerful palm techniques in the Martial Arts World, known as the Heavenly Eighteen Forms!”

Suddenly, a voice echoed in Ye Tianchen’s mind, as if imparting Martial Arts Divine Skill to him, startling him. He couldn’t help but wonder: Could this voice belong to the Emperor monk of the Buddhist sect from ages past? Did he not only document his battle against the Ancient Alien Races using these eighteen humanoid steles but also pass down his Martial Arts Divine Skill?

”I understand, I understand!” Ye Tianchen inwardly rejoiced, speaking with newfound confidence.

Heavenly Eighteen Forms!

Each move could turn the world and reverse the heavens, capable of exploring the mysteries of the Heavenly Vault, thus named ”Heavenly Eighteen Forms”. The mysterious aura emitted by these eighteen humanoid steles is the power of each move from the ”Heavenly Eighteen Forms”. Now that I’ve inherited this Martial Arts, breaking free from my restrictions is not difficult at all!

Bang!

A loud sound erupted as the stone stele Ye Tianchen had become shattered. A golden light shot out, causing Master Fang Yi to open his eyes in surprise. He couldn’t help but furrow his brows, murmuring to himself: ”This child is truly remarkable; even in such dire straits, he can break through. Truly a destined anomaly!”

”Undying Golden Body Skill!”

Ye Tianchen’s voice resounded throughout the Sealing Demon Cliff. His Divine Thought slowly rotated, emitting golden light in the air. As a figure emerged from it, Ye Tianchen had already reformed his physical body, standing before the eighteen humanoid steles, a slight smile on his lips as he looked upon them.

”Master Ye, your wisdom and talent are outstanding, it seems you have already comprehended the secrets of these eighteen humanoid steles,” Master Fang Yi said, smiling as he appeared immediately before Ye Tianchen.

”But Master, it seems there are no patterns on these steles?” Master Fang Yi asked, puzzled.

”Master, just follow me...”

With those words, Ye Tianchen interrupted himself, walking to the first humanoid stele nearby. He recalled when his Divine Thought had ventured into it, where it had encountered the essence within a bald monk, body glistening in golden light. He was executing a single move with his left hand...